Help Plan London Trip
 

I am planning a trip to London in first week of September (ORD-LHR in AA). I have been to London once about 10 years ago for a short visit, but forget everything. Any feedback on the following will be great:

1. US to UK Adapter for Laptop/Cell Phone Charger: What is the best?

2. Tube Travelcard or Oyster Card: Which one is preferred? Where to buy? How?

3. LHR to City: Shall I take the Tube? Will the Travelcard/Oyster will cover it?

4. Recommend me a great travel guide with great maps.

5. I know about museums and palace etc. Recommend me some hidden secrets (such as, great Buffet to try, just as an example).

I will greatly appreciate anything else you think important. Thanks very much for any feedback.

Tintin

I'm in a similar planning mode, except I've never been to London. I can handle a few of these.

#1 - Forget about the best, just get one (or more) cheapies off ebay or amazon. Easily < $1 each. I'd bring a US power strip that can plug into that.

#2 - Can't answer the preference, but you can buy these at the airport. Try searching the website for that airport. Or you can buy it online: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/ (IMO, doesn't seem worth it buying in advance because of the shipping fees)

#3 - My understanding is that no, transport to/from the airport is not covered on a travelcard/oyster. Start with the sticky for more info: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/u-k-i...on-guides.html

Note the difference between a simple pin adaptor and a voltage convertor.

Most electronics powersupplys thesedays are rated for use at both 110V and also 230V (which is really 220-240). If your power supplys/chargers are fine for the higher voltage, a simple pin adaptor should be fine, much of a much ness.

If your stuff is NOT suited for the higher voltage, then voltage converters are a whole different kettle of fish. If it is just a laptop and mobile phone, do consider the hastle/cost vs getting a new local (global) charger for them.

Pros and cons.
Too much to type here, plenty of threads about the differnces.
Will leave for others.

Where are you going to?
Terminology warning: 'The City' is a small specific section of central london.
[Similarly 'downtown' is meaningless - london is a big place, with a big centre and lots of areas of it.]

There is no problem with the tube, but the best travel route might depend upon where you are going, how much luggage you have, numbers of people, time, tiredness, etc.
And either a travelcard or oyster will cover the underground from Heathrow.

How many is "I"?

How long are you staying?

Where are you staying?

If you are travelling to / from Heathrow or London City then Oystercard PAYG will cover it, as will an appropriate Travelcard that covers zone 6 or zone 3 respectively. HOWEVER if you are staying in central London then a Travelcard that covers zone 6 for all of your stay may not be the best option.

Which is best depends on how long you are staying and if you are intending to use the offers on daysoutguide.com . It may be that a combination of Oystercard PAYG and Travelcard will be the best option

Travelcard v oyster card? It depends on how much you will be using the tube and buses. But you should bear in mind that the maximum cost of using the oyster card during a day is the same as the cost of the 1 day travelcard - so for most people the oystercard is better and more flexible.

Map - the A-Z guide is probably the best.

Guide - this depends on your interests. And of course a Londoner is the worst person to ask! But the DK Eyewitness guidebook should cover most of your needs.

The rest - I have sent pm.

Here is where I got the impression that an Oyster/Travelcard doesn't cover this:
http://visitorshop.tfl.gov.uk/help-c...omparison.html

Sorry for the incorrect information. Looks like I should've been paying attention to this info instead:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/2558.aspx

Based on that, maybe a more appropriate question is whether or not it makes sense to take the tube into central London (50m), vs HEX (20m) or Heathrow Connect (25m)? (I'm sure that's covered in the FAQ, just raising the question here because that may be more relevant for the OP)

It depends where you are staying in London. If near Paddington, then HEX or Heathrow Connect would be fine. But if staying in central London, near Green Park, Picadilly,Covent garden or Kings Cross, and with heavy luggage, the tube may be easier.

1. Get any, they all do the same job

2. Oyster card should work out better, you can buy them at the underground stations

3. I'm assuming by city you are talking about central London as opposed to the city (the financial district). The tube is the cheapest way to do it (Piccadily line) but it can take 45 mins. You can take the Heathrow express which will get you to Paddington in 15 mins but it costs something like £18 each way. An alternative is to take the Heathrow Connect trains which is more like £9 and takes around 25 mins to Paddington

4. Buy the local Timeout magazine to see what's going on that week

5. Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens. Notting Hill market

My favorite museum is the Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace.

For question #4, my favorite is the TFL bus map. It is free for the asking at many tube stations and gives a very good representation of the major streets and roads in central London without showing every minor alley. It overlays the actual tube lines (not just diagramatic) so you can see if the nearest tube station is 1 block away or 20. On the flip side, it has numerical listings of the major bus routes. It even has a separate map and listings for the night buses (in case you will be out after the tube shuts down). Even you you never take the bus (or do not intend to) it is a very useful map.

Deleted - posted twice in error (below)

Whether you have an Oyster or Travelcard, don't forget to use buses as well as the tube. Much better view and can be more convenient and fun. Get bus maps online or from bus stations like Victoria or London Bridge, or just look at the very helpful info at the bus stops.

Thank you all so very much. Great very helpful info. I am still making plan, and don't know the exact dates and place to live. But, I will go by myself only (party of 1) for 4/5 days. Thinking about staying in the Double Tree Hotel near Russel Square (Bloomsbury area?). They have good rates and looks like good central location. Alternative is Victoria Double Tree. Dates are still felxible.

There was an office of Visit Britain in New York (551 5th Ave #701). They used to sell Travelcards and Tickets and also used have tons of FREE Maps, Guidebooks etc. Anyone know if they are still in business? They have an online store, but no mention of NYC physical store.

Thanks everyone. Any other idea will be great.

Tintin

Even better, it's now FREE
Don't buy in advance, you'll end up paying more and get the wrong thing. As you are travelling alone get an Oystercard on arrival, if you are staying between 4 & 7 days then load a 7 day zone 1-2 Travelcard and add some more cash to cover travel outside those zones (eg to & from Heathrow). Under 4 days then just load cash onto it - around £6 per day.