London’s Ghost Stations

The London Underground or ‘tube’ network has long been carrying crowds of people around for many years now and is a popular mode of travel for thousands of Londoners every day.

The network takes up almost 300 miles of track, both below and above the ground, and actually links almost every part of the capital city, so if you’re staying in any of the hotels in London, the network makes commuting that bit easier for the weary London traveler.

Since 1863, there have been many stations that have opened and closed and nowadays there are numerous abandoned stations or “ghost stations” as they are also referred. Below you can read about a few of these stations and their fascinating stories;

Down Street (1907-1932) – This station was closed in 1932 and the fascinating fact about this one is that the brick work on the tunnel wall will actually change colour as you travel on the Piccadilly Line between Green Park and Hyde Park Corner.

King Willian Street (1890-1900) – This station opened in 1890 and was closed on 24th February 1900 and was used as an air raid shelter during the war. Today, the only access to the station is via the basement of Regis House, who still use some of the tunneling nowadays in order to carry fibre optic cables. There are still posters up on the walls of the station that date back to the air raid shelter days and the tunnels leading to it can still be seen today from the Northern line.

Bull and Bush (completed 1907) – This can clearly be seen between Hampstead and Golders Green on the Northern Line. The unique fact about this particular station is that, although completed in 1907, it was never opened.

Brompton Road (1906-1934) – This station was situated between Knightsbridge and South Kensington stations on the Piccadilly Line and ended up closing in 1934. During World War II the station’s platforms were bricked up in order to be converted into offices and the floors were built in a lift shaft to enable them to convert it into a 4 story operations centre as used by London’s anti-aircraft control centre.

British Museum (1908-1933) – If you gaze out of the window on your journey between Tottenham Court Road and Holborn on the Central Line then you can see this station which was closed in 1933 when the new Holborn startion we know today was erected. The station had a very important job during World War II as it was used by the Ministry of Defence as an administrative office.

Aldwych (1907-1994) – Aldwych is actually a closed branch line so it cannot be seen from underground, however, the station still exists and is now used for private parties and also as a film and TV set. The station can still be seen from the street and is probably most deserving if it’s “ghost station” title as ‘Fluffers” (people who clean the tracks at night) have apparently spotted the ghost of an actress on the tracks many times. This may be explained by the fact that the station was actually built on the site of the Royal Strand Theatre.

Using an Online Travel Agency

If you are planning a vacation and would like to save money, an online travel agency is an excellent resource. Several advantages of using these travel agencies are: great deals, expert help, package deals, and the ability to relax while your vacation is being booked.

The internet is full of great travel deals, and choosing an online travel agency can be a difficult task. The first step is knowing your budget and deciding where you want to go. One travel agency that I found is Liberty Travel and they had many great deals on trips to Europe.

Booking your trip online is also beneficial because you can quickly browse the trip selections and compare prices. This allows you to find the best option to fit your budget.

Package deals are a popular option and they often include just about everything needed for your trip such as the hotel, flight, and a rental car. These travel packages make it much easier to plan a trip and it also saves you time.

Travel agencies also have expert help that can assist you in every aspect of planning a trip. They can provide advice on where to stay and the most popular attractions to see. This is very beneficial because it allows you to relax without the need to do extensive research on the location you are planning to visit.

Although using a travel agency may not be for everyone, it is recommended because of the amount of money that can be saved. If you decide to search for great deals on your own, you can still find great prices with some research.

Top Tourist Destinations In China:

China is becoming one of the popular tourist spots in the world. It is a land of cultural and geographical splits.  Scenic landscapes and towering mountains make the country an ideal destination for couples, families with children and fun lovers. The deserts, sacred peaks and imperial ruins make your travel in China an unforgettable one. You can get cheap and best deals to visit China by shopping around the internet.

Beijing is the capital city of China and it boasts of plenty of attractions. The magnificent Forbidden City is one of the top attractions here. It is the well preserved imperial palace complex in the world. It is surrounded by a deep moat and an elevated wall. It has 9,999 rooms.  Yellow is the symbol of the royal family in China, so the palace roofs were built with yellow glazed tiles and the decorations are made in yellow color. Now the palace serves as a museum.

The Great Wall of China is one of the wonders in the world. The wall has eight sections and five of them are opened to the public. Most of the sections in Beijing are well maintained. If you are an adventure seeker or fun lover, you can combine any of the sections in the Great Wall for hiking.

Tiananmen Square is another must see place in China. You can see the monument of people’s heroes, Tiananmen Tower and Great Hall of the people here. It is also a relaxing place for locals to fly kites and walk.

Shanghai is a lively metropolis in China that invites people from all around the world to enjoy its beautiful atmosphere. The Bund is a popular waterfront and is the symbol of Shanghai. The night view of the Bund is mesmerizing. The usage of period lamp posts helps to keep the aesthetic feeling of building structures. Yuyuan garden is the largest ancient garden in Shanghai. The Great Rockery in this garden allows you to enjoy a bird’s eye view of the garden.

Guangzhou is a famous cultural city in China. If you have passion for ancient art and architecture, you can plan a visit to this city.  Bright Filai Piety Temple in this city is an important place to visit. This temple provides insight into the history of Buddhism, culture and architecture in China. The Pearl River in Guangzhou is another fantastic place to visit. You can enjoy walking in the scenery corridor alongside the river or take a boat ride to enjoy the picturesque views.

Renting a Car

car-rental2Everyone is looking to save a few bucks, and one of the easiest ways to do that is by doing a little research on Car Rental Rates. Whether you are looking for an Orlando Car Rental or a rental car anywhere else in Florida or around the country, there are a few simple things you can do.

