http://www.theoriginaltour.com/tour_.../page_109.html

Regular price
Adult (16+ years): £25.00 Child (5-15 years): £12.00

Winter Price
Adult (16+ yrs): £22.50 Child (5-15 yrs): £10.00

Sounds like it would be around 100 bucks for your family to have a 24 hour HOHO pass.

I would discourage the HOHO buses. The best seats on the top are difficult to get, especially a family together. Its difficult to hear the commentary and they get stuck up in traffic. There are much better ways to use your time and money.

If you want to take the bus they are easy to figure out. Each route is posted at each stop and you can search for routes online at www.tfl.gov.uk if you want to take a bus one morning to a particular site. Plus they are included in your transit pass if you have one.

Regular buses in relation to main attractions:

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloa...-route-map.pdf

Thanks Patrick - my 2nd paragraph above I am referring to the regular double decker buses, not the HOHO!

The single day in Paris is a tough one. There will be some time wasted getting from Gare du Nord to the center and back. We've done it, but we had been to Paris twice before for a total of 12 days, so we only wanted to walk around and see a couple of things (and enjoy the French countryside on the trip).

Here's what I suggest (not necessarily in that order):

(a) Notre Dame

(b) River Cruise

(c) A self-guided walk in the center around Ile de la Cite and either bank nearby. There are many in print - Frommer's Fodors, Steves, et. al. Check out the books at the library and pick the one you think will be the most fun.

(d) The Louvre may actually be possible in March, since crowds will be much smaller -- but only if you enter via the Metro station entrance (Palais Royal-Musee du Louvre on Lines 1 & 7) - much, much shorter lines there -- rather than at the Pyramid. (I can't say the same for sure about d'Orsay that time of year)

I THINK that is do-able.

Remember, there is a 1-hour time difference between London and Paris, so chunnel trip is actually takes 3h20m or so off the clock - plus you will need extra time to get to Gare du Nord 45 min in advance for your return.

SS

With regard to Parliament, find out if there will be an evening session and go then, rather than during the daytime. Line will be shorter, and you won't waste time when other attractions are open that way. With limited time, you want to look as see when certain attractions are open in the evening on which nights and keep those in mind as it will allow you to get the most sight seeing in the minimum of time.

Flygirl makes a good point about seeing a small museum, if the Louvre is crowded.

Two that we like are:

(1) Carnavalet Museum - a lot of history of Paris

(2) Museum Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris - 2th c. art.

The two major art museums (Louvre/Orsay) are actually not so "Parisian" - i.e., they are pretty much the same as any of the world's major museums (though they obviously have absolutely amazing collections). You can limit yourself to the Louvre's highlights - Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, Venus de Milo, etc., and one or two rooms of your favorite genre -- in an hour or so.

My wife reminded me that walking around Paris is the most "Parisian" thing you can do in one day-- after Notre Dame and the cruise (which will give a good view of the Eiffel Tower and several other major sights).

The cruise we like is Vedettes de Pont Neuf (http://www.vedettesdupontneuf.com) which departs from the west tip of Ile de la Cite (below the Pont Neuf) and (as far as I know) is the only one that allows online advanced discount reservations that do not commit you to a specific day and time.

SS

Thanks all for you feedback. Lots of fodder to think about. As result I have altered some plans. We will spend 4.5 days in London proper without the distractions of Windsor or Hampton palace. We will visit Parliament late in the evening once other sights close. I think that should give us time to sightsee and wander.

Decided to give the HOHO a miss. We will walk and tube/bus using the travel card. We love to walk and London is the place for it!

Farrermog - thanks for the Bard info but unfortunately none of the dates match our visit. I am beginning to feel like a star crossed playgoer! also agree about not seeing a big production. We are going to see either War Horse or 39 Steps Monday night.

Ssander - thanks for the tips on Paris. Like you we have been there before but the kids wanted to experience the Chunnel hence the adventure. Frommers has a one-day Paris itinerary

http://www.frommers.com/destinations...062020766.html

It mainly a wander by the Seine with an early visit to the Louvre for an hour or two. I think we will do the Mona Lisa and Venus di Milo look up, the walk and end the day with a ride up the Eiffel Tower. Should be fun...how often can you say you went to Paris for a quick lunch :)

Also in London we will see the City on Wednesday, letting go of Windsor. Thanks for that tip jamikins.


Thanks again. I love to plan it with a nice long wish list and shed as needed. I am sure I will need your advice again before we depart in March.

reddy2go2...

Wow - We saw The 39 Steps on our last trip to London (2008) and it was fabulous. It was October, crowds were small, and we just walked up to the box office half-hour before curtain and got 1st row upper deck great seats - it's a very small theater. (...and since we were over 60, we got the tickets for a little more than half-price.)

