diann24

I know most of you hate the tours but do to time restraints we are doing a tour to see what we can. We begin our tour in London for 2 days. This is counting the day we arrive. I am so excited and seeing a little is a better option than not at all. The tour includes a tour but mostly a drive by not really visiting many sites. Can anyone suggest a must see and feasible way to see more in London and little time. Interests: DH is not a museum person., I would love to see changing of the guards, see the tribute to Princess Diane. (statue) Anything related to her I would love to see/visit. We will be leaving in less than a week. Thanks,

jamikins

I would get a good guidebook and see what interests you. You can then use www.tfl.gov.uk to plot out a route using public transit.

Top 10 London would be a good place to start to give you the biggies.

I would give the changing of the guard a miss. You need to be there hours early and it is difficult to see with so many masses of tourists. That is a lot of wasted time give you really only have 1 full day in London and part of your arrival day.

janisj

>>We begin our tour in London for 2 days. This is counting the day we arrive. <<

Which means you will only have 1.5 days or maybe even less. So not knowing where your tour takes you -- it is impossible to give you advice/recommendations. Or do you intend to ditch the tour and do the 'whole' 1.5 days on your own?

For sure, with less that 2 days and part of that eaten up w/ a tour I would not waste the 2.5 to 3 hours it takes to attend the Changing of the Guard (and many of the hit-and-run coach tours do give you a tiny glimpse of the Guard change)

>>see the tribute to Princess Diane. (statue)<<

What Princess Dian<B>a</B> statue? There is a fountain dedicated to her in Hyde Park -- but again in one 1.5 days probably isn't the best use of yout time.

If you are taking a bus tour and have one day free on your own, just pick the 2 sites that most appeal to you . . . The Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, whatever.

janisj

Didn't see jamikins' post -- yep

Tulips

If you're a Diana fan, then go to Kensington Palace.
There's a cafe on Notting Hill Gate nearby, called Cafe Diana, where she used to go. It's full of photographs.
You can go have breakfast there.

And I agree that 2 days London including arrival day is nothing for what is by far the largest city in Europe.

janisj

Ooh -- I forgot about the Cafe. Good suggestion since breakfast won't eat into the short sightseeing time you have then it is a short walk to Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens.

Where are you staying? The tour hotel's location might complicate your travel - or not. Depending on where it is.

Tulips

Janisj, they have a sign out that says it's being turned into a restaurant. Nothing seems to be happening though. Just an unassuming little cafe. With lots of Diana pics.
Opens at 8.

janisj

I've never been in but have walked past a couple of times.

diann24

We are staying across the street from Hyde park.( Great advice on "forget the guards.") it seems to be a good location. Yes the tour does take you all around but it is just a see this and that driving type tour not a stop and do anything. We will get suggestions when we arrive on how to spend our day when we arrive. The onto Paris for 3 whole days. Do you think it will crowded this time of year? I was hoping not.

janisj

>>We are staying across the street from Hyde park.(<<

Sorry but that doesn't help very much -- Hyde Park (including Kensington Gardens) is HUGE and abuts about 10 or 12 different neighborhoods. So -- WHICH hotel?

>>Do you think it will crowded this time of year? <<

London is <i>always</i> crowded, it is by far the largest city in western Europe so even w/o all the visitors, it is crowded.

diann24

We are staying at Thistle Kensington Square 104 Bayswater Road. the driving tour is 4 hours long with an optional tour of The Tower of London or Westminster Abbey. We are dropped off in a shopping district. (tours always drop you off around shopping districts) It would be nice the day we arrive to do utilize our p.m. time in some respect. We will be coming in from the East Coast.

Janisj--more then likely like New York City. Always crowded. Thanks all for you advice.

janisj

OK, that is a perfect location for visiting the cafe Tulips mentioned and for Kensington Palace and the Diana Fountain. It is less convenient to a lot of the other sites in London.

>>We are dropped off in a shopping district<<

That really doesn't tell us anything -- can you tell us where the tour company says it is dropping you off? Is it a shopping center (name?) or Oxford Street, or Covent Garden, or any number of other places.

diann24

DAY 3, Saturday - London City Tour
Today, discover the history, pageantry and sights of the city with a half day tour of London's West End. Begin with a drive through fashionable Kensington with its elegant squares and parks. Pass Harrods store and continue to view Piccadilly and Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament and the famous Big Ben. Continue to view Buckingham Palace, the London residence of Her Majesty the Queen. Your tour ends in the heart of town to explore this afternoon at leisure. Perhaps join our in-depth optional tour of St. Paul's cathedral and the Tower of London
Optional: Tower of London & St. Paul's Cathedral (PM)
Overnight: London

Janisj here is the description I would love to see St. Paul's Cathedral where Lady Di was married correct? I watched it live on TV stayed home from work that day to view. I think my focus should be on Kensington Palace as well. It looks like the weather will be horrible but one cannot predict the weather. It is what it is---

janisj

>> It looks like the weather will be horrible but one cannot predict the weather. It is what it is---<<

Where do you see that the weather will be horrible? No way to tell. Most likely in the low to mid 60s F w/ maybe some showers - or not.

tour descriptions are always so weird . . . >>Your tour ends in the heart of town to explore this afternoon at leisure. <<

That could mean ANYWHERE. But at least it doesn't say a 'shopping district'.

I would normally advise against taking the optional tours -- but in this case and since your time is soooooo limited, I'd really consider taking the St Paul's/Tower add on. Otherwise you just won't have time to visit them.

diann24

How do I know the weather?? 10 day forecast weather.com Easy!

I am leaving this Thursday. Yes I think I might consider the optional tour although I often do not do those either. I am wondering what to do in the p.m. that we arrive. I would like to utilize every waking moment.

jamikins

10 day forecast is useless...the weather changes hourly here!

janisj

>>10 day forecast weather.com Easy! <<

Ah -- so you've never been the the UK before I take it

A 10 <i><u>hour</u></i> forecast may be accurate . . . for say Southwark, and totally useless for say South Kensington (which are as the crow flies maybe 3 miles apart)

janisj

BTW - I usually wait for the BBC 10 o'clock (PM) news to get even a slight idea what the next morning's weather is supposed to b.

janisj

and another BTW . . . For perspective jamikins lives in London and I visit 3 or 4 times a year.

Tulips

If you arrive in the afternoon there may be enough time to take a walk through the park to Kensington Palace. It closes at 6 pm. Walk back via Kensington Palace Gardens and you'll end up at Cafe Diana. Or go via Kensington Church Street and stop at the Churchill Arms. If you walk back to your hotel via Bayswater Road, the Champion is not a bad place to stop for a beer.