| London London | |
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| Country | Great Britain |
| Region | England |
| Surface | 1607 km² |
| Population | 7 560 000 |
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- Other places with the same name have been collected on the site London.
London (eng. London) - the capital and largest city Great Britain and England. Located in the South East of England on a river Thames. Officially, it has about 7.5 million inhabitants, but the number of 14 million better and more accurately reflects the size and importance of this metropolis. The entire London agglomeration, including all adjacent cities (from Tonbridge in the southeast after Windsor in the northwest) has a population of about 20 million people (the area of the so-called megalopolis).
General information
London is a melting pot of nationalities and cultures. About 20% of the population comes from Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. Poles who come to London in search of work are also an increasing and significant group of immigrants. What is most associated with London today is probably Big Ben, the conservative royal monarchy, red phone booths, black taxis and the distinctive double-decker red city buses.
Contemporary London is the largest financial center in the world, as well as a huge media and show business center, attracting millions of tourists each year.
Drive
By plane
To London (general airport code: LON) can be reached by landing at one of six airports, but only two of them are within Greater London. When planning your arrival in London, it is worth considering your destination, as the journey through central London can take a long time. If you're planning a trip between airports, a sensible option is to use the services of National Express buses [1] - they run between the airports very often, at worst every hour, with the exception of the Luton-Stansted connection, where buses run every two hours. The journey between Gatwick and Heathrow costs £ 19.50 and takes approximately 60 to 90 minutes, the journey between Heathrow and Stansted costs £ 22.50 and takes approximately 90 minutes. It is worth noting that these connections use the M25 motorway circling London - often during rush hours (7: 00-9: 00 and 16: 00-19: 00) this motorway becomes very jammed, which can extend the travel time. Due to recently commenced road works in the northwest section, traffic jams occur especially on the route between Heathrow and Luton and Stansted airports.
London Heathrow
Heathrow (ICAO: EGLL, IATA: LHR) [2] is the largest airport in London (and Europe). Annually, it serves over 67 million passengers, 90 airlines fly to 170 locations. The airport consists of five terminals - Terminals 1, 2 and 3 are located between the two lanes; terminal 4 is on the south side; newly built Terminal 5 for British Airways [3] (opened March 27, 2008) is located on the west side of the airport. The city buses running around the airport between the terminals are free (Heathrow Free Fare Zone), it is also possible to travel by train between the terminals for free Heathrow Express and Heathrow Connect. Metro tube) between terminals unfortunately is payable, a single ride costs £ 1.10 (Oyster card) or £ 3.20 (paper ticket).
Direct connections to Poland:
- British Airways[4]: Warsaw from Terminal 5 by the end of October 2011, then from the Terminal 3.
- FLIGHT[5]: Warsaw from Terminal 1.
You can get from Heathrow Airport to Central London in the following ways:
- The fastest: by train Heathrow Express[6] - runs every 15 minutes, the journey takes approximately 15 minutes. One way ticket £ 16.50 (£ 19.50 if bought from the conductor), return £ 32. The train goes to London Paddington. The day ticket is not valid.
- Cheapest: line Piccadilly London Underground (London Underground[7]) - trains leave on average every few minutes, the journey takes from 45 to 60 minutes. The cheapest ticket costs £ 2.20 or £ 3.70 for Oyster cards (£ 3 deposit refunded). Heathrow is located in Zone 6, so only zone 1-6 (or 2-6, 4-6) day and season tickets are valid.
- The most convenient: Heathrow Express to London Paddington then a taxi to your destination - a taxi from the airport to central London (£ 45-60) could take anywhere from 45 to 60 minutes (depending on traffic).
- Door to door: National Express Dot2Dot [8] - door-to-door minibus, cost around £ 17-25.
London Gatwick
Gatwick (ICAO: EGKK, IATA: LGW) [9] is London's second largest airport. It is also the favorite holiday airport of Londoners - mainly due to the very good communication with central London, as well as a much better choice of connections. In addition, Gatwick airport is not as crowded as Heathrow, and there are fewer delays and canceled flights here.
Direct connections to Polish are served by the following airlines:
You can get from the airport to central London in the following ways:
- By train Gatwick Express[12]that goes to London Victoria. Departs every 15 minutes and the journey takes 30 to 35 minutes. The ticket costs £ 16.90 (£ 28.80 return), the train doesn't stop anywhere.
- By train Southern Railway[13]which also connects to London Victoria via East Croydon and Clapham Junction. Departs every 15 minutes, the journey takes between 35 and 40 minutes. Cheaper than the Gatwick Express (£ 8.90 one way or £ 11 for a combination ticket with a day pass for zones 1-6).
