Even if they haven't been: I was there during a couple of strikes last year, including what was framed as the big one. The buses were still running and actually so were some of the tube stations and the tube itself. I had inquired about whether it was strike-breaking (just something I don't personally like to do) to use the tube during this time (to be honest I kind of thought it wouldn't be running, so I didn't really check before hand). I had this really odd series of events I had to do that day cos I had to go somewhere where it was fiddly to get to by bus and had another (I was there for work) meeting in The Strand, and in both cases, I put aside hours just to make sure, and as it turns out everything rang ridiculously smoothly and I had to sit in a coffee shop waiting for my meetings cos it ended up taking about ten minutes to get around
( ... )
Not yet, no. It's a pain in the arse, but usually about half the tube network actually runs because the drivers belong to different unions.
I wouldn't worry too much about it when you're in Central London - just plan to visit places you can walk to or use the buses; just be prepared that they'll be more crowded than usual at peak travel times and that the roads will be more congested. I'd stick to the "visit places you can walk to" plan.
But will it affect your journey home? I seem to remember that whenever there was a strike when I lived in London, the Piccadilly (which was my local line) was one of those that stayed running at more or less normal capacity, so you might be okay. Things still might change between now and then - these things have a habit of getting cancelled at the eleventh hour, so fingers crossed. Otherwise, just see how it is when you get here and if necessary, you might want to think about biting the bullet and booking a taxi to get you to the airport.
Yeah, or even a mini-cab to the airport as a backup. I went that way, and it was more expensive (I was actually going from Paddington, I know, lazy)... it cost me 43 pounds. So, there are other ways/backup plans etc. Or as Caz says, just get to Paddo first by cab or whatever means and then on the Heathrow Express. They are not likely to get cancelled, but in the very unlikely event about four of the various airlines (the cheap ones) have buses you can get for a fairly cheap price out to Heathrow and they go from fixed locations around London (not Paddington), like Charing Cross, Victoria and Euston.
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I wouldn't worry too much about it when you're in Central London - just plan to visit places you can walk to or use the buses; just be prepared that they'll be more crowded than usual at peak travel times and that the roads will be more congested. I'd stick to the "visit places you can walk to" plan.
But will it affect your journey home? I seem to remember that whenever there was a strike when I lived in London, the Piccadilly (which was my local line) was one of those that stayed running at more or less normal capacity, so you might be okay. Things still might change between now and then - these things have a habit of getting cancelled at the eleventh hour, so fingers crossed. Otherwise, just see how it is when you get here and if necessary, you might want to think about biting the bullet and booking a taxi to get you to the airport.
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