4 Day Itinerary in London
Aug 27th, 2013, 09:52 PM
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4 Day Itinerary in London
Hi, My husband and I will be arriving in London September 3d and staying for 4 days. I have a room booked at St Ermins hotel. I have never been to London, This is a list of things that I would like to see. I need some help getting them organized based on their locations. Maybe even add a few walking tours. I would also like to know if it would be worth it to get the London Pass.
House of Parliament and Ben Prime Ministers Downing St,, Piccadilly Circus, and Buckingham Palace, Saint Paul Cathedral, Tower of London, London Eye, Windsor Castle, Shakespear's Globe Theatre, Hampton Court Palace
.
We know 4 days is not a lot of time so we may need to make ajustments because we want to take our time and really enjoy each experience.
Thanks in advance for your help..
House of Parliament and Ben Prime Ministers Downing St,, Piccadilly Circus, and Buckingham Palace, Saint Paul Cathedral, Tower of London, London Eye, Windsor Castle, Shakespear's Globe Theatre, Hampton Court Palace
.
We know 4 days is not a lot of time so we may need to make ajustments because we want to take our time and really enjoy each experience.
Thanks in advance for your help..
Aug 27th, 2013, 10:27 PM
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Just so you know, Piccadilly Circus is basically a giant roundabout. Nothing terribly interesting there.
All you propose can be done easily in 4 days. The London Eye, Big Ben, House of Parliament, and 10 Downing Street can all be done the same day since they are all essentially beside each other.
Buy an Oyster Card to get around.
All you propose can be done easily in 4 days. The London Eye, Big Ben, House of Parliament, and 10 Downing Street can all be done the same day since they are all essentially beside each other.
Buy an Oyster Card to get around.
Aug 27th, 2013, 10:40 PM
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Hi Dawny, from your hotel, you can walk to a lot of sites. Buckingham Palace is very close - get tickets in advance if you want to do the tour.
Downing Street - nothing to see, just walk by, you cannot enter the road.
Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey - all very close. I would add the Cabinet War Rooms there.
Cross the Thames; London Eye, Tate Modern (even if not interested in modern art; go in, it's free, and go to the restaurant on the top floor for amazing views). Globe is here too - do you want to see a play there? Cross the Milennium Bridge and visit St Paul's.
Piccadilly Circus; walk from your hotel in the evening and have dinner near there (Brasserie Zedel for example - book!).
I don't know if the London Pass is worth it for you - many museums are free. Make a list of places you want to go to that charge entry, and add it up to see if it makes sense. Usually not.
I can recommend the Cinnamon Club restaurant - an anglo/indian restaurant near your hotel, in the former Westminster Library.
Downing Street - nothing to see, just walk by, you cannot enter the road.
Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey - all very close. I would add the Cabinet War Rooms there.
Cross the Thames; London Eye, Tate Modern (even if not interested in modern art; go in, it's free, and go to the restaurant on the top floor for amazing views). Globe is here too - do you want to see a play there? Cross the Milennium Bridge and visit St Paul's.
Piccadilly Circus; walk from your hotel in the evening and have dinner near there (Brasserie Zedel for example - book!).
I don't know if the London Pass is worth it for you - many museums are free. Make a list of places you want to go to that charge entry, and add it up to see if it makes sense. Usually not.
I can recommend the Cinnamon Club restaurant - an anglo/indian restaurant near your hotel, in the former Westminster Library.
Aug 28th, 2013, 01:58 AM
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The general consensus seems to be that the London Pass is not worth the money, especially the travel part.
You should definitely get some sort of travel pass, because paying for single journeys is expensive.
A walk is a good idea http://www.walks.com/
London walks are good. You don't have to book. You just turn up at a designated tube station and meet your guide.
You might be interested in the Inns of Court walk http://www.walks.com/London_Walks_Ho...ult.aspx#12890
because it takes you to places where you might not normally go. They are ancient quiet oases and you don't feel that you are in a noisy bustling modern city.
You should definitely get some sort of travel pass, because paying for single journeys is expensive.
A walk is a good idea http://www.walks.com/
London walks are good. You don't have to book. You just turn up at a designated tube station and meet your guide.
You might be interested in the Inns of Court walk http://www.walks.com/London_Walks_Ho...ult.aspx#12890
because it takes you to places where you might not normally go. They are ancient quiet oases and you don't feel that you are in a noisy bustling modern city.
Aug 28th, 2013, 05:59 AM
#6
>>House of Parliament and Ben Prime Ministers Downing St,, Piccadilly Circus, and Buckingham Palace<<
You probably mean >>Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, 10 Downing St, . . . etc<<
Unless you are actually touring Buckingham Palace (need to pre-book tickets) none of these are 'destinations' but merely walk-by's. And Downing Street isn't even that - you can literally see nothing except the bihg iron gate at the street and a couple of policemen. Years ago (like 30+) you could walk right up to the front door and have your picture taken . . but you can't get near the place now.
Which is all a good thing because in four days you'll have to RUN to manage St Paul's, the Tower of London, London Eye, Windsor Castle, Globe, and Hampton Court Palace. Windsor is nearly a full day since it is outside of London and you need to take the train both ways. If you got there at opening time you could be back in central London but late afternoon so maybe could fit in one other small-ish site that day.
