Scarlett

Is anyone else here going to be in London on the 31st for medical/interview? I
have to go the night before - travelling from darkest Cumbria with two young
children. I've found a really cheap hotel at Marble Arch (about halfway between
the doctor's and the embassy). If it turns out to be OK I can post details of
it for anyone who needs them. They quoted me £45 for a three-bed room and
continental breakfast which is a lot less than I expected to pay (tried youth
hostels but they said no because of having the children with me).

Hoping I get the chance to show the girls a few sights the day before, or maybe
after the embassy if I'm one of the lucky ones to get finished sharpish. Seems
a shame if on their only trip to the Capital before leaving the country they
don't at least get a glimpse of the outside of Buck Palace. Madly trying to
think of things to see/do that are cheap or free and fairly central.

Stupidly nervous about the medical. Did a google search and read lots of
helpful posts about how easy it is but still... I'm a bit pathetic about
doctors. If anyone who's recently been to the London medical wouldn't mind
exchanging a couple of mails about it I'd be grateful.

TTFN
-=-
Scarlett

Scarlett

    > If anyone who's recently been to the London medical wouldn't mind
    > exchanging a couple of mails about it I'd be grateful.

oops - guess the mail address would help

[email protected]

(stick visa or medical in the subject line so i know it's not spam - thanks)

Ptarmigan

I did the medical in March, it really isn't anything to be worried about.

[email protected]

Paul

In article , Scarlett
writes

    >Hoping I get the chance to show the girls a few sights the day before, or maybe
    >after the embassy if I'm one of the lucky ones to get finished sharpish. Seems
    >a shame if on their only trip to the Capital before leaving the country they
    >don't at least get a glimpse of the outside of Buck Palace. Madly trying to
    >think of things to see/do that are cheap or free and fairly central.

Not cheap but very central - the London Eye. It's now one of those
essential places to visit when in London.
--
paul
58-77 Sheffield 77-79 Coventry 79-88 Sheffield 88-97 Milton Keynes
97-99 London 99-00 Seattle 00-?? Fremont

Scarlett

    >Not cheap but very central - the London Eye. It's now one of those
    >essential places to visit when in London.

thanks for the suggestion. it did cross my mind. but if it's not cheap - and i
mean dirt cheap like "ooh let's take your photo in front of buck palace" and
(praying for sunshine) "ooh let's feed the ducks in hyde park"- then it's not
possible. i have 3 visas to pay for, three medicals, a train and a hotel. it's
emptying my savings account and then some.

anyone know where pudding lane is based? my 6-year-old is doing the great fire
of london at school and wants her photo taken where it all started. now that's
what i call cheap (grin).

cheers, though, paul.

-=-
scarlett

Pete

Scarlet.. A walk up to the eye and a photo in front is worth is.. Also Its
possible to get both Big Ben AND the London eye in the same shot outside the
houses of Parliament.. We did the Cuddled up and camera at arms length
thing to get some really nice shots.. Tower Bridge and The Tower itself can
be walked over and round.. .
You can get some 2 for 1 type tickets and offers for Madam tussauds which
lessens the blow slightly.. Worth scanning the net..
Oh yes.. get a Off peak travel card for zone 1 to 3 I think.. wont need
anything more than that.. Perhaps zones 1-4 at about a fiver.. Aha... take a
look at http://www.thetube.com/ there us a
link for 2 for one type
things.. Also there are zone maps links at the top of the page..

Carla and I did a couple of Days like that .. One spending a bit and the
other, a walk about day..
was great fun.. Her 1st experience on the Tube too

Pete


"Scarlett" wrote in message
news:20021010105352.20721.00-
[email protected]...
    > >Not cheap but very central - the London Eye. It's now one of those
    > >essential places to visit when in London.
    > thanks for the suggestion. it did cross my mind. but if it's not cheap -
and i
    > mean dirt cheap like "ooh let's take your photo in front of buck palace"
and
    > (praying for sunshine) "ooh let's feed the ducks in hyde park"- then it's
not
    > possible. i have 3 visas to pay for, three medicals, a train and a hotel.
it's
    > emptying my savings account and then some.
    > anyone know where pudding lane is based? my 6-year-old is doing the great
fire
    > of london at school and wants her photo taken where it all started. now
that's
    > what i call cheap (grin).
    > cheers, though, paul.
    > -=-
    > scarlett

ScarlettHill

thanks, pete, that's really helful info

-=-
scarlett

Thanks, Pete, that's really helpful info!

