Here is an all-encompassing thread for you. Please search the thread, take a look around. You'll find info on tickets, travel, hotels, airports, pubs, sights, places outside London, etc. from people who've gone over and done it themselves, lived there, or still do live there. Please do not post anything other than info for others to read, or a question that HAS NOT been asked (in other words, you're going to need/want to read this to see if your question has already been answered). _________________________________________________________________ TICKETS If you're American, are you a member of ArsenalAmerica? No! Go sign up, pay the fee and then you'll be eligible to ask our ticket liason for tickets. Already a member, good on ya. Here's how to go about requesting tickets. Please do so ten weeks or more before a match. Any ticket requests after the 10 week mark will be near impossible to obtain. 1. PM "RickB" with the following information: the date of the match and how many tickets you need. Note, every ticket requested must have a corresponding member of ArsenalAmerica (want to take your wife/friend/boyfriend/whomever, sign them up). 2. Once he confirms he'll have a ticket you must PAYPAL him whatever amount he asks normally about 50 pounds PLUS you need to include 4% of whatever your total is due to PAYPAL's fees (example: 4% of 50 equals 2. You'll need to send 52 pounds). You must send this within 5 days of being asked, lest your request be cancelled. 3.After sending the money via PAYPAL, you again need to PM "RickB" and send him your flight and hotel information. Why? Because Arsenal require the information. Also, if you are bringing a cell-phone, give him that information as well so he can reach you once you're in London. 4. Once in London, Rick will arrange to meet with you on the day of the match (not before, so don't ask. No, he won't leave your tickets at a hotel either, you must meet him the day of the match, normally an hour or two beforehand). 5. Be on time. Not from the US/already an ArsenalAmerica member from Canada? Contact "RickB" via PM and see if he knows of any tickets available. He has in the past helped people from Sweden, Canada (there is an ArsenalCanada if you're not a member of one of the official supporters clubs already), and other parts of the world get tickets. He cannot gaurantee them. Also, check the Arsenal website www.arsenal.com and see if tickets have not been released to General Sale. TOUTS/SCALPERS DO NOT USE THESE. If you are found to have used a scalper, you're name will be made known to the proper authorities. Scalping/touts are illegal. There is more information and a whole thread related to tickets, please consult that if you have any more questions regarding tickets. Do not put requests on this thread, they will be deleted. _________________________________________________________________ TRAVEL How do you get to London? Unless you're in the UK, its probably cheapest to fly. From the US and Canada, almost all the major airlines fly there. Try looking for deals, they can normally be found most non-summer months, with some date exceptions (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter). From the US, you're looking at paying anywhere from $350+ depending upon where you're flying from (the northeast will be cheapest). Don't just look at US carriers, try British Airways, Air Canada (which is cheaper from NYC than it is from Montreal...or so we're told by a crazy Quebecer) Lufthansa, Virgin Atlantic, Air Lingus, Air France, Iceland Air (they've got good deals out of BWI/other departure points that often include a free stopover in Reykjavik). Which airport to fly into? Flights from the US and Canada will land at either Gatwick or Heathrow, flights from Europe may land at Luton, Stanstead, or City depending upon who you're flying. You may not have much of a choice, and for many they do not care which they use. Gatwick is south of London and will take about a 30 minute train ride to arrive in London at either Victoria or London Bridge train stations, and will cost about 10 pounds. If you are landing at Gatwick, do not take the Gatwick Express, it will only save you about 5 minutes, but will cost more than a normal train. Taxis and buses may also be caught into London but will take a good bit longer than the train, and in the taxis' case will cost a good deal more. Heathrow is to the west of London. One can get into London via the Heathrow Express or the Tube. The Heathrow Express leaves every 15 minutes, takes only 15 minutes, but does cost about 13 pounds. I've found its better to use this when leaving London as you give yourself another hour or two in the city compared to the Tube. The Tube will cost about 5 pounds to get into London and will take 40+ minutes depending upon where you are going. Heathrow is the larger of the two airports and is currently undergoing expansion. Depending upon which terminal you land in/depart from, you may need to take a shuttle as the Tube is also expanding with the airport and some of the Heathrow stops are closed. I've not covered taxis, which will cost 30+ pounds and take a very long time. Buses also run from Heathrow but they can be time consuming. Stanstead/Luton: The low-cost carriers use these airports. If you're flying into one of these airports your choices are buses or trains. I've omitted taxis because they're probably going to cost more than your flight. The trains to and from these airports run about 3 times an hour and cost abour 11 quid. Buses are often run in conjunction with a particular airline, so you may be able to get a deal with whatever airline you flew. Taking the train? You'll arrive at Waterloo if you're coming from Paris (for the time being). Other rail stations you may