KidsToLondon On Our Own In London And follow us on the Examiner
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updates on London travel: Transportation Tips Airport Carry-ons There had been a strict one item carry-on limit in the UK that many travelers have found very inconvenient. The limit has been that only only one carry-on bag is allowed through airport security with maximum size of about 22 x 17.7 x 10 inches (including the wheels). The carry-on liquid limits continue. UK airports (and the rest of the European Union) allow passengers to carry on small (100ml, or about 3.4 ounces) of liquids and gels. These must fit into a clear plastic 8"x8" zip lock bag. Of course, the USA's Transportation Security Administration, in its wisdom, allows only 90 ml (3 oz.) of this stuff. So drink or toss 10ml while over the Atlantic. And what good is 3 oz. of water or soup anyhow?
Rail fares made simple...but will costs go up? Rail fares in the UK have always been a confusing mess—too many options, too many conditions, too many names. A new scheme adopted by British railway companies simplifies somewhat. Tickets fall into three categeories:
In November 2007 the high-speed Eurostar rail service moved its London terminal from Waterloo to St. Pancras station. Additional high speed rail links will operate to and from the London Olympic village and new lines are being considered for the London-Edinburgh route. Tube prices up...get your Oyster To save money on Underground fares, visitors have to consider the logistics of getting an electronic fare card—an Oyster card—which has been sort of a pain for most tourists. While you can buy some versions of the cards online from travel agencies in the USA, buying in London does avoid shipping costs. The cards are available for sale at London Heathrow airport for arriving visitors. There are far too many transportation ticket choices and a much too confusing array of terms and conditions. You can start reading on the Transport for London's recently improved website, but the choices are still daunting. Best overall bet is probably an Oyster card, adding about £5 to the card for every day you will be using it in central London. The cards can be "topped up" with more money in Underground stations. But (some) kids ride for free In a concession to the uproar over ending the popular family travel cards, Transport For London has announced that children ages 11 and younger will travel free on the Underground weekdays after 9:30 a.m. and on weekends. Previously, children under 5 got a free ride. There are also free, or reduced cost bus fares for children. And walking is free too There's an initiative to place helpful walking direction signs in central London. If fully implemented, they should be helpful to visitors. Cheap bus and rail fares A intercity bus service—Megabus—offers really cheap fares between many cities in the UK. Fares like £12 from London to Edinburgh (but plan on spending almost 9 hours on the bus!). The traditional bus service, National Express, doesn't usually offer these bargain fares, but sometimes it does have more direct or frequent service. Now the old creaky U.S. Greyhound nameplate will be polished up added to a bus service in the U.K. The service is designed to be modern, comfortable...everything the the U.S. carrier is not anymore. Megabus has expanded to Megatrain—a service that offers some bargain seats on a limited number of trains (currently only Southwest Trains). Otherwise, advanced purchase rail tickets, using TheTrainline website, can provide a full array of rail tickets somewhat higher prices. On longer journeys, it also pays to check discount airlines like BMI. Where have the old double-deckers gone? The original London double-decker bus is a 50 year old design known as the Routemaster. This symbol of London has now been phased out and replaced by non-descript, single-decker "bendy" buses and by more modern double-decker designs. But you can still ride an old Routemaster on two "heritage routes." Click here for details. (PDF file) To and from London airports London City Airport Rail Connection London City Airport is located relatively close-in to the center of London, but getting there from the city has never been easy. Now the Docklands Light Railway runs to the airport—about a 20 minute ride from the Bank Underground station, with endless connections there to the Underground network. London City Airport is mainly a regional flight center with good service to European cities, although British Airways is experimenting with all business class service from LCA to New York (good luck with that venture!) Best way from Heathrow to London (and back)? This is a common question. There are really five possibilities: the Underground, Heathrow Express, taxi, airport shuttle, and airport/hotel bus service. In rush hours, only the Heathrow Express will get you into London quickly (to Paddington rail station, then you'll need a taxi). The Underground is the cheapest option, but if you have much luggage, forget it. A real London taxi can cost £50 or more for the Heathrow to central London trip. The airport/hotel bus can take quite a while if your hotel is not among the first stops (the bus makes a circuit of London hotels). Bottom line? All the road-bound options—taxi, shuttle or bus—suffer during rush hours. We like the Heathrow Express/taxi combination. Alternate rail service