09-May-08 London Re-visited

The trip to London via train on Thursday was very efficient and ON TIME both ways. As we approached nearer to London, it became standing room only for the last 40 minutes. This was an early morning train so many people were using it as a commute to work.

The train arrives into Waterloo station on the south bank of the Thames River, across from the Victoria Embankment area on the north side. From there you can switch to the Tube (subway) to reach anywhere in London. Depending on how far you want to travel, you will have to get tickets for Zone 1 (london main area), or Zone 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. depending on how far out from the city centre you want to go. When you buy the ticket from either the ticket window or kiosk, you will use that to enter the subway and then again when you exit the subway. So if you only buy a Zone 1 fare, but you will depart from Zone 2, etc., you will have a problem when you try to depart the station. For day trips where you will use the train a lot (most cases), you should just buy a day card, with unlimited travel within 24 hours. Sure, it's a little more upfront, but pays for itself the more trains you take.

The noticeable thing about the Tube? It's very clean.....the corridors, the trains, everything. I supposed that's going to be the case in the more touristy/professional areas, but wonder if the same in the locations further out where there may be fewer patrols.

The weather for the prior day was upwards of 75 F, so a little warm and muggy for London. As I walked to Green Park to head into Mayfair area, the grass was full of mostly younger individuals lounging around, eating, sleeping, partially sunbathing.....and all within sight of Buckingham Palace.