Pauline Frommer's London: Spend Less, See More, 2nd Edition
Wiley, Paperback
Cosmopolitan, diverse, historic - and among the costliest cities in the world - London is now yours to enjoy for less.
With this revised edition of the "budget guide for a new generation", travelers not only benefit from the reputable Frommer's budget-minded sensibility, but also gain insights in to technology-driven travel. The mix of high and low tech suits the way we live and travel in the 21st century.
The London guide appeals to a growing desire to experience the authenticity of a locale while catering to a need for speed and ease in booking and arranging the travel experience. The guide gives website information for everything from hotels and museums to restaurants and cathedrals.
Along with the expected details - explanations of currency, local and regional transportation, health and safety tips, etc. - the revised guide provides an intricate account of the maze which is London.
The guide provides information for travelers that locals take for granted like the money-saving Oyster card for the Tube and bus or which neighborhood is a best bet for shopping - from the marquee department stores of Oxford Street to vintage market Sundays on Brick Lane. Handy glossaries and information boxes break down language barriers and cultural differences as well as impart necessary insider information like where one might catch a glimpse of the infamous outsider art of Banksy.
Organized into 12 chapters spanning the basic city overview to thorough chapters detailing accommodations, dining, sightseeing, shopping, nightlife and day trips, the guide also delves into what its like to live the life of a Londoner.
A whole chapter is devoted to how "real" Londoners live, work and play. With 45 distinct ethnic communities and some 300 languages spoken in the city, there's plenty of diversity to observe and absorb.
From joining in on a Sunday Roast, a spread of meat and potatoes comfort foods, at the local pub to touring local breweries, catching a talk at a Shakespeare's Globe or a lunchtime concert at a centuries old church, there are plenty of opportunities to experience the Londoners' London. Warm weather visitors can cool off in one of the city's lidos, or outdoor swimming pools while cold weather travelers can find ice skating in the noble courtyard at Somerset House.
What's to love about the guide
- No deal is left unturned - air & hotel packages, value eats & drinks, free art & self-guided tours
- Where not to go - changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace, The London Dungeon, The Sherlock Holmes Museum, ditto the famous zebra crossing at Abbey Road
- Where to party - museum nights, cocktail bars with a view, 15 favorite pubs to explore
