Question for those in London

Hopey1994

Hello from across the pond! My family is making a 2 week trip to London in August, and I'm starting to look at the exchange rate and waiting for the rate before I exchange. But my question is, do you guys accept Euro or GBP? I've seen both as rates for hotels, etc. so I was wondering which I should order from the bank.
Also, any recommendations for what to do? We've never been to London before and are so excited!

karenjoy

It's £ in the UK, (sterling) not Euro's

I would recommend that you get the open top bus tours, they start at Hyde Park Corner (also other places) and I would go for the two day one with the river cruise in too, it will take you to all the sights and you can hop on and off when you are ready, the London Eye is amazing, we love the museums, also take a walk along Whitehall from The Houses of Parliament, up to Trafalgar Square, then go through Admiralty Arch and walk up The Mall to Buckingham Palace. There is loads to do, loads of places to eat etc. Depends what you like and what you want to do?

Breckgirl

Once my mom ate at a pub that was it! My dad could hardly get her to eat anywhere else but pubs! I've never been to London but did go to north England and had a blast! Enjoy!

hooah_mj

Just charge it...we went all over using that little plastic card!

Love London! and anywhere else in the UK

karenjoy

Pub food is excellent, especially gastro pubs, our local pubs serve fabulous food, mostly locally sourced, locally grown and organic. It even has a food miles chart on the wall and some of it is in yards and feet. Local people take in their home grown stuff and get free beer for it! lol

My Husband is Canadian and was told all manner of stories about bad food etc before he came to live in England, he says we have some of the best food in the world. We eat really well in pubs, but you will find it expensive compared to the US.

Hopey1994

Awesome advice, thanks! I'm copying your tour advice, Karen, into an email for my hubby. He's in Iraq and this will be the first time seeing him since March. We're so excited! We plan on using our debit card a lot, but want to have some cash just in case, yk?

karenjoy

I would recommend that you set aside a day for a trip to the Tower of London, maybe pre book the London Eye, it's best to do this to avoid the MASSIVE queues, go early in the day, then get the river cruise along to the Tower, the Crown Jewels are AWESOME! We went when it was very quiet and my husband could not believe them, also the tour by the beefeater's is a MUST the one we had was just the best, very funny and lots of good stories. We just love London, we went to see a show, got the tickets in Piccadilly Circus from a booth near HMV, we went to see 'We Will Rock You' as we both love Queen and it was brilliant. If you like history there are tours of White chapel and also walking tours, but the red open top bus trips are the best way to see lots, learn lots and are a great way to get about.

Hopey1994

Awesome, thanks! We're technically only in London for 6 days with our daughter (3) and my sister; then we're going on a 7 night cruise of the British Isles (and that trip is just DH and me!). We actually have 2 days after the cruise that is still unplanned, and we're thinking of hitting up Paris for a couple days before we part ways. We'll see!

Breckgirl

I would recommend that you set aside a day for a trip to the Tower of London, maybe pre book the London Eye, it's best to do this to avoid the MASSIVE queues, go early in the day, then get the river cruise along to the Tower, the Crown Jewels are AWESOME! We went when it was very quiet and my husband could not believe them, also the tour by the beefeater's is a MUST the one we had was just the best, very funny and lots of good stories. We just love London, we went to see a show, got the tickets in Piccadilly Circus from a booth near HMV, we went to see 'We Will Rock You' as we both love Queen and it was brilliant. If you like history there are tours of White chapel and also walking tours, but the red open top bus trips are the best way to see lots, learn lots and are a great way to get about.

I second the bus tours. I had a 6 hour layover in Dublin and did a bus tour there. What a fabulous way to see alot in a little time! Plus, as Karen said, you can pop off and on as you see fit.

karenjoy

I live on the Isle of Wight, so if you are cruising you might pass us by, if you do give us a wave :-)

If you are only in London a short time, then the bus tour is even better, it is what we always tell our Canadian Family to do when they visit.
We did Paris for my birthday, it's fabulous, LOVE the Tower, AND they have the bus tours too, another good way to see a lot and get around the main sights easily, Notre Dame is lovely, we also did a seine cruise and came back after dark and the Tower is lit up in blue lights, lovely. It is very expensive though. I recommend the hotel we stayed in, if money is not an issue, its the Sofitel Arc du Triomphe and is a stones throw from the Arc (do climb it and watch the sun set from the top if you get the chance, VERY romantic!

snookeroo

Do the Beatle Walk at Abbey Road and wave at the Live Web Cam!

I've never been to England but I so want to go. Got an extra ticket?

leilei

Oh no! Don't charge, the card company charge a foreign transaction fee. That will surely add up!

Hopey1994

Do the Beatle Walk at Abbey Road and wave at the Live Web Cam!

I've never been to England but I so want to go. Got an extra ticket?

Great idea about Abbey Road, thanks! I would love to take you, but I'm already paying for FOUR people...eek!!

snookeroo

Do the Beatle Walk at Abbey Road and wave at the Live Web Cam!

I've never been to England but I so want to go. Got an extra ticket?

Great idea about Abbey Road, thanks! I would love to take you, but I'm already paying for FOUR people...eek!!

Well, have a great trip! There really is a Live Web Camera...check it out!
http://www.abbeyroad.com/visit/