wren

I have looked at many threads--including the Superthread. It has given us many great ideas, but also made it difficult to decide just what to do during our 8 days in London this next January. We are in our mid-50s and love history and art.
I know we will try to go to:
St. Paul's Cathedral
Westminster Abbey
National Gallery
Tate Gallery
British Museum
British Library
Tower of London
Churchill Museum
Victoria & Albert Museum

Given the time of year, knowing it will be dark early, and the weather could be cold and damp, what would you add or take away? Would you take a daytrip (overnight?)--if so, where and could you recommend a cozy B&B for a cold England night? We might include a play, if it works out.

Thanks for any ideas!

DCJones

The Chinese Terracotta Army display is at the British Museum. All January tickets are booked, but 500 tickets are released to the public each morning at 9:15 for entry that day. One November we did a one day trip to York by train. We took an early train out of London and the 5:30 train back from York. We really enjoyed the trip.

navigator40

If you get a nice sunny morning, which can happen quite often in January then let me recommend my favourite walk.
I start at the London Eye and walk the 2.5 miles to The Tower of London. On the way along the River Thames walk you will come across The Royal Festival Hall, the Tate Modern, Gabriels Wharf, Oxo Tower, Shakespeares Globe Theatre, the Clink Prison, Vinopolis, the Golden Hinde, Southwark Cathedral, HMS Belfast and Hays Galleria. You then cross Tower Bridge and you are at the Tower of London. From there, I take the river ferry back to the London Eye so I can see all the sights.
Its a very enjoyable stroll with lots of photo opportunities and places to take a tea or coffee and its a healthy walk too!!
Enjoy!

wren

Thanks for the information about the Terracotta soldiers---that is good to know! We will certainly try to get tickets for that.

York is certainly a possiblity--I see in a guide that they have a hop on hop off bus---did you do that? That might be a good thing with the weather so uncertain...
Any other ideas?

wren

Navigator, that sounds just like something we would love---I am encouraged that you say sunny mornings are frequent...I was concerned that we would be ducking in museums, pubs, sites, etc. to get out of the rain!

annhig

Hi, Wren,

I asume I don't have to remind you about grouping your sightseeing so that you make sure you're not criss-crossing the city - especially important in winter with shorter day-time.

eg -

st. Paul's and the tower,

Westminster abbey, the National Gallery

V & A and the British museum.

also work out in advance how you're going to get to these places, and in between them - buses can be useful as well as the underground. eg you can catch a bus from St. Paul's all the way back to Charing Cross which is a very interesting route taking you past the old bailey, ludgate circus, the cheshire cheese, up Fleet street, past the royal Courts of Justice, etc.

- also there are local "overground" trains - for example trains run from London Bridge to Charing Cross via Waterloo.

if you get tickets for a show, most of the theatres are near Chinatown [just off Leicester Square] where you can get a very good and warming supper.

as for trips outside London, how long have you got?

Tunbridge Wells can be done in a day by train and would make a fun day out.

regards, ann

wren

Hello Ann, I do know to group my sightseeing, but I thank you for doing it for me! That was a big help!

We have 8 days total on the ground in London...I will look into Tunbridge Wells as a possible daytrip.

Chris_England

Check carefully what "play" you are buying tickets for. A lot of theatres in London do nothing but lowbrow "shows" which usually means a musical aimed at families with young children or people with little education. Check the National Theatre for proper plays.

But if you get a chance to go to a pantomime - take it.

Our winters are usually very mild now - and it is very easy to overdress in London, because shops and especially the Tube can be excrucuatingly warm if you enter with an overcoat on.

Unless the snow comes (VERY rare in London) I usually wear a thin fleece simply over a shirt. A thin fleece is very cheap and light, it is easy to remove and carry, has zip pockets, and will even keep you dry enough in a shower (or give you time in proper rain to reach shelter !).

If you haven't got a thin fleece, just go to a cheap "outdoors" shop in London and buy their own brand. £15 if you are lucky. But don't get one from a posh "ski and skateboard shop" with a "designer" label.

travelbunny

wren..would also suggest London Walks on a nice day..a really good way to get a feel for London's neighborhoods. Be sure your itinerary is fluid so that on a bad day you can do indoor activities- a museum or gallery. I would not book a B and B as a way to save money unless I wanted a B and B experience. I would bid 4 star on price line after carefully reading biddingfortravel.

