Some preliminary questions
Jul 21st, 2011, 04:08 PM
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Some preliminary questions
Hi y'all,
Hubby and I will be spending 5 nights and 4.5 days in London (Sunday to Wednesday) in September. It's our true first time in London (an overnight really doesn't count). We love museums, galleries and churches, don't shop, are not really interested in the theatre and like "local" pubs and restaurants. I love Jane Austen. We will have obligatory Harry Potter stop (King's Cross station and possibly St. Pancras if we're close). I have the Rick Steves London.
We've rented an apartment on Matthew Parker Street (through LondonConnection) which looks like a great location. From what I can tell, we will be very close to pretty much all the major sights in Westminster and we want to see them all (haha! right!): Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace (Mall, Houses, etc.), Churchill Museum, Banqueting House, Parliament, Downing Street, St. Martin in-the-fields , National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, Tate Britain, St. James Park , Trafalgar Square.
We also want to see many other major and minor sights: The City: Tower of London, Tower Bridge, St. Paul’s, Museum of London; Bloomsbury: British Museum, British Library; Kensington/Chelsea: Victoria & Albert, Harrods; Soho/Covent Garden: Courthald Gallery, Somerset House; Leicester Square; St. James/Mayfair: Apsley House (Wellington Museum), Grosvenor Square, Picadilly Circus, St. James’s Church; South Bank: Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, Tate Modern, London Eye, Vinopolis, Imperial War Museum.
Now I absolutely know that we can't do justice to all of the above in our limited amount of time. We will be cutting things off the list, for sure (probably the Nat. Portrait Gallery, some of the lesser churches, some South Bank sights).
Questions: 1. Are there better days to do some things than others? Eg., I know we won't go to Westminster Abbey or St. Paul's on Sunday and that The City is dead on weekends, so what should be do on Sunday? Is the British Museum or Tower of London more crowded on Sunday or are they just crowded all the time?
2. I think Parliament will be in session while we're there. How do we tour it--that website is pretty confusing!
3. We are going to "do" Buckingham Palace. Should we buy tickets ahead of time? If so, for which day of our four? Not concerned with seeing the Changing of the Guard--takes too much time...
4. We are thinking of visiting Windsor on our way out of London (Thursday) to Goodwood for the Revival. Is it worth stopping there since the Royal Family will be in residence and we will have visited Buckingham?
5. What are y'all sugestions regarding transportation? I don't think we can realistically walk from the apartment to The City, for example.
I don't know why I'm having such a hard time wrapping my head around organizing our sightseeing--seriously, this is harder than Paris (we had much more time there). I really appreciate any help and suggestions.
Thank you! Nola
Hubby and I will be spending 5 nights and 4.5 days in London (Sunday to Wednesday) in September. It's our true first time in London (an overnight really doesn't count). We love museums, galleries and churches, don't shop, are not really interested in the theatre and like "local" pubs and restaurants. I love Jane Austen. We will have obligatory Harry Potter stop (King's Cross station and possibly St. Pancras if we're close). I have the Rick Steves London.
We've rented an apartment on Matthew Parker Street (through LondonConnection) which looks like a great location. From what I can tell, we will be very close to pretty much all the major sights in Westminster and we want to see them all (haha! right!): Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace (Mall, Houses, etc.), Churchill Museum, Banqueting House, Parliament, Downing Street, St. Martin in-the-fields , National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, Tate Britain, St. James Park , Trafalgar Square.
We also want to see many other major and minor sights: The City: Tower of London, Tower Bridge, St. Paul’s, Museum of London; Bloomsbury: British Museum, British Library; Kensington/Chelsea: Victoria & Albert, Harrods; Soho/Covent Garden: Courthald Gallery, Somerset House; Leicester Square; St. James/Mayfair: Apsley House (Wellington Museum), Grosvenor Square, Picadilly Circus, St. James’s Church; South Bank: Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, Tate Modern, London Eye, Vinopolis, Imperial War Museum.
