perkie1968

Hi everyone. So the hotels have been booked (Hotel Trianon Rive Gauche in Paris and London King's Hotel in London). So now begins the itinerary and I need some help. We have a list of things we want to see and do. I know that we will not fit it all in in the days that we have, so the question is more about what are MUST SEES, what are SURE/MAYBE and what are DON"T BOTHER/MEH/OVERATED.

July 6th. land in Paris around 11:30am after an 8 hr flight from Toronto (keeping fingers crossed that we slept on the plane and are somewhat functional). By the time we get to the hotel and check in (or at least drop off the bags), what is doable that first afternoon, considering the lack of sleep and jetlag?

July 7-10: Paris

We are interested in: Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, The Louvre, river cruise, champs elysees, alexander bridge, Sacre Coeur, Notre dame, Musee Gourmand du Chocolat (for the 9 yr old), HOly Chapel, Luxenbourg Gdns, Paris Zoo, Montparnass Tower (?), day trip to Palace de Versailles (?)

July 11: train from Paris to London. Tickets not purchased yet but hoping for midday arrival in London so that we have the afternoon to do something. What can we do with a half day here? Plus we have tickets for the key ceremony thing that night.

July 12-15: London

Interested in: Buckingham Palace, Changing of Guards, Kensington Palace, Westminster Abbey, Piccadily Squ (?), Trafalgar Squ (?), London eye, Tower of London, Science Museum, Natural History Museum (?), V&A Children's Museum, Madam Tussaud (hubby can get free passes through work),

July 16: fly London to Toronto

Also, strange question, but everything we decide to see and do, we should prebuy the tickets before leaving home? Rather than waiting til we're in the cities and purchasing them the day of or before?

Thanks everyone

PalenQ

Purchase Eurostar tickets ASAP -whenever they come on the system to get deep discounted fares- www.eurostar.com. You gain an hour going to London. www.seat61.com for special info.

Eye Over London may be a good idea for first day -orientation you all to the layout of London and see many landmarks.

janisj

No need to pre-buy anything -- especially if you want to use the 2for1 discounts (in that case you CANNOT pre-purchase anything)

https://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/2for1-london

>>London King's Hotel in London<<

Did you get a deal - and is it prepaid? Just asking.

Piccadilly Circus is a 'walk through' and you will see it w/o making special plans. Same for Trafalgar Square.

The Changing of the Guard is a slog -- you need to get there well ahead of time (1 to 2 hours early if you want a decent view). And once there you really can't move or you will lose your place. I'd consider the Changing of the Horse Guard instead.

Buckingham Palace is just a 'walk by' because it isn't open to the public when you are there. Five minutes should do it.

I would try to fit in a half day to visit Hampton Court Palace -- it would be far above Kensington Palace on most lists, but it does take a good deal longer since you have to take a train there.

perkie1968

PalenQ: Eurostar is saying I'm too early to book. Will have to try again in January.

Anyone have a preference of Eurostar verus RailEurope?

Janisj: Re hotel, paying 1250 pounds for two rooms, seemed ok. Yes? Can cancel up to the day before so not carved in stone.

>>No need to pre-buy anything <<

Really? Won't I be waiting in long lines if I wait to buy on the day of?

janisj

There are no long lines to speak of anywhere except for the Tower of London ( and Mme Tussauds but if you get free tickets for that you jump the queue ). And if you want to get the 2for1 discount at the Tower you can't pre-buy.

There there often long lines at the Natural History and Science museums . . . but there are free and there is no ticket to buy

PQ knew it is too early to purchase your Eurostar tix. RailEurope is just a reseller. You want to buy your tickets from the official site.

Nothing wrong w/ the hotel -- just not in the most central location. At nearly £160 per room per night that isn't super cheap.

janisj

. . . oh, and to avoid the line at the Tower, just get there a little before opening time

BigRuss

Buckingham Palace - this is a walk-by and take photos site unless you get in a tour.

Changing of Guards - waste of a morning and crowded

Kensington Palace - Hampton Court or Windsor would be better

Westminster Abbey - Yes

Piccadily Squ (?) - It's a Circus, not a Square and it's most like Times Square in NYC. Again, a walk-by. But there are shops for hubby on Jermyn Street and Fortnum and Mason is < 1/4 mile away.

Trafalgar Squ (?) - once again, a walk-by. The two National Galleries are adjacent to it.

London eye - wholly weather dependent

Tower of London - Yes

Science Museum, Natural History Museum (?) - considering Toronto's science museum, won't you be hard-pressed to find an equivalent or superior offering (other than Tokyo's Miraikan and maybe Philly's Franklin Institute)?

V&A Children's Museum - depends upon the kid - boy or girl? Likely of more interest for a girl.

Madam Tussaud (hubby can get free passes through work) - Easily worth that admission price, not worth retail. Could be fun or creepy seeing dead-eyed wax figures.

Consider:

National Maritime Museum
Museum of London
British Museum
Imperial War Museum

Those four have the same admission fee: NONE.

Consider also Churchill War Rooms.

WoinParis

Musee du chocolat in Paris ?
I have not been but kids loved musee de l armee at invalides and Jardin des plantes (zoo).

Hooameye

"Anyone have a preference of Eurostar verus RailEurope?"

