UK!


Tomorrow. Tomorrow!!!

I get on a plane at the Eastern Iowa airport, and after a hopefully quick stop at O'Hare/Black Hole of the Universe Airport, fly to London! I arrive there at some ungodly early hour in the morning, and the UK tour starts right away: later that day I've got a signing and "high tea" with a couple of people from my book's UK publisher. During the weekend, I apparently have *nothing* scheduled, so I've basically got a free weekend in London (eek!).

So!

Travel advice! Bring it on! What should I see in London? I'm thinking the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Tower. What about food? What about jet lag? Anything I should be sure to do? What about money? Cell phone? Customs? Anything I should pick up while I'm over there?

Yes, I've got my passport. Must do laundry. Must pack. What else am I forgetting??

(Post a new comment)

	dawtheminstrel 2008-09-15 08:53 pm UTC (link)
	Oh have a great time! It's probably too late but I got my doctor to prescribe a sedative so I can sleep on overseas flights. Take ear plugs and a sleep mask if you have one. Prop your feet up as best you can. That helps sleep too. Also look for those nice head rests with wings that are velcroed to the seat back. You can pull them forward to hold your head while you sleep. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	sarah_prineas 2008-09-15 09:01 pm UTC (link)
	I'm thinking maybe NyQuil or Tylenol PM. A friend recommended those. I'm not sure, though. I've got all these great books to read on the flight...! (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

(no subject) - dawtheminstrel, 2008-09-15 09:01 pm UTC

	wyrdwriter 2008-09-15 08:55 pm UTC (link)
	No advice, but very happy and excited for you! (Reply to this) (Thread)

	sarah_prineas 2008-09-15 09:04 pm UTC (link)
	Thank you! I'm still astonished that I've got the whole weekend free. Well, as of the last itinerary I saw, which could change, but still... I'm thinking about catching a show, too. A friend said "Wicked" was really great. (Reply to this) (Parent)

lisamantchev 2008-09-15 08:57 pm UTC (link)

My sister was just in London and fell madly in love with Portobello Road (but we're all huge antique-shopping fans. *G*) Umbrella. Good walking shoes. One of those bound city-maps-with-sights if you can get one. Jet lag: Set your watch to London-time as soon as you get on the place. Sleep as much as you can (take some Tylenol PM with you.) Drink as much water as you can stand and skip the soda and booze on board because they just make you dehydrated. I always tell people to eat street food (or bought in shops and eaten on the go) so that no time or money is wasted eating in sit-down restaurants, but I think this advice is more applicable in Paris. *G* (Reply to this) (Thread)

sarah_prineas 2008-09-15 09:03 pm UTC (link)

Ooh! I just checked the weather, and there is--get this--no rain in the forecast in London for the next week!! What luck. I bought new shoes today. Danskos so good for walking. Tylenol PM was recommended by another friend, too. I might try it! Not sure, though. I've never taken a sleeping pill before. Good advice about the water. What I really want is a curry from a take-out Indian food shop. Maybe I read too much chick lit, but that's what they always eat in those books... (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

(no subject) - lisamantchev, 2008-09-15 09:06 pm UTC

(no subject) - autopope, 2008-09-15 09:24 pm UTC

(no subject) - sarah_prineas, 2008-09-15 10:57 pm UTC

	oracne 2008-09-15 09:05 pm UTC (link)
	British Museum! Allow lots of time!!! (Reply to this) (Thread)

	sarah_prineas 2008-09-15 09:12 pm UTC (link)
	Rosetta Stone! Mummies! Are the Elgin Marbles still there? Eek! My publisher's offices are practically next door to the British Museum. I am SO THERE. (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

(no subject) - green_knight, 2008-09-15 09:34 pm UTC

(no subject) - sarah_prineas, 2008-09-15 10:58 pm UTC

	kazdreamer 2008-09-15 09:08 pm UTC (link)
	Oooh... Where are you signing? (Reply to this) (Thread)

	sarah_prineas 2008-09-15 09:13 pm UTC (link)
	All over the place. I'll check itinerary and post here. Out for run first... (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