Jan

I went through my medical in London in May, it was so easy possibly the
hardest part was the waiting.
As for things to do in London i'm sorry i cant really help you there.We, (my
two K2 sons and myself) completed our medical rushed over to the Embassy and
scooted out of London quick mainly due to having our lives in 3 large
folders in my bag. But also being from out in the boonies (Cumbria also) and
being freaked out by the size of the city. What a wuss !
If i remember rightly Pudding Lane is near St.Pauls Cathedral, if you get in
touch with the touist board there they'll point you in the right direction.
!
Have a great day and i'll say it tho you dont need it ... Good Luck !!
If you need any info or just want to email a new and still homesick Brit
living in Michigan (waiting for the big snow and formulating a hibernation
plan) please feel free.

All the Best

Jan )
p.s. looked out on historic-uk.com The Monument, Pudding Lane - 202ft tall,
being the exact distance from the baker's house where the fire began in
Pudding Lane. Visitors can climb the 311 steps to the top and enjoy
spectacular views of London. Small admission charge. )

"Scarlett" wrote in message
news:20021010065316.22718.00-
[email protected]...
    > Is anyone else here going to be in London on the 31st for
medical/interview? I
    > have to go the night before - travelling from darkest Cumbria with two
young
    > children. I've found a really cheap hotel at Marble Arch (about halfway
between
    > the doctor's and the embassy). If it turns out to be OK I can post details
of
    > it for anyone who needs them. They quoted me £45 for a three-bed room and
    > continental breakfast which is a lot less than I expected to pay (tried
youth
    > hostels but they said no because of having the children with me).
    > Hoping I get the chance to show the girls a few sights the day before, or
maybe
    > after the embassy if I'm one of the lucky ones to get finished sharpish.
Seems
    > a shame if on their only trip to the Capital before leaving the country
they
    > don't at least get a glimpse of the outside of Buck Palace. Madly trying
to
    > think of things to see/do that are cheap or free and fairly central.
    > Stupidly nervous about the medical. Did a google search and read lots of
    > helpful posts about how easy it is but still... I'm a bit pathetic about
    > doctors. If anyone who's recently been to the London medical wouldn't mind
    > exchanging a couple of mails about it I'd be grateful.
    > TTFN
    > -=-
    > Scarlett

Rob S

I endorse the comments about the travel cards - they should be even cheaper for the children.

The medical is really nothing to worry about - the worst part is the waiting around, at the embassy, at the doctors and the period before you go back and collect the visa.

If you want to go see something about the great fire of the London, their is a memorial at the site - its called Monument (I think and there is a tube station of the same name). It is is in the City and if you have kids I recomend that you also go from there on to London Bridge - just around the corner. From the Bridge you can see Tower Bridge and the Tower of London and also Mayor Livingston's big glass ball...

Going back west, you will be a short hop (by bus) from St Pauls, it costs to go inside but it is free from the outside.

Other interesting sights, the Embassy is near Oxford Street and a short walk from Bond Street Tube. The Jubilee Line goes through Bond Street and on to Westminster - the new Westminster station is worth a view in its own right. Outside you can see Big Ben and the Palace, Westminster Abbey and if you walk up Whitehall - Downing Street, Horse Guards (with Life Guards on Horse Back) and at the top Trafalgar Square. All is free but you do need to walk a bit.

If that is too much walking, various buses drive up through the west end. The 159 (an old Route Master) goes down Oxford Street, Regent Street, Haymarket and then around Trafalgar Square and along Whitehall to Parliament Square, (where you might want to get off unless, Lambeth, Brixton and Streatham are also on the itinerery).

