thursdaysd

What's safest is a money belt for everything but one day's cash. And one credit card if you want to use a card. (We just had a thread from a long-time Fodorite who was pick pocketed in Paris.)

nytraveler

If available I would check out Hampton Court Palace - which has docents reenacting life in Tudor times - and I believe there are special events around the holidays. Not far from London (30 minutes?) easily reachable by train and also boat - but probably not the latter in winter.

bilboburgler

just note that if you ask for the "docents" in the UK you'll get a quizzical look or be sent to the Chemists or Pharmacy.

PalenQ

Another vote for the Tudor Christmas at Hampton Court Palace, to me one of the superest palaces in Europe but especially comes to live during the holiday season - assume it goes on after Christmas Day itself:

http://www.hrp.org.uk/news-and-media...istmas-season/

Salisbury is one of the nicest regional towns I've been to - three times now. If a chance walk out south of town on foot paths for awesome views of the Salisbury Cathedral - views as painted by famous English artists.

Seamus

Another vote for Hampton Court palace www.hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace/ which is easy to reach via tube/train. We took the District Line tube to Wimbeldon, transferred to train for Hampton Court station. (fyi, can do the whole journey using Oyster card, train and tube are collocated at Wimbledon station) From Hampton Court rail station it's just a brief walk over the bridge to the entrance.

janisj

You can get to HCP w/o changing by taking the train from Waterloo.

ChgoGal

Hi, justicepool.

RE: A DAY TRIP
If you and your wife want to get out of London for the day to see the English countryside (the Cotswolds), I can recommend the Secret Cottage tour out of Moreton-in-Marsh. It's timed so day-trippers from London can catch the train out to Moreton-in-Marsh, the minivans pick you up right at the train stop, and you go all around to many, many villages.

3 times during the day, you take a break at a thatched roof cottage for tea (first), then lunch (second), then a final tea and cake service (third). I was on the tour back in September, and had the nicest time and met the greatest people. I wrote a quick blog and posted pics if you were interested.

http://www.cotswoldtourismtours.co.uk
http://www.susannelord.com/blog/2015...secret-cottage

RE: HISTORY/MUSEUMS - Victorian Era/literary
In London, I visited Thomas Carlyle's house and it's a Victorian-era house that seems frozen in time. The docents are great, too, so asking them to tell you about any room in the house should lead to loads of fascinating information. I really loved visiting. You could maybe stroll down Fulham Road in Chelsea to Daunt books, or just browse all the London boutiques there.
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/carlyles-house

Hope you and your wife have a lovely time in England!

PalenQ

But from many parts of London taking the Tube to Wimbledon and changing in the same station to the train to Hampton will be quicker than going first to Waterloo mainline Station (not to be confused with Waterloo East, connected to the mainline station - you can take trains to Waterloo East from eastern and southeast London and other areas. The change is a snap so not a factor. No reason to go to Waterloo station unless quicker and more convenient.

janisj

>>No reason to go to Waterloo station unless quicker and more convenient.<<

Which it usually is if one is staying in central London. Wimbledon is only on one tube line (and only one branch of that line), Waterloo is on three tube lines.

Just suggesting that from most parts of the city - taking the train to Hampton Court is the easiest/fastest option.