- By train First Capital Connect[14]which goes to London Bridge, Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Farringdon, St. Pancras International, Luton Airport and further north.
- By bus National Express[15] Convenient connections to Heathrow Airport and other UK cities.
London Stansted
Airport Stansted (ICAO: EGSS, IATA: STN) [16] located approximately 35 miles northeast of central London (and east of Luton airport), it is currently the third largest airport in London, mainly serving low-cost airline connections. Due to the growing number of air connections, the airport plans to build a second runway and build another terminal.
Direct connections to Polish:
- Ryanair[17]: Bydgoszcz, Gdansk, Katowice, Cracow, Łódź, Poznan, Rzeszow, Szczecin, Warsaw-Modlin, Wroclaw.
Getting from the airport to the center of London:
- By train Stansted Express - to London Liverpool Street Station, leaves every 15 minutes, travel time approximately 45-60 minutes. The ticket costs £ 18, return £ 26. Daily and season tickets are not valid.
- By train and then by subway (London Underground): Stansted Express to Tottenham Hale, then take the Tube (Victoria Line). Every 15 minutes. A good connection if you are heading towards South London, West End or West London. Ask for an Oyster card at Tottenham Hale station.
- By bus National Express. It runs every 15-30 minutes. Journey time to Stratford: 1 hour, to London Victoria Coach Station: 90 minutes. Tickets cost £ 8 (to Stratford) or £ 10 (to Vicotria) and £ 14 and £ 16 respectively for return tickets. Day and season tickets are not valid.
- By bus Terravision. It runs every hour and the travel time is 75 minutes. A ticket to Bishopsgate (near Liverpool Street) costs £ 6.70 (£ 11.80 return), to London Victoria Coach Station costs £ 8 (£ 14 return). Day and season tickets are not valid.
- Taxi. Travel time approximately 60-120 minutes (depending on traffic and destination), cost approximately £ 70. A more convenient and faster option is Stansted Express to Liverpool Street Station and continue the journey by taxi to the final destination.
London Luton
Airport Luton (ICAO: EGGW, IATA: LTN) [18] located approximately 30 miles north of central London.
Low-cost airlines support direct connections with Poland:
From the airport to central London you can get:
- By train National Rail[20] - The shuttle bus to Luton Airport Parkway departs from stand 1. Bus transfer is free for those who present a train ticket, or a fee of £ 1.00. The journey from Luton Airport Parkway Station to King's Cross Station takes approximately 35 minutes. Then you can change to the subway. Cost with a daily metro ticket: £ 13.20.
- Bus line Green Line[21] - The Green Line 757 bus provides a direct connection between the airport and central London. Journey time, depending on the time of day, 60-90 minutes. Cost: £ 11.
- Bus line National Express[22] - Buses connecting to numerous cities and towns including Birmingham, Cambridge, East Midlands, Gatwick Airport, Heathrow Airport, Liverpool, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Northampton and Stansted Airport depart from Terminals 5 and 6.
- Airlines easyJet[23] and Wizz Air[24] organize transport to the center of London or a selected hotel by minibuses. Detailed information can be found on the websites of these lines.
London City Airport
Airport City (ICAO: EGLC, IATA: LCY) [25], is a small city class airport closest to central London. From May 6, 2008 to mid-January 2009, British Airways [26] operated daily connection with Warsaw - this connection was dedicated mainly to businessmen, but its attractive price (from £ 50 one way) could also attract tourists, currently the connection is suspended until further notice.
Access to the airport:
- Docklands Light Railway (DLR) [27] - fast and convenient connection by light city train. Day and season tickets are valid.
- Taxi - journey takes around 30 minutes, £ 20-35.
London Southend Airport
Airport Southend (ICAO: EGMC, IATA: DREAM) [28] is located approximately 50 miles (80 km) east of London and mainly serves connections from Jersey Island and Le Touquet (France). Currently, this airport does not support any direct connections with Poland - however, this may change, as the airport management has decided to modernize and expand.
Other airports close to London
- Southampton Airport
- Birmingham International Airport
By rail
London has no direct rail connection with Poland. The fastest rail connection with Poland involves several convenient changes and takes less than 16 hours.
St Pancras International is a station that serves trains EuroStar plying to Brussels, Lile and Paris (in addition, in winter, seasonal connections to the ski resorts in the Alps in the south are served France). From 2010, additionally EuroStar trains will stop at the station Stratford in East London, close to the Olympic Town.
By car
The journey from Poland to London by car takes several hours. Depending on where we are departing from, it may take anywhere from 12 to 20 hours. The most difficult section to overcome are Polish roads, after crossing the Polish-German border the road leads along comfortable highways. Due to the fact that the motorway journey can be monotonous and boring, it is worth making frequent stops at service points.
