ga9497

We are traveling to London for 7 nights at the end of March into April
Arriving early 29 March, 2007 and departing on an 8pm flight on 5 April 2007.

This is just a guide to go by and may change based on how tired we are, weather, etc but I wanted to get a feel on what others thought of it

Also based on this which type of travel card should we get?

We will be 2 adults, 12yr old girl and a just turned 10 year old boy
We are staying at Le Meridien Piccadilly
We will be taking a car for transfers probably through Just Airports we don't want to deal with 2 children, luggage, and a train after a 7hour flight, arriving into Gatwick

Arrival - Thursday March 29 - check in at hotel
Go for a walk in the area - wander around don't want to plan too much because we don't know how tired we will be
Probably go to Trafaglar Square, past Buckingham Palace, Westminster. Maybe Cabinet War rooms

Friday March 30 - Tower of London

Saturday March 31 - Eurostar to Paris for a day visit

Sunday April 1 - Canal boat trip camden locks area, London walks tour in the evening. Maybe have afternoon tea somewhere. Trying to keep this day light after a full day in Paris the day before

Monday April 2 - St Pauls Cathedral - London Eye

Tuesday April 3 - Windsor or Hampton Court - we may skip another day out of the city and concentrate on more central London locations

Wednesday April 4 - Notting Hill area- want to visit Books for Cooks

Thursday April 5 - flight leaves at 8pm from Heathrow

We also want to try and fit in these - any help on where we should plan for it
Science Musem
British Museum
Harrods
Sherlock Holmes museum
St Martins-in-field
A boat ride on the thames

We wanted to see the Transport Museum but their website says it will be closed until Summer 2007

Does it make sense to take a hop on hop off bus for us?

I do understand that we may not be able to do everything
This is our wish list and we will do whatever we can fit in and save the rest for next time

Thank you for any information, comments, suggestions

janisj

Don't have time to address each of your questions just now since dinner is about ready. But just an initial comment about getting into LOndon. Even w/ the kids, luggage, etc - I would still opt for the Gatwick Express and then a cab from Victoria station to your hotel. The train leaves right from the terminal and could not be easier.

But the main reason is the drive in on a weekday morning could take 90 minutes or, very easily, more. It is a gawd awful drive - even when you aren't doing the driving . . . .

jules4je7

Take a look at a London Map so you can work some things in there. St. Martins in the Fields is right across the street from the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square.

You could also see St. Pauls on the same day as the Tower of London since they're relatively close to each other and you could do a boat ride along the Themes in between.

Also, don't miss Westminster Abbey when you're just across the river from the Eye. I know it's not on your list, but it's the most beautiful cathedral, and well worth seeing. It's the only church I'd spend a couple of hours in.

DO take the time to do the Cabinet War Rooms. Your kids will love it. Get the audio tour that comes with it. It's worth it!

have a great trip!

Jules

ga9497

Thanks Janis, looking forward to your comments

Jules - We are planning on going to the Cabinet Rooms and the Abbey just now sure if we are going to do it on our first day or later in the week.
Thanks

ElendilPickle

Mr. Pickle and I had planned to visit Westminster Abbey and the Cabinet War Rooms the day we arrive in London, but I think we'll be too jetlagged to appreciate either one.

Instead, we plan to take one of the hop-on, hop-off bus tours our first day.

London Walks offers a tour of Westminster Abbey and the area which sounds very interesting. It ends at the Cabinet War Rooms and includes discount tickets. We're going in May, and hopefully it'll be offered at a time that works for us.

Lee Ann

wordteacher

Hello:
My family of four (f/two older teens) is doing the same trip in early April. I'm sure you 'll have a great time...curious to see opinions about day trip to Paris, as there seems to be so many opinions about this type of turnaround trip.

alanRow

Sunday & Camden Locks - it's going to be a little bit busy in the area due to the markets there which are somewhat popular.

Unless you fancy battling through crowds I'd do the cruise another day.

And St Pauls & London Eye is an odd combination.

I'd move London Eye to the 1st Friday as it will give you some idea of how London really is laid out and combine St Paul's / Tower of London on the Monday. You might even have the energy to do it late on the Thursday around sunset

Carrybean

The Science Museum & Harrods are within walking distance from each other so that can be combined & could be added on to the Notting Hill Book for Cooks.

janisj

Nonee of your days are over-filled (except for the Paris day trip of course) so you have lots of time to do most of your wish list.

Some thoughts - Notting Hill on a week day is not a full day by any measure. And w/ 2 kids in tow I'd think I'd cut it to Books for Cooks and a few shops and then get out and about to other sites. So that gives you time for Harrods and the Science Museum - and I'd try to squeeze in the next door Natural History Museum too.

I would go to the Tower first thing in the morning - right at opening the lines are insignificant. Then after lunch head over to St Paul's. Then if there is still time and you aren't beat - it is only 2 tube stops from St Pauls to the British Museum. But that is a lot of "biggies" for one day. Just keep it in mind though. Also - the Museum of London is terrific and it is near St Paul's.

