Cheapskate goes to London
November 8, 2010 2:02 AM Subscribe
Going to London over for 3 weeks, advice needed! /travel-filter
I'll be going to London from Boxing Day to middle of January, and need some ideas as to where to go, what to eat etc.
I've seen these threads and more. So far what I've come up with is this:
Places to visit:
- Taking a 3-day London Pass for the first 3 days
- Spending New Year (2-3 days) in Edinburgh
- To visit the touristy things like Upper Street, Borough Market, Greenwich Market, Brick Lane Market, Westminster Abbey and Harrod's.
Places to eat at:
- Veeraswamy
- Golden Hind
- Wong Kei
- Tay Do Café
- Rules
- Tayyab's
- Lahore Kebab House
What I need:
- More ideas on the must-see / must-do things in London, or around
- I have a 4-5 day slot free which if possible, would like to visit Germany / France etc on the cheap; can this be done?
- How can I maximize my money and time when there?
I can speak fluent English, but cannot speak French / German / other European languages. Accommodation will not be a problem, and other than the plane tickets and accommodation, I have not booked for anything yet.
Help is much appreciated!
I'll be going to London from Boxing Day to middle of January, and need some ideas as to where to go, what to eat etc.
I've seen these threads and more. So far what I've come up with is this:
Places to visit:
- Taking a 3-day London Pass for the first 3 days
- Spending New Year (2-3 days) in Edinburgh
- To visit the touristy things like Upper Street, Borough Market, Greenwich Market, Brick Lane Market, Westminster Abbey and Harrod's.
Places to eat at:
- Veeraswamy
- Golden Hind
- Wong Kei
- Tay Do Café
- Rules
- Tayyab's
- Lahore Kebab House
What I need:
- More ideas on the must-see / must-do things in London, or around
- I have a 4-5 day slot free which if possible, would like to visit Germany / France etc on the cheap; can this be done?
- How can I maximize my money and time when there?
I can speak fluent English, but cannot speak French / German / other European languages. Accommodation will not be a problem, and other than the plane tickets and accommodation, I have not booked for anything yet.
Help is much appreciated!
The British Museum is spectacular, and free.
What kinds of things are you interested in?
posted by Omnomnom at 2:19 AM on November 8, 2010
What kinds of things are you interested in?
posted by Omnomnom at 2:19 AM on November 8, 2010
Response by poster: @Omnomnom: It's my first time to London, so I'm not really sure what to expect. The cliche, touristy things are fine, as are the arty-farty things. I'm open to anything, actually.
@cromagnon: Isn't the attraction of Wong Kei's the bad service, or am I missing something..?
posted by titantoppler at 2:26 AM on November 8, 2010
@cromagnon: Isn't the attraction of Wong Kei's the bad service, or am I missing something..?
posted by titantoppler at 2:26 AM on November 8, 2010
I have a 4-5 day slot free which if possible, would like to visit Germany / France etc on the cheap; can this be done?
Eurostar is a 2+ hr train ride to Paris.
posted by vacapinta at 2:33 AM on November 8, 2010
Eurostar is a 2+ hr train ride to Paris.
posted by vacapinta at 2:33 AM on November 8, 2010
Ok, Time Out gives you a good idea of what's on in London during your stay. You can also buy the magazine at any news agent.
posted by Omnomnom at 2:40 AM on November 8, 2010
posted by Omnomnom at 2:40 AM on November 8, 2010
- How can I maximize my money and time when there?
London is an expensive city. I would suggest the following habits:
Transport----
- Get an Oyster card. This is a MUST. You use it for Tube and Buses.
- For the shorter trips around town, use buses instead of the Tube. Even better, get a good map and walk whenever possible. Especially in Central London, many things are closer than you think.
Food---
- For food, make use of places like Marks & Spencer Food shops. They sell fresh, cheap food to-go. Don't be put off by packaged sandwiches. In the UK, they are made fresh daily. Many office workers get some stuff at M&S and then go find a park to eat lunch.
Museums/Entertainment---
The vast majority of museums in London are FREE. This includes the British Museum, The Natural History Museum, The Science Museum, The V&A, the National Gallery, the Tate Modern. Even offbeat museums such as the Wellcome collection and Sir John Soanes museum. Take advantage of this!
posted by vacapinta at 2:43 AM on November 8, 2010 [3 favorites]
London is an expensive city. I would suggest the following habits:
Transport----
- Get an Oyster card. This is a MUST. You use it for Tube and Buses.
- For the shorter trips around town, use buses instead of the Tube. Even better, get a good map and walk whenever possible. Especially in Central London, many things are closer than you think.
Food---
- For food, make use of places like Marks & Spencer Food shops. They sell fresh, cheap food to-go. Don't be put off by packaged sandwiches. In the UK, they are made fresh daily. Many office workers get some stuff at M&S and then go find a park to eat lunch.
Museums/Entertainment---
The vast majority of museums in London are FREE. This includes the British Museum, The Natural History Museum, The Science Museum, The V&A, the National Gallery, the Tate Modern. Even offbeat museums such as the Wellcome collection and Sir John Soanes museum. Take advantage of this!
posted by vacapinta at 2:43 AM on November 8, 2010 [3 favorites]
Eurolines is the way to get to France/Germany on the cheap. Yay, overnight coach travel. :-/
posted by corvine at 2:45 AM on November 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by corvine at 2:45 AM on November 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
If you are a geek, you should also visit the Dr. Who phonebox as pictured here outside Earl's Court tube station
Also the Paddington Bear statue at (duh) Paddington station.
