Leaving for London and Ireland 6/24 . . . itinerary help needed!
Jun 12th, 2005, 06:01 AM
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Leaving for London and Ireland 6/24 . . . itinerary help needed!
Wow, it has been months since I have been on this board! We leave for London and Ireland on 6/24 and come home on 7/11. Our Ireland itinerary is pretty much mapped out: 2 days in Dingle, then 4 days in Killarney area, including a wedding, then 2 days that will include seeing the Rock of Cashel and Cahir Castle and possibly Glendalough before heading just north of Dublin for a stay near the airport before our morning flight to Boston via London.
However, we really have no set itinerary for London. Is it ok to play it by ear? We arrive the 25th and leave for Ireland on the 3rd. The only day we have really planned is going to Wimbledon on Sunday. We also want to go to Oxford one day. That would give us four full days to do other things in the city. Is four days enough time to see all of the major sites? Must sees are: St. Paul's, W. Abbey, the Eye, the Globe (tour only . . . no show), the British Museum, the British Library, the National Gallery, and the Tower. Anything else we could throw in? I thought the V&A might be interesting and it is right near our hotel (it has late hours on Wednesday), plus I was interested in the Cabinet War Rooms. Also, should we make reservations for a London Walks tour before we go or wait til we get there?
Thanks for any adivce you may have. I felt better prepared for our Paris trip last year!
However, we really have no set itinerary for London. Is it ok to play it by ear? We arrive the 25th and leave for Ireland on the 3rd. The only day we have really planned is going to Wimbledon on Sunday. We also want to go to Oxford one day. That would give us four full days to do other things in the city. Is four days enough time to see all of the major sites? Must sees are: St. Paul's, W. Abbey, the Eye, the Globe (tour only . . . no show), the British Museum, the British Library, the National Gallery, and the Tower. Anything else we could throw in? I thought the V&A might be interesting and it is right near our hotel (it has late hours on Wednesday), plus I was interested in the Cabinet War Rooms. Also, should we make reservations for a London Walks tour before we go or wait til we get there?
Thanks for any adivce you may have. I felt better prepared for our Paris trip last year!
Jun 12th, 2005, 06:17 AM
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briefly to some of your questions (I'll try to get back in a while for more but you'll get lots of suggestions from others)
No need to book London Walks - just show up at the place/time of the walk.
No, 4 days is not enough time to see the highlights -- but then neither is 4 weeks so don't sweat it.
People tend to underestimate how long things take in London - it is a huge city and just transport eats into your sightseeing time.
One big time saver is that most of the museums/galleries/sites have decent cafes/restaurants on site. The V&A, Globe, Tower, Nat'l Gallery, Nat'l Portrait Gallery and British Museum all have at least one restaurant and some have several. So you don't have to leave the venues to get a decent meal . . .
No need to book London Walks - just show up at the place/time of the walk.
No, 4 days is not enough time to see the highlights -- but then neither is 4 weeks so don't sweat it.
People tend to underestimate how long things take in London - it is a huge city and just transport eats into your sightseeing time.
One big time saver is that most of the museums/galleries/sites have decent cafes/restaurants on site. The V&A, Globe, Tower, Nat'l Gallery, Nat'l Portrait Gallery and British Museum all have at least one restaurant and some have several. So you don't have to leave the venues to get a decent meal . . .
Jun 12th, 2005, 06:31 AM
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Thanks for the response. The Oxford trip is not set in stone, it's just that my husband studied abroad there and would like to go back. I know Oxford is lovely, but if it will eat into our time on London, we may skip it. We definitely want to go to Wimbledon, however, even if we have to wait in line. We are huge tennis fans and the chances of us being in London during Wimbledon again are slim!
Jun 12th, 2005, 07:20 AM
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You have some 'biggies' on your list.
You may be able to fit a lot of them into your 4 days if you group them by their proximity to each other.
St. Paul's and The Globe are on opposite sides of the river from each other ; you can cross the river on foot via the Millennium Bridge. ( The Tate Modern is next to The Globe ..I mention that just in case you have any interest in seeing it.)
Westminster Abbey and the Cabinet War Rooms are just a few minutes walk from each other . I would recommend getting to the Abbey as soon as it opens and signing up for a Verger's tour. There is also a self guided audio tour that is quite interesting, but the Verger's tour will get you access to more points of interest and you will be able to ask questions. Check the Abbey's website for the time of the tours.
