Booked trip to London in March, need help with day trips
 

We finally booked our trip to London for the end of March. Not including travel time, we will have five full days in London. We think we will devote three days to London. We'd love to visit Paris also. Not sure if we should devote two days to Paris, or one day to Paris and then one day to another area of England. We are excited by Paris, but it seems as though from what we've read, we would be able to visit rather quickly. We were thinking of possibly visiting Brighton, Oxford, Canterbury, or Windsor Castle. What are your suggestions? We are both in our late twenties and love indie/punk/rock music and art. We like interesting architecture and taking photos. We do like museums, but go through rather quickly. We also love Shakespeare and Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland.

Suggestions? Anything else you can share regarding visiting London in late March?

I'm assuming this is your first trip to London - right? You only have 5 days - so don't get too over excited about day trips. In that short a visit you may not want to leave London for even a minute. Day 1 will mostly be a jet lag recovery day so you really only have four plus a bit days.

The easiest day trip is Windsor -- really just a half day because it is so close to London. You could head out there early in the AM and be back in central London by mid to late afternoon. Many people prefer Hampton Court Palace for a good 1/2 day trip - you can't go wrong w/ either Windsor or HCP.

Oxford is a good day trip - less than an hour away by train -- but you definitely won't have time for two trips out of the city so you'd need to pick.

Paris is a totally doable day trip -- but you would have very little time in London and just a few hours in Paris so you'd be cutting both amazing cities too TOO short. And a 2 day trip to Paris really means 2.5 days free in London and 1.5 days free in Paris. You'd need to be back in London the night before your flight out. You don't want to be on the wrong side of the Channel if the Eurostar or a flight out of CDG is delayed and you miss your flight. If this was the plan you should have booked open jaw into London and out of Paris - making things <i>slightly</i> more doable.

London is vast, it takes time to get places, and there are more than enough sites/events to fill weeks let alone 4+ days. I'd say play it by ear - if you run out of things to see/do in London, then jump on the train to Windsor or Oxford one morning. But most likely you won't have even scratched the surface before you are packing to go home.

I figured I would get at least once response like this, but we really don't like to spend THAT much time visiting a city. Typically we spend a couple of days on each city we've visited. We've read through itineraries, and it will recommend 2-3 hours for some museums. That just isn't us. We are more excited to be in a place and take photographs and enjoy the time walking around than looking at every little detail in a museum.

That said, we are looking for advice, and we appreciate yours. We do plan on spending most of our time in London. However, we do think we have time for one or two day trips out. What I'd really like to hear are more specific suggestions on day trips, what to do on them, how to get there, etc. Are there any day trips more interesting than Paris? Should we focus time and money on visiting Paris? Or is Oxford interesting enough? I've looked at Windsor Castle, and while it seems interesting to SEE, I'm not sure if it's worth the time this trip. While another trip to visit other parts of England seems like something we'd do, we can't say the same about France, so this is why we were thinking of including Paris on this trip.

There are no day trips more intersting than Paris.
With the Eurostar whizzing you there and back I would spend one night in Paris, just to see the Eiffel Tower burst into the most amazing sight as the clock hits the hour!
We have booked 2 nights (of 16 in Paris) at the Hotel Relais Bosquet Tour Eiffel, 19 rue de Champ de Mars, 75007. Tel:33 01 47 05 25 45. Internet Rate 180euros incl breakfast. We have requested an Eiffel Tower view.

There are many restaurants in the area especially the highly recommended Christian Constant ones on rue Dominique like Cafe Constant and Le Volon des Ingres. There is the popular Au Bon Accuil on rue Montessuy.

My opinion only but I'd make Paris a separate and longer trip. Oxford, Cambridge, Stratford, Bath, Canterbury and even Edinburgh make more sense as trips from London.

Do you plan to go to Changing of the Guard, Buckingham Palace, Westminster, Tower of London, Leicester (sp?) Square? Not to mention some plays? There is so much to see and do in London-5 days might not be enough. I didn't even mention the amazing museums because of your comments above.

Agree with janisj about open jaw trip. Flying into London and out of Paris would save you time if you are determined to go there.

Can you overnight to Paris, anyone???

You wouldn't have to step foot in any museum and still run out of time. You really can't compare London w/ very many other cities. It isn't a 2-day city. But if Windsor looks boring (and as I mentioned, many would prefer HCP anyway) maybe London will be as well.

• How to get to Oxford: Go to Paddington Station, take the train to Oxford.
• How to Get to Windsor: Go to Paddington Station, train to Slough, transfer train, get off in Windsor - or - go to Waterloo station and train to Windsor.
• How to get to Paris: Go to St Pancras station, get on Eurostar, get off at Gare du Nord.
• How to get to HCP: Go to Waterloo station, get off at Hampton Court, walk across the river.

"But if Windsor looks boring (and as I mentioned, many would prefer HCP anyway) maybe London will be as well."

Somehow I think there is more to do in London than Windsor -- looking at one castle.... Don't see the need for sarcasm.

You got lots of help on your other thread

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ondon-trip.cfm

Janisj's suggestion about flying into London out of Paris is very sensible - what a time saver!

TDudette-

"Do you plan to go to Changing of the Guard, Buckingham Palace, Westminster, Tower of London, Leicester (sp?) Square? Not to mention some plays? There is so much to see and do in London-5 days might not be enough. I didn't even mention the amazing museums because of your comments above."

