Trip Getting Close

You will love how city mapper makes public transport and even just walking from place to place so easy!

I know you have been anticipating this trip for a long time. I’m looking forward to your report when you get back?

Carol Now Retired

I am thinking that I may be reporting on my trip while in London, just as long as I have decent wi fi and even when in Southampton before sailing.

Once on ship, my wi fi is limited but when in Lisbon, I will be reporting further, again as long as i have decent wi fi.

And I may be answering other members questions.

For London transport you should also use the TFL website: https://tfl.gov.uk/

Couple of thoughts:

At LHR the walk from where your flight lands and immigration can be lengthy. Use the people movers. remembering to stand on the right along with your luggage or choose to walk on the left.

If your accommodation’s wifi is weak you’ll find most coffee shops, cafes, pubs, restaurants have wifi available.

I like this website:
https://misstourist.com/best-cafes-to-work-in-london-england/

Libraries have restrooms I’ve learned use if nearby and in need. Good free wifi. British Library gift shop is good for buying gifts.

Tesco, Waitrose or Sainsbury grocers usually have lunch meal deal. Sandwich, crisps, maybe a piece of fruit. Drink may or may not be included. Pret a Managers offer a good lunch take away option as well.

Pub lunches are often a good deal as well. No need to buy alcohol. Nice respite from daily activities. Loos are clean. Some meals you order at the bar and it is brought to you, some have personnel take your order and deliver it to you. Tipping is up to you.
Hopefully there will be a pub dog or cat.

I carry a coin purse as I donate at museums.

Have a lovely time. Great city to explore.

Will look forward to your report.

Claudia,

you have been such a big help. I am looking forward to 6 nights now at Hotel 63.

Thank you for your many suggestions all along as well as on this discussion.

I plan to download a London Transport app if there is one and will look at the other links that you have sent. I am very glad that I decided to buy a new mini iPad.

As I have told Carol now retired, I am planning to report on my trip while in London and probably ask some questions as well.

To be continued

Bostonphil7, you will have a great trip. I look forward to hearing about your adventures.

If you plan to see a play while in London, here are a couple websites to help you.
https://officiallondontheatre.com/ For a list of plays and to buy reserved seat tickets.
https://officiallondontheatre.com/tkts/ For last minute, discounted tickets if you’re not picky about what you see or where you sit.

You may already know these:
1)Toilets in the subway stations are pay-to-pee so always have coins with you.
2) I was a subway novice last year. An employee at one of the stations advised me not to buy an Oyster Card to save the card fee; instead use my tap-to-pay credit card or Apple Wallet. Even if it’s the same card, use only one so it can cap costs each day if you’re taking the subway a lot. Using Apple Wallet was less risk of losing my CC since I tether my phone in my purse or around my neck.

Happy to help.

Hope 63 meets your expectations!

Also the coffee spot thats by the Serpentine in Hyde Park is still in business.

Have a grand time.

horsewoofie

where do you get coins? I found it difficult to get coins in 2019 when I did a Baltic Cruise.

So when I use the toilet in Paddington Station, will I need coins? And do you have to put a certain coin in a slot to get into the toilet or do you just leave your coin in a box or on a plate?

Are there any attendants to assist?

Ok so, do not buy an Oyster Card but use the same credit card to pay for transportation? Can you use a credit card on all types of transport like trains and buses?

Toilets in the subway stations are pay-to-pee so always have coins with you.

There aren’t all that many toilets in underground stations. The ones in mainline train stations, such as Paddington and Victoria, are now free to use (they phased out the coin entrance a few years ago).

To get coins, if you need them, buy a bottle of water or bar of chocolate in a shop that takes cash.

In all my preparations for our recent trip I totally missed learning about the need for coins. Glad it’s coming up for folks to see!

We took notes, but coins, no unfortunately. Poor son found out the hard way when he (and many other men he reported) could not access the Westminster tube toilet on a Sunday. Then we had to try to find a WC nearby, which was not easy. Finally found one at a Pret A Manger, but needed to buy coffee and a treat in order to get the code to use the restroom. Huge line there. He spent probably 10x more by not having 40 pence and we were WC searching for 20 minutes +

We did see, and I can’t remember where it was, a tap and pay to enter the restroom. Times they are a changin! 😂

Can’t wait to read about your trip! Enjoy!

I hope you enjoy Hotel 63. We stayed there last year on Claudia’s recommendation and were happy with the hotel and location.

I promise that y'all or youse guys (depending on region) will get real time reviews while I am in London.

I think that I am going to love Hotel 63 and they will also love me. I am staying 6 nights so we will get to know one another.

I understand the need to pay to pee but make it easier to get in. There may be some persons who for one reason or another have accidents trying to find a coin or. a toilet that does not require a coin to put in a. slot. You have people who waited too long or have health issues or are old. What about kids? They often wait too long.

I do not mind paying but make it easier to get inside.

I understand the need to pay to pee but make it easier to get in. There may be some persons who for one reason or another have accidents trying to find a coin or. a toilet that does not require a coin to put in a. slot. You have people who waited too long or have health issues or are old. What about kids? They often wait too long.
I do not mind paying but make it easier to get inside.

