Anyone here ever been to London?

[Way Cool Jr.]

I am think about going there for vacation next year and was wondering how expensive or cheap it is there.

How much does it cost to eat? More or less than the US.

Can I get around with a rental car?

Can I spend a week there and not run out of stuff to see?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[b0mbrman]

I'm going over the holidays...I'll let you know

 

[guaraguao]

<< How much does it cost to eat? More or less than the US. >>



More. You're lucky if you can find a can of coke for 50p. Prices for everything seem to be about the same as US bucks, except in pounds, which of course are worth more. Example: combo at mcdonalds was about 4/5 pounds.



<< Can I get around with a rental car? >>



There's obvious difficulty of learning to drive on the other side of the road, I doubt they'd even let you. Besides, rush hour traffic would eat you alive.



<< Can I spend a week there and not run out of stuff to see? >>



That depends... I went on a vacation with my family and we stayed... about 3 days if I recall correctly. That was enough time to take in everything we wanted to see... We didn't hit nightclubs or anything like that, obviously, though--if you're into that kind of thing there seemed to be plenty of it.

 

[StageLeft]

I never had to pay but any of the trips we ever took we used the subway or a cab - I wouldn't bother with a rental car. Public transport there is good and parking/traffic is not.

 

[royaldank]

My brother lives in London right now. He's been for about a year so far. I visited him last Spring for a week.

To get around, you don't need a rental car. The Tube (subway) is really good over there. It's not quite NY, but there are enough stations that getting where you need to go is never more than a 30 minute walk.

As for price...most everything over thing is about the same price in pounds as it is in dollars. But, you have to remember that the pound is about 1.4 dollars, so everything is roughly 40% higher. You'll see value meals at McD's (I use McD's value meals as a good measure of how expensive somewhere is) at 2.99 or 3.99 #s, but that means $4.50 - $6.00 in dollars. I remember seeing those scooters that were popular here while I was over there. I remembered Walgreens had them on sale before I left the states for $39.99. I saw the same scooter in a shop for 39.99 #s, so there again, you're looking at about $55.00-$60.00 in dollars. So, it can be expensive. If you are buying anything big, though, you can get the VAT (sales tax) back when you leave. So, that knocks off 17% any big purchases you might make.

I would suggest not getting a car. Also, most of the museums over there are free for the last hour or hour and a half, so I generally tried to save a few dollars and hit those late in the day.

If you go, make sure you go to the Tower of London (great!), Westminster Abby, St. Paul's Cathedral, Tate's Modern Art Museum (next to Shakespear's Globe), British Museum (free; resetta stone and lots of stolen Roman and Greek items), Trafalga Square (sort of like Times Square) and as many pubs as you can during the evening.

Cool thing about London-ers...unlike here in America, people over there hit the pubs right after work. In the states, people don't normally go out till 8, 9 or 10. Over there, people start hitting the pubs on their way home around 5:00 or 5:30. Last call in pubs is 10:30 (they close at 11:00), but you can find clubs and jazz joints that are open later. I really liked this aspect. We'd hit a pub at 5:30, drink for a few hours at a few different places, and then head home around 11:00 or so. Makes getting up the next morning alot easier for the normal person over there.

 

[royaldank]

Oh yeah, forgot this. If you want something interesting to do, you can catch EasyJet (easyjet.com) out of a couple airports for real cheap if you book far in advance. I flew over to Amsterdam for three days and it was about $70 round trip. They fly over places, too, so you could make a little cheap excursion to another city for a couple days.

I'd say you could fill up a week without much problem.

 

[cyclistca]

I am think about going there for vacation next year and was wondering how expensive or cheap it is there.

It is very, very, very, very expensive. Accommodations cost an arm and a leg. They place I stayed in was over a 100 dollars CND and it was a hole in the wall. It was right in central London though so I could walk to most of the major sites.

How much does it cost to eat? More or less than the US.

More. I think CDN it was double. Since your currency is stronger it won't be as bad for you.

Can I get around with a rental car?

Forget about it. You ca get anywhere on the tube. Besides parking in a pain in London. If you want to do a day trip there are lots of bus tours that head to the sites out of town.

Can I spend a week there and not run out of stuff to see?

You could spend a month there are not run out of things to see.

Some suggestions
- Tower of London
- Parliament
- Buckingham Palace
- Take a bus tour

Do a web search. There's tons of info out there.

 

[mithrandir2001]

I was in London about 12 years ago. It's expensive, though not much more than what you might see in major US cities. At least the Dollar is strong against Sterling right now. Forget the rental car. Not only is traffic frickin' insane, but driving on the wrong side of the street would present a difficult burden, I'd say. No, a week would not be too much time to spend. If you wanted to leave the city, the UK has plenty of rail options to get out into the countryside.

EDIT: What makes Euro travel expense is that stupid 15-17.5% VAT (Value-added tax). However, Americans are exempt and can get their VAT back if they presents receipts on return.

