Linda Hartley asked:


Bicycle rickshaws or pedicabs have become a popular and fun way of traveling around the West End, Soho and central areas of London. They are a fun way of traveling to a hotel or restaurant after an evening at a West End theater. London rickshaws are not licensed or regulated so just how safe are they? I’m going to give you seven top tips to make sure your rickshaw journey is a safe and a happy one.
* Three medium sized adults are a snug fit in a rickshaw, two are ideal. If there are four in your party use a second rickshaw. In tests rickshaws proved to be least stable turning corners when they had only one passenger or were overloaded.
* Use a rickshaw for fairly short distances not instead of the tube. Think of them as a fun alternative to walking rather than as public transport. Rickshaws are safest within the West End, Soho and Central London areas where traffic speeds rarely exceed 20 miles an hour.
* Check that your rickshaw is owned by one of the major companies. Their logos are clearly visible on the cabs and often the drivers wear distinctive t-shirts. Names to look for include BugBugs, In Wheels We Trust and The London Rickshaw Company. All of these carry insurance and provide training for their drivers as part of their Voluntary Code of Practice.
* Look to see that your driver is wearing a visible name badge. These are also covered by the Code of Practice. It is important to know who your driver is just in case. Make sure your driver knows and understands exactly where you want to go before you set off. You cannot expect the same level of knowledge from them as you would from a London cabbie. You may need to practice your language skills as many of the drivers are foreign language students.
* Work out the fare before you get into the cab. Agree a fair price before you get in the cab and then stick to it. You should also allow for a tip, see below. The big rickshaw companies charge a basic flat rate fare per passenger (between £3.50 and £4) and then the driver negotiates his fee on top of that.
* Use the seat belt. It is usually a lap belt and it could save your life.
* Give your driver a tip. If you are pleased with your ride a 10 – 15% tip on top of your agreed fare is usual.

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Chris Robertson asked:


Whether you’re going on your first trip to London or your tenth, the city can be more than a little intimidating. After all, the greater London area covers 600 square miles! Before you go, it’s worth your while to invest some time in planning which London attractions you’d like to see, as well as exploring your transportation options.

London Sightseeing Attractions

Here are the top five “must-see” London attractions:

1. Tower of London: One of the city’s most prominent landmarks, the Tower of London is best known as a castle of imprisonment, torture, and execution – but it’s also been a Royal Palace, a fortress, and a Royal mint!

2. Kensington Palace: Although Kensington Palace was the birthplace of Queen Victoria and the primary residence of William III and Mary II, today’s it’s best known as the home of Lady Diana, Princess of Wales. Exhibits honoring “The People’s Princess” are a must-see.

3. London Zoo: Located in Regent’s Park, the London Zoo is home to over 12,000 animals and features exhibits including “Meet the Monkeys” and “Butterfly Paradise.”

4. Windsor Castle: The home of Queen Elizabeth II, Windsor Castle has been the official residence of Kings and Queens for more than 900 years, making it the oldest continually occupied castle in the world.

5. Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre: This faithful reproduction rests on the site of the original Globe Theatre, the backdrop upon which the Bard wrote his famous plays.

London Transportation

If you’re a London tourist, you have access to a number of trains and busses that will take you to the major London attractions. These include the London Underground trains, London busses, the Docklands Light Rail, over-ground trains, Tramlink, and the First Great Western (for travel to Windsor Castle).

A Travelcard Lets You Save Money While Sightseeing

London sightseeing can be incredibly expensive. Individually, London attractions may not charge much, but together they can quickly add up to a significant cost. Likewise, travel expenses to and from popular tourist locales can also take a bite out of your pocketbook. The money you spend on admissions and travel within London is money you won’t be able spend on accommodations, souvenirs, and meals.

If you’re a London tourist, a Travelcard is an excellent investment, especially when combined with a London Pass. At a single affordable price, the London Pass provides you with free admission to 56 London attractions – locations that normally charge for admission. Similarly, the Travelcard allows you to use busses and trains at no additional charge. These “smart cards” are like credit cards that are swiped at the entrances of attractions, busses, and trains, and that allow you free entry or passage.

In addition to cost savings, a London Pass allows you to bypass long lines and receive priority admission to all of the best London attractions. Best of all, depending on the length of your stay, you can choose to buy a 1-day, 2-day, 3-day, or 6-day pass.

