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What is the best month to visit London with the least amount of rain?Asking because of health reasons.
Can someone suggest a few moderately priced hotels? I don't need fancy but would want safe and clean.
I don't plan to rent a car, can you get around like NYC with public transportation no problem?
What would be the top 3 to 5 don't miss for a tourist? My interests are mostly art and music. Also, architecture. Gothic to modern and castles would be cool to see. Thanks!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Global Friend
Hello!
What is the best month to visit London with the least amount of rain?Asking because of health reasons.
Can someone suggest a few moderately priced hotels? I don't need fancy but would want safe and clean.
I don't plan to rent a car, can you get around like NYC with public transportation no problem?
What would be the top 3 to 5 don't miss for a tourist? My interests are mostly art and music. Also, architecture. Gothic to modern and castles would be cool to see. Thanks!
The summer months of June and July are generally the dryest, although the weather can be unpredictable even in summer.
You should be able to get around without any problems just as in NYC, as London has a vast public transport system. You will need to purchase an Oytster card which you can tap in and out with, and which allows a daily cap on how much you are charged.
In terms of hotels, the big chains are usually clean and safe, and they offer deals, indeed trey booking on on-lline on websites such as expedia or trivago.
Best time: https://travel.usnews.com/London_England/When_To_Visit/
although pre- and post-season is less crowded because most kids are still in school.
Personally, I would prefer postseason (September - still nice and warm, Fall colors, less touristy, cheaper)
YHA London chain, St. Christopher's Inn, Astor Museum Hotel (all <$50), are great budget hotels. Also, check on Hostels ( they do offer single rooms) and apartments: https://www.inyourpocket.com/london/hostels
The cheapest way to travel is with an Oyster card. "Hopper fare": This fare means that passengers can take a £1.50 bus/tram journey and then change onto another bus/tram for free within an hour of starting their journey. Planning your bus/tram journeys prior to traveling can help you save money. Also, trams and buses offer a more scenic mode of traveling.
Avoid Express Train from/to airports, use Underground.
A couple of years ago my husband and I spent a few days in London, on our way to see our daughter who was living in Yorkshire.
I came away thinking, "Wow, I could live here for YEARS and never see everything!"
For us, we found the best deal - in a hotel overlooking the Thames River - in Westminster rather than right smack dab in the middle of the most touristy area. We actually got a suite rather than a single room in fact, for less than we would have paid for a single room in London proper. We were three minutes from a very reliable bus stop, and a very easy walk into Westminster, including all the historical Westminster sites.
We went in the latter half of May by the way. It was gorgeous weather the entire time we were there and in Yorkshire.
We LOVED Westminster Abbey as well as the Tower and the London Eye (we saved that for our last day there so we could try to see the different areas we'd visited). But honestly, it was all interesting. I personally would have liked to spend more time in the museums (we did go to several) but my husband isn't an art museum sort of guy - LOL.
We also really enjoyed relaxing in the sun one afternoon in St. James park and people watching.
There was so much more to do but those were the highlights. Now, I am into British history, so I admit it had an extra dose of allure, but my husband isn't into it and we both LOVED the Tower of London. We spent nearly all of one day there though - be sure you give yourself at least half a day there if you go.
We enjoyed the red buses - the Hop On Hop Off buses or whatever you call them. They weren't that expensive and if you want to rest, or if you want to listen to a tour guide as you drive around London, they are really good for that (you can do both - LOL).
What is the best month to visit London with the least amount of rain?Asking because of health reasons.
Can someone suggest a few moderately priced hotels? I don't need fancy but would want safe and clean.
I don't plan to rent a car, can you get around like NYC with public transportation no problem?
What would be the top 3 to 5 don't miss for a tourist? My interests are mostly art and music. Also, architecture. Gothic to modern and castles would be cool to see. Thanks!
London will be busy, busy, busy all year round - I usually go in June when there's a reasonable chance of good weather and the kids are still in school. But no guarantees it won't rain!
Yes, you can easily get around with public transport - in fact a car would be a huge hindrance!
Bearing in mind it's a quick trip and you want a moderately priced hotel, I suggest looking in the area around Marble Arch - especially around Great Cumberland Street/Bryanston Square. Lots of good-value hotels there and very convenient for the places you might want to visit - such as:
Royal Academy of Music (a mile or so away) - lots of free lunch-time concerts.
Royal Academy of Arts (also a mile or so away and close to Piccadilly Circus).
The Institute of Contemporary Arts is not far from the RAA.
All the above would be walkable from around Marble Arch, but underground or buses will also take you there very easily.
Great architecture around every corner. Not so much castles as such, other than Windsor Castle (which is outside of London) and Hampton Court Palace, which you can visit via a boat trip on the River Thames. But you'd need the best part of a day for that trip to do it properly. And, of course, the Tower of London - that needs a decent chunk of time too.
Also, the National Gallery at Trafalgar Square is well worth a visit. And just around the corner from there is St Martin in the Fields church, which regularly puts on free lunch-time concerts.
