follow the tube station to visit London.
Jul 27th, 2011, 01:25 AM
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follow the tube station to visit London.
this is my winter london plan , please help me to adjust , thank you so much.....
arriving day ( stay nearby old street station ) :
Liverpool -- spitalfields market, brick lane, whitechapel art gallery.
2nd day : Piccadilly circus and covert gardens. --( Piccadilly circus ) visit London centre, Soho, Chinatown, Leicester square ,green park, ICA,national portrait gallery, the national gallery, Trafalgar square, ( covert gardens )covert gardens market, London transport museum ,somerset house.
3rd day : oxford circus , goodge street,st paul. -- ( oxford circus ) oxford street & bond street, carnaby street, regent street, ( goodge street) university college london, british museum, pollocks toy museum, wellcome collection, british library, ( st paul's) st.paul's cathedral, the millennium bridge , tate modern ,museum of london, barbican centre, the monument, .
4th days: westminster , tower hill, ( westminster) buckingham palace,change guards ,westminster abbey, the queen's gallery,parliament, st james's park, royal festival hall, london eye, tate britain,( i knew there is a tate boat service between tate britain and tate modern,) ( tower hil )tower of london,tower bridge , city hall,
5th day : knightsbridge.baker street,notting hill gate, Thames cruises.--( knightsbridge) natural history museum, sceince museum,victoria and albert museum, harrods, duke of york square ,hyde park ,wellington arch, kensington palace,royal albert hall, albert memorial , ( baker street) regent stree,the wallace collection, madame tussauds.
for the day 6th till 8th away to cambridge and MK.
day 9th: camden town ,cutty sark-- camden lock market and regent's canal, thames cruises,old royal naval college,national maritime museum,queen's house,royal observatory greenwick,
day 10th, kew gardens, and 3 hours hop tour bus. and hyde pard winter wonderland.
day 11th night time flight ( gatwick ) -- any suggestion ???
i will stay at old street during my trip.
arriving day ( stay nearby old street station ) :
Liverpool -- spitalfields market, brick lane, whitechapel art gallery.
2nd day : Piccadilly circus and covert gardens. --( Piccadilly circus ) visit London centre, Soho, Chinatown, Leicester square ,green park, ICA,national portrait gallery, the national gallery, Trafalgar square, ( covert gardens )covert gardens market, London transport museum ,somerset house.
3rd day : oxford circus , goodge street,st paul. -- ( oxford circus ) oxford street & bond street, carnaby street, regent street, ( goodge street) university college london, british museum, pollocks toy museum, wellcome collection, british library, ( st paul's) st.paul's cathedral, the millennium bridge , tate modern ,museum of london, barbican centre, the monument, .
4th days: westminster , tower hill, ( westminster) buckingham palace,change guards ,westminster abbey, the queen's gallery,parliament, st james's park, royal festival hall, london eye, tate britain,( i knew there is a tate boat service between tate britain and tate modern,) ( tower hil )tower of london,tower bridge , city hall,
5th day : knightsbridge.baker street,notting hill gate, Thames cruises.--( knightsbridge) natural history museum, sceince museum,victoria and albert museum, harrods, duke of york square ,hyde park ,wellington arch, kensington palace,royal albert hall, albert memorial , ( baker street) regent stree,the wallace collection, madame tussauds.
for the day 6th till 8th away to cambridge and MK.
day 9th: camden town ,cutty sark-- camden lock market and regent's canal, thames cruises,old royal naval college,national maritime museum,queen's house,royal observatory greenwick,
day 10th, kew gardens, and 3 hours hop tour bus. and hyde pard winter wonderland.
day 11th night time flight ( gatwick ) -- any suggestion ???
i will stay at old street during my trip.
Jul 27th, 2011, 01:51 AM
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Being pedantic - Liverpool is a city 200 miles north of London, Liverpool STREET is a train station in London. Asking for a ticket to Liverpool rather than than Liverpool Street could put you slightly off course
Day 3/4 - a better combination would be st.paul's cathedral, the millennium bridge , tate modern ,museum of london, barbican centre, the monument, tower of london,tower bridge , city hall and do the rest on the other day.
