Corney and Barrow is GOOD, not food :smack:
The more food and drink within walking distance, the better. And seeing you say that it’s in the financial district eases my mind… I was a little worried that London geography had gotten the better of me and I was going to find out I was 10 miles in the wrong direction but sounds like I put myself in the right place.
Motorgirl, the travelogue is great, and lots of great info there. Although, I’m fairly certain I would have succumbed to expensive chocolates in Harrod’s. At any rate, the Pret a Manger sounds great - hopefully I’ll have one near me.
Hmmm, maybe I’ll finally get my hands on some of the elusive Turkish Delight of which I’ve heard so much.
It’s true about the area shutting down on weekends - it’s actually quite spooky. However, it does make a perfect opportunity for quietly exploring the area, which is the oldest part of London. There’s still a few chunks of the Roman walls surviving, and also Sir Christopher Wren’s churches, built after the Great Fire (as well as St Pauls Cathedral, he designed fifty-one other churches!) You’re also well positioned for Brick Lane, for seriously good curry 
Oh, BTW, Pret a Manger is part of the Evil Plan For World Domination
(McDonalds bought them up a couple of years ago. I swear the food stopped having any flavour after that :wally )
REALLY??? ! :eek:
I’m so disappointed to find that out. I really liked Pret. sigh
In Windows, hold down the ALT key and press 0163 on the keypad: £!
£175 ain’t cheap, but then again, London ain’t cheap. I’ve stayed in nasty Earl’s Court hotels that make even the worst Motel 6 in America look like the friggin’ Ritz for £35/night. I’ve stayed in a tiny but sparkling clean Days Inn for £88/night. I’ve stayed in a nice independent hotel in Notting Hill for £120/night. So it sounds like you got a decent deal, given the lack of lead time you had.
how could I forget… stop by Covent Gardens and take it all in. Great for picking up gifts for those back home and getting a lite bite to eat.
As a tourist I visit London every three years or so and stay a little less time than you. As other members have said:
- Do a Big Bus Tour. These are the double decker buses (cost was 17 pound last time I was there) and you will see a lot of recognisable spots in half a day- or longer. Tickets last all day. In addition, you get a free 30 minute ferry ride on the Thames, and accelerated entrance to Madam Tussauds. This is necessary, as the line up can take 7 hours in peak periods. However…
- I wouldn’t recommend Madam Tussauds. Crowded and over rated. IMHO.
- As Bippy suggests, the Imperial War Museum- go there by the Tube. (I will admit military history is my thing though).
- Harrods. It’s a rite of passage.
- To me Lords Croket ground was great. As an American, you may find it less interesting.
- Any suburban English pub. Enjoy a pint and enjoy the atmosphere.
- Piccadilly is great to see- but full of beggars, hawkers and characters all trying to fleece you. And being quite aggressive about it. Finally…
- Westminster Abbey. If you go no where else, go here.
Hope this helps.
No matter what your guide book tells you DO NOT eat at the George and Vulture (near your hotel). It was a fantastic old pub, but has been completely ruined, and the food is inedible.
I second the recommendation for the Wren and Hawksmoor churches. There are guided walks that take them all in.
You might want to try 24 at the Old Nat West Tower (this is what everyone calls it). It has a cocktail bar on the 24th floor with fantastic views, but because of terrorism you have to book and take photo ID (passport). Give the restaurant a miss though - overpriced celebrity chef crap.
Just got back from London today…
Everything was so EXPENSIVE
I was overwhelmed by the British Museum.
Loved the Tate Modern and the Saatchi Gallery
Loved and was overwhelmed by Westminster Abbey (be sure to check out the nearby Jewel Tower) which is a little oasis of peace in the tourist insanity of that area.
Loved Trafalgar Square and the walk to Piccadilly Circus
Lots of odd birds in St. James Park. Less so in the larger Hyde Park–where the new Diana Memorial was just opened–today I think (maybe this was already mentioned, I didn’t read all the messages in this thread).
Greenwich is well worth a half day at least. The Maritime Museum is very well done. If you go, get off at Island Garden tube stop and take in the view, then walk the foot tunnel under the Thames.