Eating:
Wagamama noodle bar is the ultimate London food experience for me. It's not the best Asian food, by far, it's a chain, but it's a must-do.
That said don't forget to wander through Chinatown.
posted by Omnomnom at 3:09 AM on November 8, 2010
Also the Paddington Bear statue at (duh) Paddington station.
Eating:
Wagamama noodle bar is the ultimate London food experience for me. It's not the best Asian food, by far, it's a chain, but it's a must-do.
That said don't forget to wander through Chinatown.
posted by Omnomnom at 3:09 AM on November 8, 2010
Sadly, the bad service of wong kei isn't so bad anymore. I friends have regaled me with tales of food being tossed on the table at them, but last I went it's not even bad, it's quite acceptable service really. Maybe it's because I'm from SE Asia so I'm used to the service :P Food is reasonable for the price though.
If you want good HK food in chinatown, step a few steps left of Wong Kei and head over to Cafe TPT. Avoid the bigger restaurants along Gerard street - most of my friends who have tried Cafe TPT were pleasantly surprised as I was told they were quite unexpected that "such a run down looking storefront" would provide them with such delicious food, especially after they ate at several of the bigger places.
Remember go try the aromatic roast duck with pancakes lol. I didn't realize that was a UK dish, and only tried it about a month or so ago. Delicious :D
Golden Hind: Definitely my favourite F&C place in London. There are some places in Convent Garden and near Goodge Street that I won't name that make such expensive F&C that isn't that nice actually. Haven't found a F&C place that beats what's up in scotland though :P
If you are going to the markets, do check ahead of time and make sure they are actually open. For example, the Portobello Market is only open on Saturdays (if you go there, the Trellick Tower is just beyond the market.)
You might also want to check out Hyde Park and Regent's park. Grenwich park is also a very lovely place to visit, plus you get to see the meridian line (woo!)
The V&A Museum, Natural History Museum and Science museum are very near to each other in Kensington. They are also free for entry, though they request you make a small donation if you wish.
A walk along the south bank could be nice; check out the Millennium bridge, St Paul's Cathedral, Tate Modern, ride a clipper :D
If possible, use tfl.gov.uk to plan your journey, check ahead of time that the tube is not down due to strikes/snow/engineering works etc. Oyster card is good, though a day pass may be cheaper.
Make sure you bring warm clothing, during that time of year it gets very cold. And space in your luggage if you intend to pick up knick nacks :D
posted by TrinsicWS at 3:27 AM on November 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
If you want good HK food in chinatown, step a few steps left of Wong Kei and head over to Cafe TPT. Avoid the bigger restaurants along Gerard street - most of my friends who have tried Cafe TPT were pleasantly surprised as I was told they were quite unexpected that "such a run down looking storefront" would provide them with such delicious food, especially after they ate at several of the bigger places.
Remember go try the aromatic roast duck with pancakes lol. I didn't realize that was a UK dish, and only tried it about a month or so ago. Delicious :D
Golden Hind: Definitely my favourite F&C place in London. There are some places in Convent Garden and near Goodge Street that I won't name that make such expensive F&C that isn't that nice actually. Haven't found a F&C place that beats what's up in scotland though :P
If you are going to the markets, do check ahead of time and make sure they are actually open. For example, the Portobello Market is only open on Saturdays (if you go there, the Trellick Tower is just beyond the market.)
You might also want to check out Hyde Park and Regent's park. Grenwich park is also a very lovely place to visit, plus you get to see the meridian line (woo!)
The V&A Museum, Natural History Museum and Science museum are very near to each other in Kensington. They are also free for entry, though they request you make a small donation if you wish.
A walk along the south bank could be nice; check out the Millennium bridge, St Paul's Cathedral, Tate Modern, ride a clipper :D
If possible, use tfl.gov.uk to plan your journey, check ahead of time that the tube is not down due to strikes/snow/engineering works etc. Oyster card is good, though a day pass may be cheaper.
Make sure you bring warm clothing, during that time of year it gets very cold. And space in your luggage if you intend to pick up knick nacks :D
posted by TrinsicWS at 3:27 AM on November 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
I wouldn't bother going to both Lahore Kebab House and Tayyab's; I think Tayyab's is far superior. They're also right by each other in a not very pretty part of town.
I strongly recommend some long strolls around Clerkenwell, Chancery Lane, going through the Inns of Court (they are open on working days), Fleet Street, around the Bank of England etc. It always amazes me that these places aren't more frequented by tourists; maybe they just travel around on open-top buses. Especially on weekends, the Barbican housing estate is a great walk: it's empty and silent and full of huge buildings. You'll feel like you're in your own 28 Days Later.
Another lovely walk, if you're up for it, is to go from Kew Gardens along the Thames River to Barnes where you can have an excellent cup of tea at my favourite tea shop (Orange Pekoe). Another great expedition, slightly less ambitious, is to go for a walk on Hampstead Heath, ending at Kenwood House which has some good paintings and decent cream teas.
There are some lovely spots in the Bloomsbury area, such as the carefully tucked away St George's Gardens, as well as the best coffee (Espresso Room) and excellent cakes at Bea's of Bloomsbury.
Make use of the Transport for London site when travelling around. It's very good especially for buses.
