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ABOUT THESE LISTINGS


Since a lot of list members are going to London to see Kevin Spacey at
the Old Vic, I've put together some visitor information on London.

I will send out updates on this information periodically, but you can
always find a copy of the most recent update in the files section of
KSTV-UK:

KSTV-UK - files section
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/KSTV-UK/files

I've looked through a number of internet listings to try to find useful
website information about London. With the exception of the "London -
General Websites", in each section, I've listed what I think are the
most useful websites first (this includes the travel *books* listings).
If you think I've misjudged some of these listings, or if you know of
other great website listings, please email me and I'll add any necessary
info.

English is not the primary language for a number of list members. So if
any of you know of good websites (or travel books) in other languages
please email me and I'll add this information to these listings.

If you know of any good and affordable accommodations or restaurants in
central London, please email me and I will add this information to the
listings. London is a very expensive city to visit, so it would be
great if we could come up with some budget listings.

If any information I've provided is inaccurate, please let me know so
that I can make the necessary corrections. Thank you, HC:)







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LONDON - WEBSITES & TRAVEL BOOKS


* General Travel Information & Website Links
* Maps - London
* Maps & Driving Directions - London
* London Transportation & Map Info
* London - Guide Book Series - Online Editions
* London - General Websites
* London - Accommodations
* London - Restaurants
* London - Museums
* London - Specialized Websites
* London - Photos
* Currency Converter
* Yahoo! Directory - Links to Links
* Travel Books - London (paperback editions)
* Guide Book Series - Online Editons - General







* * * * * * * *
GENERAL TRAVEL INFORMATION & WEBSITE LINKS


Rick Steves - travel tips (extensive, great information)
http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/tips_menu.htm

Rick Steves - favorite links (extensive, great links)
http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/links_menu.htm







* * * * * * * *
MAPS - LONDON


Note: Most website maps are interactive and downloadable as well.


Multimap
* GREAT London map & driving instructions
<http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?client=public&GridE=-0.12640&GridN=51.50860&lon=-0.12640&lat=51.50860&db=freegaz&cidr_client=none&lang=&place=London,Greater+London&pc=&advanced=&client=public&addr2=&quicksearch=London&addr3=&scale=100000&addr1=>


Streetmap.co.uk
http://www.streetmap.co.uk

Fodor - map of London
<http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgstaticmap.cfm?destination=london@91&ref=miniguides&cur_section=sig&sort=name&pg=1&map_name=London&file_name=london_city.gif&back_page=/miniguides/mgresults.cfm>

Frommers - maps of London
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/london/55_maps.html

View London - maps of London
(type in complete postal code for area map)
http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/london_maps_index.asp

--
Fodor - map of metro London
<http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgstaticmap.cfm?destination=london@91&ref=miniguides&cur_section=sig&sort=name&pg=1&map_name=Metro%20London&file_name=london_metro.gif&back_page=/miniguides/mgresults.cfm>

Lonely Planet - map of England
* click on London for overview of the various districts in the city
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/mapshells/europe/england/england.htm

Quickmap - London's best walking, bus, tube and train pocket maps
http://www.quickmap.com







* * * * * * * *
MAPS & DRIVING DIRECTIONS - LONDON


Note: Most website maps are interactive and downloadable as well.


MapQuest - UK / London
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/main.adp?country=GB

Maporama.com - UK / London
<http://www.maporama.com/share/map.asp?COUNTRYCODE=UK&_XgoGCAddress=&State=&zip=&_XgoGCTownName=London&SESSIONID=D08A9B9D-5882-422A-9B73-3E594F514C55&SEARCH_ADDRESS.x=0&SEARCH_ADDRESS.y=0>

Michelin maps
http://www.viamichelin.com

LondonTown.com - their maps section provides extensive info on local
parking options
http://www.londontown.com/maps/







* * * * * * * *
LONDON TRANSPORTATION & MAP INFO


Transport for London (official UK govt. website)
* tel. 020 7222 1234 (24 hours)
* tube, train and bus information
http://www.transportforlondon.gov.uk/tfl/
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/

Frommers - London - getting around
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/london/0055020015.html

Fodor - London - travel tips
http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgresults.cfm?destination=london@91&cur_section=tra

--
Greater London Bus Map - details all bus routes in and around London
including night buses
http://www.busmap.org

--
thisislondon.co.uk - London tube map
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/til/jsp/maps/tube.jsp

UKTravel - London tube map
* click the tube stations for tourist attractions nearby, and the
railway stations for train information.
http://www.uktravel.com/londonmap.asp


* * *
Transportation - Recommended transport


If you plan to use the Rail service or London Underground as your
transport, purchase a One Day Travelcard for zones 1-6, Adult £4.90
and child (5-15 yrs) £2.00.

This will allow you unlimited use of trains, buses and underground for
the day. Paying per ride is usually more expensive and inconvenient.
Travelcards can be purchased for various lengths of time (i.e. day,
week, month).

