London Is A Rip-Off
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
February 13, 2011 6:52am CST
I love London, I really do. Such a vibrant city with loads to see.
However, what I DON'T like about London (and I guess it will be the same with other capital cities around the world) are the rip-off prices they charge for visitors.
Carlisle United will be in the Johnstone's Paints Trophy Final against Brentford on 4th April, which is a Sunday, not the greatest day for travelling, especially on public transport.
John was due to travel by coach (bus) but the organiser has had to pull out through lack of numbers. The more people that travel the cheaper the coach becomes, so it's not financially viable for the operator.
Fair enough.
My FIL rang John to tell him the in-laws aren't going either. Their initial plan was to stay in a posh hotel for three nights and take in a show. A couple of weeks ago they were quoted (at a Travel Agents) £535 all in, including the train there and back. They didn't book it there and then because - at that stage Carlisle had another leg to play so weren't officially in the final yet.
Anyway, the reason they are not going now is due to the price shooting up from £535 to £699! Apparently, the hotels have all gone up for the whole month of April. Can you guess why?
THE ROYAL WEDDING ON THE 29TH APRIL!
I'm telling you now, if Wembley was situated in Blackpool, in the North West of England, no-one would be ripped off. It's not that kind of Town. Even travelling down in the car (to London) is extortionate. For the petrol it would £60 each way for a full tank, then there's the £25 charge for parking on the Wembley car park, then there's the prices of the Wembley tickets (usually about £45 each), then there's food and drink on top of that.
Not surprisingly, me and John are going to watch this final on the telly!
God help anyone visiting London next year for the Olympics!
Carlisle United will be in the Johnstone's Paints Trophy Final against Brentford on 4th April, which is a Sunday, not the greatest day for travelling, especially on public transport.
John was due to travel by coach (bus) but the organiser has had to pull out through lack of numbers. The more people that travel the cheaper the coach becomes, so it's not financially viable for the operator.
Fair enough.
My FIL rang John to tell him the in-laws aren't going either. Their initial plan was to stay in a posh hotel for three nights and take in a show. A couple of weeks ago they were quoted (at a Travel Agents) £535 all in, including the train there and back. They didn't book it there and then because - at that stage Carlisle had another leg to play so weren't officially in the final yet.
Anyway, the reason they are not going now is due to the price shooting up from £535 to £699! Apparently, the hotels have all gone up for the whole month of April. Can you guess why?
THE ROYAL WEDDING ON THE 29TH APRIL!
I'm telling you now, if Wembley was situated in Blackpool, in the North West of England, no-one would be ripped off. It's not that kind of Town. Even travelling down in the car (to London) is extortionate. For the petrol it would £60 each way for a full tank, then there's the £25 charge for parking on the Wembley car park, then there's the prices of the Wembley tickets (usually about £45 each), then there's food and drink on top of that.
Not surprisingly, me and John are going to watch this final on the telly!
God help anyone visiting London next year for the Olympics!1 person likes this
10 responses
@jwfarrimond (4473)
•
13 Feb 11
Being totally uninterested in sport and being one of the (apparent) minority who thinks that the Olympics are a monumental waste of money and something intended to just ro take the minds of the general populace off their problems. (Bread and circus's anyone?)I'll very likely be having a television free year next year! Maybe I'll go on a long trip someplace where there is no TV coverage of it all - Outer Mongolia perhaps!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
13 Feb 11
I do sympathise with people like yourself that has no interest in sport. However, the extra visitors will pump money into our economy that will benefit London, but nowhere else, unfortunately.
@jwfarrimond (4473)
•
13 Feb 11
One of the scandals of it all is apparently there is a very good chance that the brand new Olympic stadium that's cost I don't know how many millions may very well be demolished at the end of it all! It'd be interesting to see exactly what the profit/loss ballence sheet will be after it's all over. Easy enough to quantify the cost, working out the other side of the ballence sheet is much more difficult.
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
13 Feb 11
Unfortunately, it happens everywhere when there's a special event...it's not just London. Some day I want to visit London, but it won't be when the royals wed and it won't be for the Olympics. It's going to be some "dull" time, when I can more afford it. And it might be some time when the dollar and the Euro are 1:1.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
13 Feb 11
I would invite people if I wasn't so ashamed of this house.
