I am graduating from graduate school in a coupla weeks and I am going on my life long dream trip to the UK.

I am meeting a friend in Manchester for 2 days and then taking the train to London w/o my friend.

I am staying at the Strand Palace.

I should be arriving in London shortly before noon on a Wed.

My plan was to do the hop on hop off tour that I got for only 24 dollars and hit the touristy spots.

My DAY 2 was to go to the London Zoo and to Hampstead to visit a friend. I have since nixed the plan to go to the zoo after reading some comments here on Fodors.....so I need something to do on this day.... I was thinking I could go to Camden Market- I am not sure which one, I know there are two. Is this a full day affair or can I shop there and do something else the remainder of the day? Any suggestions. ( Scrapping the zoo plan threw off my plans- so I need help)

OR- I could just stay around the area and go to Covent Garden for more shopping...

Any thoughts?

I also wanted to go to St. Pauls for evensong at 5PM.

My Day 3- Friday
British Museum and Harrods

Day 4- Saturday

Nottinghill. I planned on making it an all day affair and then going back to the hotel to pack for my return trip home.

Which church has the best evensong? St. Pauls or Westminster Abbey?

I do not have any evening plans on any of my nights because I am travelling alone and I am not a club or bar person. Any thoughts of what a young person who doesn't drink and has never been abroad before can do in the evening hours and still have fun...I thought about seeing a show...

The only planning I have done revolves around shopping and hitting some of the places I have been dreaming of seeing.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Policywonk

While scanning another thread I found this link in regard to evensong. Simply beautiful!!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/index.shtml?refresh

I would definately go to St. Pauls. But remember that there is major cleaning and repairs going on at St. Pauls (through 2004 I think). But still worth it. Also remember that stores in London (i.e., Harrods close early (around 6:00 or 7:00 PM I think).

I think you made a wise decision to ditch the zoo. Not really much to see there

MarkInBoston

Definately get theatre tickets for at least one evening. Ticketmaster.co.uk has tickets for all major shows. Maybe consider an evening London Walks tour (can also look up tours online - very inexpensive).

I just returned from London with 2 teenage daughters and we did many of the things you mentioned. If you enjoy flea markets, you could spend most of the day in Camden. There are multiple market areas that can take hours to explore. We took the tube there, and the bus back, I forget which ones, but it's on the maps. Be sure you walk down the main street, over the canel and get to the stable markets. We left that till the end and didn't have enough time (according to my daughter).

You would still have time to do something afterward, because London is packed with areas for walking around and exploring (Trafalga Sq., Covent Garden, St. James Park, Oxford St., the area around Big Ben) It's light out till almost 9 and the streets are full of people. In different areas, the stores are open in the evening so things stay very active.

You could easily be back from Camden for the 5:00 even song at St. Pauls. In fact, we took the bus back from Camden, changed at Trafalga Sq. and continued on to St. Pauls. It was a Thursday - check which days the Camden Markets are open (guidebooks can tell you.)

There is some construction at St. Pauls, but most areas are accessible and you should not let the construction keep you away. I would definately recommend a show. We saw My Fair Lady (we needed something family friendly) for about $25/person. It was a great production!

You didn't mention the Tower of London, touristy, yes, but the Crown Jewels are spectacular. Go early (before 11 am to avoid the lines).

Also, a final thought re: shopping. Many of the stores in London are branches of international chains i.e. they are the same stores you will find in most malls and cities in the US (I just assunmed you were an American). You might want to consider some of London's other wonderful museums, the Tates (both of them) the National Gallery, the Victoria and Albert...)

I love the ZOO! And wandering around the whole Regent's park area..and looking at the canals! But I can't see combining it with a trip to hampstead..too long and too far. Most of Camden PASSAGE is open on Wed and sat so as I read your post you will be there on a Thus..so that's a no go as far as seeing the street scene. Camden MARKET is a week-end affair.

So do Covent Garden and just take in the area...great shops along King's Rd too.

See some theater if you are not into the club/pub scene. Go to South bank and wander around, lots of life at night.

Sounds like you have done your homework, and got your trip planned...but will offer a couple suggestions:

1. From Manchester you will probably arrive London at Euston Station. You can catch the "tube" www.thetube.com
on the Northern Line and get off at Charring Cross...not too far from your hotel....This is not going to take long...so you have the whole afternoon to sightsee.

2. As you probably already know ...the hop on and off tour is a 24 hour pass...you can use part of Wed. afternoon and the remaining Thurs. morning....Would suggest just taking the tour in the afternoon...to see what's there....and in the A.M. going to London Tower...