The London Eye is on the opposite side of the river from the Abbey ( and Parliament) and you can walk there via the Westminster Bridge.
The Tower can get mobbed; be there EARLY. If you have any interest at all in the Crowns Jewels, go straight there and then return to where the Yeoman Warders Tours ( they are free) begin.
Since you say you're staying near the V&A you might want to see the Tower in the morning, have some 'down' time in the afternoon and then see the V&A in the evening.
The British Museum is huge. You may want to go to the Museum's web site and get an idea of what you absolutely want to see there. You may have the time and stamina to see more of the Museum, too..did I mention that it's huge?
You might be able to fit in the National Museum on the same day as the British Museum. If your legs aren't numb after walking around the Museum, you can walk up to Charing Cross Road and continue up to the National Gallery. This would give you a glimpse of Leicester Square , St Martin-in the- Fields Church , and Trafalgar Square.
I happen to like the British Library, but it isn't really near any other place on your must-see list. If you do find time to fit it in, I recommend it, but if you find you simply are out of time or are too exhausted, then see the Library on your next visit to London.
You can read the descriptions of the London Walks, at their web site, before you leave home. Or pick up one of the brochures in the literature rack of your London
hotel. Each walk takes about 2 hours. As Janis said, there are no reservations. You just show up at the appointed tube station at the appointed time.
You may be able to fit a lot of them into your 4 days if you group them by their proximity to each other.
St. Paul's and The Globe are on opposite sides of the river from each other ; you can cross the river on foot via the Millennium Bridge. ( The Tate Modern is next to The Globe ..I mention that just in case you have any interest in seeing it.)
Westminster Abbey and the Cabinet War Rooms are just a few minutes walk from each other . I would recommend getting to the Abbey as soon as it opens and signing up for a Verger's tour. There is also a self guided audio tour that is quite interesting, but the Verger's tour will get you access to more points of interest and you will be able to ask questions. Check the Abbey's website for the time of the tours.
The London Eye is on the opposite side of the river from the Abbey ( and Parliament) and you can walk there via the Westminster Bridge.
The Tower can get mobbed; be there EARLY. If you have any interest at all in the Crowns Jewels, go straight there and then return to where the Yeoman Warders Tours ( they are free) begin.
Since you say you're staying near the V&A you might want to see the Tower in the morning, have some 'down' time in the afternoon and then see the V&A in the evening.
The British Museum is huge. You may want to go to the Museum's web site and get an idea of what you absolutely want to see there. You may have the time and stamina to see more of the Museum, too..did I mention that it's huge?
You might be able to fit in the National Museum on the same day as the British Museum. If your legs aren't numb after walking around the Museum, you can walk up to Charing Cross Road and continue up to the National Gallery. This would give you a glimpse of Leicester Square , St Martin-in the- Fields Church , and Trafalgar Square.
I happen to like the British Library, but it isn't really near any other place on your must-see list. If you do find time to fit it in, I recommend it, but if you find you simply are out of time or are too exhausted, then see the Library on your next visit to London.
You can read the descriptions of the London Walks, at their web site, before you leave home. Or pick up one of the brochures in the literature rack of your London
hotel. Each walk takes about 2 hours. As Janis said, there are no reservations. You just show up at the appointed tube station at the appointed time.
Jun 12th, 2005, 08:29 AM
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That helps a lot, grouping things! I just realized that even if we go to Wimbledon and Oxford we will have 5 full days, not 4, to explore London (we arrive on Sat AM and leave Sun PM). We have friends arriving in London on our last full day, but they will have a baby in tow and may not be ready to meet up with is til the late afternoon b/c of jetlag. That helps!
We were thinking of napping the first afternoon we get there and then taking the bus tour around the city. Does that sound like a good plan? Or, will the traffic be bad at that time on a Saturday?
We were thinking of napping the first afternoon we get there and then taking the bus tour around the city. Does that sound like a good plan? Or, will the traffic be bad at that time on a Saturday?