Now I absolutely know that we can't do justice to all of the above in our limited amount of time. We will be cutting things off the list, for sure (probably the Nat. Portrait Gallery, some of the lesser churches, some South Bank sights).
Questions: 1. Are there better days to do some things than others? Eg., I know we won't go to Westminster Abbey or St. Paul's on Sunday and that The City is dead on weekends, so what should be do on Sunday? Is the British Museum or Tower of London more crowded on Sunday or are they just crowded all the time?
2. I think Parliament will be in session while we're there. How do we tour it--that website is pretty confusing!
3. We are going to "do" Buckingham Palace. Should we buy tickets ahead of time? If so, for which day of our four? Not concerned with seeing the Changing of the Guard--takes too much time...
4. We are thinking of visiting Windsor on our way out of London (Thursday) to Goodwood for the Revival. Is it worth stopping there since the Royal Family will be in residence and we will have visited Buckingham?
5. What are y'all sugestions regarding transportation? I don't think we can realistically walk from the apartment to The City, for example.
I don't know why I'm having such a hard time wrapping my head around organizing our sightseeing--seriously, this is harder than Paris (we had much more time there). I really appreciate any help and suggestions.
Thank you! Nola
Jul 21st, 2011, 06:24 PM
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Realistically, you are not going to be able to see everything, but it seems like you know that already.
A good idea: make a list of everywhere that you want to visit and next to each place, list it's opening hours. To further organize, group the places according to their location in the city, it looks like you have been doing this anyway, but just make sure that you have things organized so that you aren't skipping across the city all the time.
Some things I discovered while in London....
1: Rush hour happens from 6:30-7:30pm ...
2: It really is a stressful rush to see the Tower of London in just under an hour....
3: The metro gets real old, real fast.....
4: St. Paul's has a lovely evensong service ( very convenient if one is too late to tour the church )......
5: A map of the bus routes is THE most useful item to have......
If you would like to read a full account of the adventures I had in London this May, you can read my trip report
. http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...the-report.cfm
A good idea: make a list of everywhere that you want to visit and next to each place, list it's opening hours. To further organize, group the places according to their location in the city, it looks like you have been doing this anyway, but just make sure that you have things organized so that you aren't skipping across the city all the time.
Some things I discovered while in London....
1: Rush hour happens from 6:30-7:30pm ...
2: It really is a stressful rush to see the Tower of London in just under an hour....
3: The metro gets real old, real fast.....
4: St. Paul's has a lovely evensong service ( very convenient if one is too late to tour the church )......
5: A map of the bus routes is THE most useful item to have......
If you would like to read a full account of the adventures I had in London this May, you can read my trip report
. http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...the-report.cfm
Jul 21st, 2011, 06:31 PM
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If you'd like to see how we organized 2 1/2 days in London in 2007, click my screen name and you'll find my trip report.
Get a good map of London so you can see what sites are close together; it will help you plan. For instance, the British Library, St. Pancras, and Kings Cross are basically on the same street, and you can easily walk from one to the other. Westminster Abbey and the Churchill Museum are close to each other; you can take a verger's tour of the Abbey (highly recommended) and then go to the museum.
There aren't many Jane Austen sites in London, as I recall (I am also a fan). You can see a memorial plaque in Westminster Abbey, and her portrait is in the National Portrait Gallery. One of her manuscripts may be on display in the British Library's "treasures room."
Lee Ann
Get a good map of London so you can see what sites are close together; it will help you plan. For instance, the British Library, St. Pancras, and Kings Cross are basically on the same street, and you can easily walk from one to the other. Westminster Abbey and the Churchill Museum are close to each other; you can take a verger's tour of the Abbey (highly recommended) and then go to the museum.
There aren't many Jane Austen sites in London, as I recall (I am also a fan). You can see a memorial plaque in Westminster Abbey, and her portrait is in the National Portrait Gallery. One of her manuscripts may be on display in the British Library's "treasures room."
