To my American Assoicates going to Xbiz London some tips!

i just take a dump in such toilet

Oh and if your going to Amsterdam and/or Prague will need a different adapter then the UK one...

Did you do a proper flush?

I was going to write a tips thing, like my Amsterdam tips.

So, few points:

1) Coffee is not bottomless. Each cup will cost you.

2) DO NOT TIP in bars and pubs. No one does, it will not get you better service. You will still get sullen pissed off people who can't be arsed to serve you

3) You should tip restaurants. 15% is fine.

4) Cabs are expensive and if they hear a yank accent, it's likely you'll get screwed. The tube (underground train) is quick, cheap, and safe. It's not hard to work out how to get about.

5) The food in London is some of the best in the world. We have a reputation, esp with Americans, for shit food. This is unfair. If you go to a tourist area, in a tourist pub and order the lasagne, it will be shit. If you go to a good restaurant, you can have an amazing time. Toptable.co.uk is a good starting point. We also do proper Indian food. I've tried Indian places in NYC and LA and each and every time it was shit. There's lots of decent curry houses in London. I recommend The Palms of Goa, on Charlotte St.

6) There is McDonalds, and Starbuck and all that shit, but there are good places too. Swop out Bar Italia in Soho for starbucks. Best espresso in town.

7) Cash. I know you Merkins like your plastic, but cash is good here. Some places don't take credit cards. Not as bad as Amsterdam, but still, some don't. Always have enough cash.

8) DO NOT GET A CAB FROM THE AIRPORT. Really. Don't. It'd be like getting a cab from LAX to West Hollywood on Friday at 5pm. Also, they fuck you over. If you are coming into Heathrow, just get the underground. It takes LESS TIME to get a train than a cab. And it will cost you 10 bucks for a train, 180 for a cab. If you are going to Gatwick, there is the Gatwick express train that is fast, ir you can just get the regular train which takes about 45 mins and is fine. It takes you to London Victoria station, from there, get the tube.

10) What happened to 9)?

9) Ah, here it is.

More to come as I think of it.

Good stuff Damian!

Where were your tips when I went to iDate London a few years ago. in 5 days I think I spend $500-700 on cabs alone. The cab ride from Heathrow was a lot more comfortable than a US cab though. You gotta love the legroom!

On the way back the car service was actually cheaper than the regular cab though.

9) Don't get the tube from Piccadilly Circus to Leicester Square.

So, few points:

Just got back and here's the comments

1) Coffee is not bottomless. Each cup will cost you. >>No Comment - I always get cappuccinos

2) DO NOT TIP in bars and pubs. No one does, it will not get you better service. You will still get sullen pissed off people who can't be arsed to serve you. >>They don't say this, but they vary a lot. Some thank you, some refuse.

3) You should tip restaurants. 15% is fine. >> Yeah

4) Cabs are expensive and if they hear a yank accent, it's likely you'll get screwed. The tube (underground train) is quick, cheap, and safe. It's not hard to work out how to get about. >>Never got screwed, and they are well informed. Expensive, yes.

5) The food in London is some of the best in the world. We have a reputation, esp with Americans, for shit food. This is unfair. If you go to a tourist area, in a tourist pub and order the lasagne, it will be shit. If you go to a good restaurant, you can have an amazing time. Toptable.co.uk is a good starting point. We also do proper Indian food. I've tried Indian places in NYC and LA and each and every time it was shit. There's lots of decent curry houses in London. I recommend The Palms of Goa, on Charlotte St. >> This just isn't true. Indian, Thai, Italian, made and sourced by foreigners, yes. The pub food and the regular English restaurants are expensive and not good. Stay away from Beef in any form.

6) There is McDonalds, and Starbuck and all that shit, but there are good places too. Swop out Bar Italia in Soho for starbucks. Best espresso in town. >> True I guess. McDs has awesome white poor people that bike around and say rude things - they are hilarious and take the place of "ghetto" folks here.

7) Cash. I know you Merkins like your plastic, but cash is good here. Some places don't take credit cards. Not as bad as Amsterdam, but still, some don't. Always have enough cash. >> True. Much cash changing hands.

8) DO NOT GET A CAB FROM THE AIRPORT. Really. Don't. It'd be like getting a cab from LAX to West Hollywood on Friday at 5pm. Also, they fuck you over. If you are coming into Heathrow, just get the underground. It takes LESS TIME to get a train than a cab. And it will cost you 10 bucks for a train, 180 for a cab. If you are going to Gatwick, there is the Gatwick express train that is fast, ir you can just get the regular train which takes about 45 mins and is fine. It takes you to London Victoria station, from there, get the tube. >>What? Cabs are very expensive. Try Tokyo, though. If you have no dough, I guess.

10) What happened to 9)?

9) Ah, here it is.

Thanks Damian!!

Pleasure. You guys coming? Be great to see you

D

No tips at the bar, sounds interesting.