needsnow

We leave in two days, for a trip we only started planning two months ago. All I know is that I'm going to London - should I worry? Family of 4 - two teens 14 and 16.

Had the good sense to buy Great British Heritage Pass (4-day, family) for $215 and the Historic Palace family membership for roughly $101.

Our itinerary thus far:

Day 1. Arrive Gatwick at 8:00 am. Hired car from "theairporttransfercompany" will meet us at arrivals. They have agreed to wait for no extra fee, and will zip us to the South Terminal so we can collect our Oyster cards, and then will zip us to Nunhead (Peckham) where we will be staying. All this for GBP 57.

We get to our London "home", relax, hang out awhile ( a short while) and then hop onto the South Eastern train to get us to Victoria Station where we will pick up the pre-ordered ID photocard Oyster cards for our kids.
From Victoria Station we will meander to Buckingham Palace, and National Portrait Gallery and National Gallery and walk past the Horse Guards and walk by Parliament and Big Ben and hopefully get to Westminster by 5 pm for evensong. Is that too ambitious? I am just thinking we will be tired from our flight (which is a budget-change-planes deal)and just want to get the lay of the land. It would be great if we could get to the Eye that day, but probably not.
Then we go home to Nunhead and crash.

Day 2. Wake up and decide. It will be a Saturday - maybe some of the markets. And museums...

Day 3. Sunday. The Tower as early as we can get ourselves there. Then...

Day 4. Monday. Open-ended, until late afternoon when we get our rental car early so we can leave very early the next morning for overnight number one.

Day 5. Tuesday. We hop in our rental car and head out to Stonehenge and then on to Bath. We stay overnight at the Manor House (looks lovely on the website).

Day 6. Wednesday. After what is sure to be a filling breakfast we head out to overnight number two - Stratford and Warwick.Meander around both places and wind up at a hostel outside of Stratford recommended by ElendiPickle (thanks!). A family room there with private bath will cost GBP 54. Not bad. Can't wait to see big husband sleeping on a bunk bed. I'd say "priceless" if it wasn't so cliche.

Day 7. Thursday. After what is sure to be a filling breakfast we head out of Stratford-Warwick area and make our way back to London. Hopefully we will see interesting and beautiful things along the way and will stop and ooh and ahh.

Day 8. Friday. Hmm.

Day 9. Saturday. Uhhhh.

Day 10. Sunday. We leave, on those harrowing budget-change-planes itinerary that has us traveling for almost 18 hours. Ugh.

We want to go to Kew Gardens and Hampton Court and the kids want Mme. Tussauds and husband and I want all the museums and we want to take boat trips down the Thames (back from Hampton Court surely)and we are really always very happy to walk the city from one end to another. But I have no real set plans and I am thinking this is really okay. We'll wing it depending on the weather and what we want to do each day.

Comments please.

zeppole

I actually think it's a great plan. Just check the 10-day forecast (fairly worthless the further you get out) and then you'll have a better idea which days you're spending in museums and which at Hampton Court and Kew.

You do need to realize that London is more spread out that you think. You -- and your kids -- won't be happy if you find yourselves walking it from one to the other. It might be a good idea to take a map and mark everything you know now what you want to do. That will help you form clusters, so you can more efficiently sight see.

Have a great trip!

Merseyheart

I like zeppole's advice to study some maps. You don't want to do toooo much, and heaven knows, that's easy to attempt in London. Make a list of your priorities. Aside from your overnight trips, what to do want to do most in London? Depending on the weather, do those things first.

London is a *huge* city, and you won't want to walk all of it. Study the tube map, and figure out which stops are the destinations for your most-favored attractions.

It sounds like your first visit to London. It's a tremendous city, and I'm sure you will enjoy your time in England.

Cholmondley_Warner

Cemetary. Cemetary. Cemetary.

Don't make me come over there.....

W9London

Please take note that london tube maps are NOT drawn to actuality. What you'll need is "A to Z" (Z being pronounced as zed), which is an actual street map. You can find it in newsagents or many kiosks.

Saturday--Portbello Market or Borough Market?

I don't know about South Eastern but check to see if they are planning on maintenance work over the weekend.

