This England: Welcome to London!

Welcome to London! And welcome back to the travel posts! (I will probably be breaking here and there to fill you in on things like holiday fun). And yes, London was beginning to be decked for the season, too!

I can't remember if I wrote about my broken luggage. The pull-handle was stuck, either in (which meant Rick had to carry it or pull by a too-short strap) or be left out, which is where it was on our travel day. When we arrived in London, we had to catch the tube and make one transfer to get to our stop. 

 

Alas, when getting out of the train, a kind woman "helped" me by taking my suitcase out of my hand to put on the platform. What she didn't know was I was leaning on the handle for balance and basically, I fell out of the tube. No harm done, apart from to my ego! But I think she felt rather badly. 

We stayed in an area of London called Swiss Cottage, and our hotel was the Best Western Swiss Cottage. It was located on a charming street, extra quiet because it had been closed off for nearby construction. We knew right away we would love the neighborhood.

I would highly recommend it and its wonderful staff. You couldn't beat the location -- about a  block from the Jubilee line tube station. You walked through a market square, crossed the street and there you were.

We were even across from the Central Royal School of Drama and right by the Hampstead Theatre, which we would later attend.

 

Our room was large enough for the two of us to easily move around in, and the hotel had a beautiful sitting room. (I would spend a lot of early mornings in that sitting room when I would wake long before Rick!)

I also camped out in the bar, obviously not open in the morning but filled with light and a good spot to read!

 

For our first night in, we went to a restaurant about a block away called Arabesque. They served Middle Eastern food and it was fabulous. 

 

We would also learn that it was the best dinner deal in town! We sat down and our server immediately brought us a dish of olives. We perused the menu. For 16.50 pounds, you could have a meal that included salad, a choice of sweet potato or regular fries or rice. Trust me when I say you won't find a dinner so generous in a spot so lovely with an assortment of entres at that price in London.

The plates were beautifully staged and the food was delicious. When we were finished, she brought us a complimentary plate of baklava. It was beyond delicious and we knew we'd return.

It was a long day, between the train trip and getting settled. But we had big plans for the next day -- one of the main things Rick wanted to do while in London. So, tomorrow, we're off to the library!

Travel Tips: 

• If you don't have a boatload of luggage (we each had a small bag to fit in the overhead compartment of the plane and our personal bag) and you are able to manage the tube with it, try that method to get to your hotel versus the more expensive taxi, Uber or car service. Those come in handy if you have mobility issues that make hauling your luggage more difficult or if you have larger bags.
• If you haven't flown for a long while, remember, two bags (carry on and personal) are it. No exceptions, so make sure you can fit your purse into your personal bag or else it's not pleasant at the airport. I found that one out the hard way. Just saying. . . 
  
• If you are taking the tube, be aware that at certain times of day, it is likely to be packed with people (mornings before 10 and afternoons after 4, for the most part. Think "rush hour.") You can do it -- we did. But it is harder dealing with the luggage when the tube is already pretty full. 
• Later I will do a post on "Things I Won't Travel Without." But here's one tip. I brought along a few surgical-type gloves (the kind we often use for messy craft projects, which are inexpensive at stores like Target in the US or back when Covid was at its peak). I put it on whenever I was approaching the tube and used it as I was holding handrails and the support rails on the train. I'm pretty germ-conscious, especially these days, both in general and as a compromised person. After I was out of the train, I put it in my pocket for later. (And used hand sanitizer.) At night, I would first sanitize the glove and then wash it to fully dry, and periodically would change to a new one. It might not be for you, but boy, it alleviated a lot of anxiety for me.
  

• The tube has great signs to remind you to "Mind the Gap" between the train and the platform. No signs say "Mind the step!" Some stops are level; at others you have to step down onto the platform from the train. Just look and pay attention! 

You can check our our time in Somerset (Bath region) at the link on the menu tab -- England 2024.