 

[Way Cool Jr.]

Ok...maybe someone can answer this question.

All the hotels say to take the "tube" from the airport. If I get on the subway with my luggage and carry-on's and all, am I going to look stupid? Will there be enough room? How much room can a subway car have? Should I just take a cab to the hotel?

 

[Jzero]

<< I am think about going there for vacation next year and was wondering how expensive or cheap it is there. >>



Been there twice. Things at the time were slightly more expensive. The cost of things in pounds was less than the cost of something similar in the US, but the dollar isn't worth as much. You'll see like a T-shirt for 12 BPS but that's like $18, so it was pretty much a wash. The UK idea of a luxury hotel room is not always the same as that of a US hotel room. London is an old city and a lot of the hotels are older, so they don't have crazy amenities, but the 3 I've been in were all very nice.
Watch out for heated towel bars. I've burned many an elbow.



<< How much does it cost to eat? More or less than the US. >>



Again...I'd say it's about the same. Maybe slightly more expensive. Like in the US you can eat cheap and you can eat expensively. Try and get into the local cuisine. The small pubs and eateries offer good food and beer and are often cheaper than the big chain restaurants. Try some of the local favorites--fish n chips, ploughman's lunch (hunk of cheese!), sausage rolls, shepherd's pie, bangers n mash...all that good stuff.



<< Can I get around with a rental car? >>



Well...you CAN....do you WANT to? Between the right-hand-drive, and driving on the left....couple that with the fact that London's roads can be crowded and confusing and the fact that people in London drive like maniacs (I got white knuckles just waiting to cross the street), as a personal choice, I'd definitely think twice about renting a car.
If you're concerned about getting around, the public transit system is incredibly well-constructed. You can buy week-long passcards that get you anywhere in the city by bus or tube for a fairly low price, and the system is very easy to understand. If you can make it through the subway in any major US city, you'll find the London system to be amazingly clean and easy to follow, and if you've never used a subway before, London's is pretty beginner-friendly.

If you actually want to leave the city, there are also rails to most other major towns and cities. The scenery is nice and the cars are fairly comfortable. It's a great ride.



<< Can I spend a week there and not run out of stuff to see? >>


Absolutely. I've spent 3 weeks there and saw very few things twice.

Must Sees IMHO are:
Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum
Tower of London
St. Paul's Cathedral
Westminster Abbey
Kensington (the woman loves the royal gown collection)
Some Theatre
Canterbury
Buckingham Palace/Carriage house.

Outside London I also recommend:
Dover
Brighton
Windsor Castle
Hampton Court
Greenwich

Don't bother with the changing of the guard at the Palace. If you have time to waste before you catch your flight home, maybe go see it. It's really not worth skipping other more interesting attractions.
There's a whole lot to see and do. Have fun.

 

[royaldank]

<< Ok...maybe someone can answer this question.

All the hotels say to take the "tube" from the airport. If I get on the subway with my luggage and carry-on's and all, am I going to look stupid? Will there be enough room? How much room can a subway car have? Should I just take a cab to the hotel? >>



As long as you don't have four or five bags, you wont look stupid. Most people over there use the Tube from the airport, so it's not uncommon to see people with bags and what not. But, I also suggest traveling as light as you can when traveling abroad. Makes life easier the more mobile you are. Getting a cab from Heathrow or Gatwick will cost you way too much.

Also, plan your days so that you stay in the game general areas. Then, you can buy an all day Tube ticket for whatever zone you're in and it easier and cheaper than paying each time. Most of the major sites (everything I mentioned) is within the same zone, so you spend $10 in the morning and ride the Tube all day. Just don't loose your ticket. You can get a week long ticket as well. Maybe even two or three day tickets at a discount.

 

[StageLeft]

Oh yeah if some people acost you and look like they want to beat you up say you're from Canada, not the US. They like Canada more

 

[GasX]

<< Ok...maybe someone can answer this question.

All the hotels say to take the "tube" from the airport. If I get on the subway with my luggage and carry-on's and all, am I going to look stupid? Will there be enough room? How much room can a subway car have? Should I just take a cab to the hotel? >>

You will not look stupid. I believe you'll be getting on at the first stop, so you'll have plenty of room. How big is your bag for a week? I could do that with a small backpack if I had to

As far as places to see, a lot of places have been mentioned above.

One notable exception:
The War Museum

You can go underground to Churchill's wartime bunker among other things.

London has many great museums, a great theater district, lots of sports and a million pubs.

If you want something exciting, go to a soccer match. Chelsea, Arsenal and several other teams all play in the city. Just sit with the home team fans and you'll be fine.

If you get bored in a week, you either ran out of money or are a boring person.

have fun!

 

[royaldank]

<< As far as places to see, a lot of places have been mentioned above.