Lee Ann
Jul 21st, 2011, 08:38 PM
#4
"<i>We will be cutting things off the list, for sure (probably the Nat. Portrait Gallery, some of the lesser churches, some South Bank sights).</i>"
"<i>I don't know why I'm having such a hard time wrapping my head around organizing our sightseeing--</i>"
OK --I'll be Debbie Downer here -- but the reason you are having such a hard time is because you have a totally unrealistic wish list. You'll have to cut much more than the National Portrait Gallery and bits of the Southbank.
Your list is about 3 weeks worth. W/ your 4+ days you need to start from a much shorter list.
To give you some ideas, here are rough estimates of the minimum time each of the sites take (not counting travel time)
Westminster Abbey, 1.5 to 2 hrs.
Buckingham Palace, tour - 90 mins
Churchill Museum, 1 - 2 hrs
Banqueting House, 30 mins
Parliament, tour - 1+ hour.
Downing Street, 0 (nothing to see)
St Martin in-the-fields, Best to attend a night time concert
National Gallery, 1 hr (min) to as long as you can manage
National Portrait Gallery, 1 -1.5 hrs
Tate Britain, 1 - 1.5 hrs
St. James Park, walk through
Trafalgar Square, walk through
Tower of London, 3 hrs
Tower Bridge, walk across
St. Paul’s, 1 - 1.5 hrs
Museum of London, 1+ hourB
British Museum, 2 - 3 hours
British Library 1+ hour
Victoria & Albert, 2 - 3 hours
Harrods, 15 mins to HOURS depending
Courthald Gallery, 1+ Hour
Somerset House, depends on which exhibits you want to see Apsley House, 1.5 hrs
Grosvenor Square, 0 - nothing to see
Picadilly Circus, walk through at night
St. James’s Church - 1/2 an hour
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, 1+ hour if you take the tour
Tate Modern, 3/4 - 2hrs
London Eye, 1 hr (30 mins for the actual ride)
Vinopolis, 1 hr (Why?)
Imperial War Museum, 1 - 2 hrs.
Basically - count on 2 really major sites a day -- or two semi-majors and one 'minor'.
"<i>I don't know why I'm having such a hard time wrapping my head around organizing our sightseeing--</i>"
OK --I'll be Debbie Downer here -- but the reason you are having such a hard time is because you have a totally unrealistic wish list. You'll have to cut much more than the National Portrait Gallery and bits of the Southbank.
Your list is about 3 weeks worth. W/ your 4+ days you need to start from a much shorter list.
To give you some ideas, here are rough estimates of the minimum time each of the sites take (not counting travel time)
Westminster Abbey, 1.5 to 2 hrs.
Buckingham Palace, tour - 90 mins
Churchill Museum, 1 - 2 hrs
Banqueting House, 30 mins
Parliament, tour - 1+ hour.
Downing Street, 0 (nothing to see)
St Martin in-the-fields, Best to attend a night time concert
National Gallery, 1 hr (min) to as long as you can manage
National Portrait Gallery, 1 -1.5 hrs
Tate Britain, 1 - 1.5 hrs
St. James Park, walk through
Trafalgar Square, walk through
Tower of London, 3 hrs
Tower Bridge, walk across
St. Paul’s, 1 - 1.5 hrs
Museum of London, 1+ hourB
British Museum, 2 - 3 hours
British Library 1+ hour
Victoria & Albert, 2 - 3 hours
Harrods, 15 mins to HOURS depending
Courthald Gallery, 1+ Hour
Somerset House, depends on which exhibits you want to see Apsley House, 1.5 hrs
Grosvenor Square, 0 - nothing to see
Picadilly Circus, walk through at night
St. James’s Church - 1/2 an hour
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, 1+ hour if you take the tour
Tate Modern, 3/4 - 2hrs
London Eye, 1 hr (30 mins for the actual ride)
Vinopolis, 1 hr (Why?)
Imperial War Museum, 1 - 2 hrs.