Phil, I think you’ve somehow got the impression suddenly that all London public toilets need coins to open the doors. This isn’t the case. Pubs, large department stores, shopping malls and all the museums have free toilets. Sometimes if a pub is quiet you might need to buy a drink, but otherwise you can just do the walk of someone who’s there to meet a friend and just happens to need the loo. I’ve done this in hotel lobbies too. Also fast food places…

Increasingly, a lot of those toilets that are pay-for in the UK accept cards.

And as I mentioned earlier, the toilets in all the major train stations are now free.

However, paying for toilets with coins has long been part of UK life - there is still a phrase “to spend a penny,” meaning to have a wee, which dates back to the days when all public toilets needed a penny coin to open the door.

Golden Girl

Thanks for clarifying. I felt that there must be free and sufficient toilets in museums and restaurants among other places. I will be eating out once or twice a day and go to a museum almost daily.

In the United States,. I have done the "meeting someone at a hotel and needing the bathroom" while in fact I just needed the bathroom. It is not always easy to find a bathroom when out and about in the United States.

I think that I am going to be ok

O K Folks.

Here is the ultimate guide to not just free toilets in London but the best free toilets. And it is written by and or published by Visit London.

https://www.visitlondon.com/traveller-information/essential-information/toilets-in-london

How thoughtful. And it goes to show that toilets are a real concern for persons traveling and not just tourists.

Thanks for the toilet link!!! I've added it to my london trip notes.

My sister has digestive issues which can cause great anxiety when traveling. Whenever she travels with me, I always research the best options for toilets.

Most museums are free and I have been known to dash into one just to use the bathroom on occasion. Don’t feel like you have to see the museum while you’re there.

Carrie

I am thinking of starting a new discussion about free toilets in London and posting that link. Sooner or later, it is going to be something most tourists need to think about.

Andrea

I love museums so almost every day that I am in London (and it is not going to be enough) I will be visiting one museum or a museum like site.

I wasn’t implying that museums aren’t worth going to. We enjoy museums as well. There have been times when out and about and walking from one place to another that nature calls. Sometimes a museum is easy to dash into to use their facilities. Of course if it’s one with a long security line it’s not necessarily convenient.

Hope you have a great trip!

Andrea

I appreciate your information.

So there are security lines at museums? I should have figured there might be. And they can be long? Well, maybe not as long in October?

I know that London has many interesting museums and some to many are free. I am going to have to make choices.

I will be using the bathrooms possibly arriving but definitely leaving. I know myself.

What about bathrooms in the palaces and churches and similar sites?

While I know things go wrong and not as planned, I know that I will have a wonderful time. I have bought. a new mini iPad and plan to post from my trip.

We were there for 4 nights in late September, flew to Bordeaux, explored France and then took the Eurostar back to London for 10 nights at the end of October last year. We flew home on the 29th. Yes, there are lines. Longer at some museums than others. Time of day could also make a difference. Also in October it was half-term, so kids were out of school. We went to the Natural History museum and it was over run with swarms of kids who were loud and running around. After about 20 minutes we decided to walk to the V&A, where it was much better. It was a weekday. That was really our only bad experience with kids being out of school.

Andrea

I will be in London from October 7th until the 13th.

I deliberately book travel during what used to be known as the shoulder season so as to avoid the massive crowds during the season. However it seems like many tourists have also discovered the shoulder season.

I am taking a cruise from Southampton on the 14th and will be taking an excursion to Bordeaux from Le Verndon France. I have bought The Bordeaux Sampler which is several hours in Bordeaux including free time.

OP- what is the Bordeaux Sampler?

EDIT: Attached to the cruise? Then not available for us non-cruisers probably.

Yes, that is the name of the excursion that I will be taking that is offered thru Norwegian Cruise lines.when we port in Le Verdon France.

My excursion is only open to guests cruising on the ship but I am certain there are similar guided tours through companies in Bordeaux.

Here is a description:

8 1/2
hrs
Estimate Duration
The timeless beauty of Bordeaux is yours to discover during this orientation tour of the city and its surrounding areas, complimented with free time to do as you please and have lunch on your own. Your drive to Bordeaux takes you along the famous Medoc wine road, Route des Chateaux, with panoramic views of vineyards as far as the eye can see. The Medoc vineyards are orderly and impeccably maintained, and the famous Chateaux region produces superb wines.

Reaching Bordeaux, you’ll have a short orientation of the city before being dropped off to enjoy a few hours of free time to explore at your leisure. Take advantage of this opportunity to shop, visit museums or just stroll about and discover more about the history of the city. Some of the city highlights are Place de la Bourse, the riverfront, Cailhau Gate, Grosse Cloche from the English Period, the Bordeaux Cathedral, and Gambetta Square. Don’t miss the Grand Theater, one of the most beautiful 18th-century theaters in Europe. The pedestrian friendly city center and waterfront have many shops, cafes and restaurants for you to choose from as well as a number of museums. Whatever you choose to do, you’ll have a wonderful time in Bordeaux.