9 Nov 2013 - London

Took SQ Flight to London. Usually I would go on budget or is there any budget flight to Europe?

 

Anyway, the flight to London took almost 13 hours and I was so bored on plane. I had watched Superman, Wolverines, Iron man 3, After Earth and 1 Japanese movie. Not sure how I will survive when I going back to Singapore on the flight.

 

We had breakfast at Killiney before boarding, toasted bread and coffee. I still preferred Ya Kun's toasted bread. On board we had breakfast again and we were actually still full. Should not have eaten before boarding. Lunch was at 4 plus pm Singapore time. We had ice cream for dessert! It was long since I last took SQ flight to know that they served ice cream as dessert! Chong’s sister- in- law told her that they had Magnum ice cream for dessert and she could ask for more. I assume there was no more Magnum ice cream as it was not halal?

↓ Breakfast in the plane

 

 

Reached London around 3.25pm London timing. It was a long queue at the arrival custom. It took us quite long to clear the custom. Then we followed the signage to the underground train station. First, bought the oyster card, 5 pounds deposit and top up 10 pounds value.

Travelling by underground in London was quite alright on a weekday. However, we reached on a Sunday and according to someone we met, the train service would always be disrupted on a weekend! Being our first day, we were lost. We followed their staff's instruction and took their coach saying to go to Hammersmith, the train station nearest our hotel. There were a number of staff there to guide us. However, we still lost as the coach did not bring us to the station we wanted to go. It stopped at some other train station which was functioning and we had to take the train from there onwards.

 

We went on some train and while we were figuring out, we realised we actually boarded the wrong train. Then there was this Singaporean guy who was kind enough to help us. He told us that he sent his wife to the airport and he was like us on the wrong train. He then brought us to take the train with him to Hammersmith. He told us that he studied in London and stayed at some place in Hammersmith. However, we found him strange. We could actually go back to the stop that we boarded the train which was only 1 or 2 stops back and took the train to Hammersmith, which was only like 5 stops? However, we followed him taking train which took long to reach and had to change train twice! It took us almost 12 stops to reach our destination! We had to walk and carried our luggage up and down staircase for changing of train.  

 

Then when we reached, he did not know the road around the area and he claimed that he lived around there? We asked the station staff to direct us the way. Anyway, the guy went his way after that.

Hotel was easy to locate, however, required 10 mins walk? Asked the station staff where was shepherds bush and we would have to walk straight along shepherds bush road and we could see our hotel on the opposite side.

 

Hotel room was small but acceptable. For the price, we did not complain much.

 

 

Tesco was located opposite hotel in some little corner which was not easily seen. Spot the small Tesco sign, followed it and will find the supermarket.

We walked to Kings mall and Broadway shopping Centre, both shopping centre looked small and closed at 7 pm. When we reached they were closed

Bought

1. potato chips 1.01 pounds

2. Orange juice shared with Chong, 2 packet for 3 pounds, so paid 1.5 pounds each

3. Chocolate chip cookie 0.98 pound

4. Evian water 1.62 pounds 

 

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1. SQ Flight 13 hrs to London Heathrow Airport Terminal 3 - Cost SGD 1287.70

 

2. Hotel booked from Agoda - Cost SGD 230.55 for 2 nights. More expensive on Sat and Sun.

We stayed for 2 nights, then changed to try other hotel nearby.

SABA HOTEL (101-103 Shepherds Bush Road, Hammersmith and Fulham, London, United Kingdom)

 

3. Buy Oyster card, 5 pounds deposit and 10 values at arrival before taking "Underground" to hotel.

 

4. Take the "Piccadilly Line" towards Cockfosters Underground station to "Hammersmith" station

Direct line and need not change. Hammersmith station, a lot of line will reach there, so quite convenient.