If your offsprings insist on Mme Thussauds, get there early. I often see people queueing up all the way around the corner from the building. I would consider buying tickets in advance online.

Sunday: I believe there's supposedly an open-air concert at Regent's Park this weekend.

http://www.innocentvillagefete.com/

http://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/r...ark/events.cfm

RM67

Pocket sized tube maps are free at every station.

ira

Hi N,

Sounds like a nice, easy plan.

Enjoy your visit.

Dukey

Sounds great..just let us know how fast that "zipping" really was on your arrival day.

PatrickLondon

You might well find two art galleries a bit over the top on your first day, but you have plenty of unplanned time on the other days, so you can play it by ear, or eye, or tired feet.

There are various boat options - you don't have to go the whole way back from Hampton Court - you could stop off and get the train from Richmond, for example. Or there are circular trips between the Tower and Westminster, or down to Greenwich, and so on.

If you go to the Tower on Sunday, there are Sunday markets not too far away from Aldgate north to Spitalfields. Or you could walk along the South Bank. Or you could take a boat. Don't forget that the historic City, being a business district, feels very quiet on a Sunday.

And CW - CemetEry. But he has a point:
http://www.nothingtoseehere.net/2007...ry_london.html

http://london.randomness.org.uk/wiki.cgi?Locale_Nunhead

yk

I don't see how it's possible to see both the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery on Day 1. Even though your flight arrives at 8am, by the time you get to your "home" it'll be at least a good couple of hours later. You'll be tired and last thing you want is try to appreciate paintings.

As for the other days you have "Hmmm... and Uhhh..." you should at least have some idea of what sightseeing places you want to go visit - AND to group them together. You don't want to head to British Museum, then the National History Museum, then St Paul (just an example). Also, it's a good idea to know the opening times and days for the sights, so you won't waste your time trying to visit a site on the day it's closed.

bachslunch

I found Madame Tussaud's tacky and horribly expensive, but if you must (and the kids will likely insist), it's likely not a bad idea to reserve tickets ahead of time at their website if you can. The lines to buy tickets there can be really long.

Also, when you go to the Tower of London, it's smart to go when it opens and first thing hit the crown jewels. As the day goes on, the line for the crown jewels can get really long. Would also recommend taking a Beefeater's Tour at the Tower, as it's very entertaining and informative.

I'm also thinking your itinerary for the first day is going to be way too much. It will take a while to go through customs at the airport, and it can take a while to get into town from any airport. I'd save at least one of the museums for another day, maybe both. The Queen's Gallery (as well as the Royal Mews) is close by Buckingham Palace and is much smaller than the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery.

Would strongly second yk's suggestion to research various museums (and parks) to see which, if any, strike your fancy.

needsnow

I feel both validated and embarassed. It's nice to wing it, but also silly not to plan further.
I like the idea of using the map to form clusters - and will do that.

Yes, it is our first trip to London as a family. I did spend several weeks in the UK as a kid, but then my parents were leading. I remember the maze at Hampton Court very well, and Mme Tussauds. Everything else - all the great houses and gardens and art - all kind of blended into a blur at some point. But I was 8.

I will take all your suggestions and will come back to post a revised itinerary.

And yes! The cemetery. I almost forgot. Thanks CW.

Merseyheart

Since the kids are teenagers, you might consider splitting up on some days, one with each parent, if any of you differ on what you'd like to see. You can always meet later for dinner and share your experiences.

gruezi

I'm not sure of your kids interests but I just went to London with my 2 daughters aged 14 and 17.

We spent a long and fascinating day at the Imperial War Museum. It is wonderfully done with something of interest for everyone even if you don't care for history. Admission is free (or donation). I promise it won't disappoint.

Also, we loved the Cabinet War Rooms and the adjacent Churchill Museum.

Enjoy London.

gruezi

needsnow

Amended itinerary.

There are no set dates, but these are things we want to do. I've grouped the sights by neighborhoods. I know I can't do it all. Plus, we take 2 days out to go to Bath and then Stratford-Warwickshire.

Nunhead Cemetery - and we avoid the knife-wielding gangs that hang out south of the river, since we are staying south of the river (news travels over here too). This is thanks to you CW.

