London For Dummies^®, 4th Edition

by Donald Olson

• ISBN13: 9780471748700
• ISBN10: 0471748706
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-03-01
• Publisher: For Dummies

Summary

History, traditions, and pomp and pageantry abound in London, yet it's a very modern European city. Whether you're a history buff, art lover, architecture connoisseur, Royal watcher, dedicated shopper, or pub hopper, there's something for you in London. And this friendly guide helps you enjoy it fully with information about: Getting around via Underground (and saving with Travelcards), bus, taxi, or on foot Four itineraries to maximize your sightseeing Great day trips to Bath, Stonehenge, Stratford-upon-Avon, and other attractions The best shopping neighborhoods and their specialties, including Knightsbridge for the legendary Harrods, Chelsea for the young and the antique, and Kensington for street chic Literary landmarks, parks and gardens, and royal castles and palaces Activities and attractions for teens and kids Like every For Dummies travel guide, London For Dummies, 4 th Edition includes: Down-to-earth trip-planning advice What you shouldn't missand what you can skip The best hotels and restaurants for every budget Handy Post-it Flags to mark your favorite pages

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(6)
About This Book	1	(1)
Conventions Used in This Book	2	(1)
Foolish Assumptions	3	(1)
How This Book Is Organized	3	(2)
Part I: Introducing London	3	(1)
Part II: Planning Your Trip to London	4	(1)
Part III: Settling into London	4	(1)
Part IV: Exploring London	4	(1)
Part V: Living It Up after Dark: London Nightlife	4	(1)
Part VI: The Part of Tens	5	(1)
Quick Concierge	5	(1)
Icons Used in This Book	5	(1)
Where to Go from Here	6	(1)
Part I: Introducing London	7	(30)
Chapter 1: Discovering the Best of London	9	(8)
The Best Places to Soak Up London's History	9	(2)
The Best Museums	11	(1)
The Best of British Cuisine	12	(1)
The Best Places to Shop in London	13	(1)
The Best of London's Performing Arts	14	(1)
The Best Urban Charms	15	(2)
Chapter 2: Digging Deeper into London	17	(11)
The Main Events: A Brief History of London	17	(5)
Pre-history and the arrival of the Romans	17	(1)
Northern invaders	18	(1)
William the Conqueror	18	(1)
Magna Carta	18	(1)
Hundred Years' War	18	(1)
Tudor and Elizabethan England	18	(1)
Civil War	19	(1)
Fire, plague, and rebuilding	19	(1)
New lines of succession	19	(1)
The Victorian Empire	19	(1)
England in the World Wars	20	(1)
The welfare state	20	(1)
Queen Elizabeth II	20	(1)
London at the millennium	20	(1)
Mayor Ken	21	(1)
New Labour	21	(1)
Terrorist bombings	22	(1)
Building Blocks: An Overview of English Architecture	22	(1)
Dining English Style, from Traditional to Modern	23	(1)
Visiting the Local Pub	24	(1)
Background Check: Finding London on Page and Screen	25	(3)
Chapter 3: Deciding When to Go	28	(9)
Revealing the Secrets of the Seasons	28	(4)
Abloom in the spring	29	(1)
Summer fun in the sun	30	(1)
Chock-full of culture in the fall	30	(1)
Wonderful in winter	31	(1)
Perusing a Calendar of Events	32	(7)
January	32	(1)
February	32	(1)
March	32	(1)
April	32	(1)
May	33	(1)
June	33	(1)
July	34	(1)
August	34	(1)
September	34	(1)
October	35	(1)
November	35	(1)
December	35	(2)
Part II: Planning Your Trip to London	37	(14)
Chapter 4: Managing Your Money	39	(12)
Planning Your Budget	39	(4)
Transportation	40	(1)
Lodging	41	(1)
Dining	41	(1)
Sightseeing	42	(1)
Shopping and nightlife	42	(1)
Cutting Costs — But Not the Fun	43	(1)
Handling Money	44	(4)
Making sense of pounds and pence	45	(1)
Exchanging your currency	45	(1)
Using ATMs and carrying cash	46	(1)
Charging ahead with credit cards	47	(1)
Toting traveler's checks	47	(1)
Dealing with a Lost or Stolen Wallet	48	(3)
Chapter 5: Getting to London	51	(8)
Flying to London	51	(3)
Finding out which airlines fly there	51	(1)
Getting the best deal on your airfare	52	(1)
Booking your flight online	53	(1)
Arriving by Other Means	54	(1)
Taking the train	54	(1)
Riding a ferry or hovercraft	55	(1)
Joining an Escorted Tour	55	(2)
Choosing a Package Tour	57	(2)
Locating package tours	57	(1)
Checking out airline and hotel packages	58	(1)