Crossing through The La Manche Channel it takes about 2-3 hours by both train by train EuroTunel, as well as by ferry, it is worth booking tickets in advance, especially during the holiday season.
By bus
Poland it is very well connected with London - most buses stop here London Victoria Coach Station and a smaller one London Victoria GreenLine Coach Station - both are right next to the train station London Victoria. The central location of this station makes it very easily accessible via the three underground lines (Circle, Disctrict and Victoria) and the bus network.
Public transport
Public transport maps
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Public transport in London is very well organized. London has been divided into zones: the first zone covers central London, the next zones follow as we move away from central London. There are currently 9 zones, with zones 1-6 covering roughly the boundaries of so-called Greater London. Greater London).
Transport for London[29] is a company that manages public transport within the limits of London - the website contains a lot of useful information updated on a regular basis (e.g. Travel Tools[30]) and a great travel planner [31]. Additionally, a 24-hour info line is available at 44-20-72221234 (or sms 60835). Traveling around the city is facilitated by a unified ticket system - Travelcard (daily, weekly, monthly) and Oyster tickets are accepted in most means of transport.
The London communication network includes:
- subway (London Underground or colloquially with English tube) - 12 lines marked with colors and names cover mainly the north side Thames.
- DLR (Docklands Light Rail) - a self-steering light rail overhead serving mainly south-east London.
- tram (Croydon Tramlink) - tram line connecting the districts Croydon and Wimbledon.
- bus network - a fairly dense network of connections covers practically the whole of London and its vicinity.
- ground metro (London Overground) - the new line was created as a result of the acquisition of the chain Silverlink by TfL. Ultimately, it is to connect west London through the north with the east and south - circling central London on the border of zones 2 and 3.
- train (National Rail) - Train connections to the airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton) and commuter trains departing from major London stations.
- Thames Clippers - water communication using fast boats with catamaran construction. Boats call at 18 harbors dotted along the river, from Putney down Woolwich. On board, we can use the wireless Internet, as well as a cafe and bar. It is a particularly attractive form of communication, especially from the tourist's point of view, because it allows you to see many attractions and monuments of London from the river side. Sailing under the bridge makes an unforgettable impression Tower Bridge, or through a flood dam Thames Barrier. Boats run regularly every 20 minutes during peak traffic and every 30 minutes in the evening and on weekends.
- Bicycle (Barclays Cycle Hire) - Bicycles, as well as the whole system, are commonly called Boris' bicycles - after the mayor of London, Boris Johnson. In order to rent a bike, you must register in advance at website BCH. By using Visa or MasterCard you can pay directly for the use of the bike in the terminal at the docking stations. In both cases the price is the same:
- £ 2 flat fee for 24 hours and £ 10 for 10 days plus
- usage time fee: the first half hour is free, £ 1 / 1h, £ 4 / 1.5h, £ 6 / 2h, £ 10 / 2.5h, £ 15 / 3h, £ 35 / 6h, £ 50 / 24h
Oyster
Oyster[32] is an electronic city card used to settle payments for journeys by public transport in London. This card can be topped up with both cash and a season ticket. Card topped up with cash (the so-called Oyster Pay As You Go) works on a pre-paid basis - when paying for a ride, the appropriate amount is taken from the amount accumulated on the card. We use the card by applying it to the reader - they are located at the subway entrance gates and in buses next to the driver's seat.
Traveling with an Oyster card is much cheaper than buying single tickets.
- bus ride - a ticket bought from the driver costs £ 2.00, oyster rate: £ 1.20 (maximum £ 3.90 per day);
- metro zone 1 and 2 - paper ticket £ 4.00, oyster rate: £ 1.80 (maximum £ 7.20 per day at peak, or £ 5.90 off peak);
- Subway travel between zones 1 and 6 - paper tickets cost £ 4.50, oyster rate: £ 3.80 (£ 2.40 daily after 7pm and on weekends and public holidays).
Price capping - using Osyter Pay As You Go, we can make any number of journeys during one day, however, the card will be charged no more than the value of the adequate travelcard. Examples:
- five journeys by bus in one day - each time we would pay £ 10 for the ride, and if we use Oyster, we will pay only £ 3.90;
- five subway journeys in zones 1 and 2 - single tickets would cost £ 20, using the Oyster card only £ 7.20 (if we make at least one trip in peak) or £ 5.90 (all trips off peak);
- five subway journeys between zones 1 and 6 - single tickets would cost up to £ 22.50, using the Oyster card we will pay a maximum of £ 14.80 (if we start traveling in peak) or £ 7.50 (if we make all trips outside the peak).
