Excellent advise that I cannot fault from my (very) limited introduction. I agree wholeheartedly on pub food. We ate at three different pubs and had a good meal each time (the steak and onions were a bit weird- way too many onions for my taste....) but I loved the fish and chips and the shepherd's pie. You have to remember that chips in England are French fries.
Oh yes, one of the hardest things to get used to are peas (both regular and mashed) are served with everything.
I'm so sorry that I haven't responded sooner, but my DH and I flew across the US for a week long visit to 9 states in the south.
Thank you one and all. Your detailed information gives me a comfortable feeling in how to manage the transportation issue.
I have printed out all the pertinent information and placed it in my "Europe" folder. I will keep checking back for any new information. I was also pleased to read the nice reviews regarding the City Inn.
Oh yes, one of the hardest things to get used to are peas (both regular and mashed) are served with everything.
If you'd tasted their cabbage, you'd understand why. As a kid growing up in England, we always had cabbage for school lunch on the day they cut the grass on the soccer field. Coincidence, I'm sure, but the taste never took away the doubt.
The "mashed" peas are known as mushy peas. They are uniquely English. A sort of English equivalent of Mexican refried beans.
Another thing to look for in UK are the wonderful cheeses (Stilton etc.) and dairy products. They're not so pasteurized/homogenized (which makes things lose taste) as the US is. Many places you can get a plate of cheeses and fruits and that makes a nice meal or snack. Some of the cheeses are very powerful! Wish I was going!
I am very fond of the beer too. Nothing like a real pub Guinness draught. Don't be in a rush, they take a while to pour.
I have a tip or two also. The Tower of London is a must if never seen before. If you are going to the Tower of London and were planning on buying tickets there, don't. You can buy them at the Tube stations and bypass a horrible line. Go early too, be there when it opens. The best pricing for Oyster cards (for Tube and buses) is if you travel after 930 am (they give you a discount in essence to avoid rush hour). Most places don't open real early anyway and it gives you time for a nice breakfast (if you pinch your coins eat a solid breakfast and have a light lunch or skip lunch, it is so expensive). You can be at a tube station at 915, buy Tower of London tickets, wait until it is 930 to go through the turnstyle (you will see other people waiting as well) and go to the Tower, get there at the perfect time for opening. When you get there do the tour with the Beefeater immediately, they get more and more crowded as the day proceeds. Then after the tour walk around but go see the Crown jewels first, that "que" gets horrible but is easy first thing in the morning. Again, Pimlico is the closest tube to the City Inn; but you might like walking to Parliament and catching the tube there just as well, I would if the weather is nice.
Also, if you take the double decker tour bus, you can buy tickets for the Tower of London while you are onboard, get off at the Tower, do the tour and then either get back on one of the buses to continue on the City tour or take the river boat ride inlcuded in your bus ticket down to the stop nearest Parliament. You can reconnect with the buses there as well.
All you guys are a wealth of information! Thank you so much for sharing so much detail! It would be SUPER GREAT if you went over to the UK board under "Cruise Places" and posted some of this info! Here is the link United Kingdom
A lot of folks might not look on this board for London info, so that would be a real bonus for our members to have this info posted over there. Frubals to everyone who adds to our UK knowledge base!
seetosea, as you have read there's an awful lot to do in London and my advice would be, depending on how long you are going to be there for, don't do too much. A "not to be missed" for me would be Buckingham Palace as you are there when Liz is up in Scotland fishing and walking and her London digs is open. We went there this year and there was more to see than I had expected. If you are going to do the art gallery, the Mews and the main Palace, you need a day in my view. Don't cram it in with something else as you will be tired. If you want to do just one of these things, do the Palace.
It was mentioned earlier about doing the hop on hop off bus and I would agree that is a really nice way to see the city first time.
Enjoy the planning and as I said earlier, don't try to do too much in your allotted time. JMHO.
seetosea, as you have read there's an awful lot to do in London and my advice would be, depending on how long you are going to be there for, don't do too much. A "not to be missed" for me would be Buckingham Palace as you are there when Liz is up in Scotland fishing and walking and her London digs is open. We went there this year and there was more to see than I had expected. If you are going to do the art gallery, the Mews and the main Palace, you need a day in my view. Don't cram it in with something else as you will be tired. If you want to do just one of these things, do the Palace.
It was mentioned earlier about doing the hop on hop off bus and I would agree that is a really nice way to see the city first time.
Enjoy the planning and as I said earlier, don't try to do too much in your allotted time. JMHO.
Phil
Phil is absolutely correct. If you try to do and see too much during your time in London, you will spend most of your time onboard ship trying to recover. Remember that the first few days onboard are port-intensive, unlike our first TA which was seven days from Harwich to Boston with no ports of call enroute. We ran ourselves ragged for six days in London, including a one day trip on Eurostar to Paris, and spent a good part of the cruise recovering.
Phil is absolutely correct. If you try to do and see too much during your time in London, you will spend most of your time onboard ship trying to recover. Remember that the first few days onboard are port-intensive, unlike our first TA which was seven days from Harwich to Boston with no ports of call enroute. We ran ourselves ragged for six days in London, including a one day trip on Eurostar to Paris, and spent a good part of the cruise recovering.
I would drive you guys crazy. When I'm in a place like London it is up early for a full breakfast, be at the Tube at 930 (cheaper tickets allow travel beginning at 930) and then it is do it all you can do as long as you can. My feet hurt, my back aches at the end of the day but I got memories on top of memories. And pictures, and stuff to bring home. The big rest is coming someday and I don't want to remember napping in my London hotel room.
Yes, my family hates me, but they thank me for it when we get home. Besides, if you are heading to a cruise after London, you'll get your rest.
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We ran ourselves ragged for six days in London, including a one day trip on Eurostar to Paris, and spent a good part of the cruise recovering.
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