Neerav

Hi,

Below is my current planned itinerary. This is just a rough guide and covers most of sights I wanted to see. I know its hectic and I wont be able to do all or rush through some.

I have clubbed the stuff together by geography and couple of things need to do first thing in the day like Tower of London and Westminster Abbey

Let me know what you think of this.

Also, I would be staying with my relative in Maidenhead and will travel from there on the 2nd , 3rd and 4th day.

Day 1 : Wednesday, October 02,2013

Arrive at St Pancras Intl at 10 am
Put Bags in St Pancras Int'l

· British Museum
· British Library
· Madam Tussauds
· Oxford street
· Covent Garden

Day 2 : Thursday, October 03,2013

· Tower of London (crown jewels, beefeaters, white tower)
· Tower Bridge
· Self-guided Bankside walk along Southbank of Thames - enroute relax at a riverside joint and sip beer
(http://www.tripadvisor.com/Guide-g18...n_England.html)
· Tate Modern (If have time and energy)
· St. Paul’s Cathedral (following the self-guided City walk) (http://www.walklondon.com/london-wal...ondon-walk.htm)
· Jack The Ripper Walk (If still have energy to walk )


Day 3 : Friday , October 04,2013

· Westminster Abbey (Verger Tours)
· Churchill War Rooms
· Imperial War Museum
· Self-guided Westminster walk (includes Westminster bridge, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben)
· Trafalgar Square
· National Gallery / National Portrait Gallery (If have time and energy)
· Buckingham Palace (Just walk by)
· London Eye (End the day)


Day 4 : Saturday , October 05,2013
· Victoria And Albert Museum (not necessary)
· Lords Cricket Ground OR Arsenal / Chelsea Ground
· Shopping , Relax.

RJames

I wouldn't leave the London Eye for the last day. There is no point in going on the Eye if the weather doesn't cooperate. Try to schedule this earlier in the trip so that you have other days to visit to Eye just in case.

lanejohann

I just bought what looks like an excellent book..nice and light but with loads of info and maps
WALKING IN LONDON -THE BEST OF THE CITY ..it's a national geographic publication

It is divided into neighbourhoods and is designed for walking obviously but it has lots of ideas on how to maximise your time and it includes eateries and opening hours of museums etc.Great pics too and has bits of historical info like the eyewitness books do
Have a great trip...we are going next january!

Neerav

Thanks a lot guys...appreciate..

janisj

Difficult at best, especially staying in Maidenhead. It isn't a long journey by train into Paddington, but that only gets you to Paddington so count on an hour plus to get in to central London.

Friday is nearly impossible.
• Westminster Abbey - 90 minutes minimum.
• Churchill War Rooms- 90 minute minimum
• Imperial War Museum - much of the museum is still being refurbished so I might give it a pass this time.
• Self-guided Westminster walk (includes Westminster bridge, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben) - probably 45 minutes
• Trafalgar Square, National Gallery / National Portrait Gallery (If have time and energy). 2 hours minimum for Nat'l Gallery, 90 mins minimum for Portrait gallery.
• Buckingham Palace (Just walk by)
• London Eye (End the day)

Even if you do drop the War museum, you have a full 8 hours of 'sight seeing' not counting meals and getting from one place to the next

On Thurs - if you walk the south bank between the Tower and St Pauls (w/ any stops along the way) you likely won't get to St Pauls before it closes to visitors. The Tower will take half a day.

Wed is doable IF you drop Mme Tussauds

mgnapoli

I was going to suggest that you drop Madame Tussaud's, also. That first day will not be at all enjoyable if you try to cram everything in one day - never underestimate the effects of jet lag. With only 4 days in London, Madame Tussaud's would not even be on my itinerary - too expensive and tacky.

Try to go to the Imperial War Museum - it is an amazing place and I found it much more interesting than the National Gallery. Our favorite place in London is the Borough Market.

flanneruk

Saturday sport:

There's no cricket in October, but the Lords tour is a central part of the history of the world's second most watched (after proper football) sport. The sight of tourists from the subcontinent queueing to be photographed outside the global shrine of their national sport is its self a significant tourist sight.

Neither Emirates nor Stamford Bridge will have a match that day (both Arsenal and Chelsea are playing away that weekend). Both have stadium tours - IMHO of close to zero interest to anyone except hardline Arsenal or Chelsea supporters.

Neerav

Hey all thanks..

janisj ...I know that day is chock a block..so I might just skip one or 2 things and do on Saturday if I am not doing sports day...thanks for the heads up on Imperial War Museums


Maybe will give National Gallery a miss too and just breeze through National Portrait Gallery...

I am travelling to london as a last stop of my 22 day trip..so there is no jet lag...and I can start day 1 right in the centre of the city.

Thanks all..really helpfull..

BigRuss

Dump the wax factory.

You need to schedule the Eye by ear - London weather can be sunny, cloudy, rainy, horrific, clear and all in sequence on the same day.

I don't see the sense in visiting a stadium that doesn't have events if I'm not a fan of the team(s) that plays there.

ssander

This is a little too packed IMHO.

Day 1:

I'd drop the wax museum. My feeling is that when I visit a foreign country, I want to see things that embody the culture of that country, and I'm not sure the wax museum qualifies.

The British Museum can be a few hours or a few days, so if you pick your areas -- I love the mesopotamia stuff -- you can fit it into almost any schedule -- and, like many London museums it's free.

...and don't miss the Brit Library -- amazing things there, and it's only a few meters from St. Pancras.

Day 2:

The Tower should take the better part of a half-day, minimum, so, if pressed for time, drop the Tate Modern. Unless you do not have access to any decent modern art museums at home (or in travel), you'll find the Tate somewhat weak in quantity as well as quantity compared to other major modern art museums. (Just my opinion - no flaming, please.)

Day 3:

I can't speak for the Imperial War Museum -- never been there -- but the Churchill War Rooms will be a real treat for you, since it sounds like you're into Brit war history. Do both and report back with a trip report, so I can decide what to do my next visit.

Day 4:

The V & A, like the Brit Museum, is huge, but if you do your research before, you can pick your spots. Have lunch there in their beautiful lunch room.

Sorry...don't know a thing about cricket.

SS

geetika

Yes Neerav, nix Mme Tussauds, I could spend the whole day at the British museum and Library, so much to see!

europeannovice

National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery are open until 20:00 or 21:00 on Fridays so possible to fit those in late in the day toward evening.

itspat

Great tips and great itinerary!

BrunoTraveling

An absolute must do the hop on hip off tOur the tour guides are informative and entertaining and take u to a lot of the major sites in one day.

Enjoy!

ssander

europeannovice has a great point.

In fact, check all the attractions for extended hours and adjust your plan accordingly. I found this info, but you should double-check.

British Museum - Fridays 20:30
British Library - Tuesdays 20:00

SS