Important: Card Oyster Pay As You Go does not apply to all airport trains - ticket inspectors are adamant and immediately issue a £ 50 fine (reduced to £ 25 if paid within 21 days). From 1 January 2010, you can use Oyster prepaid cards on most trains National Rail operating within Great London.
Travelcards - season tickets
Travelcards, i.e. season tickets are divided into daily, weekly, monthly, three-monthly, semi-annual and annual tickets - each of the tickets can be for selected zones (1-6, 1-4, 2-4, 2-6 ... etc.) - the ticket price depends on the period and number of zones in which it is valid. All season tickets in addition to the daily can be loaded onto the Oyster card.
Day ticket is not daily ticket - its validity ends the next day at 4:30 am. If we hang out in the pub for too long, we can always come back using a ticket bought the day before.
Bus Passis a season ticket valid only for buses and trams (Croydon Tramlink). A daily Bus Pass costs £ 3.90 (Oyster), a weekly Bus Pass costs £ 16.60.
Peak & Off-peak
On working days from Monday to Friday, the hours from 4.30 to 9.30 are the so-called transport peak - day tickets purchased during these hours have twice the value. This also applies to Oyster Pay As You Go users - trips made before 9.30am will be billed separately for price capping.
Detailed information in Polish about ticket prices and more on the Tfl website [33].
Taxis
English taxis fall into two categories:
- Black cabs - usually black or covered with advertisements - a traditional but expensive form of moving around the city, you can catch them directly on the street by simply waving your hand. Each cab is equipped with a taximeter, a door click costs £ 2.20. Note - black taxi drivers are known for their daring driving.
- mini cabs - cars with a sticker private hire - according to the law, these taxis cannot be "caught" in the street, they can be ordered by calling the telephone exchange. The payment for the journey is made during a conversation with the dispatcher - usually we will pay less than using a black taxi, you can bargain with the driver.
Additionally, there is a free service in London CABWISE[34] - it is an SMS service providing telephone numbers of licensed taxi corporations - this service was created in response to the growing number of rapes and robberies perpetrated by drivers of unlicensed mini cabs.
Caution: Under British law, a taxi company cannot advertise using mobile phone numbers - only landline numbers (starting in London at 0 20) can be advertised.
More information on taxis in London can be found on the websites Transport for London[35].
Worth seeing
Attractions
- London Eye[36]
- The Ferris wheel - one of London's most important attractions - rises 150 meters high and provides a spectacular view of all of London. Nearest tube stations: Embankment, Waterloo, Westminster.
- An attractive collection of wax figures depicting people of entertainment, royal family, athletes, as well as characters who influenced the fate of the world - next to Beyonce, Tom Cruise, you can see the English Queen, Pope John Paul II, as well as Fidel Castro or Shrek. However, the attractions on the wax figures do not end there - the taxi journey is very effective The spirit of Londonwhich shows us the history of the city from the medieval times to the present day. Finally, we have the chambers of fear and a film screening in the planetarium. The admission ticket costs £ 24, just before closing time you can buy tickets for half the price - then there is usually a line for 30-45 minutes. Nearest tube station: Baker Street.
Interesting places
- Canary Wharf[38]
- A new district of London built on the site of former docks - the seat of banks and financial institutions. Seemingly calm and green, the neighborhood is bustling with underground life, with a huge shopping mall connecting most of the skyscrapers. Nearest tube station: Canary Wharf, the district is crossed by the DLR line with stops every few hundred meters.
- Covent Garden
- historic district of shops and theaters - in its central part there are market halls similar to Krakow's cloth halls. Nearest tube stations: Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Charring Cross.
- Leicester Square
- There are several cinema complexes right next to the square, where the greatest film premieres take place - often in the evening hours you can meet crowds of people waiting for the appearance of stars. Nearest tube stations: Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus, Charring Cross.
- Piccadilly Circus
- one of Londoners' favorite meeting place located at the intersection of two underground lines and many bus lines - also known as the gate to the West End. There is a huge shopping center next to the square Trocadero[39], it is also close to Leicester Square cinemas. Piccadilly Circus is also known for its illuminated advertisements located on the northwest corner of the square. Nearest tube station: Piccadilly Circus.
- Trafalgar Square
- The square commemorating the victorious Battle of Trafalgar with Nelson's Column, next to the square are located National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery. Here, too, there is kilometer zero, from which distances in London are measured. A controversial ban on feeding pigeons has been in place since 2000. Nearest tube stations: Charring Cross.
- Westminster - interesting district with Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament.