If you have a friend in London, you might be able to get a Boris Bike pass which would make travelling around extremely economical -- the first half hour is free, and should get you most places in Central London.
posted by tavegyl at 3:28 AM on November 8, 2010
I strongly recommend some long strolls around Clerkenwell, Chancery Lane, going through the Inns of Court (they are open on working days), Fleet Street, around the Bank of England etc. It always amazes me that these places aren't more frequented by tourists; maybe they just travel around on open-top buses. Especially on weekends, the Barbican housing estate is a great walk: it's empty and silent and full of huge buildings. You'll feel like you're in your own 28 Days Later.
Another lovely walk, if you're up for it, is to go from Kew Gardens along the Thames River to Barnes where you can have an excellent cup of tea at my favourite tea shop (Orange Pekoe). Another great expedition, slightly less ambitious, is to go for a walk on Hampstead Heath, ending at Kenwood House which has some good paintings and decent cream teas.
There are some lovely spots in the Bloomsbury area, such as the carefully tucked away St George's Gardens, as well as the best coffee (Espresso Room) and excellent cakes at Bea's of Bloomsbury.
Make use of the Transport for London site when travelling around. It's very good especially for buses.
If you have a friend in London, you might be able to get a Boris Bike pass which would make travelling around extremely economical -- the first half hour is free, and should get you most places in Central London.
posted by tavegyl at 3:28 AM on November 8, 2010
A general money-saving tip: if you buy certain kinds of food (EG, a cold sandwich or salad) at a cafe and eat it off the premises, they are not required to charge you VAT. If you eat it on the premises, they will have to add VAT, which will cost you an extra 17%. So, whenever you buy lunch, take a look to see whether they list different prices for "eat in" or "take away." If so, you can save 17% by taking your sandwich to go. (Of course, in December/January, you may decide it's worth the extra 17% just to sit inside while you eat!)
For fast, cheap food on the go, some reliable options are Pret A Manger; Eat; and Marks & Spencer. (The big Marks & Spencer stores have food courts, but you will also find "Marks & Spencer Simply Food" stores on many high streets; they're kind of like the food court without the rest of the store.) None of these are exciting, but they're all perfectly decent.
In the Leicester Square area, Tokyo Diner is a great cheap option.
I second the recommendation of the British Museum. It would be unmissable even if they charged for it. The fact that it's free makes it even... um... unmissable-er. London's other unmissable free museum is the Tate Modern. Smaller, but worth a visit if you're in the area, is The Wallace Collection. I haven't been to The London Silver Vaults but I hear they're really cool.
You've probably already googled for "free London," but if you're wondering which results you can trust -- Time Out is generally very reliable. Something slightly off-beat that you might otherwise miss: London's churches are a big part of the city's architectural treasure trove, and many of them offer free lunchtime concerts.
Just riding a double-decker bus is a great London experience, and you can do a fun self-guided tour on public transport. I googled for "free London bus tour" and found this self-guided bus tour. It looks like a good one, and it starts you off on the #9 bus, which is one of the few remaining routes still served by a "routemaster" bus, which is the old-fashioned iconic double-decker one.
Speaking of transportation: buy an Oyster Card. Fares are MUCH cheaper if you use one.
One of London's attractions is its world-class theatre. Looking at the productions during the time you'll be here, I see that you can get tickets to the the National Theatre's production of Hamlet for £10. I haven't seen it, but the other Shakespeare productions I've seen at the National Theatre have been well done.
You can also use Lastminute.com to get cheap theatre tickets, although I'm not sure if that requires a UK credit card.
Once you're in London, you can visit TKTS booth in Leicester Square for half-price tickets. Note that there are a dozen different ticket venders in Leicester Square, all advertising "Half-price tickets," with one even calling itself "Official half-price tickets." I would advise walking past them and going to the actual TKTS booth in the square, at least to start. If TKTS doesn't have what you want, then you can check the other sellers. Anybody with an actual storefront should be legit, but I don't think any of them will beat the TKTS price.
Another thing London excels at is beautiful parks. These may be a little more rugged in December/January but they'll still be beautiful and free. I recommend Hyde Park (including the famous Speaker's Corner, and Hampstead Heath.
In fact, if the weather is suitable, you could have a nice, nearly free day out in Hampstead. Wander across the Heath to Kenwood House (free). Then wander towards Hampstead (the little village-y part of London near the Heath). On your way, you can stop off in Burg House (free, although they encourage you to drop a few coins in the donation box on the way out. Not worth a visit in and of itself, but very pleasant and a good way to warm up after a cold day out.) In Hampstead, the Crepe Stand is delicious-- although, again, the time of year may work against you; there's no indoor seating, so you'll have to eat al fresco. You could also visit Keats' House while you're in the neighborhood, but if you're not a Keats fan, it's probably not worth the £5 admission.
posted by yankeefog at 3:35 AM on November 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
For fast, cheap food on the go, some reliable options are Pret A Manger; Eat; and Marks & Spencer. (The big Marks & Spencer stores have food courts, but you will also find "Marks & Spencer Simply Food" stores on many high streets; they're kind of like the food court without the rest of the store.) None of these are exciting, but they're all perfectly decent.
In the Leicester Square area, Tokyo Diner is a great cheap option.
I second the recommendation of the British Museum. It would be unmissable even if they charged for it. The fact that it's free makes it even... um... unmissable-er. London's other unmissable free museum is the Tate Modern. Smaller, but worth a visit if you're in the area, is The Wallace Collection. I haven't been to The London Silver Vaults but I hear they're really cool.
You've probably already googled for "free London," but if you're wondering which results you can trust -- Time Out is generally very reliable. Something slightly off-beat that you might otherwise miss: London's churches are a big part of the city's architectural treasure trove, and many of them offer free lunchtime concerts.
