ladyinblack64

Hello everyone--I will be visiting London in early June (the same week as Spring Bank Holiday). It's my first time there since 1987. I was there three times before: '84, '86 and '87. Spent a lot of time on the King's Road then, and visited St. Paul's, Madame Tussaud's and the Tower of London. I never got to see the Crow Jewels, however, and the '80s were a long time ago.

I'm trying to plan my itinerary loosely. I will be arriving early afternoon on a Sunday, and don't plan to do much that day except maybe a hop on, hop off tour, a meal and early bedtime. Will depart the following Sunday.

What do you think of the following? Too much? I also want to add that I might want to get out of London for a day. Someone here recommended the Cotswolds' Secret Cottage tour, or I was considering Warley Place in Brentwood.

So here goes:

Must Do:
• Highgate Cemetery (should I dedicate a whole day to this?)
• Victoria & Albert Museum
• Kensington Palace & tea at the Orangery
• Westminster Abbey/St. James Park
• National Gallery & St. Martin’s in the Fields Church
• British Library
• Meeting a London friend (not sure of details yet)
• Fortnum & Mason
• Museum of London
* West End play (already have tickets for Thurs. evening)

Want to Do:
• Crown Jewels at Tower of London
• London Eye (possibly...I don't really like heights)
* Harrods
• Bookstores? Cecil Court
• Warley Place, Essex
* Cotswolds
* St. Paul's

If Possible:
• Earl’s Court-TARDIS (photo opp)
• King’s Road/World’s End

The price of rail tickets makes me a little hesitant to plan anything outside of London.

Thanks very much!

janisj

I think you can manage all of that in your time -- <i>except</i> for the Cotswolds and Essex. Each of those would require a full day away leaving you very little time IN London.

I wouldn't personally bother w/ the H-o-H-o bus. Go to a park your arrival afternoon or Covent Garden, or take a boat ride.

For a day trip out of town -- but still in town -- consider either Hampton Court Palace or Greenwich.

maxima

Unless you are really shopping, Harrods and Fortnum and Mason will not take up too much time. The British Library has nice exhibits rooms, but unless you are planning on doing research there, at the most it will be a few hours, not even a half day.

You can see if London Walks has a day out to the Cotswolds, it will be a full day, but the train ticket is included in the tour program. If you want to get out of London for a day limit it to one day.

Rather than the HOHO bus, I would get some fresh air and stretch my legs on the first day if the weather is good.

The National Portrait Gallery is around the corner from the British Museum.. worth a visit too. and remember that museums also have some evening hours, so you can go later in the day or early evening.

If you don't like heights then skip the Eye. it might turn out to be a big waste of time for something you really will hate

nytraveler

I would try to find a day to get to Hampton Court Palace (IMHO much more interesting than the Cotswolds unless you drive there yourself) esp if you ae a fan of the Tudors. Easy to take the train one way and boat the other.

tuscanlifeedit

The National Portrait Gallery, while interesting, is about 3/4 of a mile from the British Museum.

janisj

>>The National Portrait Gallery, while interesting, is about 3/4 of a mile from the British Museum.<<

I think maxima was posting too fast -- I assume s/he meant the Portrait Gallery is around the corner from the National Gallery . . . and if not, s/he is really confused

ladyinblack64

London Walks does have a Cotswolds/Oxford tour. I'm considering that, or the Secret Cottage tour (http://www.cotswoldtourismtours.co.uk/) instead of Warley Place, which requires tricky bus times.

Yes, I may just skip the Eye. Wouldn't want to get up there and find myself shaking in my shoes!!

janisj

Re the Eye -- there is nothing at all scary about it. I have been up probably 6 or 7 times . . twice w/ folks who are scared spitless by heights.

There is no sensation of movement. There is a large wooden bench in the center of the capsule (the floor is solid so sitting on the bench you are not looking down). So if you find yourself unsettled, just sit on the bench and you can still see most things w/o even standing up.

One time I took two couples on an extended trip to London and Scotland and <i>all four of them are incredibly heights-challenged</i>. What are the odds of that? Anyway, none were willing to ride so I pointed them to a nearby pub and said I'd see then in 40 minutes. One of the men (probably from a sense of chivalry?? ) decided to join me. When we entered the car he immediately headed for the bench and sat there -gripping the seat tightly - for maybe 2 minutes. Then realized there was no feeling of movement and everyone else were freely walking around . . so he nervously stood up and started shooting photos . . . and didn't stop or sit down again. This is a guy who can't take glass elevators, and really tall escalators are tough for him.

The minute we got off he literally ran into the ticket hall to buy tickets for later in the day so he could take his wife up.

