London & Amsterdam Itinerary Review
 

Hi all! I'm planning a trip in early April for 9 days to London and Amsterdam with my gf. I have a basic itinerary of each day and wanted to see if anyone had any comments or suggestions. As a background, we're both in our mid 20s and she has never been to Europe and I've only been once during high school so we want to hit most of the highlights.

Day 1
- Arrive early morning in London
- Check into hotel (Millenium Hotel Knightsbridge) and walk around the area
- British Museum in the afternoon/early evening

Day 2
- Buckingham Palace
- Westminster Abbey
- House of Parliament
- Big Ben
- Trafalgar Square
- Covent Garden
- National Gallery or Victoria & Albert Museum

Day 3
- Mass at St. Paul’s Cathedral
- Tower of London
- Tower Bridge
- Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre
- Tate Modern
- London Eye

Day 4
- Windsor Castle
- Lunch in Windsor
- Afternoon is currently open: I'm considering Harrods, tour at Lloyds of London, adding a museum or moving the British Museum here so it won't be on our first (jetlagged) day

Day 5
- Considering a day trip to Bath and Stonehenge, but wouldn't mind staying in London if there is something I'm missing

* We'll also be going to the theater two of the nights

Day 6
- Fly to Amsterdam in the morning
- Check into Rooms & Co B&B
- The Dam / Koninklijk Paleis
- Bloemenmarkt
- Westerkerk
- Canal Boat Cruise

Day 7
- Anne Frankhuis
- Begijnhof
- Rembrandthuis
- Rijksmuseum

Day 8
- Keukenhof gardens
- Van Gogh Museum
- Vondelpark
- Concertgebouw show

Day 9
- Considering a day trip to either Haarlem, Delft or The Hague, but having a hard time choosing

Day 10
- Fly home

I would combine your visit to the Van Gogh museum with that to the Rijks museum. They are next door to each other.
Don't forget to buy your tickets ahead of time for the Van Gogh due to the special exhibition.
Also for Anne Frankhuis it pays to buy ahead of time to skip queues. It is often nicer to visit the Anne Frankhuis late in the day, when most of the crowds have gone.
You can also get your Keukenhof tickets online too.

<<< I'm planning a trip in early April >>>

As in Easter? if so can we have your EXACT days & dates of travel

May I ask what your interests are? There are so many things (esp museums) to see in London, that I find it hard to recommend or make suggestions without knowing what one's interests are. (eg, hard to tell you if you should go to National Galler or the V&A without knowing what you like).

As for your Day 5, it's difficult to tell you what you should do. Many people (myself included) have visited London more than a dozen times and still find more things to see/do in London. Anyhow, it'll be difficult to do a day trip to Bath/Stonehenge on your own, so you will need to join a tour. Personally, I'd stay in London because:
1) your time in London is short already
2) you have a mini-day trip the day before
3) You are traveling again the next day

Regardin day 9, I would recommend Delft/The Hague, if you are a Vermeer fan. The Mauritshuis in The Hague is one of the best small museums in Europe, IMO.

By all means investigate the National Museum Pass - going to Van Gogh, Rijksmuseum, Rembrandthuis and perhaps the Maruitshuis in Den Hague should more than make the card pay off - and you also can often skip ticket lines.

And you will go to museums you may not have considered - like the new branch of St Petersburg's Hermitage (in an old canal house), the Troppen Museum (fantastic exhibits on life in the tropics and former Dutch colonies - re-created street scenes are right out of Asia or Africa - and with the pass you can come and go - Van Gogh split up on different days, etc. Don't neglect the Stedelijk Modern Art (Contemporary) Art - temporarily closed and now in the old Post Office tower by the main train station - some acclaimed modern art and avant-garde stuff - as well as swell views of Amsterdam from high up - take the lift to the rooftop restaurant/cafe for fab views.)

Good for one year and buy them at museums - do not provide a transportation option like the Amsterdam Pass but a better deal and more comprehensive i believe.

amsterdam's center is very compact - i never ride the trams as everything is walkable and every part of the city a joy to stroll in.

You also need to read my post regarding the exhibition at the van Gogh :)

Like yk, I'd also stay in London for the "extra" day, but I'm definitely a London-phile. (I've been to Bath and Stonehenge, but not on my first trip). Depending on your interests, I would spend a day in the parks and markets -- if its a Friday or Saturday, I'd visit Borough Market, check out Spitalfield's, Camden, even Portobello Road, Hyde Park (Speaker's Corner if Sunday), St. James, Regents, Kensington Gardens.

Also, I do think you'll get more out of your visit to the British Museum if you do it on a day other than arrival day. Since you're staying in Knightsbridge, spend the day wandering the neighborhood, Harrod's, etc.

If you are planning to visit the Van Gogh museum somewhere between 13 February and 7 June please look at the website - you will need to buy special, timed entry tickets due to the special exhibition taking place then.

http://www3.vangoghmuseum.nl/vgm/ind...62&lang=en
!

Above post of mine was really Hetismij' that i copied from the other thread. Meant to have left her name in but got cut out.

In London, Day 3 is probably trying to do too much unless for some you meant just a walk by. The "must do" of that day is Tower of London. I like Tower Bridge a lot and the little tour and museum of it, but it can also be just a walk by. Same with Globe theater which has a tour available.

Also check which day of the week the museums have late evening as that can be a nice alternative to theatre.

For a day trip I would recommend either Bath or a combination of Salisbury and Stonehenge. You can do Bath or Salisbury by train and you can get from Salisbury train station out to Stonehenge on an easy public bus service. But it would be tricky to do Bath and Stonehenge in the same day except with a car.

Not sure of your age, but your schedule for London, if completed as in your post should wear you out. Suggest you get a bus pass Taxis are very expensive and now with the “Congestion Zone” getting about on a buss is fast.

St Paul's is right across the river from the Globe theater you can walk there across the Centennial Bridge .The Tate Modern (ugh) is at the end of the bridge. Near the Globe is a replica of the Golden Hind and the Southwalk Market (Black and Blue Restaurant) One block from the market there is a Underground Station
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There usually lines to get into Westminster Abbey. Maybe go early then if your luck you could visit Westminster Palace (British Parliament) its right behind the Abbey, don’t miss St Margaret Church, its located near the door tourist line up for the Abby. Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace is at 11 am. Big crowds on a nice day in tourist season. After the Guard change walk down the Mall stopping at "The Guards Chapel" very pretty. Then go across the parade square and through Horse Guards arch (where the Horse Guards mount the guard. Right across the street is a great pub, good beer and Pub foods. Trafalgar Square is just up the street (to the right coming out of the pub)
National Portrait Gallery is in Trafalgar Square
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Day trip to Windsor would be super. Best castle in all Europe., will take time to see all
Usually lines, miss the Doll house. For sure look into Saint Georges Chapel, one of the best churches in England. Note the ceiling! See the stalls in the Choir for the Knights of the garter sit with their banners above. They have communion on Wednesday mornings , you could sit in Winston Churchill stall!!! Have to take first train in morning Note much more in Windsor..

Bath will take a WHOLE day most of which will be traveling. Lovely City but not on a limited time table.

Your going to be tired but will never forget England / London and will want to go back time after time

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