London changes in the last 20 yrs

I'll start by suggesting the Southwark and the South Bank. They've definitely changed since I first saw London in 1990. Take the Tube to Westminster. When you emerge from the depths, walk across the bridge to the south side. Turn left and keep walking. You'll pass the in-your-face London Eye, the Millenium Bridge, Royal Festival Hall, etc. Eventually you'll arrive at London Bridge and Southwark. I don't find Southwark to be that interesting, but it's got a good cathedral and you can happily eat and drink your way through Borough Market if you show up when it's open.

Exactly right! When I came back to London last summer, where I had not visited since 1987, the first things I noticed in the King's Cross area (that's where I always stayed in 1971 and 1987) was that not only had the businesses changed but also B&Bs that had been cleaned up, sandblasted, etc.

There are many new amazing buildings in the City area, and definitely along the Thames. I noticed major differences from 1997, to 2009 when I last visited.

Thanks for the responses. I'm planning to stay within a few blocks of the Earls court tube station. Does anyone know the area?

I think I stayed in a terribly dirty hostel there about eight years ago. Really good location though and honestly it will feel very America-like as far as chain restaurants and whatnot. My rules of survival in London is to have a good tube map and your hotel's business card and you're good to go. Just like the rest of Europe, don't wear white athletic shoes and be mindful of lining up properly just as everyone else does in Restaurants, etc. Also be careful to talk much softer than you're used to, listen and watch everyone, and you'll see and take in so much more! Be prepared to spend about three times as much $ as you usually do for anything here. My highlight for London is walking along the South bank of the Thames at night and going up the London Eye, but I would save that until the end, so you can see everywhere you'd been! If you like Shakespeare, the Globe Theatre is awesome, but outdoors, so often rainy.

Recent things of interest.... ask for detail on any .... wobbly bridge .... London Eye .... you will not believe just how much of the Tube shuts for engineering works on the weekends at the moment ... most of the museums are now free entry including the whole of Greenwich ... Cutty Sark burned down .... Dockland Light Railway ... the Docklands including Canary Wharf ... London rear door red Routemaster buses are gone, except 1 or 2 on parts of the 11 and 15 ... new replacements for the Routemasters to arrive next year or so, at the moment we suffer with the awful bendy busses ..... Boris Johnson is Mayor . Who would have seen that coming? .... weather forecasts are now accurate mostly to the hour .... gelato has come to London, Gelato Mio is best in Holland Park, Notting Hill, and St Johns Wood ... ............... you know, really, the whole city has been turned on its head.....

More ... the City looks completely different since the last few years ... the Gherkin ... the Tate Modern ... the Jubilee Line Extension ... believe it or not, Best Buy has just arrived in the UK ... Mandy's Folley, originally known as The Millennium Dome, now called the O2 dome .... the Olympics site .... it goes on

Nigel forgot to include the most important change to London: Krispy Kreme...in Harrods no less;)

Krispy Kreme is the Devils Work... every main train station, Selfridges, many Tescos. Every Brit is now larger than they used to be.... Fie on Krispy Kreme, especially the Chocolate Dreamcake.... death to the inventor of Krispy Kreme ...

If it's any consolation......all the Krispy Kreme outlets in Hong Kong went out of business. On the flip side at the KK in Tokyo there is a 30 minute line just to get into the place with police on hand to make sure riots don't break out. The lord works in mysterious ways.

Prices for eating out are high...but we survived by buying at the deli part of grocery stores. The Indian Buffets aren't too bad. At least most of the Museums are free and some have decent cafes. Some of the locals should chime in with cheap eats in decent locations. If you ride the Thames...you should get an excellent view of new London.

I was there in '78 and then again last year. No more Wimpy's and Piccadilly Circus changed beyond recognition. Beyond that much of the city looked the same to me.

If we want to mention changes in the price of food, I should mention that my first time in London in June 1971 a cup of tea in the King's Cross area restaurants, a few of which were cafeterias, cost 4 or 5 pence. Now that cup of tea is over a quid.

I agree prices will be the biggest shock. Count on paying at least a pound for every dollar on this side of the pond. There are very few bargains.

Russ, I just realized what I was missing on my last two trips: Wimpy's. On my first trip in 1984, my traveling companion and I witnessed two Wimpy's employees get into a fist fight as we were eating. It made for a memorable experience.

Wimpys are still around but none in Central London. http://www.wimpy.uk.com/

No Wimp's?!? Wimpy's still comes up in every conversation our family has about London.

After a thread on quark recipes, some afficionados of Krispy Kreme may revel in the knowledge that there are Sliders out there....cheeseburgers served on a Krispy Kreme glazed doughnut! Apparently a favorite at the Kentucky State Fair, they were served recently at a dinner party we attended. What exactly are one's obligations as a gracious guest when confronted with that? Bon appetit!

Nigel is correct about the Tube downtimes on weekends. Check the poster board announcements as you enter a station, or online at the Transport for London site. Although you can usually figure out an alternate route, when I visit, I always carry enough cash for a cab if I have to be someplace on a weekend, just in case.

Our first visit in 72, the soda was still warm, war damage was still visible, and trains were cheap.

Rose: The earls Court area is fine. The main road (earls Court something) can look a little grungy in places, but most areas around it are still genteel and clean. Good residential