Planning ahead and taking advantage of a London Pass and Travelcard will help to make your London sightseeing trip hassle free. You’ll be able to enjoy the rich variety of attractions the city has to offer without having to spend a fortune on admission fees and transportation costs.

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Pierre Smith asked:


A short hop over the pond is what they say when Americans want to travel to London. It is, in actuality , an average length trip across the Atlantic Ocean to London, a city rich in history with a vast array of historical sites to visit and cultural spots to soak in. Rich in music with a thriving theatre tradition, London is a great vacation full of trade and shopping venues to charm any visitor.

London is renowned as England’s capital of activity, politics and commerce. A bustling centrality of poets, musicians, writers and scientists, London has been a hub of discovery and creativity for many years. When visiting no itinerary is complete without a “literary walking tour” a favorite stroll among the likes of Wordsworth’s old hours or Virginia Woolf’s Bloomsbury neighborhood. Guidebooks and tourist operators proffer these and other cultural trips as part of any London vacation.

Theatre is another staple of London nightlife with a different show every night from Shakespeare’s famous Globe theatre which resides on the banks of the Thames to the Queen’s Theatre and the famous Soho theatres playing some of the longest-running shows in history. Tickets are inexpensive and readily available in one of the many outlets in Leicester Square. Shows are scheduled to be convenient to most visitors’ schedules so that you can see what you want almost any time.

London’s architecture is as varied as it is historic with British tradition at the forefront with naval and colonial hegemony over the centuries. A typical London vacation will include tributes to kings and queens, rich in history of battles and wartime generals as well as inspiring British leaders down through time. All kinds of history is available including buildings that seem out of place in the center of the city, properties that were bombed during the Blitz, a historic reminder to battles-past.

Public transportation is offered to the visitor and during the day the Underground is a very popular form of getting around for vacationers because it is so quick and easy to use. Double-decker buses are still extremely popular running frequently and inexpensively around London so that visitors can snap pictures and take in the topography of the town.

New York, Paris and Tokyo have nothing on London when it comes to the social scene with live music, a myriad of clubbing venues, pubs and restaurants for every taste and preference. During a London vacation, you’ll be treated to the nightlife which is the heartbeat of the city comprised of the clubs from the North boroughs of Camden to the South boroughs of Brixton and Clapham.

Many people feel that London’s culinary offerings are less than stellar, but this reputation is totally undeserved. There are thousands of restaurants at your disposal, and experimentation of the culinary delights offered by London’s finest restaurants are both delicious and satisfying leaving most visitors wishing that they could stay longer to explore more. London is not only a lot of fun, rich in history and the arts, but a diverse city of extremely good restaurants and foods for the most discerning palette.

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Lee Dobbins asked:


London’s West End is a great destination for those traveling to London who like somewhat different things to see and do. Here you will find great restaurants, fun shopping at the next-door Piccadilly Circus, and a famous theatre equal to any that are on Broadway.

Not far from the West End is Soho. The once famous red light district is undergoing a transformation which includes upscale restaurants and shops. You can now take a rest right in Soho Square in comfort and safety while taking in the sights and sounds of London.

Leicester Square has great entertainment opportunities including a good selection of cinemas and also street performers, so be sure to plan a stop here if you can.

Break out your 60’s bell bottom jeans and headband and head on over to Carnaby Street, where you’ll be able to shop for more 60’s fashions. Oxford Street runs across London’s West End and offers more modern shopping. It features a marble arch once belonging to Buckingham Palace on one end and Tottenham Court, which goes back to Roman times, on the other. Boasting over 300 shops, there is something for everyone. You will find department stores as well as unique specialty shops in the 5 million square feet of shops.

Also in the West End is Liberty clock which has a figure of St. George with a dragon. It’s located right outside of the Liberty store and is a popular tourist site.

The theater district still remains one of the most popular places to visit in the West End of London. Besides the spectacular architecture and the historical importance of the buildings, there are also the many musicals and plays to choose from for your entertainment.

For over 80 years, the Palace Theatre at Cambridge Circus, has held musicals. It has very interesting and ornate architecture both inside and out, featuring a terra-cotta façade and black marble with Roman columns in the foyer. If the musical alone doesn’t draw you in, then the building itself surely will.

