jamikins

I was shocked too. I live in zone 2 and I always budget an hour to get anywhere in zone 1-2 by the time I walk 10 mins to my tube stop, wait for the tube, and then get there, then walk to where I am going. Walking is sometimes faster hahahaha

With 4 days I would just set a very relaxed schedule with 1 must see in the morning, 1 must see in the afternoon and maybe 1 in the evening and then spend lots of time walking and exploring and having pints in the pubs!!

jamikins

And dont think we are discouraging...we just want you to have the best trip you can!

Lindathenurse

What do we want to do?

Well, probably the touristy stuff, see Westminster, Changing of the Guard, Tower, all that stuff in "The City". I'd like to see the Globe which I understand is nearby. A boat ride on the Thames might be fun.

I attend church each Sunday and I'd like to do that.

I'd like to just shop some and see what there is there, and try some of the traditionally British food that we don't have here in the States. I want to visit a bookstore and pick up a book; I think I'd like the hop on hop off bus tour just to gape at everything

Seeing some of the Harry Potter sights might be fun, isn't it Kings Cross station that has the platform 4 3/4 or something like that?

I am familiar with the Da Vinci Code, I read it a couple years ago but I don't have perfect recall...

Stonehenge would be nice being one of the wonders of the world. Sleeping in a castle would be great but I guess there aren't any close by operating as hotels.

yorkshire

Yes, 6 days is an excellent amount of time in London, even with one well-chosen day trip. I had convinced myself I wasn't a "city person" until I visited last fall. There is no way you will not have a good time. People are so friendly too.
Good Luck!

jamikins

I think what I recommended covers alot of that! You could also fit in a walk along the South Bank. The day you see Buckingham Palace etc you will see Parliament as well as its right beside West. Abbey. Then you could cross the bridge and walk east towards Tower Bridge as there is a lovely walk along the river that goes right by the Globe. You may be able to buy tickets for a performance (just google it to see whats playing on their website). I think from Waterloo (across from Parliament on the south side of the river) to Tower Bridge by your hotel is 3.5 miles or so...so its a nice 1.5 - 2 hour walk and goes by some great sites (st pauls etc).

I love hop on hop off, so by all means, spend a day doing that!

yk

If your priority is truly to SEE London, I'd stick with just London with ONE daytrip.

I'd also suggest you find a hotel closer to the "center" part of London like Bloomsbury or even Kensington. Tower of London is a bit far out IMO, esp if you'll be staying there for 6 nights.

yorkshire

Well, you have lots of things in mind to do, but you would have not have had time for them in your original itinerary!

The Globe is near the Tower, which is near the Tate Modern, which is near Borough Market.
If I had been there in warm weather, I would have looked into taking the boat all the way to Kew Gardens.
I really liked Hyde Park, where I ate a delicious sandwich from Pret-a-Manger--a budget saver place! The park was nice in fall, so I'm sure it is lovely in summer. Harrods is walkable from the park--or you can catch the bus, then continue to the V&A.
I'm sure there are all kinds of Harry Potter tours you can find online.

rickmav

Here is an excellent thread. The original question was posed by two first-timers to London. Included is an itinerary I put together for friends travelling to London for the first time. Hope it helps.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34846277

janisj

I'm from California and lived in the UK for several years - so I understand what the distances looks like on a UK map. But there is definitely NO I-5 up up the country

Another thing - even though the UK is about the size of CA, there are twice as many people -- and most of them live w/i 150 miles of London. So roads and transport are much more congested.

Are you staying at the Guoman Tower Hotel? If so, it is at St Katherine's Dock and is a bit of a walk to the nearest tube station. It does have lovely views of the river - but it is a looooong way from most attractions - except the Tower of London and Tower bridge.

If it is a different hotel - which one -and we can give you more info . . . .

Lindathenurse

It's the Chamberlain.

I have to say that I'm a bit worried about getting back to Heathrow in time to catch my morning flight and I was thinking about going to an airport hotel just to be close...but someone I think upthread acted like it was not a big deal to just stay anyplace.