arrive at if you come from inside the UK: Victoria, London Bridge, Paddington, Euston, St. Pancras, Kings Cross, and Liverpool St. All of these stations are connected to the Tube, so you will be able to continue your journey onwards, unless your hotel is right next to one of these stations. You can also use these stations to leave London, and hey, there's nothing wrong with that! The Tube Visitors love and natives hate it. Truly an engineering marvel when it was built...over 120 years ago, the Tube does show its age at times. The Tube will take you to Highbury/Islington to see the match, but you will have to walk a bit more nowadays than you did before, as Ashburton Grove isn't right across from a Tube stop like Highbury. Obtain a Tube map as soon as you can, because it will help you get around like nothing else, save an A-Z map. Pick one of those up as well. One can obtain daily, weekly, single ride, and other types of passes for the Tube. The easiest thing to do concerning tickets is to obtain an Oyster Card. Its a card slightly thicker than a credit card that you can purchase at any Tube stop. You just move the card over a little yellow pad at the turnstile and move on through. You can put a certain amount of money on it (allowing the Tube to deduct as you go) make it a weekly travel card (valid for any 7 consecutive days, it doesn't have to start on a monday [even good if you're only going to be there for 5 days its a good deal]), or make it a combination of the two. The last is a good option as most tourists will stay in zones 1-2, but going outside of those zones, say to a game at Watford/West Ham or to Kew Gardens, the extra cash will help pay for the fare difference from a travel card. (Thanks go to Surfcam for some of this info). Taxis: Ah, yes, the famous black cabs of London! It will not matter where you need to go, the taxi driver should know where it is. Some people consider a ride in a London taxi part of the experience...just note that you'll pay for it. Plack cabs are expensive though they will get you where you need to go and do it properly. Mini-cabs are another story. They are taxis, though they look nothing like the traditional black cabs. They should never be hired from the street or hailed, but instead one should call a company using the Yellow Pages or with a recommendation. Beware of some mini-cabs, and if you're travelling alone, think twice as sometimes they may not have the most savory characters behind the wheel. Buses The traditional double-decker, the Routemaster, is almost dead as a bus used in public transport, having since been replaced by newer, sleeker buses. There are still a few used on some of the "tourist routes" (routes that hit many tourist sites, but are still run by Transport for London, not to be confused with the tour bus companies like "Big Red Bus"). Buses will get you around London like any other form of transportation, and unlike the Tube you will get to see some sights. Unfortunately, even with a surcharge on driving within central London, buses aren't necessarily fast. Night Buses are your friend. If you're out in central London and need to get back to your hotel, you may be better off taking a night bus back...if you know what route you need. You can also find out what route you need by checking the signs around Trafalgar Square (the main terminus for these particular puses). These are safe, mostly on time, and cheap. Everyone uses them, so as a tourist you should too. It will save you money and I can gaurantee you'll see some crazy stuff. _________________________________________________________________ Places to stay I'm not going to tell you where to stay, but I'll give you some neighborhoods and other items to keep in mind when considering where to stay. If you're young and in college, don't rule out hostels...heck, if you're 27 and on a budget, sometimes they're still good. Notting Hill: Ohhh, the movie. Yeah, that too. Notting Hill has some great places to stay for all budgets. Its close to 3 or 4 different Tube lines and has the market as well as shops. Bayswater/Queensway: Near Notting Hill, but not. Its a tourist nieghborhood. You'll again find all types of places to stay, tourist shops, food stores, pubs, good Tube connections, and there is lots going on. Victoria: Named for the train/bus station nearby, this too is good for finding a place to stay no matter what your price range is. Great, great transport connections and lots going on. Easy to get to if you're coming from Gatwick, as a train pulls right into the station. Kensington: Can be a great deal more expensive, but that's the neighborhood. If you've got the cash, this is where you want to stay. Decent transport links, a grear High Street to shop on, near a good deal of museums and also Harrods. Earls' Court: A former mecca for Australians, it is now a budget to mid-range accomodation mecca. It is easy to get to from Heathrow, has a decent amount of pubs and food available, as well as two giant supermarkets for those who might self-cater. There are certainly other places in London, including Islington, Russel Square, and Paddington, but this was just a small list of neighborhoods to consider. Also consider how many Tube lines go near where you're staying as it does have a tendency to either break down, or have construction limiting its use (Beware the Northern Line!). _________________________________________________________________ Now, this was just some simple information for you to consider before you head over. Anything after this will be opinions from different people as to sights to see, hotels/hostels/B&Bs that are good, places to eat, ideas for escapes from London, whatever. Please do not post "thank yous" or other small talk, just info people may need.
