anna74

I am going to be in London for a day and night (a Sunday) staying in the Mayfair area and was wondering what to do? I have been there a few times before and walked a lot and visited some tourist attractions (Piccadilly Circus, Buckingham Palace, Tate Museum, Tower of London). Any suggestions of places to visit/what to do?

elaine

Yes I have a suggestion that will only work on Sunday (except in January and August, when it is closed entirely) and that's Spencer House. It faces Green Park, just behind the Ritz Hotel by a block or two.
It is a miniature palace that once belonged to the Spencers, Princess Diana's family, though the family gave up the house in the 1940s. It is beautifully decorated and furnished. You go through only with a guide, and the tour is 80-90 minutes. Since it is open only on Sundays, I advise going early so you don't have to wait a long time for a tour.

bettyk

We loved the Cabinet War Rooms near Parliament. Definitely worth a couple of hours. Don't know when you will be there, but Regent's Park is IMHO one of London's most beautiful parks (along with St. James Park).

I'm sure you will get many other suggestions also.

Underhill

The Victoria and Albert Museum would make for a very interesting day. If the weather is good, however, you might head out to Kew Gardens, finishing up with tea at the Maids of Honour.

jules4je7

You didn't mention if you'd been around Parliament and Westminster Abbey. If you haven't seen the Abbey, don't miss that.

You could also take a "flight" on the London Eye -- the slow-moving ferris wheel (30 minutes) and see ALL of London in a short time. I'd also walk up Whitehall towards Trafalgar Square, stopping along the way to shop and have lunch, then see the National Gallery and have lunch in a pub there.

I wouldn't miss a Sunday service at St. Paul's cathedral, even if you're not Anglican/Episcopalian...we went to the 8 a.m. service which was sparsely visited, and had a wonderful time getting to see the cathedral without any crowds like other big churches have. Walking that neighborhood in the early morning is fun too.

I have a friend who recently moved to my city here -- and she suggested the Brighton market I think it was...just a thought if you've seen all the biggies.

Happy travels,

Jules

5alive

Some things you did not mention that I loved....
You did not mention Westminster Abbey - really, this is a must. I've been to a lot of churches since then and it still stands out in my mind. There is also a church immmediately next door worth stopping in for its fabulous stained glass. (Called St. Margaret, I think.)

Charles Dickens House -- a fairly modest home and very personal. It has the desk he wrote on, etc.

Another poster just mentioned the British Library on another thread I read recently. See Shakespeare's First Folio, Magna Carta and more.

To add to the other post, hopefully they still allow visitors to go to the top of St. Paul's for the view of the city. The view is also nice at dusk to see the lights coming up.

I got a lot of flack for never making it to Hampton Court Palace. Just now, I went and looked at the Fodor's summary, and yes, I should have gone.

Kensington Gardens if you are in that area of the city and need to relax.

If you go to Trafalgar, it is right by the National Gallery and also right by St. Martin-in-the-Fields. (I think that's the name, quite the columns on that church.)

If you follow up with the suggestion for the Victoria and Albert, my recollection is that you are quite near Harrod's in West Kensington. Get yourself lunch at their deli, or at least buy an ornament at their Christmas shop.

Any of the suggestions posted so far will be worth your while.

Worktowander

Into history? Go to the Imperial War Museum. It's one of the best-organized museums I've seen and it has lots to interest even those who might be turned off by its name.

sarahkay

Hi Anna - I have some friends with me at the moment and had some great suggestions from the forum on attached link.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34662597

So far Greenwich has been a really big hit, also a Shakespeare walk along Southbank and across the millenium bridge to St Pauls. I don't think Borough Market would be open on a Sunday tho which is a shame.

If you do like markets maybe a Jack the Ripper walk would be good as this would take in Spitalfields and Brick Lane which are probably not areas that would attract a first time visitor.

There is a reply in the link which gives info about this place http://www.dennissevershouse.co.uk/. I havn't been yet, but it looks fascinating!

Enjoy your day!

trvlgrl

Depends on the weather, what time of year you are going to be here and what you like to do. A day trip out to Greenwich and the Observatory is always lovely - we usually do the boat out, and tube/train back.

There is a wonderful Dale Chihuly exhibit at Kew Gardens going on, really inventive installations in the gardens and greenhouses and Kew/Richmond are always nice for a wander around if you haven't been out there. That also would make a nice day trip.

If you would prefer to stay in London, you could do the War Cabinets or some of the other museums... The Sir John Soane museum is always good for an off beat place to visit, and the Wallace Collection is also a fantastic place to spend a couple of hours - with lunch/tea and windowshopping somewhere on Marylebone street after.

You might want to check and see if there are any good art exhibits going on when you will be here...Frida Kahlo is currently on... Or you might consider a spa day at one of the nice spas here in London, or just a wander around Covent Garden or Knightsbridge or Hamstead or Chelsea...

carolyn

The Maids of Honour Tearoom out by Kew Gardens is not open on Sunday, I found out to my sorrow.

The Dennis Severs House is open on Sunday.

Not sure you can do tours at St. Paul's or Westminster Abbey because of services. Check first.

Bree

If you're musically inclined, you might enjoy one of Wigmore Hall's "Coffee Concerts" (hour-long chamber music concerts that take place on Sunday mornings at 11:30 -- you can see the concert schedule at http://www.wigmore-hall.org.uk). From there, it's a short walk to the Wallace Collection (which trvlgrl already mentioned), where I could happily spend an afternoon, after lunch at the museum's lovely café.

Or, if you like gardens and it's a nice day, you might like the Chelsea Physic Garden (http://www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/), which is open to the public from 2 – 6 on Sunday afternoons through October.

111op

Can't say that I know London that well -- but the Norman Foster British Museum Great Court is interesting. The museum itself is of course also interesting.

I don't think it's been mentioned.