FIRST TRIP 2 EUROPE!

Don't bother to take the cabs in London! They are very expensive and unreliable. Take a day to familiarize yourself with the tube because it is awesome! A day pass for unlimited rides (this is valid on buses too) only costs around 6 pounds and you can buy them almost anywhere. The tube itself is fast and efficient and has stops at all the major areas. Some cool things to see are the V and A museum, the Tate Modern and the Parliment buildings. I also recommend the Monument, which is this neat tower that commemorates the Great Fire, that you can climb up and get a great view of the city from.
Hope this helps!

I agree with not taking the cabs as they are expensive, but unreliable? Hardly. If you call cabs unreliable, then what do you call the tube? Non-existent?

As #1 said, London is easy enough to get around via the tube and bus.

Agree with above -- if you want to see Europe on a budget, try and avoid taxis. It's fine if you're stuck somewhere late and need to get back to your hotel/hostel, but otherwise rely on public transportation. As noted above, just spend a bit of time in a new city trying to acquaint yourself with buses and subways. Often the tourist information offices can help you with that, too.

As a solo backpacker, you'll be just fine. Thousands of solo backpackers do it every year. Stay in hostels, where you're likely to meet many other solo backpackers.

Also as noted above, just keep an eye out for pickpockets and thiefs. I, too, use a money pouch to store valuables like passport, credit cards, large stashes of cash. Use an ATM debit card to withdraw cash -- that works out cheaper than exchanging cash everywhere, and it also allows you to not travel with large stashes of cash.

Have fun. Should be a great trip!

Dave

It amazes me at the amount of people who use money belts. Not just in London but around the world in general. Just keep you wallet in your front pocket, or anywhere except your back pocket, and you'll be fine. The only places you'll likely encounter any problems would be in the markets or if you stray into a dodgy area, but then money belt or not if they want to mug you then they'll mug you. Try not to stand out as a backpacker, which in London shouldn't be too difficult as long as you don't stop everywhere and whop out a map or LP guide.

Rick Steves moneybelt saverd my ... three times.

www.ricksteves.com<BR><BR>It holds passport, plane ticket, and only other things mentioned in the funny instructions.
Cops can´t and won´t bother helping tourist crime.

Walk with a purpous. Not just stroll and gawk.
Or you´ll be targetted.

Roll your new pack around on the floor, to get it grubby. You won´t stick out as inexperienced.

Solo bp, is the only way I´ll travel anymore.
You don´t have to keep anyone else´s pace, nor hear a lot of whining.
:)

London is easy to get around, the day pass for the underground is the way to go. It's easy, and with the day pass it's cheap too, which is always a good combination.

I don't think it's been mentioned yet, but I wouldn't go to London and not visit the National Gallery. It's free, and if you like art, it's a can't miss stop.

Finally, I agree with meats on the money belt thing. I don't think it's necessary, and if you read the stories that people who've been robbed tell, 99 times out of 100, it's because they didn't use common sense. I'll admit that when I was in London on a long layover last year, I took the neck pouch that I wear on the plane (that's not necessary, it's just easier for me to have my passport more accessable than where I zip it into my purse), and wore it around my waist with the pouch down my pant leg, but that was less about theft worry than it was about me not wanting to risk forgetting my purse somewhere when I had another flight in 14 hours. Normally, I just lock my passport away in my hotel room.

This whole moneybelt issue has been debated quite a bit here over the years. I agree with the sentiment expressed above that it's usually not necessary if you're acting with common sense. And most places in Europe are much safer than my own hometown, for instance. So from that perspective, it's probably not necessary.

However, the reason I usually wear one is this: In the post-9/11 world, it really, really sucks to get a passport issued while you're overseas. This is especially true for Americans, but I think applies to many other countries. In fact, losing or having a passport stolen would suck so bad that it would have potential to ruin the trip. (For example, you couldn't travel to any other countries while waiting to get it issued.) Because I don't want to ruin my trip, I keep that along with credit cards and large stashes of cash (which I usually avoid carrying) in a neck pouch. Sometimes, especially when it's hot, I put the neck pouch in my front pocket like a wallet, and tie it to my belt. Call it Trip Ruining Insurance. Just like real life insurance, it's usually not necessary. But if it prevents me from ruining or significantly hampering my overseas travels, I think it's worth it.

Dave

Oh, and though it might be wise to leave your passport and valuables back in the hotel in a safe, I usually don't (like many backpackers) stay in places that have safes. Plus, some countries require you to have your passport with you as identification.

I guess everyone needs to determine their own level of comfort regarding the protection of their valuables.

Dave