London Master Thread

[EJB]

You absolutely don't need a cap for London, unless you're in the arab suburbs between the jewish parts of town and the city.

[Ergel]

It does look neat, but I just can't see him doing these things without one of us (or at least a friend) by his side:

Looks amazing. Want to travel to London just to bring my kids...

[JoshNY]

You will definitely meet Arabs in Harrods, but those tend to be the very wealthy ones from Qatar, UAE etc., which makes sense, considering Harrods is owned by the Qatari Royal Family.

As other posters have mentioned, it's usually perfect safe to appear Jewish in the areas you're likey to be visiting.

[Dan]

Looks amazing. Want to travel to London just to bring my kids...

How old are your kids now?

[Dan]

For now I will rescind my previous statement while I try to find out.

Emailed a couple shluchim.
Both said they eat at Zest and Reuben's.

[Yehoshua]

Emailed a couple shluchim.
Both said they eat at Zest and Reuben's.

Kashrus in Europe is very confusing. Discussing it online with people you don't know if even more confusing. It seems to me that if you normally trust shluchim for kashrus when travelling and they say it's fine just go by that. Too confusing otherwise.

[Dan]

Kashrus in Europe is very confusing. Discussing it online with people you don't know if even more confusing. It seems to me that if you normally trust shluchim for kashrus when travelling and they say it's fine just go by that. Too confusing otherwise.

Yup, that's what I think I'll do. I trust they've looked into the situation on the ground.

[Yehoshua]

Yup, that's what I think I'll do. I trust they've looked into the situation on the ground.

Good idea. Sometimes I've found that Chabad doesn't eat at perfectly good local places because of politics, but it's still much easier to ask one person and stick with their psak.

[Dan]

Good idea. Sometimes I've found that Chabad doesn't eat at perfectly good local places because of politics, but it's still much easier to ask one person and stick with their psak.

I've asked that straight up to shluchim in the page and usually get an honest response.

[Ergel]

How old are your kids now?

Almost 6 and almost 4. Both (especially the 4 YO) would run off and forget we were there. I think they could spend a week there and not get tired of it.

[rcarentals]

Yup, that's what I think I'll do. I trust they've looked into the situation on the ground.

Confirmed over the phone with Zest they are cholov yisroel.

If it was between SoYo or Caffeine - I would recommend SoYo..
But it seems overall people agree both are quite good. Personally i would come in to London in the morning to grab a good breakfast at SoYo on at least one day - then buy some stuff from the local stores for lunch while out touring.. SoYo is right next to Kosher Kindom - which sells everything...
People Recommended kaifeng not just because of the food, but also because of the ambiance. the combo makes it a really nice place to have dinner.. kinda romantic..

My english cousins recommend the "wonderful salt beef sandwiches." at ruebens.

[Dan]

Almost 6 and almost 4. Both (especially the 4 YO) would run off and forget we were there. I think they could spend a week there and not get tired of it.

Hmm. Made me rethink my position, but now the reviews are scaring me away as well:
https://www.google.com/search?q=KidZania+London,+1st+Floor,,+Westfield+London+Shopping+Centre,+Ariel+Way,+London+W12+7GA&ludocid=8505534552708463554#lrd=0x48760fdbca1af2df:0x7609ba9c86ffbbc2,1

[Dan]

Confirmed over the phone with Zest they are cholov yisroel.

If it was between SoYo or Caffeine - I would recommend SoYo..
But it seems overall people agree both are quite good. Personally i would come in to London in the morning to grab a good breakfast at SoYo on at least one day - then buy some stuff from the local stores for lunch while out touring.. SoYo is right next to Kosher Kindom - which sells everything...
People Recommended kaifeng not just because of the food, but also because of the ambiance. the combo makes it a really nice place to have dinner.. kinda romantic..

My english cousins recommend the "wonderful salt beef sandwiches." at ruebens.

1. Seems hard to beleive it could it be worth spending over an hour in transit for breakfast.
2. Romantic isn't really what I care about on a trip with 2 little kids.
3. Isn't that just corned beef? Haven't read much about Reuben's except that it's well located for tourists but very overpriced for mediocre food.

[Ergel]

Hmm. Made me rethink my position, but now the reviews are scaring me away as well:
https://www.google.com/search?q=KidZania+London,+1st+Floor,,+Westfield+London+Shopping+Centre,+Ariel+Way,+London+W12+7GA&ludocid=8505534552708463554#lrd=0x48760fdbca1af2df:0x7609ba9c86ffbbc2,1

Two main complaints in the reviews:
1. Price for adults and kids under 4, which is crazy. A decision you have to make
2. Long waiting times. If you're going mid week and not during a vacation time, I'd go. If only time you have is weekend or you're traveling during holidays I'd skip it

[JoshNY]

Hmm. Made me rethink my position, but now the reviews are scaring me away as well:
https://www.google.com/search?q=KidZania+London,+1st+Floor,,+Westfield+London+Shopping+Centre,+Ariel+Way,+London+W12+7GA&ludocid=8505534552708463554#lrd=0x48760fdbca1af2df:0x7609ba9c86ffbbc2,1

What are your travel dates? Lots of English schools are on "half term" break over the next few weekends.

[MeirS]

Emailed a couple shluchim.
Both said they eat at Zest and Reuben's.

Sounds good!

Kashrus in Europe is very confusing. Discussing it online with people you don't know if even more confusing. It seems to me that if you normally trust shluchim for kashrus when travelling and they say it's fine just go by that. Too confusing otherwise.

[Dan]

Two main complaints in the reviews:
1. Price for adults and kids under 4, which is crazy. A decision you have to make
2. Long waiting times. If you're going mid week and not during a vacation time, I'd go. If only time you have is weekend or you're traveling during holidays I'd skip it

Right, $112 for us, pretty crazy for 4 hours.

But more than that the reviews also seem to say that age 4 is really pushing things and that the attractions aren't as great as it seems from the video.

Plus how does the queue work? There's no way that Rafi will just patiently wait in a queue without us by his side.

[Dan]

HP is an all day event. If you're going with a tour you will be dropped off in London, but if you drive yourself you drive right through Hendon and pass some kosher restaurants that are literally on the same road. May be a consideration if you really want to go out to eat and don't want to backtrack, but it's not the cheapest option for sure.

The Golden tour seems like a rip-off. Basically charging £80 to go to their bus stop to be driven there. A door-to-door Uber would be the same price.
Or a train+shuttle would be a small fraction of that.
Plus with Uber you could go right to GG afterward for dinner.

[Ergel]

Right, $112 for us, pretty crazy for 4 hours.

Agreed, especially since Rafi is the only one who will enjoy.
I personally wouldn't pay that for 1 kid.

But more than that the reviews also seem to say that age 4 is really pushing things

All depends on your kid. No one knows him better than you.

and that the attractions aren't as great as it seems from the video.

That's to be expected. Question is how far off is it

Plus how does the queue work? There's no way that Rafi will just patiently wait in a queue without us by his side.

Good question. But if you're going midweek not during a holiday doesn't seem like this would be an issue. could he wait 5-10 minutes by himself?

[Dan]

could he wait 5-10 minutes by himself?

If we were with him he could wait an hour, but by himself I have a hard time imagining him staying in line for more than a few minutes.