Hi,

We are a young just-turned 30s couple and will be spending 3 days in London in mind-September after a week in Scottish Highlands. This is our first trip and will basically be doing the tourist beat.

We arrive at Gatwick Airport late on a Friday (~11pm) & will probably take train (Gatwick express or other national rail) to our accommodation at Citadines Aparthotel in High Holborn.

We fly out on Monday night (~10pm) from Heathrow so we practically have 3 full days. We have a tentative plan as follows and will appreciate your comments:

Saturday: On our first day, we plan to venture east and visit St. Paul’s Cathederal, Museum of London, Tower of London, Tower Bridge, walk upto Tate Modern and cap the day at Tate Modern as it opens late on Saturday.

Sunday: This morning, we want to spend morning at the British Museum nearby and then venture west to Oxford Street to take in high street of London. I understand that everything closes by 6pm on Sunday evening so planning to ride London Eye later that evening.

Monday: Finally on Monday, after checking out, we will head south to Green Park tube and walk upto Buckingham Palace, St. Jame’s Park and finally to Westminster Abbey hopefully in time for 10:45am London Walk/ 11am verger led tour. Later that afternoon will visit Trafaglar square and spend a few hours in National Gallery till it closes at 6pm.

Back to Holborn then, pick our luggage from hotel and plan to take tube directly from Holborn tube station to Heathrow Terminal 3. I believe we should be at Airport by 7:30pm-8pm this way in time for our 10:00 pm flight out of city.

Let me know if you think am being naive or rushed or missing some key attractions or to-dos. We don’t have lot of time so want to keep things realistic and practical. Thanks in advance.

Your Saturday is very busy and there is the problem of crowds at the Tower. I'd personally plan on doing the Tower first --right at opening time. Stay there through lunch time. Then on to St Pauls in the afternoon. Then walk across the river and see the southbank, Globe and Tate Modern. Skip the Museum of London- just too much.

Now- your Sunday has really nothing except The British Museum and shopping. If that is how you want to spend a day - then go for it. But there are MANY things you could do instead of Oxford Street.

Monday looks fine.

Thanks janisj. Liked your idea on rejigging Saturday. Any suggestions for Sunday ?

Brick lane markets, Camden markets, Borough markets - one of these would only take the morning and are great places to generally stroll around and eat (lots!).
If you want to go to B. Palace you can prebook tickets and go while Kates dress is on display if that's your kind of thing?
Or you could do a day trip to Oxford (town). I did this when I first arrived - it was beautiful and easy to get there by bus. Left at 9 am ish and spent the day walking round, going to quaint pubs, went to Christ Church college (also where Harry Potter dining room was filmed). We really took our time and got back about 7pm but you could do it much quicker.
Have a look round Soho one night and go out for dinner.
Line up and get cheap tickets to one of the shows in the morning e.g. Wicked has 27GBP tickets available each morning at the box office.
Hope that helps!

When you reach London from Gatwick buy one day zone 1-2 Travelcards from the train station ticket office for the Saturday. You can use them to claim a discount for going into the Tower of London through daysoutguide.com.

You can do the same for the other days but as you aren't going to attractions that have discounts you may as well get an Oystercard from the Tube station associated with the train station you arrive at and put about £15 cash on it to cover your travel to your hotel, in London on the Sunday & Monday and the trip out to Heathrow - at which point you return the Oystercard and get any money left on it back. Should be enough for a coffee and a muffin.

I concur with the above. Of course you are "missing" some attractions, but I think you know that; don't let that daunt you! You are planning wisely and ahead.

Saturday: Definitely the Tower first; what janisj says will work great. Or you could go to the Tower (definitely be there AT opening, go straight to the Jewels, and then do whatever else you want--allow absolute minimum of 2 hours, 3 is better estimate), then walk across the Tower Bridge and along South Bank to Milleneum Bridge, walk over to St. Paul's (if you are going inside--which I'd recommend--pricey but worth it) and then back to Tate Modern. Not far walk on the bridge so a bit of backtracking is fine. This might be a good optional plan if you want to walk across the Tower Bridge--which is way cool.

