<p>yes, Heathrow is miles and miles away from London and it is also one of the most expensive cities in the world (and has hellish traffic). Just to summarise the above, you have two transport options excluding a taxi</p>
<p>1)The tube. Get off at Leicester Square and your hotel will be somewhere really close (ask a news vendor or cabbie. They always know). The thing is the tube is really really crowded and will be crammed at that time in the morning. Plus it’s about 20 stops. This is the cheapest option though.</p>
<p>2)Get the Heathrow Express to Paddington. Apparently the most expensive train ride in Europe per mile. Costs about £15. When you get to P’ton you can get a cab or transfer onto the tube (but you’d have to change lines on the tude to get to the right stop.). In the airport there are stickers on the floor saying “Heathrow Express”. You just follow them and eventually they lead you to the train (which starts off underground as well).</p>
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<p>Ah but it won’t be 6am. More like 9am by the time you’ve got through immigration! Last time I came back from the US I walked straight through the EU passport gate and then had to wait 3 HOURS for my friends to get through the international immigration line! My tip is when you get off the plane WALK FAST to immigration. About 10 or more US flights all arrive at the same time early in the morning and it is bedlam.</p>
<p>Don’t be scared! I can’t imagine coming to the UK will be anywhere near as culturally different as going to Asia. Everyone speaks the same language. You’ll be fine.</p>
[quote]
Everyone speaks the same language.[/quote</p>
<p>Corblimey! Is it really true?
I recall an American friend visiting us in London. She asked me what language the bus conductor was speaking: it was Cockney. Once on the ferry from Paris, I overheard a group of women speaking in an incomprehensible language. I asked the man sitting across me if he could guess their nationality. He replied in an amused voice and in the BBC standard accent that they were from Lancashire.</p>
<p>Thank you all so much for your help. I’m feeling kinda lost with this whole thing because its one of those ‘you started working a few weeks ago but off to London you go.’ I just don’t want to be so stressed with logistics that I forget what a good experience this will be…so you guys have helped relieve a lot of that stress [as nice as the people at work are, i feel like a child asking them some of these questions].</p>
<p>I will look into the Heathrow Express and then a cab from Paddington–its certainly way more economical. Any idea how long that train ride will be?</p>
<p>I am staying near Traflager Square for sure. Any restaurant recommendations with the following in mind–I’m really into simple food [think soups, sandwiches, pizza etc]; my business associates will certainly be into going to super-fancy restaurants but I can only tolerate that type of food for a couple days before I need my normal simple menu–there have got to be good local restaurants for this daily fare?</p>
<p>The train is about 30 minutes or so, maybe 40. London has amazing ethnic food of all varieties. Lots of Indian, Italian, continental, etc. You’ll also find Big Mac, BK, etc. Many are small by US standards. Space is a premium in London, so don’t let that deter you. Also, hotel staff can be very helpful about the local area. Try Sofra’s, you’ll like it. Pizza is everywhere and most will have soup as well. The Texas Embassy is a part of the Chilli’s chain. It’s a few blocks from Trafalgar (and the only place with iced tea that I could find).</p>
<p>The licensed cabs in London are amazing. The cabbies take a test that makes the law boards look tame. They can take you anywhere and are pretty good tour guides if you get them talking.</p>
<p>It’s been a while since I lived in London, but the area near Trafalgar Square is chock-a-block with restaurants for all tastes and all budgets. There are some nice ones in the Covent Garden area and Soho, all within walking distance of Trafalgar Square. Some pubs also have very decent food.</p>
<p>The same language? i don’t know any Americans who understand teh Cockney Rhyming slang (dont’ worry aj–this can be a conversation starter with the cabbies and pub crawlers):</p>
<p>Cockney: Meaning :Example</p>
<p>Adam and Eve: Believe : I don’t bloody Adam and Eve it!
Alan: Knickers: Okay, okay, keep yer Alans on!<br>
Apple Fritter: Bitter (beer) : They’ve got some new Apple at the Battle.
Apples and Pears Stairs Get yer Bacons up the Apples and Pears.<br>
Aris: Arse: Nice Aris!
Army and Navy: Gravy: Pass the Army, son.
Artful Dodger: Lodger : I’ve got an Artful to help pay the rent.<br>
Ayrton Senna: Tenner (ten pound note) : You owe me an Ayrton.<br>
Bacon and Eggs: Legs : She’s got a lovely set of Bacons.<br>
Bang Allan Border: Bang out of order: He’s bang Allan (used when someone does something nasty to someone else).
Barn Owl (Barney): Row (argument) : 'Ad a Barney with me Artful 'cos 'e refused to give me my Ayrton’s. </p>
<p>Barnet: Fair Hair : She’s just got her Barnet chopped.
Boat Race: Face : Smashed 'im in the Boat.