You know - I might take a boat cruise on day 1. There is a pier at Westminster and you will be in that area anyway. It will have you out of doors (if the weather is mild enough to be out on deck) and will help you get over the jet lag while seeing some of the sites while sitting down. You could just do a roundtrip Westminster/Westminster and then continue your exploring of the area.

Like alanRow says, unless you are big into markets/crowds I would avoid Camden Locks on Sunday.

St Martin's in the Field doesn't need to be "fit in" since it is at Trafalgar Sq and you will be right there. The church is lovely - but really doesn't take long to visit so I'd pop in when you walk through Trafalgar Square on your way to Westminster.

As for Windsor or Hampton Court Palace - both are great but you don't have to decide ahead of time. Just wait and see how many of your other "musts" you have seen. Of the two I'd pick (just barely) HCP over Windsor. Especially if the weather is decent - the kids will enjoy the maze. And I don't know any children who don't get a kick out of medieval kitchens and the costumed docents.

alanRow

<<< You know - I might take a boat cruise on day 1. There is a pier at Westminster and you will be in that area anyway. >>>

You can also combine London Eye and a trip from Festival Pier
http://www.londoneye.com/product_con...=7&sec=pyv

Dukey

i agree with Janis about getting into the city from LGW..I would opt for the TRAIN, either the GEX or Southern services rather than sitting in an airport transfer vehicle snarled in possible very heavy traffic.

You want to deal with the latter even LESS after that flight and jetlag than what you'll get with the train transfer.

i would leave the first day (after hotel check-in...hopefully the room will be ready...entirely OPEN and not make any promises to the children...and see how it goes.

Have a great trip.

Brockbank

DH and I will be in London at the exact same time. Thanks for posting your itinerary.

highflyer

I'd save the day trip to Paris until maybe the Tuesday or Wednesday. Jet lag affects us badly on arrival in the UK and I can't get up early for a few days.

I prefer Hampton Court to Windsor ... Hampton court maze is fun and the docents answer questions in character (plus it's closer)

jent103

If your kids are musical, one way to "fit in" St Martin is one of their lunchtime concerts (free, although they request a donation). They're fairly short (less than an hour) and often feature students from the Royal Academy of Music and similar institutions. I went to a fantastic classical guitar concert there. You can find the schedule here:

http://www2.stmartin-in-the-fields.o...lunchtime.html

suz12

we'll be there in june with a 10 yr old and 7 yr old. Thanks for posting the questions and thanks for the great advice. Hampton Court sounds great for the maze and docents. After having a blast in the small maze in Vancouver last year, I'm hoping mazes and labrynths become a travel theme for us. know any other mazes in London?

ga9497

Thanks everyone

What is a good day plan for a Sunday then if the boat ride is out because it is a busy day. We are going to do one of the londonwalks.com walks in the evening as they have a Harry Potter one that the kids will enjoy

Notting hill day - we don't plan on doing much shopping, my husband is a chef and definitely wants to visit Books for Cooks. I am not much of a shopper but will walk around a bit. Thanks for filling in the rest of the day here. It sounds perfect

Paris can't be changed as we have already purchased the Eurostar tickets

We are planning on going to the Tower first thing as I have read that early is better for minimal crowds. A combination with St Pauls it is then as it sounds doable. I don't know about fitting in another big attraction as the kids will probably not be up for it.

Maybe we can fit in British Museum on Sunday along with the Sherlock Holmes museum as the latter shouldn't take long. Need to recheck opening times on these

Hampton Court it is on either Monday or Tuesday

That still leaves us a full day plus most of the time on our last day before the evening flight home. Any ideas on what do fit in during this tiem? We aren't, or I should say the kids and I, aren't into art musems so the Tate, National Gallery etc are out

carolyn

The British Library Special Documents Room is absolutely wonderful, and it's another freebie. They also have a cafeteria.

You can see the originals of everything from the Lindesfarne Gospels and Magna Carta to <i>Alice in Wonderland</i> and some Beatles lyrics written on the back of an envelope.

Mimar

How about the zoo and Regents Park? That's not too far from Madame Tussaud's. And the kids would like Little Venice, which we first found on a walking tour. There are boat trips on the canal also. I don't have the link but google Jason.

ga9497

mimar
We were planning on doing the canal cruise on Sunday but as others have said it will be crowded on that day so will probably plan it for a different day, I will play this one by ear. I really want to see the Little Venice area as I think it would be a good way to see something off the beaten path.

I really try to stay away from zoo's but again will play it by ear and see what happens on a particular day

Thanks again everyone and if you think of anything else feel free to comment on it

We are getting excited

roodboy

On your spare day you should take the Thames Cruise all the way to Greenwich - youngsters usually like the National Maritime Museum and Royal Obervatory - there is plenty more to see as well (royal naval college, market, park etc)

I recommend you take the DLR (tram) back to central London - sit at the front as there is no driver so you get good views of modern London in Canary Wharf