You should be doing the ho-ho bus at the start of your trip. Bear in mind that potential daylight hours in December are 9:00am-4:00pm and that being in an open boat on the Thames will be COLD
Kew Gardens will not be at their best in December so I'd suggest you'd give them a miss on this occasion
As a whole you seem to do things in given area then leap across to the other side of London for the rest of your day. Get a map and alter your itinerary so you don't have to travel too much.
I'd also suspect that there's far too much in your itinerary and you haven't taken into account the conditions in London in December
Day 3/4 - a better combination would be st.paul's cathedral, the millennium bridge , tate modern ,museum of london, barbican centre, the monument, tower of london,tower bridge , city hall and do the rest on the other day.
You should be doing the ho-ho bus at the start of your trip. Bear in mind that potential daylight hours in December are 9:00am-4:00pm and that being in an open boat on the Thames will be COLD
Kew Gardens will not be at their best in December so I'd suggest you'd give them a miss on this occasion
As a whole you seem to do things in given area then leap across to the other side of London for the rest of your day. Get a map and alter your itinerary so you don't have to travel too much.
I'd also suspect that there's far too much in your itinerary and you haven't taken into account the conditions in London in December
Jul 27th, 2011, 03:20 AM
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<< covert gardens >>
I'm pretty sure you mean covent gardens. If you start asking about gardens that are covert you may get some strange looks.
I must say that I'm quite exhausted after reading your itinerary!
Are you planning on going into all these museums or just walking by and looking at the outside? Will you be walking through entire parks or just looking at a section of them?
I'm pretty sure you mean covent gardens. If you start asking about gardens that are covert you may get some strange looks.
I must say that I'm quite exhausted after reading your itinerary!
Are you planning on going into all these museums or just walking by and looking at the outside? Will you be walking through entire parks or just looking at a section of them?
Jul 27th, 2011, 03:57 AM
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Danielle - you need to get yourself a map of London and take a look at where all these places are. London is an enormous and extremely busy city where places tourists might want to visit distributed all over the place.
Your current plan has way too much criss-crossing of the city (take a look at Day 9 for example). With the aid of a map, try to divide things up into different areas that you will visit on different days. There are loads of previous threads on this forum discussing similar itinerary issues.
Your current plan has way too much criss-crossing of the city (take a look at Day 9 for example). With the aid of a map, try to divide things up into different areas that you will visit on different days. There are loads of previous threads on this forum discussing similar itinerary issues.
Jul 27th, 2011, 04:29 AM
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Way way to much! National gallery and the National Portrait Gallery alone will take several hours to see properly. I spend hours in the V&A and I've been to London at least 50 times usually for 2 weeks or more at a time and visit several times each trip
Jul 27th, 2011, 04:47 AM
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"I'm pretty sure you mean covent gardens"
I'm pretty sure she doesn't.
There's only one Covent Garden. Well, there IS New Covent Garden - but I'm sure that's about the one bit of London Danielle's not interested in.
I'm pretty sure she doesn't.
There's only one Covent Garden. Well, there IS New Covent Garden - but I'm sure that's about the one bit of London Danielle's not interested in.
Jul 27th, 2011, 06:27 AM
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IMHO There is no way this itinerary would work. Look at the number of items in each day, enormous.
I would suggest the HOHO bus tour first day to "see" everything (the biggies), then plan reasonable day plans to see rest.
The distances your are trying to cover, as well as the stops, will easily go beyond a day's worth of touring. As an exercise, put down on paper the exact times. Arrive by Tube at xx AM. Walk yy streets 2 hrs, visit zz museum 2 hrs, lunch 1 hr, etc.. I think it will point out some of thee logistical problems.
You have also not noted when things open and optimal times For example Tower of London is best visited firsht thing. What time is the Beefeater tour, (probably best option for visit)? What about verger tour of Westminster Abbey? You say Changing of Guard...that would take probably all of one morning if you want to see everything, versus peeks of.
