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Popular Warnings or Dangers | Other Warnings or Dangers Tips | All Tips (694) Trocadero building houses different stuff, I remember two of them:
The first floor with the shops and the friendly supervisors who came up to me telling it was not allowed to take any pictures in the store, unless I bought anything? ok? here goes my old saying again: ?no pictures, no business? and off I went.
Shops! I must be an exceptional female as I really hate shopping and if I had the choice I would have whisked myself somewhere else in the greenery, but it was chilly, windy, dark clouded and raining, in one sentence: no weather for a walk in the park. In here it was dry at least.
A psychedelic automatic stairs: neon lights and glass gave it a tunnel vision; sucked me up completely and before I realised I was up the 2nd floor. All around me in the darkened room: the beeping, ringing and other undefined sounds; flickering lights of game machines, car simulators, soccer games, all hitting my iris without any mercy: money-eating machines, and money losing people, people grown one with the handle of the game machinery, body snatched and mind blown. All that came poured over me and I had only one thought and that was to find the way out!
Can you imagine four of these floors of video games, each the size of a city block? That's exactly what you get when you visit Trocadero, London's modern nightmare game hall!
The way out was perfectly hidden. I realised I was not at second floor; the automatic staircase must have covered more floors! I walked around the whole level, searching for the one that ought to go down, but it just didn?t exist! I finally had to ask one of the dangerous looking ?men in black? and he pointed out that if I go around that corner and around that corner? ok? let?s try those 2 corners first?
Indeed, there were hidden metallic stairs covering half floors, so I had to search many around various corners, but after number two I got the hunch tracing them. Leave a Comment
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Who has never seen the movie of Marry Poppins and the old lady feeding the birds?
..............
Early each day to the steps of Saint Paul's
The little old bird woman comes.
In her own special way to the people she calls,
"Come, buy my bags full of crumbs.
Come feed the little birds, show them you care
And you'll be glad if you do.
Their young ones are hungry,
Their nests are so bare;
All it takes is tuppence from you."
Feed the birds, tuppence a bag,
Tuppence, tuppence, tuppence a bag.
.................
But all that is over now!
If you don't get it yet! Here it is in many languages and in a pictogram!
No feeding the pigeons! What you eat must come out again and that goes exactly the same for these birds. In big masses they can produce quite some piles of bird poop and this ***ty mass of poop is so strong that it will damage the surrounding buildings, the statues and maybe smut your new outfit. So one good advice: don't!
I caught this sign at Trafalgar Square, a pigeon paradise! Leave a Comment
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Obviously, if you are at traffic lights or in slow traffic, then this doesn't apply!
If you are on a Red Route (two red double lines - see the picture), then do not stop, and definitely don't park (see my previous two warnings for the consequences).
I believe the latest fine is £100 and that is before the clamping or towing fee. This is taken very seriously as they are painted on roads in the most congested parts of London that are considered important to keep the traffic moving on. Leave a Comment
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If you are in the West End after midnight, you won't be able to catch a train because few trains leave after midnight. There is night bus service, but it is sketchy. You'll have to attempt to catch a taxi.
My daughter Jill and I were attending a theatre at the West End seeing Jekell & Hyde; afterwards, we had a snack and listened to music in a small place that catered to up-and-coming bands. Before we knew it, midnight had come and gone. We started walking and saw a bus. We tried to "flag it down"; the bus stopped but would not pick us up because the driver was going back to check out for the night. So, we kept on walking, trying to catch a taxi.
I tell you, we walked through some pretty frightening neighborhoods.
At last, a Taxi stopped. The driver said, "What are you doing in this area; it's like being in Harlem in New York." He was very kind and "fatherly". We were so relieved to make it back to our hotel safely.
You need to know that licensed cabs must carry a "For Hire" sign that is lit up. You can find them at "ranks" (stands); you can hail them as we did; you can phone for them.
The licensed cabs have meters Surcharges are added for luggage, extra passengers, and off-hours (such as when we hailed the cab much after midnight). Fares should always be on display.
I have nothing but admiration for the London Taxi Drivers. Leave a Comment
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I happened to look closely at one of my creidt card receipts after having been in London for a day or two. After seeing that my entire credit card number, as well as the expiration date on the card were a part of my receipt, I kept a closer watch on where those receipts went!
After I discovered this, I watched very carefully and only 2 places that I used plastic X'ed out all but the last 4 digits of my credit card numbers. I'm not sure about elsewhere, but here in the U.S., it is normal to have most of the credit card info represented as X's. with the whole number and the expiration date, anyone can use that card for online or mail order purchases!
Just be aware that most places leave your entire credit card information intact on the receipts. Leave a Comment
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I have compiled a list of a mistakes American's make when they are here visiting
1. Fanny Packs/ Bum Bags whatever you want to call them. They really are not kewl... these babies stopped being sold here in the early 90's and anyone wearing them is shot on sight
2. Being Loud, if you look around especially when you're on the tube and no one's talking... or people are talking quietly... then follow suit!
3. Clothing. As a yank i suppose it depends on where you are from... but wearing a t-shirt with USA plastered all over it, or coat that looks like something you'd use on an expedition to the k2 summit, just singles you out completely. Also wearing proper trainers that you could actually use for sport, is hardly done here to walk around in... it's mostly stylish comfortable light trainers... have a look at www.puma.com and www.merrell.com for ideas.
4. Croakies on your wrap around sunglasses... just wrong
5. Making a big scene in a shop or a restaurant over a small thing. If the person serving you gets something wrong. Don't make a huge scene instead just quietly have a word with them say politely that the food is cold or that they haven't given you the right change... mistakes do happen
6. Don't act like you own the place... as much as Americans like to believe that the whole world loves them, the reality is, we don't.
