Visiting London - Ideas? (1 Viewer)

[Judge Smails]

Never been. Been to Scotland for a buddies golfing trip, and to Paris + several cities in Italy but never London. Want to go there and Ireland (born on St. Patrick's Day - so it's a must). Heard just how expensive London is. Is it really that expensive compared to Paris, or cities like New York, etc?

 

[msommer]

For some reason, every flight to London gets there around 10 AM. You will be dead tired because plane sleep sucks balls and you haven't had real sleep for 24 hours. DO NOT NAP. Stay up until 8 PM minimum, or you'll have jet lag for your whole trip.

....
Eat lots of Indian food. London probably has the best in the world.

Effing Excellent points!

 

[jamny]

For some reason, every flight to London gets there around 10 AM. You will be dead tired because plane sleep sucks balls and you haven't had real sleep for 24 hours. DO NOT NAP. Stay up until 8 PM minimum, or you'll have jet lag for your whole trip.

Effing Excellent points!

Not for everyone.

When we go to Europe and get there in the am, we usually will stay up for a few hours, have lunch and nap for about 3 or 4 hours. Getting up around 5 or 6pm and staying awake until like midnight or so helps us to adjust for the different time zone. Up early the next day and ready to go. I couldn't make it to 8pm, especially after a bottle of wine with lunch or a few beers.

 

[heckmanm]

Great comments here. Seems like most people are saying don't bother leaving London unless it's for Paris or maybe Edinburgh. I figured there'd be a lot of people here with experience in London that this would be a good thread to start.

How long will you be there? You can easily spend 1-2 weeks in London and not come close to running out of things to see.

If you're there longer, Bath is a great day trip. I'd skip Scotland and Paris for Dublin and other parts of Ireland if you're feeling truly adventurous. Simple train-ferry combo gets you there. Can't miss with the Guinness Brewery. The Book of Kells is pretty cool too. Plus, pubs and irish people.

Loosely assuming like 1 week total. I have been to Dublin and enjoyed it, but no real desire to go back there because I've seen a lot of the main sights just a few years ago.

There is nothing set in stone yet, I just kinda wanted to put feelers out to see what kind of things we could expect. I know London is a massive world-famous, Alpha city, but I had no idea there was so much to do just right there.

Seems like Paris could be an option for a short trip too, I knew it was close but didn't realize it was THAT close.

It isn't really THAT close. You can take the chunnel from St. Pancras. It's a 3 hour shot (4 with the time change). Tickets are not cheap. Certainly do-able, but both London and Paris are cities you can spend two full weeks in and not get bored...trying to share a week between the two...you'll miss a lot. I'm sure you can hit the highlights, if that's what you're looking for.

Tasker, I know you're something of a . If you're going to go through the chunnel, go to Brussels

 

[MarcO]

Street art in East London - Dalston / Brick Lane / Shoreditch area

 

[urbanhack]

London --> Amsterdam --> Paris

5 days in each staring March 6.

What's the best tube/bus pass for 4/5 days? Buy an Oyster card when we get to Heathrow?

 

[Steve Tasker]

Tasker, I know you're something of a . If you're going to go through the chunnel, go to Brussels

I'm hopefully doing a long honeymoon trip to hit a couple mainland countries next summer, Belgium is on the list 100%.

 

[SWC]

i will try to let you kknow if the milwaukee bucks are playing anywhere in europe when you are on your honeymoon trip take that to the bank bromigo

 

[Tick]

London --> Amsterdam --> Paris

5 days in each staring March 6.

What's the best tube/bus pass for 4/5 days? Buy an Oyster card when we get to Heathrow?

I think so. Used to be a week pass for something like that, but now I think you need an Oyster card.