Who's Actually been to London for Who - Travel Tips

[Mark_Nguyen]

I'm solidifying my summer vacation for 2015 and it looks like I'll have two full days in London on August 21-22, arriving the day before and leaving the day following. Any travel tips or tales from the fellow fans on the forum?

Of the two days, one of them will be a full day trip out to Cardiff for the DW museum and local sightseeing. The first will be for more pedestrian London touristing, or as much as we can do in one day. Aside from that and looking into some improv theatre shows to see or workshop, I have no plans in place yet.

Figured on starting here for suggestions of where to stay primarily that is central enough in London for general stuff to do, possibly with a Whovian bent to it. Any thoughts?

Mark

 

[Redfern]

Well, if you have the notion to track down police boxes, this page employing a Google type map will get you started.

http://www.policeboxes.co.uk/police-boxes-today.html

You can "zoom" to get far more detailed information. According to this page, there is only one (1) real and original Mark II type police box still standing. It is located in Crich Tramway village. However, a fairly faithful "replica"(built in 1996) stands just outside Earl`s Court Underground Station. In place of a lamp, a security camera sits upon the roof. This functioning police box was comedically referenced in "The Bells of St. John" when a group of "invetigators" were warned not to mistake the Earl's Court box for the TARDIS. This is the box that indicated in a recent Google Maps salute to Doctor Who. Using the "street level" nagivation controls, if one clicks upon the box, the view cuts to the interior of the later Matt Smith console room where one can "explore".

To see the Earls Court box, here's a direct link.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=236+...=m&z=17&vpsrc=0&panoid=SvigC_RT6bkhjEt6yCCpNA

Just click the link above the small photo to pull up a street level view and pan to the right a tad.

Sincerely,

Bill

 

[intrinsical]

I can't really think of any Doctor Who specific places to visit in London, but I've been a student in England for a couple of years so I figured I'll point out a few uniquely British things to experience.

Underground, also called "The Tube". In my opinion, the chain of Underground tube stations are the best way to get around in Central London, where there's always a station nearby. I'll suggest buying a Zone 1 & 2 Full Day Travelcard at an Underground station. That will provide you unlimited times on the Tube for the whole day and it pretty much covers all the touristy places within London.

Musicals at the West End. Be it Phantom, Les Miserables, Miss Saigon or any other musical, be sure to catch at least one.

Bed and Breakfast. Especially outside of London, the folks who operate B&Bs are generally very friendly folk who can fill you in on local places that only locals would know about. My favorite London B&Bs are all located in a tight cluster around Cartwright Garden and Tavistock Square which are all within walking distance of King's Cross Train Station (Which is where Harry Potter's platform 9 3/4 is located).

Westminster/Parliament Building/Big Ben/Buckingham Palace/Hyde Park. They've been featured in Doctor Who at one time or another. I'm lumping them together because they're all located in a tight cluster. It doesn't happen everyday, but I usually try to catch the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace which happens at 11:30am to noon. I've passed more than a few good summer days just sitting in Hyde Park while reading a book and watching children feed the swans.

 

[Mitty]

http://www.doctorwholocations.net

We actually went to the Powell Estate, though to be honest we didn't feel very safe and it seemed like we were going to be mugged or robbed at any moment! We did see the spot where Tennant stumbled heading to the TARDIS prior to regenerating.

Unless you're really into the Classic Series, Cardiff is where you want to be.

Catching the train down isn't cheap unfortunately... we booked it ages in advance, and also the Doctor Who Experience as well. It's only just reopened and looking at the website you can only book out as far as February. It may or may not be open closer to the time when you go.

When we went you booked a general time to go in. There's an "adventure" component which is kind of fun and cool, and then after that there's the Museum over two floors which is packed full of stuff from both the Classic and new series. We spent a good two hours there all up. There's naturally a gift ship with every conceivable piece of who memorabilia as well.

Cardiff itself is pleasant enough. If you look at the site above, there's numerous locations within easy walking distance, many very recognisable. Apart from Roald Dahl Plass, which is probably more famous from Torchwood than Who itself. For instance coming in on the train I spotted the staircase in the building that The Doctor and Donna hugged in "Partners in Crime".

I really wanted to visit Bad Wolf Bay though we simply didn't have time, and would have had to rent a car. We're going back in May next year and may go down again, but not sure yet.

 

[Malformed]

The Doctor Who Experience is usually closed one day a week, and that day changes based on the season. I had to reroute a trip because I looked in the summer but my trip wasn't until Fall and the day changed. So do double check! Or contact them

 

[Mr Awe]

I've been to London twice recently. The first time was meant to be entirely non-DW related. However, by chance, I stayed right near the Earl's Court station and was shocked to see the police box in front of it. I knew police boxes are outdated so I wasn't actually expecting to see one. (On a different trip, I similarly ran across another blue police box in Glasgow by chance, and I think a red one in Edinburgh).

I was in the UK for the 50th anniversary celebrations. I don't have much advice for seeing Who related sights around there. I did see a taxi cab run by a DW fan who take you all over the city to the various filming locations, but it was rather expensive and we didn't do that.