to Heathrow In addition to the fast (and relativly expensive) Heathrow Express, another rail service connects Paddington station to Heathrow Airport. The Heathrow Connect service is a non-express train to the airport's terminals with suburban stops along the way. Trains run every 30 minutes and take 25 minutes to reach the airport. The new service has lower fares and use different platforms and trains than the Heathrow Express. Airlines Open Skies means more choices At least that's the theory. For years, the number of airlines flying the US-to-UK routes were restricted. Now that restrictions have eased, new airlines are cropping up (and often, quickly going out of business), and new routes are announced by existing carriers--many of which have not previously served the US-to-UK market. The impact of Open Skies may be overpowered by the chaos that is running through the airline industry due to fuel costs. New terminal at Heathrow The opening of new Terminal 5 at London's Heathrow airport did not go smoothly. In fact, the first few weeks were a disaster, especially for British Airways, the airline occupying the new terminal. The issues have been ironed out and T5 is now one of the better airport terminals anywhere. Bumped, overbooked or delayed? Air travelers flying from countries in the European Union—which includes the UK—now have rights similar to those in the US when their flights are overbooked or delayed. For details on the rules, take a look at the Air Transport Users Council website. BA bumping scheme may cost you If you are bumped from a British Airways flight and offered compensation in the form of a debit card, be careful. The cards issued in the UK are in British Pounds...fine for spending there, but bring that card home to the US and the currency exchange rate is terrible...there's a nearly 6% conversion fee, plus transaction fees. Child safety harness approved for use on planes Kids can be safe onboard airplanes without bulky child safety seats thanks to a new seatbelt harness recently approved by the FAA. Designed for kids from ages 1 and up who weigh between 22 and 44 pounds, the CARES harness may prove an attractive option for families traveling with young children. Other Transport stuff Traffic jam? We do not recommend driving in central London, especially for visitors who are unfamiliar with the city, or with driving on the left. But for those who head out into the British countryside in rental cars, here's a new traffic resource tool—Frixo. Give it a test drive and let us know what you think. Taxi touts? London's famous black taxis have always been a reliable, if expensive, way to get around the city. Well the taxis aren't uniformly black anymore with the scourge of advertising now taking over from the dignified black paint. That's OK, but a new advertising wrinkle borders on the unethical. Seems London cabbies are being paid to promote commercial interests by word of mouth. So your friendly driver may "talk you up" about an online gambling service or some other commercial venture! Are we in London or Hong Kong? Rickshaws are something you expect to see in Asian cities, but there are over 300 of the people-powered carts plying the roads of London's West End, especially in the theatre district. They are not currently regulated, so fares and safety can be a concern. Personal observation: given London's traffic, taking a rickshaw looks risky. Rail Coping Compared to the US, Britain has an excellent rail network, but delays and fare increases are taking a toll. What can a visitor do? First, be aware of potential delays and build some flexibility into your travel plans. Second, compare the cost of renting a car to taking the train. Finally, try to book cheaper advanced purchase (APEX) rail fares. For more info on rail schedules check the National Rail website—click Timetables on the Web. This site brings up rail timetables (you enter your starting/ending points) and you can check ticket prices. The site also links to online ticket sellers, e either the individual train operating companies or one of the services like TheTrainLine.com. London Overground? Everyone's familiar with the Underground (aka the Tube) with its "roundel" signs, but soon London visitors will see a similar orange sign with the words London Overground. This is because Transport For London, the official public transportation organization took over operations of the above-ground North London Railway in 2007 and will operate the expanded East London Railway when it opens in 2010. Both lines are considered critical links for the 2012 Olympics. Money matters VAT takes a holiday (sort of) The United Kingdom's nasty Value Added Tax stood at a whopping 17.5% before being temporarily rolled back in 2009 to "just" 15%. VAT is applied to nearly every purchase and many services in the UK. Tourists can recover some of the VAT they paid, but generally only on larger purchases (and not on hotels, meals, etc). So visitors who travel before 2010 stand to save 2% during this VAT mini-holiday. Wither the dollar? In late 2008, the US dollar took a dramatic upswing against the UK pound (after several years of decline) In 2009, the dollar/pound exchange rate has swung back again somewhat, but is still relatively healthy. Of course, the current financial climate makes predicting currency values impossible. Look here for a bit of perspective. Scam Alert! Dynamic currency conversion, credit card/ATM fees One of the good things about using a credit card or ATM card while in the UK, or anywhere abroad, is that you can get a good currency conversion rate from the credit card companies. But credit card companies and banks are adding all kinds of fees, hidden charges, and dubious practices to milk a bit more money from travelers. Click here to find out how to fight back and avoid fees. The best way to pay London is not an inexpensive destination, but there is no sense in paying extra to convert US dollars into British pounds. Here are a few tips:
