Great weekend in London
I want to share my impressions of my first trip to London in the spring of 2014, which I timed to coincide with my 25th birthday. Starting from the age of 6, I studied English at school and had never been to England, so I decided to fix it.
For a tour and a visa, I applied to the Imperial company, which has been specializing in tours in this country for a very long time, it was recommended to me by friends. I was very worried about the visa, but everything is in order for tourism, they gave it, thanks to the visa manager Sasha. Since the budget was limited, the company's managers suggested that I settle in a 2 * hotel in the Bayswater area, which is next to Hyde Park. As it turned out, the location is very good, because there are several metro stations of different branches nearby: the red Queensway to get to Oxford Street and the green Bayswater to get to the embankment where Big Ben is. In a word, it’s very convenient to get to all the sights, maybe the center London is huge.
On foot you can walk through Hyde Park and get into the Kensington area to visit the Science, Victoria and Albert Museum (admission is free, which is also very nice). Near the hotel there are many cafes and shops and grocery stores, and with clothes and shoes. The location of the area is excellent.
The hotel itself: Kings hotel is fully consistent with the declared 2 *: small rooms, clean and recently renovated, in the room there is a kettle, hairdryer, adapter - everything is there, and even wi fi is free. In my opinion, for those who came to take a walk, and not sit in the room - a great option. Breakfast includes cereal, milk, tea/coffee, croissants, toast and jam, yogurt. In the breakfast room you can eat your own food - for example, pizza or order Chinese food. The staff is friendly and always ready to help if needed. The weather was cold in March and they brought me a powerful heater in the room so that it would be warm to sleep) Thanks to them for that. In general, I consider the hotel lucky.
London itself is a city with amazing energy, parks, houses, markets and pubs. Those who have been at least once will understand me. I was on the "Governmental London" tour, the guide was Olga Elms - very informative and lively, we watched the guards, Buckingham Palace, the park near the palace, cherry blossoms literally everywhere in March, all government buildings, the Palace of Westminster. It turns out that there are so many funny traditions in Parliament that the British have followed for centuries, for example, members of the chambers wear socks of different colors. . I was at Madame Tussauds - the ticket is expensive, but it's worth it, in addition to wax figures, you can ride a black cab ...I visited the British Museum - very informative, because the culture of Egypt and the interfluve is nowhere better represented than there. The large modern museum complex impresses with its size. I was there with a guide Olga, someone walks on his own with an audio guide, it's up to everyone to decide.
But this is the same as walking around the Hermitage. ) The British Museum has a very good dining room, there is even soup, which is rare for London - I recommend eating there.
As for shopping - of course, what in London is it worth to devote at least a little time to this - the service and prices will please you in the most unexpected way. Do not be afraid to go to Selfridges department store - cosmetics prices are like in Rive Gauche, but the approach to the client is just heaven and earth - you will be put on a chair in front of a mirror and all cosmetics will be tested immediately on your face, if you don’t mind of course. Large bookstore and stationery with UK symbols. There are a lot of checkouts in stores, even if there is a queue, it goes very quickly. The choice of clothes and shoes is huge and the prices are again pleasant. I bought leather ankle boots for 40 pounds (the course was 54 rubles), I am very pleased with it. It is worth buying tea - any - even in Tesco, even in expensive Fortune & Mason.
I liked Yorkshire tea - black strong and fragrant - real, in a word, I bought it in a regular grocery store.
Walked along the embankment from the station. Metro Embankment in the direction of Trafalgar square - very beautiful, than Peter reminds me, but in a different way - despite +10 there are many evergreens, even palm trees grow - I was in shock, a pleasant truth. I ran into the Sherlock Holmes pub - a very colorful typical English pub where many English people enjoy ale and snacks even during the day. ) I really drank tea with cake, but I was satisfied with the portion size)).
In a word, my weekend in London was a success. I want to return again and visit those places and areas that I did not have time to cover, for example, Greenwich. Thanks to the employees of the Imperial company for their attention, professionalism and efficiency in work, for little money (and England is a very expensive country, it costs 2 pounds to travel by bus 1 way) I was able to fulfill my dream.
Transport and excursion services were at their best, the groups form small, everything is well heard and seen, they work with soul. And yes, I really liked the British a / w flight) smoothly and smoothly. Thank you I will recommend you to relatives and friends who plan to travel to London, Edinburgh or other cities of this country.
