First time to London and Paris any good tips?

[Nando]

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to the 4HWW forum. I must say im really glad to be a part of this community. I think Tim did an amazing job with the book and also bringing people together with the same goals to help each other.
Im glad that I finally found people that I can relate to, learn from and share some of my ideas with. Im really looking forward to contributing as much as I can to this Forum. :)

As for my post well its my first time heading over to Europe. I will be leaving in mid March for 10 days..I will be arriving in Lodon and will be staying at my aunts house. I decided to also go to Paris for 2 days. I always want to see Paris and from what my cousin told me its only 2hours away.
I was wondering if any of you could give me some tips or advice on what to see or what to do. I know im staying for really short time but I want to make the best of it.
Thanks in advance
Nando:)

[officer_dibble]

Where to start with London...?

What kinds of things do you like to do or want to do? Are you travelling on a tiny budget or first class?

Really there is too much to do in such a short time. I lived there for 10 years and I didn't do everything I wanted to.

The first things to do with London prepwise are:

a) Get an Oyster card - even in a few days you'll end up saving money if you use the Tube a lot.

b) Think about getting an A-Z (or borrowing your Aunt's).

c) If you are arriving at Heathrow at a normal(ish) hour and your Aunt lives on the Tube network but not picking you up (and you are travelling fairly light) - take the Tube rather than a taxi or even the Heathrow Express.

Things London is really good for:

Food - practically any kind of cuisine in the world can be found there (although it won't always taste quite as good as the original country of origin). There are great restaurants for every budget. The markets eg Borough market can be excellent sources of food. Plan on eating out. Chinese or Indian are both good choices and so common they are almost regarded as British. I think curry has actually overtaken fish and chips as our national dish. The English breakfast should also be experienced if you are not a vegetarian.

If you want to try fish and chips - look for the oldest most run down shop you can find. Same for an English breakfast - cafes should be fairly grotty looking for the full experience.

Clothes shopping. I don't know much about this - but lots of interesting stuff to be found in Camden. My missus really misses London for its clothes shops.

Beer. A lots of Brits' lives tend to revolve around drinking. Look for quiet more traditional pubs if you can find them. The George is quite close to Borough market if you go there.

Clubs. Every music genre or erm...lifestyle choice (no matter how odd) probably has a club night associated with it.

Gigs. Ditto above.

If you go to Paris - go via the Eurostar rather than fly. It takes around 2 hours from London St Pancras station (beautiful in itself) to the centre of Paris. If you are a Harry Potter fan - then right next door to London St Pancras is London Kings Cross station - and it actually has a platform 9 3/4 which you can have your picture taken next to.

BTW London's transport system is old and prone to breaking down or getting congested. Allow extra time to get to places. Walking is great for short distances.

If you want to blend - Brits tend to wear dark colours this time of year which are designed to keep warm (except when clubbing).

Other attractions that really should be seen.

The British Museum. Lots of mummies and other artifacts you have probably only seen in documentaries. Natural History Museum. Science Museum. They are all free - and the last two are next to each other in South Kensington. If you can only do one museum - do the British Museum.

Tower of London. Reeks of history. Expensive to get into - but just about worth it.

National Gallery or Portrait Gallery (next to each other). Again pictures you'll only see on telly or in books otherwise.

Jack the ripper walking tours. Surprisingly good fun and atmospheric. Prepare to a tiny bit disappointed - some of the locations no longer exist.

Avoid:
Kebabs. Angus steakhouses (no Brit ever goes there).

Madam Tussauds. Sherlock Holmes Museum (if you are a fan - go to the pub nearby for a quick drink). London Aquarium.

London bus tours to get around. Use a normal bus - your Oyster card is good to go on buses too.

Flashing mobile phones, cameras or high denomination currency.

Staying out very late, on your own, drunk and looking obviously lost. You will get away with maybe one or even perhaps two of these. All four is asking for trouble.

Asking for directions to Lie-cester Squaaaaare.

Referring to the UK as England.

Getting £50 notes from currency exchanges. The £20 is about as high as you want to go.

