London in 3 days?
Mar 5th, 2009, 10:25 AM
#21
3sica: "<i>what do you mean by highlights tour?</i>"
Most of the major museums and galleries offer highlights tours from the information desks. Some are free, some cost a small fee. Several times a day, a staff docent takes groups around to the most famous/popular exhibits in the museum. They are a great option for folks who have limited time like you guys.
For instance in the British Museum you'd see the Rosetta Strone, Elgin Marbles, Mummies/Egyptian relics, and other famous displays w/ having to figure out where they are on your own.
Most of the major museums and galleries offer highlights tours from the information desks. Some are free, some cost a small fee. Several times a day, a staff docent takes groups around to the most famous/popular exhibits in the museum. They are a great option for folks who have limited time like you guys.
For instance in the British Museum you'd see the Rosetta Strone, Elgin Marbles, Mummies/Egyptian relics, and other famous displays w/ having to figure out where they are on your own.
Mar 5th, 2009, 10:30 AM
#22
meant to add:
here is the pdf file of the Original hop-on-hop-off bus tours map
http://www.theoriginaltour.com/files/cukdyaghyu.pdf
The Big Bus tour has a similar downloadable map here http://www.bigbustours.com/eng/inter...e.aspx?id=maps
here is the pdf file of the Original hop-on-hop-off bus tours map
http://www.theoriginaltour.com/files/cukdyaghyu.pdf
The Big Bus tour has a similar downloadable map here http://www.bigbustours.com/eng/inter...e.aspx?id=maps
Mar 5th, 2009, 06:18 PM
#25
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Your least expensive way of getting around London is one of the Hop Off and On or Big Bus tours. Your ticket is good for all day, and they take you to most of the places you have on your list. You can get on or off the buses as often, and for as long as you wish. And some include a boat trip on the Thames.
One of the most fun things I ever did in London was to watch a Shakespeare play at the reconstructed Globe Theater. It was like traveling back to the Elizabethan era.
One of the most fun things I ever did in London was to watch a Shakespeare play at the reconstructed Globe Theater. It was like traveling back to the Elizabethan era.
Mar 5th, 2009, 07:02 PM
#26
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As for the London Eye, I had a flight several times during my last stay and I definitely enjoyed a flight at sunset. You can check the weather website for sunset. Purchased tickets about 15 minutes before I wanted to start the flight, which was about 15-20 minutes before sunset. It weather cooperated and the view was great. Then, as the sunset, there was a nice view of the London city lights. The weather is the wildcard, but the evening/sunset view was tremendous.
Mar 5th, 2009, 07:06 PM
#27
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<i>Your least expensive way of getting around London is one of the Hop Off and On or Big Bus tours. </i>
Hardly. The Hop On Hope Off bus costs 20 £ for an adult for 24 hours. That's quite a bit more expensive than a 1-day travel card.
Hardly. The Hop On Hope Off bus costs 20 £ for an adult for 24 hours. That's quite a bit more expensive than a 1-day travel card.
Mar 5th, 2009, 07:07 PM
#28
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We used the Big Bus Hop On Hop Off bus tour and it was a great way to see the most popular London sights in a short time and to get an overview of the city.The bus does stop at all the tourist sights and also includes a cruise on the Thames.We used the cruise portion to get to the Tower Of London. The ticket was good for 24 hours..If I remember correctly we did one full trip around and than after getting a feel for the city we started getting off at different places.There are 2 Hop on Hop Off bus companies and we used The Big Bus Tour. We had a week in London and still did not get to see nearly what we wanted to.We had a hotel near Westminster and we were able to walk to many places. We also used the regular London bus service a lot in our 6 days there.We were lucky enough to be in London for the Queens birthday and saw the Trooping of the Colors.What a great show that was!!!
Mar 5th, 2009, 11:56 PM
#30
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I'm in the middle of planning a trip in early August . . . so I spend most of my nights dredging the web. You say you aren't too fussed about accom. I've booked us into several Travelodge hotels. You can get real cheap deals by booking/paying in advance. For instance the most expensive I have booked is GBP32 a night, and I have several at GBP19 a night - per room. Triple rooms when my family is with me. You'll find them at http://travelodge.co.uk They aren't the flash-for-cash type hotel . . . but we just want a crash pad at night.