(no subject) - kazdreamer, 2008-09-15 09:14 pm UTC

glvalentine 2008-09-15 09:10 pm UTC (link)

For the plane? Benadryl: the nap in a pill. For London? Just start walking, see where it takes you. You can't really go wrong. If there's a line for a hole-in-the-wall food place, get in it. If you hear music, find it. If it's boiling hot, find a cinema lobby and pretend you're waiting for a date; after half an hour, or upon questioning, burst into tears and start talking about how he PROMISED to come. You get half an hour of climate control and maybe some candy, if the employee is filled with goodwill and sympathy. And The Globe, I guess, but jeez, they have NO climate control. ;) (Reply to this) (Thread)

	sarah_prineas 2008-09-15 09:14 pm UTC (link)
	It's supposed to be cool and not rainy this week. I suppose that could change, but I definitely lucked out with the weather. The walking is a great idea. My hotel is in the West End, not far from Hyde Park. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	wldhrsjen3 2008-09-15 09:11 pm UTC (link)
	Eee! Have a nice trip!! (Reply to this) (Thread)

	sarah_prineas 2008-09-15 09:14 pm UTC (link)
	Eep is right! I'll try. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	kmkibble75 2008-09-15 09:12 pm UTC (link)
	Have a great time over there! it sounds pretty darn exciting... Don't forget your camera (Reply to this) (Thread)

	sarah_prineas 2008-09-15 09:15 pm UTC (link)
	Ooh, right. Camera, check. I might try to steal the new one my husband got with the plug drive right in it. (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

(no subject) - kmkibble75, 2008-09-15 09:19 pm UTC

melissa_writing 2008-09-15 09:19 pm UTC (link)

The British Museum is heavenly. The Tate was s fabulous I kinda stopped & wept at seeing a few of the paintings. Highgate Cemetery requires a bit of an unexpected hilly walk once you get off the Tube, but was soooo worth it. The Tube is fabulous. I want every city to have one (DC's Metro isn't as nice, imho). There are great little walking maps in Moleskin or similar notebooks in boookstores. These have Tube maps & space for notes. Very handy (I have one for Dublin & for Rome for other treks. I like them.) Currency was straight-fwd; jetlag is easiest if you catch a nap in flight; steer clear of any eatery that seems to have an "American friendly" atmosphere (these are for fools who don't want to go to pubs). Biggest advice? Put on your walking shoes, grab map & your Tube pass (you can get multi-day passes), & just go roaming. Plan B: Tell your publisher connection and/or hotel front desk folks what you like & they'll help :) (Also, if you're a water fiend like I am, look for Volvic. It's the closest to Fiji that I found bc it has a high silica content like Fiji--which is what gives it that slick feeling on your tongue.) (Reply to this) (Thread)

sarah_prineas 2008-09-15 11:01 pm UTC (link)

Roaming it is! The Tate is on my list, though I'm even more tempted by the National Portrait Gallery. For some reason it's pictures of long-dead people that get me going. Maybe because they're like characters in novels... Tube for sure. I am a walker, so my plan is pretty much to get a Tube ticket and roam around, with museum stops and curry take-out stops where required. I'm hoping for a pub! I'm working out plans with a friend who lives over there. Thanks for the advice! I actually need a new moleskine; my old one is falling apart (from me ripping pages out). (Reply to this) (Parent)

autopope 2008-09-15 09:23 pm UTC (link)