RM67

For Highgate Cemetery check out the website to see when tours are being run. The cemetery is split into two distinct areas and only one is accessible without being on a formal tour. You might be happy just to do 'half', but I think the argueably more impressive section is the one you need to do as part of the tour.

I doubt you would need a whole day, but do bear in mind you are out of central London a bit and not that close to the tube so just allow enough time for travel to and from.

I think generally you have a really nice itinerary but I am not a fan of Harrods and would swap that out for Harvey Nichols or Liberty - even though they are smaller they are a bit more quintessentially British.

I also agree with Janis that you shouldn't be put off the Eye by a fear of heights - its hard to explain but the size of the capsule means you don't really feel vulnerable. I don't like heights either but have been up loads of times.

ladyinblack64

Thanks for explaining about the Eye. I can't really wrap my mind around the size of it, I guess!

Regarding Harrods, I mostly thought I would check out the Food Hall and possibly have tea. I'm not a big department store person, but someone on another board told me I can get Emma Bridgewater mugs at any department store, instead of making a special trip to one of her shops. Fortnum & Mason, ditto for afternoon tea and want to get some tea for my mother.

texasbookworm

Good planning--and getting great advice.

Just couple minor comments--

Definitely take the few minutes extra to "find" the Tardis at Earl's Court--you walk out of the station and it's right there. Just plan that stop on your way somewhere, depending on where you are staying, and enjoy!

Tea is definitely an individual thing--my favorite English Breakfast is Harrod's number 7 (I think--not at home to check number)--which we pick up at LHR as we leave cheaper than in stores. So you might purchase your mom some tea as you leave--just a thought. Many other tea-buying options, of course. I will never go back to Harrods again, though--I don't like being a sardine just to look at stuff I can't afford. Ha. (I am glad I went--twice--to say I've been there, though!)

DD and I spent a happy hour or so at Cecil Court--and in Marchpane bookstore there is a ----TARDIS! so definitely stroll down that area

ladyinblack64

Wow, that's funny--that the tea is cheaper at LHR than in the stores! So Harrods is very crowded, then? I want to work around that--I sometimes get a little panicky in crowds.

Thanks for the Marchpane tip!

janisj

Yes, Harrods is VERY crowded. In fact they sometimes have to close the Knightsbridge tube station exit closest to Harrods for crowd control.

Fortnum & Mason will only be crowded on the ground floor (but that is where the tea is). Liberty won't be overly crowded.

The tea selection at LHR is limited, but is a good place to buy before flying out if you don't want a specific variety.

maxima

sorry all I did mean to say the National Portrait Gallery is around the corner from the National Gallery.

Tea is cheaper in LHR ...I am intrigued is this because it is sold in duty free and the vat is not charged? Also it seems the fancier the tin, the higher the price, regardless the brand or type of tea.

Twinnings has a tea shop in the Strand. lots of variety and you can boxes rather than tins, which are easier to pack.
You can also buy tea at The Tea House and The Tea Palace in Covent Garden

janisj

There is no VAT on tea. I'm not 100% sure it is any cheaper at the airport, but might be. I always buy in town and have it shipped (along with other things)

sassy27

I was at Harrods last week and yes it was extremely crowded. It was a week day too late morning. I had never been there on prior trips and honestly didn't like it. I couldn't wait to get out of there. I bought some tea at LHR instead. A 100 bag box for £8.95. At duty free there was also Fortnum & Mason boxes of 25 tea bags for £3.95 if you need airport pricing before you go.

I also had a hard time finding anything worth buying and I'm a shopper. The things were expensive but I did find a few small souvenir items marked reduced that I didn't see at the airport. If you just want a quick look then go but don't expect much.

Scootoir

Whoa! Thanks for the info on the Police Box (Tardis) at Earl's Court LadyinBlack. DH is a newly minted fan of the Doctor and this will be a fun surprise for him next month.

ladyinblack64

Thanks, everyone, for the great tips! This is definitely helping me narrow down my itinerary.

annhig

I wouldn't personally bother w/ the H-o-H-o bus. Go to a park your arrival afternoon or Covent Garden, or take a boat ride.>>

there is a current thread about using ordinary London buses instead of the HOHO bus and Ssander has compiled a very useful guide to all the places you can see on the No 11 [including Twinings shop on the Strand]

I will see if I can find it.

Tulips

Hi Ladyinblack, I replied to your thread about Emma Bridgewater. Since you have quite a lot of time in London, do seek out the Marylebone High Street shop. It's a lovely street. There's the nicest bookshop in London, Daunt Books, some great food shops and pubs. If you want to buy tea, there's a Kusmi shop.
And the Wallace Collection is nearby. Go there for afternoon tea. And the paintings...