Feedback/thoughts on this London Itenerary
Nov 29th, 2007, 07:40 PM
#21
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Wow, DesertDave, I have to respond to your response to janis' post.
If you research anything about the UK on this site, you will find that janis is one of the most knowledgable posters on Fodors about those countries and you will undoubtedly find her advice to be very valuable. I have personally already benefitted and hope to have her input on the many more questions I will have in another 6 months or so.
I know you said you are an experienced traveller, but you have not been to London. janis has, many times.
If you research anything about the UK on this site, you will find that janis is one of the most knowledgable posters on Fodors about those countries and you will undoubtedly find her advice to be very valuable. I have personally already benefitted and hope to have her input on the many more questions I will have in another 6 months or so.
I know you said you are an experienced traveller, but you have not been to London. janis has, many times.
Nov 30th, 2007, 07:53 AM
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DesertDave,
I lived in London for 4 months (study abroad) and didn't get to do EVERYTHING I wanted to, but that is how it is for any European city! However, when my dad visited me for 1.5 days while on a business trip in Amsterdam, we were able to cram in A LOT of stuff, so here is what we did. Granted, we didn't have time to sit and linger, but my dad liked being able to at least see everything (even if only briefly):
To speed things up, we made a list of "must-see's" whether it was a place (e.g. Parliament/Big Ben) or something inside (e.g. a certain tomb in Westminster Abbey)
Morning: We started doing a double-decker bus tour so I could also show my dad my school and stuff like that, but I doubt that would be of interest to you! LOL Started tour by Oxford/saw the marble arch, all the shopping centers, etc. on the bus, however, due to traffic, the tour was REALLY slow. We got off of the bus and ended up walking (we are fast walkers, not sure how you are).
You can hit Westminster Abbey, Parliament, London Eye first (30 min roundtrip). We started with the Eye so dad could see all of London, walked by Parliament (I went on the tour which is incredible since I am a poli sci major, but it is long so you may want to skip it) and walked through Westminister (it was quicker to walk through ourselves than take a tour).
We walked to Buckingham Palace, stopping at a pub for a rum & coke along the way
since dad wanted to see as many pubs as possible! (BTW the changing of the guards is LONG and BORING--one of the biggest wastes of time IMO) After palace, went to St. James Palace, since it's close, then across Green Park to watch the changing of the Horse guards after that (this one is quicker and more interesting).
Walked by 10 Downing Street, stopped at another pub. Walked through Trafalgar square (didn't go in the national gallery though).
Ate at McDonald's in Piccadilly Circus (boring food, yes, but quick and this way we could see Piccadilly).
Took the tube to Tower of London, here we did take the tour which I HIGHLY recommend! Very entertaining and an experience in itself! Tower was our favorite part.
Walked across the Tower bridge and went up it. Pointed out St. Paul's to dad (didn't get a chance to walk by it).
Dinner: Ate dinner and went to some pubs in Covent garden and Leister Square that evening. In Leister Sq. are all the movie theatres where they have premieres, there are stars' footsteps/handprints in the ground too, walked around and saw those.
So it CAN be done in one day, IF you are willing to only see parts, skip the tours and CAREFULLY map out your plan and things you want to see. Would I recommend it? No, but given the limited time my dad had, it was better to cram it all in, and see it briefly than not at all!
I would take out Stonehedge--the biggest waste of a day and underwhelming sight ever! There are so many other great sights to see, don't go there unless it is your second trip (even then I would encourage people to not go). I think you should do either Oxford or Windsor instead (take the tour of Windsor Palace! another fab tour!)
Hope this helps! Have fun! I'm graduating grad school this year, maybe I should show my aunts and uncles what your gift to your niece is!
I lived in London for 4 months (study abroad) and didn't get to do EVERYTHING I wanted to, but that is how it is for any European city! However, when my dad visited me for 1.5 days while on a business trip in Amsterdam, we were able to cram in A LOT of stuff, so here is what we did. Granted, we didn't have time to sit and linger, but my dad liked being able to at least see everything (even if only briefly):
To speed things up, we made a list of "must-see's" whether it was a place (e.g. Parliament/Big Ben) or something inside (e.g. a certain tomb in Westminster Abbey)
Morning: We started doing a double-decker bus tour so I could also show my dad my school and stuff like that, but I doubt that would be of interest to you! LOL Started tour by Oxford/saw the marble arch, all the shopping centers, etc. on the bus, however, due to traffic, the tour was REALLY slow. We got off of the bus and ended up walking (we are fast walkers, not sure how you are).
You can hit Westminster Abbey, Parliament, London Eye first (30 min roundtrip). We started with the Eye so dad could see all of London, walked by Parliament (I went on the tour which is incredible since I am a poli sci major, but it is long so you may want to skip it) and walked through Westminister (it was quicker to walk through ourselves than take a tour).
We walked to Buckingham Palace, stopping at a pub for a rum & coke along the way
since dad wanted to see as many pubs as possible! (BTW the changing of the guards is LONG and BORING--one of the biggest wastes of time IMO) After palace, went to St. James Palace, since it's close, then across Green Park to watch the changing of the Horse guards after that (this one is quicker and more interesting). Walked by 10 Downing Street, stopped at another pub. Walked through Trafalgar square (didn't go in the national gallery though).
Ate at McDonald's in Piccadilly Circus (boring food, yes, but quick and this way we could see Piccadilly).
Took the tube to Tower of London, here we did take the tour which I HIGHLY recommend! Very entertaining and an experience in itself! Tower was our favorite part.
Walked across the Tower bridge and went up it. Pointed out St. Paul's to dad (didn't get a chance to walk by it).
Dinner: Ate dinner and went to some pubs in Covent garden and Leister Square that evening. In Leister Sq. are all the movie theatres where they have premieres, there are stars' footsteps/handprints in the ground too, walked around and saw those.
So it CAN be done in one day, IF you are willing to only see parts, skip the tours and CAREFULLY map out your plan and things you want to see. Would I recommend it? No, but given the limited time my dad had, it was better to cram it all in, and see it briefly than not at all!
I would take out Stonehedge--the biggest waste of a day and underwhelming sight ever! There are so many other great sights to see, don't go there unless it is your second trip (even then I would encourage people to not go). I think you should do either Oxford or Windsor instead (take the tour of Windsor Palace! another fab tour!)
Hope this helps! Have fun! I'm graduating grad school this year, maybe I should show my aunts and uncles what your gift to your niece is!
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