MAA 19 Days - Not all who wanders are lost.

[canterlevi]

Comments

[sandyosullivan]

wow, CL, you HAVE gone to town. Having spent a bit more than 6 weeks wandering the streets of London last year (often with either BMG or MDD and even on two occasions with Sykira!), I can tell you what I did and my reflections regarding maps. First of all I should say that once upon a time many years ago and before I went to uni, I used to do map reading, for about two and a half years. It wasn't actually map reading that I did, but in *one* job I had to help people get from A to B (or in this case Z!) in Sydney when I worked at a place called Metrotrips. And before that I had worked coding where and how traffic accidents happened, also in Sydney (well all of NSW) and again I had to use physical maps, this was long before computers existed. I say all of that by way of saying that while I might have been absolutely sure I was brilliant at reading maps... turns out I'm actually dreadful at it. So, dont think that I have some magic skill. I love maps, they are lovely (and the ones above are gorgeous!), but I can easily look at one

[sandyosullivan]

I assume you're getting an oyster card to use on the underground and buses. It will be worth it, and you can use it on your next visit. It costs about 5 quid to buy I think, and then you put money on it, but the difference between having it and not having it is enormous! I can't remember the amount of days that you are there, but if it is more than 6, you should get a weekly Zone 1 and 2 weekly travel card (put onto the Oyster card, you buy the two at the time, and they just load it on the Oyster Card). It would cost you about 32 pounds, but it covers you on all buses and the tube in all of the main zones that you'd be travelling to. Have a look on your tube map for where it has shadowed in that first tube map of yours. Do you see it? Anyway, the cost savings is enormous if you travel on a few buses or a few tube trips a day and you don't have to worry about topping up etc. Lasts for seven days from when you buy it. If you're training into Paddington, you can get one (oyster card AND/or the weekly travel card at the tube part

[canterlevi]

I have a TravelCard valid for a week in Zones 1 and 2, since I don't plan on leaving the city. I'm not understanding why you say I have to have an Oystercard too.

I just bought the maps because they were pretty. (I'm shallow that way. :-)) I don't plan on bringing any of my books either. I mean, I'm not going so that I can sit around and read what I should go visit.

[sandyosullivan]

Sorry i totally misread that, I thought you were musing on what map to take! Yeah exactly you really don't need one.
Same with the oyster card if you already have a travel card that covers you on buses and the tube! It would only be helpful if you did end up going out of zone 2! I think i was thinking that they are rechargeable etc, but to be honest with you the only travel cards we can get in aus for london are limited travel ones!

[bas_math_girl]

I personally use the London A-Z; and you'd be surprised the number of times I've been asked where somewhere is and I've smugly whipped the book out of my bag...
Then again, you can get free maps at any Underground station (and they display a map).

[canterlevi]

I think the AZ will come with me and possibly the Frommer's one because it has the whole city on one side and secondly, it folds up very small as well and won't take up much room. I just thought it was funny how every book and map I looked at had a Tube map in it, as if I was in danger of not be able to find one on my own! Hee!

[sandyosullivan]

I reckon the Frommers is the best. And I can attest to Denise whipping out her A-Z in London, she did it with me!