What a great thread! London is my favorite city, and I was fortunate enough to live there for several months when I was in college. It will be hard to keep my list to 10, but here goes (in no particular order):

1) Riding the Tube and, yes, "Mind the Gap"
2) Going to the Theatre and having ice cream during intermission
3) Shopping everywhere from Harrods and Harvey Nics to the street markets
4) Finding "hidden" corners, squares and alleys with deligtfully quirky shops
5) Strolling and picnicking in the wonderful parks (esp Regent's and St. James')
6) Meeting friends for drinks and bite to eat at St. Christopher's Place
7) Hanging out in Covent Garden before and after the theatre
8) Buying biscuits (chocolate-covered Hob Nobs and Digestives) and candy bars (Cadbury Flake and Crunch) at the corner grocers, and eating them throughout the day as I tour around
9) Boots, Boots, Boots!
10) The charm and enduring spirit of the wonderful people

We loved the little things about London, and the unexpected pleasures:
The pomp and ceremony of old England we glimpsed in London;
The Queen's royal horseguards on their practice field before the salute to the queen;
Walking through Hyde Park to Kensington Palace in the rain;
Seeing Diana's gowns on display;
Strolling the neighborhood near Hyde Park where our B&B was located, discovering the "mews" there, and finding a fabulous Indian restaurant;
Riding the tube and the double-deckers;
Cruising on the Thames at sundown;
Going to Abbey Road and having dinner at a great Italian restaurant in Hampstead on our way back to town;
And everything else we did there!

Of course there is no certain order to these...

The Tube - of course the "mind the gap" once off the train and the elevator telling me to "stand clear of the doors"
The bf leaning to my ear on the tube and whispering "Are you maaaaaad?" with an exaggerated British accent so as not to break the "no talking rule".

Coming out of the tube station and staring at the foot of Big Ben only to gaze upward as my mouth falls open (in awe of the fact that I was really there).

The 500+ steps to the top of St Paul's Cathedral - that view is amazing! The Whispering gallery, the angel guardians at the doors, that gorgeous altar...

The London Eye - another breathaking panoramic view. New friends made and feeling like a child enveloped in wonder.

The streets and back alleys we walked on the Jack the Ripper Tour and on our own evening walks.

My first London pub. (And second, and third...)

Watching people rushing with such determination to their jobs in the morning and evening. Then there were the others that had no occupation other than being themselves in that exact moment, one very sweet and humorous gentleman in particular at the Tower Bridge engine room warmed my heart. Everyone we met was soooo nice!

St James park. The bridge we crossed where no matter which direction I looked, London landmarks were in view.

Trafalgar Square...the fountain I stood in front of almost fourty years after my father stood there while stationed in London. I miss him.

The museums, gosh...I can't even begin to comment on them.

(I have to toss in Covent Garden and Neals Yard - I loved them and they hold a special meaning for us and a dear friend, sorry but that's eleven!)

The beauty of some pubs. The Speaker's Corner and the beer.

Jenn906's reference to the 500 or so steps of St Paul's Cathedral brings me to say that yes this, climbing up to the top most part of St Paul's is one of my greatest London memories - there are three separate treks to this amazing ascent - wide gently ascending stairs at first up to the rotunda where you can hear the great accoustics, if someone on one side of the gallery whispers it can be heard all around - and then a steeper stairs to the second level and then an extremely steep ascent via ladders to the top and a viewpoint of hundreds of feet above London! (It's a bit hazy right now and i may have some of this wrong in terms of describing the three separate climbs, but in any case climbing to the top of St Paul's is one of my very favorite London memories.)

A morning run in Hyde Park
A play - any play!
The British Museum
Pubs - all 28,000 of them
The Tower of London
A boatride to Greenwich
Going anywhere on the Tube
A walking tour
A day trip to Bath
Dinner at the Tenth (Royal Garden Hotel)
Treasuring all the new friends I've made on my last three visits!

PalQ PalQ PalQ PalQ PalQ PalQ
Sorry for topic deviation , did not know how to grab attention!!!!!!!!
this is in reference to your advice on the Zurich to Venice via Chiasso journey.
The Swiss pass would cost me around 145 US dollars.
How much more would a chiasso to Venice 2nd class ticket cost me??
Cant find information on that.

zeenat10: Chiasso-Milan-Venice in 2nd class costs 25 euros (about $30). Check fares and schedules at www.trenitalia.com.

I feel somewhat guilty that I haven't experienced all the things listed myself even though I live here!

Greendragon, looking forward to meeting you!

Jenn906: "Trafalgar Square...the fountain I stood in front of almost fourty years after my father stood there while stationed in London. I miss him. "

Wow, that made me tear up -- they are looking at me strangely at work.

Looking forward to meeting you, too, Kavey! Young Fodorites unite!

<font color="blue"> PalQ--I am definately going to try your number 1 and number 10. I never rode the double decker bus before, but I realize it might make for some really nice pics!

And strolling thru Hyde park and resting at a cafe sounds devine! I could get in some good journaling as well as enjoying some good tea!

Is there an online map of Hyde Park? </font>

TTT

I'm encouraged to see others list Boots as this would definitely be on my top 10. :) Other include:

Hunting for books on Charing Cross Road
Buying Special 127 at Floris on Jermyn Street
Being waited on by men in morning coats at Fortnum &amp; Mason and taking tea there
Buying the latest &quot;aga sagas&quot; or similar at Waterstone's
Taking in a performance at St. Martin in the Fields
Being able to eat Taramasalata everywhere
Going to Neal's Yard in Covent Garden area
Attending a concert at Wigmore Hall
Having a travelcard in my pocket and riding the tube everywhere
Walking through St. James's park

Oh, wait, that's 11 things. Well, London is way too special for only 10!

- Afternoon tea
- Go and see a play
- Shopping in King's Road
- Wondering in the Covent Garden zone.
- Taking a wak in Hide Park
- Watch current art exibitions
- Attend an auction at Sotheby's
- Have dinner in a good Thai restuarant
- Have dinner in a good Indian restaurant.

I love London so I think I love everything about it :)

Forgot soemthing I really love: Strolling around Harrods Food Hall, hummm, love it!!

Interesting list people.

Amazed that 'Mind the Gap' makes such an impression and that Boots (to us just a boring 'go get necessities' shop on every high street) is so popular. Pubs? Tripping over them on every street corner.

Just goes to show how easy it is to take familiar things for granted.;-)