Budget What's a decent budget? First off, don't forget the exchange rate, which is currently (7/7/06) around $1.80=£1. In US dollars, after accounting for airfaire, you'll probably need to budget anywhere from $30 (hostel dorm bed during the slow time) to however much you want to spend. You can find decent accomodation around $100/night in places like Baywater, Paddington, Earls Court. A weird thing for most Americans is that some rooms don't come with a bathroom, instead it is a shared facility. This is normal in Europe, and also cheaper. You'll normally add $10-$30 for an en-suite room. Don't toss the idea out the window about staying in a room without a shower/bathroom, as there are some great, clean places out there. You'll need to budget about 50-100 per day for other things like food, transportation, and sight seeing. This can be lowered or raised depending upon what you do. Going drinking before and after a match? Figure over $100, because I'm sure you'll want to buy a few rounds for your new friends. One thing to note, if something costs around a dollar in the US, it will probably cost a pound in London (examples 500ml of Coke= £1, 500ml Coke in US=$1, McDonalds Value Meal= $4 in US, £4 in London). Now, you're going to do a conversion in your head and say, "That's really expensive!" Just remember, you're travelling there, if you just think the 1-1 comparison you'll see where you're getting a decent price and where you're not.
Hostels?!?! Yeah, hostels. I've stayed in a few in London. Like any place there are some damn good ones and some dives. If you're young and on a budget, think about it. The Generator: Good party hostel with lots of other travelers near Russel Square. Has its own bar and club and is very easy to meet people at. They have mostly dorm rooms, so it may not be ideal if you're travelling with someone special and want/need that alone time at the end of the day. Can get a bit loud. London House Hotel: Sounds like it should be a hotel, but instead is a hostel that provides breakfast, has small dorm rooms (I think the largest is 6 to a room) that can be single sex or coed, double and twin rooms, and is in Baywater meaning you'll have decent transport connections. Decent enough place, not on a major street so it can be quiet, but there are all types of people staying there from families to 4 random people from the US, France, and Denmark in a room that you'll have a good time. Astor Museum Inn: Astor run a few hostels in London, but the Museum is the only one I've stayed in. Its a decent place, right across from the British Museum. Has both large dorms and doubles or triples. Good helpful staff, small breakfast provided, and always someone around to hang with/go out with. Hostel 149: Between Gloucester Rd and Earls Court Tube stations along Cromwell Rd. Right across the street from a huge Sainsbury supermarket. Only thing I think it has going for it is its location. The rooms were cramped with so many beds you couldn't open the door all the way, the sheets hadn't been washed, and there is a shower in some of the dorms that can be seen into from the top bunk that is 2 feet away. Was the chick decent looking? I won't answer that one. The staff weren't very helpful either, but hey, if you just need a bed and don't feel like sleeping outdoors or at an airport, it is an option. There are others out there, but these are the ones I've stayed at.
