Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
London the world's most vegan-friendly city. These days you'll find more gourmet
sandwich and prepackaged-meals shops than “chippies.”
Need a Restroom?
Ask for the toilet, loo, lavatory, or bog.
Oldest Pub:
The Lamb and Flag in Covent Garden. First licensed in 1623, it was
once known as the Bucket of Blood, thanks to rowdy, bare-knuckle fights held there.
Average Londoner:
The average Londoner is about 40 years old, has 1.7 children,
and will live until the age of 80. He/she will drink 75,000 cups of tea in a lifetime
and consumes less alcohol per week than the average Brit. Over the course of a year,
he/she spends 276 hours riding the Tube.
Rick Steves Audio Europe
If you're bringing a mobile device, be sure to check out
Rick Steves Audio Europe,
where you can download free audio tours and hours of travel interviews (via
the Rick Steves Audio Europe smartphone app,
www.ricksteves.com/audioeurope
,
Google Play, or iTunes).
My self-guided
audio tours
are user-friendly, easy-to-follow, fun, and inform-
ative, covering the major sights and neighborhoods in London: the British Mu-
seum, British Library, St. Paul's Cathedral, and the Westminster and City of Lon-
don walks. Compared to live tours, my audio tours are hard to beat: Nobody will
stand you up, the quality is reliable, you can take the tour exactly when you like,
and they're free.
Rick Steves Audio Europe also offers a far-reaching library of intriguing
travel
interviews
with experts from around the globe. The interviews are organized by
destination, including many of the places in this topic.
Winter travelers find fewer crowds and soft room prices, but shorter sightseeing
hours. The weather can be cold and dreary, and nightfall draws the shades on sightseeing
well before dinnertime. While England's rural charm falls with the leaves, London sight-
seeing is fine in the winter, and is especially popular during the Christmas season. For
more on planning a winter holiday visit, read “Winter Diversions” (at the end of the En-
tertainment in London chapter).
Plan for rain no matter when you go. Just keep traveling and take full advantage of
“bright spells.” The weather can change several times a day, but rarely is it extreme. As the
