sloane--there are two map "apps" I've used, in addition to my paper ones, to get walking distances.

One is just googlmaps--put in destinations and click the walking icon and you will get routes. Great for general ideas and such.

There is another called walkit.com which has a London app which is a bit more accurate than googlemaps sometimes. If you have time, play with these and see actual walking distances and routes mapped out as suggestions.

Haha, thanks everyone! Although this will be my first time to Europe I kind of feel like I've been planning this trip for years.

I will definitely check out those apps, thanks for the recommendations. I also read about Paris2go (and am hoping there is a London counterpart) since those apps don't require wifi. Not sure yet what my phone situation will be.

I think it makes more sense to have Saturday as a calmer day anyway after the fuller days before and after. So we will plan to go to Notting Hill early (not sure I can be there by 7:30am but I will surely try to beat the crowds) to check out Portobello Market and the area. Does anyone have any specific recs for other things to see in Notting Hill?

We can play it by ear if we want to try Westminster afterwards. The Verger-led tours stop at 11am on Saturdays but we could always do a neighborhood stroll and meander towards Regent's Park throughout the day, and then do Westminster Abbey tour on Tuesday morning before heading to the British Museum.

You have a great plan and I don't want to confuse you but I will just suggest a couple of things to consider if you can work them in.

I find the Hop-On, Hop-off bus tour is a great way to get the lay of the land on the first day in a kind of passive way after a long flight. There are two tour companies that go around the major sites. You can buy a ticket on day one and it will be good until that time tomorrow. You can just sit and take it in or "Hop-off" if you see something interesting. The second day you can use the bus as transportation to get you to where you want to go.

A great day-trip out of London is Paris. Hop an early morning chunnel train out of London to Gare de Nord in Paris. Take a whirlwind spin around the city of light and catch the 9pm train back and sleep in the same bed.

London Theater is the best and there is a TKTS Half-price day of performance ticket booth in Leichester Square that has tickets for the shows that are on the push list. They usually have a pretty good selection.

Take a look at the London Walks list to see if there are any walks you would like to take. You just show up at the appointed place and time, pay the guide and join the walk. They have a wide variety of subjects to consider.

Have fun on your trip. You are going to love it.

Aisleseat, thanks for the tips. We are actually heading to Paris for a week after London. I couldn't go all the way across the Atlantic and not see both cities!

We're planning to see Ragtime at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. I thought it would be a nice way to see a show but also spend a summer evening outside. It sounds similar to Shakespeare in the Park in NYC, which I go to every summer and always love.

I checked out London Walks a while ago - we're actually doing the Montmarte walk in Paris - but the 1 walk that sounded good to me is only offered on Fridays and doesn't really fit in.

And should you find yourself with empty time to fill, both the Churchill War Rooms just by Westminster Abbey and the British Library Special Documents Room are wonderful.

You will have a great time whatever you do, and then you can go back again and again for more.

Now that my itinerary is pretty much set I have to figure out where to eat:

Could use some suggestions....I am looking to have a couple nice meals but does not have to be fancy and trying to keep costs down. I am a somewhat picky eater (no fish or meat) and we don't like Indian. I am specifically looking for a place in/near Covent Garden for dinner, as well as any pub recommendations. I have looked at both The Churchill Arms and Ladbroke Arms in Notting Hill and they look great. Does anyone have experience at either or other places they frequent in London?

Londoners please confirm that this is still true: If there is a light on atop Big Ben tower, it means that Parliament is in session. Hub and I were there in the 1990's and were able to get right in one evening and hear sessions from both houses.

I wanted to write a note but was told not to by guard. Our bags went thought xray. On another day, we went to the Old Bailey--no bags at all allowed so we took turns going in whilst other guarded the bags in a bar across the street.

We also enjoyed a walk around Leicester (say "lester" I do believe) Square. There was good shoping in Covent Square the day we were there. It's near Trafalgar Square btw.

Have a lovely, lovely trip!

I've posted this before, but its a list of our favourite pubs and places to have Sunday lunch (but they all have good food anytime):

Some of my favourite pubs:
The Holly Bush in Hampstead. A very country-ish pub with good food, wonderful atmosphere and location. Tricky to find. Exit Hampstead tube and walk right. Half a block in, look across the street for small stairway going up the hill. Keep walking and you will run into The Holly Bush.

The Lamb and Flag in 33 Rose St Covent Garden never fails to take me all the way back in time as well.

Coal Hole on the Strand – very affordable given its location! http://www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/thec...estrandlondon/

The Seven Stars, behind the Courts of Justice. An evocative street and great little pub with nice landlady and resident cat.