Things to see / do I trawled some old threads and here's what people are recommending: The iconic "London" stuff - Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Tower of London, St Paul's Cathedral, Buckingham Palace/the changing of the guard. Military history seems popular - Imperial War Museum, National Army Museum, HMS Belfast, Churchill Museum and the Cabinet War Rooms, and the British Military Museum all get enthusiastic mentions. Greenwich has the National Martime Museum, the Royal Observatory (with the Prime Meridian) and the Cutty Sark. You can get a river bus down to Greenwich and it's an interesting ride. Museums and galleries - there are loads of these but all of the following have been mentioned by previous visitors or locals. British Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum, Natural History Museum, Tate Modern, Tate Britain, National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, Courtauld Gallery in Somerset House. Markets - Portabello Road and Spitalfields both get honourable mentions. Portabello's in Notting Hill which has been suggested as an interesting area in which to wander. Brick Lane also has a market and has been cited as a place to head for if you want a great curry. Covent Garden was famous for its market. Now it's more shops and fixed stalls but again can be good for a wander. Entertainment - For concerts the Royal Albert Hall and St Martin-in-the-Fields get props. Both are interesting buildings. Despite its rustic name St Martin's is actually in Trafalgar Square and the lunchtime concerts are free. At the Globe Theatre (a reconstruction of the open-air playhouse designed in 1599, where Shakespeare worked and for which he wrote many of his greatest plays) you again get interesting architecture, and culture! For the many West End theatres try the TKTS booth in Leicester Square. It's possible to get up to 50% discount on some shows. Lastly there's a great club scene - something for everyone. Listings for clubs and all other sorts of entertainment can be found in the weekly magazine TimeOut London. Miscellaneous - London Eye for great views. Hyde Park for a walk in a green space and people-watching. Speakers Corner is particularly good for this and there are some truly nutty theories to be heard! You can also swim in the Serpentine in Hyde Park if you happen to be around when it's hot (not often during the football season). Day trips out of London - Oxford and Cambridge the two historic university cities are full of beautiful old colleges and (sadly) students. (Just kidding ) People have enjoyed trips to Canterbury, Bath, Stratford-upon-Avon, Brighton and Stonehenge. For these sort of trips take the train and book your train tickets as far in advance as possible - you'll save a fortune. Pubs - Probably deserve a dedicated post judging by the number of times they get mentioned in people's stories of their trips. I'm not really an expert so I'll leave someone else to cover this.
Of course you could always go to the Arsenal tube stop because it's right around the corner from The Grove (you can see it from there) http://www.arsenal.com/UserIncludes/docs/emiratesmap2.pdf
Are there any horse racing tracks in or around London? I know there's greyhound racing in Wimbledon but haven't heard of any horse racing.
Away Matches Away matches Same ticket procedure as above. Travelling to an away match is on your own, or you can see if Rick can get you on the Supporter Coach. The coach will take you from the Grove to whichever stadium the game is at, and back. There can be a stop along the way up for refreshments, and some of the drives, such as Bolton, can be a bit long and boring. Unless you know your seatmate or someone else on the coach, most people keep to themselves, or so I've found. Another option is to take the train and either come back after the match or stay over. If it is a late match up north you may not have the option of coming back that same day due to the time the match ends. Away matches in London are easily reached by the Tube/other form of public transit, but beware of wearing Arsenal clothing to certain matches (Spurs) due to fan behavior.
Re: Away Matches I used a scalper once, i didn't have a problem, except for paying 5 times face value. My advice, go to Rick first, if he can't help you, he'll direct you to the supporters club. If you're only looking for a single ticket, you've got a decent chance of getting a ticket.
Re: Away Matches If you go to an away match up north, you might as well stay over. Hotels outside of London are a much better deal for the money. Manchester has some nice hotels, even though the town isn't that great. Other towns are probably even cheaper. Hotels in London will kill your budget, if you're on a budget, i recommend spending as little time in London as possible. If you do want to stay in London, and don't care what hotel it is, i recommend Hotwire.com. They have some great deals on last minute hotel rooms.
Re: Away Matches I am considering taking a trip from NY-->Emirates, but I'm not a member of arseamerica. Is it going to save me any money on the tickets to become a member? How much are Arsenal tickets from Rick and from the club itself? Keep in mind I'll probably only go to 2 or 3 games max each year..
Re: Away Matches Unless you're a silver member of "The Arsenal", you won't be able to get tickets through the club, as it isn't often they trickle down to General Sale. In that case, other than paying a tout, which look above, is not legal and will cost you a fortune, you join ArseAm and follow the procedures.
