LONDON: I Wanna Return!!
Written: Feb 05 '03 (Updated Jun 13 '09)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great pubs and they speak English, well sort of
Cons: Rush hour traffic most hours of the day
The Bottom Line: London is a mix of the history of many dead folk of old and good humored people in modern times.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: London |
The business I am in has brought me to London twice. Both times my wife and I were with a business partner and his wife. We all managed to mix our work with free time. In this review I will be talking about both trips
GETTING THERE
We arrived in London's Heathrow Airport early in the morning after taking a red eye flight. I found Heathrow to be very large but with the moving sidewalks we quickly got to our transportation. The first time we took a bus and the ride seemed to never end. It did shuttle between major hotels. Our stop was one of the last. The second time we had someone from the business pick us up in a car. Getting to the city was much easier and quicker this way. A cab ride would cost about $75.00. The Underground can be taken and that would cost about $10.00 per person.
I found the outskirts of London much like the suburbs of New York. Some shopping malls and old buildings mixed with the new. The city of London itself had much more character.
GETTING AROUND TOWN
We traveled around the city by walking, taking the tubes, and flagging down taxis. The tubes are much more modern and cleaner than their NY counterpart. I liked them. We used them for some of the further distances in the city and also for a side trip to Windsor and Eaton. This trip is well worth doing. The trains were smooth and quiet.
I enjoyed the cabs even more. It seems to me that the cabbies in London are more professional than NY cabbies in that they certainly know the town well. The problem with cabs is that they share the road with many other cabs and the moving about town in London is very slow. One night we were going to a show and decided to exit the cab and walk the last few blocks. We did much better that way. Hailing a cab at night was possible but we did have to wait quite a while.
On the last trip my wife and I rented a car to travel some of the English country side on our last few days there. We traveled to the Cotswolds. That area is a day drive from London and I recommend it. We also spent a couple of days in Bath. We made a visit to Stonehenge while on the road. The car was delivered to our hotel and the rates were much in line with the prices in the States. The cars ,however, seem to have the steering wheel on the wrong side of the car and they also drive on the wrong side of the road. I found little problem getting used to it. I did however train myself a bit. While riding in the cabs I would observe the way the driver directed the vehicle on the road and mentally drove the vehicle. This technique worked for me. Do not rent a car and stay in the city. Parking is a nightmare.
PLACES TO SEE
What I loved about London was the sightseeing. On one of the trips we did an event in the Banqueting House. This was part of the original Whitehall Palace. It is gorgeous inside. The ceilings boast original paintings by Ruben. The history of this place included the beheading of King Charles I. He walked right out of one of the windows of the place to his executioners. I got to spend a lot of time at this place on my own. It was closed for the affair we did and we were there hours before. I was left to explore the deepest corners of the place on my own. It was a thrill. I purchased a book that gives the history of the place. I thumb through it every so often and think about the place. It left a mark on me.
The Banqueting House is just across the street from the Horse Guards Parade. This is on part of the rout for some of the recent funerals of Englands' Royalty. There is a changing of the guard here. It isn't quite as elaborate as Buckingham Palaces' but at the same time the crowds are much smaller. I recommend seeing it here.
We were sure to check out the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace too. It is pomp at it's finest. Hey, you can't get those guards to even blink. The ceremony takes about half an hour and is interesting to observe. What you can see of Buckingham Palace is beautiful. It is huge and yet has charm. This is the official residence of the Queen.
MORE TO SEE
One day we spent time in the Tate Gallery. It holds some fantastic art work. We then took a long walk north and took in The Houses of Parliament, and Westminster Abby. These two are very close to each other. The site of the famous Clock Tower is one that took me by surprise. I looked up and there it was. It is quite a sight day and night.I learned that Big Ben was actually the bell inside the tower and not the clock.
Westminster Abbey is open to the public. It is very interesting with its Royal tombs within and its famous poets corner. It felt a bit strange walking on top of all these dead folks. While we were there the choir was practicing. It was wonderful listening to the voices bouncing off the high ceilings of the structure.
