Readers' questions and tips about London travel

Carol, I will be on a 3-day business trip north of London that my wife is joining me on. Afterwards we plan to spend late Thursday afternoon through Sunday (our plane leaves late Sunday morning) in London sightseeing. Due to our short visit, we want to limit our time spent in transit throughout London. What neighborhood do you recommend we find a hotel in to ensure we maximize our sightseeing time, while minimizing transit? Also, what budget to moderate hotels that are close to Tube stops do you recommend? Thank you!
—Todd O'Fallon, IL

C.P: I'd say either something around Victoria station or the Bloomsbury district. Both are very popular with a broad range of hotels in all prices ranges, and both are within easy walks or Tube rides to all the major sites. Train and/or Tube transportation to any of the airports is not a problem from anywhere in London, so no need to make proximity to the airport a consideration. Take a look at Rick Steves' site at www.ricksteves.com for some recommendations. Once you've narrowed your choices, check www.tripadvisor.com to see what others have to say.

Our high school drama club is touring London on Spring Vacation which happens to fall over Easter. How can I find out what closures or holiday hours for tourist sights would be?
— Cammie Sawyer, Mukilteo, WA.

C.P: The four days surrounding Easter (Good Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Easter Monday) are bank holidays. Banks and government offices will be closed, and many people will be on vacation and looking for things to do, so London should be lively and fun.

Service on some Tube lines might be disrupted due to service repairs because travel will be lighter. British museums and major attractions tend to close infrequently, many only around Christmas and New Year's. Most attractions (the British Museum is closed on March 25) will be open over the Easter holidays as well as restaurants and pubs. The parks will be nice places to wander through, and don't forget the weekend markets such as Camden, Brick Lane, Portobello Road etc. See www.visitlondon.com for more details on specific sites.

Not a tip, but a warning. I arrived London last Friday afternoon and discovered that my Wells Fargo ATM card would not work in any bank machine. It was not a technical fault - Wells Fargo had put a hold on any ATM transaction in the entire UK. I learned this after many pounds worth of phone calls first to my local branch in Seattle and then to Wells Fargo headquarters. When I asked them why they had not informed the customers (I had used the card earlier in India, Thailand, Singapore and Mexico), they said it was to "not compromise our investigation." I am not making this up. They told me to take my card to any bank and get cash over the counter. My local banks in London were closed on Saturday and Sunday, but this morning I found no bank prepared to honor a Visa check card from Wells Fargo for counter dispersal; in one case, a bank said it would give cash if I had two official picture IDs issued in the U.K. This afternoon, I finally got money by writing a check at American Express after showing them my AMEX card. How a major bank like Wells Fargo could pull a stunt like this without notifying its customers is beyond belief. Fortunately I had some money with me on arrival, but travelers should be warned to consult with their bank to see if its ATM will in fact be honored abroad. I think there may be some new type of smart check card with a PIN code that can be issued, but when I rang up to Wells Fargo a month ago, I was told that the card would be good everywhere. If this had been my first visit to London, I'd have been in a panic. As it was I was rather annoyed. Best wishes and thanks for your many insightful pieces on travel.
— Frank Conlon, Seattle, WA

C.P: This sounds inexcusable on the part of Wells Fargo, but it makes the case for always carrying a back-up credit card and an ATM card when traveling. Sounds like an extra hassle, I know, but I always carry two credit cards (one issued by Capitol One, which charges no foreign currency transaction fee, by the way) and another issued by my credit union. I also carry two ATM cards, one tied to a credit union account and the other to a commercial bank account.

It's also a good idea to get a few hundred dollars in American Express travelers checks to take along as another back-up, and always take along a driver's license as well as your passport so you have two forms of ID. Finally, do call your banks and credit card companies before leaving to alert them that you will be using your card while traveling, and get a phone number that you can call collect (not the regular 800 number) if you have a problem.

I have a forced overnight in London soon. Can you please recommend some inexpensive lodgings near Heathrow?
—Julie Repie, Seattle, WA

C.P: Try the Heathrow Ibis which has shuttle service to the airport. See www.ibishotel.com for information.

