yyy

Georgian <BR><BR>- don't take Hotelink to hotel. Takes too long, even on a weekend.<BR><BR> - don't do the British Museum on the first day. You need to be outside and walking so the jetlag doesn't have you dropping at 1pm.<BR><BR>- don't go to Leeds Castle. Hampton Court is a better choice.<BR><BR>- don't build a day around the London Eye. Do it at dusk on any non-rain day.<BR><BR>- don't do Kew Gardens. Eats up most of a day and flowers will not be special at that time of year.<BR><BR>- go to shows earlier in your stay.<BR><BR>- consider a couple of london walks <BR><BR>- consider doing Hyde Park, Somerset House and Covent Garden on sunday <BR><BR>- eat and drink at several pubs<BR><BR>- have tea at someplace nice<BR><BR>- Try a couple of indian places for dinner

xxx

- If Monday is a nice day, consider delaying entirely or only doing a half day of shopping. Need to take advantage of favorable weather for outdoor activity like people watching and strolls in the parks or along the Thames. <BR><BR>- Have a couple of indoor actvities lined up in case the weather forces you inside. V&amp;A, National Gallery, Wallace Collection, ... .<BR><BR>- take a quick look in the nearby Museum of London when you go to St Paul’s<BR><BR>- Do the following on sunday: Walk in Hyde Parker (speakers corner), view Westminster Abbey and Big Ben from outside, walk to Trafalgar Square, lunch in St. Martin's, then walk to Covent Garden, wander around Somerset <BR>House and cross the Millennium Bridge for views back across the Thames at Dusk.

Georgian

Thanks for all the great suggestions. The only thing is that previous posters said to do things on Sundays. That's part of the downfall of my trip. I arrive early Sunday (2/1/03) and leave mid moring Saturday (02/08/03). <BR><BR>Question to add...how early does Portabello Road Market start on Saturday morning?

xxx

- Do visit Trafalgar Square - Just for the site but also for St Martins in the Fields, The National Gallery and the National Portrait gallery. The last one has a really nice cafe on the top floor with views out over the roofs towards Big Ben.<BR>- try to go into to Harrods and have tea at one of the cafes in the Food Court.<BR><BR> - definitely see Westminster Abbey, St. Pauls and the Tower of London

janis

Portabello rd starts very early on Saturdays - before dawn actually. But it is a fair hike from the nearest tube station and the logistics of getting from Portobello Rd, especially if you buy anything and have to re-pack your carry on, to the airport for a mid morning flight are pretty dreadful.<BR><BR>Consider going to a different market on another day of the week instead (Camden, Borough High street, even the stalls in Covent Garden).