Just riding a double-decker bus is a great London experience, and you can do a fun self-guided tour on public transport. I googled for "free London bus tour" and found this self-guided bus tour. It looks like a good one, and it starts you off on the #9 bus, which is one of the few remaining routes still served by a "routemaster" bus, which is the old-fashioned iconic double-decker one.
Speaking of transportation: buy an Oyster Card. Fares are MUCH cheaper if you use one.
One of London's attractions is its world-class theatre. Looking at the productions during the time you'll be here, I see that you can get tickets to the the National Theatre's production of Hamlet for £10. I haven't seen it, but the other Shakespeare productions I've seen at the National Theatre have been well done.
You can also use Lastminute.com to get cheap theatre tickets, although I'm not sure if that requires a UK credit card.
Once you're in London, you can visit TKTS booth in Leicester Square for half-price tickets. Note that there are a dozen different ticket venders in Leicester Square, all advertising "Half-price tickets," with one even calling itself "Official half-price tickets." I would advise walking past them and going to the actual TKTS booth in the square, at least to start. If TKTS doesn't have what you want, then you can check the other sellers. Anybody with an actual storefront should be legit, but I don't think any of them will beat the TKTS price.
Another thing London excels at is beautiful parks. These may be a little more rugged in December/January but they'll still be beautiful and free. I recommend Hyde Park (including the famous Speaker's Corner, and Hampstead Heath.
In fact, if the weather is suitable, you could have a nice, nearly free day out in Hampstead. Wander across the Heath to Kenwood House (free). Then wander towards Hampstead (the little village-y part of London near the Heath). On your way, you can stop off in Burg House (free, although they encourage you to drop a few coins in the donation box on the way out. Not worth a visit in and of itself, but very pleasant and a good way to warm up after a cold day out.) In Hampstead, the Crepe Stand is delicious-- although, again, the time of year may work against you; there's no indoor seating, so you'll have to eat al fresco. You could also visit Keats' House while you're in the neighborhood, but if you're not a Keats fan, it's probably not worth the £5 admission.
posted by yankeefog at 3:35 AM on November 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
Visit the train stations. Go to the museums: The Victoria & Albert, The Tate and Tate Modern, and The British Museum (I say this as someone dragged to more museums in more countries than I can count on both hands). Walk the parks. See the shops (window shopping at Liberty's is my favorite). Take a boat ride in Little Venice. I imagine much has changed and some things haven't at Camden Market since I lived in London--it's amazing, especially if you're an open-air-market-deprived American like me.
posted by cocoagirl at 3:39 AM on November 8, 2010
posted by cocoagirl at 3:39 AM on November 8, 2010
If you are in Chinatown and have a hankering for dumplings check out Jen Cafe. Looks a bit of a dive, but the food is wonderful.
posted by TheOtherGuy at 3:46 AM on November 8, 2010
posted by TheOtherGuy at 3:46 AM on November 8, 2010
Two more thoughts occurred to me.
West Cornwall Pasty Company is another good option for food on the go. Not gourmet, but cheap and a few notches above fast food.
Tavegyl's excellent suggestion of taking a walk around Chancery Lane Inns of Court reminded me: my all-time favorite London guidebook is LondonWalks, which consists of several fascinating and very detailed self-guided walking tours around the city. One of them covers the very area that Tavegyl is talking about. The book has been out of print for years, so you'll have to buy it used and then ignore any information on restaurants, contact numbers, or anything else that's gone out of date. But the important stuff-- the places it takes you to, and the history it tells you-- won't have changed. You can also get an abridged audio version. No idea if that's any good-- I've just got the print version.
posted by yankeefog at 3:49 AM on November 8, 2010
West Cornwall Pasty Company is another good option for food on the go. Not gourmet, but cheap and a few notches above fast food.
Tavegyl's excellent suggestion of taking a walk around Chancery Lane Inns of Court reminded me: my all-time favorite London guidebook is LondonWalks, which consists of several fascinating and very detailed self-guided walking tours around the city. One of them covers the very area that Tavegyl is talking about. The book has been out of print for years, so you'll have to buy it used and then ignore any information on restaurants, contact numbers, or anything else that's gone out of date. But the important stuff-- the places it takes you to, and the history it tells you-- won't have changed. You can also get an abridged audio version. No idea if that's any good-- I've just got the print version.
posted by yankeefog at 3:49 AM on November 8, 2010
- Do Brick Lane on a Sunday, when it's a giant, sprawling network of cool stalls merged with Spitalfields market. Keep walking up Brick Lane, it goes on for a long way and there's some nice 2nd hand shops at the top end, and food stalls.
- Indian is the food experience of London... Masala Zone is a really nice chain, the Covent Garden branch has cool puppets! And seconding sandwiches for lunches-- there's a lot of great sandwiches to be had in London, M&S and Pret a Manger to start with.
- buy train tickets as far in advance as possible-- like airplane tickets, the later you book the more expensive they are. And get a pay-as-you-go Oyster Card the first kiosk you come to, probably in Heathrow. You can get a pretty good tour of London from the top of a route 15 bus.. they even have 'Heritage' buses running that one sometimes
Beyond that-- what are you interested in? There's bound to be an amazing example of X in London, but what's YOUR X?
posted by Erasmouse at 3:54 AM on November 8, 2010
- Indian is the food experience of London... Masala Zone is a really nice chain, the Covent Garden branch has cool puppets! And seconding sandwiches for lunches-- there's a lot of great sandwiches to be had in London, M&S and Pret a Manger to start with.
