Input on this 8 Day London Itinerary
May 25th, 2016, 01:56 PM
#21
>>but I was considering hoho for the Thames River cruise. But maybe we should just bag the cruise, honestly….<<
No reason to bag a river trip -- there are several option and no need to tie one to the H-o-H-o bus. If it is nice weather the day you go to Hampton Court Palace, you can take a boat back in to town from the palace pier. (don't take a boat TO the palace -- it would get you there after lunch). Or you can take a boat from Tower Pier to Greenwich.
W/ your issues re crowds some places you should avoid are Oxford Street, the Oxford Circus/Piccadilly Circus/Victoria/Leicester Sq/Covent Garden tube stations, Harrods, Fortnum & Mason ground and lower ground floors,
No reason to bag a river trip -- there are several option and no need to tie one to the H-o-H-o bus. If it is nice weather the day you go to Hampton Court Palace, you can take a boat back in to town from the palace pier. (don't take a boat TO the palace -- it would get you there after lunch). Or you can take a boat from Tower Pier to Greenwich.
W/ your issues re crowds some places you should avoid are Oxford Street, the Oxford Circus/Piccadilly Circus/Victoria/Leicester Sq/Covent Garden tube stations, Harrods, Fortnum & Mason ground and lower ground floors,
May 25th, 2016, 04:46 PM
#22
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Agree to spend a day at Hampton Court Palace if you're intersted in history, esp the Tudors.
Something shorter go to the National Portrait Gallery in London - a quick history of the UK via portraits of the famous and infamous. Really fascinating and just around the corner from the National Gallery. (I found it by accident in a sudden down pour many years ago and have been back a couple of times since).
Something shorter go to the National Portrait Gallery in London - a quick history of the UK via portraits of the famous and infamous. Really fascinating and just around the corner from the National Gallery. (I found it by accident in a sudden down pour many years ago and have been back a couple of times since).
May 25th, 2016, 09:31 PM
#23
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Thank you, @jent103, for you introvert commiseration and wonderful suggestions.
@tuscanlifeedit So nice to have your input from your recent trip. I would love restaurant recommendations. I am gluten free but an adventurous eater; my family is not gluten free but not very adventurous. We love to eat seasonal/fresh high quality food as possible. We are budget travelers but are willing and able to splurge once or twice so I'm open to a range of prices. Thank you.
Thank you @historytraveler. Great suggestions and tips.
Thank you for all your wonderful feedback and tips @palenq
@bvlenci Thanks for sharing your experiences. I just discovered that the library has the Magna Carta. We are definitely going there. Just based on the logistics, I'm sort of dreading the Salisbury/Stonehenge day, truth be told. But I'm a little tired today and kinda overwhelmed by all the planning so maybe it's just that.
Thanks @janisj. I think the river cruise is still in the running but not hoho. Thanks for the other great tips. I do think we may avoid those busy places. We're not much into shopping anyway.
Okay, here is my revised itinerary. I'm still open to tweaking it.
Monday: Arrive. Walk. Eat. Sleep.
Tuesday: Westminster Abbey (Vergers Tour at 11, I hope). Tea. London Eye.
Wednesday: Tower of London and Thames cruise. Something else if we're feeling spry.
Thursday: Stonehenge
Friday: Victoria and Albert Museum. British library and British Museum in the evening.
Saturday: Matinee in the West End. Maybe pop into the National Portrait gallery beforehand. Walk around and eat in the area after the theater performance.
Sunday: Open down day. Eat somewhere nice for Father's Day. More art museums, possibly. Tate Modern. Maybe service at St Paul's or at least look at the views of it from The New Change building.
Monday: Hampton Court.
@tuscanlifeedit So nice to have your input from your recent trip. I would love restaurant recommendations. I am gluten free but an adventurous eater; my family is not gluten free but not very adventurous. We love to eat seasonal/fresh high quality food as possible. We are budget travelers but are willing and able to splurge once or twice so I'm open to a range of prices. Thank you.
Thank you @historytraveler. Great suggestions and tips.
Thank you for all your wonderful feedback and tips @palenq
@bvlenci Thanks for sharing your experiences. I just discovered that the library has the Magna Carta. We are definitely going there. Just based on the logistics, I'm sort of dreading the Salisbury/Stonehenge day, truth be told. But I'm a little tired today and kinda overwhelmed by all the planning so maybe it's just that.
Thanks @janisj. I think the river cruise is still in the running but not hoho. Thanks for the other great tips. I do think we may avoid those busy places. We're not much into shopping anyway.