Chapter 6: Catering to Special Needs or Interests	59	(10)
Traveling with the Brood: Advice for Families	59	(3)
Locating family-friendly accommodations and restaurants	60	(1)
Planning your trip together	60	(1)
Preparing for a long trip	61	(1)
Hiring a babysitter while on your trip	61	(1)
Making Age Work for You: Tips for Seniors	62	(1)
Accessing London: Advice for Travelers with Disabilities	62	(4)
Joining escorted tours	64	(1)
Dealing with access issues	64	(2)
Taking health precautions	66	(1)
Following the Rainbow: Gay and Lesbian Travelers	66	(3)
Chapter 7: Taking Care of the Remaining Details	69
Getting a Passport	69	(2)
Applying for a U.S. passport	69	(1)
Applying for other passports	70	(1)
Entering England with your passport	71	(1)
Dealing with a (gulp) lost passport	71	(1)
Renting a Car in London — Not?	71	(1)
Playing It Safe with Travel and Medical Insurance	72	(1)
Staying Healthy When You Travel	73	(1)
Staying Connected by Cellphone or E-Mail	74	(4)
Keeping Up with Airline Security Measures	78
Part III: Settling into London	51	(132)
Chapter 8: Arriving and Getting Oriented	83	(20)
Getting through Passport Control and Customs	83	(1)
Making Your Way to Your Hotel	84	(19)
Arriving at Heathrow	84	(2)
Arriving at calmer Gatwick	86	(1)
Touching down at another airport	87	(1)
Arriving by train	88	(1)
Figuring Out the Neighborhoods	88	(4)
The City of London: The heart of it all	92	(1)
The West End: Downtown London	92	(3)
Central London: Parks, museums, and more	95	(2)
Finding Information After You Arrive	97	(1)
Getting Around London	97	(1)
Taking the Underground (subway)	98	(2)
Riding a bus	100	(1)
Hailing a taxi	101	(1)
Walking on your own two feet	101	(2)
Chapter 9: Checking In at London's Best Hotels and B&Bs	103	(40)
Getting to Know Your Options	103	(3)
Understanding the pros and cons of B&Bs	103	(1)
Exploring hotel choices	104	(2)
Finding the Best Room at the Best Rate	106	(2)
Finding the best rate	106	(1)
Surfing the Web for hotel deals	107	(1)
Reserving the best room	108	(1)
Arriving without a Reservation	108	(1)
London's Top Hotels	109	(28)
Runner-Up Hotels	137	(2)
Index of Accommodations by Neighborhood	139	(1)
Index of Accommodations by Price	140	(3)
Chapter 10: Dining and Snacking in London	143	(40)
Getting the Dish on the Local Scene	143	(3)
Discovering the top dining areas	144	(1)
Eating with the locals	145	(1)
Trimming the Fat from your Budget	146	(1)
London's Best Restaurants	146	(26)
Dining and Snacking on the Go	172	(3)
Sandwich bars	172	(1)
Fish and chips	173	(1)
Department-store restaurants	174	(1)
Treating Yourself to Tea	175	(2)
Casual tea rooms and patisseries	175	(1)
Elegant spots for high tea	176	(1)
Planning a Picnic	177	(1)
Index of Restaurants by Neighborhood	178	(1)
Index of Restaurants by Cuisine	179	(2)
Index of Restaurants by Price	181	(2)
Part IV Exploring London	183	(104)
Chapter 11: Discovering London's Top Attractions	185	(52)
The Top Attractions from A to Z	188	(20)
Finding More Cool Things to See and Do	208	(22)
Sights for history buffs	209	(3)
Attractions for art lovers	212	(2)
Literary landmarks	214	(2)
All manner of intriguing museums	216	(2)
Activities for teens	218	(1)
Places that please kids	219	(1)
To see or not to see: Shakespeare sights	220	(1)
Ships ahoy! Nautical London	221	(1)
Architectural highlights and stately homes	222	(2)
Parks and gardens	224	(2)
A quaint village just a Tube ride away	226	(1)
Royal castles and palaces	226	(3)
Greenwich: The center of time and space	229	(1)
Seeing London by Guided Tour	230	(3)
Bus tours	231	(1)
Boat tours	231	(1)
An amphibious tour	232	(1)
Walking tours	233	(1)
Index of Top Attractions by Neighborhood	233	(1)
Index of Attractions by Type	234	(3)
Chapter 12: Shopping the Local Stores	237	(20)
Surveying the Shopping Scene	237	(4)
Getting the VAT back	238	(2)
Getting your goodies through Customs	240	(1)
Checking Out the Big Names	241	(3)
Shopping the Street Markets	244	(1)
Chelsea and Antiquarius	244	(1)
Covent Garden	244	(1)
Portobello Road	244	(1)
Discovering the Best Shopping Neighborhoods	245	(9)
Knightsbridge: Home of Harrods	245	(2)
The West End: More famous shopping streets and stores	247	(7)
