On the Road with the Histocrats: London Tips and Suggestions, Part 2 of 2

Part 2 of (hopefully) helpful tips for first-timers or people like us who haven't been in a while

Getting Around

London is a huge and crowded city, but transportation is a breeze. The Underground, or the Tube, is one of the greatest engineering marvels in world history. The fact that it efficiently moves over 3 million people each day with very little drama is absolutely amazing to me. Compared to transportation in other cities, the stations, cars, and people are incredibly clean and sane. Plan to use the Tube when you're visiting the city. When you're making reservations, be sure to check out its location in relation to the Tube. On this trip, our flat (apartment) was maybe 300 to 400 feet from the West Kensington station, located on the District Line, a major line. We were able to use the District Line to get to Central London in 30 minutes or so, and connections to other lines were easy.

It might take a minute, but the Tube is easy to figure out. There are YouTube videos that demonstrate it very well. You can also use Google Maps or other apps to plan your routes. We used Citymapper which services London and many other cities around the world. I suggest downloading the app before your trip, put in the address of your London residence as your home address and practice before your trip. Citymapper gives you multiple detailed routes to your destination (including trains, buses, walking, rideshare, and cabs), providing times and step-by-step directions, even telling you which exit to take out of the station. Google Maps provides similar information. Sometimes though, depending on your phone and carrier, Citymapper and Google might not be accessible while you are underground, so I started making screenshots of the directions so that I would always access.

Just a few random observations about Tube travel and getting around in general:

1. Escalators in the UK have specific rules. If you are standing, stand on the right, with your arms and elbows in close to your body. People use the left to walk or run by you, and they may get very upset if you're in the way. In general, a lot of people, walk on the left in general but not always.

2. Try to avoid Rush Hour. Most places open at 10 AM and close about 5 or 6 PM, and you want to maximize your day, so that will be difficult, but platforms and trains will be crowded.

3. Be aware of posted notices and PA announcements. Sometimes, things happen, and adjustments are made that will affect your routes and times.

4. Tube staffers in the stations are, at least in my experience, incredibly friendly and helpful. If you are confused, ask.

5. One drawback of London's great Tube system is the danger of spending much of the day underground. Just be aware of that. London does actually have beautiful sunny days (4 of the days we were there were beautiful), and you don't want to be stuck underground and miss topside.

6. The UK is quickly moving toward a cashless society. It is easier than ever to pay for transportation. There's no need to buy tickets now. Simply use a tap-enabled credit card or phone. Tap the card or phone at the station entrance and exit turnstiles or near the door of a bus, and off you go. You must remember to use the same card or device every time you tap, though.

7. While topside walking around, look up and around. You never know what you may see. London has a spectacular blue plaques program which marks buildings of note. And, by the way, don't look for street names on signposts. Street names are posted on the second floor of buildings at intersections.

Thinking about day trips out of London? There are lots of great opportunities like Bath, Oxford, Windsor, Stratford-Upon-Avon, just to name a few. The National Rail Service will get you there, and you may also arrange bus trips.

Food and Restaurants

Let's face it: Britain has a bad reputation, largely deserved, when it comes to cuisine. I mean, seriously, beans for breakfast, rubbery eggs, blood pudding, sausages, eel pies, haggis, fish and chips, everything and chips, scotch eggs, etc. (Try adding some salt and seasoning guys) However, London is probably the most international city in the world, and you can find most of the cuisines of the world and find lots of interesting fusions. Within a few hundred feet of our flat, we had 4 coffee and pastry shops, and Italian, Lebanese, Thai restaurants, and British pubs. You may know that Indian cuisine has become incredibly popular, and Indian restaurants, or curry shops, are everywhere. Our meal at Dishoom in Covent Garden was the best Indian meal of our lives and one of the best meals period. Get out there and try it all!

Random observation:

1. Also check out drinks. In many pubs and restaurants, there is a wide variety of ciders, beers, and sodas which you may not have tried before. If you are a ginger ale or root beer fan, you may be out of luck. The ginger beer is awesome though.

As in continental Europe, if you ask for water in a restaurant, the server will ask "still or sparkling," bring you a branded bottle and add it to the bill. If you ask for tap water, the server will bring you a glass or carafe of water for free.

2. For some weird stuff, check out snacks and candies in markets.

3. Reservations may be well-advised. Pubs and restaurants can fill up fast. Dishoom is huge. We were lucky and were seated immediately. When we left, the queue (line) of people waiting for a table was at least half a block long.

4. Don't worry about tipping. Servers are paid a living wage in the UK, and your bill will usually have a built-in service charge of 10-12.5%. (If for some reason, you are unhappy with service, you may ask to have it removed.)

5. Again, much of the UK is cashless. Every place we ate had tap-and-go.

6. In pubs, it's pretty typical to either at the bar or to download their app and order from there. Not all take orders at the table.

7. Splitting checks is generally not done.

Tours

Book a tour! There are tons to choose from, and, for the most part, London tour guides are first-rate and required to pass stringent exams and training. There are food tours and history tours and music history tours and Thames River boat cruises. We even found signs advertising a Karl Mark tour. You can find a tour for your interests. Tripadvisor, Airbnb, Booking.com, and VRBO, will offer lots of options, or just Google. There are also private tour guides, some who don't charge for their services and just accept whatever you pay. You can also book day trips led by tour guides.