Buck. Palace, National Portrait Gallery, National Gallery, Trafalgar, Horse Guards (love horses)

Cabinet War Rooms, Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster, Tate Britain

British Museum, Soane's Museum,Cortaud, Covent Garden, St. Martin in the Fields

Tower of London with Beefeater Tour (do you need to book the Beefeater Tour in advance?), Globe, Tate Modern. Will do Tower early and see Crown Jewels first thing

Imperial War Museum, London Eye, Gabriel's Wharf

Madame Tussauds (early), Regent's Park (will plan to do on a weekend to be able to enjoy the concert)

Hyde Park, Apsley House

V & A and Saatchi

Notting Hill, Portobello Road, Kensington Palace

We also want to see and do: King's Cross for the Harry Potter reference for the kids (where would this fit best in one of the scenarios above?), Hampton Court and Kew Gardens, the markets, a boat ride on the Thames... and I could just go on.

Comments please? Only 13 hours to go..

janisj

Just a couple of very quick comments - will try to come back later . . . .

Assuming these are sort of "day plans""

St Martin's in the Field doesn't fit w/ the other things that day - it is right on Trafalgar Sq and directly across from the Nat'l and Nat'l Portrait.

Same w/ Gabriel's Wharf - it is just up the way from Tate Modern and the Globe (but it isn't far from the Eye either)

No - you don't have to pre-book a Yeoman Warder's tour (in fact you can't). Your plan to go first to the Jewels and then back to the entrance to catch up w/ the tour is the way to go.

zeppole

I think you can safely go home without a tear in your eye if you never set foot inside of the Saatchi Gallery. And if it's hot, definitely don't spring for the hefty fee to go in, because it has no air conditioning, making it rather like a sauna.

There is a small cafe under St. Martin in the Fields if you need a bite, or to get out of the rain.

Unless Tate Britain has a special show you want to see, it's a long ways to go.

You should probably pair King's Cross with Regent's Park.

To me, the British Museum is the one don't miss museum on your list for the masterpiece of the architecture alone. I also think the National Portrait Gallery is unique.

jamesacarroll

Wow!! Have fun! We lived in London for two years and you are getting to a couple of places in ten days we never got to. Remember that your Oyster cards are good on the buses too and that as it is your first time in London you will enjoy seeing the sights more from the bus. As long as it is not rush hour and you are not going very far that is. For that matter avoid the Tube during rush hour. There is no Air Con and people are stuffed in worse than sardines, many faint from the heat. You know it is bad when London Transport suggests people take water with them on the tube. And as for the smells well you will understand after your first tube trip. Be sure to "Mind the Gap", a warning announced at many tube stations about the distance from the car to the platform.

Listen I always remind people to be careful crossing the street. Till you try it sounds funny but the look left, right, left reflex is so ingrained that it is almost impossible to over come. Just when you are patting yourself on the back for your success at stepping off of the curb you look the wrong way again as you get to the middle of the street and step in front of a double decker bus. But you will all do fine if you're careful.

Have fun. It is one of the best Tourist Cities in the world.

needsnow

Thanks for the fine-tuning. Thanks for the careful tips about crossing the street - that is actually one of my fears, so I never tire of another warning.

Will cross Saatchi off my list -
and will pair King's Cross with Regent's Park - and will make all the other adjustments too. Thank you thank you thank you!

(Is the Tube at rush hour worse than the NYC subways at rush hour? I've received more comments about rush-hour-tubing..)

We leave in a few hours and now I just have to run to our neighborhood drugstore to get some rain ponchos! The only thing I forgot.
I will be checking the forum each day so if there are more tips, or warnings, please don't hesitate to add!
Will do a trip report too.

Thanks to all of you - could not have planned this trip without you.

bachslunch

A couple thoughts on your latest itinerary:

1. the Royal Mews is the carriage house for the Royal Family, and you may (or may not) see the horses there as well.

2. St. Martin in the Fields is certainly convenient to the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery (right across the street), but if you miss it, it's not the greatest loss. When I was there, they were doing significant renovations to the chapel and outside, so it was even less worthy of my time.