We always do a play while in London. Generally we avoid the American-style musicals in large theaters and opt for the more British plays in smaller venues.

The 39 Steps is a classic in that regard - great British humor. I recommend you see the original film (Netflix has it and possibly your local library) before you go. Some knowledge of Hitchcock's other well-known films will add to the enjoyment of the parody material, as well.

At the Louvre, don't miss the great Vermeers (and Steens and de Hoch's) in the 17th C. Dutch rooms.

FYI: We're doing a London (5 days)-Paris (5 days) trip in May. Got our air and chunnel tix already.

I highly recommend using buses (as well as the tube) in London.

Consider a 7-day zone 1-2 off-peak TravelCard, which costs £27.60 (~$45). If you plan on using public transport a lot, it's a good deal - get an Oyster Card and load the 7-day pass onto it. Individual off-peak (after 9:30 am) rides are £1.90 with the Oyster card - so there's a 14/15-ride break-even point (less than 3 rides per day), not to mention the convenience of not having to think about whether you have enough "money" on your Oyster card. Just touch the card to the sensor as you enter the tube or get on a bus. You don't even have to remove it from your wallet.

SS

Personally I think the boys would appreciate the Imperial War Museum more than the Churchill WarRooms. We go there on every trip to Londn and my "boy" is 73! They also do a nice lunch in the cafe and reasonably priced

You may want to book war horse tickets fairly far in advance if you have a large party. I tried booking for 5 the week of Mar 7 last night and they only had the priciest tickets left in a group of 3 or 5!

Sorry, meant to add that was for the whole week too!

Sorry, meant to add that was for the whole week too!

I've done the daytrip from London. It wasn't as horrible as some might think. Essentially we followed this route:

Arrive Gare du Nord
-- Taxi to Louvre, saw highlights (Literally: Venus de Milo, Winged Victory, Mona Lisa, Dying Slaves, realizing that the hallway Mona Lisa is off of is a stellar collection and the rooms behind it are the French collection so you can dabble there)
-- Walked along the Seine, grabbed lunch at a sidewalk cafe
-- Walked to St. Chapelle and Notre Dame, visited both
-- Took taxi halfway up Champs Elysees and walked to Arc de Triomphe
-- Taxi back to Gare du Nord, dinner on the train back

This was in March, so the crowds were much lighter than in-season. It didn't feel terribly rushed but it was a very full day and we were busted at the end of it. We opted for the taxi rather than try to figure out the Metro (which is sort of silly now that we know what we know!) Essentially all this day trip did was fuel my next three trips...all to Paris!

ssander: Thanks or endorsing the 39 steps. I am looking forward to it.. looks like War Horse is coming to the US so we may opt for the Steps. Also, we are getting the paper one-week Travelcard for zones 1 and 2 as that will allow us to get the 2:1 deals. Oyster does not, as I have learned. And yes, we will see Vermeer.

amyb: Glad to hear that the Paris one-day in March is possible. We have planned exactly what you have outlined, perhaps using the tube. It was very quick and comfortable the last time we were there. We are coming back by the 9 pm train -- so we can have breakfast, lunch and dinner in Paris. The best food in the world bar none. That was the highlight of our last trip there, and will continue to be whenever we visit.

avalon: Thanks for the vote for the Imperial War Museum.. hard to choose, as I have heard the Churchill War Rooms are wonderful as well. I am going to play it by ear.

Someone...flanneruk? jamikins? had a thread about their favorite pubs in London. I need to check that out!

Most of all, I need to pray for good weather!

bookmarking

We enjoyed both the Churchill War Rooms and the Imperial War Museum. Each has their special qualities. We spent a little over two hours at the Churchill War Rooms--I loved the Churchill museum within the war rooms. We spent more than a half a day at the Imperial War Museum. We saw a couple of special exhibits--The Ministry of Food and the Trenches along with their permanent exhibits. It really is well done. Either one would be good and if you can do both even better.

We too can't wait to go back one day. Son got sick so couldn't go to Oxford and the Cotswolds--two of many reasons to return!

Meant to say either museum choice would be good. Doesn't read right the way it is but I think you will know what I meant.

ready2go2....

Great that you are getting the paper travelcard to take advantage of the 2-for-1 coupons...I forgot to suggest that. We saved over $100 on each of our last three trips to London.

My understanding is that you have to buy it at a train station (with the Nat. Rail Logo on the card) in order to use it with the coupons. Cards bought at tube stops don't qualify.

Perhaps someone else can verify this.

[In the past we flew into Gatwick, so we had the train tickets and were able to load the TravelCard onto our Oysters. Our upcoming flight is to LHR - so we'll have to buy paper TravelCards this time....sigh...I wish USAir still flew from PHL to Gatwick.]

SS

Enjoy your trip ssander! 5 days each in London and Paris sounds great.