Craig Cross - London: A Visitors Guide

I suppose Id better start by introducing myself, so we can get to know each other a bit better. Then you can tell me something about yourself too (although obviously I wont be able to hear it because this is just a book, but who cares!lets do it anyway). Ill go first: Hi. My name is Craig and Im thirty to forty-ish years old and Im starting to get a few grey hairs (I have a very stressful life). Before I hit the big-time I used to work at Sainsburys putting out all the frozen peas and chips on the nightshift, and after that I was shackled to a Thomson tourist desk for ten years, answering a load of dopey questions like Do they speak French in France?

Luckily I managed to bag myself a better job after that exploring London and visiting all of the different landmarks and attractions. So I am just a normal everyday bloke really, who happens to go to London a lot, because I love the place. I suppose you could call me a full-time tourist.

My ultimate aim is to visit every landmark and attraction in the capital and then review them all in one massive big book that has about ten million pages and weighs about ten tonnes. So far Ive managed over 180all of which are included here. Ive reviewed all of the familiar favourites like Madame Tussauds, Tower Bridge and the London Eye; plus some of the more daring events like attending Prime Ministers Questions, spending a night at The Ritz, and climbing up the Big Ben clock tower to stand five-feet from the bell when it chimes ten. All of the big museums and art galleries are included, and if you like sightseeing buses and boat rides then Ive got those covered as well. Ive also included plenty of places that tourists rarely think of: like trekking up distant hills for a sight of the skyline, listening to choral masses in the Citys cathedrals, and nosing around an overgrown cemetery on a rainy day.

Along the way Ill reveal lots of handy hints and tips: like how to get inside St. Pauls Cathedral for free (and Westminster Abbey, Hampton Court and the Tower of London too). Ill also include lots of popular day-trips like Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, Oxford, Bath and Canterbury. And of course Ill describe all of the famous parades too, like Changing the Guard and Trooping the Colour (no trip to London would be complete without a bit of pomp and pageantry). Ill even write about the Christmas lights and the Trafalgar Square tree!

The good thing about this book is that I have genuinely been to all of these places myself all 180+ of them. And I dont just stand outside and look, or regurgitate the same old PR spiel that you find in 95% of guidebooks. This is not the kind of guidebook where I just tell you the address, how much it costs, and leave it at that. I have actually jumped on a London bus, stumped up the entry fee, and spent my time exploring them in detail. Maybe I enjoyed them, and maybe I didntI have tried to be as honest as possible. But everybody has their own preferences and interests, of course, so if I say that something is rubbish please dont let that put you off, because maybe your experience will be totally different to mine. The aim of this book is just to give you a feel for each place, and to let you know what to expect when you get there that way you can decide for yourself which ones youd like to visit, and which ones youd prefer to skip. (After all not everybody is going to enjoy being plucked out of the crowd at the London Dungeon, to have their brains mashed up by a knife-wielding actor!)

I have also been careful to include all of the usual touristy information that you will need to plan your day: opening times, ticket prices, street maps, train stations and bus routes, plus the amount of time that I think you will need to set aside to properly enjoy each attraction. I do tend to take my time at each location though, so you can probably knock off 30 minutes for every 90 if youre in a rush. (So if I say that something takes three hours, you can probably rush around it in two.) And I hope that you will find my suggested itineraries useful as well I have put together a whole two weeks-worth, to give you lots of ideas about how to plan your stay.

Ive included a little rating system too. It goes from zero stars: (=rubbish), all the way up to three stars: (=not rubbish). But bear in mind that these are my personal ratings so if your interests are different to mine then take that into account. You will soon get to know what I like and dislike by reading the book. (Quick tip: I hate modern art!)

If youre a newbie to London then I have also included a big chapter explaining how to ride the buses, boats, taxis and trains. I totally understand that it can sometimes be a bit intimidating standing at a busy bus-stop when you dont know what to do. This chapter should help to calm your nerves. And after that comes another chapter filled with lots of handy practical info like how to telephone abroad, how to post a letter, where you can find some free Wi-Fi spots, etc., and most importantly: where you can go for a free wee. Theres also a section on discount tickets and passes (because London can be very expensive).

Hopefully my book will encourage you to jump out of bed and see a bit more of our great city. If you enjoy it then remember to check out my blog www.londondrum.com/blog and let me know what you think. And if youve got any questions about the places Ive been to then please drop me a line. Ill be happy to answer any questions.

Have fun!

Craig

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Places marked with pick are my personal favourites. I have also marked which ones are good for kids and which ones are free. Anything marked as cheap costs less than 10 per person (which in London, is cheap!). Anything marked with view offer a great view of the skyline

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