This is the itinerary which covers what we would love to see.
Sunday,April 15th. Not decided, our flight reaches at 6.55am.
Day 2. British Museum,British Library, Lunch,St.Paul's Cathedral,
Shakespeare Globe theater.
Day 3. Tower of London, walk over Tower Bridge, St Paul's
Cathedral, Borough Market. Lunch suggestions.
Day 4. Hampton Court Palace,lunch @ the palace, Afternoon Tea (Fortnum & Mason)
Day 5. Kensington Palace,Royal Albert Hall,V&A Museum, Harrods.
Day 6. Greenwich, Watch a play.
Day 7. Flight from LGW @ 1.35pm.
Does this look doable, please suggest any changes,or
if I missed something. Not sure when to see Cathedral, Day 2 or 3?
Which day should I go to London Eye (must see), suggestion for Day 1?

>>Day 3. Tower of London, walk over Tower Bridge, St Paul's
Cathedral, Borough Market. Lunch suggestions.<<.

That is sort of mixed up. Yes, do the Tower first - which will take you til lunch time or beyond., then walk across the bridge, and on to Southwark/Borough Market, then finish up at St Paul's. April 17 is a Tuesday so the market won't be up and running in full. Some will be open -- so it is still a great place for lunch.

BTW -- you have St Paul's listed on both Day 2 and Day 3.


>>Day 4. Hampton Court Palace,lunch @ the palace, Afternoon Tea (Fortnum & Mason)<<.

What time is your tea? Hopefully very late afternoon if you have to get back from HCP. If you are going to afternoon tea you certainly do not need to have lunch first. Tea does just have small bits . . . but there are a lot of them and it is a full meal. When I do a full on afternoon tea I seldom have lunch or dinner - sometimes maybe a light supper late at night.

On Day 5 I'd do the V&A first since it is wonderful. Are you touring the Royal Albert Hall? If not it is just an exterior.

I'd try to fit in Westminster Abbey, maybe a wander around Covent Garden, and some of the parks if the weather is nice.

Do the Globe Theatre the same day as Borough Market. It's nearby.
So: Tower - Borough Market - Globe - (maybe look into the Tate, go to top floor for a coffee/tea and see the view) - cross Millennium Bridge to St Paul's
Or stay south of the river and continue to the London Eye instead of St Paul's. You can then cross the Thames again to end up at Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey
These are all in the same area, and a nice walk - though a bit bit much to do on the same day.

Even skipping St. Paul's for the next day, that's a lot. When is lunch, lol! It would be easy to spend a full day at the British Museum. The Globe opens at 9:00, looks like the first tour is at 9:30, the Library opens at 9:30 and the Museum at 10:00. I would be inclined to do the Globe first, and plan to eat lunch at either the Library or the Museum, whichever you do second. The Library will probably take about an hour for the permanent exhibition, but you might consider the new exhibition on Mary Shelley (Frankenstein) as well - https://www.bl.uk/events/mary-shelle...e-frankenstein. The British Museum has a couple of interesting exhibitions for your date too, but really you only have time to skim the permanent collection.

Only one play?

BTW, the V&A does Victorian Afternoon Tea on Sundays. Since your internal clocks will be messed up anyway, that might be a good day for afternoon tea instead of F&M. The tea rooms at the V&A are gorgeous. (I just settle for a scone and clotted cream on a regular day.) https://www.vam.ac.uk/info/va-cafe/ - and scroll down.

Here're my suggestions:

Arrival day--You are wise to not plan any thing for sure; so much can happen. But unless you are a whole day delayed, you will have time to walk around and see something. Also remember that unless you make special arrangements, you will not get in your room until ?2 or 3. They will gladly hold your luggage, but then you will need to go someplace, preferably staying outside. The V&A and tea as suggested might be great idea. And yes, the Eye would be good day 1; at dusk/evening is great time.

Day 2--Get to the British Library at opening, spend about an hour, walk to the British Museum, spend 2-6 hours! Getting lunch there is easy and time-saving if not that special.

Day 3--Get to the Tower before it opens, get tickets, walk straight to the Crown Jewels tower, see them , circle back to entrance for a Yeoman's Tour. Spend 2-4 hours. There are lots of lunch options around there. Or go to Borough Market, although since it won't all be open, not sure if you want to. Go to St. Paul's Cathedral. Walking up to the dome is worth it, if weather is anything but a downpour!

Day 4--As you plan unless you find some issue; or if you had tea some other place/day, you'd have a half day to do something

Day 5 and 6--For a first trip--I've been to all those, but....I'd say to put a Westminster/Whitehall/Trafalgar Square area at the top of a list. Start at Westminster Abbey at opening, tour, see area around there (Big Ben, Parliament, etc.),walk up Whitehall, see Trafalgar Square (go in the National Gallery)
From there if you have time you could see the Covent Garden area, etc.

And actually I would suggest you do a Westminster/Trafalgar Square walk Day 2; you will probably still be little jet-lagged and not want to spend all day in museums.

The other day could be for "leftovers"--you could do what you have on Day 5. I know I left out the Globe, which is super cool; is it possible to see a play there while you are there? Or do it after Hampton Court.