Battle Cruiser: Boozer (off license): I’m off to the Battle to get some Apple.<br>
Bottle and Glass : Arse: He fell on his Bottle.
Brass bands: Hands: I shook him by the Brass.
Bread and Honey: Money: He’s got loads of Bread.
Britney Spears: Beers: Give us a couple of Britney’s will ya?
Brown Bread: Dead: He’s Brown Bread.<br>
Bubble Bath: Laugh: You’re ‘avin’ a Bubble.
Butcher’s Hook: Look: Take a Butcher’s at that!
Chevy Chase: Face: He fell on 'is Chevy.
China Plate: Mate: How are you, me old China?
Christian Slater: Later: See ya Slater.
Cream Crackered: Knackered (tired/broken): I’m Cream Crackered!<br>
Currant Bun: Sun: The Currant Bun’s hot today.
Daisy Roots: Boots; 'Ere, put on yer Daisies.
Danny Marr: Car : I’ll give you a lift in the Danny.
David Gower : Shower: Give us half an hour mate I’ve gotta go for a David.
Dicky Bird: Word: He hasn’t said a Dicky in hours.
Dog and Bone: Phone: She’s always on the Dog.
Donkey’s Ears: Years: Ain’t seen you in Donkeys.
Drum’n’Bass: Face: Look me in the Drum.
Dudley (Dudley Moore) : A score, or 20 pounds: Loan me a Dudley?
Elephant’s Ears : Beers : Get the Elephants in, mate!
Frog & Toad: Road: I was walking down the Frog…
Ham’n’cheesy: Easy: Ham’n’cheesy does it.
Hank Marvin: Starving (hungry) : I’m Hank Marvin. </p>
<p>Jimmy Riddle: Piddle (urinate) : I really need to go for a Jimmy.<br>
Joanna: Piano : He’s great on the Joanna.<br>
Khyber Pass: Arse: He kicked him up the Khyber. </p>
<p>Lemon Squeezy: Easy: It was Lemon, mate.
Nanny Goat How much for the Nanny?
Nelson Mandela : Stella (Artois) : Mine’s a pint of Nelson!
Nuclear Sub: Pub: Fancy a quick one down the Nuclear?
Oily Rag : ■■■ (cigarette): Gis’ an Oily, mate.
Pen and Ink: Stink Eurgh! : That Pen and Ink’s!
Pork Pies : (Porkie Pies) Lies : He’s always telling Porkies.<br>
Queen Mum : Bum : Get off your Queen Mum. </p>
<p>Rosie Lee : Tea : If you’re brewing a pot, I’ll have a Rosie.
Round The Houses: Trousers : Take a Butcher’s at those Rounds!
Ruby Murray: Curry : I’m going for a Ruby.
Saucepan Lid Kid He’s only gone and had a Saucepan. Septic Tank: Yank: Well, 'es a bloody Septic, inni?
Sky Rocket : Pocket : Me Skies are empty.<br>
Tom Foolery: Jewellery : I gave me Trouble some Tom Foolery for Christmas.
Trouble and Strife : Wife: Just had a Barney with me Trouble.<br>
Two and Eight : State (of anguish) : He’s in a right old Two and Eight.<br>
Uncle Dick: Sick : He’s just been Uncle Dick over me new Whistle. </p>
<p>Weasel & Stoat: Coat: Pull on yer Weasel.
