Not to mention Crawley being the site of the Acid Bath Murders, one of the most famous forensic cases in British history.
I’ve often stayed in Paddington - a short walk from the station of the same name (a short ride from Heathrow). Numerous inexpensive places to eat, and Hyde Park five minutes walk away.
Tip on seeig St Paul’s or Westminster Abbey for free…attend a daily 5 pm “Evensong” service. You will be hurried in and out, but you will experience a church for what it was meant for (organ, choir, a couple of hymns and prayers - about 45 minutes total). No filming, though.
Most museums are free, but often you will be pressured to make a “suggested donation” at the entrance.
Restaurants - fish and chips will be on the .menu everywhere. Check the price of fish and chips on the displayed menu, and you can usually determine whether the other items will be costly or not. It might be 7 pounds one place; 18 pounds at another…basically the same items of food.
I live in Docklands quite happily, but for OP’s original question about a suitable area for the “general tourist”, I’d add a vote for Bloomsbury, particularly anywhere around Marchmont St/Brunswick Centre and the top end of Lamb’s Conduit St.
That’s my attitude as well; if I’m staying in a city with a good subway system, I don’t particularly care where my hotel is, as long as it’s close to a station.
Last time I was in London, I stayed in a hotel adjoining Stanford Bridge stadium (during the soccer off-season, so it was pretty cheap). Fulham Broadway station was just steps away.
It’s been 15 years since I visited London but we chose the Sherlock Holmes Hotel and I see that it still exists, just a few blocks down from the Baker Street Station. We felt it was well-positioned to either walk or take the Tube to the stuff we wanted to see/do and had some decent options nearby for dining. It was also a nice hotel with a modern feel, and, at least back then, fit into our budget which was by no means extravagant. I almost always book directly with the hotel.
I ended up booking in Earl’s Court. Anything I should know other than to look out for roving gangs of foreign students?
Earls Court is a small neighborhood that was once mostly to students students, but the population has aged up to young professionals and even some younger families. This is also a tourist heavy area thanks to the hotels and hostels here.
The ultimate neighborhood guide to Earls Court London.
Sadly, a high tourist count also means a higher-than-average number of people ready and willing to relieve them of their valuables.
I’m only spending one night in London (transatlantic cruise leaving Southampton* the next day)-- I just need some place reasonably clean and WiFi.
I will likely arrive in LHR early morning – can hopefully drop off my luggage.
I plan to visit Greenwich (and likely the Cutty Sark since you can get a combined ticket)
The next morning I need to get from my hotel to Hyatt Place London City East (too pricy for me – but that is where a London - Southampton shuttle will be starting)
Does it make sense to get a visitor oyster card?
Thanks
Brian
- a significantly more southern route that the Titanic
Not if you have either a digital wallet on your phone (Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc.) where you tap to pay, or have a credit card that has tap to pay.
As Munch says, having a card with contactless functionality is the easiest way to go, tap in and tap out. Simple as that. No set-up needed and you can be sure that you will always pay the lowest rate for your journey, bus or tube.
It will automatically “cap” your spending for the day as well so even after multiple journeys you’ll never pay more than the equivalent cost of a full day travel ticket.
Good to know – I do have a tap to pay credit card. As you my tell, I’m a noob at this stuff
Still trying to figure out which hotel – the paradox of choice
Brian
Is the shuttle provided by the cruise company? Where does it leave from?
This part a small group – the organizer will be arranging the shuttle from London to Southampton. It is leaving the “official” hotel (Hyatt Place London City East). (“The Corner” is nearby and less expensive)
I should note that this in October so “don’t need answer fast”
Brian
This was such a stress-relief for us - we didn’t have to worry that if we got on the wrong tube or bus, the system would cap any mistakes we might make. Not having to futz around with another payment card was a huge bonus as well.
You might want to download the Citymapper app - it was a much cleaner public transportation planner than Google Maps is (at least in my experience). Actual Londoners might have other recommendations.
I wouldn’t classify this hotel as “expensive”. At around £200 for a room on a Friday in October, it falls in the middle for central London.
There are plenty of OK hotels (NOT dumps) for half the price. I’ll be at the hotel for like 4 max awake hours.
I will probably get one near a train/subway station.
Brian
We just got back from spending two weeks in London. Transport for London has a phone app called TFL Go you can download that will give you the best public transport routes. We also found that Google Maps did a fine job of mapping walking routes for us as well.