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Extract from the London Travel Guides:
With a population of just under eight million, London is Europe's largest city, spreading across an area of more than 620 square miles from its core on the River Thames. Ethnically it's also Europe's most diverse metropolis: around two hundred languages are spoken within its confines, and more than thirty percent of the population is made up of first, second- and third-generation immigrants. Despite Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish devolution, London still dominates the national horizon, too: this is where the country's news and money are made, it's where the central government resides and, as far as its inhabitants are concerned, provincial life begin...
read the whole London Travel Guides...
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| General : Bobbies in the UK |
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| London's police are called 'bobbies' and the 'Old Bill'. Having just come from the US I can say that they are the best and most polite I have ever come across, unlike in the US where they are more like a military force and are extremely rude. |
 Posted by bex on 13/04/2004 13:54:39 |
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Travelslang London Travel Guides Opinions Tips & Advice
| General : Big Ben |
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| Don't make the usual mistake of referring to the clock tower in the Houses of Parliament as Big Ben. Big Ben is the actual bell in the tower. The tower is called St Stephen's. |
| Posted by User Not Logged In on 13/04/2004 13:50:13 |
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Travelslang London Travel Guides Opinions Tips & Advice
| Going Out : Wrestler's |
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| For the best Sunday lunch in North London visit the Wrestler's in Highgate. Make sure you arrive early though as the tables are like gold dust. |
| Posted by boozer on 19/12/2003 14:43:31 |
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Travelslang London Travel Guides Opinions Tips & Advice
| Going Out : Best Jazz |
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| For the best live jazz in the West End, check out Ronnie's Scott's club on Frith Street in Soho. Also try the Pizza Express jazz club on Dean Street, a few minutes walk away. |
| Posted by User Not Logged In on 16/10/2003 12:26:28 |
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Travelslang London Travel Guides Opinions Tips & Advice
| Going Out : Latelys |
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| If you need some late alcohol and you are in the West/South Hampstead area check out a little downstairs club called Lately's. It's just opposite the tube at West Hampstead. A fiver to get in to this seedy looking place with a speak easy style atmosphere |
| Posted by Liz Nichols on 09/10/2003 12:44:02 |
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Travelslang London Travel Guides Opinions Tips & Advice
| General : Shopping Taxes |
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| When you see a price tag on merchandise in Great Britain, it already includes all taxes... "What you see is what you pay!" But be aware that part of the taxes included in the sale price is called the VAT, or Value Added Tax. The VAT is refundable to anyone who is not a citizen of the United Kingdom. To recover the VAT: 1) Ask each merchant to provide you with a VAT form for the items you bought from hini/her (if you buy anything from Harrod's, you must purchase 300 pounds of merchandise or they won't give you a VAT form for any of it); 2) Keep everything that you want to claim WITH you when you go to the Claims Department at the airport BEFORE putting all of your stuff in your suitcases and onto the plane; and 3) Have all of your receipts and VAT forms with the items when presenting your claim. |
| Posted by User Not Logged In. on 17/04/2003 00:14:27 |
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Travelslang London Travel Guides Opinions Tips & Advice
| To Do And See : London Eye |
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| This giant ferris wheel was built as part of the Millennium celebration. It doesn't sound exciting, but this thing is huge, and offers possibly the best view of the city.
Seeing how it's so big, it takes 30 minutes for a full revolution. You're stuck inside a gondola-like (think Alps, not Venice) car, so at least you're not exposed to the elements.
This is a surprisingly popular attraction. We showed up and it was booked four days in advance, during the non-touristy season. Consider booking in advance, or if you're in town for a week, hit it up early so that you can get tickets for a visit later in the week. The London Eye will be taken down in 2005 and reassembled in a different location.
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| Posted by User Not Logged In. on 17/04/2003 00:07:33 |
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Travelslang London Travel Guides Opinions Tips & Advice
| Getting Around : The tube |
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| It's easy to master the tube (UNDERGROUND) . It's far and away the most convenient way to travel in London, and makes those out of the way places easier to reach.
If you're lucky, your guidebook will provide a map of the tube system. However, you may not even use this, since there are helpful maps plastered everywhere inside each tube station. Lines are color-coded, and finding the right platform or the "Way Out" is usually a piece of cake. Tube stations can be found on the street by looking for the familiar red circle with the blue banner featuring the station name in white text.
The tube system is divided onto 6 zones, but for most of your London sightseeing, you'll only really need a ticket for centrally-located zones 1 & 2. The best ticket to buy is the zone 1 & 2 all day pass. It only costs 4 quid. Just remember not to throw your ticket away after you enter the station, since you'll need to pass it through the electronic gate to exit your destination station.
If you're interested in London nightlife, remember that the tube runs only until about 12:30am, and doesn't reopen until 6 or 7am. This means you're either staying out all night, paying too much for a cab ride on the way back, or enjoying a long walk home.
By the way, remember that in the U.K., the term "subway" refers to an underpass, not the tube system.
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| Posted by User Not Logged In. on 17/04/2003 00:05:23 |
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Travelslang London Travel Guides Opinions Tips & Advice
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