United Kingdom

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Pre-book your Newcastle airport parking if leaving the city to go within or away from the UK. This will save you both time and money at the airport gate.

If you're a bit of a foodie and like going to the very latest restaurants, check out - it's got all the news on what's brand-new and upcoming on the London restaurant scene, and handily brings together all the critics' reviews on a single restaurant page.

Big Ben is an awesome photo opportunity. It's one of the landmarks in London that you just need to get a photo next to. Whether you are holding it, standing next to it or pretending to lean on it it is like all major city attractions similar including The Eiffel Tower and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The good thing if you are visiting Big Ben is that is, of course, attached to the end of Parliament House and Buildings so there is a lot more to see in the area other than just Big Ben. A great sightseeing spot and highly recommended...nicer on a sunny day of course.

London Pubs and Bars are smoke free. So don't smoke in them.

Greenwich is a town on the south bank of the Thames. You can get to it by DLR (Docklands light rail) or Ferry down the Thames. I think the nicest way to see it is by ferry but this costs a little more. One option by DLR is to get the Tube to Tower Hill and walk to the DLR station from there. There are other ways but this is how I did it.

If you are wanting to go and see Buckingham Palace then Green Park Tube station is the closest Tube station. St James is also quite close but most people are already on the Piccadilly Line (the blue one).

My favourite way to get there is to walk down from Leicester Square, through Trafalgar Sq and then all the way down the Mall which looks straight at the Buckingham Palace. This is a much longer walk but is very rewarding.

The london eye is a great place to go for the view. It only takes about 20-30 minutes to go around and it is not that cheap but worth it if you have the money. If you are on a budget I don't think it is really worth it and you are better off climbing the stairs to the dome at St Pauls Cathedral, the view up there is great.

If you have the cash and love your Sushi then get into Nobu - Japanese/Sushi restaurant London. The one in Mayfair is the best.

If you have arrived at London Heathrow Airport there a few tips that will help you get around, get out of the terminal and get transport into London. Traveling by Car, Cab, Tube or Airport Express Train are all options so which one is best for you?

I recently heard that Madame Tussauds was rated as one of the most disappointing tourist experiences in London. I have not been because of this survey on Madame Tussauds and would welcome comments from anyone who has?

Madame Tussauds is a Wax works. This is where you go to have your photo taken with celebrities and stars that you would not normally get close to. They look quite real to me. Who was Madame Tussaud anyway?

http://www.madametussauds.com/London/

Madame Tussauds Opening times

The Sherlock Holmes Pub is a Pub I only went to once but it certainly is one of the top London Pubs I ever went to. Really loved it. It is not a particularly big pub but this is London and there are not very many big Pubs, or anything for that matter. If you are anywhere near Charing Cross, West End or Trafalgar Square it is definitely worth a visit.

If you have visited the Sherlock Holmes Pub and liked it make sure you Vote this up so others get there!

A bit of the History of the Sherlock Holmes Pub

If you are traveling to London and are anywhere around the Regent St, Soho, Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square area then you will see a few bicycle taxis / pedicabs / rickshaws which will be happy to take you anywhere.

I know it looks romantic, even on a cold winters night but make sure you get a price BEFORE getting in the rickshaw. I have known many a person to get fleeced on these things but being over charged terribly.

Harrods in Knightsbridge (closest to Knightsbridge Tube) is awesome. It is massive for a start and it goes over alot of floors. You can walk among some really high end fashion and home furnishings. They have an amazing Food Hall on the ground floor which you can sample stuff from and buy bits here and there. They have so much food it is overwhelming, you can do your grocery shopping there or just shop by food style and country. They have a kids section on the higher floors, and on the top there is an electronics/hi-fi area and a CD/DVD/Book shop.

With the millions of tourists traveling to London every year the transport system and public areas can get pretty crowded. To keep in good with the locals and allow people to get where they need to go in London stand to the right of the escalators. This allows a free space on the left for those keen enough or wanting to to get past and on their way.

It is not a matter of filling up every step as full as possible as some of the escalators in London, especially on the Tube can be quite long and you won't be popular if you can't get out of the way of the busy local trying to get up faster.

London is full of tourists all the time. And the locals find it pretty frustrating when visitors get to the London Underground (Tube) gates and then try to find their oyster card or train ticket. The ticket gates/turnstiles can move alot of people through fast so if you are traveling on the Tube have your ticket ready before you get to them.