- buy train tickets as far in advance as possible-- like airplane tickets, the later you book the more expensive they are. And get a pay-as-you-go Oyster Card the first kiosk you come to, probably in Heathrow. You can get a pretty good tour of London from the top of a route 15 bus.. they even have 'Heritage' buses running that one sometimes
Beyond that-- what are you interested in? There's bound to be an amazing example of X in London, but what's YOUR X?
posted by Erasmouse at 3:54 AM on November 8, 2010
For food, make use of places like Marks & Spencer Food shops. They sell fresh, cheap food to-go. - Not as cheap as you think compared with Tesco or Sainsbury's local outlets, which are all over the centre and beyond. They do have a nicer selection, though. There's also a very nice, very cheap pizza place off Covent Garden if you're spending any time there (MeMail me for the address as I will have to double-check...). Pret and Eat are comparatively expensive - it's easy to spend £12 on two sandwiches and drinks - but still cheaper than a proper cafe. If you're really on a budget and would rather spend your money on a nice evening meal I'd go to a Tesco, Sainsbury's or even Greggs (but the latter is NOT diet-friendly).
For nice food, Borough Market wins points with foodies, but you've already planned to go! I'd recommend Yauatcha for nice cakes, and Ping Pong (which is a chain) for dim sum. Fortnum and Mason's is a good place for foodie gifts but really not cheap.
I work near Chancery Lane - don't go at the weekend, as barely anything is open. Rudi's sandwich bar does nice bacon rolls, and Bea's always looks lovely when I walk past. Just across from Bea's is one of what's apparently the best chippies in London, The Fryer's Delight.
Go to Speaker's Corner, and I'd highly recommend Bunhill Fields or Highgate Cemetery for quiet time. My personal favourite park is St James' Park. I also really like going to tourist shops and photographing bad souvenirs, but that's just me. Is there any particular kind of shopping or souvenir you're looking to pick up? Brick Lane is great for a visit as there's Asian restaurants and shops at one end, and the hipster bars and street art at the other. Also, Portobello Road market is worth a visit if you like fashion. There's also the Museum of Brands and Advertising in Notting Hill, near Portobello, and nearby there is a good second-hand bookshop.
Take a Clipper down the Thames - you'll get a talk on the history and what's around, and you can go to Greenwich which has a nice park, the Maritime Museum, the Royal Observatory and two markets - one second-hand, the other quirky gifts and food. (There is a lovely cake stall there.)
For travel - remember to book your ticket to Edinburgh in advance. Full price is over £70, try thetrainline.com and you might save. You also need to book accommodation and Hogmanay tickets NOW.
posted by mippy at 3:59 AM on November 8, 2010
For nice food, Borough Market wins points with foodies, but you've already planned to go! I'd recommend Yauatcha for nice cakes, and Ping Pong (which is a chain) for dim sum. Fortnum and Mason's is a good place for foodie gifts but really not cheap.
I work near Chancery Lane - don't go at the weekend, as barely anything is open. Rudi's sandwich bar does nice bacon rolls, and Bea's always looks lovely when I walk past. Just across from Bea's is one of what's apparently the best chippies in London, The Fryer's Delight.
Go to Speaker's Corner, and I'd highly recommend Bunhill Fields or Highgate Cemetery for quiet time. My personal favourite park is St James' Park. I also really like going to tourist shops and photographing bad souvenirs, but that's just me. Is there any particular kind of shopping or souvenir you're looking to pick up? Brick Lane is great for a visit as there's Asian restaurants and shops at one end, and the hipster bars and street art at the other. Also, Portobello Road market is worth a visit if you like fashion. There's also the Museum of Brands and Advertising in Notting Hill, near Portobello, and nearby there is a good second-hand bookshop.
Take a Clipper down the Thames - you'll get a talk on the history and what's around, and you can go to Greenwich which has a nice park, the Maritime Museum, the Royal Observatory and two markets - one second-hand, the other quirky gifts and food. (There is a lovely cake stall there.)
For travel - remember to book your ticket to Edinburgh in advance. Full price is over £70, try thetrainline.com and you might save. You also need to book accommodation and Hogmanay tickets NOW.
posted by mippy at 3:59 AM on November 8, 2010
Oh - the South Bank on Sunday is nice.
posted by mippy at 4:00 AM on November 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by mippy at 4:00 AM on November 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
My favourite way to spend rainy, cold and wintery hours in London is to visit the amazing, cluttered assortment of antiquities, treasures and architectural drawings/models crammed into a wonderfully intimate space at Sir John Soane's Museum in Holborn:
"... It is a treasure trove of a museum, topped by a glass dome and lighted by hidden skylights, whose brightness is reflected by mirrors. The highlights of Soane's crammed-in collection of art, sculpture, and antiques include the sarcophagus of Egyptian pharaoh Seti l and a bevy of paintings by William Hogarth. There are also many architectural sketches, models, and items, many of which inspired historic buildings in London.
The architecture of the building is a work of art itself, with internal courtyards and different rooms featuring unusual details, such as a domed ceiling inset with convex mirrors. The museum and its collection have been preserved so that they appear today much as they did during Soane's life. ..."
posted by honey-barbara at 4:03 AM on November 8, 2010
"... It is a treasure trove of a museum, topped by a glass dome and lighted by hidden skylights, whose brightness is reflected by mirrors. The highlights of Soane's crammed-in collection of art, sculpture, and antiques include the sarcophagus of Egyptian pharaoh Seti l and a bevy of paintings by William Hogarth. There are also many architectural sketches, models, and items, many of which inspired historic buildings in London.
