London Underground Tour

*I received a complimentary tours for the two of us from Insider London for the purposes of review.  

If you've read my blog for any time at all,

you know that I have a Love/Hate relationship with the Tube.

(This particular rant is Exhibit A for Reasons Not to Blog while PMSing. 

Don't even get me started on how hot the Tube has been lately.)

But, the London Underground is a fascinating thing and the primary way to get around London.

It has been an integral part of London for 150 years now and 

you can't really avoid it.  (Well, unless you're a Spice Girl.)

I've been trying really hard to embrace the Tube,

so when Insider London invited Matt and I to join them on one of their tours

we eagerly signed up for the London Underground and Tube Tour.

We started above ground.  We met our guide,

Michelle at Paddington Station at 11am on a Friday morning.

Our tour group was just the right size.  There were eight of us so we could 

all keep up and easily duck out of the the way to listen to Michelle.

After a basic introduction, we headed underground for two hour tour and talk about

the London Tube.  

Michelle is American although she has been in London for many years now.

She is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about history.

She guided us easily from station to station, letting us know what was coming next.

Even on the busy route, she knew the best places to stop for a discussion

so that we never felt stressed or crowded.

Michelle was very engaging.  There was a young boy on our tour that was fascinated

with the Tube.  She was very sweet and patient with him,

without ever talking down to him.  He stayed right by her side.

She was also full of fascinating information.

There is just so much history and interesting facts about the Underground

over the past 150 years.  The information fills up books.

But we learned some great facts and certainly enough to peak our interest further.

She also pointed out the little things that we just overlook as we hurry through the stations each day.  For instance, have you noticed this Tube map made of Legos at Piccadilly Circus Station?  There are five of them at various stations to celebrate the 150 year anniversary.   Or have you ever stopped to look at the 1920's World Time Today clock at the same station?  And do you know how to decipher the tile work at the various stations?

It's not just decorative.  It's there to guide you.

We had a great tour with Michelle

and found out that she also does some of the other historical tours with Insider London.

Insider London offers many different tours such as the London Street & Graffiti Art,

Modern Architecture, The History of Drinking & Pubs (fun!) and

Quirky London to name just a few.

Planning your Insider London Underground Walking Tour

First off we have to talk about price.  At £20 per person this tour is not cheap.  (Their various tours range from £18 up to £40.)  You can find good walking tours in London for less or even free.  But...

1.  I believe they're the only one offering Underground Tube Tours (please correct me if I'm wrong).

2.  And according to their website  "All bookings come with a money-back guarantee: if you don’t love it, email us after the tour and we’ll refund the amount of your choice." 

So, if you want a great tour with a reputable company and are willing to pay that amount, then I can definitely recommend them.

‘Join-in’ tours are on Mondays at 11am and 2pm, and Fridays at 11am.  (Private tours  can be arranged on the time and day of your choice.)  The 'Join In' tours require a minimum of 2 people per booking.

All tours must be booked in advance. 

All attendees need to provide their own Oyster card or Travelcard (Zones 1 & 2).

We did not visit any disused stations.

 

Insider London was friendly, professional and very informative.

I hope we can join them again soon for another tour.

 Do you know any interesting facts about the London Underground?  

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   *We received complimentary tours from Insider London.   All photos and opinions are 100% my own.  
As always, I promise to be open, honest and transparent with my readers.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.


You can find this review and many others in my
London Attraction Guide.

Exploring South Bank London

*I spent the morning exploring as a guest of southbanklondon.com.

When we lived over by Tower Bridge,

one of our favorite things to do was to stroll along the south bank of the Thames.

The area between Westminster Bridge and Tower Bridge is one of London's greatest attractions.
So much to see and do. Every time we walked along this route, I fell more and more in love with London.  

So when I received an invite from SouthBankLondon.com to spend a few hours exploring
just some of what South Bank has to offer I was happy to join them. 

I was always a little confused about what the area along the south bank of the Thames is actually called.  So I got a little clarification.  Generally, the area west of Blackfriars Bridge is called South Bank.  The area from Blackfriars Bridge to London Bridge is called Bankside and the area East of London Bridge is called London Bridge. 

On this particular warm day of exploring South Bank we started at the world renowned National Theatre for a behind the scenes look.  

 

Besides the fabulous productions offered by the National Theatre, you can also visit and take a backstage tour (£8.50) or a costume tour (£12.50).  There is a bookshop, bars and restaurants.  They even have a Costume and Prop Hire department.  Can you imagine the period costumes they have?  

The Shed which is a temporary venue in front of the National Theatre that will be open until February 2014.  It's an intimate theatre with 225 seats around a small stage.  A version of Romeo & Juliet for young audiences is running for the next few weeks that I'm hoping to go see.  Tickets are £12 and £20.  They also offer Family Workshops for a behind the scenes look at the production.  

After a ride on the London Eye (which has a separate post), we visited the Southbank Centre.   It's the UK's largest art center and there is always something creative going on.   They are currently celebrating a summer long Festival of Neighborhood through September 8th.  This festival celebrates neighborhoods and what makes them great.  A giant urban garden, allotments along the Queen's Walk, a greenhouse, foliage sculptures and wheelbarrow installation and more are all there for you to enjoy.