[Nando]

That's Perfect! Thanks for taking time to write all this down. Now I have a better idea of how to plan everything. I am traveling in somewhat tiny budget. But I am very excited to get the feel for London ...the people, tradition and history. It will be amazing to see the buildings and be able to walk down streets that have been there for years.
Oh... I'm also a big fan of Derren Brown. I’m going to try to buy some tickets to his show.lol

[maxpr]

I will start off unconventional here...(I am assuming your an American, but if not, some of these still might apply to your situation)

CALL your bank to tell them how long you will be gone and to what countries you will be going (so, they don't lock your CCs up for odd international purchases)

BRING CASH with you...have your Aunt call several banks in England prior to your arrival to see how much they will exchange dollars into pounds for. You will find that you often get a better deal by exchanging in country. AVOID currency exchanges (airports, on the street etc.). I am in Germany now and my bank wanted to charge $1.58/Euro in the US but instead I went to a bank in Germany and exchanged at $1.47/Euro (obviously this is based on the market rate but the per Euro fee is lower here in Germany; US 11 cents on the Euro, in Germany 6 cents, which adds up over time. I purchased a special wallet (from Target, i.e. the "nicer" Walmart :)) for $7-8 before I left, which I put in my carry on, then put around my neck in the airport bathroom before I left (plus it makes you feel like James Bond).

PAY IN CASH...your bank will try to convince you to use your CC or ATM card for purchases...DON'T! They love to charge you the out of network ATM fee+a currency exchange fee that they set themselves.

For Paris; you might be surprised to see what it is like. Just a really big city. So, do not be disappointed. The weather can be VERY bad this time of year in both Paris (and really London for that matter). This is the coldest winter in 30 years or so, so COME PREPARED WITH THE PROPER CLOTHES/FOOTWEAR. If you have boots, bring them; avoid tennis shoes because the snow can be wet!

The Paris subway system is antiquated. And remember Parisians take their time getting off the subway and the wait times are not long. So, push your way on if need be i.e. DON'T be nice about it. Also, the doors WILL NOT stay open if your arm, leg, luggage etc. is in them when they want to close, so be careful. Some routes in the inner city are extremely crowded too. In Paris make sure to keep your wallet in your front pocket AT ALL TIME. Try to keep one hand free and one over your wallet in your front pocket. DO NOT set ANYTHING luggage, handbag etc. down, ANYWHERE! Also, there is a lot of up/down walking in the subway system (even if you are an in shape young person, give yourself some time to spare for the trains, also because they often arrive late).

ALSO purchase the ten rides on the subway pass deal in Paris, trust me YOU WILL use them all up and the rate is lower per ticket.

USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION as much as possible. Do not be afraid to ask the people working at the subway for help if needed.

I will post more later, the gf just chewed me out!

[Monk]

Some London alternatives for you that are worth looking into:

The Tate Modern gallery - I work right next to it. It's free, HUGE and even if you don't like art there's bound to be something of interest for you. Walk North from here across the Millennium 'Wobbly' bridge for the best approach to St Pauls Cathedral.

Greenwich/Cutty Sark: Ride the DLR from Tower Gateway towards Lewisham and get off at Cutty Sark. Beautiful area of parkland and the Royal Naval College. If you check out the Royal Naval College you can visit the painted hall where Lord Nelson lay in rest. Free, also. At the top of the hill is the Greenwich observatory where GMT is set. Interesting exhibitions.

Spitalfields Market and Middlesex Street on a Sunday: All kinds of stuff going on and good food. Liverpool Street Station.

Vertigo 42: There is a champagne bar at the top of the tallest building in Central London - Tower 42, near Bank Station. Go at night, drinks are expensive but entry is free if you make a reservation. Unparralelled 360 degree views of London at night. Semi formal dress.

Walk from London Bridge to Waterloo along the South Bank of the river, walk across the white footbridge over the river. Nice views.

If you are interesting in going to a game of Football/Soccer you will struggle to get tickets for the big teams. Suggest looking at Fulham, Crystal Palace, QPR, Leyton Orient.

If you have time take a train from London Bridge to Bearstead in Kent, here is the Magnificant Leeds Castle (the VILLAGE of Leeds, not the City in the North of the country). It's well worth the day out, google it.

To experience real london eating, suggest you avoid Leicester Square, Oxford Circus and Tottenham Court Road. Try Upper Street (Angel Tube), Brick Lane (Aldgate/Liverpool Street).

Hope that helps although I know you already got a few replies.

I would disagree that safety and security is an issue in London. I walk around Iphone in hand (sadly) every day and have no problems. Just take precautions you would take if walking in downtown NY.