Misc A few places not mentioned to hit up. I'm a fan of Regent's Park. If you're there at all in May-August/September, take a walk and find the rose garden. Its fantastic. Its a bit more intimate than Hyde Park, but both are good. Also, if you're into that whole "Sherlock Holmes" stuff, Baker Street is right there. As for a day-trip outside of London, take a look at Winchester. Its a former capital of England and there are a few kings buried at the cathedral there. Nice small town and the people are super. Its about an hour, an hour and a half south(west) of London leaving from Waterloo. I find pubs to be a personal preference, but if you're staying in Earls Court, there's one slightly of the main road called the "Kings Head". Its down the street from tube stop, on Hogarth Place.
Re: Away Matches If you join ArsenalAmerica you'll pay 20 bucks for the membership plus 10 bucks over face value for your ticket. If you go to touts you'll pay at least double face value, if you can even get a ticket. If you are going to go to a game, just pony up the 20 spot, its the best money you'll ever spend. Trust me.
Per request: I did my last trip solo over easter and the one before that (with my wife) in winter over the new year. My trip report for the last one (it's in four parts, but all parts are linked in the last one) can be found here: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...d.html#3550969 It has hotel info, pictures, etc. Also, I have prepared trip guides that include cool places to eat, places to visit, museum times, transport info and links, etc. etc. that i can email to you if you send me a pm with your email addy.
For places to stay in London, I found this site. It usually has some pretty good rates. I have personally stayed at these places: Hyde Park Paddington: Decent little place. Has a bathroom in the suite. Quite small, but not too bad. Only 1 1/2 blocks from Paddington station and there are some good pubs (Paddington Arms) nearby as well as coffee shops, an internet cafe, and most importantly, a liquor store. Jury's Inn Islington: Nice place and has a decent pub in the lobby (which stays open after 11!). It is a bit more expensive, but it is styled more along the lines of what American's see as a hotel room. A bit larger and kind of like a Holiday Inn. It is close to the Angel station and not too far (decent walk, short cab) from King's Cross station. The High Street in Islington is just a few blocks away and there are some good pubs and restaurants. Went to a Thai place there that was really good. Plus you are in North London, near Highbury/The Grove, so it is kind of cool in and of itself! Most important tip, as mentioned above, get an A to Z (Zed) map. They come in all sizes and are indespensible. I got a small spiral bound one and carried it in my back pocket. When you are loaded and the mini-cab drops you off far from your hotel at 2 am, the map comes in handy!
Travel Resources & Thoughts Hi - as a bi-costal english-american (yup, both passports) who has houses in Manhattan New York & Westminster, London I thought I'd add a few thoughts on resources you can use to plan and execute a trip. Please remmeber that like New York, it is very easy to spend a lot of money in London but it is also easy to find good value for money if you want to keep your costs in check. BEFORE YOU LEAVE: Buy an "A to Z Street Map of London" so you can see the streets, tube stations, etc. while planning. You can also use www.streetmap.co.uk to find places using post codes or street names. It is an electronic A to Z so the maps look the same as the book. Buy TIMEOUT LONDON each week so you can see what is happenning around town during your visit. This is a very comprehensive resource and can take a while to read, so start buying it 4 weeks prior to your trip. You can also use http://www.timeout.com/london/, but I find the site tough to search and read. Try and book ahead for everything (and I mean everything). HOTEL: www.booking.com is one of the best european sites for booking rooms on this side of the atlantic. I prefer it to expedia.com and hotwire.com as it gives better prices and better details on the hotels. They list everything from hostels to 5 star, so you should be able to find what you want. You can get the post codes for hotels from this site and plug them into www.streetmap.co.uk (see above) to see where they are. Some thoughts on booking a location: If you are coming to London just for the Arse, stay in a hotel that is along either the VICTORIA or PICCADILLY tube lines as these will get you closest to the stadium. If you have the money and you are travelling with the missus, stay in Knightsbridge or Kensington as she will want to go to Harvey Nic's and Harrods which are in this neighborhood. If you want to spend less, try Victoria or Pimlico. I would personally STAY AWAY FROM Earls Court, Kings Cross, Euston, Paddington as these areas have historically had higher crime rates. If you are coming to see the Arse and partake in some other interest, think about booking the hotel around this