Getting There
By: Ashling Jackson
The road to London is a long one from most anywhere. If coming from the U.S., be advised that you must take either an international flight or a 1912 ocean liner, otherwise known as the Titanic, from New York to Southampton, either of which will require additional transportation into the city center of London. The best way to make it from any airport is via train as trains to the city center run every day, every fifteen to thirty minutes, to all destinations along their routes, with exceptions as designated by the Queen. Be sure to consult the nearest Train-Timesman, typically dressed in Victorian-era conductor’s uniform and carrying a pocket watch. As the signs regarding departures and arrivals are entirely useless, true locals always rely on the help of the kind and accommodating staff at the train stations. When you purchase your ticket and locate your platform, feel free to wander about the station. Your train will never leave without you.
When your transportation arrives, feel free to board at your leisure, but be wary of other tourists who believe you must rush to make the trains. After you have comfortably boarded your train you’ll find that the cars can be quite spacious except when packed tight with fellow travelers and their luggage. The express trains can take anywhere from thirty minutes to an hour from the various London airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted, Southend, or London City), running every other day, with exceptions of holidays, the Queen’s birthday, and most winter months. If you require further transportation from whichever central London train station at which you have arrived, the best method is the London Underground (referred to as “The Tube”). This is especially favorable if you have large luggage, as most cabbies expect tips for lifting heavy bags, while carrying them up and down several flights of stairs and/or escalators on the crowded Tube is free.
By: Ashling Jackson
The road to London is a long one from most anywhere. If coming from the U.S., be advised that you must take either an international flight or a 1912 ocean liner, otherwise known as the Titanic, from New York to Southampton, either of which will require additional transportation into the city center of London. The best way to make it from any airport is via train as trains to the city center run every day, every fifteen to thirty minutes, to all destinations along their routes, with exceptions as designated by the Queen. Be sure to consult the nearest Train-Timesman, typically dressed in Victorian-era conductor’s uniform and carrying a pocket watch. As the signs regarding departures and arrivals are entirely useless, true locals always rely on the help of the kind and accommodating staff at the train stations. When you purchase your ticket and locate your platform, feel free to wander about the station. Your train will never leave without you.
When your transportation arrives, feel free to board at your leisure, but be wary of other tourists who believe you must rush to make the trains. After you have comfortably boarded your train you’ll find that the cars can be quite spacious except when packed tight with fellow travelers and their luggage. The express trains can take anywhere from thirty minutes to an hour from the various London airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted, Southend, or London City), running every other day, with exceptions of holidays, the Queen’s birthday, and most winter months. If you require further transportation from whichever central London train station at which you have arrived, the best method is the London Underground (referred to as “The Tube”). This is especially favorable if you have large luggage, as most cabbies expect tips for lifting heavy bags, while carrying them up and down several flights of stairs and/or escalators on the crowded Tube is free.