Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The only publicly funded (and therefore impartial) “real” TI is the
City of London In-
formation Centre
(Mon-Sat 9:30-17:30, Sun 10:00-16:00; across the busy street from St.
Paul's Cathedral—around the right side as you face the main staircase, in the modern, an-
gular building just toward the Millennium Bridge; Tube: St. Paul's,
www.visitthecity.co.uk
).
While officially a service of The City (London's financial district), this office also provides
information about the rest of the London. It sells Oyster cards, London Passes, and advance
“Fast Track” sightseeing tickets (all described later), and stocks various free publications:
London Planner
(a free monthly that lists all the sights, events, and hours), some walking-
tourbrochures,the
OfficialLondonTheatreGuide
,a
WelcometoLondon
Tubeandbusmap,
the
Guide to River Thames Boat Services,
and a few brochures describing self-guided walks
in The City (various themes, including Dickens, modern architecture, and film locations).
TheygiveoutafreemapofTheCity,andselltwoothers(onefor£1,or£2foraminiversion
of the £2.50 Benson's map sold at newsstands and bookstores); ask if they have yet another
free map with a coupon good for 20 percent off admission to St. Paul's. I'd skip their room-
booking service and theater box office, both of which charge a commission.
Visit London,
which serves the greater London area, doesn't have an office you can
visit in person—but does operate a call center and website (tel. 0870-156-6366,
Fast Track Tickets:
To skip the ticket-buying queues at certain London sights, you can
buy “Fast Track” tickets in advance—and they're usually cheaper than tickets sold right at
the sight. They're particularly smart for the Tower of London, Windsor Castle, and Madame
Tussauds Waxworks, all of which get very busy in high season. They're available through
various sales outlets around London (including the City of London TI, souvenir stands, and
several faux-TIs scattered throughout touristy areas).
London Pass:
This pass, which covers many big sights and lets you skip some lines,
is expensive but potentially worth the investment for extremely busy sightseers (£46/1 day,
£61/2 days, £74/3 days, £99/6 days; days are calendar days rather than 24-hour periods;
comes with 160-page guidebook, also sold at TI near St. Paul's, major train stations and air-
ports,tel.0870-242-9988,
www.londonpass.com
).Amongthemanysightsitincludesarethe
Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, and Windsor Castle, as well as
many temporary exhibits and audioguides at otherwise “free” biggies. Think through your
sightseeingplans,studytheirwebsitetoseewhat'scovered,anddothemathbeforeyoubuy.
For more information on getting to or from London by train, bus, and plane, see “London
Connections,” near the end of this chapter.
ByTrain:
Londonhasninemajortrainstations,allconnectedbytheTube(subway).All
haveATMs,andmanyofthelargerstationsalsohaveshops,fastfood,exchangeoffices,and