7. Under No Circumstances mention the war. Yes the British soldiers are over there fighting, but almost anyone you ask about the war will tell you that we shouldn't be over there. Not many people believe in the war here so it's a subject best steered clear of.
8. If you really want to get along with the English you have to be able to joke about your own country and your own president... we do it to ourselves so why not join in
9. my last point here... if you go to a comedy club such as www.comedystore.co.uk do not... if the comedian asks if there are any americans in the audience... start screaming and shouting... you will end up being every comedian's joke for the rest of the night Leave a Comment
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Whilst not on the scale of problems encountered by such cities as Bangkok or Cairo in the recent past, London is always threatening to seize up with its congestion or 'gridlock' as it is known.
Despite the congestion charging scheme, it's still all to easy to find yourself crawling along at a snails' pace in central London.
It was ever thus - just look at this famous painting of London's streets from the early Victorian times.
Always allow plenty of time for any journey that uses the roads. Your much better off on the tube. Leave a Comment
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The website designer for the Transport for London (Tfl) tube website appears to have a sense of humour. He or she is conducting an online survey to see what gets up the nose of Londoners on the tube. Here is the list, but I'm sure none of you would ever do any of these disgusting and repulsive things, or be one of these types of people :
People who let their newspapers lie across their neighbour's space
Getting onto trains before passengers have had time to get off
People who pretend they haven't seen pregnant passengers who need seats
People with accordions
****** People who look like they may have an accordion at home ******* (i can't work the stars out either !)
Standing on the left on escalators
People who eat smelly food on trains
People who leave food or newspapers on seats
People with overloud "personal" stereos
People who don't leave newspapers behind (so they can be re-read)
People who ask you for money
People who spread their legs across their neighbours' space
People who don't move down into the carriage
People who keep their rucksacks shouldered on busy trains
People with annoying mobile ringing tones (especially S Club 7, Steps, Back Street Boys, Kylie)
People who pick their nose and flick or eat the contents
People who stop dead at the top or bottom of escalators
People who put their feet on seats
People who jump on and wrestle the doors as they are closing
People who don't know how to say excuse me, please and thank you Leave a Comment
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There are NOT sufficient trash bins for the amount of people in the city! I was disgusted at the amount of garbage on the ground around all the major tourist spots! There are no bins in tube stations as well........safety concerns, I'm sure! Carry a bag with you to collect any garbage you may accumulate during the day.......KEEP LONDON PICTURESQUE FOR EVERYONE!!!! Leave a Comment
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Spending British money is as easy as it is anywhere else, however you may get a little confused by some of the terminology you hear in certain parts of the country.
The Currency is Pounds Sterling (normally just called Pounds, but it is commonly also called Quid or Nicker, so 10 Quid would be 10 pounds. Pounds are further sub-divided into Pence (abbreviated to "p" more often than not, or sometimes dropped altogether - so "10 pounds 30" would be £10.30).
Sometimes the amount replaces the currency too, so a "tenner" is 10 pounds, and likewise a "fiver" is five pounds.
Large amounts also have their own terms. A thousand pounds is often called "a grand", so 10 grand is 10 thousand pounds. A hundred pounds is "a ton".
Foreigners often call 50p "half a pound". Whilst everybody will understand this, no-one British ever uses "half a pound", unless they are referring to weight (Britain also uses pounds and ounces as well as kilos and grammes).
To further complicate matters, in London you may hear extra terms for money too. "A Pony" is £25, and "a monkey" is £500, but these are much less common. and not all British people know exactly what they are. Leave a Comment
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- Mayfair Washington
5 Curzon Street Mayfair, London, United Kingdom - Le Meridien Heathrow
1 Bath Rd Heathrow, London, United Kingdom - Carlton Hotel London (90 Berlgrave Rd London SW1V2BJ)
90 Belgrave Road Victoria, London, United Kingdom - Rushmore Hotel (11 Trebovir Road.)
11 Trebovir Road, London, United Kingdom - A Night Inn
Portland House 18 - 20 Portland Rd, London, United Kingdom - Crowne Plaza Hotel London Docklands
Western Gateway Royal Victoria Dock, London, United Kingdom - Renaissance Chancery Court
252 High Holborn, London, United Kingdom - Westbourne Hotel
163-165 Westbourne Grove Notting Hill, London, United Kingdom - Springfield Hotel London
154 Sussex Gardens, London, United Kingdom - Express By Hol Inn Royal Docks
1 Silvertown Way Canning Town, London, United Kingdom - Central
150 Barking Road, London, United Kingdom - Forest View Hotel
227, Romford Road Stratford, Newham, London, United Kingdom - The Shaftesbury London Paddington
55 Westbourne Terrace Paddington, London, United Kingdom - Mina House Hotel London
21-23 Craven Road Paddington, London, United Kingdom - New Linden (58-60 Leinster Square.)
59 Leinster Square Bayswater, London, United Kingdom
Destinations near London- Buckingham Palace, 1.16 km / 0.72 miles
- Holborn, 1.84 km / 1.15 miles
- Saint Marylebone, 2.31 km / 1.44 miles
- Spitalfields, 2.95 km / 1.83 miles
- Bermondsey, 3.46 km / 2.15 miles
- Brixton, 3.89 km / 2.41 miles
- Shoreditch, 4.36 km / 2.71 miles
- Paddington, 4.61 km / 2.87 miles
- Hyde Park, 4.61 km / 2.87 miles
- Bethnal Green, 4.96 km / 3.08 miles
» See all locations nearby» Popular Greater London locations» Popular England locations» Popular United Kingdom locations
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