To the list of places to get a quick lunch add Marks & Spencer Simply Food; these are all over the place and there are often two or more of them at train stations. Good fresh fruits, veggies, soft drinks, a 'pinta' milk for 33 p.
— Orin O'Neill, Seattle, WA

Regarding the news on Muslim unrest/protests over the Danish cartoons, are there less safe areas that Americans should stay way from?
— Carlene, Bothell, WA

C.P.: Good question. First off, there have been a few protests in London, but nothing serious since none of the major papers ran the cartoons. Muslims are now the largest group of in-coming immigrants in the UK, but the majority don't agree with the hard-liner beliefs, and I think there's little reason to be concerned in terms of safety. Brick Lane, where many tourists go for the cheap curry restaurants and Sunday market, is a Muslim area, but it seemed welcoming to me, and I didn't see any reason to be concerned. London is a big city with lots of ethnic diversity. There are areas that are wise to avoid for various reasons, but none really in the places where tourists normally go.

Can you give me the name of an affordable hotel that is central, preferably in the Knightsbridge area?
— Barb Rait, Seattle, WA

C.P.: Well, Knightsbridge is an expensive area, but you can select it on Priceline.com and see what you'll able to get. An alternative is Kensington. A lot of tour groups stay in the Kensington Close. It's not quaint, but the rooms are adequate and the location is great - about a 2-minute walk to the Underground station and near many good restaurants and shopping in the area. It gets mostly good reviews on www.tripadvisor.com. See www.kensingtonclosehotel.com.

I read that the tube station at Terminal 4 is closed for repairs. What is the best way to go if you still want to take the tube into London? How far apart are the terminals apart if I wanted to take the tube from Terminal 3.
— Linda Leonard, Lynnwood

C.P.: Yes, the Tube station at Terminal 4 at Heathrow is closed due to work on extending the Piccadilly line. Passengers can use the replacement bus service between Hatton Cross underground station and Terminal 4, or as you suggest, take the shuttle to another terminal. See www.heathrowairport.com for information.

London seems as normal as always despite the bombings in July. In fact, I barely even thought about it while riding the Tube in October. The price hikes are unfortunate for Americans traveling on the U.S. dollar, but I've always found that London is a walkable city, especially while on vacation there when you have time to stroll through the city and explore. Sometimes that's the best sightseeing you can do.
— Kristin, Seattle, WA

Brits tend not to eat out as much as Americans, which explains why the food there is so expensive! If you want to save money on a quick lunch, just go to the Sainsbury's or Tesco (both grocery stores) and grab a prepackaged sandwich. Pret A Manger, Cafe Nero, Starbucks and Coffee Republic offer sandwiches and drinks, too, but they are usually slightly more expensive. Bon Appetit!
— Laura Geggel, Mercer Island, WA

C.P.: Great advice. All of these places seemed packed all the time with local people. I'd add another suggestion: Italian coffee and sandwich shops. These are all over, especially around Bloomsbury and Soho, and they come up with some wonderful combinations served panini-style on ciabatta bread. I had a cranberry and brie combo the other day for about $4.

When in London, do you recommend crossing the English Channel and visiting Paris as a day trip? Is it feasible?
— Teresa Lau, Bothell, WA

C.P.: You can use the high-speed Eurostar train to go back and forth between London and Paris in the same day, but the trip takes three hours each way, plus whatever time it takes to get to and from the train stations, so it's really much better to plan on spending at least one night if not more. Paris is worth it!

Is the Heathrow-Paddington Express the best way to get into central London from the airport? Is there a tube pass that includes this trip or are they separate? Thanks!
— Bob Knudson, Seattle WA

C.P.: The Heathrow-Paddington Express fare is about $25 for a one-way ticket, or $46 round-trip vs. around $7 for a ticket for the Picadilly Underground line. The express train if faster, but if you don't have much luggage, the Tube is more economical. I usually take the Tube. And, yes, if you're planning to spend time in London, ask at the ticket window about adding the fare onto a one- or three-day pass.