[officer_dibble]

Greenwich/Cutty Sark: Ride the DLR from Tower Gateway towards Lewisham and get off at Cutty Sark. Beautiful area of parkland and the Royal Naval College. If you check out the Royal Naval College you can visit the painted hall where Lord Nelson lay in rest. Free, also. At the top of the hill is the Greenwich observatory where GMT is set. Interesting exhibitions.


This is good advice. I will suggest a slightly different route to get there.

Catch the river boat from Embankment to Greenwich. The captain will usually point out - sometimes getting it hilariously and deliberately, dubiously wrong - attractions on the Thames.

Get the DLR back - try and grab front seats for a train drivers view of the Underground as you descent into the network past Canary Wharf.

In Greenwich itself - cheap and fairly cheerful food to be had at the Noodle House.

The safety issue obviously varies from person to person and place to place. I've known people get mugged in Islington's crowds in broad daylight while others have lived in London for 20 years while living in, and wobbling home drunk to, the dodgier parts of the east end that have never had a problem. If you've never had a problem and don't know anyone who has - then it seems overkill.

I think it makes sense not to invite problems. Several friends of mine had their phones grabbed while talking on them - and they were cheap Nokias.

Given your interest in Derren Brown - I will go out on a limb and suggest a couple of weird curiosities you may enjoy:

http://www.thegarret.org.uk/

Hunterian (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/place?oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=surgery+museum+london&fb=1&gl=uk&hq=surgery+museum&hnear=london&cid=9775578842101151638)

The Hunterian in particular is definitely worth a visit if you have an interest in the weird and unusual.

[Carmen]

I would just second the suggestion of purchasing a subway pass in Paris. You will save money. They can be purchased at most the larger stations. You might have to wait in a bit of a line but it's worth it. That said, if you stay above ground, walking or riding buses, you will see a lot more of Paris' beauty.

Also, we timed our visits to large attractions, such as the Louvre, during major soccer games and found much shorter lines!

[liam75005]

10 travel "carnets" in Paris or mobility pass are the most especially if you stay only for 2 days.

Plan at least 30 to 60 minutes for each transport : the public transport works but is sometimes a bit messy.

Check out the classical : Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysées, Arc de Triomphe, Louvre (check out the Mona Lisa, the egyptian section), maybe a bit of Montmartre on the second day and then St Michel, Notre Dame and the River Seine... that's short timing but you can see some of that in 2 days.

Oh well and don't get too offended, french people (especially inhabitants of Paris more than other) are sometimes a bit unapproachable, but that's just a game they play with foreigners...

[sadu]

The cash thing is something to be careful about. There is a good chance you will lose your wallet no matter how careful you are. I lost 100 euro in cash when my wallet got nicked in Paris - more than the banks would have robbed me for electronic transactions (though admittedly not by much).

English ale is pretty average - sorry to any Englishmen out there, I'm just stating facts. It looks really appealing because they have cool names like "Bishop's finger" and "Old speckled hen" but it's warm (people will try to tell you it's actually "cellar temperature") and tastes nasty. The pubs however, are awesome. Great atmosphere, and good hearty meals (if you can afford them).

In Paris...
The river boat down the Seine is a great way to see the things you need to see in Paris, and is prettier than the tube. You get a great view, a chance to eat a sandwich or snack on the boat (we were on a budget, couldn't afford the cafes), and it goes around lots of good attractions. You can jump-on jump-off with your day pass.

I was struggling to learn German, and only knew a few words of French. It doesn't matter - if you are doing the tourist thing, the people you meet will be happy to speak English - you are their source of income so they look after you.

[phil]

A few things that trip me up:

leicester square is NOT pronounced "lie chester", but rather "lester"
river thames is pronounced "tems"

I love the accent

[Pat]

Maxpr, your advice about Paris (and its subway) pretty much applies to any city and any crowded public transportation ;)

But that's right, NEVER keep anything in the back pocket of your jeans, or side pockets of a jacket, avoid back packs too.

[maxpr]

Maxpr, your advice about Paris (and its subway) pretty much applies to any city and any crowded public transportation ;)

Not my experience in Germany (and I have spent far more time there). :)

Stuttgart, Berlin, Munich, etc. never had any problems like I did in Paris. Even in Prague I did not have the same problems getting on/off (and the system was even more "modern" if you could call it that). NYC was not like this, nor London for that matter-

I noticed the French (but mainly Parisians) people are ALWAYS in a hurry to get to nowhere important; i.e. I highly doubt someone is headed off to work midday/late afternoon in the middle of the week (these people can be mid-20s to 40s), yet everyone is a hurry to get nowhere :), maybe the real "four hour work week" is living off French gov't social benefits!!!!! Ha, kiiiiidding of course.

