First London visit
 

We'll be in London for a week in late March for the first time. We're staying at the Ambassador Hotel, Bloomsbury, London (non-negotiable, already booked). Not that it matters, but any input on the hotel. What should or shouldn't we miss in London.

Don't miss the Tower of London, make sure to go with the Beefeater guides, they are great. Don't waste money on the London Dungeon...tourist trap! Make sure to dress warmly, both of my visits were in March and it was quite chilly! Have a wonderful trip!

Don't miss the British Museum, you can see the highlights fairly quickly if you're not into that sort of thing-- Rosetta Stone, mummies, etc. Kensington Palace is an interesting tour. For dinner, try Italian or French restaurants; we found some great small ones that were reasonably priced. The tube is extremely easy to use, but we take taxis when luggage is involved. Try to reserve a few activities for Sundays, some sites are closed.

We were in London in March and you do need to dress in layers. The parks are beautiful. Be sure to walk through a few of them. I concur about the tower of london and listening to one of the tours.It was fascinating. A friend of my loved the Tate gallery and another went into the war rooms which they said was very interesting. <BR>The theatre in London is great too. Just seeing some of the old buildings is as good as the play itself. Take a walk down Bond street and have a look at all the jewelery store windows.<BR>The markets are fun to stroll through. Enjoy your trip. London is a great city.

<BR>What you shouldn't miss is what you'll like. We can advise you if you'll say something of your tastes, your professions, and your interests. Otherwise, you'll have a list of standard sights. Indeed, I'll write one now, to get it done. The Science Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, Harrods store, St James Park, Buckingham Palace, the Imperial War Museum, Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, the Wartime Cabinet Rooms, the National Gallery, Italian rsstaurahnts, Covent Garden, the British Museum, the Tate Modern gallery, St Paul's Cathedral, the Tower, an expensive big-cast musical show. <BR><BR>But when you advise us we may say Kensington Palace, the Queen's state coaches, he Florence Nightingale Museum, the Imperial War Museum, the umbrella shop in Holborn, the Roman bath off the Strand, pub lunches, the Museum of London, the Temple of Mithras, the church of St Bartholomew the Great, the Bank of England Museum, the Tea and Coffee Museum, lunchtime Bach in a City church, and a startling play on the Fringe.<BR><BR>So if you'll advise us we'll gladly give you ideas.<BR><BR>Ben Haines, London<BR>

Best:<BR>Tower of London<BR>Churchill War Rooms<BR>Walking Covent Garden & Trafalgar Sq.<BR><BR>Hitting this trip in February and heard good things:<BR><BR>Victoria & Albert Museum (British Treasures)<BR><BR>Wallace Collection<BR>Imperial War Museum<BR>Houses of Parliament Tours (must request permits in advance)<BR><BR>Great website:www.londontouristboard.com

My husband and I went to London last March.It was in the 40 degree range every day and often drizzling. That did not dampen our enthusiasm or plans.We dressed warm, carried umbrellas,we did buy wool hats over there at a Army surplus store, and wore them every day. But it is a wonderful place! We stayed at the Thistle Bloomsbury, there are tons of ethnic restaurants in that area, we liked Thai Garden, near the British Museum, The Spaghetti House, and a Greek place I think was called Hieronomys. If you have a particular interest, check out the Original London Walks, they are guided walking tours on just about any aspect of London.We took the Sherlock Holmes walk, no reservations needed, they have a website with the schedules. Hope you love London as mcuh as we did! If you have time the Museum of London is a great place to get an overview of the history, very interactive and interesting.

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Sign up for the big red bus tour. The bus stops at all of the key locations others have mentioned and you can get off, spend as much time as you like at that location and then just pick up another red bus and continue around the city. It's a great way to see the highlights and spend more time at those places you want to investigate more thouroughly. Plus, the buses themselves are guided, so you learn a bit about the neighborhoods that you would otherwise not learn by walking. Take the tube everywhere - it's a godsend!

Just wondering if anyone has stayed at the Ambassador Hotel, Bloomsbury also. We're thinking about staying there but have been unable to find much information on the hotel - the address is Upper Woburn Place.<BR>

Just a reminder that the Cabinet War Rooms will be closed from March 4th to March 25th.<BR>