The architecture of the building is a work of art itself, with internal courtyards and different rooms featuring unusual details, such as a domed ceiling inset with convex mirrors. The museum and its collection have been preserved so that they appear today much as they did during Soane's life. ..."
posted by honey-barbara at 4:03 AM on November 8, 2010
Not as many people talking about your Edinburgh end.
So you're going for Hogmanay, arguably one of THE biggest day of the year for Edinburgh and insane. Don't get me wrong, it's supposed to be one of those things everyone should do before they die, but yeah, insane.
So it's just to warn you, I hope you have a hotel and tickets already booked. If not, stop reading and do that now.
I attended hogmanay in Stirling a few years ago. Not as busy, and fun enough to get the spirit of the event. It's not that far from Edinburgh by train.
And while you are in Scotland make sure you have a square sausage roll. SQUARE is very important as it's very different from a pork sausage. It's made of beef and seasoned. Yum! Especially with a tattie scone (fried potato pancake) and a fried egg. My favorite breakfast, unjustly overlooked in favor of the full English. :)
posted by like_neon at 4:27 AM on November 8, 2010
So you're going for Hogmanay, arguably one of THE biggest day of the year for Edinburgh and insane. Don't get me wrong, it's supposed to be one of those things everyone should do before they die, but yeah, insane.
So it's just to warn you, I hope you have a hotel and tickets already booked. If not, stop reading and do that now.
I attended hogmanay in Stirling a few years ago. Not as busy, and fun enough to get the spirit of the event. It's not that far from Edinburgh by train.
And while you are in Scotland make sure you have a square sausage roll. SQUARE is very important as it's very different from a pork sausage. It's made of beef and seasoned. Yum! Especially with a tattie scone (fried potato pancake) and a fried egg. My favorite breakfast, unjustly overlooked in favor of the full English. :)
posted by like_neon at 4:27 AM on November 8, 2010
The blog Tired of London Tired of Life might be a useful visit - he posts a new thing to do in London every day, and - even though I've lived in London my whole life - they're often new to me. There are two years worth of posts to go through too. Often the things he posts are free to do. He'll also make up an itinerary for you if you email him some salient points. Disclaimer - the author is a friend of mine.
posted by featherboa at 4:38 AM on November 8, 2010
posted by featherboa at 4:38 AM on November 8, 2010
I did this last December!
The Tower of London was one of my favourite touristy places. I think it's on the London Pass so definitely check that out. The London Eye is great too - you can get some great shots of the city from above. I also had a good time just wandering up and down Oxford Street. Loads of shops, plenty to do/see/eat.
If you're into plays, go see a play! I saw Wicked and loved it, but there are others.
If you go to France: Eurostar is pretty cheap if you book early (prices fluctuate like airline tickets, so you'll want to check out a few dates/times and see which ends up cheapest), but accommodation in Paris can be expensive. If you go to France I'd suggest learning a few French phrases - most French people I ran into there spoke English just fine, especially the younger ones, but that little bit of effort goes a long way. You don't need to know how to say anything fancy, just please/thank you/hello and so on.
posted by Xany at 5:12 AM on November 8, 2010
The Tower of London was one of my favourite touristy places. I think it's on the London Pass so definitely check that out. The London Eye is great too - you can get some great shots of the city from above. I also had a good time just wandering up and down Oxford Street. Loads of shops, plenty to do/see/eat.
If you're into plays, go see a play! I saw Wicked and loved it, but there are others.
If you go to France: Eurostar is pretty cheap if you book early (prices fluctuate like airline tickets, so you'll want to check out a few dates/times and see which ends up cheapest), but accommodation in Paris can be expensive. If you go to France I'd suggest learning a few French phrases - most French people I ran into there spoke English just fine, especially the younger ones, but that little bit of effort goes a long way. You don't need to know how to say anything fancy, just please/thank you/hello and so on.
posted by Xany at 5:12 AM on November 8, 2010
As a couple of "while away the hours with drinks" options...
Gordon's Wine Bar is a great way to while away an hour or two with a glass - or bottle - of wine in a neat cellar space.
If you're into people-watching, a glass of bubbly at the Champagne bar at St. Pancras station is hard to beat, and not eye-searingly expensive.
Curling up with a pint and the Sunday papers at any half-decent pub is also an experience that's hard to beat.
posted by generichuman at 5:49 AM on November 8, 2010
Gordon's Wine Bar is a great way to while away an hour or two with a glass - or bottle - of wine in a neat cellar space.
If you're into people-watching, a glass of bubbly at the Champagne bar at St. Pancras station is hard to beat, and not eye-searingly expensive.
Curling up with a pint and the Sunday papers at any half-decent pub is also an experience that's hard to beat.
posted by generichuman at 5:49 AM on November 8, 2010
Response by poster: Amazing answers so far; this is exactly why I <3 AskMefi!
As I said, this being my first time to London, I'm open to anything and everything. I'll be travelling with someone else, and our common interests are probably the arty-farty things and the food. Did I already mention food?
@yankeefog: Wow, thanks for your extremely detailed answer; I certainly hadn't expected something like this.
@Xany: I'll be sure to check out some plays there, everyone has been telling me how must-see they are.
