Mom, sister and I(ages 69,45,44)leave in 3 weeks for our long awaited U.K. trip. We are staying 4 full days and 2 1/2 days in London, then onto York and Edinburgh. I am having trouble fine tuning the itinerary. We all like museums, churches, gardens (although in late March this is not a priority). We have 7 day travelcard and 7 day British Heritage pass. Here is the plan, subject to change:

Day 1 (Wed) arrive 11:30 a.m. Heathrow. Tube to Victoria, drop bags in at Elizabeth Hotel.
Get familiar with area. Catch the 5:00 London Walks tour of National Gallery. Eat dinner and crash.

Day 2 (Thurs) Tower of London when they 1st open. Tube to St. Paul's Cathedral. We have reservations at 6:00 for L'Escargot followed by 7:30 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium. (Is our dinner reservation ok or should we try to change to 5:30)?

Day 3 (Friday) Westminster Abbey (Vergers tour at 10 AM Followed by Parliment, Cabinet War Rooms,Tate Britian for lunch and highlights and Shakesperes Globe.

Day 4 (Saturday) Borough Market early am. We are early risers and plan to be there by 8 am.
British Museum
5:30 reservation at Porters English Restaraunt
7:30 Complete Works of William Shakespere

Day 5 (Sunday) Train to Hampton Court Palace
National Portrait Gallery
London Eye(?)

Day 6 (Monday) We have a 2:30 train to York leaving from Kings Cross. This day is fully open. What have we missed?

We really are all early risers and are up and ready to go, having eaten the hotel breakfast (included) by 7:30 or 8. Most sights aren't open until 10 so if you have any early am suggestions we would appreciate it.

Thanks for all of the planning help so far> Lynnie

Your itinerary sounds pretty good except for Day 5 - I think you've packed in a bit too much for one day. Hampton Court Palace alone could take the whole day (including travel - do you plan to drive, or take a bus, boat or train?) I'd suggest being flexible on whether you make it to the NPG and/or London Eye on the same day.

It appears that you will be hading home jsut about the time I will be on my way there!

If you like museums, maybe rework your itinerary to include Victoria/Albert museum.

Skip the Globe -- it's a replica.

Day 3 looks a bit crowded, so you might want to switch some of the activities you have planned for Day 3 to Day 6. Otherwise, if you start at 10 a.m., and do Westminster Abbey, Parliament, and the Cabinet War Rooms all before lunch at the Tate Britain, you may be having a very late lunch, and not have all that much time or energy left for the Tate Britain or the Globe. (I was surprised, when I went to the Cabinet War Rooms, at how much time it took to see them thoroughly.) As a practical matter, it should be possible to switch any of your Day 3 activities to Day 6, because I'm pretty sure all the places you have listed for Day 3 are open on Mondays.

Alternatively, if you manage to do everything you have planned for Day 3 on that day, then you might want to consider going to the Royal Academy on Monday morning. They're currently showing what sounds like a fascinating exhibit of Edouard Vuillard's works, including not only paintings but also his photographs and set designs (I'm planning to see it later this month, which is why I can only say what it "sounds like", for now). The Royal Academy is very close to St. James's Church, Piccadilly (which was designed by Christopher Wren, and which I mention since you said you're interested in churches), and to Fortnum and Mason, which has three restaurants, where you could have lunch before catching your train.

Is St. Pauls Cathedral still under renovation? If so, is it still worth seeing? Thanks

Whoa! You've done your homework. Cannot honestly find anything amiss with your London plan.

>Is St. Pauls Cathedral still under renovation? If so, is it still worth seeing?


Yes & yes.

Keith

I think you might enjoy "High Tea" at someplace like Brown's Hotel or Harrod's Department store during your trip. Of course, you won't be hungry for dinner after all those scones and trumpets.

it wouldn't change your reservation at Escargot to 5:30, if you can. It's a really nice place and would be a real shame to rush your dinner there. You will have a 10-15 min walk to the theatre too.

For an early morning plan I would suggest a walk in one of London's many parks, weather permitting. Regents, Green and St. James are smaller than Kensington/Hyde Park. With any of them,you can do as much or as little (walking) as you want. Some of London's historic churches open before 10:00 a.m. I would also do the introductory tour at the British Museum, I forget what it's called.The B. M. can be overwhelming to first time visitors, and this tour is excellent in highlighting the museum's most popular attractions. Another consideration, although your itinerary is certainly full, would be the London Museum near St. Paul's.

I definately agree with person who said include a visit to the Victoria and Albert. You may also want to do some of the Original London Walking tours (especially the Jack the Ripper tour, it was great).

I toured the Globe last week and loved it. Sure it's a replica, but only because the other 2 burned down. There is a fascinating museum near where the tour starts.

The tour lasts 1/2 hour and you can do the museum in another 1/2.

Hi
I am thinking ahead to your York trip. Don't know if you have this part of the trip planned, but I am sure you would love to visit Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal. A trip here would encompass all your interests - a beautiful medieval abbey, a Victorian church in the grounds, and the superb watergardens of Studley Royal with its temples and follies, all set in the beautiful countryside of North Yorkshire (I live a short drive away from Fountains). Website www.fountainsabbey.org.uk gives full details. The abbey opens at 10am and early on a weekday in March you will have the place pretty much to yourselves.
My experience of pre-theatre dining is that you should definitely go for the earlier sitting at L'Escargot (lucky you).
M

If you do not already have tickets for "Chitty" I would recommend a different show. Chitty is ok, kinda dull and nothing special. Its not terrible but not the best in London. If you have not seen Lion King, I would recommend that. Since you like gardens..Kew Gardens is amazing. I have been there in January as well as during good months and it is always worth the time spent. I believe it has a web site. You can reach it by tube. You timer in London will be excellent.

I would try to get in some time at the parks...Kensington Gardens is nice to walk through with a variety of things to do and see - try tea at the Orangerie or visit Kensington Palace (inside or out)... just a nice place to stroll and spend a morning.

Thanks for all the help.

Morgana-we will definatly make Fountains Abbey a target for our still as yet unplanned York visit.

Elainee-we have our tickets for Chitty (great childhood memories of the movie) but feel we may be able to take in 1 more show. We are not really interested in seeing anything that we can see here in L.A. so maybe Blood Brothers would be a choice.

If we go to the Victoria & Albert museum Monday am (day 6) and abandon the Tate Britian (day 3) (or switch it for the Portrait Gallery on day 5) we could possibly see another show on Day 2.

Which is a better museum, Tate Britian or V & A, based on for sure going to the British Museum and the National Gallery. (We are planning on catching tours at all museums.)?

I'd opt for the V&A...more variety.

Tate Britain is an art gallery -- the V&A is a decorative arts museum. They are nothing alike.

Actually you may have time for both and not have to cut either one. The V&A is vast and you can't see all of it in 3 days let alone one afternoon. But it is free so you don't have to feel pressured to see all of it - just pick up the printed guide at the entrance, head back to the cafe and over a cup of tea or galss of wine decide whinch galleries w/i the V&A you want to see.

Tate Britain has an amazing collection of British art - the JMW Turners are very special. You could take the water taxi from Tate Modern on the southbank (not far from the Globe) right to Tate Britain.

But if you MUST cut one - cut Tate Britain (but do try to see both)