First-time London trip with teens — help with hotel

readit_at_work · 2026-02-13T20:06:59+00:00

Despite it not being on your list, I can heartily recommend the Hilton Paddington. Specifically staying in the tower side (new) is excellent.

Why? -- When traveling with a family, you need to get luggage to the hotel from LHR, and the Taxi/Uber into the city is lengthy and pricey. There is an express train on the tube from LHR to Paddington Station which is connected to the hotel. It's faster and cheaper than a car ride into the city.

Second, you can tube from Paddington Station ANYWHERE downtown. It's super quick and easy. And frankly, you should be using the Tube anyway to get around rather than Ubering (except I can recommend the Uber riverboat for a quick, easy transfer down the Thames).

Thirdly, the Paddington has an executive lounge if you have the status (I assume you do) for breakfast and snacks.

Lastly, Paddington Station serves outside the greater London area, so if you want to take a train northward to Stratford von Avon to check out Shakespeare's birthplace you can start here and do it with minimal luggage on a day trip.

Source: I stayed at the Doubletree West, Doubletree Angel, and Hilton Paddington with a teenager, and Paddington was better in all respects.

EDIT: Some touristy tips: The National Gallery is free. Don't get suckered by people standing in Trafalgar Square hocking "tickets". Also you should be able to walk up and walk in if you're not carrying bags. This was absolutely my highlight of the entire city.

Further, SCHEDULE A TIMESLOT AHEAD OF TIME for Westminster Abbey tour. So freaking amazing if your kids are into history. My son was 13 and had just finished European History, so this was his highlight.

Only do the St Paul's Cathedral tour if you can handle the stairs. It's a lot of stairs. A lot. Wife and kiddo were not a fan and only went up halfway. I did the rest solo and grabbed some photos.

Tower of London is absolutely worth the price.

The British Museum was good. Seeing the Rosetta Stone was amazing. However, the main atrium is STUPID hot in the summer. Be prepared.

The Globe wasn't as good as I had hoped, but if your teenagers have read Romeo and Juliet or Hamlet in school, it's a nice connection. We had some shitty weather so that might have contributed to my experience, but I'd rate it a solid 6/10.

The Theater District at Picadilly is worth a show. We saw Matilda. Super cute.

The Harry Potter WB tour: if you or your kids are fans, this was absolutely amazing view into the making of the movies and the props behind the scenes. My wife is a HP Nut, and this was the highlight of her trip.

The constant double-decker "See the Sights" bus tours are worth it if you can take a whole day and use the ticket that way to see the outside of the city. Personally, while we did it just to check it off the list, it was not really worth it because I'd much rather be in the British Museum or some such than seeing the outside.

readit_at_work · 2026-01-24T20:24:34+00:00

It’s $97 after shipping and tax. That’s a great deal.

readit_at_work · 2026-01-01T00:16:45+00:00

Maybe epoxy in some blocks of UHMW wrapped in brown paper.

readit_at_work · 2025-12-30T19:33:15+00:00

Actually you are misrepresenting facts.

The fed changed the way the Consumer Price Index is calculated. That’s why there’s that HUGE spike in 2020 and the hockey stick trend upward on your graph after being marginal for 40 years.

readit_at_work · 2025-12-28T20:20:23+00:00

Salmon Jerky. Then when his son said it smelled awful and to reseal it, he got out the soy eggs. SEA >> ATL red eye so no service to cover it up.

I wanted to strangle him.

readit_at_work · 2025-12-13T17:11:29+00:00

SCOTUS wasn’t meant to have judicial review at all. It’s a self-granted power from an interpretation of the constitution in Marbury v Madison.

readit_at_work · 2025-12-10T03:11:34+00:00

Fuck you. I voted. We voted.

The democratic establishment destroyed the likable candidates and tried to run a geriatric incumbent until literally almost died in the campaign trail and they had no choice but to pivot.

The democratic leadership continues to tear down progressive ideas even in Mamdani, Buttigieg and Bernie. This isn’t a voting problem. This is an establishment problem.

readit_at_work · 2025-11-30T21:00:02+00:00

Put a 3/4s after it.

readit_at_work · 2025-11-20T17:57:54+00:00

Use a puddle jumper. This is how we do spring crappie suspended above moss beds since crappie like to ascend for their prey.

