Wireless Internet Access
 

I will be taking my laptop to London for the first time in June and was wondering if there are a lot of wireless access points for internet access around London. In the past, we've used the EasyEverything internet cafe in Kensington for checking e-mail. But since I'll have my laptop, if there is a hotspot close by (High Street Kensington tube area) I can use my laptop.

And how do they charge for access? Daily, hourly?

Thanks!

<b>http://www.hotspotted.com

http://www.wi-fihotspotlist.com/

http://www.wififreespot.com/europe.html

http://www.wifi411.com/index.php</b>

Keep your eyes peeled for a Starbucks, which shouldln't be difficult since there seem to be more of them in the UK than in the US. Every one we saw offered free WiFi access. In addition to stand alone stores, Starbucks were also in Borders book stores.

Thanks for the websites. There is a Starbucks right across the street from the flat where we stay. Looks like that will be the closest hotspot.

:)

Daisy:

Where are these free Starbucks hotspots? Every one I know charges &pound;5 an hour - a great dealmore than any internet cafe.

In fact, the only free hotspot I know during Kay's visit will be the launch promotion at the British Library, which claims to be free till June 30. But that's a hell of a schlep from Kensington.

A related question -- my teenage son is bringing his laptop with him on our trip to London. Aside from just using it to watch movies and play games, he's hoping to find some wifi spots. If that doesn't work, he wants to dial in on a local line.

Now here's my question: since we're staying in an apt, I was wondering if there is typically any charge to make a local call on a landline. Or if there's a charge, is it per call or per minute? (If this costs anything, he's going to have to use the internet cafe down the street instead!)

Thanks! (By the way, we're staying on Draycott Place near Sloane Square and I've learned that the Cafe Nero on King's Rd is supposed to have wifi access.)

Susan

Free local calls are unusual in London.

Charge policies vary by telco, but are normally x (or 0.x) pence a minute. Incidentally, if we have dial-up access, we don't phone a local number, but a national number. With some ISPs, that can actually be cheaper than a local call, but that's not universal

Flanneruk - sorry I just noticed you'd asked me a question back on the 22nd. On my most recent visit to the UK (April 2004), it seemed that all the stand-alone Starbucks were advertising free WiFi access, I never saw anything about charging (Of course you have to bring your own laptop computer and have the appropriate antenna and software). I'm not sure if the Starbucks inside Borders Books had it or not. There were so many Starbucks I can't remember them all, but one I do recall since we were in it twice was on Picadilly near Waterstones Books. Persnally I didn't have a computer with me, I just read the signs. I did use a lot of internet cafes in London and in Edinburgh and never paid more than &pound;1 for 20 minutes access.

Well, I'll be checking out the Starbucks across the street from our flat when I'm there in June. I'll report back on if they charge or not. According to their website, they charge &pound;5/hour. If that's the case, I'll use the EasyInternet cafe across the street instead for my internet access. :)