Page 362 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - London

360  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

always buy a Travel card rather
than single tickets; for trips out
of town, the coach is much
cheaper than the train, especially
when booked in advance.
Discounted theatre tick ets can
be bought at the TKTS booth in
Leicester Square, and many
theatres have cheap-ticket nights.
London has plenty of
budget restaurants and cafés,
and even quite grand rest-
aurants offer accessibly priced
lunch menus. As well as dorm-
style hostels, there are no-frills
budget hotels with private
rooms, some ensuite, for under
£50 (see pp286–7). There’s also
The Natural History Museum, a great day out for all the family a growing trend for spare-
room lets and “couch surfing”
via the Airbnb website.
Travelling with Children Senior Travellers
Students pay lower admis sion
Under Transport for London’s Over-60s can enjoy reduced to many exhibitions, and
“Kids Go Free” scheme, travel is admission prices at most holders of an ISIC (Interna tional
free on buses, the Under ground, museums and attractions. Student Identity Card) or IYTC
DLR and trains within London You may be asked to show (International Youth Travel
for all children aged under 11 photo ID. Free travel on the Card) are eligible for a range of
accompanied by an adult (up to Tube, rail and ferry services is other discounts. A Hostelling
four children per adult). Children only available to residents but International card is also handy
aged 11–15 can also travel free, most bus passes can be used for lower rates at hostels and
with or with out an adult, on all across the city. other discounts.
buses, and for reduced prices
on the Underground and DLR
(see p374); the Zip Oyster 11–15 Gay and Lesbian Electricity
Travellers
Identity Card can be ordered The voltage in London is 240V
online and collected at a tourist London has a huge and AC, and plugs have three square
information centre on arrival in diverse gay scene catering to pins. Visitors will need plug
London. See the Visit London most tastes – with the scene adaptors for appliances, and
and Transport for London focusing around Soho. It’s with any older North American
websites for more detail. hard to keep track of everything 110V equipment you may also
Most museums and attrac- going on, but the QX magazine need a transformer.
tions have reduced prices for and website, Pink News
children under 11 and at many website and Time Out London
places entry is free for under-5s. have up-to-date listings Conversion Chart
Many also sell good-value family and information. Officially the metric system is
tickets. Plenty of restaurants used, but imperial measures
welcome children, and a are still common.
number of hotels have family Travelling on a Budget
rooms; the Novotel chain London can be a very expensive Imperial to metric
represents particularly good city, but sightseeing costs can 1 inch = 2.5 centimetres
value for families. be reduced with the London 1 foot = 30 centimetres
London is a child-friendly city. Pass (see p359), and remember 1 mile = 1.6 kilometres
A huge variety of enter tainment that admission to London’s 1 ounce = 28 grams
and activities is on offer, and largest museums is free. To get 1 pound = 454 grams
many museums have special around town by public transport, 1 pint = 0.6 litre
kids’ pro grammes (see pp352–5). 1 gallon = 4.6 litres
There are dozens of parks,
many of them with playground Metric to imperial
facilities. The Visit London 1 millimetre = 0.04 inch
website has useful pages 1 centimetre = 0.4 inch
on “Things to do in London 1 metre = 3 feet 3 inches
with Kids”. Time Out London 1 kilometre = 0.6 mile
has a “Kids” section covering 1 gram = 0.04 ounce
current attractions. International Student Identity Card (ISIC) 1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds

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