Greenwich is nice, but I'd have it at the bottom of the list of all the things you listed. It's a half day trip. Not nearly as "important" or must see as the whole Westminster area.



I'd suggest a play on Day 5, not last night; it will be a late night out and you might rather not do that the night before you fly, even though your flight isn't early.

St Paul's opens earlier than the British Museum and library. I'd go to St Paul's first, early. Leaves more time to fit lunch and the museum and library in although those 3 things in 1 day are alot. I'd only do 2 of them plus lunch

Thank you all for the wonderful suggestions , I feel so much better.
I was looking for the theater tickets, most of them are full, & the few available
are very expensive. I will try to get tickets to Agatha Christie Play,The Mousetrap,
big fan, have all the books & movie, & a big fan of David Suchet's Poirot.
Thanks, Texasbookworm will make changes to my itinerary.
More tips to my favorite city are appreciated.

>>I was looking for the theater tickets, most of them are full, & the few available
are very expensive. I will try to get tickets to Agatha Christie Play,The Mousetrap, <<

There are scores of shows every night - only a teensy % are sell outs. You can stop by TKTS in Leicester Sq (it is a stand alone bldg in the square itself -- not one of the 'ticket agents' scattered around in store fronts). They have tickets every day - some at half price, some at lesser discounts, and a few at full price. You can ALWAYS get tix to something.

The Mousetrap doesn't release tickets to TKTS. You'll have to buy those through St Martin's theatre. (Its been running continuously since the early 1950's)

The National has limited availability for Macbeth for your dates, prices from 15 to 50 GBP. The Globe has some availability. There is opera and one ballet performance with availability at the Royal Opera House.Or go here to see what's on for your dates:

https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/

Thanks, Janisj, Thursdaysd , will do that.

Just a quick note to agree with Big Russ: Take the train to Victoria from LGW. If you take the Southern train (local) rather than the Express, you save money and spend ~5 minutes longer on the train. You can use those tickets to get the 2-for-1 deals. And the station is right in the airport...just downstairs.

One more thing: If you can only do one thing on a London visit, IMHO it should be the Tower. Expensive ~30 GBP...but they usually have a 2-for-1 coupon you can use with your train tix.

ssander

One more thing...here is a link to a PDF timetable between LGW and the city

Attachment 632

(I hope it works...pretty long...you may have to copy and paste.)
ss

Big ditto re the Tower -- The Tower often suspends the 2for1's in July/August but they should be valid when you are visiting . . . (I haven't looked up the current list)

One more thing: If you can only do one thing on a London visit, IMHO it should be the Tower. Expensive ~30 GBP...but they usually have a 2-for-1 coupon you can use with your train tix.>

Only if you buy a return ticket too right - or else valid just on day of travel in?

>>Only if you buy a return ticket too right - or else valid just on day of travel in?<<

Get with the program Pal - they are flying in and out and are buying return tickets

The 2-for-1 site has them listed...good through the end of April...you're OK.

https://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/tower-of-london

sander

I know this has been said...again by Big Russ...but it bears repeating...and in caps: NEVER PAY CREDIT CARD OR DO ATM WITHDRAWALS IN DOLLARS WHEN OFFERED TO DO SO!

Always pay in local currency...in this case GBP. Your credit card bank will do the conversion at the best rate you can get. The store (or bank's ATM) will give you a horrible rate. This is just a money-making scheme on the part of the stores.

And always use your credit card when you can (assuming it has no foreign transaction fee)...once again...you get the best conversion rate.

Except for some GPBs on arrival for emergencies in case you can't find a good ATM at the airport -- perhaps 100 GBP...at the airport get your cash at an ATM, not at an exchange shop, which give bad rates, too.

ssander

My friend and I went to the theater almost every night last fall when we were in London. It was really a treat for me because it's not easy to get a lot of theater where I live and the tickets are hugely expensive. We used the Leicester Square ticket booths all the time. I'm sorry I'm not going this year, would kill to see Bat Out Of Hell. I have to made do with YouTube. LOL BOOH will be pricey I think, but we never paid more than 50 GBP for a ticket and most were less than that and good seats too. I hope you can partake of a few productions.

Also, keep in mine that the tube can require a fair amount of walking so take that into consideration, stairs also. Just take your time.

Agree with janisj:

• RT train tix from LGW - qualifies you for 2-for-1 (remember to print coupons out before you leave and to carry your train tix with you) - as little as 20.50 GBP depending on time of day.
• Oyster Card with 7-day pass loaded (34.10 + 5.00 for card)
• Extra cash loaded onto your Oyster Card for Hampton Court (~12 GBP or ~11 GBP max round trip depending on peak or off-peak on outbound trip and might be less...not sure how daily caps work when you go outside your 7-day zone).

ssander

Thank you, SSander, Janis,PalenQ, Crefloors , 5alive for your suggestions. I have printed the vouchers & will buy return ticket on Southern Line.
Can I get cash at any ATM or have to look for a specific one?
How do I cross the Thames , buy a ticket at the pier or use the Oyster Card?
I am getting Oyster loaded with seven day travel card but how do I add extra GBP for any trip outside London?