 

 London Wonderground is running until September 29th with circus, cabaret and sideshows.  We are hoping to go see Limbo in the next few weeks.  

These are just a few of the many festivals, performances, films, exhibitions and experiences that you can enjoy at South Bank.  Not to mention all of the restaurants and bars.  One of my favorites is Propstore.  It's a summer pop up bar that is built with props and sets from the National Theatre productions.  

 

The opportunities for fun are perfect for a day out in London.

And don't just take my word for it.
Emm in London recently wrote about the murals you see above.   

 What's your favorite find in South Bank?

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  *I was a guest of southbanklondon.com.  All photos and opinions are 100% my own.

As always, I promise to be open, honest and transparent with my readers.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.


You can find this review and many others in my
London Attraction Guide.

18 Month Well Expat Checkup

I've been wanting to do one last Well-Expat Checkup now that we've reached the 18 month mark.  I'm no longer a baby expat and now I'm just an American living in the UK.  But it's a post I've struggled with.  I don't really know what to say about it.  Now it's just my life.  Sure there are still challenges and regular surprises, but it's no longer all consuming. 

I went back and read through my other expat musings and checkups.  It made me smile and even shed a tear or two. 

Getting Ready!  
Honeymoon Phase
Comfort Zone
1 Month Well Expat Check Up
Lose the Attitude
2 Month Well Expat Check up
3 Month Well Expat Check up
Get Out your Mini Violins
A Hug for You 
6 Month Well Expat Check Up 
One Year Well Expat Check Up

I was told over and over that it would take about 18 months to feel settled and they were right.  I feel settled. 

I'm still dealing with challenges, but they are just everyday challenges.  Living a healthy lifestyle.  Finding self love and fulfillment.  Maintaining a vibrant and loving marriage  Connecting with family members.   Nurturing friendships.  Personal growth.  Keeping a sense of humor and passion for  life.  Those are universal challenges that we face no matter where we live. 

As I look back over the transition, these four things stand out for me.

Biggest Challenge

I knew the weather would probably be a challenge.  Everyone has an idea about rainy, gloomy London (which is not the norm).  That wasn't really an issue for me until the really tough spring recently.  And the very short days and the darkness of the winter affected me much more than I ever expected.  But, I have to say the biggest challenge was the loss of my voice.  My self-confidence took a huge hit when I moved here.  I've talked to some other expats who experienced the same thing.  I was suddenly very self-conscious about what I had to say and how I communicated.  It's not just about the accents, but about the context and characteristics of another culture.  There are some really subtle differences that are sometimes hard to pick up on .  I always felt a few beats off the music.  But, this is definitely getting better.  Building friendships and a social life has helped immensely. 

Worst Thing

Every expat will tell you that the worst thing is living so far away from those that you love.  It's so difficult.  I miss my parents, I miss my brother and his family.  I miss my friends.  I miss my daughter Jessica.  It's just an ache that really never goes away.  It's always there.  Always a little piece of me missing.  There is an unseen thread that connects her to me, attached to our cores.  Sometimes it's floating softly and comfortably in the distance between us.  Things are okay and we are connected.  Sometimes the thread snaps tightly and wakes me from a sound sleep.  She isn't here.  Is she okay.  What is she doing, thinking, feeling right now?  Sometimes I desperately want to grab the cord that connects us and pull quickly hand over hand to bring her to me.  She will be here in my mother's embrace in 35 days and it can't come soon enough  I miss my girl child.  (There will be a scene in arrivals at Heathrow.)

Biggest Lesson

I think the biggest lesson is that you are never too old to embrace a new chapter in life.  If you'd have told me even three years ago that I would be married to a Brit,  living in London and publishing a travel blog.  I would have laughed and said, "Whatever."  And yet here I am living a completely new and wonderful chapter in my life.  I've found a passion for travel and I'm lucky enough to share it with a wonderful man.  I've discovered photography and blogging which gives me so much joy.  In spite of the struggles, I feel like I'm living the life that I was meant to live.   I'm still thrilled to discover what the future holds.  And it's so true.  Life happens outside of your comfort zone. 

Best Thing

The best thing has to be the discovery.  I'm growing and learning so much everyday.  I've always said that my favorite thing to do is anything for the first time.  And moving out of my comfort zone means that I'm regularly having those experiences.  I love every second of it.  I love England and London.  Just being here gives me a charge.  It's beautiful!  And the connection to stories and history is fantastic.  The fact that travel is such an integral part of life has completely changed me and  I love being an expat. 

So this will be my last well-expat checkup.   I'm sure I will continue to learn and grow as life moves forward.  And I'm sure I will continue to be challenged and live outside of my comfort zone.  At least I hope so.  But it's time to end the Well Expat Checkups.  

I was helped so much along the way by those who had gone through this before me. Thank you so much.  And now I love getting emails and comments from people that are just setting out on this journey.  Any help that I can give to others I'm happy to give.  Even if it's just a cyber hug and a knowing nod to what you are going through.  Feel free to reach out and send me a note.  I'd love to hear from you.  

What was your biggest challenge? 

What's the best thing about being an expat?

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I'm linking up with The Expat Diaries with

Postcards from Rachel and

Lost in Travels