OK, will give George and Vulture miss.
Someone on another board I belong to suggested the Crosse Keys, which is right next door. Any input there?
Also, I’m thinking I’ll do better to buy my cigarettes at the duty free shops at JFK than in the UK. How much do cigs average in London? I saw a cost of living site that says a movie costs something like £7 a ticket. Egads. I’m starting to be really, really glad I’m only going for 2 weeks (and getting reimbursed). My income is effectively cut in half :eek: Good thing I don’t eat much more than one meal a day.
Cigs are about £4.50 for a pack of twenty.
What I was afraid of. Duty-free shop, here I come!
Thanks for the info
God Bless North Carolina! I just bought a carton of Marlboro Mediums for $18.99 today - jeez in between NYC and London I could have a good side business selling smokes on the side!
Anyway, I don’t know if you went to my website to check out my “London Tips” page, but you need to go to a kebab stand while you’re there - at least once. It’s not fancy by any means - it’s mostly “take away” although most places have a counter or a couple of tables - and it’s mostly “fast food” but it’s sooooooo good! Kebabs, curries, samosas, pizza, burgers, fish and chips… Yummmmm!! Dude, there are few (guilty) pleasures in the world like biting into a doner kebab at 2am and chasing it with “chips” drenched in malt vinegar… Going to London and not going to a kebab stand is… like going to NYC and not getting pizza, or going to Chicago and not getting a hot dog! I’m sure there will be people here that will roll their eyes and tell you not to go, but trust me - you’ll be missing out on an essential little bit of London culture if you skip it. Plus, it’s cheap! My GF and I ate at one about six times the week we were there in February. Gosh, I miss it so!
To The Owners of Star Kebab Stand in Earl’s Court: PLEASE open a shop in Belmont, NC. Thank you!
Anyway, if you want to try it - and please say you do - kebab shops are easy to find in London… Just look 10 feet in any direction! 
Actually, I’d managed to miss the link the first time round so now I’ve gone and read up - great info there! Will definitely have to do the kebab thing - sounds like a great way to keep myself fed for relatively little!
Erm:
Was that on purpose? 
Haha, coincidentally, I ate at that very same shop in Earl’s Court just this past Sunday for lunch! Their naan bread is good too. And the sink in the main part of the place was a bit unusual (but convenient).
The Cabinet War Rooms are a must (in my opinion).
They are just round the corner from Parliament Square (Big Ben etc) right near the Foreign Office. It takes about an hour to do the (audio guided) tour and it is about £5.
It is a great glimpse into second world war London and Sir Winston Churchill, they sometimes even have actors down there pretending to be military personel etc.
It is really worth it.
Since I’ve missed where you’re staying, I’m not sure which of these pubs you might mean (or maybe neither - Cross Keys might turn out to be a common pub name?):
http://www.pubs.com/croswc2.htm
http://www.pubs.com/crosw6.htm
but if it’s either, I’m guessing the former, since it’s in WC2.
If you go to the main page http://www.pubs.com/ you’ll see a section for “good food” which might help out.
A far better site for pub recommendations is the Good Pub Guide - the one you were looking for is the Crosse Keys, with the ‘e’. But there’s another 89 listed for central London
The Crosse Keys - Avoid like a particularly virulent form of the plague.
It’s part of the Wetherspoons chain of pubs which are all characterised by being huge halls. THe main, and indeed only selling point of these pubs is that the drinks they sell are a great deal cheaper than elsewhere.
As the drink is cheap they attarcat people who want to drink a lot and haven’t got much money.
They are full of chavs in fake burberry hats and old men smoking furiously. They are chav heaven.
Having said that The hamilton Hall in Liverpool station is worth a quick look (it’s the old ballroom of the Great Eastern Hotel and is quite grand).
I’d reconmmend (from that list)the Lamb and Flag , Cheshire Cheese (touristy but good) Cittie of York (same), Jerusalem Tavern (very highly recommended), Princess Louise (go to the gents there - worth a visit in themselves), Opera Tavern, and Dirty Dicks (near your hotel - opposite Liverpool St)
I know far too much about pubs.