starrs

All of a sudden, I think London is at the top of my list. This will be a return visit and an homage to my mom. Playing around with ideas and would love to hear your favorite memories of trips to London.

nyse

I think "London Walks" are great and also, I absolutely loved visiting 'The Old Bailey' criminal court, so much history there.

kmowatt

Being in London at Christmas - the city is magical then. Street lights, shop windows, skating rinks, South Bank Christmas market and all the yummy stuff I grew up eating. London can put even this old scrooge in the spirit. After turkey stroll on Christmas Day in an almost ghost like London - the one day where you almost have the place to yourself.

Kathie

Lots of good memories of London, but my favorite is perhaps the "Mozart by Moonlight" Concert in St. Martins Cheryl and I attended years ago. One of the non-Mozart pieces, played by a Young Israeli violinist, was Symphonie Espagnole by Edouard Lalo. It was a stunning performance!

texasbookworm

How much time do I have?

Every visit to the Tower of London, but the Beefeater tours are terrific!

Climbing to the top of St. Paul's dome

Showing groups of students the Rosetta Stone at the British Museum
(and actually almost every moment in that wonder)

Finding "odd" little gems like Postman's Park and St. Dunstan in the East

The views from the Millennium Bridge and Westminster Bridge

Watching a play in the Globe (actually, seeing a play in any venue)

People watching at Trafalgar Square

Renting chair in Hyde Park for a rest on arrival day

Seeing the Coronation Chair in Westminster Abbey

The National Gallery--all of it

(Seeing hubby, daughter, and various students/faculty members also fall in love with this city--among top moments!)



And probably some more--that's 10--going back next June for 5 days to make some more memories!!

PalenQ

https://www.fodors.com/community/eur...-path-gems.cfm

some of my favorite memories!

MoBro

Two best memories were the amazing Indian cuisine dinners we had.

We were staying in this neighborhood, and found this gem just walking by.
Best shrimp dish I've ever had:

http://www.noorjahan2.com

Another visit, we were staying at St Ermin, and I saw this restaurant while walking around the neighborhood. It's excellent:

http://www.quilon.co.uk, Southwest coastal Indian cuisine

Also, I went to Victoria & Albert to view a collection of Princess Diana's gowns. That was fun, and wandering around in that neighborhood was pleasant. Ending with a visit to Harrod's.

Finally, when our kids were 12 and 15, we went to the Ceremony of the Keys, at the Tower. It was creepy cool.

MoBro

One other: on our last morning, the horse troops were preparing for a salute to the Queen, in Kensington Park. I 'snuck away', left DH with the kids to pack, and was able to see them prepping, up close. Gorgeous horses in full royal tack. It was impressive.

BigRuss

Winning the Book of Mormon lottery and yelling "f--- you Adele" (even though we hadn't bought tickets to her canceled shows).

Riding the #16 bus on the upper deck to Victoria to watch the trains when I was a kid.

Bedar

The Zoo in Harrod's which is no more. Great for kids in inclement weather. British Museum, British Library, Natural Higtory Museum, V&A, the Tower, Westminster Abbey, the War Rooms.

PalenQ

The Zoo in Harrod's which is no more.>

But the oranate Egyptian Staircase with Dodi and Di Memorial is still there I think?

https://www.google.com/search?q=harr...w=1522&bih=786

PegS

Heading over to Green Lanes for Turkish food and a (great and cheap) shave for my husband. Then doing it again near the end of our trip.

Eating jellied eels at Borough Market.

Hightailing it straight to the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London when it opened and having it pretty much all to ourselves for two long, leisurely look-sees.

Going to the Imperial War Museum for what we thought would be a few hours, then spending so long there we had to get kicked out--and we still weren't finished.

Weekender

Starrs:

Regarding hotels:

You might want to look at www.firmdale.com for their townhouse hotels..Knightsbridge, Number 16 and Dorset Square. I stayed at the Dorset Square last month and loved it. Also, take a look at Hazlitt's in Soho which is very atmospheric and in a great location.

I am headed to Paris tonight and will be staying at our favorite, l'Abbaye.

LancasterLad

For 2 years in the mid-1990s my office window looked directly onto Horseguards Parade.

I loved my lunchtime walks to Covent Garden, people watching in Trafalgar Square, wandering round Green Park, or going for a jog through Green Park into Hyde Part and round the Serpentine.

I had the daily grind of a commute by train from Portsmouth. My reward after 2 years of that was to be sent to Paris for 4 years....Happy Days.

TPAYT

Best memories are with our granddaughter at age 13. She was in awe of everything.

Best back at home memory.....at a movie with her there was a scene at the Tower of London, outside looking towards London Bridge. She shouted out “ I stood right there!”......worth every penny we spent on that trip.

twk

My favorite thing on my trip to the UK in 2007 was to attend the final dress rehearsal for Trooping the Colour--happens the Saturday before the real event (there is another dress rehearsal the preceding Saturday). It's a ticketed event, with reserved seats in the grandstand, but much easier to get tickets for than the real event. The primary difference is that the Queen is not in attendance, but they do the whole thing as if she were. I think the actual ceremony is usually the second Saturday in June, and the dress rehearsals the two Saturdays before that. If you are going to be in London at that time, don't miss it. Even if you can't get a ticket, the parade up the Mall is worth checking out. It's 1000 times better than seeing the Changing of the Guard.

starrs

Oh, Weekender! I am so happy for you and so jealous. I think about that hotel ALL the time, virtually every day. It was absolute perfection and at a time I really needed a soft place to land. They gave me an embossed leather business card holder and I used it as my work wallet. Every single day I'm reminded at how wonderful it was (is). I dream of returning at Christmas again, but that will have to wait a while. Or not. I'm so tempted. Think of me while you are there. I'll toast to your happiness this weekend.

Thanks for all the great ideas for London. I'm making a list for my trip.

".......worth every penny we spent on that trip"
TPAYT,

Macross

The Diana tribute is gone. Dodi's Father sold Harrods. A friend worked there and they would light a certain incense to signal his arrival. I love that store.

starrs

"they would like a certain incense"
Really? What a cool story!
I loved the dog bed section when I was there. There was a 4 poster bed with canopy for the pampered pup!

bvlenci

< i >After turkey stroll on Christmas Day in an almost ghost like London - the one day where you almost have the place to yourself.</i>
I
But plenty of evidence of all the drunks who were there the night before! I took my granddaughter on a Harry Potter stroll, while the others took a postprandial nap, and we saw every type of human effluent there is, along with piles of glass bottles and plastic cups.