Topic Wiki

Trip Reports
A Week in London for 2 TR by Davidmal
100,000 Steps by Yuguy
6 Hours in London by Something Fishy
London + Scotland Trip Report by jshelton
London TR by Yehoshua
Mrs. Hvaces42's Surprise London Birthday Adventure by hvaces42
A Trip to See the Queen's Place: dpk4588 Takes on London by dpk4588


Suggested 1 Day Itineraries
1 Day In London by Davidmal
12 Hour Layover by Aaaron
11 Hour Layover by Mootkim

Drivers
Yitzchok: +44 (0) 20 7101 3535 - 8 Seater New VW Transporter (spacious).
Heathrow Drop-off 75GBP Pick up: 85GBP (plus 25GBP and he brings 8 Danishes to the airport too)
Hourly 65GBP
Daily 475GBP
Very Reliable, very nice and funny guy. Frum, professional and has taken very good care of my client - RCARentals (FlightBlitz).
Emmes Car Service (Stamford Hill) +44 20 8809 4444
Darkei Noam Car Share +44 20 8800 5566
Hotels
General Hotels
NameAreaWebsite          Review
Andaz Liverpool StreetCity               Link
Hyatt Regency London - The Churchill              West EndLinkmguy
Marriott - Grosvenor SquareWest End               Link
Marriott Marble ArchWest End               Link5 minute walk to Western Marble Arch Synagogue

Hotels in Jewish Areas
NameAreaWebsite          Review     Notes
Croft Court Hotel                                   Golders Green          Link
Holiday Inn Brent Cross                                  Golders Green          Link
Holiday Inn Express                                   Golders Green          LinkKosher breakfast, Shabbos meals. Contact hotel for more info.
King Solomon Hotel          Golders GreenLink
Nox HotelGolders GreenLinklocated near Shuls/kosher restaurants/underground station
KipAccomGolders GreenLinkrun by a frum guy. Individual rooms for rent.
Park Avenue HotelStamford HillLinkFormerly Kadimah
The Pillar HotelHendonLink

Restaurants
NameLocationTypeHechsher     Notes
86 BistroHendonMeatLBDCLOSED
AsadoStamford HillMeatKED'Mediterranean bistro'
AvivEdgwareMeatKF
Ayelets Catering and DelicatessenHendonDeli/Takeout/ShabbosLBDMoroccan Style
Balady AlaeshGolders Green+High BarnetFalafel/ShawarmaSKA
BalaganBorehamwoodMeatLBDMiddle Eastern
Bagel BarHendonCafèLBD
Bagel Bar GrillHendonMeatLBD
Beit CafeGolders GreenDairyLBDNEW
BooyaGolders GreenIce CreamNEW
Bread BakeryGolders GreenBakery/CaféLBDGreat salad selection!
Burger BarGolders GreenMeatLBD
Cafe AromeEdgwareDairyRESCLOSED
Dagim - Fish&ChipsStamford HillFresh fried fishKEDTake away only - No seating
DarnaGolders GreenMeatKFIsraeli inspired. Formerly Soyo Diner.
DelicatessenHampsteadMeatKFMediterranean & regular options
Deli98Stamford HillDeli/Takeout/ShabbosKEDGreat pulled beef sandwich
FlipsideGolders GreenCLOSED
Eli’s Pizza Borehamwood+EdgwarePizzaLBD
Habiba’s DeliGolders Green+HampsteadMeatLBD
Head RoomGolders GreenCaféKFsocial enterprise café by mental health charity Jami
Hot CutGolders GreenMeatKFMeat Sandwiches etc
Hummus BarGolders Green+HendonMeatLBDHighly reccomended - reserve well in advance.
Isola BellaGolders GreenDairy/Fish/ThaiLBDCLOSED
KaifengHendonChineseLBD
KanteenGolders Green/HendonDairy/FishKFInside Brent Cross Shopping Center
La FiestaGolders GreenMeatLBDArgentinian steakhouse.
MaximGolders GreenDairyKED
MazalCamden TownMiddle Eastern MeatKF NEW
Met-Su-YanGolders Green+EdgwareAsianKF
Mr BakerHendonCafé/BakeryLBDSame location as Mr Falafel and Mr Neapolitan
Mr FalafelHendonLBDNextdoor Mr Baker - uses their seating
Mr NeapolitanHendonPizza/PastaLBDInside Mr Baker. Best artisanal pizza in town!
NovellinoGolders GreenDairyLBD
Novellino BistroGolders GreenMeatLBD
One AshbourneGolders GreenMeatKF50% off steaks on Sundays & Tuesdays
PitaGolders GreenMiddle Eastern MeatKFShawarma/Falafel/Schnitzel etc
PizazaGolders GreenPizzaKFCool on screen ordering at table. Delicious foodSee inside the shop!
PizazaHendonPizzaKFNo screens, and smaller than GG.
PizazaEdgwarePizzaKFHas a playroom for kids
Pizza ShaiHendonPizzaSKA
PortoberryHendonHealth Food/DairyLBDAcai bowls, Poke bowls, Bubble tea, Frozen yogurt etcNEW
Reich'sGolders GreenDeli/Takeout/ShabbosKED
Reuben'sWest EndMeatSKADeli upstairs-Restaurant downstairs
SababaBorehamwoodDairyLBD
SliceGolders GreenPizzaLBDNew York style pizza
SoYoGolders Green+EdgwareDairy/FishKFGood breakfast selection
Sami'sGolders GreenSchwarmaLBDThere are Hendon & Edgware locations as well.
Satmar DeliStamford HillDeli/Takeout/ShabbosKED
Shefa MehadrinGolders GreenDeli/Takeout/ShabbosVarious
Sushi HavenGolders GreenSushiLBDAlso have counter inside Kosher Kingdom
TaboonGolders GreenFalafelLBD
The KitchenEdgwareMeatKFCLOSED
TishBelsize ParkMeatLBDOpen for Shabbos meals
Tony PageWesminsterMeatLBDFine Dining - near  Hyde Park
Tuk TukGolders GreenPan-AsianLBD
White FishHendonFishLBD CLOSED
White House ExpressHendonMeatLBD