Galleries
- National Gallery[40]
- A rich collection of over 2,300 paintings from the 14th to 19th centuries. Free entrance. Nearest tube stations: Charring Cross, Embankment, Leicester Square.
- National Portrait Gallery[41]
- A gallery that brings together portraits of famous Britons. Free entrance. Nearest tube stations: Charring Cross, Embankment, Leicester Square.
- Tate Modern[42]
- Modern art gallery located in the building of the former power plant Bankside Power Station. Free entrance. Nearest tube station: Blackfriars, Southwark.
Museums
Most museums in London are free, but selected exhibitions may be chargeable.
- British Museum[43]
- The largest collection of monuments from around the world - offers a permanent exhibition and an interesting selection of temporary exhibitions. Free entrance. Nearest tube station: Holborn.
- Maritime Museum Greenwich[44] and Royal Observatory
- The Greenwich Naval Museum, at the foot of Greenwich Hill, crossed by the Prime Meridian. Admission is £ 6.00. Nearest DLR / rail station: Greenwich.
- The observatory is located on a hill in the park, admission to the observatory is free - however, in the afternoon hours you have to take into account the queue in front of the entrance. From the hill there is a beautiful view of the Naval Museum and the nearby Canary Wharf financial center.
- Museum of London[45]
- As the name suggests, it is a museum of London's history from prehistoric times to the present day. Free entrance. Nearest tube station: Barbican, St. Paul's.
- Natural History Museum[46]
- It includes the history of the Earth - exhibits from the times of dinosaurs to stuffed animals from the present day. Additionally, attractive Earth Galleries, where you can learn about the structure of the Earth's interior, how the forces of nature work, and experience a simulated earthquake. Free entrance. Nearest tube station: South Kensington.
- Science Museum[47]
- A museum of technology. Free entrance. Nearest tube station: South Kensington.
- Victoria And Albert Museum[48]
- The world's largest museum of applied arts - it has over 4.5 million exhibits. Free entrance. Nearest tube station: South Kensington.
Parks
London is full of small parks and squares open from dawn to dusk except for Hyde Park which is open from 5am to midnight regardless of the season.
- Kew Gardens[49]
- The Royal Botanic Garden - recently a "path among trees" has been opened here, i.e. a footbridge on which you can walk at the height of the treetops. Admission: adults £ 13, children up to 17 free. Nearest tube station: Kew Gardens.
- Hyde Park[50]
- In this park there are famous Speaker's Cornerwhere everyone can comment on any topic and Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial[51]. Entertainment concerts are also held here. Hyde Park is a body of water separate from Kensington Gardens[52] - together they form a large park complex, larger than Principality of Monacobut less than Central Park in New York.
- Richmond Park[53]
- The largest royal park in London, it is also home to around 650 deer, who are not afraid of both people and cars passing through the park's only road.
- Holland Park[54]
- Park in Kensington and Chelsea near the tube station of the same name (Holland Park). Inside the park is picturesque Japanese Garden (Kyoto Garden) and an orangery.
Historical monuments
- Buckingham Palace[55]
- seat of the royal family - usually not open to the public, but at the turn of August and September it opens its doors.
- Clock Tower and Palace of Westminster
- The seat of the British Parliament and the clock tower are commonly known Big Ben, actually Big Benis the name of the main bell placed in this tower.
- St. Paul[56] - one of the largest churches in the world, built on the model of St. Peter in Rome. Admission is paid except on Sundays. Nearest metro station: St. Paul's.
- Tower of London[57]
- Situated on the shore Thamesin the southeastern part City, royal fortress. Built over 900 years ago, it contains royal treasures and is guarded by traditional guards Beefeaters. Nearest tube stations: Tower Gateway, Tower Hill.
- London Tower Bridge[58]
- London's showpiece, often misnamed London Bridge, the drawbridge dates back to the 19th century, it is raised an average of 600 times a year. Its central part consists of two drawbridges weighing 1100 tons each, which can be lifted within 90 seconds. The towers topped with pinnacles and a platform conceal a mechanism for lifting movable spans. They are raised to allow the passage of large ships or on special occasions. There is a museum of its history in the towers of the bridge, and from the upper pier, now open to tourists, there is a beautiful view of the River Thames. The width of the bridge is 60 meters, and the height with raised spans - 40 meters. In its best times, the bridge was opened five times a day.
- Westminster Abbey[59] - abbey, cathedral, place of coronation since 1066 (Queen Elizabeth II was recently crowned in 1953), here was also the funeral of Princess Diana.