Another must stop for first timers is The Tower of London. We didn't know better and waited on a long line at about noon. The trick here is to be at the gates at opening time. This is another place that is a bit spooky with its tales of death. I found this place a bit haunting after you listen to all these stories. The guards there are willing to talk to you and tell all. Did you know there are ravens walking all around the grounds of the castle? I asked about it and it seems their wings are clipped and they make their home at this "joyous" site. One of them found a home sitting on top of the stump where many a head rolled.
After doing a tour of the castle, checking out the Bloody Towers, Traitors' Gate, and the Armory, where the different tools of torture and death were displayed, we waited on line to see the Crown Jewels. My goodness, they are UNBELIEVABLE!!!
DOLLARS TO POUNDS
While thinking about it, money was easy to exchange while there. Banks were a better source than the more expensive hotels and airport exchanges but the easiest way is just use an ATM card. You get a good exchange rate and they are easily found. No reason to have too much cash at any time.
CALORIES TO POUNDS
We had some wonderful adventures eating out. We hit a couple of really great pubs. I see they are a way of life in England. Be sure to get a taste of it.
We were there on Thanksgiving and on that day we went out for dinner on the Thames at a Thai restaurant. The English have a wonderful, yet strange sense of humor. That night, on Thanksgiving, so we didn't feel bad about not having our traditional turkey dinner they brought out a surprise. They served us a stuffed pineapple!. We had a lot of laughs here and at other dinners. We ate out one night in an Italian restaurant. It was my partners birthday. They brought out a huge pan with just whipped cream and sang Happy Birthday with an English, Italian accent. It was a hoot!
We were sure to have some fish and chips while there. Excellent. We were surprised to find that many pubs closed down after lunch. We missed out one late afternoon when we arrived to late for lunch. We didn't get to a tea that afternoon either.
ONE MORE PLACE
Another place we went to and I really enjoyed was Madam Tussauds Wax Museum. Man are these people in London fixated on death. We saw some really life like figures. The death masks were cool too. This is a must stop.
SHOPPING
The gals got to spend a few hours shopping at Harrods while my partner and I were setting up for our event. They enjoyed it very much. We also did a few other areas while in London. Trafalgar Square was one. We spent time in Piccadilly Circus too.
A new attraction that was not complete when we were there is the Millenium Wheel. I do want to take the half hour ride on it and see London from a different angle again.
We stayed at the Chesterfield Mayfair Hotel while there. The place was wonderful and I did review it. The link can be found below. London as all cities has it's smaller and less expensive places to stay and it has some of the most expensive hotels in the world too.
THEATRE
Both times we traveled to London we went to the Theatre District to see plays. They do a "smashing" job there. We saw a production of Le Miserables. The stage was smaller than the NY production but they really brought the characters alive! It was Fantastic show. Do try to get reservations before traveling. For us our concierge was able to accommodate us.
QUICK NOTE
Just a reminder, don't bother bringing any US appliances unless you have adapters. The electric in London is different than that of the US. Most good hotels will have a hairdryer and iron with board available.
IT'S A WRAP
All in all my wife and I loved London. The people are wonderful and have a great sense of humor. The food was better than I thought it would be, the sites were very interesting and so full of history, and getting around was easy to learn how to do, even if it is a bit slow. Much was walkable. I always felt safe on the streets and restrooms were easily available throughout town. My wife and I do want to go again. I hope it's sooner rather than later!!
London is listed in the book 1,000 Places To See Before You Die. To read about the book and see some of the other listings go to
1,000 Places to See Before You Die
Other reviews of our trips to England
Chesterfield Hotel in London
http://www.epinions.com/content_81955294852
Bath
http://www.epinions.com/content_82045865604
Cotswolds
http://www.epinions.com/content_81986424452
Stonehenge and nearby Avebury
http://www.epinions.com/content_76453088900
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Couples
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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