Samantha Brown does a great job traveling the world and her trip to London during her series “Passport To Europe – Season 1, Episode 2, London Now” is no exception. Here are some highlights from the video.
Samantha begins her journey in Berkeley Square (pronounced Bark-lee) and points out two publications that she highly recommends: The “AZ” (pronounced A to Zed) and “TimeOut London.” The AZ is a must, even for people who live in the city! I had one in my car, my briefcase, my desk drawer, my kitchen at home, and my bedroom! It’s a fantastic and accurate street search guide that will get you out of trouble more than once, I guarantee it! It’s a bit daunting to use at first, but you’ll quickly get the hang of it. (By the way, Londoners often refer to their postcodes when describing the location of their homes, etc. This is because postcodes really tell you where something is. For example, the West End is the “heart” London. So guess what the postcode is? W1. I lived in Chelsea for a while, which is south and west of the West End. So my postcode started with SW).
Next, Samantha rides the London Underground, or tube. (We in the US refer to the subway as the Subway. But in London, a subway is an underground WALK passage, so be sure to ask for the tube or subway if that’s what you want.) The subway is very easy to use. and his maps are world famous for their simplicity and design. Each line has its own color and changing trains couldn’t be easier. The metro works relatively well and on time, although it is not uncommon for there to be a track outside, etc. So if you’re bringing a laptop and need to be somewhere on time, you can check their website to make sure everything is on time. Samantha points out that if she needs help, she asks someone in a blue shirt. She can buy tickets at the newsstand or from the vending machines. You can purchase a one-day Travel Card and use it throughout the day in zones 1 and 2 and on the metro and/or buses.
If you take the tube to Waterloo, you’ll be on the south side of the Thames and at the entrance to the London Eye, the largest observation wheel (Ferris wheel) ever built. You can buy online in advance. This is a fantastic trip and a great way to see London. It takes 1/2 hour to complete a circle and lasts until 10:00pm and as Sam points out, you can even save it for a cocktail!
Samantha goes to some of the most touristy places on the Eye, starting with Leicester Square (pronounced Lester). As she says, this is a main meeting place with cinema complexes and mega stores. She can also find the “TKTS” booth for half-price theater tickets. The theaters are a few blocks from here; mainly on Shaftsbury Ave. A short distance from here is Piccadilly Circus with its “carnival-like” atmosphere and Madame Tussaud’s, where she will “queue” for quite some time to pay GBP 22.00 to enter. She can pay GBP 25.00 to skip the queue or, if she has a group of 6 or more, enter quickly through the group queue. Also check the London Eye site for a Tussaud’s double attraction ticket (link below).
From here, Samantha returns to her hotel at the Atheneum. Technically in Mayfair, the hotel is located on Piccadilly and just down the road from Park Lane, Hyde Park and Hyde Park Corner. Directly across the street is Green Park and the fabulous shops, restaurants and theaters of the West End are just a stone’s throw away. This is a fabulous 5 star hotel with all the conveniences and comforts you can imagine.
Samantha chose to stay in one of the Ateneo’s “floors” or apartments. With a private entrance, a living room, a bedroom, a kitchen and a bathroom, all with style and comfort in mind, she will truly be pampered in luxury. There’s even an on-site spa with a full-service salon, scrubs, massages, nail treatments, and more. If you really want to work out, there’s a gym with everything you need to keep fit or just head out and head to one of the parks for a run. The Athaneum has it all.
Rates for this 5-star gem will range from $259-$500 for a “superior” to a “park view” room and around $750-$950 for an apartment per night. Make sure when making your reservation that the rate INCLUDES taxes and fees. The UK has a super silly sales tax called Value Added Tax, or VAT for short. It’s 17.5%!!! (If you buy something there and take it with you, you will receive a refund form, but this does not apply to hotels).
Samantha Brown’s biggest stops in London:
- Notting Hill: fashionable area with the famous Portobello Road market and antique shops. Not to be missed!
- Street Toilets: Super clean and easy, these facilities are second to none. Don’t be afraid to use them. Every time someone leaves the cubicle, the toilet is automatically flushed and sanitized.
- Fast Food London Style – Tiffinbites (Taken from the name of the Indian lunch box “Tiffinbox”) where you choose what you want, bring it to the counter where it is heated and served with fresh Indian bread. Very good. Indian food is very popular with the British. Don’t be afraid to try it and if you don’t know what to order, ask!
- Southbank and Bankside – The Millennium Bridge – This relatively new pedestrian bridge takes you across the Thames, not far from St. Paul’s, to Tate Modern, a must-see art museum for 20th and 21st century artists.
- Wine Tasting: Vinopolis brings you the history of wine and wine tasting. Grab a drink and hop on a Vespa scooter where you’ll take a virtual tour of wine country on the windshield! Fun.
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