Index of Stores by Merchandise	254	(3)
Chapter 13: Following an Itinerary: Four Great Options	257	(6)
London in Three Days	257	(2)
London in Five Days	259	(1)
London in Seven Days	259	(1)
London with Kids	260	(3)
Chapter 14: Going Beyond London: Five Great Day Trips	263	(24)
By Train or by Car: Weighing the Options	263	(3)
Taking the train	265	(1)
Taking a car: Driving on the left, passing on the right	265	(1)
Bath: Hot Mineral Springs and Cool Georgian Magnificence	266	(4)
Getting there	266	(1)
Finding information and taking a tour	266	(2)
Seeing the sights	268	(1)
Dining locally	269	(1)
Spending the night	269	(1)
Brighton: Fun beside the Seaside	270	(3)
Getting there	270	(1)
Finding information	270	(1)
Seeing the sights	270	(2)
Dining locally	272	(1)
Spending the night	272	(1)
Canterbury: Tales from the Great Cathedral	273	(3)
Getting there	273	(1)
Finding information and taking a tour	273	(1)
Seeing the sights	274	(1)
Dining locally	275	(1)
Spending the night	276	(1)
Stratford-upon-Avon: In the Footsteps of the Bard	276	(5)
Gettingthere	276	(2)
Finding information and taking a tour	278	(1)
Seeing the sights	278	(2)
Seeing a play at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre	280	(1)
Dining locally	280	(1)
Spending the night	281	(1)
Salisbury and Stonehenge: Gothic Splendor and Prehistoric Mysteries	281	(8)
Getting there	281	(1)
Finding information	282	(1)
Seeing the sights	282	(2)
Dining locally	284	(1)
Spending the night	284	(3)
Part V: Living It Up after Dark: London Nightlife	287	(22)
Chapter 15: Applauding the Cultural Scene	289	(10)
Getting the Inside Scoop	289	(1)
Finding Out What's Playing and Getting Tickets	290	(2)
Getting tickets	291	(1)
Using ticket agencies	291	(1)
Raising the Curtain on the Performing Arts	292	(7)
Theater	292	(3)
Opera	295	(1)
Symphony	296	(1)
Dance	297	(1)
Rock concerts	297	(2)
Chapter 16: London's Best Pubs, Clubs, and Bars	299	(10)
Enjoying a Pint: London Pubs	299	(4)
Focusing on the Music: The Best Jazz and Blues Clubs	303	(1)
Laughing the Night Away: Comedy Clubs	304	(1)
Shaking Your Groove Thing: The Best Dance Clubs	304	(1)
Unwinding in Elegance: Posh Hotel Bars	305	(1)
Seeking Spots for Night Owls	306	(1)
Stepping Out: Gay Clubs and Discos	306	(3)
Part VI: The Part of Tens	309	(24)
Chapter 17: Striking a Pose: Ten (Or So) Famous London Statues	311	(4)
Admiral Lord Nelson	311	(1)
Charles I	311	(1)
Duke of York and Edward VII	312	(1)
Henry VIII	312	(1)
James II and George Washington	313	(1)
Oliver Cromwell	313	(1)
Peter Pan	313	(1)
Prince Albert	314	(1)
Queen Boudicca	314	(1)
Winston Churchill and Abraham Lincoln	314	(1)
Chapter 18: Making Amens: Ten Noteworthy London Churches	315	(4)
Church of St. Bartholomew the Great	315	(1)
Church of St. Stephen Walbrook	316	(1)
St. Botolph's	316	(1)
St. Dunstan's-in-the-West	316	(1)
St. George the Martyr Church	317	(1)
St. Margaret's Westminster	317	(1)
St. Martin-in-the-Fields	317	(1)
St. Mary-le-Bow	317	(1)
Southwark Cathedral	318	(1)
Temple of Mithras	318	(1)
Chapter 19: Ale's Well that Ends Well: Ten Historic London Pubs	319	(4)
Anchor Inn	319	(1)
Coal Hole	319	(1)
George Inn	320	(1)
King's Head and Eight Bells	320	(1)
Lamb and Flag	320	(1)
Red Lion Public House	320	(1)
Salisbury	321	(1)
Williamson's Tavern	321	(1)
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese	321	(1)
Ye Olde Watling	321	(2)
Chapter 20: Ten Important Royals-Past and Present	323	(10)
Queen Boudicca (a.d. 30?-60): Braveheart of the Britons	323	(1)
Alfred the Great (849-899): A Warrior and a Scholar	324	(1)
William the Conqueror (1028-1087): Winner Takes All	325	(1)
Henry II (1133-1189): Family Plots	326	(1)
Henry VIII (1491-1547): Take My Wife — Please!	326	(1)
Elizabeth I (1533-1603): Heart and Stomach of a King	327	(1)
George III (1738-1820): "My Lords and Peacocks..."	328	(1)
George IV (1762-1830): A Dandy King for the Regency	329	(1)
Queen Victoria (1819-1901): Mother of Monarchs	330	(1)
Queen Elizabeth II (1926-): Monarchy Amidst Media	331	(2)
Appendix: Quick Concierge	333	(8)
Fast Facts	333	(5)
Toll-Free Numbers and Web Sites	338	(1)
Where to Get More Information	339	(2)
Index	341