London was only one connection between Africa and Russia, but we took this opportunity to visit a good friend of us that lives in the capital and also to relax. Alexis had lived in London for a year and Carol had already visited several times, so no sightseeing this time. But we are very lucky to catch a beautiful sunny day with blue sky and we could not resist doing some walking in the most beautiful part of town, and drink some beers in a pub. A day like this in London is almost a miracle, so better to enjoy it.
And almost a year later we returned again to London, because at the end of our trip we decided to go to Europe before returning to Brazil, a last minute change that was not foreseen in the plan. Again we were there at the summer and we were lucky to have a great weather. We stayed with our friend Karina and we enjoyed our time to meet some friends.
A few tips:
- TRANSPORTATION: Travel around europe by land can be expensive, especially by train. But there is a bus company where you can find very cheap tickets (a 6 hours journey can cost only 8 pounds), not only in England but also from other countries in Europe (such as Scotland, Ireland, France, Belgium and Holland). Take a look at Megabus. You can also find very cheap flights around Europe (sometimes for 20 euros), but usually you only find the cheapest fares when you buy your ticket in advance and out of season. Also be aware that to check-in luggage and to pay with credit card you always pay an extra fee. There are several budget airline companies in Europe, but our favorite is Easyjet. Check also Ryanair, Vueling, Flybe, Tuifly, Thomas Cook. You can also use this guide to search for budget airlines between 2 points in Europe.
- GET A RIDE TO GO AROUND: Another cheap way to travel the country and Europe is catching a ride by car, by a system called BlaBlaCar where people who are traveling by car sell seats on their car for a low cost that helps to cover the cost of the trip. It works really well and reserving through the site you have all guarantees (if the person does not show up you get your money back and you can also cancel your reservation up to X hours before the trip). Moreover you can always find last minute options and this offers flexibility. We used and we approve. Find your journey buddy in BlaBlaCar.
- METRO IN LONDON: The subway system is fantastic, but it is also one of the most expensive in the world. It serves the entire city and you will use a lot. Do not hesitate to buy the Oyster card, it costs 5 pounds but when you return it you get the money back. With the card all bus and subway routes cost down to half the price (depending on the zone), and even better, if you use it too much druing the day it never charges more than the day pass related to your zone. There is also a good option of weekly ticket that cost about 30 pounds, and it’s already worth if you will use the metro more than 2 times a day or the bus more than 4 times a day for a week.