Money saving tips Take advantage of "pound saving" tips on your trip to London. See our article in the TravelMuse website. And look around...TravelMuse is one of the most vibrant new travel sites to come along in quite a while). Theater/Theatre The play's the thing London's Globe Theatre is a must see for Shakespeare fans. And check here for information on the Royal Shakespeare Company's London season. In summer, Shakespeare and other plays are offered at the Open Air theatre located in Regent's Park. Half Price Theatre Tickets The official half priced ticket outlet in London's Leicester Square has a new, familiar name. The booth sports the ttks logo, just like its counterparts in New York and other cities. For info, check the London theater society's webpage. The website now lists shows for which tickets are available. |
Events, Exhibits and Special Offers Not that you have to look for things to do in London, but here are some special events that may be of interest over the next few months: Christmas is coming, the lights are turning on... Big doings this year in London in conjunction with traditional holiday lights in shopping districts:
Hard to believe that it has been 500 years since Henry VIII became King of England. It seems like just yesterday that Henry was killing off wives, upsetting popes, and setting an example for gluttons everywhere. To "celebrate,",Historic Royal Palaces has special events onging throughout 2009 at the Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace. London
and The Da Vinci Code Can ya dig it? There's an excess of monkey business these days at the London Zoo's new Gorilla Kingdom exhibit. Unfortunately, seeing the huge beasts isn't cheap—a family ticket to the zoo runs nearly $100! The zoo has also just opened a new aviary where exotic birds fly "free" in natural-looking environments. On the BIG screens From space adventures to dinosaurs—the IMAX screen at London's Science Museum has some of the "biggest" movies in town. Another stop for IMAX fans has to be the British Film Institute's London IMAX Theatre. The Wimbledon tennis championship is 22 June to 5 July. Not that many tourists manage to get tickets, but the impact is felt nevertheless. Hotels in London, especially upscale properties, are often booked during the period. Planning to visit during Wimbledon? For information check the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club website. More helpful stuff—whatever it may be Making the grade Britain has two offical hotel/b&b ratings systems: one operated by the British Automobile Association; the other run by VisitBritain, the tourism agency. Both rate accomodations using a series of stars for quality, service, and facilities. But a new study shows that only 23 percent of London's b&bs/guest accomodations participate in the ratings program (over 60 percent of the city's hotels are rated). There are concentrations of lower-cost, unrated b&bs and small hotels in areas like Earls Court, Kings Cross, Paddington, and Victoria, according to the study. Smoke free UK! A ban on smoking in England's restaurants, pubs and other public places began July 1, 2007. A ban started in Wales on April 2. England and Wales join Scotland and the Republic of Ireland in a major change in pub atmosphere. The Long and Winding Road ...actually the short and straight pedestrian crosswalk, but a famous one, can be seen on a live webcam. Click here to see a live webcast from the famous Beatles' site—the Abbey Road pedestrian crossing. Can Harry Potter Rescue Tourism ? Harry Potter movie idol Daniel Radcliffe has become the youngest person to have his portrait placed in London's National Portrait Gallery. The Gallery is not usually a "Potter Tour" stop, but that might change. Mr. Radcliffe also now appears at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum too. The British Tourism Authority is on the Potter bandwagon with special publications. We're longtime Harry Potter fans too, so if your young wizard asks about a trip to England to visit Hogwarts, drop us a line (the email address is on the bottom of the page). Click here for our expanded Harry Potter page