Tinathread

We go to London every year in January -- and we've rarely had to contend with miserable weather at all, so you'll most likely be very happy!

You might want to visit the Imperial War Museum. You can reach it by tube or taxi, but it's definitely worth a look around. The exhibits are terrific, especially if you're a history buff, and they have planes on display as well.

Use the TKTS booth in Leicester Square to get same-day discounted tickets for the theatre, unless there's something you'd really like to see (in which case you can book in advance online). I use this website to check out the shows: www.londontheatre.co.uk

We've done daytrips before but, frankly, there's so much to do in London why not just stay!

Tina

wren

Our hotel is already taken care of--not sure what hotel it is quite yet, however...(I won this trip last spring! We will know a month in advance of our trip about our accomodations.) I was just wondering about a B&B if we took an overnight excursion--but the more I think about it, staying in London the entire time, and possibly taking a daytrip seems the best thing for us.

Great advice from you all, thank you--the Imperial War Museum sounds fascinating. London Walks would be a great option as well.
I will keep in mind the advice about the thin fleece! Coming from South Florida, that is actually similar to what I use on our coldest days here!!!

Mimar

I second the recommendation for London Walks -- weather permitting. I'd be inclined to stay in London that time of year; the days are so short and the countryside, which is so beautiful the rest of the year, is not at its best. But York is pretty easy. Another daytrip possibility would be Oxford, closer and with lots of indoor options.

For cozy, visit pubs, old pubs. I sure somebody can make recommendations. The English do cosy so well, but there aren't many traditional B&Bs close in to the tourist circuit.

Don't miss the Cabinet War Rooms, next to the Churchill Museum. It's the real thing, the underground bunker where Churchill and the Cabinet spent the war, history frozen in time.

wren

How do the atmospheres of Oxford and Cambridge differ?

janisj

re the hop-on-hop-off buses in both London and York if you go north.

They are open top double decker buses. Downsatirs is enclosed - but you can't see as well and the windows do fog up pretty bad. It is really best to sit upstairs. But even on a sunny January day, that can get pretty frosty.

I always take silk long underwear, gloves, warm socks and cashmere/wool scarves whenever I'm in London in winter.

You will be too late to see pantomimes - they are mainky holiday events. Not sure what Chris is going on about - sure the National Theatre is terrific. Buth thare are MANY "high brow" as well as low brow, musical, literate, schlocky - wahetever you are in the mood for.

TKTS will have tickets for most of them - but not for shows at the National.

How bad the weather is depends a lot on where you are from. If from Minnesota or New England you will think London is downright balmy. If from San Diego or New Orleans you will think it is Siberia. If you are used to cool/cold/brisk weather and a bit of damp you won't skip a beat. But if your winters are in the 60+F range - it will seem very cold. So just plan accordingly

janisj

sorry about all the typos . . . .

Nonconformist

Pantomimes do usually go well into January, although exactly when will depend on the individual thatre. This year Cinderella is on at the Old Vic until 20 January, and another production is at Richmond until the same date. Ditto Snow White at Wimbledon.

janisj

I know about the suburban pantomimes running longer. Good to know the Old Vic also has a longer run.

where2

If you are from S Florida you will FREEZE in a thin fleece, even on the nicest January day IMO. I often see women in ankle length puffy down coats. While it does not frequently get below freezing, it just feels cold. I wear hats and gloves whenever I am outside in the winter and I am from Ohio, so I should be more used to it than you are.

janisj

Oops - missed the south Florida bit. It will <u>definitely</u> seem cold. In fact you may feel chilled to the bone. Bundle up and invest in some silk long underwear . . . . . .

wren

Actually, I love cold weather--maybe because I experience it so seldom and for such a short time! I do have a long overcoat w/ zip out wool lining and a long puffy coat (for when we visit our son &amp; his wife in NYC). I just assumed the puffy one would be too bulky to take. I will definitely take my long silk undies, cashmere scarf, hat and gloves!

The top of the bus should be most interesting in January!