London in 3 days - comment on itinerary pls.
May 7th, 2006, 09:20 PM
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London in 3 days - comment on itinerary pls.
Saturday
Arrive 7 am at Heathrow
Transfer using justairports or swisscottage - which one?
Leave bags at hotel since check in is not until 2PM
Walk through st james park to see Buckingham palace and the mall OR walk to Trafalgar square, see big ben, parliament
Lunch somewhere Fodorites foodies help here please - WHERE TO EAT NEAR BUCKINGHAM PALACE OR TRAFALGAR SQUARE?
Go back to hotel to check in
Hop on hop off bus in the pm to see all the sights. NO hopping off for the 2hr duration.
Free Thames circular river cruise after the bus ride
London eye before sunset preferably
Dinner any interesting pubs near royal horseguards hotel?
Sunday
Ride hop on hop off bus (24hrs) to go to Tower of London. See crown jewels first and then take the yeoman warder tour. Where do I find the beefeaters tour?
- Must take a picture of the Tower Bridge for my 5yo daughter who will not be coming along! Where's the best vantage point for a nice shot?
Lunch - HELP FOODIES PLS - either near the Tower or in Covent Garden
Shopping in Covent Garden
Westend theatre at night. This is my husband's first time in London and he wants to watch Phantom of the Opera. What are the new shows that are more interesting and how do I persuade him to watch that instead?! Also, how long are the queues in Leicester Square? I don't like wasting time lining up since we only have 3 days.
Monday
- Original walks of London Tour for Westminster Abbey just to skip the queue OR CAN I BUY TICKETS ELSEWHERE THAT WILL ALLOW ME TO SKIP THE QUEUE?
Walk through st james park to see Buckingham palace and the mall or walk to Trafalgar square, see big ben, parliament (whichever we did not do on day 1)
Museum which one?
More shopping if there is more time, harrods stop by
Tuesday
- Eurostar to France. How far is the Royal Horseguards hotel to the train station and how early should we get there? MORE IMPORTANTLY, are there luggage restrictions? This is the first stop of our Grand European Tour so we do have a big luggage.
Arrive 7 am at Heathrow
Transfer using justairports or swisscottage - which one?
Leave bags at hotel since check in is not until 2PM
Walk through st james park to see Buckingham palace and the mall OR walk to Trafalgar square, see big ben, parliament
Lunch somewhere Fodorites foodies help here please - WHERE TO EAT NEAR BUCKINGHAM PALACE OR TRAFALGAR SQUARE?
Go back to hotel to check in
Hop on hop off bus in the pm to see all the sights. NO hopping off for the 2hr duration.
Free Thames circular river cruise after the bus ride
London eye before sunset preferably
Dinner any interesting pubs near royal horseguards hotel?
Sunday
Ride hop on hop off bus (24hrs) to go to Tower of London. See crown jewels first and then take the yeoman warder tour. Where do I find the beefeaters tour?
- Must take a picture of the Tower Bridge for my 5yo daughter who will not be coming along! Where's the best vantage point for a nice shot?
Lunch - HELP FOODIES PLS - either near the Tower or in Covent Garden
Shopping in Covent Garden
Westend theatre at night. This is my husband's first time in London and he wants to watch Phantom of the Opera. What are the new shows that are more interesting and how do I persuade him to watch that instead?! Also, how long are the queues in Leicester Square? I don't like wasting time lining up since we only have 3 days.
Monday
- Original walks of London Tour for Westminster Abbey just to skip the queue OR CAN I BUY TICKETS ELSEWHERE THAT WILL ALLOW ME TO SKIP THE QUEUE?
Walk through st james park to see Buckingham palace and the mall or walk to Trafalgar square, see big ben, parliament (whichever we did not do on day 1)
Museum which one?
More shopping if there is more time, harrods stop by
Tuesday
- Eurostar to France. How far is the Royal Horseguards hotel to the train station and how early should we get there? MORE IMPORTANTLY, are there luggage restrictions? This is the first stop of our Grand European Tour so we do have a big luggage.
May 7th, 2006, 09:36 PM
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A few points:
The Yeoman Warder tour IS the Beefeater tour, so you can cross one thing off your list!
There is a current thread about waits at the TKTS booth at Leicester Square (and how to recognize it):
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34800633
Your Saturday sounds very busy to me. I would consider doing the bus tour in the am before lunch. You will walk by Big Ben/Houses of Parliament on your Westminster day (they are right there) and Trafalgar is just a short stroll away. Trafalgar is also pretty close to the west side and Covent Gardens. We did a pre-theatre meal at the National Portrait Gallery (right on Trafalgar Square) and enjoyed it very much.
The Yeoman Warder tour IS the Beefeater tour, so you can cross one thing off your list!
