There are at least 5 rooms in the exhibition, europe. Timed for 30 minutes per entry. I went alone and it took the full time. Some of the cutouts are huge. Hope you enjoy it.

Argh, annw!

The exhibit really sounds impressive from what I read. Thanks TDuTwo. Looking forward to your full report.

Lateday--were you finally able to purchase your tickets?

Annw--glad I missed that one. But at the Andy Warhol museum in Pittsburgh you can see his display of urine and how it trickles onto the canvas. My DS saw it, and said "pee on a canvas is art?" To each his own.

euro, DS should count his blessings it was only urine!!

>>How many rooms are dedicated to the exhibition?<<

The exhibition space is divided into fourteen rooms, with examples of the technique from his earliest experiments in the 1930s through to his death in 1954, including a complete display of all of the original maquettes, text and plates of the book "Jazz", the wall-hangings derived from his experiments in his studio, book designs and original plans for commissions as well as the finished articles and several rooms on the work done for the chapel at Vence, with films of him at work. I thought the audio guide was worth the extra payment.

Thanks Patrick for the detail. We are definitely looking forward to seeing this exhibit.

Annw-Yes, true. Actually, some of Andy Warhol's works were impressive especially his album covers but that piece was not one of them for us.

My Favorite RV1 bus goes from Covent Garden area, Westminster, crosses bridge, London Eye,Tate Modern, then Globe Theater and ends up at Tower of London. Can it get much better?

Hi again Europeannovice,

"Lateday--were you finally able to purchase your tickets?" Yes, thank you, today I booked on line for Thursday, June 19 which includes a tour at 12:15. Originally, I had thought of going on a Saturday but changed my mind thinking that day would be sooo busy.

Cost of exhibit and tour was £20.50 ($34.84 US). I am happy with that. I thought that I might do the tour of the GLOBE before going to the TATE since it is close by.

Patrick London, thank you for your description of the Matisse exhibit. Wow, it sounds huge. This will be my first visit to the TATE MODERN. Perhaps I will return on another day to see more of their collections.

Lincasanova, you mentioned "My Favorite RV1 bus." What does RV mean? Does it go down Whitehall? Use my Oyster card? Sounds like a good option. Thanks to all...

RV1 is a bus route

RV1 doesn't go down Whitehall - but gets you pretty close.

https://www.tfl.gov.uk/bus/route/rv1/

RV = riverside (usually, if there's a letter in the bus number, it indicates a short route within a specific area indicated by the letter, not that I'm an anorak about these things).

Janisj and Patrick, thank you, I am going to use more buses this time, now that I have "mastered" the Tube on my last jaunt. :)

Sometimes I just get on one going the general right direction and transfer where I'm told if that one is not going close enough. really wonderful system. so much less walking but slower at times.

I do use the tube more than buses (mainly because I pretty much have the tube map imprinted on my brain and find it very easy) but I do use buses too. My main 'go to' routes are the 15 from east London past the Tower, St Paul's, to Trafalgar Square, the RV1 which sort of parallels the 15 along the south bank, the 24 from Pimlico through Trafalgar Sq, Covent Garden/Leicester Sq and up Tottenham Court Rd, and the 10 from Kensington, around the parks and up Oxford street eventually to Kings Cross.

The buses I mostly ride are the 24 (when staying in Pimlico), the 15 (when staying near the Tower) and Night buses after the tube shuts down.

janisj, just wondering, how many times have you been to London? :)

Lateday--Glad you were able to purchase your tickets.

We used the buses extensively on our last trip. We had MIL with us and she couldn't manage the stairs on the tube too often so we opted for the buses. I had so many print outs of different bus routes with us.

The RV bus wouldn't help us though--doesn't go far enough--would still have to transfer.

Europeannovice, have you decided where you will stay on your visit to London?

latedaytraveler: >>janisj, just wondering, how many times have you been to London? :)<<

A few times ;)

I lived near Oxford for 5 years and probably visited London 12-15 times a year over that period . . . and after that, between 1 and 3 times a year so probably close to 100 times (from one day-ers to two week visits.)

>>I am going to use more buses this time<<

If you're not already familiar with it, start with the map in the TfL visitors' guide:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/maps/visitors-and-tourists

There's usually a "spider map" at each bus stop of routes serving that stop and where they go (at major interchange points, it will include all stops in the immediate area with a map of their layout). You can also find out what buses are expected at any stop in the next half hour, by texting the number for the stop to the central database, or by using one of several phone apps, or checking the TfL website.

Janisj, I should have known that you lived in the UK for some time to know your way around so well.

Patrick, thanks for the bus map - will check it out.

Also, I just posted these youtube links about the MATISSE CUTOUTS on another thread. Really looking forward to seeing the exhibit. Of course, I will have to read a Matisse bio before I go. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLgSd8ka0Gs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNCKsz24R3Q

Lateday--thanks for the you tube links. In answer to your question, we plan on staying in the South Kensington area this time. Last time in London we stayed free on points at the Renaissance Chancery Court which was great, but the Marriott chain sold it--it is astronomically priced now so we looked to stay in a different area this time. No more points to use either--otherwise I would want to try the new Renaissance at St Pancras but not at their current rates.

Hi Europeannovice,

I think you will be happy with So. Kennsington, very pleasant and accessible by Tube to major sites.

I hear you about St. Pancras Renaissance - way out of my budget too. (I never have points.) But I might stroll through the lobby and have a drink just to see the place if I am in the vicinity. Such an historic building.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Pan...e_London_Hotel