Hello all! We are going to London for the first time ever in May. I have been scouring the boards and reading everyone's postings and it is great!

Here is my itin...any advice if it is too much or I am missing anything? Thanks!!!

DAY 1
* Arrive 7 a.m.! Hiring a personal driver from "Justairports" service.
* Since it is day 1 - explore the area & take a bus tour.
* Staying in Trafalgar square

DAY 2
"Royal London"
• Buckingham Palace & Changing of the Guard
• Westminster Abbey
• Big Ben
• Houses of Parliament
• Covent Garden

DAY 3
• Tower of London
• Tower Bridge
• St. Paul’s Cathedral
• Walking Tour - Jack the Ripper

DAY 4 -5 : Heading to Dublin!

DAY 6: Return to London, no plans!

DAY 7: Day Trip - Tour to Stonehenge, Salisbury & Bath via Golden Tours

DAY 8: Day Trip - Tour to Oxford, Stratford & Warwick Castle via Golden Tours

DAY 9: Open

Plan to fit many pub trips in as well as shopping!

Thanks for any advice!!!

Whatever else you do, DO NOT miss the Cabinet War Rooms! Allow at least two hours. If you are staying in Trafalgar Square, you can walk there. A Must for tourists and Londoners alike.

Oh, I have posted this before, but you may find it helpful
http://www.londontoolkit.com/

Wouldn't do 2 day trips in successive days - both are going to be long days and you might want to have a slow day between them.

Jack the Ripper tour isn't up to much - things have changed in Whitechapel since the 1890's so foggy atmospheric East End doesn't exist any more. It's about as exciting as walking down 5th Avenue and being told that at this spot the Dutch bought Manhattan for some trinkets.

And where are the major museums - or somewhere like the Tate Modern which is a few hundred yards from St Pauls or, dare I say The London Eye

BTW have you considered an Open Jaw (multi city) ticket & using BMI / Aer Lingus / Ryanair / BA / Air France between London & Dublin.

Saves you a change of hotel & half a day travel if you could have your Dublin leg at either the start or end of your trip

Not sure if you like museums, but there are a ton of good ones: National Gallery and Portrait Gallery, British, Wallace Collection, Tate Britain, Courtauld, etc. I'd also suggest a lunchtime concert in St. Martin in the Fields in Trafalgar.

Thanks! I have added Tate Modern and the Cabinet War Rooms.

I already booked my airfare for all trips...but taking advantage of connecting airport cities is great and I have done that before.

8-)

Just to confirm alanRow, Forget Jack the Ripper walk. About as interesting as watching paint dry.

I've just spent the last two days watching paint dry and I can assure you it was more interesting than the JtR tour

I loved the London Eye. We went on a Monday late afternoon and only waited about 15 min.

Do Tower of London in the morning. Less crowds.