My sister and I (both in our 50s) are going to London in March. We have one day open to sightseeing. What do you suggest we do that day? Please do not suggest museums (we are doing that on a Sunday) or shopping (we are doing that on a Friday. What is your top picks?

Is this your first visit and is this your only sightseeing day there? If so, I'd opt for a hop on-hop off bus and get off at least at Westminster Abby, St. Pauls, and maybe the London Eye if it is a great day. Walking along the South Bank of London is great and you see quite a lot. You can also cross Waterloo Bridge and up into Covent Garden Market area.

this is her first visit and my second. We are going to Westminster for church services. and we are going to ride the London eye one evening. I have seen the tower of London. What is in the Covent Garden Market area? Maybe we should just opt for the hop on-off bus and go with the flow!

Here's a web site to give an idea of what's going on in Covent Garden:

http://www.coventgardenlife.com/

We plan to visit the Cabinet War Rooms, highly recommended by Fodors posters who have been there, on our upcoming trip in December.

Have you considered a day trip out of London, perhaps to Bath?

I'm going to suggest something a bit different. Why not have your hair done at Vidal Sassoon's, go on a 'behind the scenes' theatre tour and then stop by the Old Bailey to watch a real English trial in progress. Finish your day off with dinner at the Basil Street Hotel (Bertam's Hotel in Agatha Christie's book of the same).

Before folks can give you really useful advice, we need to know what you already have planned. Which museums are you seeing on Sunday and what sites are already on your agenda?

There are literally hundreds of worthwhile things to see in London, so give us a hint what is already planned and what sort of things you like.

ok, you are right. Well, first of all we only have 7 days (sad face) and we are going to spend 2 of those days in Paris (she has never been there either). First day will be the day we have been "awake" several hours already, so plan to walk around, maybe go to an auction at Christie's, etc., 2nd day we are going to shopping at Harrods, Harvey Nichols, etc. 3rd day we are going to Windsor Castle, and 4th day we are going to church at Westminister Abbey and British Museum, V @ A Museum, so 5th day was the real "sightseeing day".

Just a thought .... if you go to Old Bailey, don't take a camera...they wouldn't let me in even if it were in my purse....the Hop on and Hop off bus is a great idea..you have 24 hrs. on that pass....so get an early start, and then go back to the ones you might want to see. I felt 2 days needed for that though...

To make a good use of you very limited time I would do the sightseeing bus on the 1st and 2nd days - the tix are good for 24 hours. So you could integrate hops on the bus with the walks, auction and shopping you plan on days 1 and 2. OR -- Harrods and Harvey Nics are very near the V&A. So you could easily combine those activities.

Going to both the British Museum and V&A on the same day may be overkill for you. They are both so vast and interesting. If it were me, I would go to Westminster Abbey services and then the British Museum and then maybe go to the Tower in the afternoon. If you don't have time for the Tower, you could go to Covent Garden, wander by the Royal Opera House, watch the street performers, shop, and then walk across the river to the south bank for drinks and or dinner overlooking St Pauls and the Thames.

That would leave day 5 for the Tower if you missed it the day before -- OR walking through the parks, walking through the Inns of Court and Sir John Soane's Museum, -- OR doing the National Gallery, St Martins in the Field, Trafalgar Square, etc.

all very good ideas! I think going to V & A the same day as Harrods, etc is a great idea - will do that. 2 Museums in the same day probably will be too much. The hop on hop off will also be the sightseeing day! Thanks everyone! By the way, how is the weather the middle of March. I found where it should be around 40-53 degrees - what about the rain?

Always expect and prepare for rain and be happy if and when it doesn't come down. Good idea to carry along a list of "rainy day" activities.