Gundy

From the Houses of Parliament site:

Overseas visitors can only tour Parliament during the Summer Opening, when paid-for tickets are available. However, overseas visitors may still attend debates and committees throughout the year.

Too bad, because my husband's father was a Member of Parliament here in Canada (Ottawa), and I'm sure he would like to tour the British Houses of Parliament but we are going in June.

janisj

Overseas visitors have not been able to tour Parliament for ages now (except for during the Aug/Sept summer recess) .

Also -- "<i>Right on the north side of the square is the National Museum</i>" "National Museum" I don't think there is any such place. Do you mean the National Gallery?

Londonlover

I wouldn't put Kensington Palace as "what to do" for anyone visiting London; and especially not a first-timer who only has four days.

janisj

"<i>Green Park is right in this area (and along the north side of the Mall - it is one of London's great parks - check out the Flamingos and various fowl.</i>" The lake/waterfowl/flamingos are in St James Park. No lake in Green Park.

stokebailey

The Orangerie at Kensington Palace is a pretty place for tea, though, if you're nearby and in the mood for a park stroll. My girls loved sitting in the long lightfilled room.

Attnymom

My favorite museum in London is the Churchill War Rooms/Museum. My geography is horrible, but I seem to remember it was an easy walk from the Eye across the bridge to this museum.

I am not necessarily a WWll buff, but this museum is fascinating - it is the underground rooms where Churchill and his advisors planned/ran the war. When the war was over, they turned out the lights, locked the doors and left. So, everything is exactly as it was during wartime. The attached Churchill museum was very well done as well with lots of interactive displays. If you can squeeze this stop into one of your days, I highly recommend it!

Palenque

Janis - i did not say there was a lake - but not long ago i asked here about Flamingos at Golders Green and was advised by a local that the ones in Green Park were better. And yes there are ducks and water fowl in the park - don't need a lake for them to flock wherever folks will feed them

And yes the National Museum should have been gallery - for nit-pickers like you is why i put in the disclaimer:

"Note - i am composing as i go along - pardon any small mistakes about street names, etc."

Janis you are a wealth of info on London - i sincerely do believe you know more about London than any Brits here do - we are talking tourist London - why dwell on making me look bad - obviously your goal by your pithy nit-picking comments - but add things of substance?

janisj

I am not trying to make you look bad. You are posting a long thread to help 1st timers - that is a good thing. But it would be ever so slightly better if you had actually been to all the places you recommend.

BTW - others in this thread have also pointed out minor and major-ish mistakes. Not just me . . . .

Palenque

Green park London | Reviews of Green park in London
Read reviews about green park in London, get real opinions, photos, ... Tags: birds, ducks, grass, london, park, pelican, pelicans, squirrels, trees, views, ...
www.qype.co.uk/uki/tag/green%20park

Janis - don't you remember how pelicans in Green Park were attacking folks a few years ago - they are water fowl, right - and in the above it mentions ducks too - so flamigos, ducks, pelicans are water fowl right? Means you are wrong, right?

And during the cold snap this one of our London posters said he had seen ice on the flamingo pond or area - ice means water, right?

Palenque

But it would be ever so slightly better if you had actually been to all the places you recommend.>

Janis i have indeed been to all the places i mention on this thread many times. Why do you think i have not? You think i have not traipsed thru Green Park many many times. there you go again making bogus charges - for what reason? I'd like to know - please.

There you go again impugning my honesty - like many times in the past you accused me of only copying and pasting and even plagarizing - totally bogus charges that mystify me as to your purpose in making them.

Palenque

But it would be ever so slightly better if you had actually been to all the places you recommend.>

janis - please explain why you make such bogus charges about me - over and over again - like your usual saying i "only cut and paste" - here you go again saying i have not been to all of the places i recommend - well i have been. What's with you Janis and why are you constantly making these bogus charges? I made a living as a travel writer for decades specializing in Europe and in London have indeed been to EVERY significant major tourist sight - even to ones not appealing to me just to know what to write about them.

Once again janis - please stop the character assassination. What is your goal? What drives this relentless from thread to thread attack on my credibility.

Enough on that.

TBC DAY THREE

And i agree with Londonlover that Kensington Palace ain't a must sight for first timers - will re-tool that. Thanks Londonlover for the constructive advice!

Cholmondley_Warner

Jane Austen has a plaque in Westminster Abbey, but she is buried in Winchester Abbey.>>>>

Grr. Froth. Grrr. Twitch. Grrrr.....

My tip:

If you are going on the Eye, spend a couple of quid on the guide which shows which building is which. Otherwise, if you don't know London, you're just looking at a bunch of roofs.

Ps there are pelicans in both Green and St James' Park. But for flamingoes you need St James'.

ElendilPickle

C_W, I thought of you when I posted that.

Lee Ann

Palenque

Actually CW - i think i was mixing up parks - i meant St James Park as being a green connector from Parliament area to Trafalgar Square - thanks for the correction or idea for thinking i was mixing up parks. Anyway a stroll thru either Green Park nearby or St James park lets you experience one of London's great Royal Parks - flamingos and water fowl and all.

St James's Park
With its royal, political and literary associations, St James's Park is at the very heart of London and covers 23 hectares (58 acres). ...
www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/st_james_park/

Cholmondley_Warner

If you're in Green Park you mighjt like a trip to Shepherds Market in MAyfair.

http://shepherdmarket.co.uk/index.htm

But if you're a bloke, and you ask for directions, be prepared for some funny looks as it is also a location for, discrete, prostitution.