I wrote you a reply earlier, but just had a couple of things to add. I fell in love with Indian food when I was there -- if you like spicy food, definitely try it. Unfortunately, I can't remember the names of any restaurants, but I never really ate in one I didn't like for the year I was there. I think there's a good one in Leicester Square, at the bottom of the square where it kind of goes to the left in an "L" shape. Anyway, I would also suggest taking the Harrod's bus tour of London. I know there are other tours and they're probably good too, but this one I took the first time I was in London and thought it was great. It's about 2 hours long and covers all the major sites. You don't get out and visit them, but driving by them all helps you get your bearings when you're first there and get a sense of direction for the city. Also, the tour gives you plenty of good information about the sites and also about the different neighborhoods. To take the tour, go to Harrod's and ask them about when the next tour is. You get a reservation from them, then catch the bus outside Harrod's.

I wrote you a reply earlier, but just had a couple of things to add. I fell in love with Indian food when I was there -- if you like spicy food, definitely try it. Unfortunately, I can't remember the names of any restaurants, but I never really ate in one I didn't like for the year I was there. I think there's a good one in Leicester Square, at the bottom of the square where it kind of goes to the left in an "L" shape. Anyway, I would also suggest taking the Harrod's bus tour of London. I know there are other tours and they're probably good too, but this one I took the first time I was in London and thought it was great. It's about 2 hours long and covers all the major sites. You don't get out and visit them, but driving by them all helps you get your bearings when you're first there and get a sense of direction for the city. Also, the tour gives you plenty of good information about the sites and also about the different neighborhoods. To take the tour, go to Harrod's and ask them about when the next tour is. You get a reservation from them, then catch the bus outside Harrod's. It's also a good excuse to see this famous department store. To get to it, take the tube to Knightsbridge. It's huge -- you can't miss it! The store is huge and you can get lost in it. I never actually bought anything in it, but I loved the food courts in the bottom of the store -- huge fancy rooms devoted to either meats, chocolate & candy, vegetables & fruits, etc. I guess it's where the rich to their grocery shopping! It's really interesting -- nothing like it in the U.S.

I have been told that for a great meal in the center
of London one can't do better than selecting
Simpsons in the Strand.......Fine food and attentive
service in the best British traditiion...It is next
to the famous Savoy Hotel.Any comments..David Connor

My home town!Say hello to her for me!Don't miss Tower bridge display-best view in town;Hamleys -the best ever toyshop;the dark ride at mme tussauds-excellent.pre-purchase as much as poss.including britrail passes,london transport passes,museum/gallery passes.Saves time,money,queues.Budget accom?Youth Hostels-3/4 in central London.Some modern,all extensive facilities;no age limit. Most of all...WALK!!!!!

Youth hostels are great value-I would suggest Holland park YH(kensington) or Rotherhithe YH which is in the east end,so is really good for seeing how Londerner's live.Both are very modern and comfortable.
Transport-the Tube(subway) is the best way-don't use buses,the traffic is horrendous.However at night,after clubbing etc take a night bus-They start from Trafalgar Square and are much much cheaper than a taxi.
Places not to miss are St Pauls(do the crypt and whispering gallery),Covent Garden/Leicester Square(best seen in the evening when it's dark-and all shops stay open till 8),Houses of Parliament(you should go in for a short time to the visitors gallery and listen to what actually happens)
Food-for lunchtime sandwhiches/snacks you can't beat the Pret a Manger chain-there are outlets all round London
You should also try getting out of London-Take a train.Best places to go include Oxford(from paddington,change at Didcot),Cambridge(4 trains per hour from Kings Cross),Bath(from Paddington)
Any questions drop me a line.

Hi Mary, we just got back from London 2 weeks ago. Weather was in the low 40s. I wore a wintercoat and took along gloves and was quite comfortable wandering around. Don't miss London Walks. They are excellent, although I would skip the pub crawls unless you really need something to do. London Walks now has some trips outside of London. We took one to Oxford and enjoyed it immensely. Skip Windsor, but go to Hampton Court Palace.