How long would it take for a newbie tourist to get from hotel to train to Heathrow? Is that a logistical nightmare too?

texasbookworm

You're going to have a blast! DH and I are going (my second time) for 2 weeks in July and I've spent many fun hours since Christmas planning possible itineraries. I have one suggestion of something that really helps me--go get a good map of London (local large bookstore should have them) and use that to plan possible walks, routes, etc. London really is a walking city. But plan to use the Tube some, too. You can do it.

My last trip I LOVED Salisbury/Stonehenge--there are several ways to catch a group tour from London there. (I'm taking my DH with me this trip but I'm going to be brave and use public transport--I'd use a tour if it were my first trip). Londonwalks Discovery Days was one I considered.

I also LOVED Hampton Court--also a day trip--and I'd agree with others that you'll have more fun if you only do one day trip out of London. Too much to see in the city!

If you want to see a production at the Globe, you might want to check on that immediately. Two weeks ago I found it hard to find the tickets I wanted for a performance in July. (But I got tickets for King Lear, just not in as center as we wanted). So decide. It might not be a problem for the days or the seats you'd choose, but check if you're interested. (Go see the Globe if you don't attend a play--WAY COOL!)

I think the advice of one-must see in morning, one in afternoon, and one (maybe) in the evening is good. That way if you see more, it's great, and if weather/feet/etc., slow you down, you're still pleased.

There's so much free there--museums, parks, just the historical sights themselves.

Wouldn't miss the Tower itself--or the British Museum.
So keep Googling and Fodoring (are those verbs?)but use a good map to get a realistic idea of how far/close things are. And allow twice as much time as you think for public transport. Then you're not rushed.

janisj

That hotel is close to Tower Hill tube station. It will be quite a slog from there (w/ a tube line transfer) to get to LHR. Count on an hour+, so you'd need to leave from your hotel about 3.5 to 4 hours before your flight time.

You can book a car service like justairports.com for about £40 from there to LHR. Or you can move to a hotel near LHR for your last night. What time is your flight?

carolyn

Linda, for church service, we like St. Paul's very much. If you are able to hear the boys' choir, it's amazing.

cmcfong

I attended Evensong at Westminster Abbey last week. It was a very special experience. We arrived about 4:40pm and were seated in the choir area. It is a beautiful service and the choir is amazing.

yorkshire

On that return flight--it depends on how early it is. I took a cab to Paddington and then the Heathrow Express--boy was that thing quick!
Of course you could always do that the night before, but I'd want to maximize my time however it works out.
You could even move to a westerly area and get a car service, like Earl's Court, or something those more in the know will suggest.

janisj

A cab from the Chamberlain to Paddington would be very expensive since it is all the way across London. The taxi plus the HEX (for 2) will cost quite a bit more than a car service. If they do use a car service - there really is no reason to move hotels.

Lindathenurse

Wow. I'm getting more help than I expected! Thanks everyone.

Flight's early. I think it would probably be prudent to just get a car service, less stressful. I'll have to check with my travel buddy though.

Lots of stuff to think about.

I'm intimidated by all this tube train business. I've never lived in a big city.

Lindathenurse

OK we need to figure out where to stay the last couple of nights.

Someone posted somewhere in here about a B & B near Salisbury and from what I read (unless I totally misunderstood) there are busses from that area to Heathrow every 30 minutes and it seems closer. They made it sound like the busses were direct non stop busses but that may be an assumption on my part.

So what does everyone think about staying the last night or two there? This way we'd get to see a little bit of the countryside.

The London hotel is reasonable on the weekend but pricey during the week; whereas this idea (staying near Steonehenge) might work in our favor since we'll be there mid week rather than the likely more expensive weekend.

Or is that somehow unworkable?

Also, I found a shared airport transport to the hotel for 19 pounds online, that sounds pretty reasonable to me compared to some of the other prices I've seen. But someone told me we could get a bus for less; logistically how doable is that? A bus from Heathrow to Chamberlain? Wouldn't it take forever stopping all the time?

Thanks in advance....