Going to London on saturday

p00hsticks

liuhutOz wrote: »

We are coming over the England from Australia and have got 3 days in London. We have tickets for Buckingham Palace for one day, the science musuem and Natural History another, then Tower of London on the last day. Do you think that it would be best to do the bus tour on our last day, I'm thinking we might need to grab a taxi and do a whirlwind tour! We have two teenagers with us.
Also we are staying near St Pancras, any good restaurants to recommend?
Sorry to jump on the thread but it seemed pointless creating a new one :-)

You could use the Thames Clippers (commuter boats) to travel to or from the Tower, and you'll then get to see a good few sights depending on where you board - if you buy some cheap train tickets (or paper travel cards for the tube) you can use them to get 2-4-1 River Roamer tickets that give you all day hop-on hop-off travel on the Clippers (and will also probably get you 2-4-1 entry to the Tower if you haven't already bought tickets )

http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/


There are also loads of threads on visiting London over on the UK Days out board, the subject comes up a lot.

Corelli

Loads of good advice given already, but it is worth thinking about using normal buses rather than the tour buses. The no 11 route is recommended. I looked for it on your behalf, having seen it mentioned on a local family FB group. http://www.londondrum.com/events/?p=17339

bouicca21

And for the Aussies, remember, in England you tip in restaurants, but not in pubs. Almost the best thing about Australia is the no tip culture.

Corelli

bouicca21 wrote: »

And for the Aussies, remember, in England you tip in restaurants, but not in pubs. Almost the best thing about Australia is the no tip culture.

On the other hand, if you are pleased with the service in a pub, do feel free to tip.

Pub staff get paid poorly as well. I know that people in all the hospitality trade should get a decent wage and not be reliant on tips, but they don't. I speak as the mother of someone who has worked in pubs and coffee shops and other places where people eat and drink and as she does not yet qualify for an adult wage she and her partner struggle. A tip can make a big difference to her and other people in her situation.

Mind you, just some extra recognition can be nice for anyone. She was chatting to a customer and looking after them. When that customer left they gave her some chocolates they had with them, She was very happy about that too.

fabforty

You will need to get an Oyster card or bring contactless debit card for the buses, as they don't take cash anymore. The TFL website has useful information including planning your route once you arrive in the capital.


https://tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payments/

Primrose

Expect everywhere to be expensive foodwise if you're eating out in London and not taking a packed lunch. One place to eat if you're around Trafalgar Square is in the large cafe in the Crypt of St Martins In the Field just across the road From the Square. It,s not terribky well signposted but head foe the church and yiu'll see the spiral staircase going downstairs.

benjus

Disagree about eating at a chain restaurant. London has probably the most extensive selection of food in the country - why would you go and eat exactly the same food you can eat in your home town?

Plenty of street food places if you're on a budget - personally I really like the Ropewalk area at Maltby Street ( http://www.timeout.com/london/shopping/maltby-street-se1 ) just near the south side of Tower Bridge. It does get busy these days though...

spartacusthe1st

Thanks everyone for all your input

minerva_windsong

Reggie_Rebel wrote: »

Westminster is walk-able from Victoria. Then Trafalgar Square is a twenty minute walk up Whitehall, you'll probably take half an hour looking at the sights. If the tube doesn't appeal try one of the open top bus tours.

Further to this, I would say don't waste money on an 'official' bus tour. Get an Oyster card (it's a £5 deposit but you'll get it back if you return it at the end of the day) or a Zone 1 day travelcard - or use contactless payment - and get on a number 15 red Routemaster at Trafalgar Square. It goes around most of the major sites in the City and will cost you £1.40-ish with the Oyster card or included in your travelcard price, compared to about a tenner with an official tour.

Also agree with going up to Covent Garden to see the buskers and have a wander round, and with those who suggested St James's Park.

spartacusthe1st

Where can I get a travel card from?