I am running out of time to try to figure things out on my own, so I would love suggestions on the best order in which to (at least) see these sites in London in 2 full days. We actually arrive via rail the evening before (around 6pm ) into Kings Cross, but by the time we check into our hotel near Victoria Station and grap some dinner, I don't think we'll have much time left that day. The sites of importance:
-Westminister Abbey
-Tower of London
-Buckingham Palace (I think we'll likely just do a browse by & get a picture of a guard)
-A cruise down the Thyme
-The London Eye

Other sites that I would love to see if we had time: St. Pauls, Royal Mews, Hyde Park, one of the museums (recommendations here?) - even if it's just to see section or display.

If you have other suggestions that would fit in with this whirl-wind visit, I'm open. This will be our first trip there and I really want to taste as much of London as possible in the 2 days. It's just my husband and I so we won't have kids to contend with and will try to sap the most out of both days. Suggestions for dinner (good, but reasonable) would be great too so that we're not spending brain energy figuring that one out.

Thanks!

With two full days that's all quite doable. From Victoria Station you can walk to the area around Buckingham Palace, St James Park, Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, etc. Get a map and you'll see there are alot of sites all in easy walking distance of each other, and of your hotel.Be sure to walk across the bridge to view Big Ben and Houses of Parliment from across the river. The London Eye is right there. The National Gallery is on Trafalgar Square so you could pop in there for a short visit (it's free). I would spend day one doing all those things - just wander around that area and you'll hit most of your agenda. Hyde Park is also close to Victoria Station. On day two take the tube or a bus to the Tower of London, get there when it opens as there will be less crowd. Walk across the Tower Bridge for great views. St Pauls is in that general area, I walk between the two but some people would take the tube. Do a Thames River cruise in the early evening.

I'm sure someone will give you a dinner recommendation, but I think it makes more sense to just stop into a pub that looks nice and has a decent menu on the board (outside) when you get hungry. That way you don't have to be in a certain place. Gives you more freedom and time for sightseeing.

To avoid the possibly long queues at the Tower of London, buy your ticket at a tube station. I know Piccadilly sells them, but believe there are other stations which do too. You can even buy them in advance of the required day. Once you get to the Tower, you can then breeze past all those in the queue without tickets and gain express entry.

Bendemeer...I also will be spending two days in London in September. I have acquired theater tickets for my second evening which will take a chunk of time out of my time available for sightseeing but we have decided to do the following:

Day One:
Arriving at hotel by noon
Hop On/Hop Off Bus
River Thames Cruise (Free w/Bus Tour)
The London Eye
Dinner at ?? Restaurant (Not really decided yet)


Day Two:
Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace
More Bus Tour
Lunch at Fish & Chips Pub (Also free w/Bus Tour)
Tower of London
Dinner at hotel & theater
Dessert back at hotel

We secured a theater package with our hotel which includes tickets, pre-theater dinner, taxi, and dessert on return.

Would love to hear suggestions and ideas from others. This is just one of my "taste trips" as we are just stopping over on our way to Paris so I am just trying to get an overview not see everything in a day and a half.

We did this last year with Paris on our way home from Italy and now I am going back to Paris for a full week. These "taste trips" are like little previews of what is to come on the next trip. Great idea for sampling if you can do it.

<u>Bendemeer:</u> Isabel's suggestion is a good itinerary to do all the things you want and you may even have time to squeeze in something else. There are lots of other options, but don't complicate things too much - if those sites are your wish list just follow isabel's plan. And do get to the Tower just before opening time to miss the crowds. BTW - what day of the week do you arrive? Many of the museums/galleries have one late night so you might be able to go to The National Gallery or British museum right after you check in to your hotel. Then eat afterwards.