Re getting around London: When I was there a good few years back we used to grab black cabs - not cheap, but quick and time is of the essence. May not be the same now, however. The Underground is also a great way of moving from location to location. Investigate whether their Oyster Cards could be a good buy - it's a pre-paid card that slashes the cost of the average trip. http://tfl.gov.uk
Re getting around London: When I was there a good few years back we used to grab black cabs - not cheap, but quick and time is of the essence. May not be the same now, however. The Underground is also a great way of moving from location to location. Investigate whether their Oyster Cards could be a good buy - it's a pre-paid card that slashes the cost of the average trip. http://tfl.gov.uk
Mar 6th, 2009, 01:23 AM
#31
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Just caught gthe comment re the Globe Theatre. Yes. Yes. Yes. My two 12 yr olds went wild when I told them I had tickets for As You Like It. They're doing it at school - and to see it at THE GLOBE. Oh yeah. You can get standing in the Yard for only GBP5, or cheap seats for GBP15-23. The most expensive are only GBP33. Find out more at http://www.shakespeares-globe.org/
Mar 7th, 2009, 06:02 AM
#32
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I have yet to venture into the complicated tubes world yet!
We have the SMRT (fast trains, above as well as underground) in Singapore, which is really simple... since we probably do not have that many criss crossing lines and not so many stations (we are a tiny country afterall)...
hope i have no problem taking the tube in london and the metro in paris.
We have the SMRT (fast trains, above as well as underground) in Singapore, which is really simple... since we probably do not have that many criss crossing lines and not so many stations (we are a tiny country afterall)...
hope i have no problem taking the tube in london and the metro in paris.
Mar 10th, 2009, 04:25 AM
#34
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all this about the tube is a little overwhelming...
i am in the midst of preparing my 3,4 day itineraray...will update and ask for further advice and suggestions when it is done.
right now i have to figure out all the tube stations near to the places we are going (coz the map I got do not show the tube lines or stations! it is on a separate map! grrrr)
i am in the midst of preparing my 3,4 day itineraray...will update and ask for further advice and suggestions when it is done.
right now i have to figure out all the tube stations near to the places we are going (coz the map I got do not show the tube lines or stations! it is on a separate map! grrrr)
Mar 10th, 2009, 04:28 AM
#35
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By the way, where are the interesting markets that i can squeeze in to see, other than Borough? I like to buy quirky stuff as souvenirs and keepsakes and would really love to see some vintage stuff especially jewellery and bags!...
Mar 10th, 2009, 04:49 AM
#36
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Hi 3sica -
Here's a dumbed-down version of the bus routes/map geared for tourists, which I find very handy:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloa...al_bus_map.pdf
Here's the standard tube map:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloa...d-tube-map.pdf
Other markets include Camden Market, Portobello Market, Spitalfields Market, Petticoat Lane etc. And also Covent Garden. Any London guidebooks should mention all these and which days to go.
Here's a dumbed-down version of the bus routes/map geared for tourists, which I find very handy:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloa...al_bus_map.pdf
Here's the standard tube map:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloa...d-tube-map.pdf
Other markets include Camden Market, Portobello Market, Spitalfields Market, Petticoat Lane etc. And also Covent Garden. Any London guidebooks should mention all these and which days to go.
Mar 10th, 2009, 05:19 AM
#38
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You *don't* need to buy a guidebook. Just go to your local library and pick up the latest version of any London guidebooks. At least, that's what I've been doing for a few years now. But if you are going to buy one, I like Lonely Plante and TimeOut London.
Mar 10th, 2009, 05:27 AM
#39
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I would have gone to the library if I were in Singapore... problem is, I don't think you will find that much English books in Dubai libraries, much less to say travel guides.
I am relying heavily on this forum and whatever I can get of the net... since London is English speaking, I am not so worried about not knowing how to ask for directions as opposed to my week in Paris (which i DID buy a guidebook for)
I am relying heavily on this forum and whatever I can get of the net... since London is English speaking, I am not so worried about not knowing how to ask for directions as opposed to my week in Paris (which i DID buy a guidebook for)
Mar 12th, 2009, 06:37 AM
#40
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I have managed to squeeze an EXTRA day out of hubby to spend in London, now I have 3 full days, starting from Wednesday (But I realised that weekday hotel rates are much higher! 
)
An idea I had for an anniversary present would be to rent my hubby a Harley (He is a biker back in Singapore and is a HD die hard) to run around for 1/2 or 1 day. Anyone can tell me if the roads will be hard to navigate?
Also since I will have 3 full days, is a trip out to Stonehenge a ridiculous thing to do?
)An idea I had for an anniversary present would be to rent my hubby a Harley (He is a biker back in Singapore and is a HD die hard) to run around for 1/2 or 1 day. Anyone can tell me if the roads will be hard to navigate?
Also since I will have 3 full days, is a trip out to Stonehenge a ridiculous thing to do?