If you are shopping on Oxford St it can get a little overwhelming. All the dodging people, carrying bags, avoiding getting run over by buses. If you do find yourself in need of a break from shopping there is a Borders Bookstore and Cafe on Oxford Street east of the Oxford Circus tube station. It is across the road from Top Shop and Urban Outfitters and down a bit. On the top floor there is a Starbucks which should provide you with some rest from all your shopping.

There is also a McDonalds a bit further down should you want to eat some less healthy but still have a rest.

London City Sightseeing - If you only have a short period of sightseeing time in London one of the fastest ways to see everything is doing an open top bus tour. There are a couple of companies that do sightseeing bus tours in London. One is called The Original London Sightseeing Tour and the other is called Big Bus Tours. I can't recommend one of the other.

Wunjo Guitar means there is only one place to go to if you are going to buy a guitar on Denmark St. I regularly walk up and down Denmark St looking at the guitars they have and trying a few out here and there but the guys at Wunjo are different for a few reasons.

1: They let you play the stuff without making you feel watched or like an idiot

2: They know what they are talking about

3: They will go out of their way to help you

4: They are friendly

5: They have some great guitars

6: Most importantly they have the best prices in town

Camden Market is Londons most popular open air market place and worth a visit if you are in London long enough. Camden is well known for it's markets, music, pubs, theatres and restaurants so there is something for everyone.

It is on the weekend that things come to life and you will notice a considerable jump in numbers of people there. So if you are traveling to London and can go during the week it is less crowed but there might not be as many stalls and market places open.

The Tube doesn't run all night long in London. So if you were expecting that London, being the vibing bustling metropolis, would have all night transport then sadly you are wrong. Be aware of this. Most trains have their last run between 12.30 - 1.00am. Don't get caught out as getting home otherwise can be a pain in the butt.

There are night buses if you are caught out after the Tube shuts but these are harder to work out and you may share the seat with an inebriated, smelly dude.

Trolley service Yum Cha (Dim Sum) restaurants are harder to come by outside China, especially outside Hong Kong. There is one place left in London that still does it well and has good Dim Sum. The chinese restaurant is called Chen Cheung Ku and it is located just around the corner from the main Chinatown strip in London near SOHO. The closest Tube Stations are Piccadilly Circus or Leicester Square, from there it is a very short walk. I have tried to attach a Google Map to help.

If you are looking for some good shopping when traveling to London make sure you check out Neal St and surrounding areas. They have some cool shoe and clothing stores that are a step away from the big clothing stores. Much more boutique in style. It is right near Covent Garden so it will be in your sightseeing path at some stage and part of the area is called the Seven Dials.

Directions to get to Neal St

This Japanese Restaurant is definitely a locals tip. In Ealing Common across from the Tube Station entrance there is a small unassuming Japanese Sushi Restaurant. Hands down a good as any Sushi I have eaten, even comparing it with Nobu (and it's much cheaper). It's called Sushi-Hiro.

Note that it's Ealing Common not Ealing Broadway.

If you love Apple then make sure you have a look at the Apple Store on Regent Street in London. It is right near the Oxford Circus Tube Station so easy to get to. Or you could get out at Piccadilly Circus and walk up Regent St which is quite nice but takes a bit longer. All the Apple goodies and the Apple shop is really nice.

Free wifi of course.

Hampton Court Palace is part of the Historic Royal Palaces. King Henry VIII is the Royal who had the most impact on Hampton Court. If you visit their website you can get the Top 10 List for when you are there but I recommend you just show up, get hold of the free audio tour, and start walking. Try to follow the tour as you will ensure you don't miss anything.

If I could give any tips for visiting Hampton Court Palace it would be to allow alot of time. It can take a few hours if you really do it properly, but either way you should go there.

Tesco is the largest Supermarket chain in the UK. If you are traveling in London or the UK and need supplies, Tesco is a good place to get them. They also do affordable travel lunches, very affordable. So if you are out and about and need a sandwich and drink it can be nearly cheaper to buy it at Tesco than make your own.

We all know how sightseeing can take it out of you.

If you visiting London and want to get a really nice view of things on the Thames then I can recommend walking half way across the Waterloo Bridge and stopping. This gives you a great view down the Thames towards the London Eye, Houses of Parliament and a good view back the other way towards St Paul's Cathedral, Millennium Bridge and the rest South Bank.

If just gives you a good sense of where you are and lets you take a little more than the tightly packed streets of London often allow.

If your in Trafalgar Square and need a bathroom then just go into the National Gallery. They have a few.