Trip to London, advise needed please

Crazychik

Hi,

myself & my family (2adults & 2 children DS 10 (will be 11 when we go) and DD age 7) are hoping for a long weekend trip to London over the Easter break.
We will be staying with relatives, to use as a base for our adventure.

Anyway, now the kids are slightly older to appreciate things more, we have decided to take a sight seeing tour.

Here is what's on the list so far

Buck Palace
Kensington Palace
Trafalgar Square & Leicester Square
Covent Garden
China Town
London/Tower Brigde
Big Ben - Houses of Parliament
London Eye (how much for a family ticket?)
Science & National History Museum (where abouts are these situated?)
Greenwich (can we still get here via taxi boat from the thames embankment?)


Anyway, as its been 14yrs since I lived there, my knowledge of the underground/trains is slightly poor now. And even the locations of the above mentioned. I would like a refresher course please.

If possible, if someone can help me, possibly point out, which spots are closer together, which can be done within walking distance, or even go by tube, so Im not travelling from one side of the city to see one spot, then travel across the capital for another!

How much is the daily rate now for an underground all zone pass/ticket?
And where would be the best place to start, so we can cram as much sight seeing in, during our short stay!

Oh - and I forgot to mention, what tube lines I need to use.

Many Thanks in advance

stu3105

Evening Crazychick.

I'll probably only be able to help you with some of the queeries, so here goes.

Purchase a daily travel pass form any station after 9.30 am this costs £6.70 per adult and gives you unlimited travel, trains,tube and buses within zones 1-6.

Jump onto a number 9 bus outside Charing X station to its destination at Hammersmith. This route will cover a great deal of Londons finest locations. eg Traf Sq, Pall Mall,Piccadilly Circus(get off here and walk up Shaftesbury Avenue j/w Wardour St and have a fantastic cheap lunch at the Won Kei restaurant in Chinatown), Ritz,Royal Albert Hall (get off here and walk to Science and Natural History Museum) ,Albert Memorial. High Street Kensington.

Another great Bus Route.

Number 15 bus, This starts at Paddington station (also can be caught on the Aldwych). This bus will cover Oxford Circus, Marble Arch, Traf Sq, Courts of justice, Tower Hill(bridge) and through the city to Poplar.
Now from Poplar you can take the foot tunnel under the Thames to Greenwich, this pops up next to the river buses that will take you back to Westminster Pier by the Houses of Parliament.

Take the bus rather than the tube, both of these routes take about 30 mins for a 1 way journey, get the kids onto the bus first to grab the front seats upstairs,you will all see loads and will be able to get off and on when you like to re-discover this great city.

Have a great time.
(starting to wish I was coming with you all).

cheers

Crazychik

Wow, thats a lot of info, thankyou for taking time out to write it all out for me. I will keep this safe!

Your welcome to tag along! After all - I owe you a drink now for this info!

Thanks again!

richardw

You forgot to mention the complimentary green tea at Wong Kei's and that service is not included, and a tip is appreciated.

Number 15 also goes past St Paul's.

Bus Maps http://www.tfl.gov.uk/buses/buses_map.asp

alanrowell

Crazychik wrote:

Buck Palace
Kensington Palace
Trafalgar Square & Leicester Square
Covent Garden
China Town
London/Tower Brigde
Big Ben - Houses of Parliament
London Eye (how much for a family ticket?)
Science & National History Museum (where abouts are these situated?)
Greenwich (can we still get here via taxi boat from the thames embankment?)

It's the NATURAL History Museum and like the Science (and V&A) museums it's at South Kensington. You could then get a bus up the road to Kensington Palace

all of the following are in a very small area of London and are easily walkable

Buck Palace
Trafalgar Square & Leicester Square
Covent Garden
China Town
Big Ben - Houses of Parliament
London Eye

Best thing to do is get the Tube to Westminster and exit the Tube station at the Bridge Street exit - then look up.

London Bridge is a concrete bridge and so has zero tourist interest, Tower Bridge is by The Tower of London and it's not too far to St Paul's Cathedral, Millennium Bridge & Tate Modern. It's also by a DLR station from where you can get to Greenwich - tip get off at Island Gardens, walk to the water's edge, enjoy the view, then take the free pedestrian tunnel to Greenwich. You can then get a boat back

Use this map of Central London which shows you where things are.