I know it's all about people having a good time and I appreciate your comments regarding a party. Ordinarily, I'd definitely be up for it but two things put me off..this awful house and our embarrassment of a TV. The picture is fine on it but it's very old, the sound isn't that great and I wouldn't want to force people to watch it lol.
If anyone else wants to invite us somewhere, all well and good. Most of the guys who would normally be on the coach are party animals!
How much were the Superbowl tickets? I know you didn't go but I guess you know the prices? Is it like Wembley where the price is determined by where in the stadium you want to sit? I'd love to know.
I know it's all about people having a good time and I appreciate your comments regarding a party. Ordinarily, I'd definitely be up for it but two things put me off..this awful house and our embarrassment of a TV. The picture is fine on it but it's very old, the sound isn't that great and I wouldn't want to force people to watch it lol.
If anyone else wants to invite us somewhere, all well and good. Most of the guys who would normally be on the coach are party animals!
How much were the Superbowl tickets? I know you didn't go but I guess you know the prices? Is it like Wembley where the price is determined by where in the stadium you want to sit? I'd love to know.@hofferp (4734)
• United States
13 Feb 11
Yeah, the Super Bowl was in Dallas (Arlington, really). Now, if I could have afforded the ticket, which I couldn't, I would have had a place to stay...my nieces' in Plano (a suburb of Dallas). And I probably could have afforded to drive to Dallas; it's about 10 hours from here. But the ticket prices are outrageous and I simply wouldn't pay them. Anyway, I'd rather watch it on TV...I think you see more and you can party with friends, which I did. I thought you were going to stay home and throw a party? It really doesn't cost that much if you tell people to bring their own booze and it's a potluck. Even though I usually furnish the booze and munchies, you don't have to go that route. People are more than willing to bring their own; it's just an opportunity to get together with friends and it doesn't cost anyone an arm and a leg. Think about it. Invite friends, John's favorite co-workers...and have a party at home.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
14 Feb 11
Olympics is one thing better seen on TV anyway. There are so many events that you can't possibly take them all in, but you have a better chance on TV.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
14 Feb 11
That's very true. Athletics in particular is brilliant on telly. No doubt the tickets right next to the 100m track will be sky-high. More fool them because they won't see anything if they all stand up lol.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
15 Feb 11
London is indeed an expensive place to visit. I actually found the entire UK to be very expensive for the traveller. It would not be so bad when you are earning English Pounds, but when you are there on an Australian credit card, things can get out of hand real quick! 
We had been staying in youth hostels and cheap hotels all across the USA before we went to London. We were used to paying around $7USD per night ($10AUD at the time) for a bed, but then we hit London and got into trouble. We were supposed to be staying with an Aussie friend who had a spare room in the house where he was renting a room, but the landlord who also lived there was an absolute tool. He tried charging us a ridiculous price (which I have forgotten) for a mouldy mattress amongst paint tins and timber in a spare room. He then then upped the price, so we told him where to go.
We then ended up at a youth hostel where it was 20pound per night, which worked out to be $50AUD each per night! We could not do that so after spending one night there, I contacted some friends of my mums who I had only met once many years before when they were backpacking around Australia. They were kind enough to put us up for the week for free which was an amazing thing to do. I am forever grateful to them for their kindness.
We had been staying in youth hostels and cheap hotels all across the USA before we went to London. We were used to paying around $7USD per night ($10AUD at the time) for a bed, but then we hit London and got into trouble. We were supposed to be staying with an Aussie friend who had a spare room in the house where he was renting a room, but the landlord who also lived there was an absolute tool. He tried charging us a ridiculous price (which I have forgotten) for a mouldy mattress amongst paint tins and timber in a spare room. He then then upped the price, so we told him where to go.
We then ended up at a youth hostel where it was 20pound per night, which worked out to be $50AUD each per night! We could not do that so after spending one night there, I contacted some friends of my mums who I had only met once many years before when they were backpacking around Australia. They were kind enough to put us up for the week for free which was an amazing thing to do. I am forever grateful to them for their kindness. @Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
15 Feb 11
Haha! They use the word "tool" here in Cumbria..quite a lot. Great word.
