a day to spend in London
 

On way to Italy, I will have a pretty full day(my flight out is at 6:30 pm, get in night before) to spend in London - I am staying in the Trafalgar Square area and thought that I would go to the National Gallery - I was curious if anyone had other good thoughts for spending a day in London (that is within walking distance of Trafalgar Square). <BR>Thanks

Here's one walk from T. Square:<BR>Leave T. Square, walk down Whitehall and pass in front of the Horse Guards Building (there's a changing of the Guard there at 11am, 10am on Sundays)<BR>Churchill's Cabinet War Rooms, and the Banqueting House, some of my favorite places to visit. Further along is #10 Downing Street, but the street is gated. Ahead is the Palace of Westmnister (Parliament and Big Ben) and then Westminster Abbey.<BR><BR>Or from the Cabinet War Rooms, you can walk along St James Park via Birdcage Walk, turn right before it becomes Buckingham Gate, and you will get to Buckingham Palace. From there you can cross through Green Park and end up on Piccadilly, near the Ritz Hotel and Fortnum and Mason where you could have afternoon tea if you like, or just browse in Mayfair.

Stephanie, Is this your first visit to London? If so I would recommend you catching a tour bus that would take you around the highlights. And you can get off, see a sight like the <BR>Tower of London, and get back on. The buses run about every 20 minutes. Two choices: The Original London Tour Co. www.theoriginaltour.com or Big Bus Co. www.bigbus.co.uk If you wish to walk, the British Museum (about 30 min. roundtrip walk), changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace (30 min. roundtrip--Go about 10:30am), the Cabinet War Rooms and Westminster Abbey (30-40 min roundtrip), Covent Gardens (20 min. roundtrip). I would definitely see the National Gallery. Have a good time. Jinx Hoover

Covent Garden is great for an outdoor lunch (near Trafalgar Square). Favorite sites: Churchill War Rooms and Tower of London (can buy tickets at hotel in advance and then you pick them up by the guest shop, avoiding the long line at the ticket window) and Tate Modern (across the Thames on the Millenium Bridge). Definitely take the beefeater's tour at the Tower of London - free with gratuity at the end and you don't need to schedule in advance (we normally wander on our own, but they have a great sense of humor and provide insight into life at the Tower).

Gift shop, sorry.