IMO Day 13 has too much on it, especially if you really consider those things "the best". The British Library is not THAT close to the British Museum, so I would do them on separate days.

As much as you love books, give the British Library a good 2+ hours ( the Treasures Room is amazing and I could have tarried there a lot longer than we did) and I've heard the shop is quite good (never got there).

Of course, the British Museum will take as much time as you decide to give it - it's huge.

So Brit. Mus. + Brit. Lib. + a walk = too busy!!

I agree w/ noe. The Museum/Library/Walk is a lot and being your last day you will also be busy packing, picking up last minute gifts/goodies.

I'd leave you last day pretty open free/easy since you don't want to be rushing about. Maybe flip what you have planned for day 11 or day 5 w/ your day 13 plan.

I'd also really REALLY try to fit in the Tower.

The "Tate to Tate" boat does run year round.

Hi nessa,

We were in London 3rd week of January 2007. We were there for a week and we only had one day of rain. It was cold but not as cold as I thought it would be.

We saw Wicked in Victoria Theatre, got our tickets in Leicster Square. There are tons of deeply discounted same day shows available. Since you are there in the off season, chances are you will get tickets to the shows you want to see.

My kids loved our trip there (they were 8 and 10 and the highlight for them was watching Wicked).

Maybe we were lucky but who knows, maybe you'll be lucky too. Have fun.

I've made two trips to London in January (2006 and 2007) and I had fun both times. Very few tourists, I found I was able to see and do a lot more, and I never had problems finding inexpensive seats for the theater.

Going to the theaters themselves rather than the TKTS booth in Leicester Square can sometimes get you a lower price, as long as you don't mind sitting way up or way back.

Enjoy planning your trip!!

Show tickets: Prices depend on the show and the location of the seat. Bring 'binoculars'. Matinees are less expensive. Visit the West End your first day and call on the theaters with the plays you want to see. My experience with the 1/2 price scheme was that they never carried top show tickets. The South Bank theaters are great. The noon music is fantastic! And it is free! Remember that the London population operates 12 months a year.

Thank you for the great advice everyone!

I'll go back and change my itinerary around. :)

Nessa -

My husband and I spent a week at the end of January last year - my 50th birthday present! We had fantastic weather - sunshine for almost the full trip. The daffodils were even blooming!! I realize that we were lucky, but we have visited the UK a few times in the spring and had tons of rain and even cooler temperatures. So it is best, as other posters have said, to layer your clothes so you can adjust either way.

I brought a full-length all-weather coat ("London Fog" brand - HA!) with a zip out lining. My reasoning was that it would keep my legs warm and dry if it got blustery. But a water-proof parka with a zip-out liner would do. I hardly used my liner, nor my hat, but I always wore my woolen scarf and my gloves. I wore winter weight dress pants or jeans with a sweater or wool blazer and tee-shirts or turtlenecks. I brought a decent pair of leather walking shoes that looked good with jeans or dress pants, and my runners in case my feet got really sore.

Now - about the London Eye: that was the only "Must Do" on my list. It is worth every penny!! If you plan to go on it during the week, you don't need to pre-book -- we just paid and walked right on. The were no line-ups at all, and we shared our capsule with only 2 other people. We did notice, when we were out walking on the weekend, that the Eye was very busy then, so I would highly recommend a mid-week ride.

We didn't want to pre-book because we wanted to go when the weather was good. You do NOT want to go when it's raining. We actually timed it for a full moon and a spectacularly clear night. It just couldn't have been any better! We started the ride just as the sun was setting, and by the time we got to the top, it was dark. The view was just beautiful.

Travelling to London off-season has definite advantages - you really won't have as many tourists to compete with - and your accomodations should be cheaper, as well.

Thanks for the tip Susie! I was actually planning to go on a Saturday at the same time as visiting the South bank but I think it fits great on a Monday so it'll probably be better if the weather permits (but still is early in my trip to reschedule if the weather isn't so good)!

Since you like books, you might want to walk down Charing Cross Road one day. It isn't what I understand it used to be, but it does have a number of bookstores. Murder One is great if you like mysteries.

I'll check that out for sure.

My favorite genre of literature is definitely 19th century Victorian stuff though. Everything from Austen, Bronte sisters, Nightingale, Wolfe, and all the others. If anyone has any tips on that it would be great! I started to read through an old topic on this forum that talked about the main sights related to the Victorians but I'm sure there's more!