How long ago was it you were over here? £20 a night sounds a lot to me for a Youth Hostel. In fact, some of them up here might be CLOSING DOWN and just leave the bigger ones open. Many people are up in arms about it as it's still the cheapest form of putting your head down for the night lol. I remember going on a residential in the Lake District many years ago. I shared with this posh bint who was unbelievable..leaving dirty underwear lying about..certainly opened my eyes I can tell you. When one of the instructors (bloke) came round inspecting the rooms he voted ours as the worsed one on the block for uncleanliness. He then proceeded to show everyone else in our party the state of our room! Cheek! I was outraged and told him so! "Excuse me!" I said. "All those dirty knickers you see on the floor aren't mine. I've packed mine away seperately thanks very much. Have a go at HER (pointing at my posh friend) for making this room untidy, it's nowt to do with me!"
I think he got the message lol.
It is wonderful when people are kind enough to put you up for nothing. That is one of the reasons you must visit Cumbria one day. The kindness of the people actually keep me here.
How long ago was it you were over here? £20 a night sounds a lot to me for a Youth Hostel. In fact, some of them up here might be CLOSING DOWN and just leave the bigger ones open. Many people are up in arms about it as it's still the cheapest form of putting your head down for the night lol. I remember going on a residential in the Lake District many years ago. I shared with this posh bint who was unbelievable..leaving dirty underwear lying about..certainly opened my eyes I can tell you. When one of the instructors (bloke) came round inspecting the rooms he voted ours as the worsed one on the block for uncleanliness. He then proceeded to show everyone else in our party the state of our room! Cheek! I was outraged and told him so! "Excuse me!" I said. "All those dirty knickers you see on the floor aren't mine. I've packed mine away seperately thanks very much. Have a go at HER (pointing at my posh friend) for making this room untidy, it's nowt to do with me!"
I think he got the message lol.
It is wonderful when people are kind enough to put you up for nothing. That is one of the reasons you must visit Cumbria one day. The kindness of the people actually keep me here.
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
13 Feb 11
Hiya Janey,
London is a place which I love to visit as I have known many lovely People there. It is very pricey it´s true.
The Shops are usually very expensive but not all of them are. The Food is terrifically dear as well. My Husband had to work a week in London and was he glad to get back Home to my Cooking (grin). All the time he had was for to eat Sandwiches which were stone cold and very expensive and the Coffee he said was like Rocket Fuel.
Apart from that it was freezing cold and you had to smoke outside the Hotel in the freezing cold as well.
He was very lucky to get his Flight out of Heathrow and head straight back here. I had a special Dinner waiting for him and some Cake and the poor thing went to sleep on the Settee after waiting hours and hours for a flight back to Bilbao.
You´re right things further up North like Wolverhampton upwards would not be half as expensive as they are down London.
Even so I still love London for many things.
I don´t blame you for watching it on the Television although it is more exciting to go and see it live too. Never mind another time perhaps?
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
20 Apr 11
Hiya Janey,
There is a Football Team here like that one they lose some really great chances to get into Trophy things. Just blow it right from the start so if it would have been the Team from here I would have watched it on the Television as well. (Spanish Football Team) I am talking about here gal.
Although they all have their moments tonight everyone was wanting Barcelona to win the Match which was crucial for them today and Real Madrid has won them.
It´s that kind of Game is´nt it you never know how they are going to end up.
All the same I would love to visit London as soon as I can again. London is one of my very favourite Cities although I am so far away from it.
Like I said before maybe next time Carlisle will win the Trophy. Hope so too. Wolves can wait as they win a few things as well.xxx
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
13 Feb 11
The thing is the Johnstone's Paints Trophy is the only final Carlisle get into (but don't always win, like last year) lol. It's just not worth the hassle now plus the fact people in general haven't got the money to spend, even compared to last year. This is evident in the fact that the coach that was due to go down didn't even get half-full so it's been cancelled. That's the first time, since I've been with John that this has happened. It seems many people are watching their pennies thinking about what they could do with the saved cash. You are right, it's not the same watching it on telly BUT I would have a broad grin on my face knowing that I've not been ripped off.