Basically - count on 2 really major sites a day -- or two semi-majors and one 'minor'.
Jul 21st, 2011, 10:30 PM
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"I think Parliament will be in session while we're there. How do we tour it--that website is pretty confusing!"
How on earth can anyone be confused by:
http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/vi...rseasvisitors/
How on earth can anyone be confused by:
http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/vi...rseasvisitors/
Jul 22nd, 2011, 04:08 AM
#9
flanner is right about the British Museum -- but I did say <i>minimum</i> time
He <i>may</i> be right about Harrods --just depends. But at least 1/2 an hour in the Food Halls and escaping the rest of the store.
and alanRow is definitely on target about Rick Steves. He is OK to very good about lots of places in Europe. But RS doesn't personally enjoy/appreciate the UK and it shows.
He <i>may</i> be right about Harrods --just depends. But at least 1/2 an hour in the Food Halls and escaping the rest of the store.
and alanRow is definitely on target about Rick Steves. He is OK to very good about lots of places in Europe. But RS doesn't personally enjoy/appreciate the UK and it shows.
Jul 22nd, 2011, 04:17 AM
#10
The quickest way to travel in London is by tube. No traffic. The other good option is bus, you get to see where you are going which is a huge plus but it's slower.
Buy an Oyster Card each on arrival and have a good look at www.tfl.gov.uk especially the tube map and bus map.
Actually my preference for getting around London is walking but the tube or bus are wonderful for when you are too knackered to walk one more step.
Kay
Buy an Oyster Card each on arrival and have a good look at www.tfl.gov.uk especially the tube map and bus map.
Actually my preference for getting around London is walking but the tube or bus are wonderful for when you are too knackered to walk one more step.
Kay
Jul 22nd, 2011, 05:08 AM
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Consider a hop-on/off bus tour. it will at least save you the hassle of finding your way around, and it may help in that you can have some sights that tyou will "see" and others you will visit. You have places like Leicester Sq. that might be worth a look, but not necessarily a Tube trip.
http://www.theoriginaltour.com/tour-...our-routes.htm
Museums can easily deplete your hours. Be realistic and don't try to fill all of your days indoors.
You have a busy schedule, but consider a London Walk. It is a good way to see stuff that may not be in a guide book, entertaining, and a nice break from DIY.
www.walks.com/index.aspx?PageId=964
They also have a nighttime pub walk in Hampstead that was quite good (nice area of London).
As others said, you need to chart this out. Waht is open when/what days, what is located in the same geographical area,etc..
http://www.theoriginaltour.com/tour-...our-routes.htm
Museums can easily deplete your hours. Be realistic and don't try to fill all of your days indoors.
You have a busy schedule, but consider a London Walk. It is a good way to see stuff that may not be in a guide book, entertaining, and a nice break from DIY.
www.walks.com/index.aspx?PageId=964
They also have a nighttime pub walk in Hampstead that was quite good (nice area of London).
As others said, you need to chart this out. Waht is open when/what days, what is located in the same geographical area,etc..
Jul 22nd, 2011, 05:08 AM
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Consider a hop-on/off bus tour. it will at least save you the hassle of finding your way around, and it may help in that you can have some sights that tyou will "see" and others you will visit. You have places like Leicester Sq. that might be worth a look, but not necessarily a Tube trip.
http://www.theoriginaltour.com/tour-...our-routes.htm
Museums can easily deplete your hours. Be realistic and don't try to fill all of your days indoors.
You have a busy schedule, but consider a London Walk. It is a good way to see stuff that may not be in a guide book, entertaining, and a nice break from DIY.
www.walks.com/index.aspx?PageId=964
They also have a nighttime pub walk in Hampstead that was quite good (nice area of London).
As others said, you need to chart this out. Waht is open when/what days, what is located in the same geographical area,etc..
http://www.theoriginaltour.com/tour-...our-routes.htm
Museums can easily deplete your hours. Be realistic and don't try to fill all of your days indoors.
