MelissaBeckoff

I think that this will be the last schedule for England .Thanks to all of your great suggestions.
August 16 -Arrive London from US @9:30 am Buckingham Palace & Royal Mews & London Eye
August 17- Big Ben & parliament & 10 Downing St & Traf Square & Cabinet War Rooms
Eat @ Portait Restaurant
See Mary Poppins
August 18 - London Walks tour 10:45 am West Minister Abbey and changing of the guard . London walks tour of Dickens London 2:45
Eat @ Hatfield House
August 19 - British Museum & Dicken's Museum & British Library
August 20-premium Tours -Stonehenge and Bath
August 21- Tower of london & Bridge & HMS Belfast
August 22- Kensington Palace & St Paul's & Globe theater
August 23- Dover Castle or York
August 24- Greenwich
August 25-Stratford-upon-Avon
August 26- Warwick Castle
August 27-Windsor Castle & Imperial War Museum
August 28- Hampton Court
August 29- Train to paris


Please give me your feedback.

We are waiting to get our ceremony of the keys tickets before I buy Lez Mes tickets.

What should it be ?
Dover Castle or the city of York

Also, what has anyone heard about the museum of London?

Thanks

Melissa

sunny16

"What should it be ?
Dover Castle or the city of York"

That's a tough choice. Dover Castle is in a rugged setting on a hill; the kids might like wandering around there. I liked the castle a lot when I visited. I don't remember much about visiting the town of Dover, so I can't say if you'd find anything of interest there. I certainly enjoyed spending a day in York. Yorkminster is a beautiful cathedral, and it's fun to walk along the wall of the city. I guess it depends on your interests, and what you think your kids will enjoy.

historytraveler

The London Museum is excellent especially for kids. Not sure how you'll work it in, but I'd probably put it near the top of my list. It's close to St. Paul's.

Nannybeas

Melissa,
My parents lived in England for several years, and we would visit at least once a year with our children. I've taken children from 4-16 on trips to London and the surrounding area, and feel that your revised plan looks good. I agree that it is much easier to do what you are planning without going with a tour. Unlike other European countries, the language is not a barrier, and you can leave when you want, or stay as late as you want once you go to a site.

I am taking my 16 year old daughter back to England in July, and we have purchased a London Pass. It is only available in the US before your trip. It covers the admission price of many of the attractions you have listed. It also allows you to go to the front of the queue, since you won't have to stand in long ticket lines. (That feature alone is worth gold...especially in London in the summer!) We have never actually used the pass before, so I can't honestly tell you if it actually is a value. (We always tried to time our visit during off-season to avoid the massive crowds.) You may want to check out their website, and see if is something you want to do. www.londonpass.com.
I am glad to see that you are now going to the British Museum. It is wonderful. The only problem is that you can't do it justice in one day. You may want to do the London Museum as well. My preteens and teenagers always like to go there.

I thought we would be bored with Shakespeare, but LOVED seeing Julius Caesar at the Globe. If you go, try to get box seats. If you are in the gallery and it rains, you will get wet...it is an open air theater, true to the original. (Opt for seat cushions as well.)

Of course, you can't do it all in 12 days. I haven't been able to do it all in the 15 trips I have been over there! I know that you will enjoy it. After visiting London and Paris, I believe that you will discover that you need to visit England again and leave Paris for the French. Go to the Louvre, Versailles and Notre Dame. (Just my opinion. We had a terrible time with our kids in Paris, and will never go back.)
Next time in England, plan on seeing the rest of the country, Scotland and Wales.

FYI- Try to stay up as long as you can on your arrival day. Don't give in to the temptation to take a quick nap. You will feel exhausted, but will adjust to the time difference much faster that way.

janisj

Actually the London Pass isn't that big a deal. The only place it really lets you jump a significant queue is at the Tower of London.

Apparently you already have the Passes - Don't worry, they are not a horrible waste, but just not the huge bargain their marketing would indicate.

janisj

Sorry - that last should have been addressed to nannybeas.