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Daytrip to London
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My husband and I are traveling to Paris for the first time this January and are planning on taking a daytrip to London by train. Could we get some suggestions on where to go during the hours that we'll be there????
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(3-part post):
My first bit of advice is to book as soon as possible. Eurostar are currently offering a return fare of �47 per person in January. As time gets closer, that will rise to around �150 per person. 'On the day' or 'short notice' fares are sometimes around �250 return.
http://www.eurostar.com
Depending which train you catch, you'll probably arrive at Waterloo around 9.00am. (on the 0716 service ex Paris Nord) or 10.00am (on the 0807 service). There aren't any late trains back to Paris, so you'll need to be back at Waterloo by 1900 at the latest. That means that you've got about 9 or 10 hours to tour the city.
The first thing you should do is to head for Waterloo Underground station and purchase one-day Travelcards. You'll only require the inner London (2 zone) ones. These cost �4.90 unless you start your first journey before 0930 on a weekday. (The fare is then �6.20). [Travelcards can be purchased at Paris Nord but I'm not sure whether the full range is available. You might have to buy tickets for more zones than you need].
My first bit of advice is to book as soon as possible. Eurostar are currently offering a return fare of �47 per person in January. As time gets closer, that will rise to around �150 per person. 'On the day' or 'short notice' fares are sometimes around �250 return.
http://www.eurostar.com
Depending which train you catch, you'll probably arrive at Waterloo around 9.00am. (on the 0716 service ex Paris Nord) or 10.00am (on the 0807 service). There aren't any late trains back to Paris, so you'll need to be back at Waterloo by 1900 at the latest. That means that you've got about 9 or 10 hours to tour the city.
The first thing you should do is to head for Waterloo Underground station and purchase one-day Travelcards. You'll only require the inner London (2 zone) ones. These cost �4.90 unless you start your first journey before 0930 on a weekday. (The fare is then �6.20). [Travelcards can be purchased at Paris Nord but I'm not sure whether the full range is available. You might have to buy tickets for more zones than you need].
If you've never been to London before, I suggest that a short river trip is a great way to see some of the best sites. (Dress warmly. It can be very cold on the Thames in January!).
Follow the signs to the Jubilee Line and take a northbound train for just one stop, to Westminster. As you leave the station, you come out alongside the Houses of Parliament and 'Big Ben'. (Officially, it's St Stephen's Tower. Big Ben is actually the name of the largest bell inside it).
If you want to do some sightseeing before going on the river, you can visit Westminster Abbey which is across the road from the Houses of Parliament. (�8 admission + �3 for the audio guide):
http://www.westminster-abbey.org/
Then go to Westminster Pier. (Go to the bridge alongside Big Ben. Instead of crossing the river, look to your left and you'll see the pier). Here you can board a boat to Tower Pier. (The boats are fairly frequent even in January. Show your Travelcards to get a third off the fares).
The trip to Tower Pier only takes about 40 minutes but you'll get great views of many of London's main historic sites. (The commentary is often quite amusing, as well!).
Tower Pier is next to the Tower of London. You might want to visit it but you should be aware that it's expensive (�15), takes up quite bit of time (2 to 3 hours) and can be rather cold in January:
http://www.hrp.org.uk/
To get back into central London, cross over (actually 'under') the road to Tower Hill underground station. Take a westbound train (on either the Circle or District Line - they go from the same platform) for 6 stops to Embankment.
Follow the signs to the Jubilee Line and take a northbound train for just one stop, to Westminster. As you leave the station, you come out alongside the Houses of Parliament and 'Big Ben'. (Officially, it's St Stephen's Tower. Big Ben is actually the name of the largest bell inside it).
If you want to do some sightseeing before going on the river, you can visit Westminster Abbey which is across the road from the Houses of Parliament. (�8 admission + �3 for the audio guide):
http://www.westminster-abbey.org/
Then go to Westminster Pier. (Go to the bridge alongside Big Ben. Instead of crossing the river, look to your left and you'll see the pier). Here you can board a boat to Tower Pier. (The boats are fairly frequent even in January. Show your Travelcards to get a third off the fares).
The trip to Tower Pier only takes about 40 minutes but you'll get great views of many of London's main historic sites. (The commentary is often quite amusing, as well!).
Tower Pier is next to the Tower of London. You might want to visit it but you should be aware that it's expensive (�15), takes up quite bit of time (2 to 3 hours) and can be rather cold in January:
http://www.hrp.org.uk/
To get back into central London, cross over (actually 'under') the road to Tower Hill underground station. Take a westbound train (on either the Circle or District Line - they go from the same platform) for 6 stops to Embankment.
On leaving the station, turn left. This will take you towards Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery and Covent Garden, all of which are within a few minutes walk. (You'll probably have a map but, if you need directions, just ask).
The two galleries are both free (apart from admission to special exhibitions) so can visit just the parts which appeal to you without having to pay for things you don't want to see. (I recommend checking out the photography sections at the National Portrait Gallery):
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/
http://www.npg.org.uk/
Covent Garden is a superb area for finding somewhere to eat. My recommendation for great food, at budget prices, is Bistro 1 (on Southampton Street) but there are many, many others:
http://www.bistro1.co.uk/
Even in January, you're likely to find live street theatre, buskers and opera singers all giving free performances around Covent Garden.
This schedule will probably take you well into the afternoon. Remembering that you need to be back at Waterloo by 1900, it doesn't leave you much time for anything else. However, if you want to try to squeeze something else in, I'd recommend Somerset House. It's a stunning building (which is free to view) but it also contains three varied galleries (for which there are admission fees). To get to Somerset House from the Trafalgar Square/Covent Garden area is only about a 10 minute walk but I can provide bus/tube details if you want them):
http://www.somerset-house.org.uk/
That will do for now but if you need further information or suggestions, just ask!
Chris
The two galleries are both free (apart from admission to special exhibitions) so can visit just the parts which appeal to you without having to pay for things you don't want to see. (I recommend checking out the photography sections at the National Portrait Gallery):
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/
http://www.npg.org.uk/
Covent Garden is a superb area for finding somewhere to eat. My recommendation for great food, at budget prices, is Bistro 1 (on Southampton Street) but there are many, many others:
http://www.bistro1.co.uk/
Even in January, you're likely to find live street theatre, buskers and opera singers all giving free performances around Covent Garden.
This schedule will probably take you well into the afternoon. Remembering that you need to be back at Waterloo by 1900, it doesn't leave you much time for anything else. However, if you want to try to squeeze something else in, I'd recommend Somerset House. It's a stunning building (which is free to view) but it also contains three varied galleries (for which there are admission fees). To get to Somerset House from the Trafalgar Square/Covent Garden area is only about a 10 minute walk but I can provide bus/tube details if you want them):
http://www.somerset-house.org.uk/
That will do for now but if you need further information or suggestions, just ask!
Chris
Not all black cab drivers want to chat away and show you the sites!
I would come out of Waterloo station, and head up to Waterloo east. Catch the train to Greenwich, then get the boat up the Thames to Westminster. From here, head towards Trafalger Square and get on one of the many open top buses which will show you the sites and you'll get a guided tour at the same time.
I would come out of Waterloo station, and head up to Waterloo east. Catch the train to Greenwich, then get the boat up the Thames to Westminster. From here, head towards Trafalger Square and get on one of the many open top buses which will show you the sites and you'll get a guided tour at the same time.
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