Children 14 & 15 yrs need a Child Photocard. Bring two passport size
photos and the child's passport. The card is free and you will be able
to use it during your stay in London.







* * * * * * * *
LONDON - GUIDE BOOK SERIES - ONLINE EDITIONS


Note: The websites in this section provide comprehensive information
about visiting London including sightseeing information. HC


Rick Steves
* a bit sketchy, but good info
http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/destinations/britain/brit_menu.htm

Frommers
* comprehensive info; entire guide book is online
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/london/

Fodor
* solid info
http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgresults.cfm?destination=london@91

TimeOut
http://www.timeout.com/london/

Lonely Planet
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/london/

Let's Go
* their guide book is great but their online website is disappointing
http://www.letsgo.com/LON/01-DiscoverLondon-5







* * * * * * * *
LONDON - GENERAL WEBSITES


Note: The websites in this section are listed alphabetically. Please
email me and let me know which websites you felt were the most useful.
Thanks, HC:)


All In London
http://www.allinlondon.co.uk

BBC - London
http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/

LondonTown.com
http://www.londontown.com

This Is London - the "Evening Standard" newspaper's culture listings.
Includes news and entertainment, city maps, a kids' guide, and more
http://www.thisislondon.com

TourUK - tourist information for London
http://www.touruk.co.uk/london/

Whats on When - events guide
http://www.whatsonwhen.com/pages/london.jml

Yahoo! Travel - London
http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-191501822-london_vacations-i

--
123London - London Travel Guide
http://www.123london.com

Brit Info - London Information Online (not the best website, but they
provide a lot of useful website and map links)
http://www.britinfo.net/index_London.htm

London Visions
http://www.londonvisions.com

LondonNet
http://www.londonnet.co.uk







* * * * * * * *
LONDON - ACCOMMODATIONS


Rick Steves
http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/destinations/britain/698lonhotel.htm

Frommers
* 116 listings on two pages
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/london/55_indacc.html

Fodor
http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgresults.cfm?destination=london@91&cur_section=lod

Time Out
* they are based in the UK
http://www.timeout.com/london/hotels/

Rick Steves - "Hostels Directories" and "Accommodations Directories"
website links
(click on "Sleeping" and scroll down)
http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/links_menu.htm



* * * *
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM LIST MEMBERS


* *
Days Inn Hotel (Waterloo)

£50 per person / double occupancy

From the hotel it is only a 2 minute walk to Lambeth North tube station
and the next stop is Waterloo. At Waterloo head for the Waterloo Road
exit (towards McDonalds) and the Old Vic theatre is across the road.
The theatre is a 10 minute walk from the hotel. (Jen and Michelle)

* *
London House Hostel (Bayswater)

* A twin room en-suite generally runs around £20 or less per person /
double occupancy. It's basic but clean and has a good bathroom. It's a
five minute walk from the tube station and there is a night bus stop
just a 30 second walk from the hostel. (Josie)



* * * *
HOSTELS


If you don't mind very basic accommodations, there are quite a few good
hostels in London. Many have private en-suite rooms, in addition to the
multi-bed dorm rooms, and they can be very reasonably priced.

Check out this link for a selection of London hostels:

Hostel London
http://www.hostellondon.com/?affiliate=visitplus.co.uk

There are a lot of affordable hostels in the Earls Court area which is
on the circular tube line (District Line) in central London. Earls
Court and Bayswater (close by) have great night bus service, if you're
travelling back after midnight. This area is about a 30-40 minute by
tube from the Old Vic theatre. (Josie)







* * * * * * * *
LONDON - RESTAURANTS


Frommers
* 147 listings on two pages
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/london/55_inddin.html

Fodor
http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgresults.cfm?destination=london@91&cur_section=din

Rough Guides
* go to their London section and click on restaurants (they are based in
the UK)
http://www.roughguide.com

TimeOut
* they are based in London
http://eatdrink.timeout.com/

London - travel/restaurant books (paperback)
* scroll down to the travel books section

--
Fancyapint? - London pubs (looks interesting)
http://www.fancyapint.com

--
Note: I've generally used the Let's Go restaurant listings in London
and had great luck with their good, affordable restaurant
recommendations. I generally eat out at Indian restaurants in London;
they are excellent, affordable, and you can find them everywhere. HC







* * * * * * * *
LONDON - MUSEUMS


Note: I've only taken a quick look through these listings. The museum
info in the "London - General Websites" may turn out to be more useful.
HC


24 Hour Museum - UK museums, galleries, exhibitions and heritage
http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk

Museums in UK - MuseumNet
http://www.museums.co.uk

Information Britain - museums - links to websites for museums in London
(other listings are not that great)
http://www.information-britain.co.uk/links/links.cfm?county=16







* * * * * * * *
LONDON - SPECIALIZED WEBSITES


CNN - Weather - London
http://weather.cnn.com/weather/forecast.jsp?locCode=EGLL

Good Show! - London theater and performance info, online booking
http://www.goodshow.com

