London Virgins

Kantankrus_Mare

We live in Lincs and thought we would take our teenagers to London for a few days in September to see the sights etc.

Have booked a room at the Maida vale Marriott for three nights. I have Tesco points which will pay for this.

Travelling by coach which seems cheapest way to do it.

If I have enough Tesco points left Id like to go to Madame Tussauds, Dungeons, London Eye and two days travel on the original London tour bus.

Is there anything else worth our while seeing while in London that locals can advise on? Or can anyone advise on where is reasonable to eat close to Maida Vale?

McAzrael

One for the kids:
http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/

Kantankrus_Mare

Thanks for that! And its free

susancs

The Natural history museum next door to the science museum is great and also free and in an impressive building. The Victoria and Albert is across the road and free (they have donation box). You are near Hyde Park (leads into Kensington gardens) in Maida Vale and you can hire a row boat on the serpentine lake (Hyde Park) to the little Island in the middle. The Diana memorial peter pan park in Kensington gardens (free) is nice, but maybe a bit young for teenagers. There is a canal boat in Little venice, Maida Vale that does trips.The tower of London is great and if getting a travel card (aft 9.30 for unlimited use on buses and tubes, under 16s pay £1, adults zones 1-4 £5.90), you can get 2 for 1 vouchers from here for the tower and other attractions.
http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/
London shows are great and if you go to the theatre the show is on at for 10am, you can see tops shows in good seats for about £20-£25 that night. Also keep and eye on msn theatre threads for offers. Even wandering around central London at night is fun, as artists are out doing portraits, buskers etc.Camden Lock market is great for teenagers as great atmosphere and trendy. Covent Garden has people doing mime shows etc and has an old church nearby. If doing the orginal London tour, it is worth upgrading to the choice menu on the day as it is only £3 each for fish and chips at the sherlock Holmes pub for lunch/early dinner 12-6pm.

Kantankrus_Mare

Thanks Susan some great ideas there and the bonus being they wont cost the earth. Cheers

[Deleted User]

Maida vale is pretty close to where I work (nr Paddington).. it's not central london but it isn't far on the tube.

I quite like Bayswater for eating out - There's some nice chains (Gourmet burger company) and a whole range of different restaurants. It's not a tourist area, so the prices are just 'London prices' not 'London tourist (Leicester sq)' prices. From Maida vale, you get the bakerloo line to Paddington, then change to the circle line.

I'd suggest Kew gardens.. but it'll just bore the kids. I like the natural history museum and science museum myself. There's a good naval/maritime museum in greenich (home of the meridian line) also.

If you want some 'real london' head for a curry in Brick lane. It's as multicultural as you get.

Kantankrus_Mare

Practical advice! Thanks. Scares me witless the thought of navigating the underground lol :rotfl:

We plan to get off the coach at Marble arch..........would that leave us far from the Maida Vale Marriott?

Jem8472

Madia vale is a nice hotel I have stayed there before.

I guess you have been etting the vouchers from tescos for BOGOF days out, you might be able to use them for some attractions.

I am not sure of places to eat near the hotel, but breakfast there is lovelly, if you have never stayed in a Marriott before you are in for a real treat!!!!!!!!!!

[Deleted User]

Well.. have a look:
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=Marble+Arch,+Oxford+St,+Westminster,+London,+United+Kingdom&daddr=maida+vale+mariot&mra=pe&mrcr=0&sll=52.908635,-4.022689&sspn=3.618071,12.041016&ie=UTF8&ll=51.524392,-0.170975&spn=0.029158,0.09407&z=14

It's just over 2 miles.. basically a straight line up Edgeware road (rather busy road that cuts right through london)

You can hop on a bus (probably easiest) or take a multi-stage tube journey (Marble arch->paddington->Kilburn Park). If you've got a lot of bags, you may wish to consider a taxi.. however it will probably be a £10 journey.

Get some oyster cards. It's expensive traveling in london but Oyster cards are a way to control the costs. You pay £3 deposit for a card, then top money up at most newsagents/tube stations. Have a look at www.tfl.gov.uk for lots of info about travel in london (and oyster cards). Oyster cards can be used on the tube and buses.

From where you are staying, you could get the train (not tube) round to Camden.. that'd be quite an experience

If you are made of money, i can recommend the most amazing restaurant in St Johns wood (about 1.5 miles from your hotel).. but it's £48 per head for dinner...

Jem8472

Kantankrus_Mare wrote: »

Practical advice! Thanks. Scares me witless the thought of navigating the underground lol :rotfl:

We plan to get off the coach at Marble arch..........would that leave us far from the Maida Vale Marriott?

Its strait up (I think from memory) edgeware road, but it is a bit of a hike if you have cases and stuff prob be best either getting the bus or tube up there.

go on tfl and that will have bus routes and tube stops.

susancs

The tube is great and although busy gets you around London very quickly. it really is fairly easy. I would advise you to plan your journeys if only going for a few days. Download a map off www.tfl.gov.uk. The no 16 bus goes along the road your hotel is on (ans bus stop near it) to Marble Arch and is only a 10 to 15 minute journey, I would get that to your hotel when the coach drops you off. Sit near the bus driver and ask him to tell you when to get off. The 98 bus goes to Oxford Street as well. My brother in law lives near where your hotel is and works in the natural history museum gets the 414 bus there. Here is a list of your bus routes
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/gettingaround/maps/buses/pdf/maidavale-2426.pdf

By the way if the bus stop is a request one (says request on red and white stop sign), you need to put out your your arm, as it is coming near you to stop the bus. If not a request stop, it just stops anyway.