You have a busy schedule, but consider a London Walk. It is a good way to see stuff that may not be in a guide book, entertaining, and a nice break from DIY.
www.walks.com/index.aspx?PageId=964
They also have a nighttime pub walk in Hampstead that was quite good (nice area of London).
As others said, you need to chart this out. Waht is open when/what days, what is located in the same geographical area,etc..
Jul 22nd, 2011, 05:51 AM
#13
Some things I discovered while in London....
1: Rush hour happens from 6:30-7:30pm ...>>
rush-hour - 8-9.30 am, 4.30 [if not earlier] to 6.30ish pm.
your best idea is to work out what sights are near other sights or are on easy underground [not "metro", that's Paris] connections.
you will never do windsor and Goodwood in the same day.
1: Rush hour happens from 6:30-7:30pm ...>>
rush-hour - 8-9.30 am, 4.30 [if not earlier] to 6.30ish pm.
your best idea is to work out what sights are near other sights or are on easy underground [not "metro", that's Paris] connections.
you will never do windsor and Goodwood in the same day.
Jul 22nd, 2011, 08:18 AM
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Thanks for the replies, y'all. I don't usually have such a hard time getting my itinerary together but London--there's just so much to see and we only have the 4 full days.
I am working on prioritizing and so far know we won't miss the British Museum, Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's, Churchill Museum, or the Courthalt for example. I appreciate very much janisj's "minimum times" in places (knowing of course that you can spend hours/days/a lifetime at any one). I have the bus route map and a Streetwise Map of London, we'll get the tube map when we get there. I also have a link to what's near the apartment in terms of sights, events, restaurants, etc. We like to walk so will probably do the sights nearer the apartment by foot and grab the bus or tube for the further away ones.
In re. Rick Steve's--I agreement about his London guidebook. I've used him for other big cities and found those more helpful. I didn't really like the Frommer's or Fodor's but will head back to the bookstore for another perusal. I do think I need another book. Maybe the Michelin Guide...
Oh, Goodwood Revival doesn't start until Friday so Thursday is our "free" day to see some of the countryside before checking at our B&B in Selsey. That's why we thought about going to Windsor. But maybe Stonehenge instead? Or Bath?
I really appreciate your replies and I will keep working on this!
I am working on prioritizing and so far know we won't miss the British Museum, Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's, Churchill Museum, or the Courthalt for example. I appreciate very much janisj's "minimum times" in places (knowing of course that you can spend hours/days/a lifetime at any one). I have the bus route map and a Streetwise Map of London, we'll get the tube map when we get there. I also have a link to what's near the apartment in terms of sights, events, restaurants, etc. We like to walk so will probably do the sights nearer the apartment by foot and grab the bus or tube for the further away ones.
In re. Rick Steve's--I agreement about his London guidebook. I've used him for other big cities and found those more helpful. I didn't really like the Frommer's or Fodor's but will head back to the bookstore for another perusal. I do think I need another book. Maybe the Michelin Guide...
Oh, Goodwood Revival doesn't start until Friday so Thursday is our "free" day to see some of the countryside before checking at our B&B in Selsey. That's why we thought about going to Windsor. But maybe Stonehenge instead? Or Bath?
I really appreciate your replies and I will keep working on this!
Jul 22nd, 2011, 08:33 AM
#15
"<i>so far know we won't miss the British Museum, Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's, Churchill Museum, or the Courthalt . . .</i>"
That alone will just about fill 4 days (or 3 anyway) -- w/ time for a few other smaller sites and 'walk by's.
London to Bath to Goodwood makes no sense at all. That will be 5 hours of driving on a good day -- not counting fighting your way into Bath, or parking in the out of town park-and-ride and busing into the city. Easily 6 hours 'car time'
Actually -- Windsor wouldn't be <i>too</i> bad -- about 3 to 3.5 hours just for the drive - so a long but doable day.
Salisbury/Stonehenge would take a bit longer for the drive. 4 to 4.5 hours London > Stonehenge > Salisbury > Goodwood.
