Back from London
 

Spent nine days in London with our 11 year old daughter. We stayed at the Le Meridien Grosvenor and found the hotel to be very nice- we had a very large room with large bath. Room was spotless. The location great (in Mayfair overlooking Hyde Park) and the breakfast spread was excellent. <BR>Itinerary was as follows:<BR>Day 1: Big Bus Tour: Westminster Abbey, War Cabinet Rooms, Somerset House (Courtauld Gallery), Walked around outside of Parliament bldg, and Horse Guards bldg. Dinner at Il Forno in Soho.<BR>Day 2: Big Bus to Tower of London. Walked over Tower Bridge to London Dungeon(huge waste-yuck!). Lunch at Tate Modern followed by walk over Millenium Bridge. Dinner at Topo Gigio in Soho. Walked around Picadilly.<BR>Day 3: Walked to Hamleys. Walked to Knightsbridge-Harrods, Harvey Nichols, and Sloane Street. Then Tea at the Dorchester. Off to Hamlet at the Barbican. <BR>Day 4: Bus tour to Oxford (really lovely), Warwick Castle (also lovely) then Stratford-on-Avon (could have done without). Back to London. Dinner at Cafe Richoux on Audley. Evening walk through Green Park to Buckingham Palace.<BR>Day 5: Train to Hampton Court. Dinner at Cafe Richoux. Exhausted.<BR>Day 6: Walked to British Museum. Walked to St. Pauls. Lunch in "city" with in-laws also touring Europe. Cab ride to Harrods, then walked around Chelsea and King's Road. Exhausted-dinner in the hotel room.<BR>Day 7: Walked through Green Park, Changing of the Guard, St. James Park, over Westminster Bridge to Eye (too crowded)-walked over Waterloo Bridge to Trafalgar Square-ice cream!- then toured Nat'l Gallery. Shopped. Walked back to hotel. Cabbed to Convent Garden for dinner (brown's pasta ?)- then saw My Fair Lady. Exhausted!<BR>Day 8: Train to Bath. Wonderful place!<BR>Dinner in Italian restaurant on St. James Place - Mayfair Marketplace.<BR>Day 9: Big Breakfast...head to airport.<BR>London was lovely. Had great weather. Cab drivers were so polite. Car drivers were not.People were very polite. Saw a lot of people of all ages shapes and sizes wearing jeans (denim is the fashion here and in Europe)-so no more questions about jeans. Fashions were not much different than in NYC so didn't have urge to shop for clothing. Did get perfumes and cologne in Harrods-great selection and better prices.Daughter loved store called Octopus in Trocadero. Bought home jam, digestive crackers, lemon curd, teas, cheese and chocolate. Hope this is helpful to anyone thinking about London. <BR>

LOL, the first thing that I thought of was how much walking you were doing, just the way we did, then how tired we were, just the way you were!<BR>Great report, glad you enjoyed London..isn't it great??<BR>How did your daughter like it? What were her favorite places? and sights?<BR>My daughter took her 11 yr old last fall, they did a lot of the things you did, he liked the Dungeon,but maybe he is more bloodthirsty?:)They are going back this fall!<BR>I love the cafeRichoux, we usually have breakfast in the one near Bond St when we arrive, so cozy and they take such good care of you.<BR>When do you go back:)?

My daughter loved Somerset House, particularly the Impressionist Collection. She also loved the cabs- we're from NYC and we do a lot of subway commuting so she had no interest in experiencing the tubes...although we did. We had great weather-so walking was a pleasure. She also loved Hamleys, Hampton Court (we all loved that!), Westminster Abbey, the Tower, British Museum (Rosetta Stone and East Indian Art Collection) and she just loved wandering around the city. While we loved London we don't have the urge to return. Last year we spent over two weeks in Italy (touring Venice, Florence, Sorrento, Naples and Capri and staying with family in Rome)-that is where we'd like to return.

We also live in NY:)My daughter wants to go back again,for all the things they missed the first time.They did get to go to Hampton Court and Kew Gardens, but she wanted to see Warwick and a few other things.I think after this trip, she may be ready for either Germany or Italy.She speaks German so I think that might have something to do with the decision.<BR>I will tell her to read this, for ideas~Kate

We have a beautiful country and I wish more people would visit places other then London. Places like the Yorkshire Dales,the Lake District,Devon,cornwall.

I know what you mean jane, it is like living in NY and when people come to the US they come here, when there are so many wonderful states in the US to visit...but when I go to England next, I plan on seeing Bath and staying in a house in Fowey.But it is good to go to London for a first timer,I think, then we can come back and be braver about driving on the other side and exploring the countryside:)

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topping.

What is this topping stuff I keep seeing? Help....

I didn't understand topping at first but now I have figured it out<BR><BR>People do that to keep threads alive as it is felt most people might not scroll down 150 messages.<BR><BR>So just by doong a message, even if you just say topping, it brings the thread to the top of the list.

BRILLANT JEFF and just how long did that take for you to figure out?

Thank you Jeff for your answer, that was very considerate. As for Duh....stick it where the sun don't shine you small, short, little walking inferiority complex.

I do hope you plan to return to Great Britain. There is so much beauty outside London. I've done short road trips in the Cotwwolds, Yorkshire Dales, and Scotland. Different from Italy but scenery is just as beautiful and the people just as friendly. :-)

RB<BR>Great report! We are going in June; I have been so worried I am trying to fit too many places to visit in a day, but my planned itinerary pales in comparison! <BR><BR>Marita