Okay, here is my revised itinerary. I'm still open to tweaking it.
Monday: Arrive. Walk. Eat. Sleep.
Tuesday: Westminster Abbey (Vergers Tour at 11, I hope). Tea. London Eye.
Wednesday: Tower of London and Thames cruise. Something else if we're feeling spry.
Thursday: Stonehenge
Friday: Victoria and Albert Museum. British library and British Museum in the evening.
Saturday: Matinee in the West End. Maybe pop into the National Portrait gallery beforehand. Walk around and eat in the area after the theater performance.
Sunday: Open down day. Eat somewhere nice for Father's Day. More art museums, possibly. Tate Modern. Maybe service at St Paul's or at least look at the views of it from The New Change building.
Monday: Hampton Court.
May 25th, 2016, 11:24 PM
#24
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Consider the Museum of London on your first day - it gives a nice overview of London's history.
Crowds are really not that bad; if you find yourself on a crowded street, take a side road. Avoid the tube at rush hour, and as others have said, Oxford Circus, Oxford Street on Saturdays. If you move a block away from a busy street, it's usually quiet again.
Museums are least crowded in the morning just after opening, in my experience. A place like Tate Modern is so big, it doesn't get crowded.
On Sunday take a walk from St Pauls to Tate, and along the South Bank. Book a lunch somewhere on the South Bank. Perhaps Oxo Tower, with a view. Or at the Shard.
Crowds are really not that bad; if you find yourself on a crowded street, take a side road. Avoid the tube at rush hour, and as others have said, Oxford Circus, Oxford Street on Saturdays. If you move a block away from a busy street, it's usually quiet again.
Museums are least crowded in the morning just after opening, in my experience. A place like Tate Modern is so big, it doesn't get crowded.
On Sunday take a walk from St Pauls to Tate, and along the South Bank. Book a lunch somewhere on the South Bank. Perhaps Oxo Tower, with a view. Or at the Shard.
May 26th, 2016, 12:15 AM
#25
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Crowd-avoiding gardens and history: the City churchyards. Many are down alleys hidden by later development, some have been turned into gardens, but are often mostly quiet spaces (though you may find lunchtimes a bit busier with local office workers).
With a short time available, I wouldn't advise you to go out of your way to hunt any out, but after your trip to the Tower, you might want to walk along Eastcheap and look to the left down St Dunstan's Hill, for St Dunstan in the East. Or if you're going to the Museum of London, drop into the churchyard of St Botolph for Postman's Park.
http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/thing...-the-East.aspx
http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/thing...39;s-Park.aspx
As for river trips, another option might be the Circular Cruise, which simply runs between Westminster and the Tower with points in between, or the Thames Clipper river buses.
http://tfl.gov.uk/modes/river/
With a short time available, I wouldn't advise you to go out of your way to hunt any out, but after your trip to the Tower, you might want to walk along Eastcheap and look to the left down St Dunstan's Hill, for St Dunstan in the East. Or if you're going to the Museum of London, drop into the churchyard of St Botolph for Postman's Park.
http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/thing...-the-East.aspx
http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/thing...39;s-Park.aspx
As for river trips, another option might be the Circular Cruise, which simply runs between Westminster and the Tower with points in between, or the Thames Clipper river buses.
http://tfl.gov.uk/modes/river/
May 26th, 2016, 07:33 AM
#26
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London Walks has some good day trips including one to Salisbury and Stonehenge which I did several years ago. I love the V&A Museum and the British Museum - so big that you will find rooms practically visitor free. Agree that Hampton Court Palace is fun and interesting. I especially like the chapel, kitchens and gardens.
The Queen Elizabeth Gardens at the Olympic site at Stratford are beautiful and should be in bloom. I just emailed my brother who is visiting London that he should go there. If you like to shop there is a huge shopping complex that has a John Lewis store, one of my favs.
The Queen Elizabeth Gardens at the Olympic site at Stratford are beautiful and should be in bloom. I just emailed my brother who is visiting London that he should go there. If you like to shop there is a huge shopping complex that has a John Lewis store, one of my favs.
May 26th, 2016, 08:08 AM
#27
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I loved what jent103 said about London for introverts -- that went a long way in explaining why my introverted 13-year-old loves London while claiming to hate cities.
A few suggestions of my own: try the Lambeth Palace gardens, the back yard of the Archbishop of Canterbury. I think they are only open on Friday afternoons.
I would also want to go to the Chelsea Physic Garden; interesting historically as well as horticulturally.
Look into the Wallace Collection and the Courtauld Gallery; you won't have to deal with crowds to see wonderful art.