Of course, any of these times could be much longer w/ traffic/construction/accidents/heavy weather.
That alone will just about fill 4 days (or 3 anyway) -- w/ time for a few other smaller sites and 'walk by's.
London to Bath to Goodwood makes no sense at all. That will be 5 hours of driving on a good day -- not counting fighting your way into Bath, or parking in the out of town park-and-ride and busing into the city. Easily 6 hours 'car time'
Actually -- Windsor wouldn't be <i>too</i> bad -- about 3 to 3.5 hours just for the drive - so a long but doable day.
Salisbury/Stonehenge would take a bit longer for the drive. 4 to 4.5 hours London > Stonehenge > Salisbury > Goodwood.
Of course, any of these times could be much longer w/ traffic/construction/accidents/heavy weather.
Jul 22nd, 2011, 09:12 AM
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ARGH - <b>do NOT get an Oyster Card</b>. You will be there for the better part of a week. Get a seven day travel card from a National Rail station (Victoria, Charing Cross seem the closest to you) and it should be a PAPER card - flimsy coated thing the size of a credit card with orange border on the bottom that you buy from the ticket agents at the train station, NOT in the Tube station.
Before you go, print out as many 2for1 offers from daysoutguide.co.uk as you want. They're good at the Tower, the Cabinet War Rooms (Churchill Museum) and more. No limit. They will cut your bill a lot.
As for your list, here are some pare-down recommendations:
Westminster Abbey, 1.5 to 2 hrs.
Buckingham Palace, tour - 90 mins [Really? There's more to do in the city and the tour is limited because so much is off limits to the peons]
Churchill Museum, 2 hrs minimum
<strike>Banqueting House, 30 mins</strike>
Parliament, tour - 1+ hour.
<strike>Downing Street</strike>
St Martin in-the-fields
National Gallery, 1 hr (min) to as long as you can manage
National Portrait Gallery, 1 -1.5 hrs
<strike>Tate Britain</strike>
St. James Park, walk through
Trafalgar Square, walk through
Tower of London, 3 hrs
Tower Bridge, walk across
St. Paul’s, 1 - 1.5 hrs
<strike>Museum of London</strike>
British Museum, 2 - 3 hours
British Library 1+ hour
Victoria & Albert, 2 - 3 hours
Harrods, 15 mins to HOURS depending
Courtauld Gallery, 1+ Hour
<strike>Somerset House</strike>
<strike>Grosvenor Square</strike>
Piccadilly Circus
<strike>St. James’s Church</strike>
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, 1+ hour if you take the tour
<strike>Tate Modern, 3/4 - 2hrs</strike>
London Eye, 1 hr (30 mins for the actual ride)
<strike>Vinopolis</strike>
Imperial War Museum, 1 - 2 hrs -- note that this is the hardest museum to reach on your list.
And you don't even mention viewing the nutcakes at Speakers' Corner or seeing the Monument.
P.S. - remember, there is no "metro" in London.
Before you go, print out as many 2for1 offers from daysoutguide.co.uk as you want. They're good at the Tower, the Cabinet War Rooms (Churchill Museum) and more. No limit. They will cut your bill a lot.
As for your list, here are some pare-down recommendations:
Westminster Abbey, 1.5 to 2 hrs.
Buckingham Palace, tour - 90 mins [Really? There's more to do in the city and the tour is limited because so much is off limits to the peons]
Churchill Museum, 2 hrs minimum
<strike>Banqueting House, 30 mins</strike>
Parliament, tour - 1+ hour.
