pegpaz

We will be going to London for a long weekend the end of June. We don't want to cram too much into the trip, but was wondering what are the "must sees" in London. We would also like to explore a few villages in the countryside, on day trips from London. Any suggestions of which are the most picturesque/quaint and would be close enough while staying in London?
Thanks!

bilboburgler

So is a long weekend maybe 3 nights????

Quaint, not a word to be used lightly to a Brit's ears.

Close enough.

I guess we have to start with some questions, why are you coming to London? Do you know how big it is and how much you want to do there. I struggle to go to Paris for 5 days and leave for a day out, so London (which is maybe 4 times bigger) will swallow up your 4 days just like that.

Must sees.... http://www.visitlondon.com/tag/touri...rmation-centre click on things to do and most of them would count

However, the nearest "quaint" would be in the Cotswolds. Take a tour.

Mimar

Why don't you search a forum? There's been lots of discussion on this topic recently.

BigRuss

Given the surfeit of information on London generally and even in the US public conscience, including the hundreds of threads on this forum and the website's own information from the travel book company that runs it, asking "what are the must see sites" is laziness, trolling, or just ignorance.

Bilbo's question "Do you know how big it is and how much you want to do there" is easily answered - you don't know how big it is. LONDON IS THE LARGEST CITY IN WESTERN EUROPE and the closest runners-up are less than 1/2 as large.

Review this website, read guidebooks, do some research. We're all volunteer participants on this forum and you're asking us to take time to help you that you either won't invest or have not invested.

pegpaz

Yes, 3 nights in London which I guess will not be enough. I will check out the link and also the forum.

Thanks!!

janisj

OK -- where are you coming from? Flying in? With travel time three nights/2.5 days is long enough to see maybe 5 of the countless major sites in London -- but you >> would also like to explore a few villages in the countryside, on day trip<B><red>s</B></red> from London. . . . .<<

If you want to see <i>anything</i> at all in London you won't have time for even ONE day trip. Or - if you want to spend the time visiting country villages . . . why are you going to London and not somewhere in the country?

justineparis

Three nights is only 2 full days.. I don't see how you have time to see London ( even just highlights) and do outside London daytrips?
I guess if you only want to visit one or two sights in London( for me number one sight would be Tower of London, followed by Royal British or Victoria and Albert museums) and then spend a day somewhere else.. for me it would be Bath( which I have visited twice and really like) or Windsor( which I will be visiting for first time this summer).. I liked Hampton Court but it was only a 7/10 to me.. where as Bath is 9/10 , Brighton 8/10, Warwick 8/10, Salisbury 7/10, Canterbury 7/10 Stonehenge 6/10 and Avon on Stratford 6/10 .. Thing is .. I realize everyones personal preferences will rate places differently.

I would really consider making trip longer or staying put in London.

janisj

Sorry -- but no such think as "Royal British museum" . Perhaps you mean the British Museum?

And for the OP, all the places justine mentions are lovely places to visit (though giving Brighton an 8 is beyond me ) . . . none of them are villages.

nytraveler

You have time to see only a couple of the most major sights in London - and none to head for the countryside.

If you want to see villages - then rent a car and tour them - but forget London.

justineparis

ha stickler.. we do have a "Royal" museum here.. just assumed the original would be "Royal" too.. no matter,, been there 4 times and somehow have found it each time even though I have tacked the "Royal " on it,, just like tourists find the Iffel Tower and Loover in Paris.. lol Proper names do make them easier to google though.. so you are right to note the mistake for OP.

I think you are right.. I did over rate Brighton.. but it was a sunny day and we loved walking along the board walk and trying different seafoods ( winkles.. who knew you could eat them!) .. I agree on a poor weather day it would be a 6-7 ..

ssander

Tower of London is No. 1 IMHO. If you could only visit London for several hours, that would be my recommendation.

[BTW, you sound like you are very unfamiliar with London, so don't freak out if I tell what you may already know: The Tower of London is not a tower...it is a huge walled complex of fortifications, buildings and museums with a history back to the 11th c., with much to see, and wonderful guides who take visitors around.]

On a short visit, you want to see as many "British-only" things as you can. Here's a start:

A morning self-guided walk from Trafalgar to the Westminster tube stop, a visit to Westminster Abbey -- then board the Thames cruise to the Tower...that's pretty much a full day, given opening/closing times.

NOTE: I'd prefer the British Library to the British Museum...but that's just me who lives on the US east coast near Philadelphia and can see many similar (though not exactly the same) items fairly close by...but that is purely a matter of taste.


I do not recommend a day-trip given your short visit. You won't run out of things to see in London on your second day. [Understatement of the year!]

SS

margo_oz

C'mon

Pegpaz wanted to visit Australia and New Zealand in 2 weeks. 3 days in London should be a breeze!

willit

The "Must Sees" are entirely dependent on the visitor - so without knowing your interests it is impossible to say.

To use a silly example, to a sports fanatic the must sees might be Wimbledon, Wembley, Lords , Twickenham and the Olympic stadium.

If it's a "been there, done that , got the photographs" then Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, St Paul's Cathedral, The Tower of London and the Houses of Parliament will probably do.

annhig

if you want a relatively cheap and leisurely look at some quintessentially British sights, get the no 11 bus going east from Victoria, and sit on the top deck while it takes you past Westminster Abbey, round Parliament Square, up Horseguards, onto Trafalgar square, along the Strand, past Temple Bar into Fleet street, up Blackfriars, past the old Bailey, and St Pauls and deposits you reasonably close to the Tower.

who needs the HOHO bus when you've got the No 11?

ssander

Ditto on the No. 11 bus.

SS

Josser

It would be a long damp walk from Trafalgar to Westminster, unless you mean Trafalgar Square

ssander

Josser...yup!!

fluff224

We are going to London in May for our 3rd trip, 1st was many years ago & a whirlwind trip. Since my S & DIL are now living there we try to visit twice a year. We were there for 2 weeks last fall & I was concerned that a week might be too long this trip. However, my DIL recommends Batersea Park, Boroughs Market, Covent. Garden (can't remember if you did that or not). We especially loved the Mews Museum by Buckinham. Palace! Given your short stay, I would not try a day trip. Hampton Court Palace is on our list this trip. Last fall we took the bus to the train station only to find that the trains were down due to the heavy rain & storm. We worked our way back & went to the Prince Albert. Museum & loved it. The Natural History Museum is worth a visit. The National Gallery is near Traflgar Sq. & worthy of popping in.

My S & DIL try to travel once a month since airfare is relatively cheap. She uses a book she got for Christmas called ; New York Times 36 hr 125 weekends in Europe it s sold on Amazon for $30.17. It has been a wonderful resource for weekend trips. I am considering getting one for myself for future visits!

janisj

>>Prince Albert. Museum<<

That would be the Victoria and Albert Museum . . .

justineparis

janis.. were you a school teacher?? or an editor or proof reader.. you are good at finding the mistakes.. lol no worries.. it does help to have proper names.