London-Off Season?
 

MY DD and I are planning to visit London with my Dad (her grandfather). He is in his early 80's and L was his home as a "bobby" just after the war and we wanted to have a chance for him to show off "his" London.

Our trip will therefore NOT be weather-dependent...British Museum, pubs, War Museum, pubs, Police ("Black") Museum,"caffs", Soho etc.

It will be a budget-wise tour. This is meant to be a chance for the generations to know one another' times better, not "Big Daddy picking up the tab for a lavish week" so we want to organize things in a budget-wise fashion.

So, what's easiest on the budget, but still permits some outside time together? November? April?

Scotland Yard's "Black Museum" is not open to the public. It is invite only. Given that your dad was a rozzer he would probably get an invite - but he would have to write and ask for one.

Late January / early February is about as low season as it gets in London mainly because it's generally miserable weather wise, the kids are at school, no-one has any money and the sales have finished

November is starting to get Christmas shoppers and April is normally post Easter

We went to London during the first week of April in 2006 and it was great. Cold by a Floridian's standards, but we enjoyed the cold because it's only "hot" where we live. And cooler weather is much nicer for walking places instead of taking the tube everywhere.. you can just see more when you walk. And we only had one part-day of rain out of five. Also, our plane tickets were about $400 a piece less than when we flew out there a few weeks ago in June... hot and rainy, too, in June. But we love London regardless of the weather.
Have a great time!!!!!!

I would also highly recommend the Cabinet War Rooms where Churchill and his Cabinet conducted the war. Everything was left intact after the war and it wasn't reopened for 40 years or so. But it was really fascinating and your Dad should thoroughly enjoy it.

He will find Soho very changed - I would think for the better overall.

Would he be up to one of the guided walks - www.walks.com (though if you google "london walks" there might be other options).

If you want the lowest airfares then aim for late November through early March avoiding some big travel days right around the holidays. The very lowest fares would be Jan/Feb.

Airfares will be your big money saver - other than that there really is no "off season" in London. Some flats have lower rents from Nov-Mar - but not a huge savings over summer rates.

Thank you all...I am glad you reminded me of the War Cabinet rooms: I had heard they are marvelous. And to "Audere...", I was not aware the Black Museum is controlled entry but my DH is also in policing so we will get on to that. And, yes, Patrick, he is not only up to going on those walks, if Dad weren't leading us around London he would be completing another stint of his coastal-trail journey around England at a pace that I cannot maintain. He credits his vigour at 84 to something called 5BX, a series of exercises he does daily. We are lucky about hotels, because as a vet of the RAF, he has membership in the Victory Club. Staying there is, according to my step-mum, like stepping back in time 50 years: I hope she means the rates and not the facilities, but what the heck, its a once-in-a lifetime...anybody know it?

I think the only aspect that will be cheaper because of the time of year is the air-fare. London hotels don't normally have different rates in winter, although perhaps apartments might have a winter rate. Everything else, restaurants, museums, transport etc etc costs the same all year round.

Bear in mind how short the days are in the middle of winter. My choice would be for autumn/Spring rather than the dead of winter, so yes, November/April are better. Actually before October 29 is good as then you'll be visiting during 'British Summer Time' clock hours and the evenings are lighter later, if that makes sense to you. Also, you'll find that December is quite busy again for Christmas.

Friends stay at the Victory Club all the time when they are in London visiting from their home in East Suffolk and give it high marks. I beleive they've also said the restaurant there is quite good.

Thanks, Jodi and to all...I also googled the Victory Club and it looks just fine. I think we are settling on March/ April.

Try to avoid the easter holidays then when the schools are off and London will be busier.

Thanks Nona...good point!