Limited time in Paris (only 2 days!) and London (1 week). Would like help in deciding what to see and what to miss. Plus, we like adventure, fun, and a pint every now and then...so let's make this interesting! Thanks!

How much have you got to spend on a hotel in London? If you can stretch, stay at The Rookery in Clerkenwell.

Make sure you take a boat trip to Greenwich. It will give you a real feel for the relationship between London and the Thames. Take note of the old wharves (mainly posh housing now) which have original features. If you can come back at night, even better. The lights of Canary Wharf are stunning, if only because the rest of London seems so dark.

Make sure you wander around The City & Clerkenwell, preferably at off peak times. This is a charming area of London and I think overlooked by tourists. Try www.walks.com if you need a guide. They are very good, only costs a fiver, and they will bring the area alive for you.

I don't believe in 'Not sees'. I happen to adore Madame Tussauds (I had no idea that Charles de Gaulle was 6'5&quot and most people here think it's worth a miss. I also love Hampstead and think that you should make your way up there. Again, try and do a London Walk there. That will get you in the backstreets, will take you past some very old, cosy pubs and will also take you onto the Heath.

As for Paris, I have only been a tourist there. It is a place I go back to again and again. I would say have a wander around the 5, 6 and 7 arrondissements, Place des Vosges in the Marais, try and drop into the Musée D'Orsay, visit the Jardin du Luxembourg. There is a fantastic kitchen shop near Les Halles and a florist shop that sells only beautiful roses near L'Odeon but you're probably not interested in that...

Hi
If you click on Destinations at the top of this screen and go to the Paris and the London sections, there will be lots of suggestions, including itineraries for short stays, to help you narrow down your interests.\\

With two days in Paris, do you want to wander and stroll, or be task-oriented and go to the usual spots like the Louvre and Eiffel Tower?

I have files on the two cities; if you'd like to see them, email me
at [email protected]

Shanrath, I think "must sees" & what to miss depends on how much you like art, architecture and history. Since you haven't mentioned those, I'll skip them.

For fun in London, everybody seems to like the London Walks (londonwalks.com) & particularly the Jack the Ripper walk at night. It also sounds like a pub crawl is in your future. I think there are organized tours for this if you're interested. A ride on the London Eye sounds like an adventure. A Beefeater tour at the Tower of London is fun. Most people like to do a hop on hop off bus tour at the beginning of the trip to get an overview of the city & see all the major sights, at least from the outside.

With just 2 days in Paris, I'd just pick a few things and walk. Take a cruise on the Seine one night.

If you like museums try the Victoria and Albert, in London and you will see exquisite craftsmanship on everything from tiara's, swords, furniture, clocks, etc. I love the clothing exhibit.
For Paris I would have to recommend a stroll through the Jardin de Luxemberg on the weekend when it is filled with Parisians. Bon Voyage!

I always suggest walking through the beautiful parks in London. My favorite is Regent's park and this year, we found Primrose Hill after walking out of Regent's. (I am terrible with directions so hopefully, another poster could give some directions.) This spot is absolutely gorgeous once you get to the top--terrific views of London! Hyde Park, Kennsington Gardens, and St. James Park are all lovely too and not to be missed.

If you want to see some palaces, take a day trip to Windsor and/or Hampton Court Palace--truly fascinating and the grounds are beautiful. Kennsington Palace is also very interesting. I enjoyed the displays of the queen's hats and Diana's dresses. Have a great trip!

We have a place to stay, in Kensington. I am extremly interested in art (working on my masters in art history), but love a good time. Any suggestions for a good pub crawl? Keep those suggestions coming! And thank you!

Art, yes!? In London go to the National Portrait Gallery. It's fun and a good history lesson and some nice & sometimes funky art. The Wallace Collection is great.

In Paris don't miss the Rodin museum & the Picasso, both small gems in mansions. The Piacsso has a lot of his early work which we don't tend to see. (Picasso fans tend not to like it & those who generally don't like Picasso are surprised). Lots of great small museums in both cities.

One of the things I ask friends who ask me what are the 'must sees' of London is: 'what do you think they are?' In other words, what do you consider are the representative buildings, images, sensory experiences, foods, etc. associated with London that if you didn't experience you would be disappointed?

After they list them out then I ask them to prioritize them (I know it sounds anal, but it honestly works), then I help them figure out what they can see and do to satisfy their wish list.

For example, a friend who was recently travelling to London had a list that looked something like this (I don't have it in front of me, but it will be close enough to illustrate the point):

jewels in the Tower of London
the Rosetta Stone
unique pubs - places with history
anything to do with Sherlock Holmes
the east end/Jack the Ripper
the underground
fish and chips
Charing Cross book stores
lawyers in wigs
a take-away
Buckingham Palace
a fish market with Cockney voices
Big Ben
tea somewhere posh

She didn't name specific museums or restaurants, and didn't mention the theatre at all. Together we did some research and worked out a great holiday of her 'must sees'.

The downside is when someone asks, 'when you were in London did you see a, b, c' - listing the most obvious places, you may have to say, 'no.' The upside is that you can say 'but I saw d, e, f' and had a great time. Because the trip is much more yours.

Have fun.