If you are interested in Victorian England/London check out this site http://victorianresearch.org/ and click on "Fun Stuff" which will take you to a long list of museums/sites/activities in London and elsewhere in the country. Look at the list and you will find lots of off the beaten path/interesting Victorian sites.

BTW - the "Lectures" list on that site is for last year, and was compiled by a long time Fodorite who has passed away - Ben Haines was about the ultimate resource. But his legacy does continue.

There's a Florence Nightingale museum at St Thomas's Hospital, by Westmonster Bridge:
http://www.florence-nightingale.co.uk

If you define "Victorian" as including Austen (who died before Victoria was born), you obviously really mean 19th Century.

Which is fine, because London is essentially a 19th century city. In fact, of course, it's THE 19th century city. Asking about "sights related to Victorians" is like asking about "sights related to Italians" in Florence: practicaly everything here - except for a few distinguished older buildings, and a fair amount of more recent mediocrities - is 19th century.

Impossible to know where to start. Try "London in the 19th Century" by Jerry White, recently out in paperback, for a pretty comprehensive summary. It will, at least, help you narrow down your questions.

Maybe you know, but there is a Dickens Museum in a house he once lived in. It's pretty close to the British Museum.

The Dickens you say

flanneruk -
I guess I meant both. Victorian literature is a big part of 19th century lit. But Austen is, you know, Austen. I'm taking a class on Victorian lit right now but we're watching one of the BBC Austen movies so I guess it's all related. Anyways, back to travel talk!

PatrickLondon -
I already knew about that museum. In fact, it was already on my must-do's list!

Day 1 (Thursday)-
Arrive at LGW early morning
Leave luggage at hostel and take the hop on bus tour to see the main sights

Day 2 -
Explore the South Kensington museums (NHM and V&A) and do a little shopping in the area

Day 3 -
Visit Borough Market, Southwark Cathedral
Tate Modern and Tate Britain (Tate-To-Tate boat)

Day 4 -
Visit the Spitalfields Market
Take a walking tour of the East End
Come back to Kensington to visit the Science Museum, if time permits

Day 5 -
Southbank Centre Book Market, Gabriels Wharf and OXO Tower
London Eye, if weather permits
Visit the Westminster Abbey
Take the Jack The Ripper Walk

Day 6 -
Day trip to Bath

Day 7 -
Take the Westminster Walk in the morning
Visit the National Gallery
Visit the Florence Nightingale Museum

Day 8 -
Visit Greenwich and Maritime Museum
Come back to Central London for afternoon tea (any nice formal place to suggest? Brown's? Dorcester? Claridge's?)
Visit the National Portrait Museum (late night on Thursdays and Fridays)

Day 9 -
Visit the Courtauld Gallery and Covent Garden
See lunchtime concert at St. Martin in the Fields
Shop on Oxford St. and around

Day 10 -
Explore Notting Hill and Portobello Market in the morning
Visit Guildhall Art Gallery and Museum of London in the afternoon

Day 11 -
Explore Hampstead Heath and Camden Town

Day 12 –
Visit the British Museum
Take the Inns of Courts walking tour
Day 13 -
Visit the British Library
Also take the Literary Bloomsbury and Old Museum Quarter Walk.
Relax, shop and pack for the rest of the day

Day 14 -
Bye bye London.

My previous post is the new itinerary will a few changes (I think I found a great alternative for the British Museum/Library things on day 12/13!) And I managed to put the London Eye on a weekday to avoid crowds. If the weather is crappy, I'll re-arrange my schedule to go later in the week!

We had a Saturday identical to your Day 3. We went to Borough early and bought our breakfast there. We also got fixins for a lovely picnic lunch. The walk from Borough/Southwark to the Tate Modern takes you on a nice route past the replica Golden Hinde ship, Winchester Palace ruins and the Globe theatre. We got a discount on the Tate to Tate with our Oyster card.

It's kind of a pity that you are splitting up the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery, as they are literally next to each other.

When you shop on Oxford, be sure to stop in Liberty, which is not far (Regent and Gt Marlborough St), and to walk/window shop on New and Old Bond Streets.

I think it's okay to split up National Gallery and Portrait Gallery - so that you don't get too overwhelmed by looking at paintings all day.

On Day 8, I can't help with a "nice formal place" for afternoon tea. But, you can consider the cafe at the National Portrait Gallery (since you're heading there anyway). The cafe is on the top floor and has a decent view ~ and it serves afternoon teas.