London 5 day itinerary - first timer!
 

Hi all!

I know you all see so many itineraries on here, and I have looked at as many as I could. However, nothing beats going to the source -- all of you helpful people! I would really appreciate some feedback since I have never been to London before and obviously do not have much of a sense of how long things will take and quite how far things may be from one another.

In short: I will be going to London for 5.5 days with my mother at the end of June. We will be staying near Sloane Square in Chelsea and we are New Yorkers so walking is not so much a big deal for us. We're not huge museum people, and I would say that we are more interested in paintings so saving most of the heavy museuming for our next stop in Paris.

Here's what I've got:

Day 1 (Thursday):
Arrive at Heathrow at 9:30am from JFK
Travel to apartment in Chelsea, freshen up, etc.
Afternoon tea at The Orangery
Explore Kensington Gardens/Hyde Park/surrounding area (maybe a walk-by of Harrod's)

Day 2 (Friday):
Tower of London at opening
Tower Bridge
Lunch at Borough Market
Southbank walk
Tour Globe Theatre
Millenium Bridge
Return to Chelsea area - maybe a stop at V and A (open late on Fridays and just around the corner from where we are staying)

Day 3 (Saturday):
Westminster Abbey - Verger tour
Self-led walk around Westminster, Big Ben, Westminster Bridge
London Eye
Picnic dinner in Regent's Park
7:30pm show at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre

Day 4 (Sunday):
Buckingham Palace (undecided if we will try for Changing of the Guards)
St. James's Park
Trafalgar Square
National Gallery/National Portrait Gallery
Dinner in Covent Garden
9:30pm Ceremony of the Keys at Tower of London

Day 5 (Monday):
Day trip to Bath

Day 6 (Tuesday):
Notting Hill/Portobello Market
free afternoon

I'd like to hit Regents Street and/or Oxford Street for some window shopping or just to walk the streets, but imagine that may fit on Saturday prior to heading to Regent's Park or Sunday after National Gallery/National Portrait Gallery. I know we'll be in the area a couple of times so that can fit anywhere. The final afternoon I've left free since I'm banking on not actually being able to fit everything in as listed above.

Please let me know if this is feasible -- your thoughts are greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I think you have a really good itinerary! Well paced and grouped in a way that makes good sense!

One thing to note - Portobello market is only open on Saturdays. While the shops will be open on a Tuesday, the market (which is what I wanted to see) will be closed.

I would HIGHLY recommend avoiding Oxford St and Regents Street on the weekend. It is jam packed with people to the point where it is difficult for two people to walk side by side on the sidewalks. Very unpleasant and annoying.

Enjoy!

Thanks, jamikins!

I thought my guidebook said Portobello market was open Monday-Wednesday, Fri, Sat, but I also remember hearing Saturday. I guess I just got confused.

Would it make sense to do Portobello market first thing on Saturday, then Westminster and pull London Eye from Saturday? I had this notion that it was best to get to Westminster early in the day.

London Eye and strolling through the streets could easily wait until Tuesday, when perhaps both would be less crowded. Does that sound better?

That would definitely work if you wanted to see Portobello market. Their website http://www.portobelloroad.co.uk/ with more info.

Have fun!

You have a wonderful itinerary! Obviously you have done a lot of work and research to put it together. I have only one suggestion. After 5 trips to London, one of our favorites is the British Museum. I know you are not big museum lovers but it is truly amazing and it is well worth spending a couple of hours to see the highlights.

London Eye is on Southbank and since you are in the area on Friday that is when I'd do it. There really isn't any good place to sit down and eat at Borough Market so if you want a sit down place look at the nearby pubs, or maybe Roast in the Floral Hall is open for lunch. There is an excellent seafood place right outside the market, Wright Borthers.

Another great museum that is quick but very well done is the Museum of London by St Pauls. Even my mom (who hates history museums) loved it. And its free! It gives great insight into the city!

Good working itinerary.

Yes, it's wise to be at Westminster Abbey at opening--it does get crowded. So maybe do that then go to Portobello Market, assuming it's open all day on Saturday? I don't remember.