Buy your own gas

Car rental companies can be extremely creative at finding new ways to generate revenue, so they are quick to push the “convenience” of prepaying for a full tank of gas and not filling up before you return it. While that will save you a few minutes of time, it could cost you quite a bit, especially if you are not going to be driving the 300 miles or so that it might take to run the tank down close to empty. Just make a note of the closest gas station after you rent the car and allow a few extra minutes to stop there for a fill up before you return the car.

Pick the right car type

Just as you don’t want to waste money on gas you will never use, you also don’t want to be paying for a gas-guzzler rental if you don’t need it. While it might be nice to have a big SUV, do you really need one if you are traveling alone or just with one other person? You can probably get a lower rate on an equally roomy full-size car, and you are likely to save some money at the pump.

Bring your own car seat

If you are traveling with kids and renting a larger vehicle, it might be tempting to just rent a child safety seat from the rental car company. But at about $10 a day, those charges will add up and you never know what kind of car seat you are going to get. Plus, most airlines don’t count child safety seats as baggage, so you won’t have to pay those nasty extra baggage fees if you bring your own.

You don’t have to rent at the airport

Of course getting your Florida rental car at the airport is convenient, but it’s not always cost effective. There are often extra taxes on airport rentals, and sometimes the airport rental rates are just plain higher. So do a little research and also check the rates at locations that are close to the airport and can be reached by shuttle or a cheap cab ride.

Using those tips, you can save some serious money on a rental car in Florida and have more cash in your pocket for other things.

Tips to Help You Pack for Your Trip

suitcaseMispacking is probably the easiest way to ruin a trip. Not having the appropriate attire, forgetting important items, or having something important broken in transit can really spoil a trip. An important part of packing is figuring out just how to fit everything into your bags. This article will strive to help you do just that so you don’t have to stress about things breaking or what to leave behind.

Whatever you are using to pack your things in, make sure that you clearly tag all of your luggage with your name, address, and telephone number. If you get separated from your luggage or it gets lost, it will be much easier to find it again. Another great tip for if you happen to lose your luggage is to scan your passport, passport photos, and airline tickets into your computer and store them in a web-based email account. This way, even if you lose everything, you have immediate access to all your important information. When packing, it’s a good idea to split up your valuables into different bags. If you happen to lose one of your bags, at least you won’t have lost every important document and valuable.

When it comes to organizing your space within your luggage you will want it packed in a way that makes items easily accessible once you reach your destination. Packing your things in separate plastic bags is a great way to accomplish this. Having one clear plastic zip lock bag for each type of clothing will make it much easier when you go to unpack. You will be able to immediately see what you want. When packing your clothes into the plastic bags roll them up carefully – don’t fold them. Rolling provides more space and also will help ward off wrinkles. And remember when packing clothes to try and only pack what you know you will need and use. If you are traveling for more than three weeks you can wash them on the road.

If you are traveling with breakable items, surround them with soft items to protect them. If possible, take the breakable item as part of your carry on, as this is the best way to ensure its safety. For better utilization of space, look for ways to use every nook and cranny. This includes filling in small empty areas with socks and filling up your boots with small items.

Take a jacket with you on the plane instead of packing it and fill the pockets with important items that you might need. For your carry on, pack it smartly. Keep any medications and important papers in it, as well as a change of clothes. This will definitely come in handy if you have multiple stopovers on a long flight, because if your luggage gets delayed or lost, you will need a fresh change of clothes while you wait. It would make a bad situation much worse if you didn’t have clean clothes, your medication, and your important papers.

A great way to ensure you pack everything you need to is to make a packing list and check off every item as you pack it. Organization is key to make sure you have a successful packing experience.

Cheap flights to London

londonLondon is one of the splendid destinations in the world. Millions of travelers book flights to London every year to visit the great Buckingham Palace, London Bridge and the Tower of London. Madame Tussauds is a world famous wax museum in London.
The London’s Eye is one of the best tourist attractions in the city. It allows you to enjoy 40 kilometer panoramic views of the city on a clear day. You can view some famous landmarks like Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, St. Paul’s Cathedral and Trafalgar Square on a gradual ride in the London’s eye. ZSL London zoo houses more than 1000 species of animals, birds and fishes. Gorilla Kingdom, Butterfly paradise, Tropical birds pavilion and aquarium are the highlights of this zoo.

You can book cheap flights to London to enjoy the ancient charm and modern beauty of this city. Internet is the best place to find some best deals. You just need to choose the name of the airport near to you and compare the prices of London flights. You can book a flight to London at anytime you want. However, July and August are the warmest months. Spring and fall can be pleasant in London, so you can plan your trip during those seasons. The royal parks and gardens are fresh and beautiful in spring season. The city receives heavy rainfall in November, so it is not advisable to book a flight during November.

Normally, the British people get their vacations in July and Augusts, so the resorts and hotels are overcrowded in these months. However, it is quite interesting to spend summer in London, as the city offers plenty of fascinating things to do and see in this season. January is the coolest month. However, you can get cheap flights in such off seasons.

London has various airport options. You can book cheap flight to any of those airports. Heathrow Airport is the busiest airport in the UK. It is located 15 miles away from London. You can reach the town with the help of designated Heathrow Express Trains. You can also reach the town by the underground tube. Taxis and coach services are also available from the airport to the city. Gatwick airport is located 25 miles away from London. You can reach the city by taking the Gatwick Express train. Stansted airport is 30 miles away from London. There are shuttle buses and taxis that connect the Stansted airport to the city.

© 2010 Pat Travels the World
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