Oh dear. Item (1) you're on tour. Item (2) you're flying from the center of the USA to the UK. I therefore deduce that (3) your publisher is flying you economy and putting you on a red-eye (at a guess, take-off around 8-10pm, landing LHR around 7-8am). I assume you're flying into Griefthrow and not Crapwick ... (sorry, Heathrow, not Gatwick). And the idiots booked you for events that day? What drugs are they on? I am a British author and I've done tours in the US. I fly trans-Atlantic two or three times a year. You will be dead on arrival, unless you have the happy knack of sleeping in economy, in which case you will have been permitted 3-4 hours of sleep between meals on the flight. The first day back in the UK is gruelling. My usual technique is to get home ASAP and catch two hours' sleep, with an alarm to get me up again no later than 3pm, and then to stay up until no earlier than 10pm. Seriously, you're looking at six hours' jet lag in the wrong direction. You're probably going to feel like death at that signing and high tea event. Hint: get some melatonin and take it around take-off on the ORD/LHR flight. Hopefully your publisher will have the sense to have someone meet you in Arrivals rather than leaving you to figure out the best way into London. (Hint: if they leave you to fend for yourself, don't get a taxi -- fares from LHR or LGW into central London will be on the order of £50-70.) Money: your credit card and debit card should work fine in ATMs over here, which are plentiful. Your cell phone should work with international roaming unless it is a CDMA phone -- GSM and UMTS are standard, but CDMA doesn't work in Europe. (Sorry, not sure which US networks use CDMA.) You might be sufficiently recovered to do the V&A or the Tower by the weekend. Be warned, however, that the Tower will have a queue around the block (about a mile -- literally) and the V&A will probably take all day; they're big. You will probably want to buy a pre-paid Oyster card for Transport for London zones One and Two (that'll get you around the center very nicely) at the first tube station you come to -- valid on tube, DLR and bus services, works a bit like a Charlie card in Boston. Chargers: remember the UK runs on 230 volts! Check your laptop and phone charger input voltages. If you've got a fairly standard laptop or phone you can probably buy a travel charger that will work in the UK/Europe, and most laptop chargers handle 100-230 volts these days, but mobile phone chargers are often cheap and nasty in that respect ... (Reply to this) (Thread)

sarah_prineas 2008-09-15 10:23 pm UTC (link)

The jetlag sounds dire!! People are recommending the Benadryl on the flight over, and it sounds like a good plan. The first day events are very light--a signing at a Waterstones, I think, and high tea with publisher/editor/publicist. Thx for advice about chargers. I'd completely forgotten. I'm guessing I can pick one up in the airport. NO idea if my phone will work; will check tonight. Yes, redeye, I'm being picked up at the airport and taken to the hotel and then have at least six hours until first event. Should be okay! I've done a little touring so far (five city prepub tour in April) and it turns out that I love traveling and do pretty well. I've got a ridiculous amount of energy and I thrive on meeting new people; perhaps that's why. So I think it's going to be okay. The REAL trick is going to be coming home! I get back on Wed and have an event on Friday (Thursday might be a travel day), the weekend off, and then US tour starts. Whee!! Advice taken about the Tower. I refuse to spend my free weekend standing in a mile-long line. The V&A for sure, then. (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

(no subject) - autopope, 2008-09-15 10:40 pm UTC

(no subject) - sarah_prineas, 2008-09-15 11:04 pm UTC

rj_anderson 2008-09-15 09:26 pm UTC (link)

Eee! High tea in London! How exciting! I hope you have a wonderful time. I agree totally with your idea of going to the V&A, but I'd also recommend the British Museum. Eating-wise, I found on my visit to London a couple of weeks ago that you can get lovely fresh sandwiches with a wide variety of ingredients at Pret a Manger that aren't too expensive, especially if you take them out instead of eating them inside (that way they don't have to add the 17% VAT onto the bill). Alas, I can't suggest any dinner places, because we escaped London before we had to eat a main meal there (my understanding being that sit-down meals there are insanely expensive). Perhaps some of the others here have ideas. Money-wise, just take your credit card and your ATM card with you. Use the credit card to pay wherever you can, and the ATM card to go to a bank machine once you arrive and withdraw as much cash in pounds as you think you're likely to need during your stay, so you won't get dinged so badly on the exchange rates. (You just have to make sure your card uses the Plus or Cirrus networks, which are international.) You may need to call your credit card company in advance to tell them you'll be using the card in England, so they don't start wondering where these weird international purchases are coming from and freeze your account. I do wish that we had bought an international phone card or found some other pre-arranged way to make phone calls home. We ended up calling from pay phones using an operator and the charges were horrific. Probably a cell phone wouldn't be so bad for calling home if you have a decent plan (and it's a good idea to have a cell phone anyway, so your publishers in the UK can get a hold of you if there's any last-minute change in arrangements). Also make sure to bring with you a light, fold-up raincoat with a hood (*not* a cheap dollar-store poncho, I learned that to my sorrow), and carry it with you everywhere. Umbrellas are not quite as practical, especially as the rain in England often comes with a wind behind it. For getting around London, buy a one-day Travelcard, which will allow you to ride the Tube wherever you want, plus all the buses and above-ground trains in London and surrounding areas (depending if you want to go to some of those outlying areas; don't bother paying the extra amount for Zones 4-6 otherwise), for 24 hours. Just put it in a secure place and be sure not to lose it, or you'll have to buy another one (which happened to my husband on the day we went to London, alas). I hope that is helpful to you, and that you have a fabulous time! (P.S. My son is still loving MAGIC THIEF and demanding that I read him chapter after chapter. He keeps following me around asking questions about what happens next, as well as coming up with his own speculations on how the story should turn out.) (Reply to this) (Thread)

