"i find it very irritating that so many attractions and sites in the UK close so early, leaving the tourist or traveller with a long gap to be filled between the end of the touring day, and going out for a meal. even 6 pm would be better."

Isn't that why you folks have pubs?

mainly museums which are restricted to the metropolis and other conurbations. for those of us who live out in the sticks, [or in our case, beyond] there's very little that is free, and what there is we've seen many, many times.


Move

If you don't know this website for planning travel on public transportation check it out and make it your new best friend. journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk/ You can put in addresses, sights, tube stations whatever "anchors" you want for the beginning and end of your journey. Check or uncheck the boxes as to "I want to use this mode" if you want only the tube or only the bus. With results there are little maps that give you the very specific bus stop or tube station information and the walking directions to and from the bus stop or tube station.

anyegr: >>Also, many museums and other tourist sites close early in the afternoon.<<

then >>When I was in London in July 2011 I thought everything I wanted to see closed too early. Westminster Abbey at 16.30, Wellington Arch at 17, St Paul’s Cathedral at 16 etc. I wasn't that interested in going to museums, though.<<

Westminster Abbey and St Paul's are not museums but houses of worship and are special cases. They don't close at 3:30 or 4 -- they shoo the tourists out so they can prepare for evensong services.

If you had said the churches close early, that would have made perfect sense and no one would have batted an eye. But you posted that <i>museums</i> close early in the afternoon - which isn't the case. Your 2nd post clarification is more accurate.

Isn't that why you folks have pubs?>>

good point Nikki.

However, with present day drink driving laws, [which I'm all in favour of, BTW] it's not always possible to imbibe on the way back to your accommodation AND in the evening with dinner.

another good reason for staying in a town where you can walk to a restaurant for dinner, IMO.

We're talking about London here. I wouldn't drive there unless the entire city were closed.

We're talking about London here. I wouldn't drive there unless the entire city were closed.>>

you might be, Nikki, i was talking rather more generally.

I agree about not having a car in London.