There are so many hotels in London to choose from. Does anyone recommend a specific one that is no more than $225 a night?
— Allie, Seattle,WA

C.P.: You're right. There are lots of options, and keep in mind that, right now at least, hotels are offering discounts because winter is a slow period.

I'm combining a stay in a private home in Holland Park ($87 a night booked through London Home to Home - www.hometohome.com) with a night at the Holiday Inn London Kensington Forum which I booked through Priceline for $101 including taxes. Priceline works well in London because you can narrow your choices down to particular areas. An $80 bid this time of year usually buys a double room in a hotel that Priceline rates four-stars.

Some of the English chains, popular with tour groups, offer modern comforts at good prices. Primer Travel Inns is one (www.primiertravelinn.com) with convenient locations around Central London.

London is a sophisticated world city, and the best way to peg yourself as an American tourist is to wear shorts, sneakers and belt bag around the city streets. Make the effort to dress a bit smarter for city sojourns and you'll not only look better, you'll be treated better in restaurants and shops.
— Deluda D., Seattle

C.P.This is true of most big European cities. Dress comfortably because you'll likely be outdoors and walking a lot, but Deluda's right — leave the white sneakers and fanny packs at home.

I've been to London twice now, and I loved it both times. Some do-not-miss things to see: Tower of London (I went both times, it was great), British Museum (pay for a map so you know where everything is), Green Park (it's a nice walk-through), Covent Garden, Brick Lane (curry everywhere!) and the National Gallery. If you're heading outside London, Dover is beautiful, Canterbury is enchanting, and Brighton is quite lovely as well. My family lives in Kent, where there are many pretty little villages if you've rented a car.

Don't forget to try the pub food; it's gotten a lot better over the years. Bangers and Mash (sausages and mashed potatoes) is a personal favorite. I warn anyone who goes to London that they may fall in love with it. I did, and I plan to visit many more times before I can't anymore.
— Meghan, Kirkland, WA

I've visited London a number of times, but I see that the UK recently made the new "chip-and-pin" system official on credit cards, etc. Since most Americans still have the old-style cards and sign receipts, I was wondering if any American visitors are having any problems with the new system in place. I will be in London soon and wanted to see if this will impact paying hotel bills with my old-fashioned, magnetic strip credit cards.
— Dustin Guy, Seattle, WA

C.P.: You're right. Londoners now have credit cards embedded with magnetic strips that require them to enter a pin number rather than a sign a receipt, but foreign travelers with the old-style cards should have no problem. I've made several credit card purchases since I've been here and have no problems using my card, with a signature, to pay for train tickets, Underground and bus tickets, restaurant meals and in stores.

Just as an aside, merchants were supposed to start requiring the pin and stop accepting signatures on credit card purchases (made by UK residents) this week, but a few are making exceptions for those who forget their pin numbers.

I went to London for nine days in September. The smartest tip I got was to go to the Tower of London on an early Sunday morning. There was no line to enter and hardly any tourists. In addition, as students, my friend received numerous discounts. We got into the Tower for about $8 less than the normal admission price.
— Janica Lockhart, Auburn, WA

Instead of staying in London, consider staying in either Reading or Gatwick where the hotel rates are cheaper. Reading is accessible from Heathrow, and if you land at Gatwick, well, you're already there. The trains to and from London run about every half hour and it only takes that long to get into and out of London.
— Roy Weston, Victoria, B.C.

Make sure to spend time in Covent Garden. Up near the Seven Dials is a fabulous curry house, Sartaj Balti House on 26 Earlham. Great food, great value.
— Michele, Redmond

C.P.: This sounds like a great tip. Curry is the new fish and chips when it comes to inexpensive eating. A friend who lives in London is taking me to lunch Thursday at an Indian "tapas'' restaurant, another new trend, and I notice that London Walks (london.walks.com) has a weekly Thursday evening walk called "The Ancient City at Night'' that ends with a post-walk curry stop!

1. Buy a Tube pass (good for 1 week; great deal).

2. Go on one of the "Original London Walks" (london.walks.com) tours. They are very informative and entertaining.

3. After you've saved all your money, go visit the millions of dollars worth of jewelry at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Enjoy!
— Rebecca Slivka, Seattle, WA