London trip – my first time - 81 year old male Rookie here -

Peter, I have a few comments to add..... Heathrow is probably going to be a bit of an "experience", especially now with construction going on. Do you know which Terminal you'll be arriving at? Unless you can afford a Taxi, the Tube is likely the easiest method. Using Terminal 5 as an example, the route is Picadilly to Earl's Court and then District to High Street Kensington. The Hotel is apparently a 5 minute walk from that station. Hopefully Nigel or one of the other U.K. experts can confirm that. You probably won't arrive at the Hotel before about 09:00-10:00. As check-in time isn't until 15:00, the Hotel should be willing to store your luggage. Keep any essential items in a carry-on. Taking a Red Bus tour for a few hours is certainly one possibility to spend some time until you can get to your room. You may want to take a pair of your own Earphones, so that you don't have to use the gawdy red coloured ones provided on the Bus. The Hotel can advise where the nearest Bus pick-up location is. I would highly recommend packing along a copy of the new Pocket London Guidebook ($12.99), as it provides a LOT of great information on sightseeing, transportation, etc. As you're departing on May 5, you'll need to order it SOON! You may also want to print out a PDF copy of the London Tube map, so that you'll have some idea which stations to use for touring. Depending on how much you'll be using the Tube, you might consider getting an Oyster Card. For the trip to Diss, you should be able to travel the Circle Line (direction Hammersmith) from High Street Kensington to Liverpool Station (about 9 stops?). The trip to Diss is about 1H:30M and current fare is £11.50. Use www.nationalrail.co.uk to confirm that. Happy travels!

Peter, A few more comments (ran out of room in the previous reply).... Although London isn't as "risky" as other places in Europe, it would probably still be a good idea to wear a Money Belt (worn under your shirt or whatever). Use that to store your Passport, credit cards and most cash. Keep some "daily operating cash" in a secure pocket for buying things when you're out touring. Don't access the Money Belt where others can see! Are you planning to take an ATM card to access cash? If so, be sure to notify your Bank that you'll be travelling. Also note that travel funds must usually be in a chequing account with a four number PIN. I recommend packing a "backup" ATM card if possible. At least one credit card is also a good idea. I assume you were with the 95 BG during WW-II. Thank you for your service!

Your most conveneinet (probably , only convenient) Tube station is "High Street Kensington". It is on both the District (Green) and Circle( Yellow) tube lines both of which go through Paddington station. Paddington Station is the rail station for both the Heathrow connect and Heathrow Express rail lines direct from Heathorw. This is the most convenient way. Otheriwse paddington is close enough to Kensington High Street (KHS) to make a taxi from paddington quick and reasonably cheap. I dont know the address or hotel, but KHS is not a long street. The Circle Line is a very convenient line to be near You could also take the Tube from heathrow, changing somewhere one or two stations past Earls Court (and then going back west on the Circle line. (Normally I recommend changing at Hammersmith, but that is best if you are continuing East). Realistically, changing Tubes with luggage will be inconvenient. So I recommend for this journey use the rail from Heathrow. you will arrive early at your hotel- they may allow you to check in if your room is available, or at least keep your luggage for you Kensington High Street (and the adjoining Kensington Church Street) are pleasant walking and shopping streets- but are not convenient for sightseeing. But you can take the Tube anywhere. If you are taking a full day London tour on your secong day- no purpose in taking the Hop-On, Hop-Off bus. It will duplicate the tour you are already signed up for. CONT-

First day, unless you wish to take the Tube or a bus somewhere more touristy, you could walk the two streets I mentioned, or Holland Park, which will probably be very close. Kensington (Palace) Gardens and then Hyde Park are at the eastern end of KHS if you are feeling energetic (I lived in this area for about 6 months in London, so am familiar with it) For Diss Liverpool Street station is at the other end of London, but is on the Circle Line (you can get there going in either the east or west direction on Circle Line). I cant imagine a "12 HOUR" tour of England. Usually these are "12 DAYS". Are you sure????? Pete, With the limited time you have available in London, and health related concerns. KHS is really not convenient. you will neeed to take the Tube to almost any sightseeing- and then when you need to "take it easy", Tube back to your hotel. Frankly, you should have been booked into a hotel in the west End (Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, Mayfair) where you can conveniently walk or taxi back to your hotel for a break. You should consider Tube or bus to get to the attractions, and then taxi back to your hotel when you get tired. Still KHS is a little too far West to do this inexpensively However, as a first time visitor to London- enjoy yourself, it is a wonderful City

Some of the tube info is a bit out of date or confusing. One possibility is, as first recommended, to get the train from Heathrow to Paddington and then the Circle or District Line tube to High Street Kensington, but the train will be relatively expensive. It will be cheaper but slower to take the Piccadilly Line tube from Heathrow to Hammersmith, then walk across the platform and take a District Line tube heading in the same direction ("eastbound") to Earls Court. You then need to take a different District Line train (NOT Circle, the District has multiple branches) from Earl's Court to High Street Kensington. You don't need to change platforms, a train will come in on the same platform towards High Street Kensington. At Earl's Court you need a train with the destination "High Street Kensington", or "Edgware Road". Don't take a train heading anywhere else from Earl's Court. High Street Kensington is only one stop. For your trip to Diss, the Circle Line no longer runs in a continuous circle. At High Street Kensington, you need to take a train with the destination "Edgware Road". At Edgware Road, you need to change to the "eastbound" platform, and then any train from there will take you to Liverpool STREET (not just "Liverpool", that's a town in the north of England) station where you will board the train to Diss. If your hosts in England aren't handling that for you, you will get a cheaper fare from London to Diss at www.greateranglia.co.uk if you book now than if you wait until the day you go.

