busiest days in london?
 

we're in london for a week - what days are busiest at the various tourist attractions in london - particularly the tower, westminster abbey and buckingham palace (we are going in august and plan to visit the state rooms). speaking of that - is the buckingham palace tour worth it?

also - we are planning a day trip to cambridge - any thoughts on the best day to do that?

The weekends are busiest. Try to do things during the week, either when they first open or later in the afternoon.

I wasn't there when buck palace was open, so I can't help there.

Have a nice trip!
Karen

I think the Buckingham Palace tour is absolutely worth it, especially since it's only open for 2 months. So you get that special inside view that most people don't get. That is the one place we encountered lines in buying tickets, but it's still a great tour.

Another question - are the evenings less busy at the museums and galleries? (British Museum, Tate?)

Evenings are less busy at the British Museum but that's mostly because only about half of the galleries are actually open on their "open" evening.

the various websites for the museums will tell you of openings or closures on various days
I can tell you that the National Gallery is delightfully uncrowded in the evening, at least the last time I went

I second the recommendation to see the state rooms at Buckingham Palace. We did simply because it was open while we were there, and I was awed by the experience.
If you're there when the Houses of Parliament are open, make time to see that as well. Tours follow the monarch's route through the Palace of Westminster when they come to Parliament and end in the great medieval hall. The Blue Badges that lead the tours know an incredible amount of history and anecdotes.
Have fun!
Annette

Go to www.hrp.co.uk for information on the Tower, etc. Very helpful site that shows hours, etc. for many of the historical places you wish to see. Have fun!

There are no "tourists" allowed in the Westminster Abbey on Sunday, but you can attend a service there on that day. We attended a Sunday 3pm choral evensong by appearing at the church doors at 2:45 and asking to attend the mass--which was beautiful on so many levels. Tourists who simply wanted to walk through were being turned away, however, they don't want the cameras and walk throughs during services, apparently.

Of course they don't want cameras and walk throughs during services as it is a place of worship firstly and tourist attraction very much secondly - especially on Sundays!
One thing to note about Westminster Abbey is that it closes at lunchtime prompt on Saturday. I have seen visitors have the door closed in their faces.

And I had the attendant close a comfort station in my face in Paris.

I got into a hot show at the Tate Modern in the evening, the Matisse Picasso show, without an advance ticket, in May.

Though -- seats in the great restaurant there, the one on top -- couldn't get one.