Posted: 1/3/2012 11:01:05 AM EDT
So it's always been my wife's "thing" to go to London. For whatever reason I started looking around and it looks like it's far more affordable than I had originally thought. (Given that this is "her thing" and the money is "my thing" affordability is a HIGH priority.  )
But before I give the OK, thought I'd check in for some "local knowledge" First off, for the purposes of choosing a hotel, what parts of London are OK and what parts are BAD. Second, there is no way I am going to drive. Period. End of discussion. I know everything within the city should be accessable by the undergroud, but what about venturing out a little bit? Not exactly sure what she wants to see but she's greatly interested in the Tudor dynasty, that's about all I could tell you. Last - When is the best time of year to visit? Many thanks in advance! |
| Don't need a car, if its Tudors your wife is after then Hampton Court Palace and the Tower are accessible by train and underground and if she makes you take her there then its only fair that you get to visit the IWM. |
|
Most of the bad areas don't have hotels, or not the sort of hotels likely to attract a tourist. I would recommend July or August due to the weather, but you might want to come in late Spring to see the best of the parks (London has many nice parks).
Try and visit Leeds Castle if possible, It's SE of London, quite a distance away in Kent. Should be rail links. Also don't miss Kew Gardens in London itself (it has giant tropical greenhouses). |
|
You can walk to most of London's main tourist attractions in a day should you wish. Start out at The Houses of Parliament, Big Ben (that's the bell) and Westminster Abbey, walk past Downing Street to Trafalgar Square. From there you can walk along The Mall to Buckingham Palace, if the flag's flying, that means you can pop in for a cuppa with Liz and Phil - wipe your shoes!
Back up The Mall, to The Strand and Covent Garden, on to St Pauls Cathedral, Tower of London and Tower Bridge. Stop off for a few pints on the way, as the cuppa you had with the Queen will be some time ago. You can nip into the Tate Modern art gallery and the Globe and National Theatres for a real mix of culture. If you still haven't had enough, take a flight in the London Eye and see where you've just been. You'll need an early start and may want to take your financial advisor and a translator fluent in Eastern European and African languages. A Pearly King or Queen might help too, as you might actually meet a Londoner! |
|
Quoted: Don't need a car, if its Tudors your wife is after then Hampton Court Palace and the Tower are accessible by train and underground and if she makes you take her there then its only fair that you get to visit the IWM. Went to the IWM the other day Most excellent
|
|
Quoted:
Went to RAF Hendon too, saw something I've always wanted to see there.... A Stuka http://i818.photobucket.com/albums/zz105/Mbradders/eee047b1.jpg  Great place. Went there a couple of years ago with several Battle of Britain veterans. It was a really good few days. |
|
Quoted:
Are you thinking of coming this year?................as in 2012 Olympics year? Maybe, maybe not. That's going to depend on work schedules. May happen as early as this spring, or we may wait until next year. Obviously we wouldn't come DURING the olympics, but having never been to a city that was hosting the games at the time, how bad is it in the months leading up to and after? And thanks for the recommendations everyone! 
|
|
Prices are going up for the summer months and the Olympics / Paralympics, obviously, however as your wife is into Royalty it may be better to bite the bullet and make the trip this year due to this: http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/honours/diamondjubilee.aspx How long were you thinking of visiting for?
|
|
Quoted: Leeds Castle is well worth a visit, although its mighty expensive at £18 a ticket (entrance is good for one year with them) If you do visit this spring, come down to Rochester http://www.cometorochester.co.uk/ (45mins from London about £16 on train) first and I'll drive you over to Leeds Castle so you don't have to worry about transport to it. Rochester is quite historic, Charles Dickens lived there for a bit and there was a big siege and battle there in the 1200's as depicted in Ironclad http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1233301/Try and visit Leeds Castle if possible, It's SE of London, quite a distance away in Kent. Should be rail links. Also don't miss Kew Gardens in London itself (it has giant tropical greenhouses). |
|
Ah, London. Lived there for 10 years, was happy to leave, but glad i get the chance to go back four times a year or so for work.