Recent reports indicate that up to 10,000 foxes (yes, wild canines) live in London, roaming neighborhoods, killing the Queen's flamingos, disturbing garbage, and otherwise enjoying their adopted urban environment. How much for that room? According to a study by LaSalle Hotels and The Economist newspaper, London hotels are the most expensive of any major city in the world! Using an index pegged to, of all things, the relative cost of a McDonald's Big Mac, London hotels average 70 percent higher than New York City! That said, the current state of tourism offers surprisingly good deals on accommodations for families in central London upscale hotels. The advantage to a hotel in right downtown is simple—you don’t waste valuable vacation time commuting every day to reach the attractions of central London. For more information check the Hotels pages of OnOurOwnInLondon.com If you have a favorite central London hotel, send us an email. Where's the White Tower? Scaffolding will cover portions of the central White Tower at the Tower of London through 2010. Repairs are being made to the stone walls and roof of the building. Museum of London reinventing itself The Museum of London is currently renovating its lower level with a planned reopening in the spring of 2010. Upper level galleries remain open. This might be a good time to explore the museum's Docklands location. The Monument reopens The Monument commemorates the 1666 Great Fire that destroyed most of medieval London. Visitors can once again climb the 300+ steps to the top of The Monument and be rewarded with a view of the city. Rub a brass Brass rubbing is a great rainy-day activity, especially for visiting families. There are two brass rubbing centers in central London: The St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church location is just off Traflagar Square; All Hallows by the Tower Church also offers brass rubbings adjacent to the Tower of London. Hours at All Hallows are limited. A walk in the trees Kew Botanic Gardens has a new walkway in the treetops that gives a unique perspective of the Gardens' tall trees. Not for the acrophobic! Historic Royal Palaces memberships Tickets to the Tower of London and Hampton Court don't come cheap. Now the agency that operates these popular sites (along with Kensington Palace and others) is offering annual memberships. It looks like the breakeven point for the pass is for anyone who plans to visit more than two sites. Ben Franklin museum The house the Ben Franklin stayed in during his tenure in London is open to the public as a museum dedicated to the American statesman, inventor, and author of pithy sayings. For more info, check the Benjamin Franklin House website. Welcome back Saatchi The Saatchi Gallery occupied some highly visible real estate in its former County Hall location, just a short stroll from the London Eye. The gallery closed at that site and has now reopened near Sloane Square in Chelsea. Admission is free. Cabinet War Rooms The cabinet war rooms, Churchill's World War II command bunker, has become a popular tourist attraction in central London. A new section of the wartime underground warren—the Churchill Museum— opened in February 2005. For information, see our Washington Post article on the Churchill Museum. War? What is it good for? Absolutely nothing, but the subject is still fascinating and London's Imperial War Museum is one of the best anywhere. Admission is free, except to special exhibits. Parliamentary Tours Overseas visitors are no longer allowed to tour the Parliament buildings with two exceptions:
Clarence House, Buckingham Palace summer openings Prince Charles' residence, Clarence House, is opened to visitors during August and September, much like Buckingham Palace. Click for details. Museums for free Many national museums in Britain no longer charge admission fees. In London, the Science Museum, National History Museum, and others are free, or almost free, to all visitors. What you will find is that, while general admission is free, special exhibits, movies and the like are extra....sometimes quite a bit extra. For a list of what's free (and what's not) click here London Eye Visitors can book tickets online for this popular ferris wheel attraction. Go to the London Eye website and click on the Booking section. Also, don't discount just walking up to the ticket office and seeing if you can buy a ticket—that worked fine for us at 8 p.m. on a busy Saturday in June. The guards ceremonies at Buckingham Palace and the Horse Guards are full of military pomp and circumstance. For information on the dates and times of the ceremonies check the "Queen’s website". St. Paul's Cathedral has been undergoing restoration and a significant portion of the work is now done. The results are worth seeing. The most underwhelming London monument The London Stone—sounds significant doesn't it? But this mysterious block of stone is one of London's least impressive sights, housed in a case in a Cannon Street sporting goods store (and barely visible from the sidewalk outside). Roman relic, pre-Roman altar, distance marker? No one is really sure what the stone is about, but it has enough history to have been mentioned by Shakespeare and Dickens. Because the building around it is being demolished, the stone is being temporarily moved to the Museum of London. LateNight London Visitors often wonder what to do in London after most tourist attractions close (and many of them do close by 5:00 p.m. or so). One possibility is take in a show at the British Film Institute's IMAX theatre. Check the BFI webpage for information on IMAX offerings. In the art museum arena, the Royal Academy is opens until 8:30, National Portrait Gallery until 9:00, and the Tate Modern until 10:00 on Friday nights. Fire damages Greenwich's Cutty Sark The tall ship Cutty Sark, which began a 3 year reconstruction in October 2006, was heavily damaged by fire in May of 2007. The fate of the historic ship is unclear . The only surviving tea clipper ship has been a popular attraction drydocked in Greenwich. |