Sunday: The Museum of London is fine but probably not worth the time on your first short visit. Nearby the British Museum is the British Library (about 15 min walk). You could spend about an hour there productively. You should plan at least 3 hours for the British Museum. You might start at the Library, then go to the Museum until as long as you want, then some other "stuff." The Southbank around the Eye will be a great place if weather is decent for a Sunday evening. At some point, probably this evening, a walk on Westminster Bridge will give you lovely views, too. (Okay, I'm partial to the views from the Thames bridges!)

Monday: I admit I'm a worry-wart and hate being late or rushed--but I'd allow 3 hours AT LHR. So leave Holburn no later than 6? It will be rush hour on the Tube.

We have made several day trips from London, which are wonderful and pretty easy (especially Oxford!!), but I'd urge you to just stay in the city for your 3 days.

Do you know about these two websites: Walkit.com a good mapping app that has London so you can map out itineraries and see walking times. It's more specific (and often more accurate) than googlemaps.
and the TfL (Transport for London) site--definitely need to check on planned/unplanned Tube works/status as you can.

Enjoy!!

1. Thanks Caroline, Oxford may be a bit ambitious given our limited time but we are interested to watch a play or musical on a weekend night, is there someplace where I can find what's running during our dates of travel.
2. Thanks for tour tip Alan. Any reason why I shouldn't buy a 3 day paper travel card even without using it for 2-4-1 deals. Also, did u suggest zone 1-2 coz we are traveling to heathrow otherwise I thought we are sticking to zone 1 only.
3. Thanks texasbookworm for your great inputs. Will rejig my Saturday as janisj and you suggested. Guess difference is whether we walk north of Thames or south of Thames from tower to st. Paul's.

Thanks again to you all.

Hi,
In terms of tickets, there is an official place which sells discount tickets to shows. Its http://www.tkts.co.uk/ and has an office in London central. Beware of copycats.
They have a list of what tickets they are selling each day and this will give you an idea of the shows that are on and how much you would be looking at spending. I think that it can be quite similar from day to day.
If you are interested in one particular show then you can go to that website. Quite often they have deals where they sell 20 tickets at the venue each morning quite cheap e.g. Wicked.
You could also have a look on lastminute where they often have dinner and show deals. I havent tried these so check external reviews of the places included in the deals.
I think most shows run for really long times so if it is running now there is a good chance it will still be going in a months time. Just check the website for that show to check.

Also, I THINK what Alan is saying is that the oystercard will deduct pay as you go fares up to a maximum each day - which is the same as the price of a travel card (e.g. Zone1/2 8GBP). This is better as often you purchase a travel card and dont end up using it enough to justify what you have spent. You pay 5GBP deposit and need to top it up. When you leave, you had it back and get your deposit back and any left over money. You can see the fare structure here:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/14416.aspx

Those 2-4-1 deals are good but I am not 100% about whether they work with just Zone 1-2 travel card purchases? Might want to ask first if you are going to do this.

"<i>Those 2-4-1 deals are good but I am not 100% about whether they work with just Zone 1-2 travel card purchases? Might want to ask first if you are going to do this.</i>"

They work w/ ANY paper ticket that has the national rail symbol (i.e. purchased in a train station). So yes, even w/ a zone 1-2 travelcard.

"<i>2. Thanks for tour tip Alan. Any reason why I shouldn't buy a 3 day paper travel card even without using it for 2-4-1 deals. Also, did u suggest zone 1-2 coz we are traveling to heathrow otherwise I thought we are sticking to zone 1 only.</i>"

"<i>Also, I THINK what Alan is saying is that the oystercard will deduct pay as you go fares up to a maximum each day</i>"

A bit of confusion here. two points: You can't buy a 3-day travelcard. There is no such thing.

They don't sell a just zone 1 card, zone 1-2 is the least you can get. And LHR is in zone 6 so a zone 1-2 travelcard won't cover it in any case.

