The Anonymous Widower

Do We Mislead Tourists?

I travelled to London Bridge today and on the train I met a couple of ladies from New Zealand, who were trying to get to the Churchill War Rooms in Whitehall.  But their hotel had told them to go to London Bridge to see something similar by the London Dungeon. I put them on a Jubilee Line train to Westminster.

I also met an Australian tourist and her family going to the London Dungeon.  I suppose they had kids, but at least I was able to point out Borough Market and Sothwark Cathedral.  Let’s hope that when London Bridge Quarter gets finished, they put up some decent information.

At least though I saw this outside the Globe Theatre a few street’s away.

I have a simple tourism rule.  I don’t pay to go into anything, unless it’s National or special interest museum. I’ve never been to Madam Tussauds, the London Dungeon or any of the other places in London setup to relieve tourists of their money.  These places are not an asset to London, just as others of a similar ilk aren’t in Paris, Amsterdam and New York.

Many of the best tourist sites in London are free and all some require are a London Travelcard or Oystercard. Here’s my favourite top ten.

1. The front at the top of any London double deck bus. Favourites include a 24 from Victoria to Hampstead and the two heritage routes  (9 and 15).  I like to play bus roulette and get on the first that turns up.
2. The British Museum.  It’s worth going in, just to see the roof and have a nice coffee. Special exhibitions are extra, but the main museum is free, althougth they do like the occassional donation. When it’s not too busy, you can handle some of the exhibits.  I’ve seen little girls, and big ones for that matter, in Roman necklaces.
3. The Olympic Park.  But go before June 2012, as I suspect you’ll find views will be shut off for security before the Olympics.
4. The Imperal War Museum.
5. The Kensington Museums; Science, Natural History and V & A. There’s even a good Carluccio’s nearby.
6. The Victoria and Albert Embankments.  At low tide, look for the beach at Tower Bridge.
7. The North and East London Lines on the London Overground.  They connect lots of small, good museums, Hampstead Heath, Kew Gardens and Crystal Palace.  There is also a superb panorama of London in several places.
8. The Docklands Light Railway.  Take it from Bank to Canary Wharf and on to the Thames Barrier.
9. St. Pancras Station.  Even the French think it’s the best railway station in the world.  It may not be by next year, as King’s Cross may outshine its neighbour.
10. Green, Victoria and St. James’s Parks.
11. The Regent’s and all the other canals that take you from Islington to Stratford and Docklands.

I suspect this list will grow. 

I did like this bike though.

Mobile Low Carbon Tourist Office

Is this the first mobile low carbon tourist office?

July 10, 2011 - Posted by AnonW | Sport, Transport/Travel, World | East London Line, London, Museum, North London Line, Olympics