1/2 day in London
May 28th, 2011, 07:38 AM
#1
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1/2 day in London
Hi Everyone,
I'll be in London for 1/2 day on a layover. We land around 3:00pm and stay overnight before catching an a.m. flight. I need suggestions on what we should see (we've never been), transportation to take in order to make the most of our time, and things we can do in the evening (sleep isn't a priority).
Thanks for the help!
I'll be in London for 1/2 day on a layover. We land around 3:00pm and stay overnight before catching an a.m. flight. I need suggestions on what we should see (we've never been), transportation to take in order to make the most of our time, and things we can do in the evening (sleep isn't a priority).
Thanks for the help!
May 28th, 2011, 08:04 AM
#2
Stay: Anywhere along the Piccadilly tube line. (stations include Gloucester Rd., South Kensington, Green Park, Covent Garden, Russell Square to get you started). This is the direct tube line in from LHR. (That's assuming you land at LHR -- which airport are you using?)
What to see/do: Totally depends on what sorts of things interest you.But arriving at 3 PM you won't be able to go <u>inside</u> any major sites since you won't be into central London until 5PM or later. Exceptions -- some museums have 1 or 2 late night openings so what day of the week are you there? Also the London Eye runs til late at night.
Things to do in the evening: a play or musical, the Eye, or just walk around and see the sites illuminated.
What to see/do: Totally depends on what sorts of things interest you.But arriving at 3 PM you won't be able to go <u>inside</u> any major sites since you won't be into central London until 5PM or later. Exceptions -- some museums have 1 or 2 late night openings so what day of the week are you there? Also the London Eye runs til late at night.
Things to do in the evening: a play or musical, the Eye, or just walk around and see the sites illuminated.
May 28th, 2011, 09:28 AM
#4
You are in luck 
The British Museum, National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery Tate Modern and V&A are all open late on Friday nights.
Closing times vary from 8:30 (British Museum) to 10PM (V&A and Tate Modern)
If you go to any of these, I'd eat AT the museums. The restaurant in the Great Court of the British Museum is very nice, same for the Portrait restaurant in the Nat'l portrait gallery, same at the V&A, or Tate Modern, etc -- in each case the cafes and more expensive restaurants in each are open late too.
And the V&A, both Nationals, and the British Museum are all close to Piccadilly line stations.
So you could go to your hotel (whichever one you choose) - drop the bags, and head to one of these venues -- then on to the Eye for a late night ride over London, then a night cap and walk around. See Big Ben, Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Sq, etc illuminated, and back to the hotel. Taking the tube, buses or walking at night will be safe in any areas you would be.
The British Museum, National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery Tate Modern and V&A are all open late on Friday nights.
Closing times vary from 8:30 (British Museum) to 10PM (V&A and Tate Modern)
If you go to any of these, I'd eat AT the museums. The restaurant in the Great Court of the British Museum is very nice, same for the Portrait restaurant in the Nat'l portrait gallery, same at the V&A, or Tate Modern, etc -- in each case the cafes and more expensive restaurants in each are open late too.
And the V&A, both Nationals, and the British Museum are all close to Piccadilly line stations.
So you could go to your hotel (whichever one you choose) - drop the bags, and head to one of these venues -- then on to the Eye for a late night ride over London, then a night cap and walk around. See Big Ben, Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Sq, etc illuminated, and back to the hotel. Taking the tube, buses or walking at night will be safe in any areas you would be.
May 28th, 2011, 03:21 PM
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Second janisj's itinerary. We loved the British Museum and riding the Eye at night will be spectacular. Check out their website http://www.londoneye.com and maybe you can get your tickets ahead of time to avoid disappointment. Have a great time.
May 29th, 2011, 06:07 AM
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The Tate Modern has a Miró exhibition on at the moment (we went last friday) - which we enjoyed, and the view over London from the Tate Modern balcony is pretty cool. Love the V&A as well fabulous vibe you can spend hours in there so much stuff to see!
http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/exhibi...o/default.shtm
you can spend hours in there so much stuff to see!http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/exhibi...o/default.shtm
May 29th, 2011, 07:42 AM
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dimur- We ate a picnic lunch at a nearby park before going to the museum (help us stay on budget)so no need to eat again. I think on another thread a Fodorite said there was a nice cafe in the museum where they ate.
When we left we headed back to our hotel and got caught in a torrential downpour so don't remember any shopping nearby, just concentrating on not drowning!
When we left we headed back to our hotel and got caught in a torrential downpour so don't remember any shopping nearby, just concentrating on not drowning!