Thanks a lot Caroline and Janisj. That really helped me get a grip on several issues I was grappling with. And I can see now how well Alan's recommendation works coz we can use 1 day travel card we buy on Friday night on Saturday morning and could then use Oyster Card for all other travel including going to Heathrow.

Only issue am facing now is coming from Gatwick Airport to High Holborn where we are staying. I initally want to take firstconnect train from Gatwick Airport to King's Cross and then a taxi to hotel but since we arrive at 10:30 PM and wont be able to take a train realistically before 11PM so that option doesn't work as direct trains don't run after 10PM. May need to go back to taking Gatwick Express to Victoria and then a taxi to Hotel

Hi,

About your train journey from Gatwick you could also take the Southern Rail to London Bridge and then get a taxi to your hotel. I think they run after 23.00 and tickets would probably be a bit cheaper. I know it's probably as far as Victoria, if not further but at least you will be saving on Gatwick Express. And if you really dont want to get a taxi, if the tube is still running you could make your way to Holbern on the Tube. First Northern Line to Bank and then Change at Bank for Central Line.

Thanks SLouJ. I checked it out so train is available but as it is late in the night so we will prefer to take a taxi from a relatively lively and safer area. Do you think closer to midnight it will be more advisable to get off the train at London Bridge or at Victoria station.

since you are taking a cab it really makes no difference. The taxi ranks are right at the stations so you won't be wandering around looking for one.

Me personally -- I'd probably choose Victoria. But that is only because I have used it uncountable times (I often stay in the general Victoria/Pimlico area) and have only been in London Bridge station a few times. I can make it through Victoria w/ my eyes closed

The cab ride is slightly shorter from London Bridge, but at that time of night there won't be too much traffic so really 6 of 1/half dozen of the other.

check out justairports.com travel too and from the airport from central london about 40 GBP...

maybe those are not licensed

alane: "<i>check out justairports.com travel too and from the airport from central london about 40 GBP...

maybe those are not licensed</i>"

Justairports is great, but a car service doesn't make much sense from Gatwick. It would not cost £40 - it would be very expensive. Though at that time of night the traffic won't be too bad so it would only take forever, not <i>FOREVER</i>. (The OP is traveling from Gatwick. From Heathrow is a totally different situation)

And not sure what you mean by not being licensed. All London black cabs are licensed and they are the only type one would see at a train station. (they aren't all black, but that is what they are called)

To be honest I agree with janisj, it wont make much difference whichever one you choose. I prefer London Bridge because I know the station better.... seeing as you don't really know and you will be geeting a taxi from the station to your hotel anyway, just get on the first avilable train either London Bridge or London Victoria.

Thanks Janisj, Alane & SLouJ.

1. It's good to know that both London Victoria and London Bridge Rail station could be equally good choice. So, makes sense to pick the first train to city.

2. I also checked justairports.com and it's online estimate is GBP 52 for travel from Gatwick Airport to Holborn (post code WC1). This seems about same as 2xGatwick Express tix (GBP 32) + Taxi to Hotel (GBP 14). Do you think it's a reliable estimate and worth considering if its quicker or more convenient.

"<i> Do you think it's a reliable estimate and worth considering if its quicker or more convenient.</i>"

Yes - just airports charges what they list on the website. But it definitely won't be quicker. Gatwick is 30+ miles south of central London. That's why I suggested a car service from LGW doesn't make sense, while from LHR it does. Gatwick is twice as far out. A car service will take twice as long as a train/cab combo. (and even longer during the day when traffic is heavier)

When you factor in one of the cheaper trains other than the GEX, the cost difference would be larger.

A_guy,
Since you are taking train to Vic Stn, why not keep training to your hotel (Tube). You could get your Oyster Card at Vic Stn. Save a few GBP.

Last trip I took GEX, very convenient and easy but, as others pinited out, not cheapest rail option.

Thanks a lot Janisj. You have been a great help to me all these weeks.