London Itinerary Help
 

Hello, my wife and I planning a week vacation to London (and a week after in Paris) in September. We are both 40 years old, no kids and we live in Chicago. We are staying in the Westminster area. I would appreciate some critique of our tentative itinerary.

Day 1 – Saturday, September 14th
• Arrive at Heathrow at 11:30 AM
• Walk around Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens and explore a bit.

Day 2 - Sunday, September 15th
• Buckingham Palace
• St. James Park
• Trafalgar Square
• National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery

Day 3 – Monday, September 16th
• Tower of London at opening
• Remainder of day open

Day 4 – Tuesday, September 17th
• St. Pauls Cathedral
• British Museum
• British Library Special Documents Room

Day 5 – Wednesday, September 18th
• Trip to Windsor Castle
- See Changing of Guards here

Day 6 – Thursday, September 19th
• Westminster Abbey at opening
• Churchill War Room
• Cabinet War Room (??)
• Imperial War Museum

Day 7 – Friday, September 20
• Train to Paris early morning

I’d like to fit Victoria and Albert Museum in. Are we not including any of the can’t miss sites? Are the days laid out reasonably? Is there anything we should book in advance? If you have any suggestions, please advise. Thank you in advance

The Churchill Museum/Cabinet War Rooms are the same thing.

Overall your itinerary looks good to me, though I'm sure people with more expertise will weigh in shortly.

Lee Ann

You have three really major sites on day 6 -- which you may find difficult. You may find two major (2 to 3 hour) sites is about all you van manage a day. Even If there were enough hours in the day - three major sites can be exhausting. With that you can often squeeze in one slightly lower tier/shorter site/activity. For instance - the National Portrait Gallery won't take as long as sya the National Gallery or British museum.

I'd probably move St Paul's to day 3 after the Tower. They are an easy duo - jump on the #15 bus in front of the Tower and get off down the road at St Paul's.

Are you touring Buckingham Palace or just walking by? If just walking by - you'll have some spare time that day so you could manage the V&A that day.

You have done a good job arranging by area and not trying to do too much in one day. And you have included all the sites I'd have put on a to-see list for your days.

Janisj has some good suggestions.

I'd suggest going to the British Library first, walk through Russell Square, and then have the rest of the day at the British Museum. The BL will take probably 2 hours max, while the BM can't be seen in 2 YEARS! So go to the BL then you don't have to leave the BM at any certain time.

Going to St. Paul's after the Tower is a good pairing; consider climbing to the top of the Dome. Do be sure to walk out on the Millennium Bridge from St. Paul's--great views!

Look at the Imperial War Museum website--sounds like a good bit is not seeable, so you may choose to give that a miss this trip.

I don't think you need to book anything--except a car service if you are using one and any "can't miss" shows you might consider seeing.

It is wise to stay outside upon arrival, so the park-walking is a good idea, but you MIGHT pop in the V&A as you will be so near--for a bit, anyway. Museums aren't best option for arrival day, but...

You are leaving re-arranging days as an option, right? Can't go to the churches on Sunday, but I think everything else is open all the time, so you can factor in weather if you need to. Like the BM and Library are good for a rainy day. And you might want to save St. Paul's if climbing the dome for a decent day for the views.

Enjoy! I was just there for my 5th time in June for a couple days (with students) and re-visited a few favorite spots. You have left time for just strolling around it looks like, too.

Just checked the IWM site -- yes, significant portions are still closed. I keep thinking it is reopening this Fall -- but the work won't be finally done til next summer. Some certainly is open -- but I'd maybe give it a miss.

Hi ChicagoCouple2,

Kudos for planning ahead. You wrote: “I’d like to fit Victoria and Albert Museum in. Are we not including any of the can’t miss sites?”

Personally I found the V & A huge and overwhelming. I think I read somewhere that there were some seven miles of exhibits in the whole complex. If you do go, plan ahead to target one or two sections.

If you really like art, I would substitute either the WALLACE COLLECTION off Oxford Street

http://www.wallacecollection.org/

or the COURTAULD GALLERY on the Strand not far from Trafalgar Square.

http://www.courtauld.ac.uk/gallery/ Both are smaller and doable in my view.

There is just sooooo much to do in London. Good luck….

Consider walking around the Portabello Road Market before hitting the Park. Don't miss the Albert Memorial in Kensington Gardens and consider taking a stroll around the Royal Albert Hall, just south of the Albert Memorial.

My favorite thing to do on Sunday morning in London is walk along the Bayswater Rd, the northern border of Hyde Park, and look at the art work for sale. Over 250 artists display their work. I know it's not on your schedule, but...........

Don't miss out on Eton when visiting Windsor.

On the open afternoon, consider walking around the Covent Garden Market if you want to take things slow for the day. If you are feeling adventurous,take a trip to Greenwich, you won't be disappointed.

Try not to miss the V&A, maybe end of the day on Tuesday.

If you would like to visit the theater, you can book those tickets in advance or get half price tickets in Leicester Square on the day of performance.

If you want to go inside Buckingham Palace I believe you will need advance tickets. And do check to see what's open - much is available only when the Queen/family are in Scotland - but I think your date includes that time.

The Buckingham Palace tour is expensive but well worth it, and I think it will be open in September. A trip to the theater in the evening, maybe a ride on the London Eye, would be good additions. I'd recommend a day trip to Hampton Court Palace or Bath, but I think that would ruin the nice pace you've got so far.

If you have a chance on Sunday and have some free time on Sunday afternoon, I would recommend heading to Hyde Park and checking out the Speakers Corner. Very fun time but only happens on Sunday afternoons.

Thank you to everyone for the additional information. We definitely will move St Paul's to after the Tower of London. I wasn't aware of a Buckingham Palace tour when the Queen/Family are in Scotland. I really appreciate the comments from everyone. We now have good tentative itinerary and thanks to you all, we have some additional sites to see.

I ordered my tickets to buckingham palace online. They were delivered to my home in USA within 10 days. There is also a ticket booth near Victoria memorial in front of palace where tickets are sold. It is a nice tour, this year celebrating the 60th year of her majesty reign.

My third time through palace, each time I see something different. In 2011 display of the duchess of Cornwall wedding dress.