@et al: I deeply appreciate your responses, they've helped me a ton (:
posted by titantoppler at 6:54 AM on November 8, 2010
As I said, this being my first time to London, I'm open to anything and everything. I'll be travelling with someone else, and our common interests are probably the arty-farty things and the food. Did I already mention food?
@yankeefog: Wow, thanks for your extremely detailed answer; I certainly hadn't expected something like this.
@Xany: I'll be sure to check out some plays there, everyone has been telling me how must-see they are.
@et al: I deeply appreciate your responses, they've helped me a ton (:
posted by titantoppler at 6:54 AM on November 8, 2010
The London Eye is, I'm told, great, but I'm also told that even if you have a reservation you may have to wait outside, in the cold, for quite awhile. It's good in that you can check a big thing off a list in a very short time, but not so great in terms of minutes-of-experience-per-pound-spent.
posted by K.P. at 7:18 AM on November 8, 2010
posted by K.P. at 7:18 AM on November 8, 2010
I work on Chancery Lane and can do you a quick day time lunch tour through the Inns of Court if you fancy. Whilst here you could see the bizarre and beautiful John Soanes museum as mentioned above, then head along Fleet Street for photo ops outside St Pauls and finish with a stroll round the Museum of London - which is totally fabulous and strangely off the tourist radar. All of which would be absolutely free.
For the princely sum of £2.50 you could also visit the Guildhall Museum and pretend to be a gladiator among the the excavated parts of the Roman Ampitheatre in the basement.
posted by freya_lamb at 7:19 AM on November 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
For the princely sum of £2.50 you could also visit the Guildhall Museum and pretend to be a gladiator among the the excavated parts of the Roman Ampitheatre in the basement.
posted by freya_lamb at 7:19 AM on November 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
Here's an off-the-wall suggestion (I'll keep posting if I think of things, hope you don't mind!):
Tour of the Freemason's Hall of the United Grand Lodge of England. It's free as far as I know, it's an architecturally interesting building and offers quite a fascinating glimpse into the history and pomp of freemasonry.
posted by Omnomnom at 7:30 AM on November 8, 2010
Tour of the Freemason's Hall of the United Grand Lodge of England. It's free as far as I know, it's an architecturally interesting building and offers quite a fascinating glimpse into the history and pomp of freemasonry.
posted by Omnomnom at 7:30 AM on November 8, 2010
I like to go to the Borough Market and get some crazy exotic beer from utobeer (Thur-Sat) to take home and then pop over to the Rake to drink some. I enjoyed the Soane Museum and also nearby is the Crystal Room at the Huntarian Museum which is an extraordinary weird medical science freakshow . The natural history museum is also spectacular (the building itself!).
posted by srboisvert at 8:06 AM on November 8, 2010
posted by srboisvert at 8:06 AM on November 8, 2010
Oh! It might be an idea to get hold of Time Out's London Cheap Eats book. (Some web reviews here.) It will tell you of many places to go which aren't chain restaurants. Of the chains, I do like Wagamama, Ping Pong and Pizza Express, oh, and Gourmet Burger Kitchen. If you want a 'local' version of GBK, check out Lucky 7 in Ladbroke Grove or Ed's Easy Diner in Soho/Piccadilly. I hear Leon is nice but I am yet to go.
Also! London Zoo. Take your own sandwiches if you're saving cash.
posted by mippy at 9:28 AM on November 8, 2010
Also! London Zoo. Take your own sandwiches if you're saving cash.
posted by mippy at 9:28 AM on November 8, 2010
Since the best museums in London are free, double check whether a London Pass is worth it (it wasn't for what my mother and I were interested in).
An Oyster card with a 5-day pass (or how many days make sense) was totally worth it - we rode everywhere we wanted on tube & bus for 5 days for £23 each (about $40 CND).
If you need a cheap place to stay, there are website where you can find a short-stay room for £100-200 per week, for 2-3 weeks. check out flatshare.co.uk and spareroom.co.uk.
posted by jb at 10:00 AM on November 8, 2010
An Oyster card with a 5-day pass (or how many days make sense) was totally worth it - we rode everywhere we wanted on tube & bus for 5 days for £23 each (about $40 CND).
If you need a cheap place to stay, there are website where you can find a short-stay room for £100-200 per week, for 2-3 weeks. check out flatshare.co.uk and spareroom.co.uk.
posted by jb at 10:00 AM on November 8, 2010
Just to note: a day pass is never cheaper than an Oyster card. You can either put a day pass (or a 5-day or 7-day pass) on your Oyster, or you can pay-as-you-go per ride (having put cash on your Oyster). But if you end up taking enough tube/bus rides that it would have been cheaper to get a day-pass, your pay-as-you-go turns into a day-pass!
I love Oyster.
posted by jb at 10:04 AM on November 8, 2010
I love Oyster.
posted by jb at 10:04 AM on November 8, 2010
The Museum of London is brilliant -- and free.
Something that is not free, but relatively cheap and awesome are the guided tours from the London walks company. I did their Secret London tour, for £4 (abt $6 USD at the current favourable exchange rate). It was brilliant - I learned so much, and I study British history.
But they have all sorts of different walks -- all guided by people who really know what they are talking about (they have specialties).
posted by jb at 10:12 AM on November 8, 2010
Something that is not free, but relatively cheap and awesome are the guided tours from the London walks company. I did their Secret London tour, for £4 (abt $6 USD at the current favourable exchange rate). It was brilliant - I learned so much, and I study British history.
