lacontessa

We have an even shorter trip in London--just two nights. Daughter's first time in London.

Here is our tentative plan:

Wednesday Oct 20: Arrive Heathrow at 1:10 p.m., take Heathrow Express and taxi to our B&B in Mayfair, rest, tea at Claridges at 5 p.m., Solid Gold Cadillac at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday Oct 21: 8:30 breakfast with colleague, self-guided walking tour to see highlights (colleague's brother-in-law put together a short walking tour for us, see below), changing of the guard at Horse Guard at 11:00 a.m., Harrods food hall or ethnic restaurant for lunch, perhaps London Walk in p.m. or a museum tour (British museum or Victoria and Albert), pre-theater dinner, Woman in White

Friday, October 22
Heathrow to Paris leaving at 1 p.m.

Any suggestions on trying to minimize backtracking, pre-theater dinner for Thursday night (we were thinking of Portrait restaurant at National Portrait Gallery for the view and bargain fixed price meal)? Breakfast with colleague, Harrods, the tea and the two shows are the only "musts."

FYI--here is the recommended walking tour: "From Piccadilly Circus up down Haymarket and up past Carlton House
Terrace. there is the Duke of York's Column (statue) which you pass and
take some steps which lead to the Mall. Opposite is St James Park. You
turn right and follow the Mall down to Buckingham Palace (on your right
will be several famous buildings). You walk back down the Mall through
St James Park and arrive at Horse Guards parade, you turn right and walk
through St Georges St where you will find Westminster Abbey (on your
right) and straight ahead will be Houses of Parliament (If you carry on
over Westminster Bridge you get to the London Eye). Go back on yourself
slightly from the Houses and take a right into Whitehall (Downing Street
on left) and lots of Civil Service Places. Follow Whitehall all the way
up to Nelson's Column and Trafalgar Square. That can lead you back to
Haymarket. This route is fairly easy to follow on a map. Covers a lot in a
relatively short time."

jonldn

Hello

Don?t wish to crit the BIL tour but a few of the suggestions will have you doubling back on yourself

For example changing the guard at Horse Guards in virtually on St James park so you will be seeing all sides of it! (its pretty but not THAT pretty!!)

If you are interested in showing your daughter (depends on age of course!) the more historical places ? I would suggest (and taking Piccadilly Circus as a Starting point?.

Fortnum and Mason (this being on your left) walk down to road by Ritz Hotel ? turn left ? this will take you down to Clarence House (where Queen Mum used to live now occupied by Prince Charles andhis bit of stuff!) on the right and the chapel where Princess Diana was in rest before her burial ? walk down onto the Mall and turn Right to Buckingham Palace you can then walk thru St James Park ( behind you as you face the Palace) take the right hand side of the park this will bring you down to Westminster ? On you right will be the Abbey facing you Houses of Parliament - unless you want to go on the London Eye ? I would not cross Westminster Bridge ? rather I would turn left up Whitehall and pass Downing Street ? look out for the Banqueting hall on your right where King Charles was kept before his execution. Horseguards is on your left as you walk up?.point of interest ? look at the Clock over Horseguards ? the number 2 is plainted black ? to show the time that King Charles was beheaded in the Mall behind you!

After Changing of the Guard walk up to Trafalgar Sq you could walk up to Leicester Sq and then to China Town for a Chinese Lunch they are all much the same

Do you REALLY want to do Harrods ? its SO naff! And not much to see in Knightsbridge ? Fortums is much nicer (sorry I am a Londoner!) if you were in China Town its not that Far to Brit Museum ? or hop a bus to St Pauls or The Tower of London ? (Tower Hill) to see Tower Bridge (don?t cross over it not much to see!)

I don?t know how long the Open top bus tours take but these are very good way of seeing a lot in a short time

Pre Dinner Thursday ? I love the Portrait Gallery for the view you are quite correct! you will -

Sorry for long winded reply!

Whatever enjoy our city and I hope that your Daughter has a GREAT time!

tropo

jonldn has given excellent advice.
For anyone visiting London with only 1 full day, I too would advise using one of the hop on/ hop off buses, and go completely around their circuit, to orientate yourself, then use the bus as a taxi, and hop off at places like Tower of London, or ST.Pauls, etc.
The last time I went to Buck Palace, we waited & waited for the changing of the guard, with huge crowds standing in front (could hardly see a thing), then we got some rain, and the police advised everyone, that the "changing of the guard" had been called off.

lacontessa

Thanks so much for the comments. This will be my second time to London. The first time, I took a London Walks all-day tour which included major outdoor highlights and the changing of the guard. My 28 year old daughter is open to anything--but certainly will want to see at least some of the highlights during our short time there. We have heard so much about Harrod's and neither of us have been. OK--breakfast with colleague, tea at Claridges and the two shows are the musts. Is Fortnum's the better place to go?

Also--don't know whether there is something in or near Mayfair that we can do early on Friday before we leave (e.g, perhaps stop at a good grocery store to pick up teas and jams?). Suggestions? How much time in advance do we need to get to the airport before our flight at 1 p.m.?

jonldn

Where in Mayfair? - My personal opinion on Harrods - is that its a Store - and not a patch on those in other parts of the world - but before I am shot down!! thats my opinion!!!

m_kingdom2

Harrods is a fabulous store. I live in London, it most certainly isn't just for tourists. They are the only store in London to have a Jil Sander concession.

jonldn

Why shop for Jill Sander at Harrods - surely its better to shop at South Molton Street at Browns or Jill Sander at Savile Row much nicer in IMHO that an overpriced store that trades on the colour of its carrier bags and long forgotten attention to service

m_kingdom2

Browns is an excellent boutique to shop at, but I'm talking about stores here.

