We usually go to Europe in Sept. And get around quite easily.
June 2017 we will be taking our 12 yr. old GD to London & Paris.

2 yrs. ago we took her 13 yr. old sister and were on a tour in June. We couldn't believe the huge crowds.
We are not usually tour people but we were glad to be on one & get into the sights easily.
The downside was...it was a tour group.

That said, we want to go on our own this time. Is it possible in June? Or do we have to prepare to stand in line for hours on end? This does not sound like fun.

In your experience what is the easiest, most efficient way to see the sights in London---Tower of London, changing of the guards, ride the eye,etc. probably not a lot of museums this time.

How would you do it? Can you recommend any small tours or an individual tour guide? Buy tickets ahead of time? Not looking for the least expensive way to go but the most efficient.

Never had an issue with the Tower. The Eye is weather-dependent.

Check out www.walks.com - their tours may be helpful in some respects.

>>Is it possible in June?<<

Of course it is possible

The only place in London w/ huge lines is generally the Tower of London -- and that is not a problem if you get there just before opening time. There can be a queue at Westminster Abbey -- but not huge and again if you go in the morning it usually isn't an issue.

The Changing of the Guard is a huge time waster IMO/IME. You have to get there at least 90 minutes early get a decent viewpoint, and then stand there for more than 2 hours. Do the changing of the Horse Guards or the guard change at Windsor instead.

The Eye is not a problem -- there are timed tickets. So in the morning (Once you find out what the weather is like that day) you can book either by phone or on-line and then just show up at your appointed time.

London Walks http://www.walks.com has come great 90 min-2 hour walking tours including one that does get you to a good view of the Changing of the Guard 'just in time'.

In Paris the biggest lines/crowds are at the Eiffel Tower, Louvre and Versailles. But there are easier entrances for the Louvre, night time at the ET is usually easy.

was posting the same time as BigRuss

Thanks for the input. will check out walks.com

Glad to hear about the timed tickets on the eye...with the tour we walked right on.
That was our only trip to London & I want to go back to see more of the museums & stuff for adults.

Also will check at Windsor, but the lines look really long there in June. Changing of the guard was on her list because she's in love with horses and her sister saw it---now that I mention that, is there a place in London, or outside, that she could take a jumping lesson. She's quite good already but likes any chance to improve.

Paris will not be a problem to figure out as we have been there many, many times but mostly in Sept.-Oct. Well aware of the lines at the Eiffel. The Louvre courtyard will be enough for her to see there. Would like to take her to Versailles though & will figure that out.

>> because she's in love with horses and her sister saw it-<<

Then the Changing of the Horse guard would be right up her alley.

http://www.wvstables.com offers 1 hour jumping lessons in Wimbledon - but I think you need to be members. Maybe contact them to see if they do provisional memberships

Perhaps not much help, but if you time it right, you can see the Household Cavalry horses exercising in Hyde Park, or en route to or from changing the guard at Horse Guards. There are no crowds there - anyone just walking along the foot path between the ride and the Serpentine can stand and watch - but they just ride past, and I couldn't be precise about the timings.

Our local city farm does riding lessons, with what looks like some jumping, but I don't know if that's what you're looking for - you could always ask. It would be easily combined with a trip to Greenwich:
https://www.mudchute.org/equestrian-...riding-lessons

PS: There is also this, that might be of interest:
http://changing-guard.com/household-cavalry-museum.html

And go to the Royal Mews, behind Buckingham Palace, for more horsey things.

Honestly I've never really noticed crowds to get into a museum, except for Madam Tussaud. Most museums are free, and if you want to see a special exhibition, you buy a timed entry ticket.

For riding, there's this; https://www.hydeparkstables.com/
Don't know about jumping, but a ride through Hyde Park would be fun.

janisj gave you a very good tip on the Tower, getting there just before opening time when there is usually no line. I'll go one further on that--if you get there before opening time, don't take the Yeoman Warder's tour first, which everyone else will likely do. Instead, go straight to the jewel house and see the jewels before the lines form for that. Then, you can go back to the gate and catch the next Yeoman Warder's tour.

You might want to look at the dates for Trooping the Colour and the two full dress rehearsals that proceed it (all on Saturday mornings). Getting tickets to the grandstand at Horse Guards involves jumping through hoops, but is worth it if you can manage it (and the dress rehearsal, without the sovereign, is easier for foreigners than the real deal, but still requires some work, but that's what we did). But, if you don't want to do that, you can still watch the parade to and from Horse Guards--it's much better than Changing of the Guards.

If you want to see the Houses of Parliament on the inside, and you are not a UK citizen, then your only option is to get in line to watch a debate. During the day, lines for this can be quite long, but, Parliament sits in the evening many days, and the lines are shorter. You can look at the calendar on their web site to see when the Commons will be holding an evening session.

>>If you want to see the Houses of Parliament on the inside, and you are not a UK citizen, then your only option is to get in line to watch a debate.<<

That was true for 2 or 3 years but changed quite a while ago -- you can now book tours

http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/vi...of-parliament/

twk's advice re the Tower is spot on -- definitely head straight to the Jewel House -- you will have the Crown Jewels almost to yourselves while everyine else is forming up for a Beefeater tour. After the Jewels, you can always hook up w/ a tour later. The tours are free but have a £1 or £2 coin handy to tip the Yeoman Warder as you leave the chapel.

Worst lines I saw were at Windsor. We went via train from Waterloo and skipped the lines because we bought a voucher with our train tickets so we just had to go to the ticket-holders line for entry instead of the ticket purchaser line that stretched halfway to Eton. Dunno if that arrangement still exists.

WOW! You Fodorites are the best. All those horse options. I definitely have some investigation to do----that girl lives horses.

BigRuss---looking for that info on Windsor, will check it out.