Day in London for first time in 30 years!

[Financegoddess]

Hoping you lovely MNers can help.

I’m visiting London for the first time in over 30 years on Thursday this week to meet an old friend in Kensington.
I’m coming via train into Kings Cross and then hoping to take the Piccadilly line over to Kensington.
I’m dreading the heat on the tube. Are you able to open the windows? I get awfully claustrophobic you see but I can’t afford a black cab and timescales mean I can’t go via bus.
thanks for any help

You could always take the circle line instead. It will take longer but it has a/c.

Thank you. Is it much longer do you know? I arrive at King’s Cross about 9.30 and I have to get in Kensington at 10.15.

Where in Kensington? There isn't actually a tube stop called 'Kensington' so hard to tell.

We’re going to meet at the V&A museum

I'd get the circle line, much more airy and the whole train is open (no carriages) so should be much better if you are claustrophobic. You'll have time to do that.

Bear in mind that, if you take the Circle line, you will need a westbound train at King's Cross and you will need to change platforms at Edgeware Road to continue to South Kensington as the Circle line is no longer a Circle but now has a bit that goes all the way to Hammersmith. If you have an old tube map, it will be misleading! Your timing will be tight if you have to wait for two trains, but if you are meeting at the V&A to go to an exhibition, the ticket will have an entry time slot on it (e.g. 10 am - 10.15 am - I'm not sure how long they are), and you can go in towards the end of that time slot. You don't have to be there right at the beginning.

This may sound a bit drastic but any chance of you postponing? It looks like it could be 34 degrees on Thursday and you really dont want to be in London then let alone your first time in 30 years. If you really cant postpone I'd beg borrow or steal to get a cab. Is the V&A air conditioned? Pretty sure most of it isn't.....

Of course the v&a is air conditioned! It will be lovely and cool inside

get yourself a portable electric fan if you can.

enjoy yourself! Get an ice cream and sit in the courtyard of the v&a or the garden of the natural history museum. I work round there and it’s lovely in the sunshine

Drastic is putting it mildly...

I can’t postpone. It’s the first time I’m seeing my friend in over 20 years and she’s only in London that day so no chance to rearrange.

I’ve just got off the Piccadilly line. It’s 33 degrees here at the moment & it was busy but honestly not that hot, if that helps.

K-X to South Ken is 32 minutes.

There’s no need to, anyway. It’ll be absolutely fine.

Just in case the Piccadilly line isn’t running for any reason, I would make sure you know the Circle route too.

It’s likely to be absolutely fine but always good to have a backup.

Thank you all I think it’s going to be a trip on The Circle Line.
Is there any advice to keeping safe as a lone woman please?

It’s perfectly safe in those areas, but keep an eye on your bag and phone

Get yourself a little hand held electric fan and you’ll be fine on the tube. District line to South Kensington then a 5 minute walk to the V&A. You’ll be perfectly safe and really don’t need to worry.

You’ll be fine, it’s a quick journey

Don't get a cab - it will get stuck in traffic and be hot anyway. Take a handheld fan, get the tube, have some water with you.

Its not long on the tube and as others have said, the museum will be lovely and cool.

On safety - normal city stuff applies - don't have cards, phones / wallets where they could be easily pickpocketed - so a bag with a zip is better and be careful when looking on maps especially outside tube stations to avoid phone snatching but really, the social media London hysteria makes it sound awful and it really isn't!

I have a crossbody bag with a zip - fo you think that will be ok?

Just watch your phone and bag. I saw a woman on a small bus last night have her phone snatched from out of her hand and the thief just legged it out of the bus which had stopped. A man gave chase but the thief ran off into a nearby housing estate.

Should be yes.

Thank you. I’ll keep my phone in my bag. I’ve printed off all my train tickets etc so won’t need it out for that.

Is ok in the V&A but not as air conditioned as you would wish. If you are going to the Schiaparelli.. it’s MUCH cooler down there.

Have a water bottle with you. You are travelling nice and early so I hope it won’t be too bad. Have a lovely day! Come back and tell us how you did!

A crossbody bag with a zip will be fine.

A lot of us lone women have lived in London for years & never had a problem - I hope you have a brilliant time.