What is a good map to help me navigate the streets of London? I will be vacationing there starting in early November. This will be my third trip to that city in four years. The map that I used in the past, the laminated Streetwise London map which I purchased four years ago for under $10, has been misplaced, and a new map costs nearly $100! (you can see this outrageous price at the Amazon and Barnes and Noble web sites). Please recommend a less expensive alternative.
Posted by
Orange Park, Fl
985 posts
How about a Rick Steve's laminated map? Streetwise maps
Posted by
Vacaville, Ca
1451 posts
Do you have a smart phone? You can download a Google Map or use the CityMaps2Go app, both can be used off line without using any data.
Posted by
Royaume-Uni nul points, pas plus
2600 posts
Posted by
824 posts
Geor,
Have you ever thought about getting a local SIM for your smart phone? That way, you could use google maps and the TFL web page while on the move? The TFL web page will give you 'point to point' directions for walking, using buses and or the tub. It's much better than a paper map any day!
BTW - Barnes and Noble carries your streetwise map for $10. The price on the web site must be a misprint (or database error). I was looking at it in the store just last week...
Posted by
Kingston, Surrey
239 posts
London A - Z.
The best street atlas in the world and available in all sizes.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17563 posts
Nance answered the question---he can get the Streetwise map from the Rick Steves store.
I like that one too, but use it mainly for an overview. I also like the London bus route map I got from Amazon.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
I can also recommend CityMaps2Go
And the central London bus map published by TFL (Transport for London) should provide enough detail for most purposes. It shows all the main roads, plus (of course) bus route and tube lines. Online version here, which you can download to your phone: http://content.tfl.gov.uk/bus-route-maps/central-london-bus-map.pdf
Or get a free paper version from most tube stations.
Plus, all new visitors should read the TFL "Dummies guide to getting around London": http://content.tfl.gov.uk/london-visitor-guide.pdf
And the key bus routes: http://content.tfl.gov.uk/bus-route-maps/key-bus-routes-in-central-london.pdf
But, as this is your third trip, it you probably know all this stuff.
Posted by
OP
Seattle, Wa, USA
449 posts
Hi all:
Thanks for all of your input. The Rick Steves travel center is holding a copy for me which I will pick up in a few days. It is amazing that Amazon Prime charges $100 for the map while the Steves store will charge me only $8 or so. Also amazing is the Streetwise laminated map of the underground system which costs $200 through Barnes and Noble (it's from several of their affiliate sellers). I will probably purchase an A-Z book in one form or another when I land in London since on this trip I will have more unprogrammed time to wander the streets. It's going to get dark early so having a good map will be important. My favorite city map was one that was being given out for free during the Olympic games - large format with lots of detail plus good graphics for the major sights/sites. My mint copy is being kept as a wonderful souvenir of that trip.
Posted by
OP
Seattle, Wa, USA
449 posts
emma:
That is a very interesting explanation. On Amazon and on Barnes and Noble there are at least two sellers of the Streetwise maps that have unreasonably high prices. Somewhere I read that this happens because one seller thinks the other seller is getting away with something and so that seller follows the lead. On the other hand on ebay there is one seller offering the map for over $100 and several who are offering it at the more reasonable $10. They are for sale at the Rick Steves store for less than $10. My mercenary dream of buying from Rick and selling on ebay for $100 just went down the tubes. I could have used the profit from the sale to have high tea at the Ritz (LOL).
Posted by
San Diego
1540 posts
I have a book I bought a few years ago - small/thin love it.
It is also available on Amazon.com
The Handy London Map & GuideSep 12, 2016
by Bensons MapGuides
Paperback
Posted by
Dallas, Tx
107 posts
A smart phone is what we use.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
Streetwise Maps have ceased production, but our buyer did stock up as much as he could on the titles you see available.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23642 posts
We have always used the free maps from the TI or the hotel front desk.. Always been more than adequate and we we carry a highlighter for marking the routes. And I can get a new one everyday.
Posted by
Hampshire, England.
1075 posts
"profit from the sale to have high tea at the Ritz (LOL)."
Suspect that you mean afternoon tea rather than "high" tea:
http://www.learn-about-tea.com/high-tea.html
Posted by
Troy, Oh, USA
2805 posts
The London Mapguide by Penguin Books
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6713 posts
I was just in London with both the Streetwise map and the Benson's visitor map, found Benson's far more useful and readable though a little bulkier (but still fits in hip pocket).
But in general I'm a Streetwise fan and sorry to hear they're not making them any more. Last year we used one in Athens and found an error in their depiction of Metro stations. I wrote them about this and got a nice thanks back. I had mentioned that we planned to get their Buenos Aires map for our next trip and they sent me one, along with some restaurant recommendations from the person who wrote the reply. I guess a company that pays that much attention to its customers can't survive in today's marketplace! :-(