Organising your holiday

You’re coming to London for a reason. You must at some time have said “I really want to see/do XXX”.

When you arrive in the UK, at Heathrow say, it’s not impossible some immigration person will ask you what you are coming for, what are you going to do while you are here. They always ask us in the USA. You don’t have to do what you say, no-one will check on you. They just want to know you have sensible plans.

If you say “go up the Eiffel Tower”, you have problems. Wanting to see Buckingham Palace is just fine (just know it is massively disappointing and you won’t see the King).

It would be a shame to come here with a list of things you wanted to do, and not do most of them, so get yourself organised and make a simple itinerary. And yes, London is great for just ambling around just seeing what’s what, and you can do a bit of that too, but make a list.

We can’t do it for you. We don’t know what you are interested in. Later, we do have suggestions of things to do, but they may not appeal.

Also, if you are coming to eg see a play, go to a museum, get tickets in advance if you can. Using foreign credit cards on-line may be a pain.

Now, some museums are free and you can just walk in, but some are not and special exhibitions are often charging and will be busy.

Plus, buying tickets in advance can give your holiday some structure.

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Victoria

The last of the London railway stations we are mentioning, ones that serve the central part of the town, is Victoria. It’s north of the Thames, just.

The whole station has a grimy air and is not a great place to spend time. It’s always busy.

Trains come in from Portsmouth, Brighton, Gatwick airport and places south, including Kent.

The station has two clear parts, perhaps three. There’s a bit on the left (as you look at the platforms) with low numbers for commuter land, then a wall, then another, bigger part with higher numbered platforms (and ticket offices etc) serving Gatwick Express, and so on. Then there’s an escalator to the shopping arcade, then, down a rather dark and dismal section of the station, the highest numbered platforms going to Chichester, Portsmouth, Bognor Regis etc.

Underground

Victoria tube has very many entrances. Don’t use the ones outside.

There’s one opposite the low numbered platforms that takes you inside.

Victoria underground station is really two stations. They have two separate tickets halls. Walk along and up a bit for Circle and District lines. Go though the other barriers for Victoria line trains.

We always find the station confusing. Getting to a platform usually means a long walk, especially since it was modernised. Interchange between the lines is a chore.

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