Hi,
We leave next Sat. for our first time to Europe. We signed up for the Free & Easy tour in Paris and London. Any information on where to eat, shop, what NOT to do, etc would be very appreciated.

Thanks
Suzy

First of all, go with an open mind, enjoy yourselves and be aware of your surroundings at all times.

What do you want to know about London? I will be there starting the 27th of this month and travel there several times a year.

Hello SuzyP

My wife and I went last year for the first time. One of the things we did, in London, was get on a hop on hop off bus tour. We did the big bus tour, a double decker with the roof removed. We took the red tour I believe. Blue is a recorded tour the red tour has a live guide. Very informative and funny as well. You travel in a large circle aroud all the major sites. It gives you a little info on everything and then you can explore it all on your own later. Most of the major sites are within walking distance of each other.
The ticket is good for 24 hours so if you buy it for an afternoon tour you can still use it the next morning to revisit anywhere you want. Also they throw a Thames river cruise in the package. Nice to see the Tower and London bridges from the water.

Note: a lot of the museums are free, things like Westminster Abby are not.

One more thing. We went to a pub and picked up a booklet called Great English Pubs. It gave there locations, ages, and a story about each. The oldest we went to was from 1775. Great fun

Have fun

How exciting for you! I'll give you my opinions about London.

I always enjoy the atmosphere at Covent Garden, especially with the buskers providing entertainment. Just be aware of your surroundings and the fact that this type of venue is a favourite for pickpockets.

If you have time, you might want to take the train out to Windsor to walk around and perhaps tour the castle. Your hotel concierge or front desk staff will direct you to the train station. (either Paddington or Victoria)

If you are shoppers, you will probably want to stop in at Harrods just to have a look around. The Food Halls are a definite sight to see.

I would recommend a ride on the London Eye, especially after you've been in the city for a few days and might recognize some of the places.

You might also want to take a boat ride down the river to Greenwich. It's a lovely ride and the town has a market worth visiting. You can take the bus back into the City.

I love walking and therefore enjoy the tours by London Walks. You might want to check out their website. Their brochure will be available at most hotel front desks. www.walks.com

For theatre, there's a TKTS booth at Leicester Square where you can purchase discount tickets for the day of the performance. The last time I was in London I was delighted that TKTS now takes VISA. They also have a website - http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/tkts/today/

Another general hint - the public library in my town culls its collection regularly. I pick up tour books (e.g. Fodors, Frommers) at the sale books section for $1 each and usually they are only a year or two out of date. That way, I don't mind removing select pages to take along with me rather than taking a whole book. Or, I take the whole book with me and remove pages as I travel or leave the book behind if necessary because my suitcase is getting too full.

Have a great time!

Happy Traveler 2, sounds like you go there alot. Lucky you! As like anyone that goes the first time, I want to see it all......but realized that's impossible. We are there for a week so we should get to see and experience alot. Our Hotel is within walking distance to the London Eye, which is something we'll be doing. Is this a good time of year to go, is it still the tourist season, is the weather decent (as I hear it rains alot there, no matter what time of year)restaurants, cafe's, pubs that we should not miss out on? I'd appreciate your advise.

Stoker (Hello fellow Manitoban) thanks for the advise. The Big Bus sounds like a must do! Is the Pub book at any Pub, as I know my husband would like that!!

Zelda Sue - thank you for your suggestions as well. Can you take the boat back from Greenwich or do you have to take a bus? What are the Food Halls?

Thanks for all your responses I really appreciate it as I'm both excited and nervous.




Thanks

Hi again SuzyP

My wife just reminded me of something about the tube. (don't ask for a subway as you will be sent to a pedestrian underpass)...but thats not it.

If you use the tube and buy you tickets at a kiosk with a credit card order the 2 you need at the same time. I didn't and had to use another credit card for the second purchase. It seems they do this to help prevent someone from getting a ticket on your card by only alowing 1 use of the card at that kiosk at that time. Your ticket is good all day so don't forget it in the turstile.

My wife is a big time lover of gardens so we took a ride out to Kew Gardens on the Wimbleton tube line. We walked 10 minutes from the station and spent an beautiful afternoon there.

Finaly have a great time. We so want to go back. Once you get the travel bug you're hooked. We are going next fall.

So good luck from Oakbank

Suzy,

I believe you can take the boat back as well.

The Food Halls!? You haven't heard of the Harrod's Food Halls!? They are the most high class grocery store you will ever visit, divided into different departments - halls. (The display in the fish area is one of the most sneakily photographed sights after the David in Florence.) The pastries and chocolates are beautiful with prices to match. Even the meats are gorgeous.

I like to buy myself a treat in the pastry hall to take back to my hotel room or munch as I walk around London. The locals actually grocery shop there - would you believe?

- ZeldaSue (former - from lo-o-ong ago - Winnipegger)

Make sure you leave time to wander through some of London's gardens. They are wonderful. Traflagar and Leicester squares are a must as is Westminster Abbey and St Paul's If you have timea Thames cruise is a wonderful way to see the city.

In Paris walk from the Louvre rught up to the Arc de Triumph and don't miss a wander around Montmarte up to Sacre Couer. The cafes around this area are great. In London we found pubs had the best, affordable meals.

Yes you can take the boat back from Greenwich, we did it a few years ago. You can also take the Underground back and I believe it is faster.

Thank you everybody for your suggestions, I have made notes on all them. 1 week to go!!!!

Thanks Again

London: SusyP. If you don't know your way around London you can always go on an Evan Evans day tour. You can get the info on-line as to the different tours and prices. Some are for out of town destinations. Depending on where your're staying you can be picked up at your hotel .Just don't make the mistake I made in early June by not understanding the times given by the City Tour guide and miss the pickup time which caused me to miss the rest of the day's tour. Enjoy yourself and bring an umbrella as the weather turns on a dime in London. Sun one minute and showers the next. Purvis'

quote:

bring an umbrella as the weather turns on a dime in London. Sun one minute and showers the next. Purvis'

And that's why I always have 2 pairs of comfortable walking shoes with me - one pair to wear and the other to be drying out!

quote:

And that's why I always have 2 pairs of comfortable walking shoes with me - one pair to wear and the other to be drying out!

ZeldaSue you are right about the rain. Have been caught in several showers in London. WhenWwe went to Wimbleton a few years ago the weather behaved itself and we had a wonderful time.

Agree about the hop-on/off bus especially with the included river cruise.

Tower of London is a must for me.
Not sure if with Free and Easy you get a tour and if you do it will probably include "Changing of the Guard". If not, in my opinion this is a must see if you haven't already. Also the changing of the Horse Guards is very interesting and does not get the crowds the one at Buckingham Palace does.

Also (I really could go on and on) Buckingham Palace is open to tours July 29 to Sept 29 only and you will be there during the right time. Again, I recommend it. The time I went we were there in mid-Sept. so not quite so crowded but we went to Changing of the Guard which was at 11 a.m. then walked over to the ticket booth for Palace tours and were able to get one for 1 p.m. Had a quick lunch at a sandwich and snack place in the park (St. James?), found a rest room (W.C.) and were back at the palace for our tour. Very easy, but then again it was not high summer.

You will love it.