One restaurant we really enjoy is The Woleseley on Piccadilly; it's very atmospheric and they serve all day so you can pick a non-bustle-y time to go.
I second the suggestion for the Museum of London.
A few suggestions of my own: try the Lambeth Palace gardens, the back yard of the Archbishop of Canterbury. I think they are only open on Friday afternoons.
I would also want to go to the Chelsea Physic Garden; interesting historically as well as horticulturally.
Look into the Wallace Collection and the Courtauld Gallery; you won't have to deal with crowds to see wonderful art.
One restaurant we really enjoy is The Woleseley on Piccadilly; it's very atmospheric and they serve all day so you can pick a non-bustle-y time to go.
I second the suggestion for the Museum of London.
May 27th, 2016, 01:36 AM
#31
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Another vote for Hampton Court Palace which we loved. A few years ago we spent a full day there including the gardens.
You shouldn't have too much trouble eating gluten free in London. Celiac is in our family and I noticed a lot more gluten free choices in restaurants when we were in London earlier this month. You can find lots of restaurants in a google search.
You shouldn't have too much trouble eating gluten free in London. Celiac is in our family and I noticed a lot more gluten free choices in restaurants when we were in London earlier this month. You can find lots of restaurants in a google search.
May 27th, 2016, 08:17 AM
#32
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Loving all these recent thoughts and suggestions. Ever so helpful. I feel a lot more clarity about some things and like I'm building an itinerary that is structured but with room for flexibility. I'm printing off the 2for1 vouchers now and that's going to save some $$. Thanks again for the suggestions. We are not leaving for another two weeks so I'm still open to any other thoughts.
May 27th, 2016, 08:45 AM
#33
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I'd rethink the V&A, Brit Lib AND Brit Museum in one day. Overload.
Do the V&A another day, since you're near it. Maybe even come back "home" after the Tower stuff, regroup, and go to V&A.
Allow a whole easy day for the Brit Library (first; it opens earlier--need about an hour or 90 minutes) then the rest of the day for leisurely visit to British Museum.
The Churchill War Rooms are terrific.
Get inside St. Paul's if you can, esp, as c/c with Westminster Abbey for your history-loving-gal!
Do the V&A another day, since you're near it. Maybe even come back "home" after the Tower stuff, regroup, and go to V&A.
Allow a whole easy day for the Brit Library (first; it opens earlier--need about an hour or 90 minutes) then the rest of the day for leisurely visit to British Museum.
The Churchill War Rooms are terrific.
Get inside St. Paul's if you can, esp, as c/c with Westminster Abbey for your history-loving-gal!
May 27th, 2016, 06:30 PM
#36
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Yes, you've confirmed my own suspicions that that day was too ambitious. @texasbookworm. We'll spread that out. I do hope to get to St. Paul's (it is on the list!) but it depends on the lines and how we're feeling. At the very least, I'd like to go to the 6th floor of the nearby New Change building to see the fantastic view of it. I have been thinking of doing St Paul's after the Tower because it's not too far away. But I do wonder how we're going to fit everything in. I can't believe the people who try to do London in 3 days!
We are going to see Mamma Mia. I am kicking myself that I did not think to order well in advance for Shakespeare at the Globe. We are huge fans and my daughter especially loves Midsummer's Night Dream which is playing while we are there. But seats are sold out and my daughter is against the idea of standing in the pit. Pity. Is it worth touring the Globe, I wonder? And yes, we know it's not the original.
And no, I don't know about Dennis Severs house. Off to look!
We are going to see Mamma Mia. I am kicking myself that I did not think to order well in advance for Shakespeare at the Globe. We are huge fans and my daughter especially loves Midsummer's Night Dream which is playing while we are there. But seats are sold out and my daughter is against the idea of standing in the pit. Pity. Is it worth touring the Globe, I wonder? And yes, we know it's not the original.
And no, I don't know about Dennis Severs house. Off to look!
May 27th, 2016, 06:48 PM
#37
May 28th, 2016, 04:43 AM
#39
Great advice from all above, you might just appreciate this https://tfl.gov.uk/ you can get a bunch of different apps which work with the same data and the best ones tell you if there are any delays.
Greenwich Museum, the park (and the view from the top of the hill) and even the local Vietnamese restaurants are a good idea if you are over that way http://www.visitgreenwich.org.uk/
Greenwich Museum, the park (and the view from the top of the hill) and even the local Vietnamese restaurants are a good idea if you are over that way http://www.visitgreenwich.org.uk/
