<p>My family is going to Europe for the first time and we need advice from all CC world travelers. I have read several of the London threads and have them bookmarked but am still quite overwhelmed by planning this trip on short notice. I am aware of travel sites such as SlowTrav and Tripadvisor and have been furiously reading them. We are flying into London and will be in England for 10 nights in April. I would like to see other parts of England, possibly Bath and the Cotswolds and would really appreciate any advice, places to stay or even other suggestions of places to visit. My son is at Oxford for two terms on a study abroad program so Oxford is a definite stop- he is also on break at that time and will be traveling with us so we need rooms for 4. London sounds wonderful and I’ve taken note of all the things to do and places to stay - my burning question is how to divide up the trip reasonably to see enough of London and still get time in the country.We would rent a car in the country. Another option is going to Paris for 3 or 4 days instead of Bath and the Cotswolds but my instinct is telling me to stay in England. </p>
<p>I don’t know if I can give you a budget - I’m a really particular traveler - I like things meticulously clean and with good taste ( contemporary or traditional - champagne tastes at beer prices) We usually stay in condos or cottages in the states at the beach or in the moutains so I’m not particularly experienced at finding good hotels. London is a challenge, especially with 4. I can do without charm as long as it’s super clean with a good location. I have no idea what districts or neighborhoods are best in London - We are flying into Gatwick. Thanks so much for your help. </p>
<p>And a thank you to all CC’ers who gave me advice on Oxford for my son. He is loving it and wishes he could have taken the advice to stay a year - he is singing in a choir at Christ’s Church and participating on crew ( hasn’t done a sport, besides Ultimate Frisbee since 9th grade so we think that is pretty cool) He also had a chance to see Yulsie’s son sing for Out of the Blue at the a cappella competition - he says it was great fun and OOTB won the competition.</p>
<p>My husband’s sister is in the process of planning an extended family trip this summer. We have not yet decided if we can go. Anyway, below is a link to the trip she has planned.</p>
<p>While bath and the English counhtryside are pretty, I would take the extra days in Paris. mTake the chunnel train, only 3 hours downtown London to downtown Paris, and a fun experiece. You csan see much of what you want to see in London in 2 days, do bath as a day trip though there is an amazing hotel in the huge arch in Bath where they serve rom service course by course and served one of the most memorable breakfasts I’ve ever had. Can’t remember the name but you’ll recognize it on trip advisor which my family swares by. There’s still sime time to do Cotswolds or wales. But with Paris waiting and so much more lively and fun (oh, and the food) go!</p>
<p>We spent six days in London last summer and, even with our days absolutely packed full, we still didn’t see everything we would have liked to! I think it would be very easy to find interesting things to do in London alone for ten days but if you want to venture outside the city a little to other towns, there’s no doubt that you’ll be able to fill your days easily. I wouldn’t make the side trip to Paris unless you think it’s the only opportunity you’ll ever have to get there. We loved London and can’t wait to go back. Can I come with you? :)</p>
<p>I went over in November to see our D, who is doing both semesters in Bath this year. We have been to London several times with children. I can’t imagine being able to do it in 2 days–I think 4 would be the minimum if you want to enjoy it! The last time we were there with the family we stayed in an apartment, which we booked through Expedia. It was in the Hyde Park area and was very clean, though budget priced. Kensington and Notting Hill are close by that area–all had accommodations, proximity to the subway (Underground/Tube)–plus near Paddington Station (where you can get a train to Bath & many other spots outside London) and lots of restaurant choices. I’m sure other CC’ers have other suggestions. I highly recommend getting out to Hampton Court and/or Windsor–both are fantastic!!</p>
<p>As for Bath–it’s great. It is really more than a day trip from London. It takes about 1 1/2 hours to get there from London by train, and there is quite a bit to see, if you want to tour the Roman Baths, the Abbey, and the area. There are plenty of wonderful restaurants, and great shopping there, too!! I could not stay with our daughter (they are sharing with other students, obviously–and studying!), so used a wonderful B & B. There are lots of hotels and B & B’s, many catering to families. </p>
<p>D and I did not spend time in London, (since we’d had those other trips), so we spent a long weekend in Paris. It is so inexpensive to fly from London to Paris, and we found fares that were much cheaper than going by chunnel train! </p>
<p>You can’t go wrong with time in any of those places–we also loved Oxford (but didn’t stay overnight there).</p>
<p>Liz, I’ve stayed at the Thistle Hotel Trafalgar Square which is very central but not terribly cheap - tho’ cheaper at weekends and if you can get a special. I think I booked it through Expedia. It depends on your family’s stamina as to how long to stay in London - if you have the energy there are countless things to see and do. I would recommend the train from Gatwick to London then renting a car when you’re ready to explore the rest of the country. There are masses of things to see and do even if you never go further north than Bristol - I would recommend venturing further into the southwest - Devon is spectacular and you might want to stay in B & B’s or even rent a cottage for a few days. If you want to see more of the country go North - Chester and York are both pretty interesting and you could visit the Peak District and the Lakes as areas of outstanding natural beauty. 10 days will go very fast!! Hope you have a wonderful trip.</p>
