[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: Question about a UK town

[Kathryn Cawte]

I've got to agree with Kathryn - London driving is a complete 
nightmare - too many maniac drivers and not enough parking.  The last 
time I was deluded enough to drive into London, I spent 45 minutes 
driving round Notting Hill looking for a space that wouldn't get me 
clamped by the vicious traffic wardens within 10 minutes.
 
Last year I had a friend visit from America; he used the trains and 
tube to get in and around London - these are, broadly 
speaking, 'fairly' reliable (we're not talking Swiss precision 
timetables here though) and safe.  Once he had done all the sights in 
London, he got the tube (subway) to Heathrow airport and picked up a 
hire car there.  Getting out of Heathrow to other parts of the 
country is pretty simple as the roads are well signposted for 
jetlagged tourists!
 Nina
 
 As long as you're not travelling in the rush hour the tube is fantastic.
Really - I travel by it a lot and yes occasionally the trains terminate
earlier than they should *glares at the Circle Line* but there's always
another train along shortly, it goes everywhere you would want to go in
London and it's easy to navigate provided you invest in a map. Also it's not
overly expensive and despite what I've heard from other people I've always
found the staff to be helpful and knowledgeable.

For example (and I'm not sure if this'll put you off, as an American, but as
a Brit it I'm used to it) the other day there was a security alert at King's
Cross (suspicious package, as if any one who travels in London needs to be
told that) and all the lines going through there closed. So an entire train
full of us were stopped at another station and trying to work out new routes
to get to our destination - the *one* guard on the platform not only
remained calm and polite while having a whole crowd of people yelling
destinations at him but off the top of his head came up with new routes for
all of us pretty much instantly. So yes while there may be problems you'll
always get to your destination and it's a lot less stressful than driving.

Heathrow is a great place to travel from I agree - and it's right next to
Windsor which you *must* visit. especially if your friend likes castles - it
s without equal and you absolutely must see it. Also you can then go on a
nice cruise along the Thames to relax - or visit Eton which is full of
antiques shops and cafes. Umm, I don't work for the Windsor Tourist Board
(despite appearances) but I do live here and love it. Actually the only
thing I dislike about Windsor is well tourists actually so I should probably
stop encouraging people to visit. Putting up with crowds of every
nationality, most of whom seem to view those of us who live here as some
kind of interactive visitor display can be annoying but I have a castle at
the end of my road - how many people can say that? :)

K