Bad areas-wise i wouldnt really worry about it. As long as you stay fairly central you will be fine. As with any city you will have your mix of pick pockets and scam merchants who will aim to prey on obvious torurists, but simple precautions will prevent anything serious happening (not flashing around valuables like big cameras, expensive mobile phones, wads of cash). Keep your wits about you say if soemone offers to sell you something that is too good to be true etc. but this is just general common sense/being streetwise. Like any big city, it has dodgy areas, but there are so many it would be hard to say stay away from them all - some 'areas' can be just a road or two, which then adjoins a wealthy, nice area. I personally wouldnt recommend visiting Peckham or Dalston - but these are merely two examples- and there isnt much to attract you to them anyway (well, unless you are a big Only Fools and Horses fan and and fancy visiting Peckham....- but then if you are a real fan you would know it was never actually filmed in Peckahm anyway!!) Hope you have a good visit whenever you make it over 
|
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Don't need a car, if its Tudors your wife is after then Hampton Court Palace and the Tower are accessible by train and underground and if she makes you take her there then its only fair that you get to visit the IWM. Went to the IWM the other day Most excellent I hear the tour guide was very informative
|
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Don't need a car, if its Tudors your wife is after then Hampton Court Palace and the Tower are accessible by train and underground and if she makes you take her there then its only fair that you get to visit the IWM. Went to the IWM the other day Most excellent I hear the tour guide was very informative Wouldn't stop talking I bet....
|
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Don't need a car, if its Tudors your wife is after then Hampton Court Palace and the Tower are accessible by train and underground and if she makes you take her there then its only fair that you get to visit the IWM. Went to the IWM the other day [div]Most excellent I hear the tour guide was very informative Wouldn't stop talking I bet.... [img]http://www.ar15.com/images/smilies/icon_smile_wink. 
You'll find out on Saturday ! |
|
Quoted:
Went to RAF Hendon too, saw something I've always wanted to see there.... A Stuka http://i818.photobucket.com/albums/zz105/Mbradders/eee047b1.jpg Went to that mueseum as a 15yo boy - the stuka was not there then. You have just inspired a return trip.
|
|
Quoted:
Prices are going up for the summer months and the Olympics / Paralympics, obviously, however as your wife is into Royalty it may be better to bite the bullet and make the trip this year due to this: http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/honours/diamondjubilee.aspx How long were you thinking of visiting for? Probably going to be a week, and given what we know of our schedules, fall. Think we should be able to accomplish most of what we want in a week, it's a bit crammed but it should be a good balance. Thanks again everyone! |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Went to RAF Hendon too, saw something I've always wanted to see there.... A Stuka http://i818.photobucket.com/albums/zz105/Mbradders/eee047b1.jpg Went to that mueseum as a 15yo boy - the stuka was not there then. Hitler hadn't finished using them? 
|
|
When you do visit London make sure you visit the Chandos near Trafalgar Square http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/65/657/ Possibly the best place in London for ale, bitter and an authentic pub feel. On way home now after 4 lovely pints of bitter.
|
|
Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Went to RAF Hendon too, saw something I've always wanted to see there.... A Stuka http://i818.photobucket.com/albums/zz105/Mbradders/eee047b1.jpg Went to that mueseum as a 15yo boy - the stuka was not there then. Hitler hadn't finished using them? I was at Hitler's intended residence yesterday, had he successfully invaded Britain........... |
|
Quoted: Quoted: I was at Hitler's intended residence yesterday, had he successfully invaded Britain........... Senate House? Nope ...this place...http://www.npia.police.uk/en/10755.htm |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
I was at Hitler's intended residence yesterday, had he successfully invaded Britain........... Senate House? Nope ...this place...http://www.npia.police.uk/en/10755.htm You been given a commission in the field then ?
|
|
Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I was at Hitler's intended residence yesterday, had he successfully invaded Britain........... Senate House? Nope ...this place...http://www.npia.police.uk/en/10755.htm You been given a commission in the field then ? No, I was trespassing...............  |