My family leaves on February 18th for London. This is our first trip! We have been reading this strand for awhile now. Tell us how our itinerary sounds...

19- arrive in London, afternoon-take bus tour to see sights,evening walk: Ghosts or Jack the Ripper (if we feel up to it)
20- morning-more bus tour and river cruise, Globe Theater, London Eye
*other depending on time- Aquarium
21- morning-Tower of London, afternoon- St. Pauls, we have tickets to Ceremony of Keys
*other depending on time- Museum of London
22- morning- Westminster: Verger Tour scheduled 10am, Phantom Matinee at 2:30pm
23- morning-Changing of the Guards, afternoon- Greenwich
24- morning- Windsor Castle, 3:30-5:30 Madame Tussauds, Stomp- night performance
25- fly out

We have narrowed down our choices with everyone getting two places. (two adults and 15 yr old daughter)

Thanks for the advice on theater tickets, we got half price for both shows! Daughter is a percussionist so Stomp was a must on her list. Like I said everyone got to pick something.

I have watched opinions on Changing of Guards, but we have decided we want to see it. We will have to look for the schedule when we are there.

Addition of museums will be around this schedule. Husband would like to do a Beatles tour if possible.

Thoughts or suggestions

The shift change schedules for all sorts of blokes in funny suits is published at

<b>http://www.changing-the-guard.com/sched.htm</b>

If you go to the Buckingham Palace extravaganza, you won't get to Greenwich until 1:00 or so - which might not be enough time to enjoy everything that's there:

o Cutty Sark
o Maritime Museum
o Observatory
o Thames Barrier
o Pedestrian tunnel

So you might want to think about swapping the Guards ceremony with a day you're closer to town.

The cruise you get with the bus tours only goes down to Tower Bridge, but there's a lot more history further downriver. If you're interested in the commercial development of the port of London, take a full-length guided tour down to the Thames Barrier and back up to Greenwich. Afterwards, take the DLR back home.

And on the day you plan to go to Windsor, you may be cutting it close getting back in time to see Madame Tussaud's. If you are going to Madame Tussaud's, make sure you purchase tickets ahead of time at the tube station. It will save you about an hour standing in the queue for tickets.

We went later in the afternoon (as the website suggested) and thinking the line wouldn't be that long, didn't purchase tickets ahead of time. We ended up waiting at least an hour to get in.

Hi Debbie. You will have a great time! I would possibly suggest waiting until day 2 to take the bus tour. They are great but if you are tired you won't take everything in and it is important to get your bearings. Instead (depending on where you are staying) just have a wander of your area and check out restaurants, shops, parks etc or maybe take the river cruise if time.
Personally I would drop Madame Tussauds and spend most of the day in Windsor. It takes a while to get there and deserves more than a flying visit.
I understand if you are committed to it however, just buy your tickets in advance.
For a Beatles walk check out www.walks.com A chap called Richard does a couple of different walks and there is nothing he doesn't know about them. The company also do a wide and fascinating range of other walks. Maybe your husband could do his Beatles walk whilst you do another? Also make sure you use them for your Ripper walk.
Try not too rush. If you miss things so be it. You WILL be back!!
Please feel free to ask further questions or if anything is unclear.
Adam C
[email protected]

So many choices! We have a plan, but realize that it may totally change once we are there. Will definitely get tickets early for MT.

I read that there are different places to see the guard changes. Would we see that at Windsor also in which we could combine two activities into one?

&lt;&lt;I read that there are different places to see the guard changes. Would we see that at Windsor also in which we could combine two activities into one?&gt;&gt;

Yes:

Changing of the Guard

On alternate days at 11:00, weather permitting

Changing of the Guard does not take place on Sunday

Provisional Schedule for 2005 (subject to change)

January 2005 Odd numbered dates (3, 5, 7 etc.)
February 2005 Even numbered dates (2, 4, 6 etc.)
March 2005 Even numbered dates (2, 4, 6, etc.)
April 2005 Daily
May 2005 Daily
June 2005 Daily
July 2005 Daily
August 2005 Even numbered dates (2, 4, 6 etc.)
September 2005 Odd numbered dates (1, 3, 5 etc.)

we did windsor castle in a morning, left on 8:24 train from waterloo.got back on 12:24 train.we ate on the train back .the parts of the castle which you are allowed to see are quite small (but impressive) and often one part or another is closed for state funerals etc (check the website before you go).it is not large like versailles. it is quite far away and expensive to get there.we took the free warder tour there which was good.

i like the two places per person idea.

Two must-sees (my opinion, of course!) that are missing from your list are the British Museum and the Cabinet War Rooms. Would strongly encourage you to work them in. I wasn't that excited about the idea of the War Rooms, but believe me, they are fascinating. And the British Museum is one of the true treasure-troves of the world. Also, if you're at all into art, the National Gallery is very enjoyable. And not sure what time your bus tour starts on Sunday morning, but you might want to consider a short stop at Speakers' Corner if you have time - quite entertaining.

I strongly agree with the last response. I was dragged to the cabinet war rooms by my husband, and literally had to be dragged out. Also, the British Museum is fabulous. Our kids loved the tours. You may also want to consider watching the changing of the horse guards, which is, in my kids and our opinion more interesting,than the changing of the guard.

I'll throw in the Imperial War Museum - it may sound a a bit odd, but kids love it there. Particularly the sub you can operate, the Blitz Experience where you go into an underground bomb shelter and can hear the bombs overhead, the tanks you can crawl in and out of and the First World War Trench experience. And the Holocaust Exhibit on the top floor is something every family should experience together.

(Personally, I'd eliminate the Ceremony of the Keys and Changing of the Guard - some pomp and little circumstance.)

An embarassment of riches, huh? Whatever you do, how special to be seeing it with your family. Have fun.

I very much recommend both the Wallace Collection and the Courtrald Institute. Both are great museums that tourists do not always visit. Also, please don't forget some of the parks, even though it is not Spring, it is nice to get to some green spaces.

Also, the Turner/Whistler/Monet at Tate Britain is supposed to be great and I think may be on now?

Also, the Churchill Museum which is in conjunction with Cabinet War Rooms will have just opened and is supposed to be great.

Is the changing of the horse guards at Buckingham also?

Thanks for all the great advice!

no. It's just down the street fron trflagar square and the y change in the morning and afternoon. We went 5 times during our stay and it was fascinating. Something different happened each days, horses are less predictable than humans.