sarah_prineas 2008-09-15 11:07 pm UTC (link)

High tea! I know, it's ridiculous how much I'm looking forward to that. Scones! Tea with milk! Biscuits (the English kind!). I wonder if they'll have the little cucumber sandwiches with the crusts cut off... Believe it or not, the weather forecast says no rain for the next week, though I'm not sure whether to believe it. Mid to low 60's and partly cloudy. What luck! Great advice about the Travelcard--will do. I'll probably stay off the phone to the US; I mainly want it to be in contact with publisher, if necessary. SO glad your son is enjoying the book! I've been getting a lot of reader emails that say, "Let me know if you need help with ideas for the next book, because I have a lot of them." So cute. Thanks for the advice!!!! (Reply to this) (Parent)

	charmingbillie 2008-09-15 09:36 pm UTC (link)
	Have a great trip! My mom is in London (or was on Saturday) heading to France for, like, six weeks. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	sarah_prineas 2008-09-15 11:09 pm UTC (link)
	Go, mom! This trip is going to be epic. My main plan is to find an exhibit about chimney sweeps, just in case I get to write the next book with sweeps in it. Research! (Reply to this) (Parent)

dorianegray 2008-09-15 09:38 pm UTC (link)

From my very brief experiences of touristing in London... The Tower has mile-long queues and is quite expensive. We went to see the HMS Belfast instead (cheap, and incredibly cool - there are levers to pull and buttons to press and waxworks displays of How Things Were On Board and cats to find and old letters to read and really, something for everyone). If you happen to find yourself in Westminster, Westminster Cathedral is great, not least because it's not actually finished yet (they've only been working on it 150 years or so). The Sherlock Holmes museum is lovely, and does not bother you with guides, and there are drawers to open and cupboards to peer into, and a thunderbox! Have fun! (And I so wish I could make it to Bath, but I can't, sob. If you encounter Charlie Butler and/or Minnow there, tell them hi from me.) (Reply to this) (Thread)

	sarah_prineas 2008-09-15 11:10 pm UTC (link)
	Yeah, the Tower is sounding less likely. There is just no way I'm going to stand in a mile-long line during my lovely weekend. Might check out Cathedral. HMS Belfast sounds nifty. Might inspire me to write shipboard novel! I will look for Charlie B and Minnow! Thanks for the advice! (Reply to this) (Parent)

	kelly_swails 2008-09-15 09:44 pm UTC (link)
	I've got no advice but Yay! *waves* Have fun in the U.K.! (Reply to this) (Thread)

	sarah_prineas 2008-09-15 11:11 pm UTC (link)
	La! Thank you! (Reply to this) (Parent)

	pjthompson 2008-09-15 09:54 pm UTC (link)
	How fun! Have a great time! (Reply to this) (Thread)

	sarah_prineas 2008-09-15 11:11 pm UTC (link)
	Thank you! I will endeavor to do so. It's work, too, but I can't help but get all excited about it. (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

(no subject) - pjthompson, 2008-09-15 11:30 pm UTC

fenrah 2008-09-15 09:55 pm UTC (link)