London food instagram account for pictures of the food click here!



CLICK HERE for many more bakeries, groceries etc.

Hechsherim Key - As always, AYLOR.

KF - Federation of Synagogues

KED - Kedassia - Local "Heimish" Hechsher

LBD - London Beth Din

SKA - Sephardi Kashrut Authority

RES - Rabbi Eliezer Schneebalg - Machzikei Hadas Edgware





Landmarks & Attractions
You can get 2 for 1 entrance on many of the top attractions by using a railway ticket for travel. (Or just by buying a cheap railway ticket and not traveling). See all the details here: http://www.toptiplondon.com/places-to-visit/2-for-1-offers
AttractionURLNotes
Abbey RoadLink     Famous Abbey Road crossing for Beatles fans.
British LibraryLinkBritain's national library, which houses some fascinating collections including these.
Buckingham PalaceLinkPalace tours only in Aug-Sep. Details for Changing of the Guard here. This tour walks along with the guards from the beginning of their march to the palace and then will get you a nice view of the actual ceremony. 10% off code: FUNGUARD10PC
City CruisesLinkSightseeing cruise on the River Thames.
Harrods of KnightsbridgeLinkLargest department store in Europe, with some really cool (expensive!) stuff on display.
HMS BelfastLinkMuseum on a former battleship.
Horse Guards ParadeLink
Imperial War MuseumLinkHighlights: Holocaust Exhibition, Trench Experience
London EyeLink
Old BaileyLinkWatch criminal trials taking place.
Shakespeare TheatreLink
The ShardLinkView London from the viewing gallery or have drinks at the bar on the 52nd floor. Best time to go is twilight/evening. Possibly a better alternative to the London Eye.
StonehengeLinkPrehistoric monument.
Thames RibLinkHigh-speed RIB boat tour.
Tower of London                             Link     Historic fortress where the Crown Jewels can be viewed.
WB Harry Potter Studio Tour      LinkSee Hogwarts, Diagon Alley etc. See here for a tip on finding last-minute availability
Windsor CastleLinkHistorical castle, and the Queen's weekend home.



General Information

Emergency Numbers
Police/Fire/Amb - 999
Hatzolah NW - 0300 999 4 999 (Golders Green/Hendon)
Shomrim - 0300-999-0123

-If you plan on using public transportation, get an Oyster card. They are much cheaper and easier to use than conventional travel cards, and never expire. They can be bought in many stores in London, or online. These days one can use contactless credit cards instead of Oyster.(Check here to see if your foreign contactless card will work.)

-Here is a handy planner for the public transport system.

-DD's Kosher Sandwiches can be bought in most major airports and stations and at some supermarkets around London.  Check here for a list of locations.