Put it all on paper.
I would suggest the HOHO bus tour first day to "see" everything (the biggies), then plan reasonable day plans to see rest.
The distances your are trying to cover, as well as the stops, will easily go beyond a day's worth of touring. As an exercise, put down on paper the exact times. Arrive by Tube at xx AM. Walk yy streets 2 hrs, visit zz museum 2 hrs, lunch 1 hr, etc.. I think it will point out some of thee logistical problems.
You have also not noted when things open and optimal times For example Tower of London is best visited firsht thing. What time is the Beefeater tour, (probably best option for visit)? What about verger tour of Westminster Abbey? You say Changing of Guard...that would take probably all of one morning if you want to see everything, versus peeks of.
Put it all on paper.
Jul 27th, 2011, 08:29 AM
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This whole itinerary is daft.
You cannot visit Camden Town and Regent's Park and go to Greenwich and tour everything in that town that a guide book lists as something to visit all in one day.
You cannot visit the Westminster area on both sides of the Thames and the Tower in one day.
Why would you visit Oxford Street and St. Paul on the same day instead of visiting St. Paul and the Tower, which are actually within walking distance of each other?
Do you have any clue as to the size of London or the amount of time you will likely spend in the major museums and attractions? Do you have any interests that lead you to specific sites instead of just checking something off a list?
Fodors, F***mers and R--k St---s will all supply suggested itineraries for London that are actually somewhere within the bounds of reason. Your itinerary is not.
You cannot visit Camden Town and Regent's Park and go to Greenwich and tour everything in that town that a guide book lists as something to visit all in one day.
You cannot visit the Westminster area on both sides of the Thames and the Tower in one day.
Why would you visit Oxford Street and St. Paul on the same day instead of visiting St. Paul and the Tower, which are actually within walking distance of each other?
Do you have any clue as to the size of London or the amount of time you will likely spend in the major museums and attractions? Do you have any interests that lead you to specific sites instead of just checking something off a list?
Fodors, F***mers and R--k St---s will all supply suggested itineraries for London that are actually somewhere within the bounds of reason. Your itinerary is not.
Jul 27th, 2011, 09:19 AM
#9
OK--on your other thread it was suggested you get a map of London and group things. What happened to that idea??
Except for day 2, none of these days make sense -- sorry.
And you are traveling in winter so days are short, probably cold, and likely wet, so you'll want to cut back even more than the typical summer visitor.
Back to the drawing board . . .
Except for day 2, none of these days make sense -- sorry.
And you are traveling in winter so days are short, probably cold, and likely wet, so you'll want to cut back even more than the typical summer visitor.
Back to the drawing board . . .
Jul 28th, 2011, 06:41 AM
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Here is how I do it.
Get a guidebook. Go through and research what interests me. make a list, a big one, of what I would like to see/visit.
I then visit Fodor's and see what people here have visited (trip reports,etc..) add to list.
A good guidebook will have a map with locations of the items. I then group things. For example St Paul's and Tower of London would go together. Trafalgar/Covent Garden/Westmiunster area another. I might also group Buckingham palace, St James Palace,etc as another group.
Beside each item I put its opening days/hours. I also add in anything particular to that site (Yeoman's tour of Tower is at XX AM, British Museum has an intersting show on Asian artifacts,etc..)
I now look at something like London Walks and the Hop-on Hop-Off bus. Is there anything in here that looks good? What days of week?
I may check the social calendar. is there a concert I might want to see? Perhaps a special show, an antique market, shakespearean play at Rose, anything that is a one-time event.
Water...is there something I can do to experience this...ferry boast ride, cruise up Thames,etc...
London can use up all your time. But maybe I really want to go to Windsor or Bath. I look up organized tours leaving out of London. I look up any organized tours run out of the destination. I also do a quick check to see how I could get there on my own (rail, probably). These are a bit easier to setup since day is dedicated to one confined area (usually).
I also note what things can be done at night. A tour, a museum iopne late, a play...
So now I have these big blobs of things to see and do.