Oh, have fun! London is an amazing place! Bring a raincoat and Lonely Planet London or other guildebook. --The Tower is awesome, and a live tour is worth the extra bucks. --I recommend the British museum. Treasures pillaged from around the world. --Eat somewhere nice, preferably Asian or Indian. International cuisine in London is fabulous. Don't try to eat "British" food, except do have a nice tea. If you need cheap food, go to a grocery or deli. --Westminster Abby is amazing and beautiful. --It's easy (and relatively cheap) to catch a show. I've seen Les Mis in London twice, loved it both times and would go again. --For a day trip to somewhere green, the Battle of Hastings site is fascinating (I thought); the audio tour well worth it. Money: use ATM in the airport, get everything you need in one shot because they may close your account to "protect" you. Warn your bank in advance, but they may still freeze your account, so just get what you need in one go. Put it somewhere safe. Have a backup credit card. Customs: have patience and a book. Get there as early as possible. Dido your flight. --Plan to come again. :) Otherwise, you'll run yourself ragged. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	sarah_prineas 2008-09-15 11:13 pm UTC (link)
	YES to British Museum. My publisher is right in the neighborhood, so it should be easy. Big YES to Asian and/or Indian food. My favorite. Westminster! I will try to get there. Definitely going to try to catch a show; I'm told Liecester Square for cheap tickets... Yikes, customs. No idea if I have to go through again in O'Hare. Argh! Must check. (Reply to this) (Parent)

christinenorris 2008-09-15 10:40 pm UTC (link)

Only a weekend?? You need a lifetime! The Tower, sure, and don't miss Westminster Cathedral. When the street says "look Left"...look left (or right - I forget which, it's been ages since I've been there). I think they still have that painted on the streets at the crosswalks, for all the people who look right before crossing the streets, since they're used to people who drive on the right side of the road. Take Sunday morning and visit the artists show at Hyde park. Stop at Speaker's Corner. Trust the cabbies - they know EVERYTHING. And have FUN! (Reply to this) (Thread)

	sarah_prineas 2008-09-15 11:14 pm UTC (link)
	Ooh! Hyde Park is walking distance from my hotel. Thanks for the tip! You're the second to recommend Westminster--it's on my list. What about St. Paul's? (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

(no subject) - christinenorris, 2008-09-16 01:00 am UTC

	jordanwillow 2008-09-15 10:50 pm UTC (link)
	ride in the top front of a double-decker bus. if you don't have time for the tower (or even if you do), at least take a lovely walk across the tower bridge. if you like van gogh, don't miss the national gallery (which is technically free). have a grand time :o) (Reply to this) (Thread)

	sarah_prineas 2008-09-15 11:15 pm UTC (link)
	I shall! I'm thinking National Portrait Gallery. Landscapes and pictures don't really do it for me; portraits of long-dead people do. Bus trip! Oh, my. There are going to be millions of tourists, aren't there... (Reply to this) (Parent)

birdhousefrog 2008-09-15 10:52 pm UTC (link)

Call your credit card companies to be sure they know you will be making charges overseas. Tell them how long the trip is. Keep a record of passport number and other information somewhere in case you get pick-pocketed. (It happens.) Go to Leicester Square to the half-price ticket window and get tickets to a show. The shows are incredible. It doesn't really matter what you see. Almost all the seats are good because almost all the theaters are small compared to the US. And a single seat might get you on an aisle. There are lots of Saturday matinees. I shopped Harrod's. I don't think it's quite the same as it was in the 80's, but it's probably still a lot of fun. And I happen to love one of its rival stores, Debenham's. But then, I love duvets and just seeing STUFF. Don't forget souvenirs or presents! Too much to tell you! But London is GRAND. Oz (Reply to this) (Thread)

	sarah_prineas 2008-09-15 11:16 pm UTC (link)
	Oh, I'm ready for those pick pockets!! But yeah, I'd better write that stuff down. And call credit card, argh. Definitely planning to catch a show. Friend says "Wicked" was amazing. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	robinellen 2008-09-15 10:53 pm UTC (link)
	Hm...I'm a museum junkie, so I went to the British Museum (which is awesome). I also went to Charing Cross Road and checked out the huge number of bookstores...but that can be dangerous, as well, hehe. Have a great trip!! (Reply to this) (Thread)

	sarah_prineas 2008-09-15 11:17 pm UTC (link)
	Oh, I'm going to be seeing PLENTY of bookstores as it is!! I think one of them is around Charing Cross (*must check itinerary*). Definitely British Museum. Yay, mummies! Rosetta Stone! Looted antiquities galore! (Reply to this) (Parent)

ann_leckie 2008-09-15 11:02 pm UTC (link)

