Anyone care to comment on my London itinerary?
 

This is my second time to London and my dad's first. We're still not quite sure where we're staying (either Pimlico or Chelsea - depending on flat availability). I've tried to include enough free time for shopping and exploring. We're hoping to catch a few pub walks in our open evenings as well.

Wednesday March 19

AM: Arrive London Gatwick (7:45) train to Victoria station
Afternoon: Get settled in and explore neighborhood.
PM: Shopping (Dad really wants to go to Harrod's - blah!)

Thursday March 20

AM: Greenwich
Afternoon: Borough Market (another one that Dad really has his mind set on.)
PM: Open time

Friday March 21 (Good Friday): I checked to make sure these places will be open.

AM: Sherlock Holmes Museum
Afternoon: Madame Tussaud’s (not my choice, but dad really wants to see it)
PM: V&A is open late

Saturday March 22

AM: 10am Shakespeare walk
Afternoon: Open/shopping (Borough market if we missed it Thurs)
PM: Theatre 7:30

Sunday March 23

AM: British Museum
Afternoon: National Portrait Gallery
PM: Would really like to do Chelsea or SOHO pub walk, but I'm not sure what will be open.

Monday March 24

*Bath day trip*

Tuesday March 25

AM: Tower of London
Afternoon: 2pm Westminster Walk
PM: London Eye Night flight

Wednesday March 26

Depart for Amsterdam

Nothing glaring. Any changes would just be subjective preferences. My only minor caveat would be your Thurs a.m. trip to Greenwich. Greenwich is great - but since your Dad hasn't been to London it might be a bit much heading "out of town" on his first full day there. Of course, Greenwich is "in" London but I'm not sure I'd take him there before he has his bearings. Maybe do the Tower Thurs a.m. and then walk across Tower Bridge and see HMS Belfast and Southwark Cathedral before hitting Borough Market.

Then you could go to Greenwich another day - maybe on tues when you had planned on the Tower.

The Monday is also a bank holiday. Most (probably all) tourist places should be open, and somewhere like Bath should think most cafes etc, but if you're going by train be aware the trains will probably be on a Sunday schedule.

The Sherlock Holmes museum will not take all morning...it would take about an hour.

I would say National Portrait Gallery should be done the same day as Westminster / London Eye as they are within walking distance of each other plus there are several other interesting things between them

I'd also consider having British Museum / Sherlock Holmes Museum & Madame Tussards on the same day - NOT Good Friday as BM is closed - for much the same reason

Greenwich could also be done in conjunction with the Tower of London as the DLR provides an easy route between the two - do ToL first thing, then take the DLR to Island Gardens for the views of Greenwich before using the foot tunnel to get to Greenwich

Thanks everyone!

Janis -- good point about the Greenwich trip -- I might just mix up Thurs and Tues as you suggest.

Nonconformist -- thanks for the tip about Monday as well. I'll make sure to look into the train schedule.

Jamikins -- wasn't planning on hanging about the Holmes museum all morning ;) Just want to have plenty of free time built in for spontenaity and exploring.

Alan -- Thanks for your tips as well. I'll look into switching around the Natl. Portrait Gallery. I was a bit worried about doing 2 big museums in one day so this may solve that problem.

For a Saturday visit to Borough Market I would go first thing, because I'm not fond of massive crowds (not sure about Thursday).

Sounds like a great trip.

Is it possible to talk you out of Tussauds and the Sherlock Holmes "museum"? Both are hokey rubbish and Tussauds in particular can have long queues.

Also re: Greenwich. To get the best out of it you need the weather. So I would advise you to be ready to swap around your itinerary.

If you do go to Borough Market you could also do the following: Come out of the market at the tube station side and walk up borough high st. You will sooon come to a pub on your left in a courtyard. This is the George.

http://www.pubs.com/pub_details.cfm?ID=187

This is a sight worth seeing in itself. It is also london's last galleried inn and is where many of shakespeare's; marlow's; jonson's etc plays were performed when the theatres were shut by the puritans (whatever happened to those pesky puritans BTW?).



About 50 yards down the same road on the same side is John Harvard's house - ie the bloke that founded Harvard in the colonies.

Agree about the Holmes Museum...I was very disappointed. Unless you are VERY familaiar with his stories you wont get much out of it, and it is quite hokey.

Thanks for the additional tips everyone! I actually agree about Tussaud's. I've been in other cities and found it to be creepy, hokey and over-priced. Dad has never been before and *really* wants to go. I don't think I'm expecting too much from the Holmes museum -- just curious more than anything since we're big fans.

CW -- thanks for the pub tip! Funny as it is -- I actually visited that pub on my last trip to London (Along the Thames pub walk with London Walks took us there). I'd definitely like to take Dad back so thanks for reminding me!