London Tours - London's oldest established walking tour company
http://www.walks.com







* * * * * * * *
LONDON - PHOTOS


LondonByClick.com - 360 images - virtual tours
http://www.londonbyclick.com/vt/index.cfm

Urban75 - London photo tour (600 photos)
http://www.urban75.org/photos/london/index.html







* * * * * * * *
CURRENCY CONVERTER


XE.com - Universal Currency Converter
http://www.xe.com/ucc/

OANDA - the currency site
http://www.oanda.com







* * * * * * * *
YAHOO! DIRECTORY - UK - ENGLAND - GREATER LONDON - LINKS TO LINKS


Greater London - general category - the main page
http://dir.yahoo.com/regional/countries/united_kingdom/england/counties_and_regions/greater_london/

Greater London - Entertainment and Arts
http://dir.yahoo.com/regional/countries/united_kingdom/england/counties_and_regions/greater_london/entertainment_and_arts/

Greater London - Travel and Transportation (T&T)
http://dir.yahoo.com/regional/countries/united_kingdom/england/counties_and_regions/greater_london/travel_and_transportation/

T&T - Maps and Views - maps, mass transit and photo views of London
http://dir.yahoo.com/regional/countries/united_kingdom/england/counties_and_regions/greater_london/travel_and_transportation/maps_and_views/

T&T - Maps of London Underground
http://dir.yahoo.com/regional/countries/united_kingdom/england/counties_and_regions/greater_london/travel_and_transportation/mass_transit/subways/london_underground/maps/

T&T - Panoramic photos of popular London sights and attractions
http://dir.yahoo.com/regional/countries/united_kingdom/england/counties_and_regions/greater_london/travel_and_transportation/maps_and_views/photos/







* * * * * * * *
TRAVEL BOOKS - LONDON


Amazon.com - travel books on London
<http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/browse/-/67700/ref=br_bx_c_2_1/104-3360576-7051968>



* * * *
COMPREHENSIVE


Let's Go 2005 London
* student/budget guide. The most comprehensive and the best arts &
culture info.

Rick Steves' London 2005
* budget guide w/ great info.

Rough Guide to London
* a cross between Let's Go and Rick Steves -- written by Brits

Frommer's London 2005
* good standard guide

Fodor's London 2005
* good standard guide

Time Out London
* I'm not a fan of Time Out, but since they are based in London it may
be worth checking out.



* * * *
CULTURE


Michelin - London (Green Guide)
* every bit of cultural info that anyone could ever want to know about
London. Unfortunately, I've never met anyone who could sift through all
this info.

Lonely Planet - London
* they have several titles on London. Great photos and interesting
cultural info.

London (Eyewitness Travel Guides)
* exquisite gem of a guide -- beautiful to look at. useful and
informative buildings & monuments guide.



* * * *
MAPS


London A-Z
* the only way to navigate London whether on foot or by car. It's the
cab drivers' bible. In the back is a reference section which lists every
street in London and the page to find it on in the book.

Streetwise London
* One page laminated map that folds up into three sections so you can
put it in your purse. I haven't used it but I suspect it's probably a
great supplement to the London A-Z.

The London Mapguide
* I'm not familiar with this map, but it seems to sell well at
Amazon.com



* * * *
RESTAURANTS


Time Out London

Time Out London Eating and Drinking

Time Out Cheap Eats London

Rough Guide to London Restaurants 7

Michelin London 2005 (Red Guide - restaurants)

--
Note: I don't know the restaurant guides that well. I've generally
used the Let's Go restaurant listings in London and had great luck with
their good, affordable restaurant recommendations. I generally eat out
at Indian restaurants in London; they are excellent, affordable, and you
can find them everywhere. While Michelin's Red Guide is good for France,
I've had bad luck with it in London ( it tends to focus on more
expensive restaurants anyway). I haven't tried either the Rough Guide
or the Time Out listings. Since they are both based in the UK, you may
want to check them out. Zagat's is very good for NYC (where it's
based), but I don't know what the London listings are like. HC







* * * * * * * *
GUIDE BOOK SERIES - ONLINE EDITIONS - GENERAL


Let's Go
* for my money, they are the best travel guides around; their online
website is very disappointing
http://www.letsgo.com

Rick Steves
* travel guides for adults with a "Let's Go" feel
http://www.ricksteves.com

Rough Guides (publ. in UK)
* a "Let's Go" feel for adults; started in 1980s by recent college
graduates in the UK
http://www.roughguides.com

Frommers
* standard budget travel guides (comprehensive info; their entire guide
books are online)
http://www.frommers.com

Fodors
* standard budget travel guides
http://www.fodors.com

TimeOut
* worldwide city guides
http://www.timeout.com

Lonely Planet
* focus is on culture; alternative travel guides
http://www.lonelyplanet.com




(5/2/05)

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