Personally, I like to have several designers' collections beside each other so I can compare and contrast. The Jil (note the single 'l') Sander store in Burlington Gdns (the address isn't actually Savile Row) is architecturally superb and has virtually everything from her current collections. It does come highly recommended.

You say Harrods is overprices - all their things are list prices, no premium is added because they are stocked at Harrods. Just because something is expensive doesn't mean it's overpriced.

Merseyheart

Lacontessa, I don't know if much will be open early enough for you on your departure date. If your plane leaves at 1 pm, you'll be headed to the airport by 10 am, I should think. Maybe just pop into a Marks and Spencers? What do the locals think? The opentop bus tour would suit you well. You can do the whole route in about two hours. That's the problem with London, though--too much London, not enough time!

jez

If you're going to be in Mayfair, and are up and about early enough, you could nip into Selfridges on Oxford Street. It's one of London's oldest and best known department stores and has - in my opinion - improved dramatically in recent years. For a 1pm flight to Paris I'd be thinking of leaving for the Paddington Express no later than 10.30am.

Depending on which airline you're using, you may be able to check in at Paddington and get your boarding cards (if you do this at least two hours before the departure time you can check in your bags too, which makes the journey to Heathrow a little bit more relaxed.)

m_kingdom2

Selfridges is a real nightmare of a store that is subdivided into so many concessions that it bears more resemblence to a souk than a store. What they've attempted to achieve is an Harrods style store which has concessions floating around open plan floor areas, however, Harrods is far larger - this allows such a scheme without creating a claustrophobic feel.

Furthermore, the fashion buyers at Selfridges aren't skilled, they buy in very ordinary pieces, and often in ridiculous sizes.

A couple of weekends ago, I couldn't be bothered going out to eat, so I picked up some bits from their foodhall - it was highly priced, but very poor quality indeed. Their potato salad in aioli was a pile of tasteless stodge. Their cucumber salad with dill hand't been prepared corrrectly... the list could continue.

Harrods foodhalls are the finest in London - they've counters selling every single kind of produce imaginable, and at reasonable prices.

jez

Wow, m_kingdom2, a third post about Harrods! You really seem to like the place. However this thread isn't solely about *your* preferences/predjudices, it's hopefully about helping out lacontessa (see the thread title.) with some constructive comments.

I would still contend that Selfridges is a more than adequate option for a spot of last minute shopping. The cucumber salad with dill may be

jez

not quite up to scratch, but for most people it's a more than acceptable store (and handier than Harrods!)

lacontessa

Thanks everyone for the advice. Didn't realize that people felt so strongly about Harrod's (for and against). We are flying on Air France and staying right near Grosvenor Square in Mayfair. Does that help?

mclaurie

lacontessa, you've gotten excellent advice here. I'm particularly in agreement with jonldn.

On the issue of to Harrods or not to Harrods, IMO, go (so you can say you did and feel you haven't missed something), have a walk around the food halls and leave. It <i>is</i> just a store. Unfortunately the exchange rate will not encourage you to buy <i>anything</i> in London. I personally would wait to do any shopping in Paris.

BTW, you can make purchases from Harrods online (harrods.com). They also have several outposts at Heathrow for souvenir type items like their ubiquitous carryall, teddy bears, teas, jams etc. I'm not sure about whether they're in the Air France terminal, but you may be able to find out online what shops you'll have access to on your way to Paris.

You should find out from Air France how much in advance you're expected to check in. The fact that you'll have assigned seats is a good thing.

On Friday morning if you get up and out early, you could go to Portobello Rd. market. They open at 7 am. There would also be places for you to get breakfast there. This is the Notting Hill area.

You don't mention where you'll be meeting your colleague for breakfast, but the Cinammon Club (a well regarded and trendy Indian rest.) evidently does breakfast (not necessarily Indian ) and it would put you quite close to the Houses of Parliament. I agree the hop on/off bus is really a great way to see a lot in a short time.

Here's a URL for a list of good breakfast places (the River Room at the Savoy would be nice too) http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/home_fea...stmeetings.asp

That website also has good info on Portobello Rd. and lots of other things.

lacontessa

Thanks for the breakfast suggestions, but, we are staying at a B&amp;B (the only guests in someone's home in Mayfair) so will get a full breakfast. The host has kindly agreed to include my colleague for breakfast.

Robespierre

You can see more by not walking so much.

I don't think the bus tours are good value. Buy a one-day TfL bus pass at any Tube station (there's also a 7-day for those staying longer), and while you're at the ticket window, get a copy of the tourist bus map called <b>Tube &amp; Bus - Map out your Day</b>.

With a little planning, you can see a lot. Be sure to account for the fact that many attractions close at 4-5PM.

kk

Lacontessa, I'm looking for a B&amp;B for two nights in London in April. Would you be willing to divulge the one you found in Mayfair and its price and how you book it? If not, thanks anyway, I understand that someone's home could be a special sort of thing. kk

lacontessa

I booked through &quot;At Home in London&quot; We are paying &pound;92.00 a night for 2 guests including breakfast, reservation fee &amp; tax (or about $168 per night). I know that we could get a less expensive place via Priceline but we are in London only 2 nights so wanted a pretty, clean, safe, well located place for my daughter's first trip to London.

kk

Thank you!