Airport= LGH London Heathrow
>Picadilly>
I use wikitravel.org , rough guide to help me decide where to visit:
http://wikitravel.org/en/London
Luggage Storage, Baggage Shipping:
http://www.left-baggage.co.uk/locations.php
Per Item : 6 GBP 0-3 hrs, 10 GBP 3-24 hrs at London stations.
Luggage Storage, Baggage Shipping:
http://www.left-baggage.co.uk/locations.php
Per Item : 6 GBP 0-3 hrs, 10 GBP 3-24 hrs at London stations.
Banking: Without permanent address and VIP account, Opening a Bank account is so much harder... so I am going to live on VISA and Cash.
Transit:
http://www.seat61.com/
gave me a lot of insight and helpful information about the transit system (esp. trains) in EU. It also gives some other helpful links to accommodations
http://www.seat61.com/
gave me a lot of insight and helpful information about the transit system (esp. trains) in EU. It also gives some other helpful links to accommodations
LOL! They use a card called "Oyster card" which is like the Compass card Vancouver is soon implementing- the touch smartcard. Which is the more cost effective option apparently... if I'm staying for a couple of days. I should probably get it as a souvenir? (and use it Pay-as-you-go). Best thing about it, is that it IS transferable AND it caps at the day travel card=
The amount of PrePay deducted from your Oyster card in one day is capped at the cost of the appropriate paper day ticket (day Travelcard) for the zones you have travelled through. For zone 1-2 (central London including everywhere inside the Circle line and some places outside) this is £7.00 (£8.80 M-F before 09:30).
Credit never expires, so that's good... if I come back again :D Touch in and out for trains, tubes, DLR, underground, rails. One touch for bus and tram. Peak/off-peak apply to Tube, DLR, Underground, rails , NOT bus & tram.:
- Peak fares apply Monday to Friday (not on public holidays) from 06:30 to 09:30 and 16:00 to 19:00
- Off-peak fares apply at all other times and if you travel from a station outside Zone 1 to a station in Zone 1 between 16:00 and 19:00, Mondays to Fridays
- ((http://www.tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payments/oyster/using-oyster/price-capping))
Accommodations:
http://www.hotelscombined.com/
Hub site which helps me find/map the cheapest, most convenient, and probably safe Hostels.
http://www.hotelscombined.com/
Hub site which helps me find/map the cheapest, most convenient, and probably safe Hostels.
Is where I check the rating and the map again :D (should book there if it is cheap there)
http://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/palmers-lodge-swiss-cottage.en-gb.html = highly recommended by users (looks to be clean/comfy)
http://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/yha-london-st-pancras.html = right beside railway
In between convenience, price, comfort- I chose comfort... although it might only be marginally good. Living conditions in Vancouver is pretty good. So, I am not sure how EU hostels measures up. Guess it's part of the process, right?
Sunrise/Sunset (Active Time):
For London : http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html?n=136&month=6&year=2014&obj=sun&afl=-11&day=1
Apparently they're day length is like Vancouver in the summer :D with sunset at 9 pm, I can make it to a lot of attractions in one day!
Sights:
FARMERS’ MARKETS (buy food from local farmers market- ask once arrived at the hostel)
KENSINGTON PALACE +KENSINGTON GARDONS + HYDE PARK= picnic, Serpentine Gallery, Princess Diana Memorial Fountain, Royal Park (http://www.hrp.org.uk/KensingtonPalace/kensingtonpalacetickets)-> Tour/ palace = 14GBP ---> maybe next time.
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
ST.JAMES PARK
WESTMINSTER ABBEY
PALACE OF WESTMINSTER/HOUSE OF COMMONS
BIG BEN
BOUDICCAN REBELLION
DALI UNIVERSE
LONDON EYE
JUBILEE GARDENS
HUNGERFORD BRIDGE AND GOLDEN JUBILEE BRIDGES/THAME RIVER
TRAFALGAR SQUARE
HORSE GUARD PARADE = JUL- 11 AM... http://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/place/484414-horse-guards-parade
WESTMINSTER BRIDGE / RIVER THAMES
TRAFALGAR SQUARE
SPENCER HOUSE
BANQUETING HOUSE = 4.95 GBP (online rate)
HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT = AUG has guided tour, go then.
TATE MODERN ---> JUL
ST. JOHN'S CATHEDRAL ---> JUL
TOWER + BRIDGE OF LONDON ---> JUL
AFTERNOONTEA - The Orangery Website http://www.orangerykensingtonpalace.co.uk/ (020 3166 6113) ---*= GBP 24 ----> too expensive... review had not been nice and it's $$$
Day plan:
Will arrive early afternoon in London on a weekday. Should make a trip to HSBC (since it is like a huge international bank, and I checked it out- branches all over Europe). There is one branch near my house, which I can go talk to them about the online international transfer thing they are listing on this:
http://www.hsbc.co.uk/1/2/international-money-transfer
(update- they only let premium account holders/ VIP open up oversea accounts in their native country... bummer)
(update- they only let premium account holders/ VIP open up oversea accounts in their native country... bummer)
Then I will embark on this plan on wikitravel:
"Take a walk through London's Royal Parks. A good walk would start at Paddington station, and head through Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, Green Park (passing Buckingham Palace) and St James Park before crossing Trafalgar Square and the River Thames to the South Bank and Waterloo Station. At a strolling pace this walk would take half a day, with plenty of places to stop, sit, drink, eat en-route. A good pictorial description of this walk can be found online at Trips By Trains Royal Parks Walk [42]"
with modifications, of course. To cover everything I want to see.
FARMERS’ MARKETS (buy food from local farmers market- ask once arrived at the hostel)
KENSINGTON PALACE +KENSINGTON GARDONS + HYDE PARK= picnic, Serpentine Gallery, Princess Diana Memorial Fountain, Royal Park
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
ST.JAMES PARK
WESTMINSTER ABBEY
PALACE OF WESTMINSTER/HOUSE OF COMMONS
BIG BEN
BOUDICCAN REBELLION
DALI UNIVERSE
LONDON EYE
JUBILEE GARDENS
HUNGERFORD BRIDGE AND GOLDEN JUBILEE BRIDGES/THAME RIVER
TRAFALGAR SQUARE
Charing Cross Stn -> Hostel
Then I'd like to settle in in the evening before sun completely sets (which as the previous data indicated, should be ~ 9pm).
Shower first, of course. Pull out my bed sheets - yes, I'm bringing my own. Chat with people, if they are there.
Sleep. Next morning, Take Eurostar to Paris