<u>Dejais:</u> I'd re-think some of your plan. You have such a short time, I'd skip the Changing of the Guard. It just takes too much time. And if you go to the Tower after opening time the crowds are really bad. Go to the Tower first thing in the morning and then pick up a bit more of the bus tour afterwards. And I (just me personally) would not eat a fish &amp; chips meal that was free w/ a bus tour. Sure - it is free. But if it is such a poor restaurant that it can be included w/ an inexpensive bus tour - do you really want to waste your valuable time there? There are many decent, inexpensive places to eat.

The hop on/off also includes fast entry to the Tower (you avoide the line).

MFNYC: Yes - you'd avoid the line - but not the crowds. If one gets there much after opening time the queues for the Crown Jewels, White Tower, even the gift shops are just too much.

janisj...Thanks for the suggestions. Actually, London Tower is not on our must do list. It is kind of just hanging there on the list. As with the Paris &quot;taste trip&quot;, I think this must be a &quot;sightseeing&quot; only tour and not an actual &quot;go in and see things&quot; tour thus the reason for the Hop On/Hop Off bus.

As for the fish &amp; chips, someone else said this as well and I believe we may just skip that and find somewhere else to eat.

We are staying at the Rubens on Buckingham Palace Road which is next to the Palace so I think the Changing of the Guard is a must-do. Also, it happens to be on my list of &quot;things I must see before I die&quot; so I think this may be non-negotiable. The web site says the ceremony is 40 minutes. Being as we are nearby, do you forsee it being more involved time wise than an hour or so?

Bendemeer....Sorry, it appears I have hijacked your thread. Hope this information helps you as well.

Dejais: It isn't a matter of how long the Changing of the Guard takes, nor about how close your hotel is (BTW, you will love the Rubens at the Palace. Very nice hotel).

It is a matter that, especially in the summer, you need to get there an hour or more ahead of time if you want to see anything. Staying nearby doesn't mean you can just saunter over 10 minutes before it starts since others will have filled all the best viewing areas long before then

So basically the 40 minute changing of the Guard will take up an entire morning.

If it is a &quot;must see&quot; dream to see it, then yes, do go - just realize it is taking up nearly 1/4 of your free time (daytime sightseeing time, that is) in London.

Thanks Janis. Point taken. And actually since this will be the first two days of our trip I expect my mom may be tired and we may limit what we do. As I said, just riding the bus will be enough to see things for us and we will be going to the theater which I know she is very excited about.

BTW, I have checked the weather guides but can you give me any info regarding temps in early September?

Thanks for the good suggestions. A few clarifications . . on day two re the Tower of London. One of the messages suggested: &quot;The hop on/off also includes fast entry to the Tower&quot;. Is this the city sight-seeing bus? Do we need to buy the ticket in advance? where do you buy them? and what time do you think we will need to arrive at the Tower of London? We will be there on Saturday July 2nd.

Last . . I am booking my London Eye tickets today. Assuming the suggested itinerary, (which would have us doing that the 1st day), what time would be a good time to do that? I'm thinking around 6pm maybe . . and then find some dinner nearby? What do you think?

Thanks

Bendemeer, the London Eye is nice to do at sunset/dusk. On July 2 sunset is at 9:20. You could eat dinner, which will give you a little re-charge after your busy day, and then ride the Eye after dinner. The 'flight' is around 30 minutes, IIRC, so you could pick 9:00 or even 9:15 when you book your tickets. After the Eye, walk across the bridge and you will have great views of the lights of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.

Noe answered re the the Eye.

As for the tour bus and the Tower.

You need to get to the Tower near opening time (even if you do have a fast entry) to avoid the crowds. OR late in the afternoon when the crowds start to thin out - but then you don't have much time to tour the Tower. If you do decide to go in the morning - the tour bus won't get you there in time. So you would take the tube to the Tower, and then hop on a tour bus afterwards to get more of the tour. If you decide to go later - then teh tour bus will get you there.

You do not need to book the buses ahead of time - you can buy tickets when you board the bus. There is a stop not far from your hotel and the front desk can direct you to it.

Actually that &quot;not far from your hotel&quot; should be &quot;in the same block as your hotel&quot;. Really couldn't be more convenient.