also, if we want to go to Les Miz, what night would you suggest?
By the way, my children are night owls so night activites are no problem.

Thanks

Melissa

Where is a good place for Breakfast on the day that we arrive?
We are staying on Kinnerton Street in Knightsbridge.

melissa

My husband has enjoyed breakfast at Patisserie Valerie. There is a branch in the Knightsbridge area:
215 Brompton Road,
Knightsbridge SW3 2EJ 0207 823 9971

As for Les Mis, what about Monday? I wouldn't do theatre the first night in London (jet lag too brutal) or the night before any touring day (or other really early morning).

I'd do the London Eye at the end of the day on your first day, if the weather is good. You have some other days where you could fit it at the end of the day (sunset or even after dark).

I have to get timed tickets for Buckingham Palace and The London Eye.

What time should I get them for?

also what day would tea at Fortum and Mason would fit in?

thanks

Melissa

bookmarking

TTT

Yes, you do need timed tickets for the Palace and the Eye. Just book the Palace for the day that fits best into your final itinerary.

<u>Don't</u> book your Eye tickets from home though. The weather makes a huge difference w/ the Eye and you can't know that ahead of time. (What if you book for a certain time and that ends up the only rainy day of your whole trip?)

Wait until you are in London and know the weather forecasts a day or so in advance and then buy your Eye tix. In August I wouldn't try just walking up but you can buy them a day or two ahead.

I want to go to Buckingham palace the day that we arrive.
Since we arrive at 8:30 am at gatwick and will go to the flat and then eat, do you think 2:00 is safe to get tickets for Buckingham palace?

2:00 would be OK - but I'd personally try for a bit later. You need time to unwind after the overnight flight, unpack, have a nice lunch. If you are eating in the flat you'll need to do some grocery shopping. if you are eating in a restaurant you'll want to budget about an hour. W/ a 8:30 arrival you won't be to your flat until 10:30 or 11:00. And much later if you end up using a car service.

So all in all I'd book a later Palace tour.

Thanks

I will get tickets to the Royal mews at 3:00
and
then go to the Palace at 4:30.

what do you think?
Melissa

Please give me your opinion

Should I skip going to the Cotswolds &amp; Oxford for an extra day in Paris?
or is there something else to give up?

I have started planning the Paris part and now can't figure out how to see the basic's in paris
Melissa

How many days are you planning right now in Paris?

I won't comment about Paris vs. the Cotswolds. You don't have time to see everything no matter what you decide so one day one way or the other really doesn't make much difference.

About the Mews/Palace timings. 3:00 and 4:15 are OK (Last entry to the Palace is <b>4:15</b>.) The Mews Shouldn't take more than an hour so that should be just about right.

Right now, we are coming in on wednesday and leaving sunday

Melissa

Assuming these are daytrips from London as Dover/Canterbury is in opposite direction of Oxford/Cotswolds I would say that is too much driving back and forth.

If you want to add a day to Paris, you might want to skip Leeds/Dover/Canterbury and stay in a location for two overnights to do Oxford/Cotswold/Stratford-Upon-Avon/Warwick. They are all closer together, and you might enjoy the time outside of the city.

We are staying a night in stratford upon Avon and then going to Warwick the next day.
We are traveling via train.
Could we get to oxford/cotswold via train?
Melissa

I feel exhausted just reading all this...

Me, too. And I'm an anal retentive-type personality.

Glad you added the Cabinet War Rooms. Very interesting for all of us (mom, dad and boys 10 and 12). The 3 guys loved the Imperial War Museum (while I was at Portobello Road, browsing at the Travel Book Store and Books for Cooks).

Our favorite cheap restaurant was the Churchill Arms Pub, near Notting Hill Gate. Thai food. All 4 of us loved it, even our picky eater. Far better than Wagamama's. We are planning to go back this summer.

This visit, I'm looking forward to the British Library and also one of the castles (Hampton Court maybe).

London is wonderful. I hope you have a great trip.

I think you dropped Stonehenge from your itinerary. I can see why. It is a trip to get there.

We thought Stonehenge was amazing. (Some people see it as a bunch of rocks.)