But they have all sorts of different walks -- all guided by people who really know what they are talking about (they have specialties).
posted by jb at 10:12 AM on November 8, 2010
Lost of these things have already been mentioned, but figure it might be worth seconding some of then. We spent four days as tourists in London a few months ago, which was only enough time to get the briefest feel of the place. We did the following:
* London Walks tours of Old Westminster and the Tower of London. These were lots of fun, and very interesting, and we had a great guide (the same guide for both of them, as it turns out). We would have gone on a lot more, had we the time.
* Museum of London. Must see if you're interested in the history of the area.
* Burough Markets. We arrived only a few hours before it shut on Sunday, but still worth visiting. Lots of nice pubs in the area, too. Speaking of pubs, The Black Friar has perhaps the most spectacular interior of any pub I have ever been in. And good Real Ale on tap too.
* Westminster Abbey. The tours are only something like 2 pounds, but get you into places you can't normally access. Well worth it.
* The Houses of Parliament. They now apparently do tours every Saturday. It's well worth seeing, especially the House of Lords. The Australian Parliament House is so boring in comparison!
* Tea at Liberty. I really liked their Prince Vladimir tea. I wonder if you can get it elsewhere. Their full afternoon tea looked awesome, but we didn't have it. Icecream Sundaes at Fortnham & Masson (sp?) was also pretty impressive. Harrods is interesting for their range and spending an entertaining couple of hours chav-watching. Also notable for serving the best coffee I had in the British Isles.
* London Eye. Okay for getting an interesting perspective on the city, but most of the view is of the Houses of Parliament (which is interesting in itself, of course).
* Tate Modern. We spent too little time there, and I want to go back and spend much more. Even the building itself, though, is spectacular.
For Edinburgh, if you have an iPod/iPad/iPhone, grab the free app Ian Rankin's Edinburgh. It's basically a walking tour of the spots of Edinburgh that feature in Rankin's Rebus novels. But even if you don't read the books, it's a good tour of a bunch of interesting things in Edinburgh that are a bit off the tourist trail.
posted by damonism at 5:05 PM on November 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
* London Walks tours of Old Westminster and the Tower of London. These were lots of fun, and very interesting, and we had a great guide (the same guide for both of them, as it turns out). We would have gone on a lot more, had we the time.
* Museum of London. Must see if you're interested in the history of the area.
* Burough Markets. We arrived only a few hours before it shut on Sunday, but still worth visiting. Lots of nice pubs in the area, too. Speaking of pubs, The Black Friar has perhaps the most spectacular interior of any pub I have ever been in. And good Real Ale on tap too.
* Westminster Abbey. The tours are only something like 2 pounds, but get you into places you can't normally access. Well worth it.
* The Houses of Parliament. They now apparently do tours every Saturday. It's well worth seeing, especially the House of Lords. The Australian Parliament House is so boring in comparison!
* Tea at Liberty. I really liked their Prince Vladimir tea. I wonder if you can get it elsewhere. Their full afternoon tea looked awesome, but we didn't have it. Icecream Sundaes at Fortnham & Masson (sp?) was also pretty impressive. Harrods is interesting for their range and spending an entertaining couple of hours chav-watching. Also notable for serving the best coffee I had in the British Isles.
* London Eye. Okay for getting an interesting perspective on the city, but most of the view is of the Houses of Parliament (which is interesting in itself, of course).
* Tate Modern. We spent too little time there, and I want to go back and spend much more. Even the building itself, though, is spectacular.
For Edinburgh, if you have an iPod/iPad/iPhone, grab the free app Ian Rankin's Edinburgh. It's basically a walking tour of the spots of Edinburgh that feature in Rankin's Rebus novels. But even if you don't read the books, it's a good tour of a bunch of interesting things in Edinburgh that are a bit off the tourist trail.
posted by damonism at 5:05 PM on November 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
Is the pub called the Black Friar, or Blackfriars (same as the tube station). The one I went to was the Blackfriars, and had Art Deco stained-glass windows of friars, and the best pie lunch I've ever had in my life. I liked the beer (and real ales are all over London -- if you like beer, you must try some of them), but mostly I remember the pie.
posted by jb at 5:28 PM on November 8, 2010
posted by jb at 5:28 PM on November 8, 2010
@jb It's The Black Friar, although it was near the Blackfriars tube station. You really can't miss the "arts and crafts" style interior – I've seriously never seen anything like it. I think we had something to eat, and it was fine if not particularly memorable. And yes, real ales are thankfully common, so that was just an added bonus.
posted by damonism at 6:17 PM on November 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by damonism at 6:17 PM on November 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
www.gumtree.com is the UK equivalent of Craigslist. Like Craigslist, it's lousy with scammers so be careful...but you could find somewhere cheap to stay.
posted by mippy at 12:13 AM on November 9, 2010
posted by mippy at 12:13 AM on November 9, 2010
If you're in the mood for a little bit of a journey for good food, then I'd recommend Franco Manca in Brixton. Not only is it super cheap, but a lot of my friends have said that this is the best pizza they've ever eaten.
Also, take a trip around Greenwich and make sure to stop at the Trafalgar Tavern next to that Royal Naval Academy. The pub sits right on the Thames and offers an amazing view of Canary Wharf.
posted by _superconductor at 9:17 AM on November 9, 2010
Also, take a trip around Greenwich and make sure to stop at the Trafalgar Tavern next to that Royal Naval Academy. The pub sits right on the Thames and offers an amazing view of Canary Wharf.
posted by _superconductor at 9:17 AM on November 9, 2010
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posted by cromagnon at 2:14 AM on November 8, 2010