As for weather -- we've called ahead and ordered up perfect weather so we shouldn't have any problems ;)

If Madame Tussaud's is a must (and it is better than other MT's) be sure to buy your tickets ahead of time. That doesn't mean you need to buy them on-line - You can get them from one of the H-o-H-o ticket sellers or from a store front ticket kiosk just up the road from MT's. Having tickets in hand means you bypass the queue that often stretches far around the block.

Queue jumping makes Madame Tussaud's MUCH more bearable/enjoyable.

Even though I'm a portraitist and loved the Portrait Gallery, between the two I'd allow more time for the British Museum.

And you're lucky to get to go with your dad. He might enjoy a meal or pint at the Sherlock Holmes Pub, not too far from Trafalger Sq. Holmes memorabilia on the walls at no additional charge.

I was going to suggest the Sherlock Holmes Pub, too. Since you are fans of the stories, you will enjoy the SH Museum, I think. After our visit, we were walking back to the tube stop and saw Sherlock himself, complete with pipe and deerstalker, walking down the street toward "home," which made the whole thing much more fun.

You might want to check which galleries are open for V&A's late hours on Friday. When we went (it was Wednesday late hours 2 years ago) there were only a few galleries open on the main floor. We just wanted to poke around the dress exhibit, but would have been disappointed had we wanted a better look at the museum.

We found the same thing the time we went to late hours at the British Museum. Again, what was open was mainly the ground floor galleries and some Egyptian on the 1st floor, iirc. I was crushed not to see the Lewis Chessmen.

As for the Borough Market, I'd probably avoid a Saturday afternoon because of the crowds. We liked Friday afternoon, although the raclette/toasted cheese stand wasn't open (only on Saturdays). Saturday morning was pretty crowded, but we could move in most of the market.

You didn't say how old your Dad is. Walking is a bit much if he's up there. if he was in WW II he would love the Military Museum. I didn't think it would be interesting, but a cab driver (who all know more than anyone) suggested it, and it was really interesting. We just returned a couple months ago from London, the construction is unbelievable and nearly unbearable. The area between Harrods and Yde Park is a mess. Don't efen bother with a cab, walking if faster! Also tons of construction around St Pauls...we actually got out of the cab and just hiked it...he was still there when we reached our destination. The amount of huge cranes is weird...especially if you walk up St Pauls to the top...or nearly, and look out over the city. Looks like about 2 dozen dinosaur heads! The Southwark side...south side of the Thames...is in full development. I would definetly look into that. Oldest pub in london, oldest jail (or close to it), new shops, etc.
We've been to London TONS..went to school there also...I like to take my friends to Westminster Abbey, then cross the bridge (stopping for a fresh crepe from the truck,or hot roasted chestnuts from the little stands) and do the Eye. There is also a beatles exhibit right there, and some other things to see. THen walk back (I hit that crepe truck again!) and take the river taxi down to southwark or on the other side, Tower of London (my very least favorite spot). BUT you can walk from the Tower across Tower Bridge (I think you visit inside, but never have) and down the south side of the Thames seeing all the new stuff...and if your VERY adventurous you can do THE LONDON DUNGEON. You can get advance ticket for that also. There is a MAJOR tube and train stop right there on the spot...and a Starbucks!
If you stay in the Chelsea area, there's a pretty good Safeway market on Kings row. There's also a gourmet type market from Sloanes square towards Harrods, about 2 blocks on the left. Much more expensive, but nice.
Hope I helped a bit. could add alot more, but don't know your Dad's likes, or yours, so I just took a stab at it.
Have fun!

Thanks again everyone -- great tips! Dad is actually very young -- will be 56 at the time of our trip. He works at the University of Texas here in Austin and the campus is HUGE so he walks a lot! I think he'll probably be in better shape than me! ;)

I've gone ahead and booked a flat in Chelsea -- Sloane's Square. It's actually a different one than I was looking at originally. The letting agency with the Pimlico flat just never got back to me about the availability. The owner of the Chelsea flat didn't want to commit so we started over and found another flat in Chelsea through London Guest Suites. I'm very excited about it -- it's a little over our original budget, but it has 2 bathrooms :)

I'd let my beloved parent mess around Harrod's alone if I were in your place, absorb the atmosphere elsewhere in the neighborhood, but I never was much of a shopper.

Can you share link to your flat -- not to critique, but to see what's out there?

Please let us know how it goes.

We rented through London Guest suites. Click on the link and type in 838 in the property code box. We're paying a slightly discounted rate off the displayed rate.

http://www.londonguestsuites.com/index.cfm

And I'm hoping to poke around the foodhalls in Harrod's while dad shops. I was a bit overwhelmed and completely starving the first time we went so it was hard to really enjoy it.