London Itinerary
 

Hello,
First time in London and the family is going this March. There are 4 of us (the kids are 21 and 19). We planned to do the following, can anyone tell me if this is a good plan. Thank you.
Day1 Arrive relax
Day2 Sherlock Holmes Museum, British Museum, Convent Garden
Day3 Windsor Castle, Abbey Road
Day4 Victoria & Albert Museum, Harrods
Day5 London Eye, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, National Gallery, Piccadilly Circus
Day6 Hampton Court Palace
Day7 Tower of London, St Paul's Cathedral
Day8 Depart

You have worked out a very reasonable itinerary. (It seems most people try to sqeeze in a TON more stuff than a mere mortal could possibly accomplish)

in fact you very likely will be able to get to see more - Just have a list of some other places that interest you and if you have time add them in as you go along. Like your on first day. Yes, you will probably be tired and jet lagged, but a visit to some of the parks or churches or the like wouldn't be too much.

I notice you don't mantion any theatre/concerts etc.

It is obviously very do-able, actually a pretty light schedule. You might want to think of somethings to do on your first day. I find that when I visit a new place, the excitement is such is that the last thing I can do is relax. British Library would be an option; they have some original music documents on display that might fit your Abbey Road interest. Museum of London is a place I feel everyone should visit on a first visit, so that's another option.

I personally found the V&A a big bore. If some in your party feel the same, they may want to split up that day and visit the nearby Natural History or Science Museums.

The museum of London is a really great place. it doesn't take too long and is very informative and enjoyable. the London Transport Museum is fun too.

When we arrived in London, we went on the city bus tour that first day/evening. It's a good way to keep you awake and also to get oriented to the city.

Another thing about the Museum of London - it is very near to St Pauls so is easy to do in combo . . . . . .

daisypoop:

Looks good would suggest that maybe the day you get here you take the Big Red Buss - 22 quid a head and our the city..It's touristy but you get a great overview of the city and you can jump on and off if you decide to do something. It also gives you free tix for an extra walking tour - we did the Royal one and it was quite interesting. Enjoy my sister and nephew - 14 yrs came over at Thanksgiving and we did all that except the national Gallery & Sherlock Holmes in four days. I would not suggest that though as my feel killed...

Seems very good. Don't forget the Monet/Whistler/Turner exhibit at the National Gallery if you like those artists.

Hampton Court is great, by the way, and does take a larger amount of time than most people think.

Another thought - you can buy a combination card for Tower of London and Hampton Court that will save you a little money. And I noticed you don't have any gardens or parks listed - amble through a couple of them.

Also no Buckingham Palace either - even for a quick photo?

It looks pretty good!

You may wish to take a close look at the info on the Sherlock Holmes Museum to make sure you want do it. While there are folks that love it, I also think many are disapointed.

I would include a Thames River cruise and a couple of West End shows.

Keith

Second the idea for visiting some of London's great parks. My personal favs are Regents and St. James.

Also, I would like to see you add the Cabinet War Rooms to your itinerary. It was one of the highlights of our last London visit.

http://cwr.iwm.org.uk/

Good point about Cabinet Museums. There is also the Winston Churchill Museums which open next week and are supposed to be great that are either right by there or attached to them.

Finally, the Wallace Collection is very outstanding, and a place that not a lot of tourists know about. I highly recommend it.

Yes, you are right, we still have to plan to do some walks, theatre and concerts.

Abbey Road takes very little time. Everybody walks across the street and a photo is taken. You might want to write something on the studio wall. You cannot enter the studio. The crossing is 2 blocks from the tube. Not much else to see there. You could walk into Regents Park from there. I often wonder if people are disappointed by their Abbey Road experience.

OOps..Abbey Road is on the Jubilee Line, St. Johns Wood stop.

Highly recommend the Big Bus tour the first day. It gives you a good overview of London and you can get on and off as you please - the ticket is good for 24 hours. Your itinerary looks good and gives you time to stop along the way when things interest you.

Thank all of you for your helpful responses. My family greatly appreciate it.
- The DPoop

I don't know when in March you're going, but I found this article this morning. You may want to look into this when you go to Abbey Road.

PINK FLOYD FILM AT ABBEY ROAD STUDIOS

Abbey Road Film Festival 2005
For the first time ever, the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London will be open to the public to present a two week season of films scored at Abbey Road. As part of the Abbey Road Film Festival, the movie "Pink Floyd The Wall" will be screened in Studio 1, the world's largest purpose built recording studio.

The Festival marks the 25th anniversary of Abbey Road's involvement in the film scoring business. Studio 1 will become a cinema for the duration of the Festival, with a 350 seat capacity. There will be 3 screenings on each of the 16 days of the festival, with a selection of films scored at the Studios over the last quarter of a century, as well as a few other films associated with the Studios.

Ticket holders will be able to visit the famed Studio 2 where some of the greatest rock and pop recordings of all time have been made, from The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Radiohead, and beyond. Dark Side Of The Moon and Sgt Peppers are just two of the classic albums to have resonated off the studio walls during their creation.

They are also staging a photographic exhibition which "will contain treasures from the world of film and music."

The Abbey Road Film Festival will run from 19 March - 3 April 2005, with "Pink Floyd - The Wall" being screened on 23 March at 12pm, and 26 March, again at 12pm. The Studios themselves can be found at 3 Abbey Road, London NW8, and full details can be found at www.abbeyroad.com. Booking is now open through the dedicated box office - telephone 0870 606 3433 in the UK, +44 870 606 3433 outside the UK.

Our thanks to Suzanne at EMI for the news about this unique event.

MrGreen,
Thank you for the Abbey Road information! Thanks to you we were able to book a show the day before we leave for home.

Daisy-That is terrific! I am so jealous!! Please post back and report on your trip. I'd love to hear about it!
Have a great time. (I know you will.)

daisypoop-

I don't know if you & your kids are interested in art - I'll be in London in early March and I have bought advance tickets to 2 temporary art exhibits:

Caravaggio: the Final years - at the National Gallery
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/ex...io/default.htm

AND

Turner/Whistler/Monet exhibit - at Tate Britain (it was sold out in Toronto & Paris)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/exhib...whistlermonet/