1 person likes this
@doggydimon (1369)
• Philippines
13 Feb 11
I could just imagine! When the Olympics were held in Beijing, all the prices went up as much as 300 percent! ! ! We were planning to watch it there but when we found out the prices, we backed off. If you compare London and Beijing's prices, the latter is definitely cheaper. So I could just imagine the prices in London during the Olympics.
@jwfarrimond (4473)
•
13 Feb 11
London is one of the most expensive cities in the world at normal times.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
13 Feb 11
We're not going to London now. Even if maximax8 helped us (and thanks for recommending her as I do know who you mean) it still doesn't alter the fact that London likes ripping people off. I feel sorry for the locals, I bet they're sick of prices fluctuating all year round, depending on what's on!
As for Beijing..hmm, I bet the locals were banned from their Olympics, bit out of their price range.
@doggydimon (1369)
• Philippines
13 Feb 11
You should ask maxine's (maximax8) help to sort things out with your London trip. She might be able to help.
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
13 Feb 11
London is a one of the most expensive cities in the world. I love to see its amazing sights like the River Thames, Tower Bridge, the houses of parliament, Big Ben and the Docklands Light Railway. I used to live near enough to London to be able to visit it for the day. When I go to one of the London Airports I buy my train ticket on-line. Then I can get the cheapest fare and use the cheapest route. I take the train via Bristol and Reading to Feltham then get a bus to Heathrow. Have you considered staying just outside London? Then you could travel into London on one day travel cards. It is a shame all hotels in London will be expensive in April due to the royal wedding. Petrol is indeed expensive and getting the tube train to Wemberly would be cheaper than park your car there. Public transport on a Sunday always tends to be poor. Yes, all those visiting London for the Olympics will need to have lots of money.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
13 Feb 11
Last year Carlisle made the same final and we stayed in a Premier Inn based in Brentford, which is ironic considering they are in the final this time round. From there we got the bus down to the tube station and got around on the tube system (which I love). On match day the coach took us to Wembley (as we had gone down seperately on the train on an earlier day) but came home on the coach after the match. This is the coach that isn't going this year due to lack of interest. If we were playing Southampton again I'm sure more people would go.
I do love London, though. I'm right about "if Wembley was in Blackpool" as they wouldn't rip people off, I'm sure of that, as us northerners don't like being ripped off lol.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
13 Feb 11
I used to live in London and it isn't a rip off necessarily. But visiting it can be. Three nights plus transport for £699 isn't too bad but they could fly to Singapore for that! Actually they could get to Australia for that each. The best thing would be to find somewhere outside London and then commute in for the match. Better still do as you are doing and stay home.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
13 Feb 11
Well, the in-laws aren't going to London either now. I can't understand why they didn't book 2 weeks ago because they must've known the prices would go up.
I only hope they don't come round here to watch the match as they don't have Sky Sports!
I reckon they'll go to the pub to watch it, if they've got any sense.
I reckon they'll go to the pub to watch it, if they've got any sense.
@sulsisels (1685)
• United States
14 Feb 11
Oh My God Janey..April 29th...its coming so fast..I have not even been fitted for my gown yet. If Oscar de Larenta doesn't have my dress ready in time for this wedding, I will never wear him on the red carpet again!!!! What are you wearing, or are you saving it for a surprise?
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
13 Feb 11
I have wanted to visit London but only dream about how beautiful and expensive it can be. I have heard from some acquaintances who have traveled to London as to how much they have spent and well although sounds wonderful my dreams remains a dream, as it is not possible to be able to put it into reality for now or some day.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
13 Feb 11
I hope I haven't put you off as it really is a truely wonderful place to visit. I STILL love the place, despite it being expensive. To be honest, food and drink isn't much more than what we'd pay here..but there again, Carlisle is a rip-off as well lol.
I hope you get over to London someday. You will love it, I'm sure of that.
I hope you get over to London someday. You will love it, I'm sure of that.