Category: Travel Tips

Some Great Hotels in London, Part 1, The Rubens at the Palace

  • On February 4, 2024
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We haven’t written much about hotels in London because often when we visit we book a flat to rent for our stay. However, holiday flats in central London are getting more expensive, so recently we’ve tried a few hotels and found a few we like.

The typical chain hotels in London are Marriott, Hilton, Holiday Inn, etc., and they are well-operated and centrally located. However, some smaller chains operate unique, boutique hotels that have wonderful …

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English Cottage Vacation—A Different Way to See England

  • On June 9, 2023
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Do you, like us, want to see more of England than just London? Are you, unlike us, a bit nervous about driving, navigating, and in general, living in more rural England? Are you uncertain about finding a clean, modern cottage to live in, and even if you do, a local grocer, or how to use European appliances? Do you need more information on places to go in the English countryside? Do you just want an …

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Thanksgiving in London (Part 1)

  • On February 11, 2022
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As I sit to write this in early February, it seems strange to talk about Thanksgiving. It’s so far away! But if you are planning to travel to London, Thanksgiving is a pretty good time to go. We have been there twice for the holiday, and hope to do so again. London at that time of year is magical. The Christmas street decorations are starting to appear, the stores are open, excitement is building for …

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Mind the Gap: Getting Around London Part 3 – the Black Cab

  • On February 27, 2019
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In the first two articles in this series, we shared about the Underground and the busses.  The final transport we want to cover is also an iconic classic—the legendary London Black Cab, although today not all of them are fully black.  Once known as a “Hackney Carriage,” the term “Hackney” comes from a part of London where horses were supplied to the city of London.  Hence a “hackney” was a horse-drawn carriage.  Curiously, the …

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Mind the Gap: Getting Around London Part 2: Red Bus.

  • On February 25, 2019
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In the first article of our series, we wrote about the Underground. In this, the second part, we’ll cover another way to travel in London, the red bus, also known as the double-decker bus. The red bus is an icon of London, and has earned iconic status by navigating the streets of London (and other cities in the UK) all hours of the day and night. The first omnibus service was started in 1829 …

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Mind the Gap: Getting Around London. Part 1, Underground

  • On February 21, 2019
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London is such a magnificent city, and most of the points of interest for a tourist are in the center of the city. Westminster Abbey, Parliament, Buckingham Palace, The Tower of London, Hyde Park, Tower Bridge, Victoria and Albert Museum, St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Shard are just a few of the sights to see.  If one adds the shopping of Harrod’s, Fortnum and Mason, Selfridges, Liberty, Carnaby Street, Oxford Road, Regent Street, Portobello Road, …

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We’re Here! (Or maybe not quite yet—Arrival processes ahead.)

  • On January 17, 2019
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We realized that in this post we had gotten you on the airplane to London, and in this post from the airport to downtown London, but we had not discussed the entry process in the airport. This post is designed to cover that gap.

Before disembarking from your flight, train, or ship you should be given a card to fill out with some information about your plans while staying in the UK. It’s important to …

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The English Bathroom

  • On November 19, 2018
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A delicate subject, for sure, but it is worth sharing a few tips on the English bathroom and how they vary from a typical American bathroom. There are some quirks worth knowing about in advance that may make your “visits” better.

First off, the English bathroom has, on average, zero counter space. Counters are for kitchens, not for bathrooms, at least according to English bathroom designers. Even in more modern American hotel chains, the counterspace …

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Is it “A” or is it “B,” That Is The Question. (Sorry, Shakespeare.)

  • On October 18, 2018
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If you are travelling to England for any length of time, you will need to pack some clean clothes to complete your trip. And then, when you buy trinkets and “goodies” in England, you have to find space (and maybe weight) for them to be packed to return home with you. And that raises the question.

With apologies to The Bard Shakespeare, the real question is “Is it A or B?” To be or not …

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Help! I’m Stuck in a Roundabout, Addendum

  • On October 6, 2018
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Quick update here.  I was recently in the UK, driving around, and the experience has reminded me of some things to tell you to help you drive there, too. Nothing to contradict what I’ve already said in Part 1, Part 2 or Part 3, just some observations on how it’s working in 2018.

First up, pay attention to what is painted on the road. If for example you see a circle with a …

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