SandyKins, my fingers are itching to post a comment :) What a good mother you are, asking your children what they want to see and where to eat! Sometimes I see posts here asking "where can I take my teenager" and I am tempted to say: if at this age your child doesn't know what s/he wants to see you've failed as a parent! Just a compliment from one mother to another :)

A quick thought for sandykins- get those kids out walking now. Right now! Build up those little leg muscles ASAP. And then remember that they will tire sooner than you when walking.
everyone thinks about what to bring, wear and how to spend- don't forget that for most people you'll be walking more than usual. For kids it can be a bigger problem. The walk from the gate at Heathrow to passport control is more than many folks do in a week!
Do the "boring" things in the morning and more fun kid things in the afternoon. Try to forget healthy eating (totally my opinion) and give treats when needed to keep up their energy! I am very strict about what types of food my kids eat day to day (sugar, fat, junk) but on vacation.......a quick piece of candy ( not chocolate that stains and melts) and I buy myself (selfish,selfish parent) a bit more mommy time in a museum without subjecting others to a tired/hungry/less than pleasant child.

Learn to look right before you attempt to cross the street.

Thank you, FainaAgain, for the very kind words. Sometimes I think our London itinerary would be easier to plan if I just dictated to everyone, including my husband, where we are going. But I just can't do that. So I appreciate your vote of confidence. As a mother, you know we moms need all the support we can get!

I looooove your tips, highledge. The walking: yes, I've got to get my kids into training. And I love your idea of doling out chocolates just to buy myself more time -- in front of the tapestries in the V&A, you know? You probably can tell, from my permissiveness about fish and chips on this trip, that I think trips should be about fun food, so bring on the candy, cookies, chips -- more power to me if I keep the kids happy for the ten days we are traveling!

Sandykins -- The Princess Diana memorial Playground is in Kensington Gardens, so your husband and son could play there while you and your daughter are in the Palace. My kids loved it when we were there!
Annette

YES, you have all persuaded me to get myself to KP somehow! KP not only sounds worthwhile but offers exhibits on court dress and traditions that simply fascinate me. I know I'll regret it if my daughter and I miss it just because the other two family members don't want to go. Besides -- and this is a correction to my previous posting -- the combo ticket for the Tower of London and KP costs a mere £3.20 over the cost of a Tower ticket alone, so how can I pass up KP for so little money?

Hooray, I'm going! Thank you all, for all your help!

Hi LynneD:
First off, I hope you have a wonderful time in London. We're going in July for a week before out daughter's wedding in Edinburgh. I appreaciated some of the ideas you made here, along with others. One thing that came to mind was that you might want to pack a pair of small binoculars, the pocket kind. On our first tour, a coule of more seasoned travelers had those so they could examine architectural details and other things. They were elderly and weren't able to climb as easily as others, so that helped them be able to explore as well. Again, have a great trip! Can't wait to hear about it when you get back!

Julie

Sandykins, Thanks for the tip about MBNA. I called my Citibank MasterCard and they do indeed charge to 2% extra, so I called and opened the MBNA MasterCard.

Thanks for all the good advise.

Have you looked into the London Pass? It includes admission to loads of London sights. I found it to be an excelled value when I visited London a couple of years ago - you'd have to check the details to see if it still is. It can often be bought in dollars and is another thing you can have purchased before you leave home.

I saw a special offer just now, when I was doing the math to see whether I should get the London Pass. Take note, you bargain hunters: you can save 10 percent off the usual cost of 3-day and 6-day passes if you buy it from the official website (www.londonpass.com) by February 23, 2004.

I did the math, and the London Pass does not save me any money because our touring in London and nearby cities will include a lot of free attractions like museums, and because our sight-seeing at attractions that charge admission is spread out over eight days.

Maybe I should have scheduled all the admission-fee sights on as few consecutive days as possible, but sometimes that isn't practical because of geography, opening times, closing days, and needed respites from an endless stream of castles and palaces -- you know? Too bad I can't save with the pass, even with the 10 percent discount.

To Anonymous: I have been scouring local stores for bouncy socks. I can feel them on my feet already, but I cannot for the life of me find any that would meet that desciption beyond ped type socks. Any further guidance?

Do you have a treadmill ? If you do get on it and start walking as fast as you can. When your feet and legs hurt so much that you cant go another step ignore the pain and walk as fast as you can for a few more hours. After a few days it will start to feel good. Better get over the pain before the trip so you will enjoy your holiday. We don't walk as much as we think we do. Just think of the doors to the Tube as the starting gate at Belmont and you've got the idea. The stairs to some of the Tube stations are longer than some people expect. LOL Cheers

The best places to go for serious socks are moutain-climbing stores, like REI or EMS. "Bouncy" socks have built-in cushioning in their knit, multiplying the effect that you get from ordinary thick or terry-lined socks.

They lose their bounce as they age and wear down, so are the opposite of shoes, which improve with wear (to a point).

Hiking socks are not only cushioned, but also are frequently made of moisture-conscious newfangled fibers that somehow wick away sweat, stay dry, and dry quickly when hand-washed at the hotel.