Two other theaters to visit are The Royal National Theatre that has 3 auditoriums and the Globe Theatre which is an open air theater that has no stage lights or microphones. It has been re-created quite near it’s original location, which was in Banksides and has been enjoying popularity since the time of Shakespeare.

If you like a variety of things to do, interesting places to see and people to look at, then London’s West End is the place for you!

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Bruce Burnett asked:


It has often been said that London is not so much a large city as a vast coagulation of small villages. Fierce regional loyalties center on the district’s soccer club or local pub. Many of London’s Underground stations, and therefore the area in general, are named after the ancient village inn that once, and sometimes still does, stand there.

Such an area is The Angel in Islington, north London. The Angel was a 17th century coaching inn, which stood at the important crossroads of City Road and Islington High Street. This was the London end of the Great Road north to Scotland. Tom Paine, author of The Rights of Man, is said to have lodged here and “The Angel Inn” is featured in Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist.

Although The Angel Inn no longer stands, local pubs of note include The Old Queen’s Head, which dates from Elizabethan times. The original Elizabethan chimneypiece has been preserved and can be seen in the bar today.

The nearby King’s Head Pub Theatre is one of the most famous and best fringe theatre venues in London. Music hall, or vaudeville, entertainment started in London pubs well over a century ago. The King’s Head has brought show business full circle back to its roots. Many of the pub theatre’s productions transfer to London’s West End or New York’s Broadway. To complement the nostalgic ambience, pub patrons are likely to be charged for their drinks in pre-decimal shillings and pence.

But the main attraction at The Angel is Camden Passage, London’s Antique Village. From small beginnings in 1960 it has become one of Europe’s highest concentrations of antique dealers. Camden Passage is a pedestrianised street only a few hundred yards long. It was mostly built in the mid-18th century and still retains a Georgian, village atmosphere, although only a kilometer or two from London’s bustling core.

Before the antique market blossomed, Camden Passage held several second-hand shops specializing in books and records.

Said one Saturday morning shopper, “I used to come down here as a teenager in the mid-fifties looking for bargains in old jazz 78 rpm records. Now my wife comes here looking for bargains in Art Deco chinaware. It’s amazing how the area has changed. After the war you could have bought one of these row houses for 200 pounds. Now they sell for upwards of 200 thousand pounds.”

One local feature that hasn’t changed is Frederick Beck, the large toy and electrical goods shop that has operated here under the same family ownership since 1896. Its sloping wooden floors have remained unaltered for nearly a century.

The liveliest times to visit Camden Passage are Wednesday and Saturday mornings, when over 300 shops, arcades and stalls are operating. There is also a small book market on Thursdays. Immediately adjacent to Camden Passage are other antique markets, including the York Arcade and The Mall Antiques Arcade. The latter was once an electrical substation and is a fine example of Victorian industrial architecture.

Another interesting piece of Victorian architecture is the Business Design Center, opposite Camden Passage. It was formerly the Royal Agriculture Hall and dates from 1862. The building now has a new lease of life as an exhibition and trade center.

Worth seeing also are the public gardens in Colebrooke Row just south of Camden Passage. Originally, the New River flowed here. This was a 17th century scheme to provide London with cleaner drinking water than was available from the River Thames. The New River flowed 65 kilometers (39 miles) from rural Hertfordshire to Islington.

Turning off Colebrooke Row, built in 1768, on to Noel Road, one can walk along the peaceful towpath of the Regent’s Canal, which has just emerged from a long-long tunnel. The Regent’s Canal links the Grand Union Canal with the River Thames.

Noel Road has a number of literary and artistic connections. The novelist George Gissing lived at no. 60, Walter Sickert the artist had rooms at no. 56 and Joe Gorton, playwright, shared a flat at no. 25.

Public parking is limited near The Angel, but the area is amply served by public transport. The newly-renovated Angel station is on the Northern Line, the line shown in black on maps of London’s Underground railway system. The following London buses also serve the area: 4, 19, 30, 38, 43, 56, 73, 153, 171A and 214.

Camden Passage Antique Village is not to be confused with Camden Lock outdoor market in Camden Town, just three kilometers (two miles) away.

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