Hi from another Ray
As you'll be using public transport to get around, a hotel in the Earls Court area will be a good choice as the Underground system has some useful lines running through Earls Court Station. The cost will depend on your budget but being outside the summer season will help. Maybe one of the big international chains, to ensure a certain standard? Just don't expect the staff to have English as their first language.
An Oyster Card will give you travel over the whole Greater London area (buses, trains, trams, Light Raiways, Underground, Overground, wombling free) (and a discount on the Thames river boats). You can get one in advance online (
http://www.tfl.gov.uk) but you'll need a UK telephone number if you buy online so it might be worth thinking about getting a UK mobile in advance (or at least a UK SIM), especially if you have any UK friends to contact. Heathrow Airport is
within the Oyster Card area (unless you take a special service called the Heathrow Express, believed to be the most expensive train journey in the world per passenger mile) but London's other major international airport (Gatwick) is actually 30 miles south of central London and you'll need to take a train. However, if you've bought an Oyster in advance, ask for "Gatwick to Boundary Of Zone 6" and it'll only cost a fiver.
The usual tourist stuff will all be in the usual tourist guidebooks, or online, but you probably won't want to miss all the music shops in Denmark Street, a turning off the Charing Cross Road. Oh, and don't miss out Macari's, on the CCR itself and just 100yds south of Denmark Street.
For a Shadows club, the Surrey Shadows Club will probably have its meeting on March 18th. It's at Hersham - just outside the Oyster area, nearest station Walton-on-Thames + a 10 - 15 mins walk. Always a big crowd and some very talented players.
Ray L
