itsjusttv

Hoping to get your thoughts on the below itinerary! Two adults and a child (5) traveling. Also- we have airfare and hotel booked, any other tickets or reservations we should make before departure? We plan on using the tube and buses as much as possible, along with walking...of course. We're not big on any of the restaurants and have been advised by a local to skip them as much as possible- given our small child, high prices and not so good food. We're happy with that plan, unless you think we're missing out something special. Thanks so much!

Weds, Day 1, arrive mid morning
Gatwick express and cab to Kensington area hotel
Store luggage
Hop on/Hop off bus tour
No planned night activities, I think we may be exhausted

Thurs Day 2
Tower of London, arrive 9am, Crown Jewels first
Yeoman tour
Walk across Tower Bridge and find a place to eat
Tate Modern or walk across Millennium Bridge to walk through St. Paul's Cathedral
Stay and eat- the London Eye?
Or- back to hotel and play it by ear that night

Friday- Day 3
Changing of Horse Guard 11am
Picnic lunch in park
Diana Memorial Playground
Back to Hotel to clean up
Tea at Ritz
No night activities planned yet- ideas?

Saturday- Day 4
Train from Waterloo to HCP
Take boat back? Or quicker ride on train?
(torn here...is the boat really 3 hours?)
No night activities planned yet-- ideas? or take it easy?

Sunday- Day 5
Transport Museum at 10am
Convent Garden lunch and shop
meeting people late that afternoon and the rest of our vacation is pre-planned.

sarahmarie

I think your itinerary is fine because it allows some flexibility, but I do have a few comments.
On Day 2, since you have a five-year-old, I would prioritize the Eye and the Millennium Bridge walk to St. Paul's over the Tate Modern.
If you're at St. Paul's for evensong, your child might find the music quite soothing allowing for some down time if you decide to continue through the evening.
What a great treat for your child. Have fun!

janisj

Who ever told you the food in London is not good si blowing smoke. The food is great - cost CAN be an issue, bur quality is not.

Your itinerary is pretty good. My one reservation is about Tea at the Ritz. I really enjoy it and go every year or two. But it might be just a bit too formal for a 5 yo. If she was 8 or 9, I'd say go for it. But w/ such a young child, maybe go to a nice but less formal/expensive instead like at the Orangery which is next door to the Princess Diana playground.

If you do decide on the Ritz it is a MUST to book ahead.

And yes, the boat back from HCP does take 3 hours or even more. It can also take a bit less, but it is a very long trip and there are strict speed limits on the river. The reason it could even take longer is because the river is tidal and in the right (wrong?) conditions the boat will be pushing against the incoming tide.

http://www.wpsa.co.uk/cgi-bin/timeta...osts/timetable

nona1

I would not take a child to tea at the Ritz. It is extremely formal and any normal 5 year old wriggling will attract a lot of snooty glares. It's really not something you take children to.

For a great restarurant treat for you all (but especially the little'un) go to the Rainforest Cafe. Your kid will be in heaven.

Carrybean

No theater planned or is that just something you're not intereted in this trip?

PatrickLondon

I think you might find the complete river trip from Hampton Court a bit of a pain. A compromise might be to take the the boat back to Richmond and take a train from there to Waterloo. The station's about 15 minutes walk from the pier, through the town centre.

ninasdream

Sounds great. Buy the tickets to Tower of London in advance once you're in London, usually you can get from hotel concierge or a local tobacannist or other source. Then you can walk right up to the "Group Tours" entry. I walked right past a line of people waiting over 1 1/2 hours. sarah's evensong suggestion at St. Paul's is a good one.

itsjusttv

Great feedback- thanks so much!
A couple questions-- do I need a reservation if we do tea at the Orangery? And, can anyone recommend night activities? Yes- I would be interested in the theatre, do they offer half price tickets at the booth (much like Times Square in NYC) and if so- primarily daytime shows or evening as well? Of course- Lion King would be fabulous, I'm sure there are others we would enjoy, too!

I love the idea of splitting up the trip back from HCP and doing a short river ride then back on the train.

Thanks all!

bailey6325

bookmarking

janisj

Yes there is a TKTS booth at Leicester Square. Be sure to only use the official TKTS and not any of the nearby "1/2 price" ticket brokers.

Lion King is still a very popular show - seldom if ever available at TKTS or at discount anywhere. If you want to see the Lion King, I'd book ahead through the theatre. It is one of the few shows w/ Sunday performances.

As for the Orangery - no you can't book ahead, but on a weekend afternoon there can be quite a wait. Go on a weekday - maybe before going next door to the Playground.

here is some info http://www.hrp.org.uk/KensingtonPala...staurants.aspx

historytraveler

For the Orangery, they don't start serving Afternoon Tea until 3:00. I suggest you be there a little before that. They will take your name and the wait shouldn't be too long.

walkinaround

>>>>>
Who ever told you the food in London is not good si blowing smoke. The food is great - cost CAN be an issue, bur quality is not.
>>>>>

this is a little misleading. i would never make a blanket statement that 'food in london is great' as i might for many other cities in the world. great food is the exception, not the rule. london has some of the very best restaurants in the world. there are a few of them and they are very expensive. move down a notch and the food just doesn't compete with food in other large, international cities. sorry but this is the truth.

very often you hear people defending food in london by mentioning a few top rated restaurants. kind of like arguing that china or russia are rich countries by citing the relatively few outrageously wealthy people there.