There is a current thread about waits at the TKTS booth at Leicester Square (and how to recognize it):
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34800633
Your Saturday sounds very busy to me. I would consider doing the bus tour in the am before lunch. You will walk by Big Ben/Houses of Parliament on your Westminster day (they are right there) and Trafalgar is just a short stroll away. Trafalgar is also pretty close to the west side and Covent Gardens. We did a pre-theatre meal at the National Portrait Gallery (right on Trafalgar Square) and enjoyed it very much.
May 8th, 2006, 12:28 AM
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Your hotel is a few minutes walk from Waterloo station, for the Eurostar. When you reach the river, turn right and head to cross Westminster Bridge, and follow signposts.
You might want to time visitng Tower Bridge with it being opened/closed: http://www.towerbridge.org.uk/TowerB...s/schedule.htm
You might want to time visitng Tower Bridge with it being opened/closed: http://www.towerbridge.org.uk/TowerB...s/schedule.htm
May 8th, 2006, 03:29 AM
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We were in London in the last week of April and saw the musical "Billy Elliot".Both husband and I absolutely loved it and agreed it was one of the most enjoyable theatrical experiences we have had.Also as the setting is English felt it was a particularly appropriate show to see whilst in England.We booked before we left home on the official Billy Elliot website.Tickets are not available at TKTS unfortunately.
May 8th, 2006, 04:24 AM
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The Courtauld Gallery -- http://www.courtauld.ac.uk/gallery/c...ons/index.html
is just a few minutes walk from Covent Garden. A lovely, manageable museum, with a restful courtyard/fountain area. I recommend it!
is just a few minutes walk from Covent Garden. A lovely, manageable museum, with a restful courtyard/fountain area. I recommend it!
May 8th, 2006, 04:42 AM
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Thanks for all the replies. Keep them coming please.
As for the "which museum" question, what I want to know is that if you can only see one of the ff: which would you choose: Tate Modern; British Museum or National Gallery?
Fodorites foodies - I really need your help. We had a lovely time in NY a few years back - with all the suggestions coming from this board.
Another question is clothing. I know it's been discussed lengthily. I've already warned my husband not to wear jeans. But are crew neck shirts okay if he pairs them up with casual slacks?
As for the "which museum" question, what I want to know is that if you can only see one of the ff: which would you choose: Tate Modern; British Museum or National Gallery?
Fodorites foodies - I really need your help. We had a lovely time in NY a few years back - with all the suggestions coming from this board.
Another question is clothing. I know it's been discussed lengthily. I've already warned my husband not to wear jeans. But are crew neck shirts okay if he pairs them up with casual slacks?
May 8th, 2006, 05:10 AM
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BTW, I'm doing the original bus tour in the afternoon because someone mentioned it here that the commentary only gets lively when the "tour group" is bigger. If I do it in the morning, it might have to be somewhere between 9-10AM and would that be too early for the tourist crowd on the bus? Besides, it gives me a free ride to the Tower Bridge the next day.
May 8th, 2006, 05:35 AM
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Museums:
Steer clear of the Tate Modern. Its content is little more than suburban: the depth and standard you'd expect in Auckland or Milwaukee. The building is interesting. But it's just another recycled industrial building, though with a view over one of the nastiest 1960s developments even that awful decade could throw up.
The National vs British Museum is a decision only you can take. The only impressive pictures in the BM are the Roman grave portraits, and the National is pretty shortof historical artefacts.
For what it's worth, though, I'd say the BM is streets agead of anywhere else anywhere as a historical museum, while the National isn't quite as good as the Louvre as an art gallery. But again, it's up to you: the National's Pieros or the BM's Egyptian stuff?
But missing either, in my view, is as bizarre as telling someone not to wear jeans here. Save the time you'd be wasting photographing Tower Bridge (the web's stuffed with better shots than you'll ever take) or shopping in Covent Garden (whatever for? You've got shops at home, surely?)
Steer clear of the Tate Modern. Its content is little more than suburban: the depth and standard you'd expect in Auckland or Milwaukee. The building is interesting. But it's just another recycled industrial building, though with a view over one of the nastiest 1960s developments even that awful decade could throw up.
The National vs British Museum is a decision only you can take. The only impressive pictures in the BM are the Roman grave portraits, and the National is pretty shortof historical artefacts.
For what it's worth, though, I'd say the BM is streets agead of anywhere else anywhere as a historical museum, while the National isn't quite as good as the Louvre as an art gallery. But again, it's up to you: the National's Pieros or the BM's Egyptian stuff?
But missing either, in my view, is as bizarre as telling someone not to wear jeans here. Save the time you'd be wasting photographing Tower Bridge (the web's stuffed with better shots than you'll ever take) or shopping in Covent Garden (whatever for? You've got shops at home, surely?)
May 8th, 2006, 06:15 AM
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Sorry I didn't mean shopping in Covent Garden but strolling around the area. Shopping will be in Oxford Street as my hubby wants those expensive hand-made shoes. How much are Church's now? We are not really looking forward to shopping aside from the shoes. I was there 9 years ago and bought nothing except from Mark's and Spencer and we have those all over Asia - except a lot more pricey here!
