maureen_16

I am traveling with my 18 year old niece to London in late June. We will have 4 full days to see the city. On the day we arrive I would like to do a couple of things but not overly ambitious because of jet lag. Suggestions for an itinerary? What about a play one evening? My niece has already told me she wants to do the London Eye. What about buying tickets in advance for any attraction? Suggest websites for discounted tickets? I do know I should not buy tickets for the Eye in advance because its best to make sure the weather is good. Any suggestions on going to the flea market on Saturday? We are staying in a hotel near Gloucester Road tube station. Thank you!!!!

dorfan2

Maureen: Do you have 4 day/3 nights? This is what I'd do -
Arrival Day: London Eye and walk along Thames a little and acquaint yourselves with Gloucester Rd. tube sta. area (recommend The Stanhope Arms pub)
Day 2: Tower of London (see jewels at opening time, then Yeoman Warder tour)/St. Paul's Cathedral/Oxford St. shopping for 18 yr. old
Day 3: Westminster Abbey verger tour/walk by Buckingham Palace/National Art Gallery/Play at night
Day 4: V & A Museum/British Museum OR
National Art Galleries/Camden Markets
Note: If niece wants to visit Harrod's and no time-there is a good Harrod's souviner shop in Heathrow airport with cheaper prices than their store.

BigRuss

Does the Fodors Destinations tab not have a London link and a suggested four-day itinerary? You've said nothing about your interests: Who knows what you want to do other than the Eye and the flea market?

maureen_16

We will be there 5 nights. Arrive Tuesday late morning and fly out Sunday morning. We want to see the main tourist sights. Thanks for,the suggestions.

oh2doula

www.londontown.com is a great site!!!

ElendilPickle

Check http://www.tkts.co.uk/ to find out about buying discounted theater tickets.

Recommending the main tourist attractions is a little difficult since there are so many in London. Do you have any particular interests - history, art, architecture, etc.?

For instance, we visited the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich and the Churchill Museum/Cabinet War Rooms on our first visit to London, but those things may not interest you. So if you can give us a little more specific information, we can give you better suggestions.

Lee Ann

ohwhynot85

@BigRuss - actually NO the London link does NOT offer up a 4 day itinerary. It offers 12-14 days which will not help @maureen_16.

janisj

The Fodors 'Destinations' guide used to include short London plans -- but they seem to have re-done all those. Really too bad since the new sample itineraries aren't all that helpful

maureen_16

Architecture is an interest, great food experiences - any suggestions on great pubs, restaurants to eat at. While I know everything is expensive, reasonably priced restaurants would be preferable.

@elendilpickle I will check out those museums to see if we might have an interest.

While I know I have not given you too much information on what we like, I'm looking for any and all suggestions since its been over 20 years since I've been to London. Wile I can figure out the main tourist attractions there might be other things to do that I'm not aware of. I will take your suggestions and research them to see what works for us.

Thanks for the 2 websites listed above. I will definitely check them out.

And yes it would be nice if Fodors offered 4, 5, etc. itineraries. They used to!!! What they have is NOT helpful to me.

Thanks all!!!!

bendigo

In the interests of using many sources to gather information, you could check out frommers - they have a one-day highlights itinerary that they suggest could be done over 2 or 3 days:

http://www.frommers.com/destinations...055020766.html

With apologies if posting the competition is out of bounds!

ElendilPickle

www.fancyapint.com is great - you can find a good pub whenever you're ready for a meal.

Lee Ann

laurie_ann

A second vote for www.fancyapint.com. You can search for pubs by location such as near an attraction or a tube stop and they have ratings and reviews.

BigRuss

<<While I know everything is expensive, reasonably priced restaurants would be preferable>>

You used two meaningless terms: "expensive" and "reasonably priced." You need to think dollars and cents and convert from there.

The notion that "everything is expensive" is arrant nonsense: how many cities in the WORLD have 10 museums with no admission charge that are the equivalent of ten of the best London museums with no charge? The closest you'll get is in NYC if you pay $1 a pop at museums that have "suggested" admission fees.

Similarly, food is not "expensive" if you picnic on takeaway from M&S or Eat or Pret-a-Manger every now and again. But at restaurants you will find pricing about 20-30% lower numerically than equivalent offerings in the US, then you have to multiply that by 1.6 . . .

And you need to check out www.daysoutguide.co.uk so you can turn "expensive" into "reasonably priced" with discount offers.

oh2doula

BigRuss is right on!! Marks and Spencer is the way to go for food. London does not have to be expensive!!
www.londontown.com is a great help.