Fly to London...dirt cheap

I'm not much of a world traveller although my parents and brothers are. But I couldn't resist this offer they forwarded to me from British Airways. I'm booked for round trip from San Francisco to Healthrow for $298 total airfare price. It's $100 each way plus tases, fees etc.

GregR

WOW!! Party at Al's house!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Great price. Have fun.
Bring back a couple of thousand glowrings. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowdown.gif

Wow incredible price, look forward to seeing you here /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

If you're going to London, beware, it's expensive. I was there this summer. Let me know if you want any tips on what to do etc. javascript:void(0)

You will, of course, not be buying any flashlights! (double the price of U.S.A.!)

If it's not advantageous to buy lights there, perhaps you could sell some there . . . arrange to have CPF folks meet you in the city. Does such an arrangement conflict with the laws of some entity?

Paul

If you do bring lights to sell take them out of the packages and swear they are for personal use. Otherwise they may tax you up the wazoo at customs./ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mecry.gif My family has just about stopped shipping things to relatives in the UK for this reason.

Bon Voyage! BTW: the people there are much more polite that our fellow Americans. You may have trouble adapting /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Thanks for the advice everyone. I have been given literature regarding BritRail, Heritage Passes, Hostels.

What I don't have is info on local weather and appropriate clothing and perhaps info on current prices to judge how expensive the bottom line will be.

I've heard prices are roughly equal to US dollars, except the pound is what 1.65xUSD ? So I guess I should expect a meal in the US that is $14 is 14 pounds?

I'm positive I will not be buying any Surefires there, but I may have room to bring one or maybe two, If anyone is so inclined.

GregR

To find out the local weather log onto bbc.co.uk/weather and choose London as your city.
The weather of late has been exceptionally good, but if you're coming to test out some torches in the English countryside, wrap up warm!
Yes, I agree with previous posters... London is VERY expensive! England is a very expensive place to have a holiday!
Yes, you may also find that people are more likely to buy torchware off you than you buying it in London!
Be prepared to venture out of the capital and you can find much cheaper deals on accomodatiom, food, torches(!) etc.
You can travel by bus a lot cheaper than by train using the National Express bus network (www.gobycoach.com .)
The buses run right from the airport terminal to most major UK cities. The bus is my most preferred form of transport to and from the airport. It is more reliable than the train, (due to our over stretched and under funded rail network!)

At that price if you imported a few Surefires and met locals one could pay for the ticket. Somehow I doubt customs could like this too much.

-Mike

[ QUOTE ]
tadbik said:
If you're going to London, beware, it's expensive. I was there this summer. Let me know if you want any tips on what to do etc. javascript:void(0)

You will, of course, not be buying any flashlights! (double the price of U.S.A.!)

[/ QUOTE ]

Why would London be expensive? Cut costs by:
Staying with Al.
Eating at Al's.
Using Al's Free Taxi service.
Lifting a few pints at Al's favorite pub... on Al.
British hospitality is wonderful!

Be sure to bring Al a few new Surefires to keep him in a friendly mood. We all might want to fly to England. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Greg,

Things to do in London that don't cost an arm and a leg.

http://london.walks.com/
(a great way to really learn the city. You won't find many tourists on a London walk, they haven't discovered it yet!
5 quid a walk)

http://www.coventgardenmarket.co.uk/
(Just nice to walk around. Sometimes free music. Plenty of little shops)

http://www.sherlock-holmes.co.uk/
(nicely done at £6 a ticket. p.s. I won't tell if you don't that the address
is not according to the Conan Doyle Books!!)

http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/
(It's free! In fact all the museum's are free. Can't beat that!)

http://tate.org.uk/
Tate and Tate modern, art galleries. Also free!!

http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/
Ditto. (nice clean toilets)

The parks:
Richmond
Hyde
Regents

http://www.londonaquarium.co.uk/
£7 but great if its' cold and/or raining out!

http://www.londonzoo.org/
London Zoo. £12 May seem a bit expensive but there's LOTS to see.
A full day's worth.

My Mum (sorry no web site)
Free food!

Also worth a look is Camden Market...a very, uh..bohemian atmosphere, nice people, and a great place for a canal boat ride.

Great info, thank you!

That Sherlock Holmes walk sound interesting. San Francisco has a walk that takes you to site from crime writer's novels, I hear it's popular. More expensive too last I heard $15.

Thanks,
Greg R

Some personal favorites:
The Science museum; one day isn't enough...
Charing Cross Road and environs (bookshops!)
Food (and drink): Garlic and Shots, Frith street.
Drink: the Toucan off Soho square.

What about covent garden? It brings back some great memories form when I was a student...

And of course there's a section in the Science Museum dedicated to domestic life, including early electrical appliances such as televisions, radios, cookers, fridges, and of course the evolution of the electric light bulb!
There may even be some interesting old torches there! If there isn't a section (or at least a glass case!) dedicated to torches there ought to be!

I'm about 20 miles North of London which is a lot further away than it sounds.

If you're going to train out of London then St Albans is worth a visit if you like history.

The London Eye is cool for a site-seeing event. The British Museum may give you more of a feel of our history. Not to take anything away from the Science or Nat.Hist. Museums, but I feel that you should try to catch London rather than things can other large cities have to offer.

Have fun!

One more suggestion to you...the Portabello market near Notting Hill (underground station: Ladbroke Grove, Westbourne Park or Notting Hill Gate). Great for clothing (some cheap but some not so cheap) and antiques.

One more question...what about lodging? Suggestions ? places to avoid?

Thanks again,
GregR