May 8th, 2006, 06:32 AM
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My husband wore jeans in London, and lived to tell the tale. Just as long as the overall look isn't sit-in-front-of-the-TV-with-a-beer sloppy, your husband will be fine.
The National Gallery was my top priority museum in London, but I really love art and art museums. I was not disappointed although I didn't have as much time as I would have liked. The National Portrait Gallery is right next door. My friend went to just about every museum in London, and the Portrait Gallery was her favorite.
OTOH, the British Museum has some amazing objects - the Elgin Marbles, the Rosetta Stone, Sutton Hoo - that make it one of the world's premier museums.
The National Gallery was my top priority museum in London, but I really love art and art museums. I was not disappointed although I didn't have as much time as I would have liked. The National Portrait Gallery is right next door. My friend went to just about every museum in London, and the Portrait Gallery was her favorite.
OTOH, the British Museum has some amazing objects - the Elgin Marbles, the Rosetta Stone, Sutton Hoo - that make it one of the world's premier museums.
May 8th, 2006, 07:20 AM
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Because every thread I've read advised against wearing jeans in Europe. BTW, he also wants to wear shorts. Should I let him wear that too?
We sightsee throughout the day and have no time to go home before dinner. That being said, would most restaurants (not fast food) be okay with jeans? My "fondest" meal memory was in NY at Tavern on the Green after a day at the Central Park. Boy, they sure made us feel like crap - in our faces when we came in/while we were eating/and even as we were leaving - because of our attire.
We sightsee throughout the day and have no time to go home before dinner. That being said, would most restaurants (not fast food) be okay with jeans? My "fondest" meal memory was in NY at Tavern on the Green after a day at the Central Park. Boy, they sure made us feel like crap - in our faces when we came in/while we were eating/and even as we were leaving - because of our attire.
May 8th, 2006, 08:15 AM
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Take a picture of the Tower Bridge while you're at the Tower of London.
We saw Blood Brothers in London and I wouldn't really recommend it. It has gotten rave reviews and has been running forever, but I'm not quite sure why. Maybe I'm just spoiled by the great theater in Chicago.
We saw Blood Brothers in London and I wouldn't really recommend it. It has gotten rave reviews and has been running forever, but I'm not quite sure why. Maybe I'm just spoiled by the great theater in Chicago.
May 8th, 2006, 08:44 AM
#17
Just a few more comments:
- On Sunday, don't ride the tour bus to the Tower if you want to see the Crown Jewels and miss terrible crowds w/i the Tower. The bus tour will not get you there early enough. You want to get to the Tower right at or just before opening time. Then go directly to the jewel House before returning to the entrance to pick up w/ one of the Yeoman Warder tours. If you arrive at the Tower later (when the bus will get you there) the queue for the Jewels will be an hour or more. And being a Sunday it is even more important to get there early since it is the busiest day.
- in the Summer there is a line at Westminster Abbey even early. So the London Walks might be a good use of your limited time.
- luggage restriction on the Eurostar is basically what you can carry yourselves. You need to be able to carry it on to the train and lift it into the overhead racks and/or car-end luggage racks.
- On Sunday, don't ride the tour bus to the Tower if you want to see the Crown Jewels and miss terrible crowds w/i the Tower. The bus tour will not get you there early enough. You want to get to the Tower right at or just before opening time. Then go directly to the jewel House before returning to the entrance to pick up w/ one of the Yeoman Warder tours. If you arrive at the Tower later (when the bus will get you there) the queue for the Jewels will be an hour or more. And being a Sunday it is even more important to get there early since it is the busiest day.
- in the Summer there is a line at Westminster Abbey even early. So the London Walks might be a good use of your limited time.
- luggage restriction on the Eurostar is basically what you can carry yourselves. You need to be able to carry it on to the train and lift it into the overhead racks and/or car-end luggage racks.
May 8th, 2006, 08:56 AM
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I realize you already have a quite full plate there, but when you go to the British Museum, take an hour to pop into the nearby British Library. Every piece of paper, parchment, or vellum you've ever seen in an English History book is there.
I'd skip the bus tour - it's no more enlightening than the free guides you can get at the TIC at Piccadilly, and you can get to all the sights on an Oyster card for £3 a day.
I'd skip the bus tour - it's no more enlightening than the free guides you can get at the TIC at Piccadilly, and you can get to all the sights on an Oyster card for £3 a day.
May 8th, 2006, 12:20 PM
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For lunch after the Tower of London, if you walk to the left at Traitor's Gate, you will find the St. Katherine's Dock area and see the Dickens Inn. There are a couple of restaurants there. One is a pizza type which we didn't try, but the other (on the top floor, I believe) offers a pleasant view and good food--or at least it did a few years ago.