-Kosher in the West End/City -
Selfridges food hall has a variety of kosher groceries and prepackaged ready food by 1701.
Hermolis  also have a deli counter there.  The range includes schnitzels, spring rolls, kebabs, breaded lamb chops, chicken wings, fish products and salads. Traditional Shabbat dishes will be on sale on Thursdays and Fridays. Supervision is provided by the Kashrut Division London Beth Din
In the City Munch'n'Crunch have a stand in Hatton Garden with kosher meals, sandwiches, sushi and coffee. It is located at 32 Hatton Garden, on the lower-ground floor of Jewellery Emporium. There is also Mincha there at 1:30.

-Kosher food at non-kosher hotels, restaurants etc. can be ordered from the following kosher caterers in London. They provide double-wrapped meals to any location and could also match the menu of your location.
Hermolis (KED/LBD)
Royal Cuisine (KED/LBD)
1701/Adafina (LBD)

Zmanim - MyZmanim London

Minyanim - There are many shuls all over London, however there are a couple of places that have more constant Minyanim throughout the day.

Golders Green
General Golders Green Mincha/Maariv times
Hagers (Beth Yisochor Dov Beth Hamedrash)
R' Chuna's (Beth Shmuel Synagogue)

Stamford Hill
Satmar 26 (Clapton Common)
Pinters
Biala Shul (47 Moundfield Rd, London N16 6DT, UK)
Here is a list of addresses and zmanim for the above, and other places.

-Minyan in the West End could be found at the Marble Arch Synagogue. Shacharis during the week is followed by breakfast, and a kiddush on Shabbos.

-Most food products in general stores do not have a hechsher on them. This does not necessarily mean they are not kosher. For example, Coca-Cola does not have a hechsher, but it is kosher. Here is an online kosher product search that could help. Link to Android app.

« Last edited by yitzy93 on December 27, 2023, 09:02:39 PM »

Author Topic: London Master Thread  (Read 747502 times)

Offline Dan

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Re: London Master Thread
« Reply #660 on: October 15, 2015, 01:02:43 PM »
Does anyone rent a car in London or that's pointless?

Just nervous about taking a cab and then having to walk around with 2 convertible carseats :P
Or is the underground good enough to not deal with cabs?
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline MC

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Re: London Master Thread
« Reply #661 on: October 15, 2015, 01:05:48 PM »
Or is the underground good enough to not deal with cabs?
IME it was great. Possibly one of the cleanest and user-friendly public trans. systems I've encountered thus far.

Offline myb821

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Re: London Master Thread
« Reply #662 on: October 15, 2015, 01:08:38 PM »
best way to go from london to ireland or scotland. Better off flying or training?

Offline Dan

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Re: London Master Thread
« Reply #663 on: October 15, 2015, 01:11:53 PM »
Is Thursday morning-Tuesday morning going to be overkill?
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline myb821

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Re: London Master Thread
« Reply #664 on: October 15, 2015, 01:15:00 PM »
Is Thursday morning-Tuesday morning going to be overkill?
i booked thursday to the following Sunday a full week+ will need to do a side trip of some sort

Offline Yehoshua

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Re: London Master Thread
« Reply #665 on: October 15, 2015, 01:19:02 PM »
Anyone have any SPG or Hyatt reviews?
My review of the Park Tower Knightsbridg (SPG) can be found here.

Does anyone rent a car in London or that's pointless?

Just nervous about taking a cab and then having to walk around with 2 convertible carseats :P
Or is the underground good enough to not deal with cabs?
Totally pointless for a few reasons:

1) Congestion charging for driving in the center of the city
2) Horrible traffic
3) No parking or expensive parking
4) As MC said, the tube is excellent (unless it's closed as in my review above). Not only does it go everywhere, but it's faster than a car and cheaper than a taxi or Uber (kids are free on the tube).
5) Even going outside the city is easy with trains from one of the many stations in the city
6) Many attractions are within walking distance, so you wouldn't even need it.
7) If you did decide to rent a car, most of them are manual. Unless you drive manual normally, trying to drive manual on the other side of the car than you're used to may be tough. Automatic cars are a lot more expensive.

Finally, cabs are really spacious. If you haven't been in a London Black Cab before, the passenger area has a bench seat in the back and 2 seats that fold down that are  rear-facing with lots and lots of storage in between, so getting in one with strollers shouldn't be too hard.
« Last Edit: October 15, 2015, 01:22:17 PM by Yehoshua »

Offline Yehoshua

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Re: London Master Thread
« Reply #666 on: October 15, 2015, 01:20:34 PM »
Is Thursday morning-Tuesday morning going to be overkill?
Landing Thu or landing Fri? I don't think landing Thu is overkill at all, especially if you want to see things outside the city like Stonehenge, Oxford, Bath, or various castles.

