London fantastic but painfully pricy: Lonely Planet

0 Comments | AFP, January, 2006

LONDON (AFP) — London was hailed as one of the greatest cities in the world despite being horrendously expensive and filthy, according to the new Lonely Planet guidebook.

The British capital was ranked as the second-most expensive city in the world and the costliest in the European Union by Lonely Planet, which publishes guidebooks to nearly every corner of the world.

Because London will host the 2012 Olympics, there was "added impetus for the authorities to continue sorting out the lousy public transport, congestion and dirty streets", the guidebook said.

The Underground train network was branded "horrendously overpriced and extremely crowded in the rush-hour".

And though the food scene is flourishing, that "does not equate to value for money", the...