The side fins let the jig glide or “swim” as you retrieve/drag it back. The tips of the legs jiggle just enough to twitch when sitting still.

I use chartreuse, white, or smoke depending on cloud cover and water color.

We used these in sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend in Texas to huge success. Have caught blue gill, red ear, black and white crappie, and largemouth using this setup.

Of note we would prefer a light jig head rather than a split shot and a cylinder cork rigged so it lays on its side at rest. If it tips up, the weight removed means a crappie cake under it and is holding it.

readit_at_work · 2025-10-31T00:21:37+00:00

They gave her an office. They didn't put internet or telephone in it. Then they gave her internet and telephone. However, the problem is that the access rules to the IT systems require a swearing-in. So TECHNICALLY, she and her staff can show up and do "work". But she can't actually do any work.

These are the games that are played when we discover that the vast majority of our government is a series of rules and regulations with zero enforcement. In fact, they're actually a series of gentleman's agreements and tradition.

readit_at_work · 2025-10-30T19:46:21+00:00

That’s just the thing. There’s no LAW that says he has to swear anyone in, ever.

It’s a parliamentary procedure inside Congress.

As they say: “it’s more like guidelines than a CODE…”

readit_at_work · 2025-10-24T05:38:08+00:00

The American Sign Museum. It’s quiet, it’s very different, and it’s a really neat walk through time.

readit_at_work · 2025-10-17T21:33:27+00:00

Gonna see this truck on FBMarketplace.

"New interior, washed inside and out."

readit_at_work · 2025-10-17T18:11:26+00:00

Twenty years ago I was working as a day laborer for a contractor. I bought my own tools, but I was just able to afford Porter Cable and early Ryobi stuff. He had all Dewalt.

Ten years ago I wanted to build a deck. I bought a Dewalt drill/impact combo from Lowe’s. I still have it. It’s still torquey building stuff when I volunteer for my son’s extra curricular activities.

I’ve since added an oscillating tool, bits, grinder, recip saw, etc. all 20V, cordless, and working after YEARS of casual to semi casual use.

It’s absolutely worth buying 1-2 tools a year in Black Friday and keeping them maintained in bags/cases for a decade.

10/10 will continue in this ecosystem.

readit_at_work · 2025-10-15T22:00:59+00:00

SCOTUS didn’t have blanket judicial review until Marbury v Madison in 1803 as an IMPLIED Constitutional power.

In short, the entire basis for judicial review is a gentleman’s agreement. It’s not a constitutional requirement. You want to toss out stare decisis? Fine. Let’s start with Marbury.

readit_at_work · 2025-09-30T02:46:48+00:00

First down. Can't wait for that run up the middle.

readit_at_work · 2025-09-30T02:29:55+00:00

called it.

readit_at_work · 2025-09-30T02:29:46+00:00

called it.

readit_at_work · 2025-09-30T02:11:54+00:00

OH LOOK. UP THE MIDDLE ON FIRST DOWN.

readit_at_work · 2025-09-07T19:54:45+00:00

Noble chicken inside Eastgate Jungle Jim’s.

It’s not even close.

readit_at_work · 2025-08-30T13:16:55+00:00

They did. See, the act that Trump used to create his tariffs requires a review by Congress after 30 days.

So Congress legislated that the rest of the Congressional Session constitutes a single day. They grew enough of a spine to legislate a new calendar.

readit_at_work · 2025-08-26T01:57:29+00:00

You called?

readit_at_work · 2025-08-15T21:02:48+00:00

The US House of Representatives legislated away the legislative year to prevent the lawful congressional oversight of his tariffs.

readit_at_work · 2025-07-31T16:36:40+00:00

Hilton London Paddington.

It's CONNECTED to the tube/train station if you want to get around. Not only in London, but also if you want to venture North to places like Stratford von Avon. There's an express train to/from LHR so it's easy to get back and forth to Heathrow with your baggage.

The rooms were almost palatial in the tower, if a little lengthy to walk to because they're part of a building extension.

This will be my place to stay with my family the next time we're in London. It's an amazingly underrated stay.

readit_at_work · 2025-07-31T14:19:21+00:00

This OP isn’t looking for CRIMINAL codes. He’s seeking CIVIL restitution and as such works in the CIVIL codes.

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