At Borough Market we gathered up our food and then headed to the edge of it that borders Southwark Cathedral where there was an opening into the courtyard of the church. We found walls and ledges and such to sit on and eat and people watch. Nice.

If you add anything, I'd also suggest the British Museum for at least a short visit. St. Paul's is also wonderful.

Enjoy!

Thank you for all the great suggestions!

My only concern about adding London Eye to the end of Day 2 is that we will be wiped. That is our first full day and I think sounds exhausting just from looking at it. Can someone tell me around how far Tower Bridge is from London Eye? Maybe it's not bad but it's hard for me to tell from looking at a map.

Day 3 we can do Westminter Abbey and the walk-bys in the surrounding area, Notting Hill and the show in Regent's Park.

Day 6 can be British Museum, Oxford/Regent Street.

How does that sound?

Tower Bridge is quite a long walk from the Eye - but you could jump on the District/Circle Line on the tube at Tower Hill going west and get off at Embankment. It is right across the bridge, easy peasy!

But if we're exploring Southbank and have come from the Globe/Millenium Bridge, we would want to stay on the south side of the Thames. Could always hop on the tube at Tower Bridge to Waterloo. That would give our feet a rest.

Very nice plan. The only tweak I'd make is to switch Sat AM w/ Tues AM. Do Portobello Rd <u>early</u> Saturday morning (you want to be finished there by about 10AM.) And do Westminster Abbey Saturday.

"<i>Could always hop on the tube at Tower Bridge to Waterloo. That would give our feet a rest.</i>"

There really is no easy tube connection from Tower Hill to Waterloo. Tower Hill to Westminster is a straight shot and then walk across the river to the Eye -- but you'd be on the north side of the river so not a good idea if you want to see Borough Mkt and Southwark.

Now, you could go from London Bridge to Waterloo - but if it was me, once I was at Southwark - I'd just walk it. Lots to see strolling along the South Bank.

Yes if you at the globe you are halfway there - get a good map and a tube map and you will see what we mean...if you from the globe to tower bridge it's easiest to go over the bridge to the north side and take the tube to embankment or walk to London bridge and take the tube to Waterloo...or walk...from borough market to Waterloo is about a 30 min walk.

oops --that should have said >> . . . And do Westminster Abbey <B>Tuesday</B>.<<

janis, I'm a bit confused! Are you suggesting that I do Portobello Road early Saturday morning, and from there do Westminster? Which one is better to be at in the early am? People are suggesting conflicting things. This is where trip planning is tricky -- I'm not a good decision maker.

But I think it would be easiest to go to Notting Hill Gate from where I am staying, then head East to Westminster and stay there for the rest of the day. The other way around there involves going back and forth a few times.

And yes, I did mean London Bridge, not Tower Bridge. It was a typo. I suppose I could plan to walk and if we are wiped the tube is there as an option.

If you are at London bridge you can take the jubilee line to Waterloo...make sure you get a tube map!

Oh, just saw your clarification. Hmm, can you recommend something to do in between Notting Hill and the 7:30pm show in Regent's Park? That's almost a whole day if we should be out of there by 10am.

"<i>Hmm, can you recommend something to do in between Notting Hill and the 7:30pm show in Regent's Park?</i>"

Absolutely anything you want to see/do. If you buy some trinkets -- or BIG stuff -- you'll likely want to take them back to the hotel/flat so you could do anything afterwards. Even Westminster Abbey if you wanted -- but I thought it was just 'cleaner' to swap one morning for the other.

In any case --you'll want to arrive at Portobello Rd quite early. In fact I usually go around 7:30-ish, have breakfast in one of the caffs and am out of there before 10:00. As you walk back towards the tube station you will be passing hundreds of others streaming into the area.

I'm sorry but in general this itinerary is entirely too well-thought out and arranged for this website.

Please revise and group your desired sites as far apart as possible with no thought for opening hours or travel time and revert.

Thank you.

Yeah BigRuss - Sloane_428 definitely deserves a <orange> <B>Gold</B></orange> star ((*)) :)