But really this is my individual experience of course!

[liam75005]

Just a subtopic about french people mindset : the 4HWW is a concept that just is not into their mind at all... Most people in the active life just think as work in a career mindset. I know that I was there before reading the 4hww !

People in the middle of the day probably have appointments and rendez vous...

Anyways, Paris is crowded, the metro as well. I am here at the moment, until the 11th of March, if anyone wants to meet up for coffee, chat and tips ;-) just pm me

[Pat]

Not my experience in Germany (and I have spent far more time there). :)

Stuttgart, Berlin, Munich, etc. never had any problems like I did in Paris. Even in Prague I did not have the same problems getting on/off (and the system was even more "modern" if you could call it that). NYC was not like this, nor London for that matter-

I noticed the French (but mainly Parisians) people are ALWAYS in a hurry to get to nowhere important; i.e. I highly doubt someone is headed off to work midday/late afternoon in the middle of the week (these people can be mid-20s to 40s), yet everyone is a hurry to get nowhere :), maybe the real "four hour work week" is living off French gov't social benefits!!!!! Ha, kiiiiidding of course.

But really this is my individual experience of course!

Ok, I'll admit you're probably right, I must be biased because I've always lived here, but I swear we're nice people (well, some of us at least) :D

[Nando]

Hey guys need some help
Does anyone know a good Hotel in Paris not to expensive but nice.

Also has anyone done this [URL="http://www.intotheblue.co.uk/driving-experiences/rallying/rally-driving/"]http://www.intotheblue.co.uk/driving-experiences/rallying/rally-driving/[/UR ...I'm big into rally and Even tho im traveling in a decent budget I would do anything to get the rally experience :)


Once again Thank you all for taking time to help me with this trip.
If I ever meet any of u in person first round is on me..cheers!!...lol :)

[Monk]

Hey guys need some help
Does anyone know a good Hotel in Paris not to expensive but nice.

Also has anyone done this [URL="http://www.intotheblue.co.uk/driving-experiences/rallying/rally-driving/"]http://www.intotheblue.co.uk/driving-experiences/rallying/rally-driving/[/UR ...I'm big into rally and Even tho im traveling in a decent budget I would do anything to get the rally experience :)


Once again Thank you all for taking time to help me with this trip.
If I ever meet any of u in person first round is on me..cheers!!...lol :)

Check Travel Zoo for hotel deals. Don't know what you class as reasonable, but last time I went to Paris we stayed in a 4* hotel for £100 per night and got a free upgrade + breakfast. Hotel Saint Lazare. Shop around for offers.

In a couple of weeks I will be doing a flying lesson with Into the blue. Should be good.

[Francois]

In Paris, make sure you know which days of the week the Louvre and the Catacombs are open.

Don't go and stand in front of the pyramid on a Tuesday morning wondering why everything is closed, like me.

Also, don't bother trying to flush the third toilet in the facilities at the fountain entrance way of the Louvre gardens, the button is broken.

Lol.

[liam75005]

What' s your budget for paris hotel ?

For decent ones you need to spend at least 45 to 60 eur per night. Below that it might be a disgusting place...

[Nando]

I actually already booked a Hotel def didn't go with the below 45 eur..lol thanks for your help. :)

[johnnyH14i65]

wow! i'm always dreaming of going to paris and london too!!! Thanks for the post. I copied all that is posted here so I may review it if i would be able to be successful. But about making money through tips from amazon affiliate (http://bizmarketingideas.com/success-mindset/), I should be waking up to see if it is true...

[bsarabennett]

How exciting for you! How long of a trip are you taking? My husband and I are going to Wales this autumn, and I think we are going to go to London for a day or two as well. I'm pretty excited and would love to hear what your experience was like. This time, aside from the short time in London, we won't have to worry about accommodations as we have a couple of friends living in Wales who have invited us to stay with them. Have you looked into getting travel medical insurance (http://www.travelmedicalinsurance.com) ? Its one of those seldom thought about things that are essential if you travel abroad. I'm not sure if you have before? In any case, I hope your trip is wonderful! Bon voyage!

[scarryjerry]

Wales is absolutely amazing! If you can make it there, do it. Every time I go I hope to bring home a bit of the accent.

[bsarabennett]

The accent... insanely beautiful, no?