Enjoy!

lemming

If you do get off the tube at London Bridge, its nice to walk along the embankment towards tower bridge, I don't think its that far, its been a while since I was there though..

Enjoy your time in London, I know I always did....

Jacqueline Bergstedt

I would definitely get a cheap all day ticket for the tube - If I remember
correctly I got a ticket for zones 1 and 2 for about a fiver. Great for
getting little legs around.

regards, Jacqueline
ScarlettGarrett wrote in message
news:439408.1034264875@britishexpats-
.com...
    > Originally posted by Pete:
    > > Scarlet.. A walk up to the eye and a photo in front is worth is.. Also
    > > Its
    > > possible to get both Big Ben AND the London eye in the same shot
    > > outside the
    > > houses of Parliament.. We did the Cuddled up and camera at arms
    > > length
    > > thing to get some really nice shots.. Tower Bridge and The Tower
    > > itself can
    > > be walked over and round.. .
    > > You can get some 2 for 1 type tickets and offers for Madam tussauds
    > > which
    > > lessens the blow slightly.. Worth scanning the net..
    > > Oh yes.. get a Off peak travel card for zone 1 to 3 I think.. wont
    > > need
    > > anything more than that.. Perhaps zones 1-4 at about a fiver.. Aha...
    > > take a
    > > look at http://www.thetube-
    > > .com/http://www.thetube.com/     there us a
    > > link for 2 for one type
    > > things.. Also there are zone maps links at the top of the page..
    > >
    > > Carla and I did a couple of Days like that .. One spending a bit and
    > > the
    > > other, a walk about day..
    > > was great fun.. Her 1st experience on the Tube too
    > >
    > > Pete
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > thanks, pete, that's really helful info
    > -=-
    > scarlett
    > Thanks, Pete, that's really helpful info!
    > --
    > ScarlettGarrett
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Scarlett

mail winging it's merry way to you as we speak

Scarlett

    >I would definitely get a cheap all day ticket for the tube - If I remember
    >correctly I got a ticket for zones 1 and 2 for about a fiver. Great for
    >getting little legs around.

Yes i'll definitely do that

Scarlett

    >I endorse the comments about the travel cards - they should be even
    >cheaper for the children.
    >The medical is really nothing to worry about - the worst part is the
    >waiting around, at the embassy, at the doctors and the period before you
    >go back and collect the visa.
    >If you want to go see something about the great fire of the London,
    >their is a memorial at the site - its called Monument (I think and there
    >is a tube station of the same name). It is is in the City and if you
    >have kids I recomend that you also go from there on to London Bridge -
    >just around the corner. From the Bridge you can see Tower Bridge and the
    >Tower of London and also Mayor Livingston's big glass ball...
    >Going back west, you will be a short hop (by bus) from St Pauls, it
    >costs to go inside but it is free from the outside.
    >Other interesting sights, the Embassy is near Oxford Street and a short
    >walk from Bond Street Tube. The Jubilee Line goes through Bond Street
    >and on to Westminster - the new Westminster station is worth a view in
    >its own right. Outside you can see Big Ben and the Palace, Westminster
    >Abbey and if you walk up Whitehall - Downing Street, Horse Guards (with
    >Life Guards on Horse Back) and at the top Trafalgar Square. All is free
    >but you do need to walk a bit.
    >If that is too much walking, various buses drive up through the west
    >end. The 159 (an old Route Master) goes down Oxford Street, Regent
    >Street, Haymarket and then around Trafalgar Square and along Whitehall
    >to Parliament Square, (where you might want to get off unless, Lambeth,
    >Brixton and Streatham are also on the itinerery).

This is really great info. Thanks so much

-=-
Scarlett

Scarlett

    >If you do get off the tube at London Bridge, its nice to walk along the
    >embankment towards tower bridge, I don't think its that far, its been a
    >while since I was there though..

hey thanks

i'm going to print out this whole thread. you guys have been great