advice for going to london

unwashed potato!

unwashed potato!

unwashed potato!

Soldato
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another thread here has got me thinkin of going to london this thursday and staying the night, then doing a load of things in london on friday and again possibly staying another night, coming back saturday.

my main problem is that if i am to go thursday it will be after work, which i finish late at 7.30pm so wont be getting to london until 8:40 according to train times so not the best time to be wondering around london trying to find a hotel for couple of nights.

what im hoping is if people here could reccomend me a hotel very close to waterloo that is decent enough to stay in and isn't too expensive, hoping for £70 per night at most.

then also while i have this thread any reccomendations for thing to do in london? i have been many times before but always leave thinking there is so much more i could be doing but don't know what.

thanks all
 
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Directly outside/opposite the entrace to Waterloo station is a Pub/B&B for something like £50 a night. I think it's called the Duke of Wellington.
 
I love the British Museum, even if it's only just to go and see something random for half an hour, I always leave feeling pleased and/or enlightened.

If its nice weather the southbank is nice for an evening stroll and a pint by the river.
If you like theatre then I believe Shakespeare's history plays are all being shown at the moment which I sadly am missing out on as am not in the UK right now :(

Have a wonder round Covent Garden and then eat somewhere round there (not necessarily somewhere actually in the 'square' itself) and go for a pint. There are some really nice pubs on offer there.

If you wanna go see a freak show then go to Camden Town tube station after dark and simply wonder round that general area and you'll be spoilt for choice with said freakshow that is Camden Town at night.

Go and get a curry somewhere in London too. Brick lane is always cited but for a cheap dinner its worth a shot.

If you say what kind of thing you'd like to do I'm sure the good folk on these here forums will gladly share their knowledge!
 
Rotty said:
Just come back today from a weekend in London, my advice is don't bother
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why where did you stay, cost, etc?

well i have to go at some point but the idea was that make most of it and go for a few days and stay in hotel for a couple nights with the gf so we can do stuff.

thanks for the advice voltar, i don't drink neihter does misses so the whole pint thing is out the window but got me thinking about stuff to d in evening like take a walk, any really great places to go that it is really alive? i always worry that london will feel really scarey at night and i will get mugged or something, but if there is places that people will be out, eatig shopping etc then thatwould be cool.

sucks as weather is supposed to be sunny every day until thursday which is when i plan t oleave :(
 
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Ah... well instead of that pint I shall suggest some shopping:

Get on the tube from Waterloo up to Tottenham Court Road. Then proceed all the way down Oxford Street until you hit Selfridges. Or if you'd rather not walk like you're about to collapse then get yourself to Bond St Tube station. From there Selfridges is a short walk and an excellent store: you can eat in there too and the little restaurants are all good in there (I'm still yet to eat at the salt beef place by the food court) oh and if you like pork pies get yourself one from the food counter whilst the missus is attempting to break away from the gravitational pull of the perfumes, handbags and other misc stuff on the ground floor.
Bond St is excellent for shopping. No. 1 Bond Street is where you'll find the rather nice Ralph Lauren store.

At the other side of London get on a tube to Knightsbridge and then hit Fortnum and Mason for an afternoon tea and buy some biscuits for later :P
Harrods ofc blah blah. Harvey Nichols is one I dont normally recommend, but its another large department store in that area.
Depending on what kind of atmosphere you like I'd still suggest a romantic walk on the south bank (v near Waterloo).
Parks: Regents park is a winner (the rose garden is nice) but maybe not this time of year.

Most places are fine round london in terms of muggings but I'd avoid Hackney and some parts of Camden. Despite its' reputation Brixton isn't as dangerous as you'd think [provided you conduct yourself in a relatively normal way]

I'll have a think about where to go which is really alive but again what kind of thing do you like?
 
Voltar said:
Have a wonder round Covent Garden and then eat somewhere round there (not necessarily somewhere actually in the 'square' itself) and go for a pint. There are some really nice pubs on offer there.

!
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Spent Friday night round covent garden, really dissapointed, the pubs seemed mostly run down and full of strange people
 
Rotty said:
Spent Friday night round covent garden, really dissapointed, the pubs seemed mostly run down and full of strange people
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I'm sorry to hear that mate.
My favourite pub is near Covent garden and its called the Harp- lovely traditional pub which reminds me of the countryside :)
I'd also say that if you're a resident tourist its not as great as everyone makes out. The side streets (not leading to leicester square) are full of good places. Especially on the way to the Strand.
 
what we found round covent square were "traditional" London pubs which really are not my thing, I prefer the smart Lounge type of place, of course that is just personal preference and it may well suit others

Also found it odd that folks didn't seem to bother getting dressed up on a weekend night
 
Yes Rotty, it is wierd but people don't get too dressy in that area I've noticed. And indeed unless you're down Sloane Square way or on your way to one of the smart parts of town then unfortunately students/tourists make it seem dressed down. Here in Madrid its quite the opposite :D
Covent Garden's the wrong place for smart Lounge bars. Get to the Ice Bar [forgot its actual name] for some classier drinks.
Having a drink in one of the big hotels is always fun: the bars in Claridges are really nice for example.
 
Quite a few things to do in London. I enjoy going to see things such as St Pauls Cathedral, Pudding Lane, tower of London and just generally taking a stroll around and seeing different landmarks/parks.

Then there's always the museums such as London Transport museum, Natural History or Science museum, British museum, London Dungeons, Tower of London, Madame Taussauds etc.

You could even go on a river cruise which is a really relaxing way of seeing London from a different perspective and I enjoy going on a cruise when I'm in London. I usually perruse the shops and look in Hamleys because of the big kid that I am.

I don't usually find it intimidating or scarey as often there are lots of people around till very late in the evening. Feel quite safe as long as you exercise street awareness.
 
The Carnaby Street area is nice for shopping as well as the places Voltar suggested.

Knightsbridge is pretty good as well if a bit expensive, Sloane Street/Brompton Road have some nice shops.
 
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