Offline ar

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Re: London Master Thread
« Reply #667 on: October 15, 2015, 01:23:41 PM »
Is Thursday morning-Tuesday morning going to be overkill?

No its perfect. However, nothing major there on Shabbos...

-Don't take out a car since the driver seat is switched to the wrong side and the street roads are weird... Just stick with underground train or black cab (more knowledgeable than a regular cab).

-They have great food options (Great milchig places in Golders Geen - forgot the names)

-Buckingham palace, changing of the guards and London eye are a must. Also, you can do diggerland and legoland which are both much nicer than in the US.

Offline ah41187

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Re: London Master Thread
« Reply #668 on: October 15, 2015, 01:43:18 PM »
is it possible to do a 1-2 day trip (without flying) to any other major eurpoean city (other than paris ) from london?

Offline Yehoshua

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Re: London Master Thread
« Reply #669 on: October 15, 2015, 01:45:32 PM »
is it possible to do a 1-2 day trip (without flying) to any other major eurpoean city (other than paris ) from london?
MAN, GLA, EDI,ABZ, etc.

Offline Marco Polo

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Re: London Master Thread
« Reply #670 on: October 15, 2015, 01:49:03 PM »
Landing Thu or landing Fri? I don't think landing Thu is overkill at all, especially if you want to see things outside the city like Stonehenge, Oxford, Bath, or various castles.
How does one get to the "outside the city" attractions?
Quaerite et Invenietis.

Offline Yehoshua

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Re: London Master Thread
« Reply #671 on: October 15, 2015, 01:54:20 PM »
How does one get to the "outside the city" attractions?
They have buses and trains, though if you wanted to spend a lot of time outside the city you can rent a car. We took a bus to Stonehenge and the HP studio which was easy and efficient.

Offline Marco Polo

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Re: London Master Thread
« Reply #672 on: October 15, 2015, 01:55:32 PM »
They have buses and trains, though if you wanted to spend a lot of time outside the city you can rent a car. We took a bus to Stonehenge and the HP studio which was easy and efficient.
Landing on a Friday and departing Monday night. Enough time to go outside the city?
Quaerite et Invenietis.

Offline Yehoshua

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Re: London Master Thread
« Reply #673 on: October 15, 2015, 01:59:51 PM »
Landing on a Friday and departing Monday night. Enough time to go outside the city?
Yes, all day Sunday, though if it's the winter and you want to see London itself you won't have enough time.

Offline Marco Polo

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Re: London Master Thread
« Reply #674 on: October 15, 2015, 02:01:31 PM »
Yes, all day Sunday, though if it's the winter and you want to see London itself you won't have enough time.
Going to be summer.
Quaerite et Invenietis.

Offline Yehoshua

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Re: London Master Thread
« Reply #675 on: October 15, 2015, 02:03:39 PM »
Going to be summer.
Have you been to London before and/or do you want to tour around the city itself?

Offline Marco Polo

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Re: London Master Thread
« Reply #676 on: October 15, 2015, 02:06:14 PM »
Have you been to London before and/or do you want to tour around the city itself?
First time getting out of the airport. Would like to go around the city.
Quaerite et Invenietis.

Offline Yehoshua

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Re: London Master Thread
« Reply #677 on: October 15, 2015, 02:07:53 PM »
First time getting out of the airport. Would like to go around the city.
Most places take in shabbos at 7:30p in the summer (besides Chabad), so you can have a long time on Friday.

Unless you have something outside the city you really want to see, there's no reason to leave. There's plenty to do for 2 days in the city itself.

Offline Marco Polo

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Re: London Master Thread
« Reply #678 on: October 15, 2015, 02:08:37 PM »
Most places take in shabbos at 7:30p in the summer (besides Chabad), so you can have a long time on Friday.

Unless you have something outside the city you really want to see, there's no reason to leave. There's plenty to do for 2 days in the city itself.
Great, thanks.
Quaerite et Invenietis.

Offline MeirS

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Re: London Master Thread
« Reply #679 on: October 15, 2015, 02:10:00 PM »
Dan, if you want any info about the Chabad community and shuls, feel free to PM me.