Buy from Eurostar (the train operator), why pay more going through a third party (RailEurope), who don't have a good reputation anyway.

denisea

Maybe on the first day in Paris, consider the Seine cruise to give you some wow factor of seeing some of the sites without having to walk all over to do so. Luxembourg Gardens will allow everyone to stretch their legs and is close to your hotel and maybe hit a place like Little Breizh on rue Gregoire de Tours for lunch. there is also a Amorino close to Little Breizh for wonderful gelato. They make the gelato into a rose shape at the top of the cone...fun for the kids and refreshing in July.

For the 9-year-old and everyone, check out Chocolat Chapon...chocolates and a chocolate mousse bar. You choose the type of chocolate mousse you want and it is served up in little takeaway paper cones. It's delicious. They are opening a shop near St Sulpice (near your hotel) that should be open by the time you are there.

What is Holy Chapel...Saint Chapelle? If you can, go on a sunny day so the stained glass can be seen at its best.

The Louvre---know what you would like to see before going and where it is located. It is truly massive and can be frustrating if you don't have a game plan. It depends on the art you prefer but I much prefer Musee D'Orsay. It is a converted train station and not as overwhelming.

PalenQ

"Anyone have a preference of Eurostar verus RailEurope?"

Buy from Eurostar (the train operator), why pay more going through a third party (RailEurope), who don't have a good reputation anyway.>

Reputation is great but RE may have higher fares but this is changing as, largely owned by the French Railways along with Swiss Railways the company is reputable.

The rap about really high fares is also becoming a myth -keep saying it though and people repeat it without really looking themselves.

That said yes why go thru a middlewoman but go right to www.eurostar.com for guaranteed best fares- easy to book and print your own tickets.

Do check www.raileurope.com to and see - you never know but do not buy blindly from RE.

I think hooameye mis-used the word reputation - they are a reputable company but he/she meant they do not have a good reputation for giving the lowest fares- true in the recent past but quickly changing. But again no reason not to book you own after checking each.

BigRuss

The Louvre is the only art museum on your itinerary and you need to know what you're looking for. If you're going there to see Mona Lisa, prepare for disappointment and crowds - SERIOUSLY LARGE CROWDS, especially around the lady in question. If you're going for the art, that may not be your bag [and if you want to see a da Vinci without tons of tourists climbing over each other, go to Krakow].

Louvre is Renaissance-Baroque-Rococo-Neoclassicism, D'Orsay is Romantic to Post-Impressionism, the Pompidou Center is the three-dots-on-a-canvas stuff.

janisj

>>if you want to see a da Vinci without tons of tourists climbing over each other, go to Krakow<< . . . OR (since you will be there) the National Gallery in London . . .

perkie1968

>>I would try to fit in a half day to visit Hampton Court Palace<<

Ok, thank you for that.

>>Nothing wrong w/ the hotel -- just not in the most central location. At nearly £160 per room per night that isn't super cheap.<<

Ok, now you're making me rethink the hotel. It's not central but it is close to Paddington. Also, not sure if it's the time of year that we're going but I everything that I was looking at, with the requirements that we need, to be around that price for 2 rooms for 5 days.

<<That said yes why go thru a middlewoman but go right to www.eurostar.com for guaranteed best fares- easy to book and print your own tickets.<<

Sorry, didn't realize RE was a middle person. I couldn't put in our date on Eurostar since it's too far ahead, but I put in a random date in april just to get an idea and it was more expensive than RE, which is why I asked which was better. Now that I know, I will book with Eurostar.

Does Eurostar allow you pick your seats?

<<The Louvre is the only art museum on your itinerary and you need to know what you're looking for. <<

Personally, am not a huge fan of art galleries, so this one is for hubby and 17 yr old and yes Mona Lisa will be looked at, though we are expecting it to be an experience just getting to it.


The hotel in Paris has an airport shuttle, which is offering shuttle from airport to hotel for 70 euros. Does anyone know if that would beat a taxi?

Thanks

perkie1968

Do churches in London and Paris have the no shorts policy like in Italy?

fuzzbucket

You can wear shorts in both cities when you visit a church.
Eurostar does allow you to choose your seats.

Tulips

Eurostar allows you to book specific seats. There are 3 types; first & second class, and a 'middle' comfort class that gives you more space.

London Eye; people who had tickets prebooked for yesterday couldn't even see the other side of the Thames for the fog. Don't book in advance.

Kings London Hotel; looks like it's on Edgeware Road, close to the Westway which is a very busy road, not particularly charming. Transport links are OK, with Edgeware Road Station nearby. Have a look at google Earth to see what the area looks like. Nothing wrong with Edgeware Road - it's a popular area for middle eastern visitors.
If this is your first visit to London, I'd go for somewhere like South Kensington, Bloomsbury, or Notting Hill.

Hooameye

"Do churches in London and Paris have the no shorts policy like in Italy?"

Whether you'd want to wear shorts in London is another matter.

janisj

>>Whether you'd want to wear shorts in London is another matter. <<

Ain't that the truth

I;d be more concerned I had a sweater or cardigan than shorts.

I personally never ever take shorts to London - even if there is an unlikely heatwave linen capris or a floaty skirt is more than cool enough. Kids might want one pair of long shorts 'just in case'. Now, if I'm headed to the countryside in July or August I <i>might</i> throw in a pair of walking shorts.

perkie1968

Re: shorts, People don't wear them because it's not hot enough or because it's frowned upon?


Question re: subways. For London we need an Oyster card. Right? Once we're there we load them up?

And for Paris is it the Visit Pass?

Thanks