On that same trip we stayed in Cardiff as well. The Doctor Who exhibit was great and see if they're running the tours of the TARDIS set while you are there. We got to see the actual set and it was a priceless experience! We enjoyed Cardiff as well.

Mr Awe

 

[diankra]

I ought to check out your posts to remind myself whether you're into the old series; while the new series is very often Cardiff-playing-London outside of the Big Tourist Attractions, and a lot of locations from the original run have been changed or rebuilt over the years, it is still possible to walk past places that are near identical to the way they were when Hartnell stared down the War Machine (and Benton got telepathically mugged a few years later), and stand by the street sign that's behind him.
That's Cornwell Gardens, just south of Gloucester Road tube station (and which I walked past daily for year on the way into university. So it stuck in the mind...)

 

[Redfern]

I just realized the specific wording of the thread title.

Oops!

I should clarify I have NOT been to the United Kingdom; shoot, I haven't even left the continental United States. This was just information I gleened from various sources and decided to share.

Sorry for the confusion.

Sincerely,

Bill

 

[Mark_Nguyen]

No worries Bill. Every bit does help!

The "London" day will likely not be very DW related, as I've got my not-very-Whovian wife and kid along with me. The Cardiff day will be my geek day.

I hear that Forbidden Planet is a good place to go as well; but I wonder what the best place is for DW *stuff*.

Thanks for the tips, everyone, keep 'em coming! I'd be happy to consider a B&B too, so recommendations would be fun!

Mark

 

[Stevil2001]

I don't know how you are with museums, but the British Museum is free and I spent a whole day just in two rooms!

 

[Ginger]

I would recommend some musuems, as I think London has some of the best in the world. The Science Museum and the Natural History Museum are both excellent and next door to each other. And just opposite is the Victoria and Albert. Hyde Park and the Royal Albert Hall are all within spitting distance too, so South Kensington is a good shout for an afternoon, and all are free (except the Albert Hall, but it is a really impressive building).

Again, not far from these is the Queens gaff (Buckingham Palace) - The changing of the Guards is always fun - and Green Park.

The recommendation of the tube is a very good one - get an oyster card each and you can use the tube and busses - its a pay as you go pass. Taxis are expensive but direct - in central London (unless you stay out very late) the tube and busses are fine.

Of course if you want Who, go to Westminster Bridge, walk past the Houses of Parliament and visit St Pauls Cathedral (which is worth a visit in it's own right).

If want shows book in advance and expect to pay a lot. The theatres in are all in roughly the same place off of Covent Garden and Leicester Square. Good eating can be had nearby in China Town (Sherlock went there in that episode) but avoid the big places like Leicester Square for food as it's mostly for tourists (I.e. Stupidly expensive).

If you have a chance the London Eye is good (book in advance though). It's a big Ferris wheel on the South Bank.

What else? I might recommend the Tate (classical art), the British Museum (all the stuff we nicked from everyone else). Personally I think the Tate modern is shite, but if it is your bag (modern art) than why not try it.

Lastly, remember these top tips: never cut a queue or you'll get the tutting of your life, milk in the cup before the tea, and taxis don't go south of the river. Above all try and have fun - it's a lovely place to visit. Horrible to live in and expensive, but good for a trip. If I think of anything else I will post it.

 

[Ginger]

Oh and don't forget, trains are expensive but you can save by booking in advance or splitting tickets (Google it). But, they are probably the best way to go from Cardiff to London or vice versa if you are not driving.

 

[diankra]

I would recommend some musuems, as I think London has some of the best in the world. The Science Museum and the Natural History Museum are both excellent and next door to each other.

Aside from the upside of the museums themselves (the Science Museum has a very nice spaceflight/rocketry gallery, including the Apollo 10 CSM, very good for kids. And the Little Shop tends to stock Doctor Who stuff), the front of the Natural History Museum is where they mocked-up with almost perfect success in last Saturday's episode (the main failing is that the Tube station sign in the episode read Knightsbridge. That's pretty close, next along the line, but the subway at that corner is for South Kensington).
Also the afore-mentioned Cornwell Gardens from War Machines and The Mind of Evil is about two minutes walk away. And a few minutes after that is the Earl's Court nu-police box.

If your trip puts you in London on the first Thursday of the month... ah, edit: 21st/22nd. So no point mentioning the Tavern, that's first Thursday. But if you reach London on the Thursday night, the 21st August 2015 should be the 'mini-Tavern' at the Shakespeare's Head, just south of Holborn. No direct Who connections I can think other than that (did go there for a drink/interview with JG Hertzler, but as he's not done a Who...). But still a regular fan get-together if you could get time free.

 

[wildstar]

London is an amazing city. Been there twice. If you're into the classic series, check out a book called "Travel without the TARDIS":
http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Travel_Without_the_TARDIS
I owned it for 20 years waiting for the chance to use it, and finally did. If you're a Prisoner fan, there's lots of Prisoner locations in London to see as well.