| Samantha Brown does a great job touring the world | | | | GBP 22.00 to get in. You can pay GBP 25.00 to skip |
| and her trip to London during her "Passport To | | | | the line or, if you've got a group of 6 or more, get in |
| Europe - Season 1, Episode 2, London Now" series is | | | | fast through the group line. Also check the London |
| no exception. Here are some highlights of the video. | | | | Eye site for a double-attraction ticket for Tussaud's |
| Samantha starts out her trip in Berkeley Square | | | | (link below). |
| (pronounced Bark-lee) and points out two publications | | | | From here, Samantha heads back to her hotel at the |
| which she recommends wholeheartedly: The "A-Z" | | | | Atheneum. Technically in Mayfair, the hotel is located |
| (pronounced A to Zed) and "TimeOut London". The | | | | on Picadilly and right down the street from Park |
| A-Z is a must have - even for people who live in | | | | Lane, Hyde Park, and Hyde Park corner. Right across |
| town! I had one in my car, my briefcase, my desk | | | | the street is Green Park and the fabulous shops, |
| drawer, my kitchen at home and my bedroom! It is a | | | | restaurants and theaters of the West End are a |
| fantastic and accurate street look-up guide which will | | | | stone's throw away. This is a fabulous 5-star hotel |
| get you out of a jam in more than one occasion - I | | | | with every amenity and comfort you can imagine. |
| guarantee it! It's a bit daunting to use at first but | | | | Samantha chose to stay in one of the Atheneum's |
| you'll quickly get the hang of it. (By the way, | | | | "flats" or apartments. With a private entrance, a |
| Londoners often refer to their Post Codes when | | | | sitting room, bedroom, kitchen and bath - all donned |
| describing the location of their homes, etc. That's | | | | with style and comfort in mind - you will be truly |
| because the post codes actually tell you where | | | | pampered in luxury. There's even a spa at the hotel |
| something is. For example - the West End is the | | | | with a full-service hair salon, scrubs, massages, nail |
| "heart" of London. So guess what the post code is? | | | | treatments and more. If you really want to exercise, |
| W1. I lived in Chelsea for a time which is south and | | | | there's a gym with everything you need to keep in |
| west of the west end. So my post code started | | | | shape or just go out the door and head to one of |
| with SW.) | | | | the parks for a run. The Athaneum has it all. |
| Next, Samantha travels via the London Underground | | | | The rates for this 5-star gem will run from $259 to |
| - or tube. (We in the U.S. refer to the underground | | | | $500 for a "superior" to a "parkview" room and |
| as the Subway. But in London, a subway is an | | | | around $750 to $950 for an apartment per night. |
| underground WALKING passage so make sure you | | | | Make sure when you make your reservation that the |
| ask for the Undergound or the tube if that is what | | | | rate INCLUDES taxes and fees. The U.K. has a super |
| you want!) The Underground is very easy to use and | | | | duper sales tax called the Value Added Tax - or |
| their maps are world famous for their simplicity and | | | | V.A.T. for short. It's 17.5%!!! (If you buy anything |
| design. Each line has its own color and changing trains | | | | there and take it with you, you will get a refund |
| couldn't be easier. The Underground runs relatively | | | | form but this doesn't apply to hotels.) |
| smooth and on time although it's not unheard of for | | | | More Great Stops From Samantha Brown in London: |
| a track to be out, etc. So if you bring a laptop with | | | | - Notting Hill - Trendy area with the famous |
| you and you need to be somewhere on time, you | | | | Portobello Road market and antiques shopping. Not to |
| may want to check their web site to be sure | | | | be missed! |
| everything is on schedule. Samantha points out that if | | | | - On-Street Toilets - Super clean and easy, these |
| you need assistance, ask someone in a blue shirt. | | | | facilities are 2nd to none. Don't be afraid to use them. |
| You can buy tickets in the kiosk or in the vending | | | | Each time someone exits the cubicle, the toilet is |
| machines. You can purchase a one-day Travel Card | | | | automatically washed and sanitized. |
| and use it all day within zones 1 and 2 and on the | | | | - Fast Food London Style - Tiffinbites (Taken from |
| underground and/or buses. | | | | the Indian lunch box name "Tiffinbox") where you |
| If you take the tube to Waterloo, you'll be on the | | | | pick what you want, take it up to the counter where |
| south-side of the Thames and at the entrance to the | | | | it is heated up and served with fresly-made Indian |
| London Eye - the largest observation wheel (Ferris | | | | bread. Very good. Indian food is very popular with |
| wheel) ever built. You can purchase online in advance. | | | | the Brits. Don't be afraid to try it and if you don't |
| This is a fantastic ride and a great way to see | | | | know what to order, just ask! |
| London. It takes 1/2 hour to get through a complete | | | | - Southbank and Bankside - The Millennium Bridge - |
| circle and runs until 10:00 p.m. and as Sam points out, | | | | this relatively new footbridge takes you across the |
| you can even reserve it for a cocktail! | | | | Thames not far from St. Paul's and over to the Tate |
| Samantha goes to some of the more touristy spots | | | | Modern - a must see art museum for 20th and 21st |
| from the Eye - starting with Leicester Square | | | | Century artists. |
| (pronounced Lester). As she says, this is a main | | | | - Wine Tasting - Vinopolis gives you the history of |
| meeting place with movie complexes and mega | | | | wine and wine tasting. Grab a glass and hop on a |
| shops. You can also find the "TKTS" booth for | | | | Vespa motor scooter where you'll go on a virtual |
| half-priced theater tickets. The theaters are just a | | | | tour of wine country on the windscreen! Fun. |
| few blocks from here; mostly on Shaftsbury Ave. | | | | For more information on the features, sites, places |
| Just a short distance from here is Picadilly Circus with | | | | and food in this article, please visit our website at |
| its "carnival-like" atmosphere and Madame Tussaud's | | | | BestLondonHotelReview. |
| where you'll "que up" for quite a while to pay your | | | | |