It is worth a try
Science
work
Despite the crisis, London is still an ideal place to look for a job - here are the headquarters of the world's largest corporations, as well as smaller, local companies that constantly recruit employees - in times of crisis, Polish professionals find it easier to enter this market because they are better educated and have less exorbitant financial requirements. People looking for seasonal jobs in gastronomy will not be disappointed either - the tourist season lasts here practically all year round. More information for people who want to work in the UK.
Shopping
For many people, London is a great place to shop - as long as you have the financial resources. However, with a bit of luck and common sense, you can do quite a lot of shopping here for little money - everyone will find something for themselves. At the current rate of the London pound (as well as Great Britain) becomes an attractive place to shop, especially electronics. London's main shopping area is generally West End (Bond Street, Covent Garden, Oxford Street and Regent Street), many shops are open late (7-8pm) on Thursdays. So where is it worth going shopping?
- Oxford Street - the famous shopping thoroughfare of London, practically all major British department store chains, including John Lewis, have their shops here [60], Marks & Spencer [61] and Selfridges [62].
- Regent Street (between Oxford Street and Piccadilly Circus) - houses the Apple Store and Hamleys, considered the largest toy store in London.
- Bond Street - if we are looking for luxury brands in the style of Cartier, D&G, Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton and Versace.
- Tottenham Court Road - if we want to equip our home with luxurious furniture or cheap electronics.
- Covent Garden[63] - a historic market, it houses stores of famous brands (including Adidas Originals, All Saints, Carhartt, Fred Perry, G Star Raw and Stussy) and London Transport Museumwhere you can buy interesting and original souvenirs (e.g. old subway maps, subway posters, etc.).
- Charing Cross Road (by Covent Garden) - if we are looking for books - both new and used.
- Soho - shops with alternative music, clothes, etc.
- Camden Town - freaky district offering twisted clothes, music and other twisted goods, popular with young people. At first glance, people on the street may seem dangerous or dangerous, but it is not a dangerous neighborhood.
- Knighstbridge - among other things, it is here Harrods[64] - the world famous department store where you can (supposedly) buy everything.
Fair
- Borough[65] - food market offering fruits, vegetables, cheeses, bread, meat, fish etc. Open Thursday to Saturday, best shopping time is Saturday morning. Nearest station: London Bridge.
- Spitalfields[66] – targ z ubraniami, sztuką, muzyką – oferuje towary od nadchodzących gwiazd mody/muzyki/sztuki, otwarty od poniedziałku do soboty.
- Portobello road – słynny na całym świecie targ antyków, staroci i wszystkiego, czym można handlować, otwarty cały tydzień, najlepiej wybrać się tam w sobotę lub niedzielę rano. Caution: na Portobello Road grasuje szajka kieszonkowców!
Lotniska
Lotniska w okół Londynu oferują dość dobrze rozwiniętą bazę sklepową, jednak ceny zbliżone są do tych z centralnego Londynu. Warto zatem sprawdzić w internecie, czy ceny oferowane na lotnisku nie są przypadkiem zawyżone. W sklepach z alkoholem, perfumami i tytoniem obowiązują dwie ceny: dla podróżujących w ramach Unii Europejskiej (wyższa) oraz dla podróżnych podróżujących poza Unię Europejską (niższa, bez podatków i cła).
Gastronomy
- London Restaurants- Restauracje w Londynie, profesjonalne recenzje.
Oszczędnie
W Londynie operuje wiele sieci restauracyjnych oferujących posiłki zróżnicowane zarówno cenowo, jak i smakowo. Zaletą sieci jest to, iż ceny są bardzo umiarkowane – wydatek rzędu £10-£20 funtów za pełny posiłek. Jednak oprócz rozpoznawalnych na całym świecie sieci McDonald’s oraz Burger King, warto zwrócić uwagę na te:
- Londyńskie Pubs – większość z nich serwuje tradycyjne angielskie jedzenie – warto spróbować Steak Ale Pie, czyli stek w cieście. Danie główne plus pint angielskiego piwa nie kosztuje więcej niż £10-£12.
- Vapiano[67] (19-21 Great Portland Street, W1W 8QB) – stosunkowo tanie i dobre jedzenie kilka metrów od Oxford Street – na wejściu każdy otrzymuje kartę, przy użyciu której można zamawiać jedzenie, napoje, alkohole – płatność przy wyjściu. Jedzenie przygotowywane jest na oczach klienta. Uwaga – bywa zatłoczone w porze lunchu i kolacji. Lunch na osobę (przystawka, danie główne, napój) to wydatek rzędu £10-£15.
