[HPFGU-OTChatter] trip to London

[GulPlum]

This post managed to get lost in all the religion/politics discussions 
(there was a time when these topics were unwelcome on this list) :-) but 
here goes anyway...

At 14:30 02/12/03 , Nguyen, Marc wrote:

>I'm planning a trip to London December 27th - Jan 4th, and booked a couple
>of taxi journeys through www.lodonblack-cab.com. We are also booked at the
>Thistle Kensington Gardens Hotel.

I assume that was meant to be www.londonblack-cab.com ? :-)

>Has anyone used this taxi service or hotel before? This is our honeymoon, so
>I'm trying to make sure everything goes smoothly.

I've never used that cab service (nor do I know anyone who has), so I can't 
really comment on what you're going to get. I assume you've booked them to 
get you to and from the airport? That's perhaps not the wisest decision. 
The hotel is pretty handy for Paddington Station, and you'd get to and from 
Heathrow more quickly and cheaply (and perhaps even more comfortably) on 
the Heathrow Express (http://www.heathrowexpress.com). There are always 
loads of cabs at Paddington to get you to the hotel (in any case, without 
luggage, it's definitely walking distance!).

Whilst I've never stayed at that hotel, I know it reasonably well, and it's 
a very good choice! I used to walk past it very frequently and know people 
who've stayed there (though I note from the web that it's been recently 
refurbished and upgraded, so my experiences probably don't count for much). 
It's very convenient for all the sights and sounds of Central London, a 
stone's throw from Hyde Park (well, Kensington Gardens). :-)

If the weather's appropriate and you're up to it, a walk through the park 
towards the Royal Albert Hall and then Knightsbridge (half an hour to an 
hour) should certainly be on your list of things to do. There's an entrance 
to the Park directly opposite the hotel.

The one (potential) downside is your choice of dates. All the big London 
stores start their Christmas sales on the 27th, so you're likely to have to 
navigate through huge crowds to go anywhere. (On the other hand, if your 
new wife is into shopping, she's in for a great time!). ;-)

You asked about pubs and restaurants. I know that those types of businesses 
are generally very fickle, changing hands very frequently, so my 
experiences (up to 2 years ago) may not apply, but you don't need to go far 
for some excellent cuisine. Just go round the corner into Queensway, which 
has lots of decent Chinese, Indian and other eateries (bear in mind that 
Chinese or Indian food in Britain is very different to that in the USA or 
other countries - every "host" country adds its own "interpretation" and 
presentation). Just look for those places which are popular. If you carry 
on down Bayswater Road a little further, you'll get to Notting Hill Gate 
which has loads to offer in both restaurants and pubs (and of course, if 
you're familiar with the film of that name, see where it was made).

In any case, I suggest that as soon as you land, you acquire a copy of Time 
Out magazine (get ahead now by browsing through 
http://www.timeout.com/london/) which will give you loads of suggestions 
and ideas (including listing all the various special events for the New Year).

I hope that's of assistance, and perhaps someone else might have more to add.