The George off Borough High Street - one of the oldest old coaching inns and has a lovely courtyard for drinking outside in good weather.
http://www.pubs.com/main_site/pub_details.php?pub_id=92

Williamson's off Bow Lane in the City - down a tiny little alley and serves affordable beer and wine in the City. http://www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/thew...ndcourtlondon/

Blackfriar's at Blackfriar's station - lovely decorated with marble and good pies just outside of Blackfriar’s station. http://www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/theb...kfriarslondon/

Cittie of Yorke at Holborn - old school interior with little booths for privacy. Not so good for food, but nice for a pint.

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese on Fleet St - again, not good for food, but great interior with all different dark rooms and bars to enjoy a drink. http://www.pubs.com/main_site/pub_de...php?pub_id=154

Jamaica Wine House off Cornhill by Bank station: http://www.jamaicawinehouse.co.uk/

Old Doctor Butlers Head by Moorgate down a tiny alley:
http://www.shepherd-neame.co.uk/pub/...lers-head.aspx

The Ship at Holborn
http://www.theshiptavern.co.uk/

Great pub with mostly locals, just off the beaten path by Tower Bridge: http://thedeanswift.com/

Great place for pizza, or a pint in the sunshine by Tower Hill:
http://www.dickensinn.co.uk/

Our favourite places for Sunday Lunch (A must do if you are in London on a Sunday! Just avoid pubs in Covent Garden, Leicester Sq area!!!)

The Swan - by the Globe http://www.loveswan.co.uk/shakespear...bar/index.html

Southwark Tavern - by London Bridge station off Borough High Street
http://www.thesouthwarktavern.co.uk/

If you around London Bridge be sure to stop in and have a pint in the George (I havent had their Sunday lunch so cant say if its good or not)
http://www.pubs.com/main_site/pub_details.php?pub_id=92

Dean Swift - just past Tower Bridge on the south side of the river (worth wandering around the area, lots of gorgeous views of Tower Bridge)
http://thedeanswift.com/

Our favourite, pricey but very good, Hawksmoor Shoreditch (just north of Liverpool St station a short walk from Shoreditch overland stop)
http://thehawksmoor.com/breakfast-brunch-roasts

Mulberry Bush around Waterloo:
http://www.youngs.co.uk/pub-detail.asp?PubID=429

Yes, Sloane. Nice.

Brown's near Covent Garden/National Gallery serves a good affordable dinner.
Sitting inside at the Orangery is more beautiful than out.
Sitting on a curb with freshly grilled Borough Market cheese sandwich and a bottle of cider is about as satisfying as a lunch could be. You'll then have strength to brave the crowds and look around some more.

I think you can live with yourself if you skip Changing of the Guard. Also, Ceremony of the Keys is enough of the Tower to soak up the atmosphere and be able to spot Traitor's Gate in historical movies.

Tower Hill to Waterloo/ London Eye via South Bank: much easier to use bus RV1 rather than the tube:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/gettingaro...ondon-2261.pdf

Skip the hop on/hop off. You'll be near the #9 line and can use that bus to orient yourself and save enough money to buy a nice dinner.

Are you clear on the 2for1 offers? If not, get so - worth it for the savings on the Tower alone. Also useful for the Cabinet War Rooms if you go on your Westminster day.

stokebailey: "<i>Also, Ceremony of the Keys is enough of the Tower to soak up the atmosphere . . .</i>"

I sure hope you aren't suggesting the Ceremony of the Keys is an adequate substitute for actually visiting the Tower during the day. They really are not interchangeable events. During the Ceremony you are inside the Tower grounds -- but are not allowed to wander <u>at all</u>. You see a tiny bit of the complex -- standing in one spot (except just before leaving you are ushered into the inner ward for a brief stop)

The Ceremony is a wonderful experience -- but it isn't visiting/'seeing' the Tower.

Thanks everyone again for all the suggestions! I will definitely look at all the links.

BigRuss - I am definitely planning on utilizing the bus and have also looked into the Route 9 Heritage bus since it starts at High Street Kensington. I thought that might be nice after spending the morning in Notting Hill.

I'm also familiar with the 2for1 discount and plan to use it at the Tower, Globe Theatre, London Eye. I'm going to pick up a 7 day travelcard from Victoria Station on my arrival day before we take off.

Not to highjack the thread but BigRuss, what's the '2 for one offers' you mentioned? Sounds interesting, how do we find out more?

AisleSeat, check www.daysoutguide.co.uk With the right train ticket, you can get two-for-one admission to many major London attractions. There are a few threads in the UK folder about the deal as well.

Lee Ann

"<i> There are a few threads in the UK folder about the deal as well.</i>"

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