An (almost) Seamless Trip: Getting to our flat
For 45 minutes we searched the area for a Kensington Cabs driver who was supposed to meet us with a name sign. Unable to find him, we finally gave up and took a cab to the apartment I’d arranged through a private owner months before in the Chelsea-Kensington area (near Holland Park). The drive from LHR to Kensington took nearly an hour along jarring, loud, pollution-filled roadways, further fraying our jet-lagged nerves which are used to quiet, country living.
NOTE: It is not worth taking a cab due to the noise, the time and the cost. Our cost, 50-pounds (plus a 5 pound tip), was equivalent to $115 (sept. 5, 2007). The tube to Waterloo, changing for Kensington High Street or Kensington Olympia, might have costs a total of $35 and gotten us close to the apartment in less than 30 minutes, without the traffic noise, diesel fumes and aggravation. With only one carry-on rolling bag each (plus a messanger bag or day pack), we didn’t realize how easy — and not confusing — it would have been to take the tube.
NOTE: Travel light! We hear this admonition repeatedly and yet some people just don’t get it. In a separate article I’ll elaborate with specifics on exactly what to pack in one bag for a 2-week trip, and dress really well. Meanwhile, if you’re one of those people who needs a sherpa to schlep your bags, I urge to remain open to the idea of carry-on-only travel.
Note: Kensington Cabs’ fee of 65 pounds was charged by our landlord who arranged it. The company claimed their driver was there and did not find us. However, acting professionally, they gave us credit and we used it on our last day in London for a ride from the flat to Waterloo Station to catch the Eurostar
We arrived at the apartment half a block north of Kensington High Street on Holland Road, both busy thoroughfares. The exterior of the Georgian townhouse was shabby and garbage littered the street. Upon entering the hallway we found dirty walls, threadbare carpet and a narrow winding staircase up which we slogged our bags four floors. We had seen photos of the flat on line and it looked charming. “Maybe it’s just the public space that’s less-than-wonderful,” Jan offered optimistically, “and the flat will be great.”
Tags: local transport, London, Travel
aysha
Yes, I agree that the tube journey is a cheaper and greener alternative, especially when there is not much heavy luggage. Hope you had a great trip!
Mala Mukunda
http://www.traveling-stories-magazine.com/
Thanks for mentioning the “greener” aspect. There are many ways to think and act with environmental and social consciousness while traveling (and living, in general!).
In this article, all I was thinking about was easily getting out of Heathrow and to the refuge of our vacation rental. The taxi proved not easeful and the vacation rental not a refuge but, yes, I had a great trip!
Arriving in any unfamiliar major city is overwheming, but my lack of ability to handle and filter frenetic energy is exacerbated by living in a non-urban environment.