You have a LOT of things now, with minimal filtering.
Create a large spreadsheet, with days as the column. Allow for fact that first day you are jet-lagged and need to get to hotel. My last trip I was out of my hotel and walking by ~noon. First day, outside and walking good idea. Last day, need to get back to airport.
Then I start. Monday, up at 8:30, eat, out of hotel by 9:30. On paper I might look at the Covent Garden "bolob" and decide to start with this. So...tube to Covent garden, wander around, walk over to Trafalgar Sq..maybe peek into National Gallery. Lunch...maybe basement of St martin in the Fields.
Time is now....2ish
OK, from there, based on my map, I see I can walk down to Westminster Abbey area. There is a Changing of the Horses Guard. Might be intersting. Every hours, OK, that is good.
War rooms, no. 10 Downing, OK, just a look anyways, what What time? Waht about Banqueting hall? Visit is a look around to see inside of building, maybe 30 minutes. What time are we now.
near 4 PM
What about Westminster Abbey...ohoh, Verger tours are 2/2:30. Really wanted to use them. Should I move things around or would an audio tour work? No, want vergers. OK, they also have tour at 10AM> So...after leaving hotel, go to Westminster FIRST, then look at Big Ben, then walk UP to Trafalgar Sq, passing by War Rooms,etc..
Can you see the plot?
Ignore following Tube line. What area do you want to be in, and where do you want to start.
Some areas may need to be split into 2 days (like Westminster and Buckingham). Others you can "blend". Maybe you go to Tower of London first (avoid lines), take guided tour, lunch, then head over to St Paul's and take the London Walks tour of St Paul's. Great. Ohoh. St Paul's tour is at 10:30 AM on Tuesday. Tower is a priority..So I will do Tower, and either visit st Paul's on my own, or go another morning.
And on it goes.
You need to start with a guidebook or two. First pass, anything of interest. Next rough setup of days...London arrive, leave. Next...leave hotel at xx AM every morning. Want day to end at xx PM. Allow time for eating. Allow time for walking. Really want trip to...Windsor. Plug it in first. Which day of week is best.
OK.
Then you do the plug and play for London. I usually put in the tours first, since they are specific days at specific times. When I see on paper St Paul's Tues at 10:30..I might work my Tuesday around that.
Throw stuff out, add stuff in, move.
And it starts to gel.
If I'm stuck, Fodor's might help me by saying...skip National Galley, the Courtauld is much more intersting. Revise.
Then, when it is all filled in, I might look for aplces to eat. On Monday I am spending later afternoon at British Museum. On School St there is a good Thai place. Or, I could walk over to Charlotte St where there is a lot of restaurants.
It seems like a lot of work, but I find that "seeing" my days helps. I may wake uop one morning and not feel like doing the morning acitivities..or it rains. Having researched, I can decide that on a rainy day I'll go to the V&A museum. I know its hours, tours,etc.. already.
My last trip to London I did London walk every day, sometimes two. Saw a couple of plays, did a Pub Tour, walked a lot. That was free form, but I have been to London before.
Get a guidebook. Go through and research what interests me. make a list, a big one, of what I would like to see/visit.
I then visit Fodor's and see what people here have visited (trip reports,etc..) add to list.
A good guidebook will have a map with locations of the items. I then group things. For example St Paul's and Tower of London would go together. Trafalgar/Covent Garden/Westmiunster area another. I might also group Buckingham palace, St James Palace,etc as another group.
Beside each item I put its opening days/hours. I also add in anything particular to that site (Yeoman's tour of Tower is at XX AM, British Museum has an intersting show on Asian artifacts,etc..)
I now look at something like London Walks and the Hop-on Hop-Off bus. Is there anything in here that looks good? What days of week?
I may check the social calendar. is there a concert I might want to see? Perhaps a special show, an antique market, shakespearean play at Rose, anything that is a one-time event.
Water...is there something I can do to experience this...ferry boast ride, cruise up Thames,etc...