other interest as the Arse match is only a 3 - 4 hour investment on one day, and you will want to make getting around London during the remainder of your trip as simple as possible. TRAVEL TO THE UK: We all know about expedia.com, www.flights.com (my fave) and other sites, so I won't beat a dead horse. TRAVEL FROM THE AIRPORT: From Gatwick use train as it is cheaper and faster. From Heathrow, Train is much faster (15 min vs. an hour), but if your hotel is on the Piccadilly line, tube maybe better. Use http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/ to see what tube stations are open/closed so that you can plan your trip from Heathrow. A NOTE TO WOMEN ON MINI CABS: There has been some discussion about taxis already, but you should be aware that the Police advise single women to NEVER use mini-cabs hailed on the street. There have been attacks on single women in the past, and the police have been adamant about avoinding them. If you book a min-cab over the phone or through your hotel, you should be OK. If in doubt, stay away from them and use Black cabs. You can book black cabs at www.radiotaxis.co.uk or www.zingotaxi.co.uk . WHERE TO EAT: You can get everything from McDonalds to Gordon Ramsay. Read TIMEOUT or look @ http://www.timeout.com/london/ to see the multitude of restaurants. You can also use http://www.viamichelin.com to find higher end restaurants. MAKE RESERVATIONS WHEVER YOU CAN! TIPPING: A very tricky issue over here. Here are some thoughts: - restaurant - tip 10 - 15% - pub - NEVER TIP. If you want to do something nice, offer to buy them a drink. If they don't accept, leave it alone as nobody likes pushy Americans. - Taxi - your choice. They don't expect it, but they do appreciate the gesture. I give 10% if the driver is pleasant.
Re: Travel Resources & Thoughts Depends where you sit, and from this season, the classification of the match, i.e. "big" matches cost more. Range varies from about £36 to £90 I believe.
stay away from this hotel like the plague seriously, it's a dump. and who numbers every single room in the 200s no matter what floor it is on. seriously.
London Tube Etiquette When travelling as a tourist in London you will probably catch the tube (or underground). If you do, you will probably get in the way of regular commuters. In order to lower the number of swear words you hear as people push past please use the following hints Do not smoke. The Kings Cross disaster was caused by a dropped cigarette. People have a right to be safe. On escalators, stand on the right. The signs are everywhere. Do not stand next to your friend on the same step. Do not put your bag beside you. Before joining the queue for the ticket gates, have your ticket in your hand. Do not stand there blocking the gate while you look in the bottom of your bum bag. Do not stop immediately after the ticket gate and look at a map. Move to one side. If you have bought a single ticket, and not a zone card when you exit the tube after your journey, the ticket gate will keep it. Do not stand there expecting it to come out. It's gone. It's used. Get over it, and mourn later. Let people off the train before boarding. You may want to get on, but they are getting off with a purpose. Get out of the way. If you are travelling with a rucksack or back pack take it off. You have no idea how annoying it is to be in a packed tube, with some backpacker forcing his pack into your face and not realising because he can't feel anything. Better still travel at off peak times. Use deodorant. Do not eat smelly food. Do not drink beer. Be careful with any type of hot drink. Turn your Walkman/CD/MP3 player down. Don't pick your nose. Do not attempt to read a broadsheet newspaper in a packed carriage. Do not litter on the platforms. It will be swept onto the rails and can cause delays. Do not leave your litter on the train. I know we have no bins down here, but thats due to the nasty habit of putting bombs into bins, practised by the IRA a while back. Do not play tonsil hockey with your better half, or with someone you just meet in a pub 5 minutes ago Control your children. The tube is not a playground. Do not hold the door open. Mind the gap. and most important of all DO NOT TALK TO ANYONE. WE DO NOT TALK IN THE TUBES. Enjoy your stay, just don't travel in front of me, ok?
Covent Garden We luv it! Luv it! Luv it, luv it luv it! Transport for London Ideal for planning your journey in London - run by the great Ken Livingstone! Duck Tours Great tour which goes on land and the Thames London Eye A must see. For a laugh, get to the top and then ask a foreigner if they have the right time! I usually try for an American and it always creases me up when they look at their watch! The Old Wheatsheaf Traditional pub on the outskirts of London. Tradition maintains that you should find the fattest bloke in the pub and buy him a pint of Stella!
I was just wondering where are the seats in the stadium usually that you sit in when you get tickets from Rick? Also, where are the best clubs/pubs for college aged kids in Central London?