A day in London — high costs and long queues

Press, 26 August 1980, Page 17

A day in London — high costs and long queues

By

RICHARD FORD,

of “The

Times,” through NZPA

A day in the life of a tourist sampling the splen-. dours of London is an expensive one. That is the judgment of many visitors, who complain of high prices for meals which are indifferently served by a nation they are convinced has not taken kindly to the influx of foreigners. But tourism, which is pected to bring 12,500,000 visitors and $9680 million to the United Kingdom this season, is to be further encouraged in the autumn with a $7260 million campaign to attract visitors to London. A similar operation to persuade people to see other parts of the British Isles was successful.

If the campaign is a success it will exacerbate the difficulties faced by tourists, lengthening queues at underground stations and leading to more people being overcharged by street traders selling souvenirs, soft drinks, and ice cream. Seeing some of the his-

tory and heritage of the capital, with eating and evening entertainments, will cost at least $24 a person, or more than $4B, excluding accommodation, for someone who is not intent on a cheap holiday. A day’s sightseeing may begin at Victoria underground station, where if you do not have the correct change you must wait almost 15 minutes for a ticket. That queue is rivalled only by one in the main-line station, for the channel ports. From Green Park one can walk to Westminster Abbey, through Piccadilly Circus and Leicester; Square, where ice cream comets are being sold for 97 cents. Inside the abbey the grandeur of the columns, memorials to kings, queens, statesmen, and poets, is lost among the cacophony from guided tours being rushed through the building. Guide group leaders hold their identification flags above their heads,

shouting at those who have fallen behind and urging them not to get mixed up with other tours.

To enter the Queen Elizabeth chapel tourists must wait for up to 10 minutes among the milling crowds. For $5 a verger will take you on a tour which includes the royal chapels, the garden, and the precincts.-

It costs another 60 cents to see the chapter house and the royal treasures, which include effigies of kings and queens and replicas of the crown jewels. Remaining, as it does, one of London’s biggest tourist attractions, Westminster Abbey is not, a place for prayer or quiet contemplation at this time of year. At the House of Parlianent there are few vis-

itors, with only Westminster Hall open to the public at the time. Outside, the souvenir shops do brisk business, with a plastic policeman’s helmet selling at prices varying between $2.42 and $4.82. Mr John Tober, a fisherman from Australia, complained bitterly of the increase in prices since his last visit five years ago.- “London is incredibly

expensive and I do not think it gives value for money. Eating out is costly.” He had spent the previous day seeing the Tower of London, the Monument, and Piccadilly Circus before going to a film in the evening. He and his travelling companion had eaten lunch at a hamburger restaurant and paid $15.24 for a Chinese meal ■ in the evening. The

cost for the day, including fares, was $54.45. “We could not believe it at first. When we left Australia everyone said $24.20 a day would be sufficient for two people,” Mr Tober said. “The buildings are worth seeing and I do not mind paying to get in, but it is impossible to ' enjoy them because they are too crowded.” He had also experienced blatant over-charging, paying $4.11 for two cans of soft drink and one ice cream. Elsewhere, cold soft drinks were being offered for 48 cents. After a public house lunch in Leicester Square costing $6.34 for a chicken salad and two pints of beer, a boat .trip down the Thames from Charing Cross Pier to the Tower of London cost $2.17, The 20minute trip was peaceful, with the boat uncrowded and a good commentary on the passing sights. At the Tower were yet more queues. There is one to pay $4.84 for a ticket and another, of more than

15 minutes, to pay $1.21 more to see the Crown Jewels. Such are the crowds, it is not possible to stop long to look at the jewels, but the Yeoman Warders make the trip interesting, with historical anecdotes which the tourists love. Outside, an ice cream costs 84 cents and there is yet another queue at Tower Hill underground station.An evening at the theatre will cost $14.42 for a seat in the stalls at “The Mousetrap,” or by going to an agency a tourist can have a place in the stalls at “Evita” for $23.47. Rounding off the day with a three-course meal and coffee at a mediumpriced restaurant will cost a further $13.79. The total cost for the day, excluding hotel accommodation, and with the cheaper of the evening shows, was $53.48 a person. The time spent waiting was more than an hour.