Travel Guide: London
In less than two weeks, the European Poker Tour returns to one of the biggest, and most popular destinations on the season schedule -- London, England. Whether it's recalling all of the hotels that you wanted to buy on Mayfair and Park Lane in your earlier years playing Monopoly, watching scenes of the Royal Family at Buckingham Palace, secretly singing along to the Spice Girls or laughing to episodes of The Office, we've all had a piece of London in our lives at some point. If you haven't had the chance to visit this metropolis yet, then there's no better time than now, that way you can tie in a European Poker Tour stop with your inaugural visit. EPT London runs from Sept. 30 through Oct. 6, 2011 at the Hilton London Metropole on Paddington's Edgware Road.
Season 7's Main Event was the biggest poker tournament ever held in the UK with a whopping 848 players. The lucky player who made it out on top was David Vamplew, the highest-earning player to ever come out of Scotland after his £900,000 victory.
Season 8's London stop includes a wealth of events such as the £5,250 Main Event, the £20,500 High Roller and £2,150 European 8-Game Championship.
Check out the full EPT London schedule.
Being such a mammoth Main Event means multiple Day 1s, and of course only eight can make it through to the final table, so there will be quite a few of you with a day or two to spare away from the tables. If you find yourself in that category, then don't despair, because there are countless things to do in London, no matter what may tickle your fancy.
How
If you're flying into Heathrow Airport, keep in mind that it is the third busiest in the world, so give yourself plenty of time to get through it. The most efficient and budget way to get into, and around, town is using The Tube. It's a train that connects most of metropolitan London, including Heathrow Airport, turning into an underground maze of exceptional transport throughout central London Town. Wherever you need to go, you can be sure there's a line on The Tube to get you there.
Where
As mentioned, EPT London will be held at the Hilton London Metropole on Paddington's Edgware Road. This hotel is located directly across from Edgware station, which is just one station away from Paddington. Luckily for us, Heathrow Airport offers the Heathrow Express, which gets you to Paddington underground station in just 15 minutes.
Paddington is the perfect area to base yourself while in town for the PokerStars EPT. If you haven't yet booked your accommodation then be sure to visit EPThotels.com to do so. With your Tube Map in hand, the major sights of London are just minutes away from the Paddington area, tucked between both Hyde and Regent's Parks.
What
The easiest way to squeeze in the major sights in town is to jump on one of the many tour buses, including the infamous double-decker buses, but it's actually possible to see the sights in one day while on foot (with the occasional ride on The Tube). Being such a huge city, the main attractions are surprisingly closer to each other than you may think, and if not, there will be an underground station nearby.
Keep in mind that England is certainly not known for its sunshine and now that winter is creeping closer, the average temperature is between 60-65°F (15-17°C), so be sure to bring some warm clothes.
Here's a list of just some of the many things to see and do while in town during EPT London:
Sights
Shopping
Special Events