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- iHaveNet.com: Travel
By Rick Steves
With 600 square miles, 8 million people, and too many must-see sights to see, London can be formidable. On my last visit, I was up for the challenge. I blitzed the city from the second I arrived. After landing at Heathrow, I rode the Tube to my hotel, dropped off my bag, and hit the ground running.
First I dashed to the
Next I popped into the always-thrilling
Here are some tips I've learned over the years. Public transportation is the most efficient way to get around this huge city. For a week-long stay, spring for the Seven-Day Travelcard, which zips you to most of the top sights for one flat fee. For this visit, rather than spend 45 pounds for a taxi from Heathrow to my South Kensington hotel, I paid about 30 pounds for a seven-day Travelcard transit pass, which gave me unlimited Tube and bus rides for a week and covered my airport-into-town Tube ride.
While the Travelcard fulfills most transportation needs, a double-decker bus tour is still a classic London experience. I recommend saving this for a Sunday morning, when many sights are closed, making this a convenient time to get an overview of the city. If you hop on the bus early enough, you can get off at Buckingham Palace in time to catch the Changing of the Guard at 11:30.
London is one of Europe's most expensive cities, and sightseeing can add up quickly. But many of the city's top museums are free (though donations are requested). These include the Victoria and Albert,
There are certainly sights that charge admission -- but if you can't save money, save time. For no extra fee, the Britain and London Visitors Centre (near Piccadilly Circus) sells Fast Track tickets that allow you to skip the queue at certain sights. These are especially worthwhile for places that can have long ticket lines, such as the Tower of London, the London Eye, and Madame Tussauds.
If you're having trouble fitting everything in, evenings can be a great time to sightsee. On any night of the week, you'll find some sight open until at least 8 or 9 p.m. During the height of summer, you can hang well into the evening with waxy celebs at Madame Tussauds or take a whirl on the London Eye as late 9:30 any night.
A good itinerary shouldn't just cover the big sights. Remember? You're on vacation. Some of my favorite London experiences don't involve art, royalty, or artifacts; instead, they're about enjoying a picnic lunch while cruising the Thames; watching Londoners at play in St. James's Park; sipping afternoon tea at The
In the evenings, take advantage of London's theater scene, which rivals Broadway in quality and usually beats it in price (try for discounted same-day tickets at the "tkts" booth in Leicester Square). Between high-energy musicals in the West End, cutting-edge plays starring A-list celebrities, and Shakespearean productions at the Globe, London's theater will have the perfect show for you.
In my view, London is one of the only cities in Europe (along with Rome, Paris, and Istanbul) that can fill an entire week with blockbuster sights and experiences. It's impossible to see it all in one shot, so why try? Countless visits later, I still leave here with a healthy list of reasons to return.
© Rick Steves' Europe
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Travel | London: Taming London in a Week