Jun 12th, 2005, 08:43 AM
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For most people, napping that first afternoon is a big no-no. A few do swear that a nap helps - but for most, it just makes it even harder to get your body clocks set to local time. The best thing to do is to keep moving that first day - nothing strenuous but something outdoors and interesting enough to keep you energized. Then have a nice dinner and get to bed at a reasonable hour.
The bus tour is a good idea on the first day because it is open air and you can be as active or inactive as you like. You can just ride around - or you can hop off and on where ever thing look interesting.
The bus tour is a good idea on the first day because it is open air and you can be as active or inactive as you like. You can just ride around - or you can hop off and on where ever thing look interesting.
Jun 12th, 2005, 09:35 AM
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I have to nap . . . this will be my fourth trip to Europe, and each time I have napped in the afternoon the first day and been fine after that. I get awful jetlag, especially on the way home.
Thanks for the advice!
Thanks for the advice!
Jun 12th, 2005, 11:25 AM
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from your post it's not clear which sunday you plan to go to wimbledon. since you are leaving for ireland, i assume it is sunday the 26th. i'm bad with dates but i think this is "middle sunday" and there is no play at wimbledon as it is a traditional day off. only if absolutely necessary due to severe rain delays in preceeding days will they play on this sunday.
i'll be there the 3rd for the men's final (lucky lottery draw this year).
i'll be there the 3rd for the men's final (lucky lottery draw this year).
Jun 12th, 2005, 03:01 PM
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You've gotten some great advice already, so I'll just add a tidbit or two.
The British Museum, as already suggested, can be very overwhelming. I've visited several times and by far the best visit I had was through "London Walks" - they have a two-hour tour of some of the highlights of the Museum. I highly recommend this. My parents got confused and missed the London Walks tour, so they took the one given by guides at the British Museum itself. When we compared notes later (tours on the same day, at approximately the same time), we had not only seen more, but we had learned/retained more about the things we saw. So, again, I highly recommend the "London Walks" tour (we had Donald - the same Donald who is famous for his "Jack the Ripper" walks, which used to be great but are now so crowded (and the places have all been paved over) that the tour is not really very good).
Also, make some time just to walk in London. Don't automatically jump on the subway or a bus - check the map and walk 3 or 7 (or 10 or 15) blocks to your next destination. The parks are gorgeous, the buildings (even the non-public ones) are interesting, the people are friendly, and many of the best restaurants and shops are "off the beaten track". Don't miss a nightime walk down the Esplanade or in some other beautifully lit areas.
The "London Walks" have many great walks available. Pick one or two that interest you and take the walks. Never a need to book, and really informative. (There's a discount coupon available from your first guide if you're going to take more than one walk - just ask for it.)
We really enjoyed our visit to the Queen's Mews (next to Buck. Palace). It houses the horses that the royal family uses, as well as their automobiles, and all of the fancy equipment used with the horses/cars, including the golden state coach, etc.
Take time to enjoy the atmosphere!
Gayle
The British Museum, as already suggested, can be very overwhelming. I've visited several times and by far the best visit I had was through "London Walks" - they have a two-hour tour of some of the highlights of the Museum. I highly recommend this. My parents got confused and missed the London Walks tour, so they took the one given by guides at the British Museum itself. When we compared notes later (tours on the same day, at approximately the same time), we had not only seen more, but we had learned/retained more about the things we saw. So, again, I highly recommend the "London Walks" tour (we had Donald - the same Donald who is famous for his "Jack the Ripper" walks, which used to be great but are now so crowded (and the places have all been paved over) that the tour is not really very good).
Also, make some time just to walk in London. Don't automatically jump on the subway or a bus - check the map and walk 3 or 7 (or 10 or 15) blocks to your next destination. The parks are gorgeous, the buildings (even the non-public ones) are interesting, the people are friendly, and many of the best restaurants and shops are "off the beaten track". Don't miss a nightime walk down the Esplanade or in some other beautifully lit areas.
The "London Walks" have many great walks available. Pick one or two that interest you and take the walks. Never a need to book, and really informative. (There's a discount coupon available from your first guide if you're going to take more than one walk - just ask for it.)
We really enjoyed our visit to the Queen's Mews (next to Buck. Palace). It houses the horses that the royal family uses, as well as their automobiles, and all of the fancy equipment used with the horses/cars, including the golden state coach, etc.
Take time to enjoy the atmosphere!
Gayle
