London stopover Nov 23-25
 

Hello fellow travelers,
My husband and I have 3 days in London Nov 23-25 and would love any advice or suggestions. We are staying at a hotel in Mayfair. We plan to buy tickets for the Hop on hop off bus for 2 days and hope to fit in the Tate Modern, the British Museum, a Sunday market and a bit of shopping if time allows!
Here are a few quick questions:
If we had to choose 1 which of these markets to you recommend Mayfair, Burrough's or Shepherd's Market?
Would you recommend the Tate restaurant for lunch or early dinner?
Any unique pubs to suggest near the Mayfair area for Saturday night ?
Are there areas of the city that weekend that hold outdoor events to kick off the Holiday season (ex. Christmas lights).

All advice and suggestions are welcome!
Thank you in advance,
VMinTO

Strongly suggest that you no waste 2 of your 3 days just sitting on a bus in heavy traffic. There is SO much to see and do in London that you should pick the places you are most interested in and go and see them - not just look at the outside. (And the tube is way faster for transit than any bus, esp the HoHo - which is so expensive and runs so rarely.)

Borough market doesn't operate on Sundays (I don't think many do) so plan to go on Saturday very early if you want to go. http://www.boroughmarket.org.uk. It is packed on Saturdays so go early if you want to enjoy it!

Check out the good pub guide (they have an app) for good pubs.

I agree, it wouldn't bother with the hop on bus...they get caught up in traffic and the tube or regular buses are so much cheaper!

Don't miss the Tower of London...best site in town, but plan to spend 1/2 a day there!

No to the H-o-H-o bus. Very expensive and IMO it makes more sense to actually visit sites rather than ride past them with a canned commentary.

>><i> a Sunday market and a bit of shopping if time allows!
Here are a few quick questions:
If we had to choose 1 which of these markets to you recommend Mayfair, Burrough's or Shepherd's Market?</i><<

Shepherds Market is an area (in Mayfair) not a market. Mayfair is also a neighborhood - not a market. Borough market (note the spelling) IS an actual/wonderful market . . . but it doesn't run on Sundays.

was (as usual :) ) posting the same time as jamikins.

Hi all,

Re:HOHO bus - thanks for the feedback.

Re: Pubs - we found a couple pubs from the good pub guide.

Any suggestions for events over the weekend we're visiting?

Thanks,
VMinTO

Google Timeout which is an excellent source if info on upcoming events. Also try www.londontown.com

My advice: figure out the public transport system, buses as well as the tube. Ask and ask again. Understand the numbers of the buses for your area. Buy a travel card. Understand what is where. London is big and things are sometimes far apart. When you have this down, it becomes a joy to get to where you want to be. It is less complicated than I make it sound! I cannot speak about the other markets, and it depends on whether you want to buy (e.g.) food or clothes, but Borough Market just after 10 on a Saturday morning is a delight. Go hungry :)
You can walk from Borough Market to Tate Modern, and from there to St Paul's ...

Two of my favorite all time lunches have been from the Borough Market grilled cheese and raclette man, with my daughters and a bottle of cider, sitting on a curb and at the nearby picnic tables. Early is key.

I've actually looked into various websites for places and events including Timeout London. I also have a a recent Fodors Travel Guide for London and a new Knopf map guide.

We'll try Boroughs but if the weather is rainy we'll check out Dover Street Market instead.

Just an FYI I've come across a couple of sample sales Nov 23-24 (APC, Sample Hunters both in the old Truman Brewery).

Here are a few places I've come across that we like:
Pubs of interest: Audley in Mayfair, Churchill Arms in Kensington, Swan at the Globe London Bridge
Other food places: Brigade London Bridge, Booked Berners Tavern for a romantic dinner

For brunch or afternoon tea please share your favourites (within Zone 1 & 2)?

I would like to pick up Christmas gifts for my preteen niece and my teenage nephew - please share clothing stores that come to mind that have a local edgy flare.

Thank you!

If you're going to Borough Market (which is wonderful, by the way), then a pleasant way to spend the afternoon, is to walk from there towards St. Pauls. There's a pedestrian-only walkway for much of this easy walk, and it's full of interesting shops along the way where you might find the gifts you're looking for.
As you walk along the Thames, you'll pass Shakespeare's Globe theatre, the Tate Modern, possibly The London Dungeon which I think is nearby, and eventually get to walk across the pedestrian-only Millennium Bridge with a great view of St. Pauls at the other end. You can of course divert anywhere along the route to visit these sites as you make your way there.

When you're in an uncovered part of the market, look up for a view of The Shard towering above. The market food choices are many and delicious (I had the freshly roasted chicken, pulled apart in front of you, swathed in piri-piri sauce and wrapped in a flatbread cone with greens), but there's also the old and popular 'The Market Porter' pub right there, which serves real ale and was a location for one of the Harry Potter movies. I may not eat there with so much other food around, but would (and have) stood on the cobbled street outside the pub sipping a pint with a couple of mates. There's also a great cheese shop (Neal's Dairy ? or similar) just around the corner with an astounding array of British cheeses. I remember huge blocks of cheese in the shop window, and buying small quantities of several to take away.

Have fun.

Ooops... sorry Kovsie, I didn't see your post and repeated much of what you already said :)
I did the same walk after a midday lunch at the Market on a chilly November Saturday last year and we really enjoyed it all.

The only issue I see is you are arriving on the Saturday - right?

If so what time? It can take several hours to clear immigration, get to your hotel, check in. Whether you are up to the crowds at Borough Market after that - maybe not. The Market is VERY crowded on Saturdays.

"We'll try Boroughs but if the weather is rainy we'll check out Dover Street Market instead."

That is something totally different. Dover Street Market is an upmarket clothes shop.

On Sunday mornings there's a small farmer's market in Marylebone. Go to the Wallace Collection afterwards, and see Marylebone High Street.

For Christmas gifts, if you want something unique to London, maybe a charm bracelet with London charms from Links (several locations) for your niece. Or something from Cath Kidston. For your teenage nephew, try Jack Wills, if he is tall enough for adult clothes sizes.

We are arriving at 8am - we hope to be at our hotel by 12noon.

Yes I'm aware that Dover is completely different and retail-focused - seems unique and indoors if the weather is dreary. Plus there's Rose Bakery as a place to grab a bite for lunch. Is there an alternative "indoor" farmer's market ?

Thanks for the shop suggestions - funny I bought my niece a charm bracelet 2 years ago from Swarovski and recently admired Links charms. I think it's a great idea to pick up London-themed charms.

On two occasions when I have been in London before Christmas, I have shopped at the Victoria and Albert Museum shop. They have great jewelry. I bought earrings for all the females on my list.

Cath Kidston stuff make really good gifts for younger children - there are some London themed bags as well, and a nice London umbrella.

The V&A shop is good, as is the one at the Science Museum.

Almost all of the London museums have wonderful gift shops. I especially like the Victoria and Albert (also great place for lunch) and the Natural History (just next door and has currently a wildlife photography exhibit I have been to many years which is wonderful) and the Queen's Gallery (I once got beautiful advent calendars of Buckingham Palace there for everyone)and the London Transport Museum (it's in or near Covent Garden). The museums are either free or the access to the gift shop is in front of the museum entrance where you would need buy a ticket.

And here is a link to Sunday markets in London. Not all are in the most Central areas but that doesn't mean it is not worth a special trip if you especially enjoy markets.

http://www.timeout.com/london/shoppi...kets-in-london

Thank you so much for all the replies - we are very appreciative of your advice and suggestions!
If anything else comes to mind please share ...