- Wagamama[68] – tradycyjna kuchnia japońska w skromnie urządzonym wnętrzu. Większość restauracji ma charakter kantyny, gdzie goście sadzani są na przeciwko siebie przy długim stole. Posiłki przygotowywane są na miejscu, pełny obiad to koszt około £10-£15.
- Camden Lock Village – przy wiadukcie kolejowym na końcu Camden High str. – duża ilość małych punktów z kuchnią azjatycką i meksykańska, makaron albo ryż w dowolnym zestawieniu za £4. Im później tym taniej. Około 18 można zjeść za £2-£3 funty.
Umiarkowanie
- Okawari[69] (13 Bond St, Ealing Broadway, W5 5AP) – kuchnia japońska, część restauracji ma charakterystycznie podniesioną podłogę – na pierwszy rzut oka wygląda to tak, że siedzieć trzeba po turecku na podłodze... jest to jednak złudzenie – można swobodnie usiąść, gdyż pod stołem podłoga jest obniżona. Kolacja dla dwóch osób (przystawki, dania główne, desery, butelka wina, butelka wody) to wydatek rzędu £40-£60.
Ekskluzywnie
Wydarzenia, imprezy
Accommodation
Bed and Breakfast
- The Ville’s Bed and Breakfast[70] to hotelik zlokalizowany w niedalekiej odległości od stacji metra Parsons Green and Fulham Broadway. Do dyspozycji gości są trzy sypialnie – wyposażone w telewizję, bezprzewodowy dostęp do Internetu, łazienki z prysznicami i suszarkami. KONTAKT – 39 Brookville Road, Parsons Green, London SW6 7BH, tel. ( 44) 20 7381 2093
- Barry House Hyde Park London[71] – położony w centrum Londynu, w pobliżu Hyde Parku, Marble Arch i stacji Paddington. Hotelik znajduje się w typowym angielskim budynku, zbudowanym w wiktoriańskim stylu. Do dyspozycji gości są pokoje jednoosobowe, dwuosobowe oraz rodzinne. Każdy z nich wyposażony jest w łazienkę w prysznicem, odbiornik telewizyjny, suszarkę oraz bezprzewodowy dostęp do Internetu. W cenę noclegu wliczone jest angielskie śniadanie. KONTAKT – 12 Sussex Place Hyde Park London W2 2TP, tel.: 44 20 7723 7340
- Oakwood Bed and Breakfast Heathrow[72] to obiekt hotelowy typu B&B zlokalizowany w pobliżu lotniska London-Heathrow i autostrad M4, M25 i M40. Dojazd pociągiem do centrum Londynu zajmuje 25 minut. Do dyspozycji gości są dwa rodzaje pokojów – zarówno w wersji Premium, jak i Standard, wyposażone w łazienki z prysznicami, TV, bezprzewodowy Internet oraz urządzenia do robienia napojów gorących. W cenie noclegu wliczone jest angielskie śniadanie. KONTAKT – 119 Station Road, West Drayton, Middlesex, UB7 7ND, tel: 44 1895 466 554
Oszczędnie
Umiarkowanie
- Hotel Ibis London Docklands[73] – hotel położony w dzielnicy Docklands. Rezerwując w nim pokój, znajdziesz się kilka minut piechotą od handlowego i finansowego centrum dzielnicy Canary Wharf oraz w odległości krótkiej podróży kolejką miejską od centrów ExCel i O2 Arena. Wszystkie 87 pokoi posiada telewizję satelitarną i dostęp do Internetu. Goście mogą skorzystać z przekąsek i lekkich posiłków w Café. W hotelu znajduje się także drink-bar oraz restauracja. Lotnisko London City oddalone jest od hotelu o 5 km; parking dla 30 samochodów; Noclegi dostępne od 60 GBP. KONTAKT – 1, Baffin Way Off Preston Road, E14 9PE – LONDON, Tel.: ( 44)207/5171100, Fax: ( 44)207/9875916
Ekskluzywnie
- Hotel Marriott London Park Lane[74] – 5* hotel położony blisko Marble Arch, Pałac Buckingham i Royal Albert Hall, tuż przy Hyde Parku. Do dyspozycji gości jest 148 pokojów oraz 9 luksusowych apartamentów. Wszystkie są wyposażone w minibarek i czajnik do kawy lub herbaty. Łazienki posiadają zarówno wanny i prysznice oraz bezpłatne przybory toaletowe i suszarki do włosów. Dostęp do szybkiego Internetu przewodowego i bezprzewodowego jest płatny. Obok takich udogodnień jak faks i bezpłatne czasopisma, pokoje oferują telefon z linią bezpośrednią. Rekreację zapewniają basen kryty, sauna i centrum fitness. W tym 5.0-gwiazdkowym obiekcie jest centrum biznesowe oferujące salon konferencyjny. Internet bezprzewodowy (płatny) jest dostępny w miejscach publicznych. Świadczone usługi to m.in. usługi weselne i pomoc w organizacji wycieczek/ biletów. Dodatkowe udogodnienia i usługi w obiekcie to portiernia i pralnia. KONTAKT – 140 Park Lane, London W1K 7AA; tel. 44 20 7493 7000; fax. 44 20 7493 8333
contact
Internet
Bezprzewodowy
Londyn nie posiada ogólnodostępnej darmowej sieci bezprzewodowej, jednak wiele kawiarni, restauracji, jak i innych obiektów użyteczności publicznej udostępnia swoim klientom bezpłatny internet. Zobacz mapę miejsc oferujących bezpłatny dostęp do internetu.
