PatriciaV2

I have a layover of what might be a few hours or so in London. What would anyone suggest to do/see? I know I need more time in this city, but won't have it. How can I maximize my time while there for a few short hours?



Thanks in advance!
Patricia

Kayb95

Unless you have at least a six hour layover, I wouldn't even consider leaving the airport (Heathrow or Gatwick?)

3gigs

I've been to London twice - once for five days, once for an overnight visit. I'll tell you what I have told others: if you have time to see only one thing, make it Westminster Abbey, because in one place you have 1000 years of English history revealed to you. But as Kayb said, make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to get back to the airport/train station or whatever to make your flight/train.

PatriciaV2

Well, it's more of an overnight layover...i will probably be staying overnight in London, so will have a few hours at night and possibly a few hours in morning.

Any suggestions? I know it's a very short amount of time, but I will have some time to walk around in the morning, have a cup of coffee and......(any suggestions)???

Thanks!
Patricia

3gigs

Take the double-decker "on-off" bus - you can hop off at a site you want to see, hop back on the next bus to come along. This will get you oriented to the city - just make sure you hop off at Westminster Abbey!

taggie

Are you changing you flight times? Your other post says you get in to Gatwick at 9:15 and leave out of Stansted at 15:00. If this is still the case you will not have time to see anything in London unless you hire a taxi or driver from Gatwick and look at some London sights through the car window as you drive to Stansted.

If you have changed your flights to allow an overnight in London, or at least a several hours clear of travel time to and from the airports, then the hop on/hop off bus is an option. It costs £17 and there are 3 routes. The Red Route takes you past the bigger tourist sites like Westminster and Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, etc. You may not have time to do even this whole route, let alone the other 2. If you do have time all 3 would give you a great overview of the city basics, with commentary. Last bus goes around 18:00; your ticket is good for 24 hours and also gets you a river cruise from Westminester Pier to the Tower of London. A good way to get a different view and perspective of London.
Check out bigbus.co.uk

Be aware that there are lineups to enter Westminster Abbey so if you are planning to do that make sure to allow enought time.

PatriciaV2

I haven't changed my flight, but I have to come back through there on my return. I may decide to try it that way so I'd have more time.

Thanks for any suggestions!

Patricia

obxgirl

Patricia, Consider reposting this question when you know specifically which 1/4 of the day you'll be on a London layover.

The hop on/hop off bus tour is an excellent suggestion but if you get into one airport at 5pm and leave from another at 10am the next morning, your 18 GBP for the tour would be largely wasted. Similarly, if you're coming through on a Sunday, Westminster Abbey will not be open for tours.

PatriciaV2

obxgirl,

I do know which day I will be layovered. I changed my mind after my first posting (realizing I would have almost no time) to my return layover...hence the new posting.

Thanks for any help you can offer!
Patricia

obxgirl

OK. What DAY of the week and what TIME of the day will you be on a layover in London?

bbib

Why not take a trip on the London eye - that way you will see everything. The Eye is right by Westminster too.

mclaurie

I'v not seen your previous posts so don't know what time of year (days are very long in summer and very short in winter), day of week (some great markets on certain days) or what your interests are. The hop on hop off bus certainly gives a good generic overview but maybe you'd rather not sit on a bus for several hours. What are your interests?

PatriciaV2

Thanks everyone. I will give you some more specific info (even though I hesitate to give exact date info online)

I will be in London (if I decide this will be worthwhile**which will greatly be decided in part by your suggestions)on August 16th (from 5:30pm?- overnight) and then will have a few hours in the morning. I have to be at Gatwick before 12:15. I realize it's not alot of time...but I can see a little.

mclaurie,
I love everything...architecture, art (won't have time I would suppose), churches, love people watching, cafe life, shopping...walking through the markets.....I am more interested in getting a brief view of life in early morning London.
(I would love to hear your suggestions)!
Thanks!
Patricia

PatriciaV2

How early do the stores start to open/does the city awaken? I could get up really early and have more time.

Thanks!
P

PatriciaV2

anyone?

thanks!
P

obxgirl

FWIW Patricia, I wasn't asking you which specific date you were planning to be in London but which DAY of the week as it has a bearing on what people might recommend for you to do. That aside...