Read that the Changing of the Guard is overrated. Would be happy just to see Buckingham Palace. Regarding plays - we live right by NYC and can see Broadway shows anytime.

Your my kind of traveler. Speed is more important that sights and history. You could take the train to a lot of places and do a quick walk through prior to your return to London allowing for ample time to take some photo's of your hotel and other neat places.

rogeriktm!

I was in London in April, and while my traveling style in definitely different than yours (I spent two weeks in Europe, all but 2 days of it in and around London.), I can at least comment on my experiences.

Windsor Castle - The guided tour (free with admission) is fairly interesting, but even if the history isn't of interest to you. the State apartments really do need to be seen to be believed. (oh, and they are not always open, so check ahead for the day you planning to go)

Paris - went there for an impromtu day trip. Took an early Eurostar over there and and the last one back to London, which gave me about 10 hours in Paris. In that time I managed to see Notre Dame, Sainte Chappelle(magnificent stained glass windows), walked along the Seine, climbed the Eiffel Tower and saw the Arc de Triomphe. It was wonderful! If you go, two points: 1)don't book the train over there at the last minute, unless you enjoy paying 4x the normal price; and 2) if you want to see the Louvre, don't go on a Tuesday (it's closed)

London itself - some of the other posters are right, 2-3 days isn't enough even to skim the surface of what London has to offer. But, if this is your plan, go for it! For art, hit the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery, both free and close to each. And I found the tour of the Globe Theatre to be interesting. (unfortunately, unless things are different next year, the Theatre will not actually be performing plays at this time of year.)

Oh, Buckingham Palace... IMHO, not even worth a walk-by unless your in the area anyway. There are literally hundreds (if not thousands) of more visually interesting buildings in London.

In any event, enjoy your trip! (And if want to see what trip to London using pretty much the opposite traveling style to yours looks like, I have a trip report floating around here somewhere.) :)

IMHO 5 days is short for a first trip to London - and that doesn't include seeing every detail in every museum. (That would take a month at least. Just to quickly hit the high spots can easily take 5 days.)

Doing one day trip is OK - if you pick what you really want. IMHO Paris is too far and you won't get to see enough. Windsor or Hampton Court are great choices - can easily be done by train (or boat for the latter) and still give you an evening in London.

I recognize that people travel at different paces - so I would suggest you go through a couple of London guidebooks and make a list of what you realy want to see. And do leave yourself time to travel from one place to another - London is a large city and sights are spread out.

There is also an area called 'little Venice' (Regent's Canal) that might interest you for walking around & seeing something different, an easy commute, & you'll get some different & interesting photos - here's a tour guide description - "Picturesque London neighborhood marked by its canal waterway and broad tree-lined streets, Little Venice was built between 1810 and 1870 and was the popular haunt of many artists, writers and scientists". Unlike janisj's generous offerings, I don't have the 'how to get there' specifics, but your hotel staff can guide you thru any of the day trips, or you can research it in advance.

How about Stonehenge? Bath? We enjoyed both of those places. We got some great photos in the town of Windsor.

Generally, no place will compare with Paris & that definitely, as you know, is a good day trip option. But like the others, I think it's a shame to waste time with day tripping, even overniting, when you could fly into one city & out of the other & give yourself a lot more time, less travel hassle, & eliminate possible travel delays that could significantly erode your time & maybe even cause you to miss your flight back from London. I would pay the change fee & rearrange my flight plan.

Have fun, Julie

Totally agree with janisj, We are about to take our 45th trip to London in March and my calaendar is filled for 2 weeks. I adore Paris and will be there in the Fall, one day in Paris would kill me! I need more than that,

If you feel you need to get out of the city for a bit, Windsor or Hampton Court are close by

I would certainly make Paris a longer trip. Doing a day trip there doesn't make any sense to me.

I concur with suggestions about places like Bath, etc. I'd also like to suggest a day trip to Bletchley Park, where the WWII codebreakers worked. It's a fascinating place. A train goes there from Euston Station.

Oh thanks Pegontheroad , just what I need another place to visit!

If you do a day trip to Brighton, the Royal Pavilion is pretty amazing. It's my favourite of all the palaces and stately homes we have seen as it's so unique.
http://www.brighton-hove-rpml.org.uk...ages/home.aspx

I think you might enjoy Brighton or Oxford more than Canterbury or Windsor but you know what you like better than anyone else. Check out the official websites and maybe the Lonely Planet guide. Train travel is pretty expensive in the UK, for fares and timetables check www.nationalrail.co.uk

You might enjoy Camden Market in London, it's particularly popular with people your age with an interesting mix of stuff for sale. The canal goes right past so you can have a walk afterwards if you feel like it.
http://www.camdenlock.net/camden.html

Brick Lane is also popular with people your age, lots of independent stores and curry places.

Don't worry about people's comments about the way you travel. It's your trip and your money, everyone is different. I travelled very differently when I was 20 than I do now.

Have a great time. By the way, London (and Paris) will be cold in March - bring warm clothing.

Kay

Glenmd & KayF-- Appreciate your advice. Thanks to you both!

To others-- Appreciate your advice also, but I'm not looking for criticisms on my travel plans. There are people who visit many cities in Europe in two weeks time! Some of you must hear that and act disgusted that people could even think of doing that. I think this is a bad attitude to have. Different strokes for different folks!