Na dworcach i lotniskach dostępny jest płatny dostęp do sieci bezprzewodowych – aby z nich skorzystać wystarczy zalogować się do sieci i otworzyć przeglądarkę internetową, po uiszczeniu opłaty (zwykle £5 za godzinę) można korzystać z sieci.
Kafejki internetowe
Jest ich pełno w Londynie, zwykle oferują dostęp do komputera z drukarką, jak i kabelek dla osób posiadających własne komputery – koszt, to zwykle £1-2 za godzinę.
Bezpłatnie z internetu można skorzystać w bibliotekach (zwykle wymagana jest bezpłatna rejestracja przy pierwszej wizycie).
Telefony
Automaty telefoniczne zwykle przyjmują zarówno monety, jak i karty kredytowe – w przypadku kart kredytowych pobierana jest dodatkowa opłata manipulacyjna. Wraz z rosnącą popularnością telefonów komórkowych ubywa budek telefonicznych, a na dworcach i lotniskach automatów telefonicznych. Bezpłatne numery alarmowe to 999 or 112.
Za połączenia w roamingu zapłacimy według stawek tzw. Eurotaryfy – jeśli jednak planujemy dużo dzwonić, warto zaopatrzyć się w kartę sim jednego z lokalnych operatorów. Dla przykładu – kupując pakiet startowy (Pay as you go – oznacza w Wielkiej Brytanii karty pre-paid) w sieci T-Mobile[75] za £10 otrzymujemy możliwość wykonywania połączeń do Polski za 5p (telefony stacjonarne) lub 15p (telefony komórkowe) za minutę – dużo taniej, niż ceny połączeń w roamingu.
Sieci komórkowe w UK pracują w tych samych systemach co sieci polskie. Numer połączenia alarmowego z telefonu komórkowego to 112.
Security
Londyn jest bardzo bezpiecznym miastem. Posiada system monitoringu obejmujący praktycznie cały region miasta. Ludzie z reguły są bardzo życzliwi i chętnie udzielają pomocy.
Tourist information
Tips
Zwiedzanie
- Zanim wybierzesz się do muzeum, teatru, czy atrakcji turystycznej, sprawdź ceny w internecie – często rezerwując bilet przez internet można dostać 10% zniżki.
- Można też kupić bilety łączone na jedną lub więcej atrakcji – np. kupując bilet na London Eye oraz do muzeum figur woskowych Madame Tussauds zapłacimy taniej i wejdziemy do muzeum bez kolejki.
- Podróżując z kartą oyster warto spytać o zniżkę.
- 2 for 1[76] – atrakcyjny wybór ofert biletów „dwa w cenie jednego”.
Nearest neighborhood
- Brighton – kurort nad morzem, często zwany „London-on-Sea” — znajduje się 55 mil (88 km) na południe od Londynu, dojazd pociągiem z dworca London Victoria zajmuje mniej niż godzinę;
- Bruksela (Belgia) oraz Paris (Francja) – dwie godziny od Londynu pociągiem EuroStar [77] z dworca St Pancras International;
- Cambridge and Oxford – dwa miasta uniwersyteckie, idealne na dzień „poza Londynem”;
- Thorpe Park[78] – park rozrywki, znajduje się w południowo-zachodniej części Londynu, między 11 a 13 zjazdem z M25. Najszybciej można dostać się pociągiem z dworca London Waterloo do Staines, z której kursuje regularnie co 30 minut bus dowożący do parku.
- Winchester[79] – dawna stolica Anglii z atrakcyjną katedrą, około godziny pociągiem z dworca London Waterloo;
- Windsor[80] – miasteczko nad brzegiem Tamizy ze wspaniałym zamkiem, siedzibą Królewskiej Rodziny. Dla podróżujących z dziećmi – znajduje się tutaj też Legoland.
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