I loved London. I loved how easy it was to ride the Tube. Everyone I met was very nice and polite, and there was so much to see and do I only saw and did a fraction of the possibilities in my time there. It’s a place I really wouldn’t mind living, actually. I wouldn’t need to worry about having a car (have I mentioned I love riding the tube?), and it seems like a very pleasant place to live. Sure, it’s a city, but it’s not absolutely crowded like New York or San Francisco.
With that said, if you’re planning on visiting, here is some advice: Don’t trust GPS AT ALL for getting around. If there is a landmark or place you’re looking to go to, just google what the closest Tube station to that location is, and then look at an actual map. The reason I say that is because GPS will tell you the shortest route, but quite often that “shortest route” includes taking small alley ways or lanes to shave off 45 seconds (a small alley or lane that is not clearly marked or labeled). I was using GPS for the first day, and after the 3rd time of a 10 minute walking trip turning into almost an hour, I just gave up. I found that googling the closest tube station, and then looking at a map and following main streets, in the end, was the easiest way to get around.
England has a VERY high tax rate, so keep that in mind. There is a flat 20% tax. Soda is especially expensive (I only bought one once to stay awake during a play-see previous blog about theater). A 20 ounce bottle of soda will cost you about $4, whereas a sandwich will cost $5 or so. Their cigarette packages are AWESOME (google image search that–you won’t regret it). If you’re going to the theater, buy your tickets in advance (even once you buy your airfare) and you will get much better seats. And never start a land war in Asia.
Also, I was there for 4 days, and only got to see less than half of what I wanted to, so I would suggest going for at least a week. I mean, the cost of the plane ticket and the time to fly here…you might as well take real time out to enjoy and experience it. I only tagged London onto a trip to Ukraine on a whim, as an afterthought. Don’t make the same mistake I did: If you’re flying all the way out here, take the time to really experience it. Just tag on a trip to Ukraine instead. 🙂 And take my word for it: It is SO worth the trip!
Cheerio!
Jeff: Aug 17th, 2017
jeffinukraine2016 
Enjoyed reading this. I enjoyed London too. I remember one man there who said, after learning we were from California, the only good thing to see in the states is Elvis Presley. I replied, the only good thing here is the Beatles. Really, I should have said the theatre. Rented a car for a week and drove around England and believe we were around London for about a week and a half. I know you are enjoying Paris and it probably isn’t long before you take off for Ukraine. Wish I was there to greet you with a smile and a magic spell or two.
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