The TFL website will tell you more than you'd ever want to know about transport in London and Visit London will tell you about the sights including links to their websites

Sam_Bee

I was at Wong Kei's last night. If you're not familiar, they are famous for having the rudest staff in London! Enjoy the snarls and sultry staff attitude!

Great, cheap food though!

Crazychik

Sam_Bee wrote:

I was at Wong Kei's last night. If you're not familiar, they are famous for having the rudest staff in London! Enjoy the snarls and sultry staff attitude!

Great, cheap food though!

Sounds like fun! It sounds like a bar/restaurant I go to when visiting Ichmeler, Turkey, its called Captain Bullsh!t

Thanks to alanrowell for that info also.

Looking forward to it allready!

Actiongirl_2

Crazychik wrote:

Hi,

myself & my family (2adults & 2 children DS 10 (will be 11 when we go) and DD age 7) are hoping for a long weekend trip to London over the Easter break.
We will be staying with relatives, to use as a base for our adventure.

Anyway, now the kids are slightly older to appreciate things more, we have decided to take a sight seeing tour.

Here is what's on the list so far

Buck Palace
Kensington Palace
Trafalgar Square & Leicester Square
Covent Garden
China Town
London/Tower Brigde
Big Ben - Houses of Parliament
London Eye (how much for a family ticket?)
Science & National History Museum (where abouts are these situated?)
Greenwich (can we still get here via taxi boat from the thames embankment?)


Anyway, as its been 14yrs since I lived there, my knowledge of the underground/trains is slightly poor now. And even the locations of the above mentioned. I would like a refresher course please.

If possible, if someone can help me, possibly point out, which spots are closer together, which can be done within walking distance, or even go by tube, so Im not travelling from one side of the city to see one spot, then travel across the capital for another!

How much is the daily rate now for an underground all zone pass/ticket?
And where would be the best place to start, so we can cram as much sight seeing in, during our short stay!

Oh - and I forgot to mention, what tube lines I need to use.

Many Thanks in advance

You need to apply for OYSTER cards or TFL will fleece you of all your budgeted money! They are really easy to get online, load with prepaid cash (you don't have to have a season ticket) and it means you can buy travel cards cheaper than if you are just rocking up at the station. I am not sure if you need to get one each, but whichever way you look at it, you will save.

You can use your oyster on the bus too.

If you aren't comfortable with doing this online (I know my mum wouldnt be!) then I think you can still buy a carnet of ten tickets.

Do trafalgar, then walk up to leicester, then soho/china town and then covent garden. All in the same vicinity, no need for public transport.

You can get a boat to Greenwich from Embankment (a short walk from trafalgar sq, or northern and district/circle line), then on your return, get off at the boat stop at Tower Bridge to see the Tower of London.

You can use clubcard vouchers, or airmiles or get 2 4 1 with some train tickets to go on the London eye. If you can't find any deals, ring the London Tourist people and see if they have any offers. I bet you they will do!

Cant think of anything else. Have a fab time!

alison74

Thanks for this info and thanks to the OP for posting as I'm off to London in March (to stay at The Hoxton ) so this has come in handy.

Lemmy_Caution

You have chosen some good places to visit, (as a sort of London starter kit) enjoy! Though I am no fan of all it represents, Kensington Palace is definitely worth a visit. You can't really get a bus there from the Museums part of Kensington, you will have to walk up Exhibition Road towards Hyde Park. You will pass the Albert Hall and the Albert Memorial (hmm!)
Second point: Don't buy a travel card for Zones 1-6. Oyster is best for you, but if you do get a card: Zones 1-4 is the most you will need, (bearing in mind you are gong to Greenwich) but I think that a 1-2 zone ticket will do you. You can get a boat from the Eye (Waterloo Pier) to Greenwich.
Third point:Start at Covent Garden, walk across to ChinaTown which is just north of Leicester Square, which you walk down to. Then just a short walk down to Trafalgar Square, and from there, you will see that you can catch a bus (if you are not thoroughly exhausted you can walk) down to Big Ben. Where you can walk across Westminster Bridge, and as we all know 'Earth has not anything to show more fair' - except for now when they are doing some sort of reconstruction works on it.

Crazychik

Wow, even more great advise still coming in. Very much appreciated.

Ive done the sight seeing before, but that was 14yrs ago. Just thought it would be nice for quality time as a family. And also a quick reminder of places/transport, etc.

Enjoy your trip Alison74.

How and where to get these OYSTER cards from? You say on-line, but what's the best site to use?

Thanks again