Earlier this week, I was having lunch with a friend who is doing the same trip (London & Paris) I just returned from and it occurred to me that a wrap up with some tips and tricks might make for a good post.  Let’s start with London…

When in London, I like staying in the neighborhood near Paddington Station.  Paddington is convenient to the Heathrow Express train and is centrally-located for reaching other parts of London. The Bear is an excellent neighborhood pub and the north side of Hyde Park is a 10 minute walk.

Most of the hotels in Paddington are smaller and independently-owned and many of the streets are quiet and tree-lined.  One of my tips for beating jet lag is to drop the bags at the hotel and start walking.  From Paddington, you can easily walk through Hyde Park to Buckingham Palace and then Big Ben/Parliament.  And if you’re lucky enough to be walking by Buckingham Palace on Mon/Wed/Fri/Sun around 11am, you can even catch the changing of the guard.

Some practical London tips:

—This was my first trip to Europe where I didn’t withdraw cash from an ATM machine. I had some leftover pounds and euros from previous trips, but I only ended up using cash to leave tips for hotel staff. London and Paris have become very electronic-payment friendly. Most restaurants, convenience stores and transit systems are now accepting ApplePay and tap-to-pay credit cards. I tried paying for a 2 pound bottle of water using cash and the store owner pointedly said “no cash – card!” I’m not sure if this carries through much of the rest of the continent, but London and Paris have become more-or-less cash-free.

—The Tube is “tap-in/tap-out” using credit card or smart phone.  This is markedly easier than when you had to buy an Oystercard.  There’s a maximum amount of ~9 pounds which you can be charged daily, which is equivalent to a day pass.  https://tfl.gov.uk

Google Maps does a great job of routing you all around London via the Tube.

—Your hotel front desk can often book attraction tickets with a small (10%) discount on price.  We were able to book a hop-on/hop-off bus and entry to the Churchill War Rooms through the very helpful Andreas at the Stylotel where we stayed.

—Andreas helped us out with a great method of getting to-and-from Wembley Stadium for the Oasis concert.  By taking Chiltern Railways from Marylebone Station, it’s a one-stop ride to-and-from a station right outside the stadium.  We had no problem getting on the first train after the show and were back to our hotel in 30 short minutes.

—Ordering in a pub in England is a dream:  simply go up to the bar to order food and drinks.  The transaction is closed out immediately, and food (if ordered) is brought to your table when ready.  I wish more pubs in the US would adopt this system. https://www.thebearpaddington.com

—Pret-a-Manger is a great quick lunch option, with one of the best bargains in London – a drip coffee for 99p.  Pubs are a great lunch option as well, such as the Two Bridges in Bermondsey. https://www.thetwobridges.co.uk/index

—For an informal dinner, I love Vapiano – an Italian chain which can be found throughout Europe.  Tasty, well-prepared pastas and pizzas which can be customized and ordered on your phone while at the table. https://vapiano.com

—You now need to obtain an ETA (electronic travel authorization) for the UK.  We applied about a month ahead of time via their app.  It was processed almost instantaneously.  A bit of an additional cash grab (~$22) considering the high air ticket taxes and fees, but not difficult to obtain. https://www.gov.uk/eta

—Always have an umbrella or raincoat with you.  Even the sunniest days in London can incorporate a quick downpour from time to time. https://www.metoffice.gov.uk

—If you’re headed for Paris via train, you’ll be leaving from St. Pancras rail station.  From Paddington, it’s a relatively-easy 5-stop Tube ride on the Hammersmith & City line.  Arrive well in advance – you’ll be going through UK and European customs before boarding the train and the lines can be long. https://www.eurostar.com/us-en