dan

I have been to 30 countries, and I don't know how many cities, major and minor. Been to London many times, since I use it as a gateway when I am going somewhere else. The last three trips, we stopped there on the way to Syria, Egypt, and Italy. If I could stop there on the way from LA to SF, I would spend three days there. <BR><BR>Every time I go there is something new and interesting that I haven't seen before. History, places connected with literature, art, theater, museums, pagentry. If you like clocks, stamps, crime, toys, costumes, animals, mechanical, martial, natural, legal, botanical, musical, or anything else, there is something - and a lot of it - in London.<BR><BR>It reminds me to two New Yorkers I met who were complaining there was nothing to do in LA. Of course, they had never done any of the things I listed. <BR><BR>Once you have said you have seen all the sights of London, you can say you are bored. Sam Johnson got it right.

HRH SBP

I find that whether or not you are bored by anything is directly in line with what you actually know about it (the more you know, the more fascinated you are - the less you know, the less, etc...) <BR><BR>for instance, I cannot stand American football. I could never be bored by traveling though so I don't know what to tell you... even if I went somewhere I was completely unfamiliar with - I would just figure it's time to get cracking and learn by exploring!<BR><BR>sounds like you need to get a good book to fire your imagination up!!<BR><BR>HRH

Traveler

Well, if you're really finding London boring, try some day trips out of the city. Bath, Salisbury, etc. are all doable as day trips.

Bil

Well, if it's your first trip to London and you're still staying in a hotel, then with all due respect you do not "know" anything substantive about the city! However, if you've decided not to like it, why waste your time? You can be in Brighton in under an hour; Oxford, Cambridge, Bath, Canterbury, or Salisbury within a few hours. You can be at Land's End in half a day, or go explore the north coast of Wales, or head for Edinburgh/Glasgow and on to the Highlands and the Western Isles. <BR><BR>If it's the whole of the UK you've decided to dislike, you're still in luck - cheap and frequent flights will get you easily to Prague or Paris - or Berlin or Athens or Rome or Amsterdam or Stockholm or Dublin or any of dozens of other nearby cities. <BR><BR>You needn't spend one more hour in London if you don't want to. But I truly hope you've realised this yourself and won't be back to this board until your holidays are over!

Mark

Had a great 5 days in London last month.<BR><BR>Walked by Buckingham and did see the Queen and Prince Philip. Was a highlight of the trip<BR>

xxx

Just curious. Were they hanging out their laundry? Just sitting about on the lawn in a couple of folding lawn chairs? Mowing the grass? Washing their windows or waxing the car?

nanita2006

Bored in London and with your wife... I guess you two are bored of each other even making sex!!! I think you are too bored for London and for any place on earth. Please stay home and be bored...

bored

Dear Bored in London,<BR>One who is bored is usually boring.<BR>You have certainly Bored me!<BR>

get

Have you gone to the Tiara exhibit at the V&A? Note that it is open late on Weds. and is a reduced entry fee. Have you been to the Imperial War Museum? Hit the half-price ticket both and take in a show. Go to Selfridges, walk around Hyde Park, go to the British Library and see all those amazing documents, go to Hampton Court. And get out of your hotel's business center!

Aunt Jennie

At first blush, I don't think London seems as exotic to many Americans as other European countries. No small wonder. It is a large part of the heritage of the US and we speak the same language, of course. (I have heard people say, though, that if we spoke a different language we'd realize how truly different the UK and British culture are from the US.)<BR><BR>The first time I went, I couldn't wait to get to Paris, where I could feel the difference without effort. But, I recently returned to London and couldn't get enough. My expectations were different. I'd studied up on things to do a lot more, and we focused largely on the history this time. We barely touched the surface. I am eager to return.<BR><BR>Have you taken tours of the major sites yet, like Westminster Abbey? The Tower? The British Museum? London theater is great! And, like others have said, take trips out of the city. Take a boat trip to Greenwich, the prime meridian. Or one of the castles nearby. Cambridge isn't far. There is so much within a day trip from London. Sometimes, one gets a better flavor for a country by leaving the big cities....<BR><BR>You'd better tell us how you liked it in the end after all this!

Mels

Not quite sure how anyone could ever be bored in London. There are a million and one things to do! Try the London Eye, Madame Tussauds, beautiful cathedrals, parks galore, Art Gallerys, Museums, the best Theatre there can possibly be (I saw Phantom of the Opera last year), the Tower of London, go down to Greenwich and visit the National Maritime Museum, just walk along by the Thames! It never ends. I am an expat from London myself - came from Blackheath - and everytime I go back I find more things to do!

Colin

Dear bored@london,<BR><BR>I respect your boredom of the city, each to their own.<BR><BR>I loved Rome, didn't like Paris. <BR><BR>You don't like London. Fair enough. <BR><BR>London is not a city that seduces you, but if you're playing hard to get, then you're not giving the relationship a chance!<BR>

Expat

There are lots of things to be said about London: ugly, chaotic, expensive, rainy, windy, but not boring. As an expat Parisian living in London, I still fail to find any architectural charm, let alone beauty, to the city (the London Eye ? to look at WHAT ? ), but it is buzzing with all kinds of activities, cultural, classical, avantgarde, weird, you name it. Just buy a copy of Time Out magazine, and it's enough to make you dizzy with opportunities. Judging by your references (Paris and Prague), I guess you were expecting a kind of picture postcard representation of what a European capital should be to an American: quaint and beautiful. London is neither of these, but they speak your language (sort of) !

Sue

Bored, I gotta admit, you're clever. If it was 4:15 p.m Eastern when you posted, that meant it was 10:15 GMT in London - after museum hours, too late for a show. So.....what to do, what to do.... lessee, let's go stir the Fodor's pot a bit. What to use for bait? Ah......... <BR><BR>Worked, didn't it?

anon

hey Sue, wasn't that like the recent week John G kept saying he was in London but the posts were all at 10-11 PM EST?

xxx

In Europe some travel agents use "If you are tired of London, you are tired of life" as a slogan. Perhaps it is just you, because I have still never been to any place that would have bored me. Big town, small town, village – there is always something of interest. I remember that just British museum took a whole day from me. And a pub near my hotel took a whole evening. As did a musical. And a play.

star

Dear Bored,<BR><BR>I have a suggestion. Take a trip over to Windsor Castle and to Hampton Court. The town of Windsor is quintessential quaint England, and the self-guided tour of Windsor Castle is amazing. I was there last month the day after the Queen Mother was buried there, and it was quite historic. The Castle itself is in part being renovated, and the rooms that are finished are spectacular. That's not to say that the other rooms are not. Try to get there before 11 am so you can observe the changing of the guard and then the guard plays music. Queen Elizabeth was at the Castle the day I visited.<BR><BR>Also, there is a section in London where the silver antique shops are. It is so "Charles Dickensesque" and quite unique. Ask your concierge where this is. It is located next to a hip section of town.<BR><BR>Hope this helps!

tom

PLEASE do not give this guy anymore useful suggestions. He sounds like a total pr*ck and we don't want him outside of the hotel giving other Americans a bad name! Better he stay inside glued to his PC.