Whistle and Flute: Suit : I just got a new Whistle.</p>
<p>If they know you’re foreign people won’t use those terms to you. I think the language differences are much exaggerated. Of the terms cheers posted, I’ve heard about 3 of them in the 11 years I’ve lived here permanently. Note that it’s just as different for people from the UK going to the US (but they complain less). True Cockneys are a rare breed anyway. mostly they’re just “Mockneys” like celebrity chef Jamie Oliver. Pretending to be a cockney.</p>
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<p>I fail to see how any intelligent person could not decipher the above sentences in context.</p>
<p>You’re unlikely to hear most of these unless you’re listening to an inter-cockney conversation. But some of them - adam & eve, barney, butcher’s, cream crackered (would Americans use knackered?), china, porkies - are more widely used. </p>
<p>You’re more likely to hear ‘bottle’ (with a glottal stop, of course, and the second syllable almost swallowed) in a sense meaning courage or guts - " 'as ‘e got the bo’l to do it?" If you hear it as a verb it means he didn’t have the courage, or he chickened out or messed it up - "Bleedin’ 'ell, ‘e bo’led i’ " (Yes, a Londoner can turn the ‘t’ of ‘it’ into a glottal stop.)</p>
<p>BTW as a Brit working in London (my office is about 100 yards from Trafalgar Square) I’m probably not best placed to answer the sort of questions you’ve got now. But if you have any questions when you get to London, feel free to PM me.</p>
<p>aj,
Enjoy yourself in London! What a great city. Check out the theater district if you have time.</p>
<p>As an English speaking Americans I thought we (DH, DS, DD, and I) would have little trouble communicating and understanding the English spoken in the UK…not so. Quite often I would have to have my son, who has a great ear for dialects and accents, to translate for me…especially in Scotland. My son thought I was hard of hearing and/or feeble-minded asking him to repeat what was said to me in American English…very embarassing.</p>
<p>DS and DH are going to London the end of the month to visit a study abroad program for a university/college in the US. Because we live in Germany, making frequent trips to the US to visit colleges isn’t feasible. Visiting the college’s study abroad program in Europe is easier for us and has the added benefit of visiting some of the great European cities.</p>
<p>And what about “I need to spend a penny” or “going to the loo” or “I’ll knock you up?” A bathroom is where you take a bath, as opposed to the wc. </p>
<p>When I first came to London, there was an article in the Times about administering language tests for foreign doctors, including those whose first language was English. The idea was to test them on their understanding of colloquial expressions. An example was of women saying they were pregnant: preggers; in the family way; expecting; in a delicate condition; and my favorite, “he put a bun in me oven.”</p>
<p>CC Caveat: The above were posted for a bubble and not intended as a serious warning to poor aj. Even if you don’t live in the UK or an English colony, it is amusing to listen for these phrases in movies and UK TV. </p>
<p>My neighbors are from London, though not cockney. Her license plate reads ‘Strife’.</p>
<p>Regarding money, we always get our pounds in the U.S. before going as it generally is the best exchange rate. Any big city bank can get them for you and smaller banks can order them. If you don’t want to carry huge amounts of cash, at least get some money in the U.S. so you can buy the paper to read on the train on the way in from the airport! You should get a good guide book or two and read them and study the maps. As recent law school grad, you are used to doing research and any you do now will pay off, if only to make you feel superior to the other clueless Americans on your flight over!</p>
<p>Oh Lord!!! Almost forgot!! Be very careful crossing the street!!! We have been trained from birth to look to the left, but in England traffic will be coming first from your right as you step into a 2-way street!! The locals are aware of this danger to tourists, and have thoughtfully painted “look right==>>” reminders on the street at many corners, but not all, so be careful!</p>
<p>And if you take the “tube” (the subway train), be sure to “mind the gap.” That just means don’t fall into the space between the platform and the train. That would be nasty.</p>
<p>Tangent alert:
We face the same problem in reverse of course. During WW2 there were reported cases of escaped British POWs being caught by the Gestapo because they gave themselves away by automatically looking right when crossing a road.
End tangent.</p>
<p>If no one already said this, the exchange rate will be better if you do it at your bank at home before you go. (And get LOTS of money if you’re going to eat out in London.) But go on-line and check it for yourself before you go to the back. I’ve caught American Express out several times stuffing extra points on at the top that way. Airports have bad rates of exchange, generally. And a surprising number of places in the UK don’t take Amex Traveller’s checks, regardless of what Amex tells you. This might be less of a problem if you aren’t leaving London.</p>
<p>You can get LOADS of good tips from the Grafitti Wall at Rick Steves website. We’ve gone independently to the UK several times, and I still learn from other travellers there.</p>
<p>I second a few things. First, I second the trip to the Tower of London. It’s a great spot and I recommend taking one of the guided tour groups that leaves each hour or so that you can meet up with pretty quickly after you enter. </p>
<p>I also second getting your pounds prior to going to London. Although you can buy them in the airport, you will save some money if you get them at a local bank. The exchange rates at the airport are typically not as good. When I was growing up my dad taught a study abroad course in London every summer and that is what he always did.</p>
<p>If you are a theater person, go online and see if you can see what’s playing in advance. A lot of times you can catch shows cheaper than they are in the U.S. and there are always tons of things playing. If it’s still there, there’s a half price ticket booth in Leicester Square where you can get tickets for half price to many performances on the day of the show. It doesn’t always have the huge name shows, but it usually has a pretty good selection. </p>
<p>Don’t worry about food. Since you said you like casual type food you will have tons of options. Just leave your hotel and explore on foot or by bus. Some of the best places I’ve eaten are places we just happened to walk by and decided to try them. You’ll have a GREAT trip! London is a great city!</p>
<p>My 17 year old son did a three month animation course in London in 2004. He used his overseas debit/credit card to get pounds out of London ATMs. Call your bank to ask whether your card will work on international ATMs (most likely it will). Ask about the charges and the exchange rate.</p>
<p>If you like art, try the Wallace Collection. It is in a formerly private residence, there is no charge (they do ask for donations) and it never seems to be crowded. The collection is incredible.</p>
How much for the Nanny?