<strike>Downing Street</strike>
St Martin in-the-fields
National Gallery, 1 hr (min) to as long as you can manage
National Portrait Gallery, 1 -1.5 hrs
<strike>Tate Britain</strike>
St. James Park, walk through
Trafalgar Square, walk through
Tower of London, 3 hrs
Tower Bridge, walk across
St. Paul’s, 1 - 1.5 hrs
<strike>Museum of London</strike>
British Museum, 2 - 3 hours
British Library 1+ hour
Victoria & Albert, 2 - 3 hours
Harrods, 15 mins to HOURS depending
Courtauld Gallery, 1+ Hour
<strike>Somerset House</strike>
<strike>Grosvenor Square</strike>
Piccadilly Circus
<strike>St. James’s Church</strike>
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, 1+ hour if you take the tour
<strike>Tate Modern, 3/4 - 2hrs</strike>
London Eye, 1 hr (30 mins for the actual ride)
<strike>Vinopolis</strike>
Imperial War Museum, 1 - 2 hrs -- note that this is the hardest museum to reach on your list.
And you don't even mention viewing the nutcakes at Speakers' Corner or seeing the Monument.
P.S. - remember, there is no "metro" in London.
Jul 22nd, 2011, 10:00 AM
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You guys are awesome: This is exactly what I've been needing!
I'm now thinking that our "countryside" day will just be leisurely get from London to Goodwood day. You're right janisj, we won't be going to Bath--way too much driving and no time in the town. Hubby is more interested in Stonehenge than me but it's too far too. Windsor is not off the table completely...
BigRuss thanks for the recommendation of the Travel Card, instead of the Oyster. I was wondering which would be best for us and you answered! We definitely want to use the 2 for 1 offers! Also thanks for the pare-down suggestions. I forgot to add Speaker's Corner--that looks like a hoot! I'm not sure we will omit the Tate Britain but we're probably going to pass on the London Eye.
I'm now thinking that our "countryside" day will just be leisurely get from London to Goodwood day. You're right janisj, we won't be going to Bath--way too much driving and no time in the town. Hubby is more interested in Stonehenge than me but it's too far too. Windsor is not off the table completely...
BigRuss thanks for the recommendation of the Travel Card, instead of the Oyster. I was wondering which would be best for us and you answered! We definitely want to use the 2 for 1 offers! Also thanks for the pare-down suggestions. I forgot to add Speaker's Corner--that looks like a hoot! I'm not sure we will omit the Tate Britain but we're probably going to pass on the London Eye.
Jul 22nd, 2011, 10:16 AM
#19
You're right janisj, we won't be going to Bath--way too much driving and no time in the town. Hubby is more interested in Stonehenge than me but it's too far too. Windsor is not off the table completely...>>
but's it's hardly "en route" to Goodwood; nor is Stonehenge.
you could have a very nice trip going south into Sussex via Petworth, and Midhurst.
there is a stately home at Petworth [national trust] that you may enjoy:
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main...petworthhouse/
but's it's hardly "en route" to Goodwood; nor is Stonehenge.
you could have a very nice trip going south into Sussex via Petworth, and Midhurst.
there is a stately home at Petworth [national trust] that you may enjoy:
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main...petworthhouse/
Jul 22nd, 2011, 11:12 AM
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No hop on hop off either -- take the #9, 15 or 136 buses and you'll get a tour of London that you won't pay nearly $40 for.
As for art museums, there are so many that you should pare your list based upon interest.
The Nat'l Portrait Gallery is good for viewing historical figures of note spanning centuries, including the 20th. The National Gallery provides a survey of styles from 1250-1900 but does not move into more modern art.
The Courtauld has a lot of Impressionist/Neo-Impressionist works. The Tate Britain has British art from 1500-on.
The Tate Modern has the grayish-brown sculpture conglomerations that look like elephant scat.
So get a feel for the exhibitions before deciding.
As for art museums, there are so many that you should pare your list based upon interest.
The Nat'l Portrait Gallery is good for viewing historical figures of note spanning centuries, including the 20th. The National Gallery provides a survey of styles from 1250-1900 but does not move into more modern art.
The Courtauld has a lot of Impressionist/Neo-Impressionist works. The Tate Britain has British art from 1500-on.
The Tate Modern has the grayish-brown sculpture conglomerations that look like elephant scat.
So get a feel for the exhibitions before deciding.