One notable exception:
The War Museum

You can go underground to Churchill's wartime bunker among other things.
>>




Yeah, the Imperial War Museum is cool. Churchills bunker is cool as well (located near Westminster/Parliment/across bridge from Eye in the Sky). If you go to the Churchill's bunker, be sure and pick up the headphone guided tour. I normally don't do those, but this one is good. It will take you about an hour to an hour and a half if you listen to everything.

 

[Way Cool Jr.]

The question is not how big my bag is...it is how big is my wife's bags. You know how women are.



<<

<< Ok...maybe someone can answer this question.

All the hotels say to take the "tube" from the airport. If I get on the subway with my luggage and carry-on's and all, am I going to look stupid? Will there be enough room? How much room can a subway car have? Should I just take a cab to the hotel? >>

You will not look stupid. I believe you'll be getting on at the first stop, so you'll have plenty of room. How big is your bag for a week? I could do that with a small backpack if I had to

As far as places to see, a lot of places have been mentioned above.

One notable exception:
The War Museum

You can go underground to Churchill's wartime bunker among other things.

London has many great museums, a great theater district, lots of sports and a million pubs.

If you want something exciting, go to a soccer match. Chelsea, Arsenal and several other teams all play in the city. Just sit with the home team fans and you'll be fine.

If you get bored in a week, you either ran out of money or are a boring person.

have fun! >>

 

[StageLeft]

If you want something exciting, go to a soccer match. Chelsea, Arsenal and several other teams all play in the city. Just sit with the home team fans and you'll be fine.

LOL!

 

[Jzero]

<<

<< As far as places to see, a lot of places have been mentioned above.

One notable exception:
The War Museum

You can go underground to Churchill's wartime bunker among other things.
>>




Yeah, the Imperial War Museum is cool. Churchills bunker is cool as well (located near Westminster/Parliment/across bridge from Eye in the Sky). If you go to the Churchill's bunker, be sure and pick up the headphone guided tour. I normally don't do those, but this one is good. It will take you about an hour to an hour and a half if you listen to everything. >>



The War Museum was pretty sweet, but that stupid WWI motion Sim where they show old B&W reels and shake the thing around was NOT worht the 4 quid. Neither was the bombing sim nearly as intense as they made it out to be. Still cool artifacts, though.

 

[cyclistca]

Another way to get from the airport to the center on London is by bus. There are a few private bus companies that will pick you up and drop you off downtown. I still think the fastest way in by the tube. Yes you feel kind of weird with you luggage but lots of people do it. There's a station right at the airport. I had no problems.

 

[khtm]

<< How much does it cost to eat? More or less than the US. >>
More. Food is more, beer is similar in price.

<< Can I get around with a rental car? >>
Yep, but keep in mind the traffic is crazy and finding a parking spot is a bitch. You're basically encouraged to bump your way out of a spot because people part sooo close.

<< Can I spend a week there and not run out of stuff to see? >>
Probably - be SURE to go clubbin', though, if you don't do anything else

-khtm-

 

[freegeeks]

you can also take a cab from the airport -- enjoy the rally style driving

been there for 10 days and it's pretty fun --
visit all the pubs you can

 

[Haircut]

Despite only living around 150 miles from London I have only ever been there for a weekend, but here is my advice on things.

Food is expensive in London, but I would think you would be better going with small, local takeaways/restaurants rather than McDonalds or the like.
One thing you must have is a donner kebab - it is the food of kings.

Beer is also expensive in London, you will probably be paying around £2.50 ($3.50) for a pint of beer. Be warned if you are used to American beer, a British pint is 20oz and if you are drinking something like Stella which is 5.2% it has a lot more alcohol than an American beer.

As others have said you will probably not need a car as the tube and buses are very good.


Lastly, come up to Manchester while you are over it is much better (and a lot cheaper) up here

 

[LethalWolfe]

I spent 3 months in London in '00 and I never ran out of things to see (granted I went to other places in the UK and Europe, but 80% of my time was in London).

Things are most expensive in London thanx to the exhange rate (mostly). For example, when I was there it was ~$1.60=1 pound.

And don't worry 'bout getting a rental car. Get a bus+tube (subway) travel pass while your there and it will be much more convient and cheaper then fvcking w/a rental car. I got a one month zone 1+2 (central London) pass for 50pounds, and you can get day and week long passes too. Walking thru London is one of the best parts of being there, you shouldn't be stuck in a car. Speaking of cars, be careful of taxies, they can be freakin' expensive, and screw you since you don't know yer way around.

I'd recommend going to your local bookstore and buying a "Lonely Planet" and/or "Let's Go" guide to London. These books will give you lots of good info. Not just stuff to see (and the best times to see it) but also things like, the tubes and normal buses stop running between 11pm-midnight depending on where you are. So if yer gonna be out late you either need to take extra money w/you for a taxi, or figure out the night Bus schedule and routes.


Lethal