Same w/ Hampton Court Palace - it requires a train ride and takes a minimum of half a day - again count on getting back to town by mid to late afternoon. The Tower of London is IN London but also requires several hours. So as you can see, you will have very little free time.
No to the London Pass for sure.
You probably mean >>Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, 10 Downing St, . . . etc<<
Unless you are actually touring Buckingham Palace (need to pre-book tickets) none of these are 'destinations' but merely walk-by's. And Downing Street isn't even that - you can literally see nothing except the bihg iron gate at the street and a couple of policemen. Years ago (like 30+) you could walk right up to the front door and have your picture taken . . but you can't get near the place now.
Which is all a good thing because in four days you'll have to RUN to manage St Paul's, the Tower of London, London Eye, Windsor Castle, Globe, and Hampton Court Palace. Windsor is nearly a full day since it is outside of London and you need to take the train both ways. If you got there at opening time you could be back in central London but late afternoon so maybe could fit in one other small-ish site that day.
Same w/ Hampton Court Palace - it requires a train ride and takes a minimum of half a day - again count on getting back to town by mid to late afternoon. The Tower of London is IN London but also requires several hours. So as you can see, you will have very little free time.
No to the London Pass for sure.
Aug 28th, 2013, 06:37 AM
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Passes are rarely worth the money.
And many of the things you have listed are walk-bys rather than visits. (Big Ben, Downing St, Parliament - unless you are lucky enough to be there when sitting and can get in, Buck House - unless you get tickets for inside - in advance)
Suggest you get 1) a good street map of London with sights indicated and 2)a map of the tube so you can see how best to get around.
I would do a large sight first thing each day and then fit in others that are nearby.
For the Tower you need to get there when it opens since lines are very long.
Hampton Court is basically a day out of the city - and I wuold look into taking a boat one way.
And many of the things you have listed are walk-bys rather than visits. (Big Ben, Downing St, Parliament - unless you are lucky enough to be there when sitting and can get in, Buck House - unless you get tickets for inside - in advance)
Suggest you get 1) a good street map of London with sights indicated and 2)a map of the tube so you can see how best to get around.
I would do a large sight first thing each day and then fit in others that are nearby.
For the Tower you need to get there when it opens since lines are very long.
Hampton Court is basically a day out of the city - and I wuold look into taking a boat one way.
Aug 28th, 2013, 07:34 AM
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In London itself, I mean.
And buy an Oyster Card for travel - you can put some money on the card, and use that to pay for all bus and tube travel.
Get one from an underground station the day you arrive.
Have a great time!
And buy an Oyster Card for travel - you can put some money on the card, and use that to pay for all bus and tube travel.
Get one from an underground station the day you arrive.
Have a great time!
Aug 28th, 2013, 07:43 AM
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<< I would also like to know if it would be worth it to get the London Pass.>>
No no no.
Before your trip, go to www.daysoutguide.co.uk and print vouchers for the Tower, Eye, Cabinet War Rooms, HCP and possibly St. Paul's (varies between on and off the list) and you'll save far more.
Plus, the major museums have free admission.
No no no.
Before your trip, go to www.daysoutguide.co.uk and print vouchers for the Tower, Eye, Cabinet War Rooms, HCP and possibly St. Paul's (varies between on and off the list) and you'll save far more.
Plus, the major museums have free admission.
Aug 29th, 2013, 11:43 AM
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FYI. All Big Russ's recommendations are on the current list. Am I wrong in thinking that you need the National Rail travel pass to partake in the 2/1 ? Or is it just a train ticket that you may or may not need?
Aug 29th, 2013, 12:06 PM
#13
>>Am I wrong in thinking that you need the National Rail travel pass to partake in the 2/1 ? Or is it just a train ticket that you may or may not need?<<
No pass is required. Yes a 'train ticket' is required . . . However that could just be a travel card for one day or a 7 day travel card to be used instead of an Oyster for tube/bus transport around London.
No pass is required. Yes a 'train ticket' is required . . . However that could just be a travel card for one day or a 7 day travel card to be used instead of an Oyster for tube/bus transport around London.
Aug 29th, 2013, 12:11 PM
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<<Am I wrong in thinking that you need the National Rail travel pass to partake in the 2/1 ?>>
Yup. No pass necessary.
If Dawny arrives in Gatwick, she and hubby can get RT train tickets from Gatwick to London and these meet the requirement for the 2for1 offers. Just present them as needed.
Or she can get a 7 day paper travelcard (zones 1-2 will do) from a national rail station (Euston, King's X, St Pancras, etc). If she takes that option, the Oyster card is unnecessary.
Or she could buy single day travelcards at a national rail station on each day she'll use the two-fer (but for Hampton Court Palace, she only needs to go by train and show their tickets to and from Waterloo).
Yup. No pass necessary.
If Dawny arrives in Gatwick, she and hubby can get RT train tickets from Gatwick to London and these meet the requirement for the 2for1 offers. Just present them as needed.
Or she can get a 7 day paper travelcard (zones 1-2 will do) from a national rail station (Euston, King's X, St Pancras, etc). If she takes that option, the Oyster card is unnecessary.
Or she could buy single day travelcards at a national rail station on each day she'll use the two-fer (but for Hampton Court Palace, she only needs to go by train and show their tickets to and from Waterloo).