<p>Seriously think about whether you will be happy arriving jet-lagged and driving straight out of the airport into the busiest road in Europe, driving a manual (stick-shift. If you want an automatic you must book one in advance and ask for it specially from the car hire company. All the cars here are the manual variety. I have never actually seen an automatic here.) on the other side of the road. In London there is no parking anywhere and there is a congestion charge of £8 per day for every car which drives there. Since everywhere is accessible by the tube anyway, a car might just be a great inconvenience. Europeans don’t drive half as much as Americans and as the roads are narrower and more crowded generally it will take longer to drive the same distance compared to the US.</p>
<p>You could probably rent college rooms in Oxford during the Easter vacation. They all have “guest rooms” for parents during term time (though these tend to get booked far in advance). In vacations they have lots of summer schools and stuff but it’s worth asking since you are the parent of a student.</p>
<p>I second the “no car” notion. Lanes in rural England are narrow and hedge-lined - dangerous even if you are sure what side of the road to drive on. Trains are great, and there are “coaches” (buses) to many places. Once you are there, walk around. Most of the smaller towns are very pedestrian friendly. You do NOT need to rent a car. As for terrific budget housing in London - try the International Youth Hostel Association St. Paul’s youth hostel. (You don’t have to be a youth). It’s located just around the corner from St. Paul’s cathedral, and in easy walking distance of lots of sites. It’s clean, cheap, and has its own cafeteria. (FWIW - my father, now almost 80, lived there as a child. The hostel is the old dorms/school building of the St.Paul’s boy choir.) I have found travelling that it is always better to get to know a smaller area, rather than rush around to too many sights. 10 days is a nice amount of time to explore London, spend a few days in Oxford, and take a few day trips to castles or other sights in Southern England. I would save France, Northern England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland for another trip!</p>
<p>I agree with no car- the trains there are great, the buses, as well</p>
<p>Once we had to leave scotland on short notice to get to a tiny town in Ireland- we did a cab, a bus, a train, another cab, a plain and a bus in one day…it was really actually quite the adventure</p>
<p>and you need to remember you are traveling to a new place, and european rooms are usually small</p>
<p>CityGirlsMom- There is a site called (I think) English Country Cottages which you might want to look at for a place to stay for a few days in country. We stayed in one for a week in June '04 in North Cotswolds south of Stratford, but they have places listed all over the British Isles. We spent two days in London and it was not enough. It was first time for my son and husband and I had not been there for many years.
On another topic, my son who is a freshman and is interested in going to Oxford in jr year. We have just started investigating. He is also a singer and expects to be a double major in English and Music. While he expects to take English if he goes, he’d be very interested in opportunities to sing. How might I read the old discussion in which people advised you about Oxford? I am new here and do not understand how to get to the archives. I would, of course, be delighted to hear anything you wanted to share about your son’s experience.</p>
<p>lizchup- There is a site called (I think) English Country Cottages which you might want to look at for a place to stay for a few days in country. We stayed in one for a week in June '04 in North Cotswolds south of Stratford, but they have places listed all over the British Isles. We spent two days in London and it was not enough. It was first time for my son and husband and I had not been there for many years.
On another topic, my son who is a freshman and is interested in going to Oxford in jr year. We have just started investigating. He is also a singer and expects to be a double major in English and Music. While he expects to take English if he goes, he’d be very interested in opportunities to sing. How might I read the old discussion in which people advised you about Oxford? I am new here and do not understand how to get to the archives. I would, of course, be delighted to hear anything you wanted to share about your son’s experience.</p>
<p>Heh. The old right hand driver, stick shift. We drove one all over the Scottish Highlands and had a blast. I must say, though…hopping off the plane and jumping into a car that required shifting with the left hand and coming to a traffic rotary within a quarter mile was quite the challenge.</p>
<p>If you rent a car, make an agreement with everyone to help you stay vigilant on the lane thing. As soon as you start feeling comfortable…you will slip up. Pulling out onto divided roads requires vigilance. Our last day there, I pulled out of a petrol station in Glascow. We were all yakkin’ and without thinking instincts took over and I and turned right on to a divided street. Ooops! Quick U-turn up on the sidewalk and all was well again.</p>
<p>Hi, I am actually graduating in June and two friends and I are planning a trip to London for about 6 days, not including the flight, and we’re looking for a way to spend less than $1000 for round-trip flight and lodging. Any advice on how to accomplish that? Minor picky point–we have to have a private bathroom as some hostels I hear have community bathrooms. </p>
<p>We’re taking this trip for three reasons:
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix will be filming and we’re hoping to spend at least one day at a film site. Anyone with the know-how on how to get to a film site, or Leavesden Studios in case they’re filming there, please address it or PM me.