Day trip a possibility? I'd get Stonehenge and/or Avebury in. Avebury, if you've got to pick one. Stonehenge is more famous, but Avebury is cooler, IMO. And I love Bath. I'd think that you could do all three in a day, actually, if you were willing to do research first and cram stuff into your schedule. Britain isn't really that big, nearly everything is a day or so away from London, unless you start heading too far northward. That was my experience, anyway. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	sarah_prineas 2008-09-15 11:19 pm UTC (link)
	Well, Bath is on the schedule anyway--I'm doing a children's book festival there next week, and I should have some time for Pump Room and Laura Place, and all that. For the weekend I'll probably stay in London, just because there's already too much to do there. Yikes! (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

(no subject) - ann_leckie, 2008-09-16 03:19 am UTC

	j_cheney 2008-09-15 11:19 pm UTC (link)
	St. Paul's and Hyde Park. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	sarah_prineas 2008-09-15 11:20 pm UTC (link)
	Yes! Hyde Park is walking distance from my hotel, which I think/hope means the theaters are, too. St. Paul's is a definite possibility; it's over in that area too, isn't it? (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

(no subject) - j_cheney, 2008-09-15 11:23 pm UTC

	jennreese 2008-09-15 11:21 pm UTC (link)
	I didn't read anyone else's comments, but I'd recommend the British Museum which is BEYOND AWESOME!!! I also love the Crypt Cafe -- get a pot of tea and enjoy the atmosphere. There are also free concerts above in St. Martin's. HAVE FUN!!! (Reply to this) (Thread)

	sarah_prineas 2008-09-16 12:01 pm UTC (link)
	British Museum for sure. The Crypt sounds very cool. Thanks, Lady! (Reply to this) (Parent)

	courtneywrites 2008-09-16 12:17 am UTC (link)
	Have the best time!!! xox (Reply to this)

ckastens 2008-09-16 12:32 am UTC (link)

Sounds like a blast! Taking on J.K. Rowling on her home turf, are we? :) Food: England is not exactly the land of culinary delights. Avoid beef. I recommend against fish & chips as well, but seems like everyone tries it once out of curiosity. Take the tube to Euston station and ask how to get to the Indian vegetarian restaurants. They are cheap and delicious. Game birds (quail, pheasant) are also good, lamb is all right. There are some great beers there, if you're into that, and Guiness is always better in the UK. Jet Lag: Going east is always worse, so be prepared to suffer and some possible sleepless nights. Don't sleep the first day until the sun goes down, no matter how tired you are. Sights: London is very old and has a ton of history. There is just so much there I won't even try to recommend, check a book and see what interests you most. You mentioned the Tower, great choice. Use the tube to get around, it's one of the best public transport systems in the world, and easy to use. Money: Expect to use credit cards for most purchases, it's the easiest. Check which of your credit cards charges the least for overseas spending. If you have a debit card with Pulse or some other major network, you can use the ATMs there to get cash if you need it. Always take a little around with you in case you want to make a small purchase. Most things will be more expensive there, so you'll probably end up buying more touristy stuff than anything useful. OK, enough of my blabbering. Have a great trip! (Reply to this) (Thread)

	sarah_prineas 2008-09-16 12:03 pm UTC (link)
	Wonderful advice--thank you! Fortunately (?) I didn't sleep last night (too excited), so I bet sleeping on the plane will be likely. And then no sleep until the sun goes down! And yes, I AM into beer. A pub stop is on the list. Cheers! (Reply to this) (Parent)

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