>How early do the stores start to open<

Most shops, museums and galleries open at 10 am, some at 9:30.

>How early...does the city awaken?

Crack of dawn or earlier just like any major metro city. You could get up with the early commuters and do your own walking tour.

What else to do:

If you're going to arrive in central London by 5:30 in the afternoon, consider scheduling one of the evening tours with London Walks (londonwalks.com) which depart at 7 or 7:30. I've never done one myself but folks here rave about them.

Shops in Covent Gardent (and perhaps others as well) are open until 7 or 7:30pm if you wanted to do some shopping.

Take a ride on the London Eye which has its last scheduled departure at 10 pm during the summer (I think, check the website on that one).

The major museums typically have one day of the week with evening hours. Don't know which if any do this on Monday but it would be worth surveying the websites if you're interested.

Berwick Street Market operates M-F 8 am until sometime in the afternoon. It's a produce market with some household good located between Oxford Street and (I'm pretty sure) Old Compton Street. Not much you'd likely want to buy but it has good London atmosphere.

There's also a produce market at Portobello Road on Monday starting pretty early, don't recall exactly when. It's not the big Saturday market but food and household goods.

There is an antique Market in Covent Garden on Mondays, 9 am till...? I know nothing about the quality of what's offered.

rj007

I would suggest a pub walk with London Walks. They usually start at 7 PM and go for 2 hours. You generally hit 2 pubs and wind up the tour at a third pub. You get about 20 min at each pub and the guide will make some recommendations of some good beers. I have done several and they are fun.

PatrickLondon

So you'll be in central London from about 5.30pm on a Monday until about 11.15a.m. on a Tuesday (if you have to be at Gatwick for 12.15, I'd suggest getting to Victoria about 11.15 - the train takes about half an hour, but if it were me I'd leave a margin for general faffing around at Victoria).

A guided pub walk sounds like a good idea to me for the evening - one way to help you cope with jetlag!

So for Tuesday morning you don't have a lot of time, and a lot depends on where your overnight hotel is - it could take you half an hour to get to Victoria. The South Kensington museums are only two tube stops away from Victoria and there are plenty of hotels in the area, but I think the museums don't open until 10 am. If the weather's nice you could go for a stroll in Kensington Gardens/Hyde Park and get some air before you're confined to planes again.

If you're nearer Bloomsbury, again, the British Museum doesn't open till 10am, but you could explore Covent Garden instead.

The bus tours start about 8.30, but you'd have the hassle of getting back to your luggage and on to Victoria, so it's hardly worth the cost, which looks enormous to me.

mclaurie

Well the good news is it stays light very late in August. (I think til about 10pm) The bad news is there's not very much open late on a Monday night (ie museums etc.)

Some options for Monday evening are, as others have suggested, taking a London Walks tour(there are other options besides a pub crawl). I might choose to see "A Midsummer Nights Dream" in the open air theater in Regents Park at 8PM

http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/londo...enair.htm#perf

Or you could just have a walk around any of the parks on your own and then go to dinner, or go to regular theater (I would have suggested going to the Globe but there's no performance that night :'(.

The Proms (concert series at Albert Hall) will be on while you're there too. It's a classical Russian program that night. Here's a website for more info.

http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/whats-on.php?event=31
That website will also link to other events on the date you're there.

The Houses of Parliament are open for touring while you're there. You could visit on Tues morn. Tour starts at 9:15 & lasts 75 mins

http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/summer_opening.cfm

I think one museum that rolls art, history and arhitecture together is the National Portrait Gallery in Trafalgar Square. It opens at 10am and happens to have an exhibit on called WOMEN TRAVEL OFF THE BEATEN TRACK. Before the opening, go to St Martins in the Field church across the way.

Those are some thoughts.

PatriciaV2

These are some great ideas! I especially like the london walks idea, Covent Garden shopping (maybe Harrods too), and love the ideas including theater and music events. I am a musician...and will be staying in the West End area, most likely, so it would be nearby, I think. That would be a treat!

Would still welcome other recommendations if anyone has any other favorite short term things to do/see?
Thanks!!!!!!!
Patricia