Underground in London
 

Haven't been to London in 23 years, hopefully someone can answer this question for me as I will be there in August. I have "problems"(phobias??) about escalators.Last time I made people miserable with my refusal to use the Underground. Are elevators and/or stairs available at every station? I hyperventilate thinking I may be faced with only an escalator and my husband refuses to pay for taxis all the time. I was hoping that there was a way to find out ahead of time, so I could plan my days.

Cheryl: I can't think of stations that don't use an escalator, and the London Tube sometimes goes down and down and down. How about just using the bus; it is a very good system. It is not as fast, but I don't see a lot of alternatives for you. You won't know if there is an escalator until you are inside the ticketing area.

Hi <BR>At one of the tourist information offices in Victoria Station, at Heathrow, or on Lower Regent Street, pick up a copy of the A-Z Visitors' London Atlas and Guide. Among other features, it has bus routes clearly identified. <BR>Also, London travel information (which bus (or train) to take): <BR>phone (44 207) 222 1234. <BR> <BR>

<BR>Just a side question - If people in wheelchairs can't utilize the underground how do they get around?

Jean-- <BR> <BR>With great difficulty! It's getting a bit better--the Jubilee Line, newly renovated, has elevators at all stops (though no guarantees that they'll actually be in service, of course), which helps some. London cabs are a lot better--the huge backseats are ideally suited for wheelchair travelers, and the law required all cabs to be disabled-accessible by 2000 (when I was just there in Feb., it looked as if they hadn't quite reached that goal, but most had the sticker in the window). This means a number of different things, one of which is that the cab should have a ramp in the boot which the driver is prepared to set up and help the wheelchair traveler use to wheel up into the backseat and secure the chair with an appropriately-placed seatbelt. This would be impossible here in DC, for example, without replacing the entire cab fleet--they're just plain old cars--but since London cabs have the huge backseat area, they've proven well-suited for adaptation. <BR>

Dear Cheryl: You have my DEEP sympathy! As a regular visitor to London my life has been divided into two periods: when I was young and spry; and AFTER I had to start wearing bi-focals. They really fouled up my ability to hop on and off those fast-moving stairs. But like several of the posters who answered you earlier, I've learned to use the bus. It's not quite as fast--but one gets to see more and it costs about the same (especially if one gets a daily pass which I recommend to you; they are good after 9 a.m. each day and up until rush hour in the afternoon). Have a lovely visit. Joan

Cheryl, <BR>The same travelcard that is good for the Underground will also allow you to ride any of the buses - it's a super deal. You will probably be OK with just Zone 1 or perhaps Zone 1 & 2 depending on where you want to go, if you are there for a week get a week pass (you do need a passport size photo for it tho). <BR> <BR>As a regular visitor to London I have to say I have not seen too many elevators (not to say they are not there someplace!) but I know for sure there is one at Covent Garden and Bayswater (or is it Queensway, now I can't rememeber -- they are very close tho). Both are usually very crowded. We once walked up the stairs at Covent Garden because the elevators were so crowded - I thought I would die, they went on and on and on upwards and it was dreadful. Not to make light of your problem but the stairs and crowded elevators were worse than any escalator around. Actually this past spring many escalators were out of service for safety reasons so we had the dubious pleasure of walking up and down escalators in several stations (believe me that was no fun either). <BR> <BR>The buses will get you everywhere, but allow about twice as long, particularly during the week. Weekends traffic is lighter so things move more quickly. <BR> <BR>Walking (don't laugh) is an option too, London is a great walking city we've found. While we think nothing of hopping on and off the Underground most of the time we also enjoy walking. If your hotel is in a central location you can enjoy many sites on foot (not all of course, but many). Let this Forum know where you are staying (name of hotel and street) and I'm sure people will be happy to let you know what you can walk to in the vicinity. <BR> <BR>Best of luck with your plans.

Thank you for all your helpful replies. Buses sound like a good alternative and I am not adverse to walking. We are at the Pavilion Holiday Villa in Bayswater. I did not choose the hotel (we are traveling in London with friends). I must say, I am a bit apprehensive about it. I hope its decent, which to me means clean not a matchbox!

Cheryl, <BR>I looked at a variety of websites for the Pavillion Holiday Villa Hotel and it appears to be a standard tourist class (3***) hotel - probably with small rooms (but most places have small rooms unfortunately - maybe you will luck out tho). One site said "cosy and friendly". Cosy nearly always equals small :-) <BR> <BR>The location is good, there are probably dozens of hotels in that Bayswater area, most converted from 3/4 story homes built in the 1800's. I think that underground stop with the elevator is Bayswater and if it is that should help you (if it's Queensway it is still very close - sure wish I could remember which it is). Whiteley's Mall is right close by and it's an indoor mall (great if it rains!), lots of shops and the top floor has a bunch of places to eat (Mexican, Italian, Chinese, etc. along with a McDonald's). The Tumbleweed Cafe (Mexican) is pretty good if you get a craving for Mexican food in London (we're southwesterners so we do!!). Along Queensway (where Whiteley's is) there are lots of shops and several food markets, florist, etc. This is a very busy street (traffic and pedestrians). You will be able to walk into Hyde Park, through Kensington Gardens to Kensington Palace and past that onto Kensington High St. if you like walking. You can also walk toward the Victoria & Albert once you get on the south side of Hyde Park too. Hyde Park is lovely - plenty of benches should you feel like sitting and watching people a bit too. There is also a Park Cafe on The Serpentine (has decent restrooms too - vitally important when one is walking around!). <BR> <BR>I'm sure you will enjoy the trip, just relax and go with the flow. We go to London often - it's big, it's hectic, but we love it! (I am positive about the elevator at Covent Garden so you are OK should you go over there to shop or to see a show in the vicinity).

The tube station with the elevator is Lancaster Gate.

I thought about the elevator at Lancaster Gate, but getting on won't do Cheryl much good, if she doesn't know that there will be a way out besides the escalator when she gets to where she is going. The last time I was in London, at one stop, I don't even remember where, the elevator was not working.

all tube stations have stairs (in case of emergency), but these can be very deep ie around 150 steps. Some stations have lifts, but they're not common. <BR> <BR>As an aside, and without wanting to feed your phobia, an awful lot of the escalators are out of order at the moment for safety reasons ( a common fault to all of them) and London Undergroumnd is fixing them with it's usual speed. <BR> <BR>There are other alternatives in particular the bus, which is fairly easy to master. Black cabs can be pricey, although if you're splitting the fare not too bad. <BR> <BR>Also; get a good street map. Central london is reasonably compact if you don't mind walking. It is also flat.

It's Queensway that has an elevator (as well as Lancaster Gate!). Bayswater doesn't have an escalator (or an elevator) but a few steps instead.There's a regular bus service that runs along Bayswater Road to central London (the number 12?) that you might find convenient