For your hotel location, Bus #9 will be your friend. It runs along the Kensington High Street and you can take it to Trafalgar Square. It is one of the old-fashioned routemaster double decker buses.

Peter, One other thought on transportation. For short travel distances, another option for getting about London is the excellent Black Taxis. The drivers are exceptionally well trained, and will get you to your destination in the quickest possible time. I specified "short travel distances", as the cost of longer trips (ie: your Hotel to Liverpool Street station) would be a bit "pricey". Cheers!

Peter, Thank you for your WWII sacrifices. My Dad wanted to go to a reunion of his British Commando but so few survived and then dro pped by the wayside that the Commando Association disbanded. Congratulations on going to the 95th Bomb Group bash. I deeply hope it is rewarding and enjoyable for you. Don't underestimate the effects of jetlag; there's a fair chance if you climb onto a HoHo bus because you are tired there is a fair chance that after you pop in the earphones you may nod off rather than view the scenery... The day you are going to Liverpool Street you might prefer a faster trip on the Central Line. To achieve that you could have a walk though Holland Park to Holland Park Tube station, or you could hop a 27, 28, or 328 bus from near your Hotel to Notting Hill Gate Tube station and down into the Central Line. You haven't mentioned much mobility issues but London in general, and the London Underground in particular, has lots of stairs. Transport for London who run the Underground, buses and other transport in London have put together an excellent guide to access in the system. Please ask for any other help we can give...

I too thank you for your service and commend you for traveling to London for the first time. Yes, the tube from LHR is the cheapest option to travel into London. However you will need to change trains at least once to get to your hotel. OP's have given good info on how to do it but this is your visit to London. You'll be jet lagged. Spend the money and take the Heathrow Express Train into London. Once you've deplaned and gone through customs, use a debit card to withdraw $200 from an ATM machine. Barclays Bank, USB are reliable. Place the money in your moneybelt when you use the rest room. After the long flight you will use the rest room. Follow signage to the Heathrow Express. Clearly marked. Buy your ticket at the window OR use a credit card at a ticket machine. The ATM money will be for your Underground ticket, coffee, snacks and peace of mind. Board a car at the front of the train. 15 minute ride on the clean Express takes you directly to Paddington train station. It's lovely, busy but not hard to negotiate. The Underground icon is a red circle with a thick blue horizontal line through it. Very identifiable.

Continuation from above: At Paddington the Underground entrance is virtually across from the information desk. There are escalators and stairs. Buy your tube ticket at one of the manned windows. While there ask for one of the small pocket size tube maps. If no one is at the window, there are machines and you'll have money. You'll be going to the Kensington High Street Station via either the District or Circle line (yellow or green routes on the map). Mind the gap when you exit the train and follow the signage to exit. This is very nice station. Turn Left when you exit. It's 3 blocks or so to your Hotel. Cross the streets ONLY when the lights change or your are absolutely certain no traffic is turning. It will take a while for your mind to readjust to traffic coming and going opposite of what you're used to. Looking at Google maps I see that a Barclays Bank and a Boots pharmacy are directly across from your boutique hotel. Excellent. Have a wonderful first visit to London and a memorable reunion!

Peter, To an old G.I. from a younger G.I. (1962-65) Have fun. We are light travelers although it gets to be testing at times. Mistakes? We are too old to worry about them. Dance the chicks well. I lift my glass.

We are going to London in June. We have arranged a private transfer with "Airports Taxi Transfers London", on-line. We have been to London for the past three years in a row. As we have large luggage, we pefer to have a private transfer. A driver meets us with a sign with our name on it. Then we are driven, by ourselves, to our hotel in South Kensington. I know it costs more, but the convenience is worth it.

Hmm, by my calculations, Peter was 10 when Pearl Harbor was bombed, so I'm guessing he didn't fight in that war. But what a cool trip! Unfortunately, Peter, I can't answer any of your questions. I just want to tell you not to worry about making a mistake. It's pretty tough, at least for me, to get through an entire trip without making one mistake. However, the trick is to have the right attitude. Enjoy every experience, whether it goes exactly as you planned, or seems like a screw-up at the time. I hope you have a wonderful time!

Peter said he was "piggy backing with the WW2 - 95 BG Reunion" so I take that to mean he is a guest at the reunion and is not claiming to be a veteran.