Originally Posted By dagobert >>>Wandsworth is not too bad, just keep an eye open.<<< Good to know. I think the hotel is called The Alma and it seems that it is a very new one. <a href="http://www.almawandsworth.com/hotel-overview.php" target="_blank">http://www.almawandsworth.com/...view.php</a> We chose it, because it wasn't that expensive like the hotels in the centre and it is conveniently located just across the railway and it takes only ten minutes to reach Waterloo Train Station.
Originally Posted By Bolna The hotel looks very nice. My standard place for staying in London (<a href="http://www.eurohotel.co.uk/" target="_blank">http://www.eurohotel.co.uk/</a>)is not nearly as nice, but very centrally located, in Bloomsbury where my college was, so I walk a lot and usually take the bus. I like the oyster card because if I only take the bus, it will cap the expense every day at the bus pass price instead of the one day travelcard and that is cheaper. But if you have to take the train that won't be an option. I think 27 GBP sounds like a reasonable price for one week of transport in London. One day travelcards certainly would be more expensive? Especially if you want to start your days earlier in the day, I think 9:30 am is the time when they become cheaper?
Originally Posted By dagobert We dropped our plan to go to Stonehenge. We are in one of the most exciting cities and think that we shouldn't spend the time in a bus.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Don't get me wrong, Stonehenge is cool if you combine it with one of the other cool nearby towns. Or as a mini break to explore Cheddar and the caves and gorge. I have to say, London does little for me, but then I've worked there on and off for 15 years. When I first arrived in the UK, I did love it. And it is fun to play in occassionally.
Originally Posted By dagobert I'm sure we can purchase the London Travel Card at any subway or rail station and at the airport?
Originally Posted By Bolna Not so sure whether you would be able to buy it at all the airports which have London in their name. Certainly at Heathrow, but I don't think you would be able to buy it at Stanstead. But you would have to take a real train from there anyway and then could get it at Liverpool Street Station. I am not familiar with Luton and Gatwick.
Originally Posted By Bolna Ok, I wanted to add something about restaurants... I always found the Time Out website very useful for that: <a href="http://www.timeout.com/london/restaurants/" target="_blank">http://www.timeout.com/london/...aurants/</a> Somehow London seems to have lots of restaurant chains - it appears as if any restaurant which is succesful starts to branch out. However, I find quite a lot of them offer a good product and since they aren't around at home, I don't mind that much that it isn't a singular experience. For me it is still something special. My two favourite chains are Wagamama and Giraffe and I think both would work for a vegetarian. And they are different from the typical restaurants I can find here in Germany. If you are vegetarian you might want to look out for one of the vegetarian Indian restaurants London has. There was one close to where I lived when at university and I thought it was very interesting and it was very affordable. It is this one: <a href="http://www.timeout.com/london/restaurants/venue/2:998/diwana-bhel-poori-house" target="_blank">http://www.timeout.com/london/...ri-house</a> It seems to exist still. It was very simple and unlicensed, so you can bring your own bottle of wine. But it was rather different from the Indian restaurants I knew from Germany. One place which I like a lot is the café (or maybe it is called a restaurant?) in the National Portrait Gallery. The NPG is close to Trafalgar Square and they have a café on the top floor with windows overlooking the city. It has a lovely view. I love to go there for tea in the afternoon, I think they even do a real afternoon tea, but I never had trouble just getting a pot of tea and a scone.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I agree wagamama and giraffe are not bad chains, nor is carlucci's. There is an excellent Mexican restaurant just across from shred, around the corner from covent garden. Also there are some great vegetarian offerings on Warren steet and old common street. It is the gay village, but there are loads of great and affordable restaurants, many catering to vegetarians.
Originally Posted By Bolna << nor is carlucci's>> My parents went to one in July and loved it. I never tried it because I always figured that I could get food like that at home as well. Oh, and I absolutely forgot my favourite food place: Borough Market! A fresh food market, but there are plenty of restaurants around it as well: <a href="http://www.boroughmarket.org.uk/" target="_blank">http://www.boroughmarket.org.uk/</a> And if you are interested in British cheese (and there are plenty which are absolutely delicious!!) I would recommend Neal's Yard Dairy <a href="http://www.nealsyarddairy.co.uk/" target="_blank">http://www.nealsyarddairy.co.uk/</a> their main shop is close to Covent Garden, but they have a branch at Borough Market as well.
Originally Posted By dagobert Thanks for all the input!! We are already getting a bit excited. We definitely want to try Wagamama, since it was recommended by so many people who have already been there. I do like cheese and maybe I will get some samples. LAst time my family brought some really good mustards home from London, and I hope I will also find a nice shop to get some special mustards. I'm already excited, but before we go I have to deal with my broken car. The brakes aren't working and that's not good for sure.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Good luck with the car. Here are some of my favs: <a href="http://www.benihana.co.uk/" target="_blank">http://www.benihana.co.uk/</a> (Wagamama is ok, as is Yo sushi, but to me, this is the best Japanese place in London - I like the Picadilli one). although not amazing, since you are not going to a Disney resort this year, you could go to the Rain forest Cafe: <a href="http://www.therainforestcafe.co.uk/" target="_blank">http://www.therainforestcafe.co.uk/</a> Here is one of my favs too, where you dine in the dark: <a href="http://www.danslenoir.com/london/" target="_blank">http://www.danslenoir.com/london/</a> I have eaten at Vanilla Black's as well as SAF when it comes to Veggie options - try these: <a href="http://www.timeout.com/london/feature/319/londons-best-restaurants-for-vegetarian-food" target="_blank">http://www.timeout.com/london/...ian-food</a>
Originally Posted By dagobert Thanks for the links. I've already bookmarked them. I think I need to take my notebook with me to remember all the informations.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Or if you have a "Handi" with you, you can give me a call when you are around if you are struggling with anything. I'd be glad to help.
Originally Posted By dagobert >>>Or if you have a "Handi" with you, you can give me a call when you are around if you are struggling with anything. I'd be glad to help.<<< That's very kind from you, thanks for the offer. I've copied all the links and informations in my smartphone and I think we will take our netbook with us, since the hotel offers free wi-fi. And of course I have a city map of London. I know that's oldfashioned, but I like that better than the maps on my Garmin GPS system, which I may also take with us.
Originally Posted By Malin Sorry a bit late to this thread. I've been away myself so please forgive me. Did you try getting tickets for the Buckingham Palace Tours. I understand that Kate's wedding dress and other bits are on display. You can also be sure that the gift shop will likely sell official Royal Wedding gifts of good quality. And not the cheap crap you can buy all other town from sourvineer stands. Other places of interest that I'm intending to check out in a few weeks myself are the new M&M Store in Leicester Square said to be the worlds biggest candy store. And a new larger Disney Store on Oxford Street. Not sure if your a Dr Who fan but London now has an interactive Dr Who experience at the Olympia.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo The M&M's store does feel like you are in Vegas rather than London. Though I do miss the Swiss Cookoo clock and dancers that it replaced :-( Disney Store is a waste of time, really it is. If is a quarter of the size of the original one, very little decore, and with the exception of maybe 4 or 5 London items, it sells the same overpriced junk sold everywhere else. It is not worth wasting your time unless you are going to be in that part of town already.
Originally Posted By dagobert I've already been to the M&Ms store in Las Vegas. Has anyone of you tried that offer: <a href="http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/2for1-london" target="_blank">http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/...1-london</a> We are thinking about using it for the Tower, but there is no information where I can purchase the tickets.
