And after several business tries I was finally with family time in London ! This time took my road warrior skills to go by the eurostar and my Ford Cmax avoiding congestion zones and into jolly London ! It was my first time driving on the left, and for this veteran of the roads it was a piece of cake !! I have several post on the city in my blog but this one is the overall family trip, Therefore, let me tell you about family time in London !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
We made this family trip by car from Versailles, drove up the A16 exit/sortie 42 to terminal de Calais, get on the big Eurostar train car loader under the bay and reach London from the M25 road to our apartment in Earl’s Court in 7 hrs total time door to door. The return was just as easy coming from London and getting on the Eurostar (Le Shuttle) in Folkestone, M20 road exit 11A. The usual road guides are helpful but today we have the GPS for planning from any location. It is best to pay the crossing ahead of time online, this secures best placing on the trains,easy out,and no delays. The M25, motorway/highway known locally as the London Orbital, serves the Greater London Area, for 188 km long. In Europe, the M25 is the second longest road after Berlin, which is 8 kilometers longer. It is the busiest road in the United Kingdom. Between exits 14 and 15 near Heathrow Airport, (where we get in for Earl’s Court) the M25 is one of the busiest motorways in Europe. The highway, which was built between 1975 and 1986, crosses the Thames river at Staines. The M25 is not a complete circle; in Dartford, it becomes the A282 road and crosses the Thames river by the Elizabeth II Bridge and a tunnel. Over most of its length, the M25 has 6 lanes, although there are some 4-lane or 8 lane portions . The highway was widened to 10 lanes between exits 12 and 14, and to 12 lanes between exits 14 and 15. Great road no problems at all driving on the left ! Love it!
Once in London Earl’s Court area the site of our apartment the entry on the A4 road is very easy and well marked. You are just outside the congestion zone so no need to pay this outrageous fee which has gone up from my time 8 pounds to now 15!! just for giving you right to use your car in central London!! Anyway you only needed to get to London,as once there the Tube or underground or metro or subway is the best way to travel and on foot, of course. You are smart to secure parking online ahead of arrival as onsite it can be as much as 36£ while if done reserve online is only 16£ ! We had rented apartments at Earl’s Court Studios. Friendly service, nice folks, they live upper floor of the building! A bit on the Earl’s Court area.
Earl’s Court, is a west London neighborhood, located in the Kensington and Chelsea district. After WWII it was nicknamed the “Polish Corridor”, because of the number of Polish officers and soldiers who settle there and open their businesses. They were replaced in the late 1960’s by a wave of visitors from Australia (but also from New Zealand) who add the sobriquet, “Kangaroo valley”. For more than a century, since 1879, the area has been famous for the major festivals, and salons that in 1937 took place in the main convention center, the Earls Court Exhibition Center,(now Olympia) a building in Modern Art style. Built by the American, Charles Howard Crane . Earls Court Exhibition Center was replaced it’s demolition was duly completed in 2017 (now call Olympia) , This is where we parked as far back as 2016 and it has been totally change, and later found parking nearby at Seagrave road! Avoid that congestion fee lol!!! The area is served by the Earls Court metro/tube station as well as the West Brompton station. The station is on the District line (all branches of the latter join) and the Piccadilly line, zones 1 and 2. On the Piccadilly line the station is between Barons Court and Gloucester Road. It is the major junction of the District line, with West Brompton, Kensington (Olympia) and West Kensington to the west, High Street Kensington to the north and Gloucester Road to the east. Very nice to move on in lovely London! If staying for a few days, more than a week, or intend to visit the city in the near future a few times, you can opt for theOyster cards, they are good reusable, rechargeable, and very convenient. I still have mine.
The choices for food and sightseeing are endless, and as I said, the people are very friendly all over. At Courtfield Pub,187 Earls Court Road; originally built in 1876 as the Courtfield Hotel, opposite Earls Court Station, and first licensed in 1879. By 1910, the Hotel has now been dropped from the name. This Courtfield Pub has an impressive front bar with tall windows and a high ceiling. Chandeliers and lanterns suspended above the bar add to the period atmosphere. The rear area has attractive wood paneling and relaxing banquettes. Sports matches are shown on screens situated around the pub. Friendly staff provide good service. This was and still is our hangout each time there, we need to passed by it; was the first with the whole family so it has become rather sentimental for us.
We head to our tex mex par excellence Chiquitos, Leicester Square; a restaurant chain specialising in Tex-Mex foods. The company was established in 1989, It dubs itself as ‘The Original Mexican Grill & Bar’, and has been described as the UK best known Mexican chain. Where old Mexican posters and photos adorn the walls, alongside piñatas, plates, castanets, fans, and sombreros. Spanish and Mexican music plays throughout the restaurant. Sadly this location has closed but here for the memories of always.
Some good old fashion burgers at Gourmet Burger Kitchen behind St Paul’s Cathedral , a restaurant chain in the United Kingdom specialising in gourmet burgers. The company was started in London by New Zealanders ,Always busy and that is the fun get your order, sit and be call for it, pickup pay and eat on high tables, with the St Paul watching you lol !!!
For groceries we headed for Tesco supermarket at Kensington , great selection and even take out foods ! Our home away from home !
And not forget the recommendation from a friend there and my boys were all over the Forbidden Planet for mangas and video games etc, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue just off Leicester square. Amazing store indeed !
The webpages of the places and sights above for you and my memories of always :
Thecity of London tourist office : https://www.visitlondon.com/
The official Eurostar (now call Le Shuttle) : https://www.leshuttle.com/uk-en
The Fav booking,com on the Earl’s Court Studios apartments : https://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/primary-stay-earl-39-s-court-studios.en-gb.html
The roads of UK on the M25 road we took : https://www.roads.org.uk/motorway/m25/
The London metro journey planner on the driving congestion charges: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/congestion-charge?intcmp=2053
The Olympia exhibition hall (former Earl’s Court) booking parking better ahead : https://olympia.london/visiting/parking/book-parking
The Oyster card public transport easy does it : https://oyster.tfl.gov.uk/oyster/entry.do
The London metro journey planner on Earl’s Court metro station : https://tfl.gov.uk/tube/stop/940GZZLUECT/earls-court-underground-station
The Tesco supermarket at Kensington : https://www.tesco.com/store-locator/london/west-cromwell-rd?bID=2765
The Greene king group on the Courtfield pub : https://www.greeneking.co.uk/pubs/greater-london/courtfield
The official Gourmet Burgers Kitchen at St Paul’s : https://www.gbk.co.uk/restaurants/st-pauls
The Chiquitos restaurants webpage for the memories of always : https://www.chiquito.co.uk/menu
The official Forbidden Planet London store : https://forbiddenplanet.com/stores/london-megastore/
There you go folks , do dare drive in lovely London it’s an adventure of a lifetime, and you will be back !!! as we have lol! Until another round chasing Sherlock we will be saying elementary my dear Watson to you all. Again, hope you enjoy this post on family time in London !!! as I
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 