3. Suggest...as you mentioned...go to Covent Gardens....the live performers in the courtyard are always entertaining.

4. Piccadilly Circus and SOHO at night are interesting...usually lots of young people

5. Harrods....awesome....and I am not a shopper, but a real sight to see.

enjoy

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Yes I am American

Thanks for the information about Camden and St. Pauls.

I really appreciate the information about the train situation. I haven't gotten all of my detailed plans from my travel agent yet and I had no idea where I would be arriving or when precisely- so the info about Euston Station was great to know. That's the only part of the trip I am concentrating on at the moment- getting from the train station to my hotel.

I guess I will take everyones advice about seeing a show.

I found out today I got a hotel switch in Manchester, it looks like a way better hotel (online)- and to top it off, I am saving 78 bucks! WooHoo!

I am totally getting prepared for this trip and researching everything- it is so funny, after all these years in school and all the blood, sweat, and tears- I actually learned a thing or two about researching and getting organized.

Whodathunk it!?!?

Thanks again everyone. I am beyond excited!!!

Can't believe this is all real yet.

Good for you. I hope you enjoy yourself.

You can do so by saving money! Go to www.thetrainline.com and punch in London as your destination from Manchester Piccadilly. Do NOT just wander up to the station and get yourself a single (one-way) rail ticket, especially before 11am as you will pay dear!

Check out the fares on the web and get them to post the ticket to your friend's house (get a full postcode from him, or for the hotel you are staying at.) Keep your email from the train company. You can get really cheap, 2nd class fares (sometimes, only y10 or so) if you don't travel at high peak times. Go there now and get the best bargains, as the 14 day advance tickets are the cheapest. Virgin Trains go to London Euston. A new service from Midland Mainline goes to London St Pancras.
Sneaky tip: Sometimes, it is cheaper to buy a return ticket (round trip) than a single, for some bizarre reason. If so, just make up a return date on a weekday in the middle of the day and see whether that helps. Just discard the return to Manchester portion.

As for London, get yourself a daily Travelcard for Zone 1, as most of the tourist stuff is within that zone (assuming your hotel is too.) No need for photos, just buy them daily from the Tube station or the local newsagent for use after 0930. Valid for all buses and Tubes and trains within the zone you buy. If you need to go further, just buy an extension at the Tube station from the ticket office. NB you can use the 0930 Travelcard on buses even before 0930, in whatever zone yuou like.

PS Manchester is a good place. Check out the new art gallery and have a pint at the Lass O' Gowrie.

I am a born and bred Londoner and recommend that you buy a pair of walking shoes and spend one day getting lost. Have some basic objectives but walk wherever takes your fancy, you will see so much. If you want to go to St Pauls - walk from your hotel - pass Fleet Street, the Temple, Aldwych etc.

Camden Market is very busy on Sundays but more peaceful during the week, you can walk along the Canal from Camden to Regents Park (the best of the London Parks by far). Expect to see a few punks and more outrageous English types.

Evenings will be tough if you do not like pubs! Try and catch a show or two and buy the timeout magazine when you arrive which will give you a list of all events, often there are concerts etc very reasonably priced.

I hate to be cynical but shopping in London is a waste! Nothing is cheap, use the time to visit more museums instead. The National Gallery is superb and totally free.

Finally get a guided walk (some of these can be done in the evening)- there is a company that does "Jack the Ripper", "Shakespeare" and "Dickens" type walks. Even Londoners love these walks!

Sounds like a wonderful trip. A few thoughts-do not get confused between Camden Passage (in Islington) which is antiques and Camden Market which is I think what you want. I thought Camden Market was only "on" during the weekend so check this out. Sounds like day 3 is a bit ambitious. If visiting a friend in Hampstead, why rush back for evensong at 5?

You should definetly go to the theater at least once. You can get discount tickets in Leicester Square or at the box office on the day of performance.

I agree shopping is quite expensive in London but it's always fun to look Harvey Nichols (if you're female) is a great dept. store. Also Selfridges. Notting Hill is a good idea for Sat. Just be aware that the Portobello Road antique market is there on Sat. & it gets mobbed so go early (before 9)

Thanks everyone for replying to my initial query!

This information is great!

I didn't think I could be this excited about anything....It is kinda like that feeling when you're a kid and you know you've gotten everything you have wanted for Christmas, but you have to wait before you wake the folks up because it's not even dawn yet

Oh and someone asked me about going to Hampstead and why was I rushing back for evensong- its just a pop in visit. I won't even be there an hour.

So making it back for evensong won't really be an issue or that much of a stretch.

Thanks again everyone! You have been most helpful!!