We wouldn’t mind catching some action at Wimbledon because we’re hoping to go around the last week of June, beginning of July.
We are graduating and going to three separate schools and want a week to be “independent” and to have fun. And they have Phantom of the Opera playing all the time!</p>
<p>There is a slight possibility that one of my friends might not make it, and it would be down to two girls should that occur. We intend to plan the heck out of the trip so our parents know where we’re at all the time. We are planning to get the London Pass thing which gives you free admission to some of the major tourist spots as well as unlimited transportation access on the tube and on coaches.</p>
<p>Anybody with any info or suggestions on what I’ve described above, please PM me. Thanks much.</p>
<p>Thanks to all for the advice. I love stick shifts - I learned on one but after reading ID’s description of shifting left handed I think I might reconsider. I am wondering though, isn’t it cheaper to rent a car than pay for four to travel by train and bus in the countryside?</p>
<p>I can’t get Paris out of my head, mainly because I’ve always wanted to go their first and I’m not sure how soon the opportunity will arise to go back - another 5 years of paying for college. I also know Paris better just because I was my son’s remote travel agent last summer when he was in a french immersion program there. (yeah, I know, cut the strings, but he had inconsistent internet, no cell phone and I generally love travel planning) </p>
<p>I know many people love London and the English countryside, but for me, I’ll take Paris anyday. I want to feel a co mpletely different culture, hear another language, see the incredible beauty the French bring to everything from street flower stands to food to window displays. If Paris is in your heart, by all means go. London has theater, but so does NY. Their best restaurants are continental–food you see everywhere in the States. There is only one Paris. And I stand by the chunnel train. Even if flights are cheaper, you have to pay to get to and from the airports. Plus the train is special, to think how they accomplished this engineering feat is just mind boggling.</p>
At lot of hotels don’t have private bathrooms in Europe (and outside the US, the world as a whole). On a budget, you will almost certainly have to share. Sometimes hostels I have stayed in have one bathroom per room, but the room usually sleeps 6+. I would recommend that you don’t complain, or you are likely to be labelled the moaning American and placed in the worst room the hotel has :)</p>
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<p>I’ve occasionally seen people filming things in Oxford but never Harry Potter. You can take tours to see places shown in specific films, but I highly doubt you will be allowed into a private film studio unless you have connections there.</p>
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<p>The bad news is that the deadline for applications to the ticket ballot was in December. I already have mine! (I think I’ve been to 13 or 14 Wimbledons and a few French Opens too)The good news is you can go and queue for a ticket at the door. Wimbledon tennis can be easily reached from the tube. It’s on the district (green) line in zone 3 (so you need a zome 3 ticket.) The station BEFORE the one called Wimbledon, Southfields station, is actually the one closest to the tennis centre (but since everyone else on the train will get out, it will be obvious). No tickets are sold at the door for centre court on the last 4 days (semi-finals and final). On these days you can only get a ground pass and watch the tennis on the big screen. On the other days you can get a centre or court 1 ticket if you get there early enough. SOme people camp on the street overnight but that’s a bit extreme. If you get there by 7am you will probably get one. Choose a day when England’s tennis hero, Tim Henman, is NOT playing and the queue will be half the size. It’s actually quite fun because you get to meet interesting people in the queue and there are lots of freebies and entertainment. Queuers get wrist bands about 6am, so you can leave and come back (eg to use the bathroom!)</p>
<p>Thank you for the info about Wimbledon. I had read online that you can’t get in to see anything on Centre Court because it is already filled up in advance, except for the rafters section. And I’d rather see Andy Roddick (no offense to my favorite tennis player and any who like him) lose early to some unknown since he does that often now, on the big screen on the grounds. However, we’re hoping to go at the time when half of the courts are being used for practice sessions and the other half are still in tournament play. We’re hoping to get some autographs on one of the big tennis balls, lol. Double thanks for giving the time to arrive for tickets in the morning at the gate. I wasn’t sure how early I’d have to show up to get in. That’s a good point about Henman: poor England, they think he’s really great don’t they. </p>
<p>We just found a hostel that has en suite facilities. Yey.</p>
<p>How much money do you suggest to bring for a five-day trip in London? This would only include food, souvenirs, emergency money. What do you suggest is the best way to carry money? Credit cards, traveler’s checks, plain old British pounds once we get our dollars exchanged?</p>
<p>What British food should we stay away from?</p>
<p>About Wimbledon - if you don’t get a show court ticket, don’t worry - if you buy a general admission ticket then you can often buy a show court ticket after about 4:30 P.M…for just £5! Obivously it’s a gamble whether or not you’ll get one, and it involves more queueing, but it’s prob worth it, as usually the best matches are the last ones on court. (Sadly I didn’t have time to stay long enough to investigate this option last year) There’s also the fact that if you go in the first week you’ll get to see some great tennis on the outside courts, and you’ll be right at the side of the court, which is great but a bit terrifying when you have an angry Russian bearing down on you at full speed.</p>