When you say quick trip, how long will you have in London?
What is the best month to visit London with the least amount of rain?Asking because of health reasons.
Can someone suggest a few moderately priced hotels? I don't need fancy but would want safe and clean.
I don't plan to rent a car, can you get around like NYC with public transportation no problem?
What would be the top 3 to 5 don't miss for a tourist? My interests are mostly art and music. Also, architecture. Gothic to modern and castles would be cool to see. Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brave New World
The summer months of June and July are generally the dryest, although the weather can be unpredictable even in summer.
You should be able to get around without any problems just as in NYC, as London has a vast public transport system. You will need to purchase an Oytster card which you can tap in and out with, and which allows a daily cap on how much you are charged.
In terms of hotels, the big chains are usually clean and safe, and they offer deals, indeed trey booking on on-lline on websites such as expedia or trivago.
Best time: https://travel.usnews.com/London_England/When_To_Visit/
although pre- and post-season is less crowded because most kids are still in school.
Personally, I would prefer postseason (September - still nice and warm, Fall colors, less touristy, cheaper)
YHA London chain, St. Christopher's Inn, Astor Museum Hotel (all <$50), are great budget hotels. Also, check on Hostels ( they do offer single rooms) and apartments: https://www.inyourpocket.com/london/hostels
The cheapest way to travel is with an Oyster card. "Hopper fare": This fare means that passengers can take a £1.50 bus/tram journey and then change onto another bus/tram for free within an hour of starting their journey. Planning your bus/tram journeys prior to traveling can help you save money. Also, trams and buses offer a more scenic mode of traveling.
Avoid Express Train from/to airports, use Underground.
A couple of years ago my husband and I spent a few days in London, on our way to see our daughter who was living in Yorkshire.
I came away thinking, "Wow, I could live here for YEARS and never see everything!"
For us, we found the best deal - in a hotel overlooking the Thames River - in Westminster rather than right smack dab in the middle of the most touristy area. We actually got a suite rather than a single room in fact, for less than we would have paid for a single room in London proper. We were three minutes from a very reliable bus stop, and a very easy walk into Westminster, including all the historical Westminster sites.
We went in the latter half of May by the way. It was gorgeous weather the entire time we were there and in Yorkshire.
We LOVED Westminster Abbey as well as the Tower and the London Eye (we saved that for our last day there so we could try to see the different areas we'd visited). But honestly, it was all interesting. I personally would have liked to spend more time in the museums (we did go to several) but my husband isn't an art museum sort of guy - LOL.
We also really enjoyed relaxing in the sun one afternoon in St. James park and people watching.
There was so much more to do but those were the highlights. Now, I am into British history, so I admit it had an extra dose of allure, but my husband isn't into it and we both LOVED the Tower of London. We spent nearly all of one day there though - be sure you give yourself at least half a day there if you go.
We enjoyed the red buses - the Hop On Hop Off buses or whatever you call them. They weren't that expensive and if you want to rest, or if you want to listen to a tour guide as you drive around London, they are really good for that (you can do both - LOL).
Keep us posted on what you decide!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kobber
London will be busy, busy, busy all year round - I usually go in June when there's a reasonable chance of good weather and the kids are still in school. But no guarantees it won't rain!
Yes, you can easily get around with public transport - in fact a car would be a huge hindrance!
Bearing in mind it's a quick trip and you want a moderately priced hotel, I suggest looking in the area around Marble Arch - especially around Great Cumberland Street/Bryanston Square. Lots of good-value hotels there and very convenient for the places you might want to visit - such as:
Royal Academy of Music (a mile or so away) - lots of free lunch-time concerts.
Royal Academy of Arts (also a mile or so away and close to Piccadilly Circus).
The Institute of Contemporary Arts is not far from the RAA.
All the above would be walkable from around Marble Arch, but underground or buses will also take you there very easily.
Great architecture around every corner. Not so much castles as such, other than Windsor Castle (which is outside of London) and Hampton Court Palace, which you can visit via a boat trip on the River Thames. But you'd need the best part of a day for that trip to do it properly. And, of course, the Tower of London - that needs a decent chunk of time too.
Also, the National Gallery at Trafalgar Square is well worth a visit. And just around the corner from there is St Martin in the Fields church, which regularly puts on free lunch-time concerts.
When you say quick trip, how long will you have in London?
Thank you to everyone! This is all very helpful. Greatly appreciate it! I think I need more than a few days, it all sounds amazing.
Thank you to everyone! This is all very helpful. Greatly appreciate it! I think I need more than a few days, it all sounds amazing.
Don't over stress about the weather, it can be a bit unpredictable but it is no where near as 'rainy' as the exceptionally strong stereotype it seems to have picked up, Paris and New York get more rain. Thanks to the gulf stream the Winter cold isn't too severe either however in the Winter months the days are short so personally I would chose the Summer months when the days are long.
It can rain any month of the year. Pack a rain coat. And have fun.
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