London can use up all your time. But maybe I really want to go to Windsor or Bath. I look up organized tours leaving out of London. I look up any organized tours run out of the destination. I also do a quick check to see how I could get there on my own (rail, probably). These are a bit easier to setup since day is dedicated to one confined area (usually).
I also note what things can be done at night. A tour, a museum iopne late, a play...
So now I have these big blobs of things to see and do.
You have a LOT of things now, with minimal filtering.
Create a large spreadsheet, with days as the column. Allow for fact that first day you are jet-lagged and need to get to hotel. My last trip I was out of my hotel and walking by ~noon. First day, outside and walking good idea. Last day, need to get back to airport.
Then I start. Monday, up at 8:30, eat, out of hotel by 9:30. On paper I might look at the Covent Garden "bolob" and decide to start with this. So...tube to Covent garden, wander around, walk over to Trafalgar Sq..maybe peek into National Gallery. Lunch...maybe basement of St martin in the Fields.
Time is now....2ish
OK, from there, based on my map, I see I can walk down to Westminster Abbey area. There is a Changing of the Horses Guard. Might be intersting. Every hours, OK, that is good.
War rooms, no. 10 Downing, OK, just a look anyways, what What time? Waht about Banqueting hall? Visit is a look around to see inside of building, maybe 30 minutes. What time are we now.
near 4 PM
What about Westminster Abbey...ohoh, Verger tours are 2/2:30. Really wanted to use them. Should I move things around or would an audio tour work? No, want vergers. OK, they also have tour at 10AM> So...after leaving hotel, go to Westminster FIRST, then look at Big Ben, then walk UP to Trafalgar Sq, passing by War Rooms,etc..
Can you see the plot?
Ignore following Tube line. What area do you want to be in, and where do you want to start.
Some areas may need to be split into 2 days (like Westminster and Buckingham). Others you can "blend". Maybe you go to Tower of London first (avoid lines), take guided tour, lunch, then head over to St Paul's and take the London Walks tour of St Paul's. Great. Ohoh. St Paul's tour is at 10:30 AM on Tuesday. Tower is a priority..So I will do Tower, and either visit st Paul's on my own, or go another morning.
And on it goes.
You need to start with a guidebook or two. First pass, anything of interest. Next rough setup of days...London arrive, leave. Next...leave hotel at xx AM every morning. Want day to end at xx PM. Allow time for eating. Allow time for walking. Really want trip to...Windsor. Plug it in first. Which day of week is best.
OK.
Then you do the plug and play for London. I usually put in the tours first, since they are specific days at specific times. When I see on paper St Paul's Tues at 10:30..I might work my Tuesday around that.
Throw stuff out, add stuff in, move.
And it starts to gel.
If I'm stuck, Fodor's might help me by saying...skip National Galley, the Courtauld is much more intersting. Revise.
Then, when it is all filled in, I might look for aplces to eat. On Monday I am spending later afternoon at British Museum. On School St there is a good Thai place. Or, I could walk over to Charlotte St where there is a lot of restaurants.
It seems like a lot of work, but I find that "seeing" my days helps. I may wake uop one morning and not feel like doing the morning acitivities..or it rains. Having researched, I can decide that on a rainy day I'll go to the V&A museum. I know its hours, tours,etc.. already.
My last trip to London I did London walk every day, sometimes two. Saw a couple of plays, did a Pub Tour, walked a lot. That was free form, but I have been to London before.
Jul 28th, 2011, 06:44 AM
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and...
You might think....I really wanted to at least see St Paul's, the Tower Bridge, Millenium,etc..but it seems like a lot of time would be used up to go on Tube and just look. A Hop-on Hop-off tour would let you see the major sites, and you could visit a smaller selection of the sites that they drive to (or none at all)
You might think....I really wanted to at least see St Paul's, the Tower Bridge, Millenium,etc..but it seems like a lot of time would be used up to go on Tube and just look. A Hop-on Hop-off tour would let you see the major sites, and you could visit a smaller selection of the sites that they drive to (or none at all)
Michel_Paris .. this is going in my travel tips bookmarks!
