Tips for London

Take the Heathrow Express into the city if you are flying into that airport. Get an oyster card immediately for travelling the entire transit system! It’s like a Tim Hortons card --you reload with money when needed. Make sure you scan it going on and off the system!!!

I really recommend flying into the London City airport if you are doing Paris first and aren’t taking the train. It is a lot closer to the city (it’s on the East side) and less busy (I think they let me into the country illegally there by accident once) but it will depend what part of the city you end up staying in where this is the way to go or not.
I don’t stay where I have to pay normally so I am not the best person to ask but there are a few times I have stayed and paid for hotels. The last one was really awful so I won’t even mention it but I didn’t have a choice as the tour company booked us and then I had us moved because it was sooooo bad. The other one was a little old fashioned but clean (they serve a good English breakfast). That time I stayed at the Tavistock Hotel in the Russell Square area, a good area to be in. My only other suggestion for staying at the London School of Economics. http://www.lsevacations.co.uk//

I have had friends who went to the school and when travelling through London they still stay there. Cheap and very basic but you’ve been in Uni housing!

All the museums worth seeing in London are FREE!!!
My fav is the British Museum. I made a scavenger hunt for my students so they saw all the big things. I also like the Albert and Victoria Museum. It is near Harrod’s in the Kensington area.

Too bad you won’t be there in August the Queen opens up Buckingham Palace. I have only been able to go once and I was really lucky to get tickets to see Clarence House (the res. of Charles and Camilla). It is GREAT, you get up close and personal with their stuff, you know the boys pictures on the piano etc.

Must see the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. Stand on the steps of the Victoria monument facing the palace gates for the best view.

Louise insists you go out to Stonehenge. Our favourite tip for all of London is going on the tours led by “London Walks” http://www.walks.com/
This company has really interesting walks (varying in length usually 2-3 hours) for about 7 pounds.
All their tour guides are certified and very knowledgeable. They also get into places like Westminster Abbey fast.
They go on longer day trips go to Stonehenge and my favourite place Bath!
I didn’t use them for my trip to bath because we went to a B&B for one nightIn Bath I went to all the Jane Austen locations. Of course the Roman Baths are fun. Get the headset for the most enjoyment. There is a historic place to do lunch called Sally Lunns (http://www.sallylunns.co.uk/). They serve yummy brioche buns with filings or just tea time like food.

I always do several London Walks in a week and there is a frequent buyer discount too.
They do really interesting tours, my fav. is the Old Kensington Walk. It goes through the area of Kensington and I ended it by having tea at the Kensington Orangery on the palace grounds. If you do the Victoria and Albert Museum and go to Harrods in the morning this is a nice thing to do in the afternoon.

Quick and cheap food---all Tesco stores, Sainsbury and of course Marks and Spencer’s have pre-packaged takeaway. A good way to make your dollars stretch and the stores are everywhere. Some have small stores of just the takeaway. My favourite casual not to pricey restaurant is Wagamama (http://www.wagamama.com/). It is a funky noodle bar. Every bite is amazing! There are so many locations now I won’t list them. When I started going when there was only one location in London now I think there are more than 30 in London alone.

My major spending is always on tickets for shows. ½ price ticket outlet is called TKTS at Leicester Square. Don’t be fouled there are only two official booths in the city(the second is open at the Canary Wharf shopping mall. Lots of other booths but I only ever deal with the TKTS and the actual theatre ticketbooths.
Read reveiws ahead and see what might be playing
http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/tkts/
At TKTS you line up in the am and see what is on sale for the day. Usually 50% off but sometimes only 25%. The shows to pay the big bucks (full price if you have to) are “Wicked” (I’ve seen it twice in London!!!) the theatre is across from the Victoria /underground train Station and Billy Elliot (it won a bunch of Tony Awards this year) also very near the Victoria station. You can see each from the other theatre.

You must also tour the Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. They do tours there and also there are the Shakespeare plays. DO NOT get Yard/Standing tickets. They will literally not let you sit on the ground at all you have to stand with no seats for the entire production!

Check out the Parliament Buildings. When they are closed for the summer they do tours (you have to pay and book in advance like the Buckingham and Clarence House tours) and when the parliament is in session you can go in and watch for a while and I find it interesting for a few minutes then you can leave when you want. Don’t be surprised at every museum and theatre they will search your bag.

I have still not seen everything in London in my many trips there.
I hope that helps a bit. Ask me questions if that doesn’t help!