London 3 days, need advice
 

Hi,

I just got news that I will visit London for the first time with my fiance this Thursday. We will stay 3 days and I would like to know what are the MUST DO/SEE things in London.
Thanks for your advice.

In three days you can't see too much but I would do for sure

Tower Of London
Westminster Area
Buckingham Palace
Hampton Court
Windsor Castle
British Musuem (can be time consuming)
Hyde Park
Walk about and sight see

Can not do all of these in three days so must pick and choose.


Harrords is a huge department store which is interesting but skip it for other things. Many will tell you it is a must do.

How lucky you are to be going to London!

It would help if we knew a little bit more about you. Must do/see things are, I believe, quite personal. If you simply want to check off a list of tourist sites get any guidebook and follow their list. But if you give us some personal background, things you like, don't like, age, can you walk a lot, do you hate museums, etc. we can help you customize your own 'must do' list.

Hi klaus,

Have you looked at the mini-guide to London on www.fodors.com?

Hi Rickmav,

Thanks for your answer. You are quite right in your point. To get an idea, me 30, she 28. Good educated (Princeton and Sorbonne). We like to travel a lot but we did not have the opportunity to visit London before (we plan to do a 3/4 weeks to UK soon). We like music, museums, and eating well but specially to get to know the local people what I understand it is not possible in only 3 days and we will leave it for the next time. So... We would like to have an overview of the city (it is only 3 days!!!)

In respectful disagreement with Curt above, with only three days I would not devote one to either Windsor Castle or Hampton Court but would suggest staying in London.

Ira's suggestion about clicking at the top of this screen on Destinations and going to the London miniguide info will give you suggestions about organizing your time. The British Museum, if you go, has a 'highlights' guided tour which will help you see some of their most famous acquisitions.

W'minster Abbey is one of my favorites but these days sometimes there is a long line to get in, partly due to security--perhaps others have advice on best time for a visit. There too you can take a guided tour, and it is very helpful, ditto the Yeoman Warders' tour at the Tower. Allow half a day (all morning) for the Tower.

I have a long file on LOndon, if you'd like to see it and your email in box will accept a long attachment, email me at
[email protected]

Elaine
I was not suggesting that klaus do all of the ones I listed. He will have to select what is of interest to him and what will fit into three days. It is all a matter of taste. I personally prefer palaces/castles thus I list Tower, Windosr, and Hampton Court as ones I would want to see. Not everyone will of course. I was just tossing out ideas. One could spend all three days in the British Musuem of course and still only scratch the surface!

For music and theater, buy Time Out magazine when you arrive. You can get half price theater tickets for that evening at the TKTS booth in Leicester Square.

I'd suggest that Hampton Court and Windsor Castle are too far out of London. They might be fantastic places to visit but travelling time would take up too much of your 3 days. There are loads of museums and galleries in London. Most Londoners are quite conservative, except for the cab drivers. If you strike lucky you'll get one who'll be the best guide to London life.

Hi klaus. As you've probably already discovered from the other replies, three days is not very long for London.

I might be tempted to mix up the tourist kind of things (where you won't get much sense of what the local people are about) and what Londoners are doing (Time Out is a great resource - http://www.timeout.com).

So, for example, you might spend part of the time at the Tower of London, British Museum and National Portrait Gallery (specifically the ground floor where modern portraits are displayed - will help you to identify some modern Britons) and mix that up with a walk on Hampstead Heath, a few hours at the Old Bailey watching a trial and lunchtime in a pub in the City eavesdropping on London executives.

Alternatively, you could see the Impressionists at the Courtauld Insititute, the Cabinet Warm Rooms and the Design Centre (how better to know a people than their designs!). Or what about attending an auction at one of the auction houses?

After dinner in the evening - here?s some recommended ?hip? spots:

www.london-eating.co.uk/occasions/hip.asp

you might go for a ride on the London Eye or London Walk, then go to one of the plays that aren?t put on for tourists (the Brits on this board could probably help with that) and end your evening at one of the clubs that are ?in? with people of your age. Here's a resource:

http://www.thesituation.co.uk/frameset.html

Have a great trip and remember to let us know how your visit went when you return.