Meredith

Hi, all,

I'll be traveling to the UK from the states in a few weeks for a business trip, and my schedule allows me just one free day in London and a free afternoon in Reading (which is where I'll be staying for the business part of the trip). Several questions here, and I'd appreciate any advice.

First, how do you boil down all the sites of London to just one day? I've been to London once before, about 15 years ago, also for just one day. I visited Westminster Abby, and although I found it fascinating, I don't need to see it again. Also saw the Changing of the Guard, so don't need to revisit that. Everything else, though, is on the table! I suppose a double-decker bus tour might be the best for my short timeframe, but I would love to hear any other tips or advice. I love English history and good people-watching spots. Thinking of the Tower of London, St. Paul's, the London Eye, Covent Garden... I just don't know what's realistic for one day.

Also, what to do in Reading? It sounds like this isn't exactly a tourist hot spot, but I'd love some tips on what to see either in Reading or very nearby. I only have one afternoon free, and I'd be happy just walking around town. Any thoughts?

Thanks so much!
Meredith

ron

If you don't want to stay in Reading, there are frequent trains to Oxford that take about 25 minutes. That would give you a couple of hours to walk around that historic university city.

Reading itself doesn't have much to attract. The Kennett & Avon canal passes through the town. It is a pleasant walk along the canal tow path towards the River Thames. A couple of canal-side pubs, with out door seating, as I remember.

jent103

You can't really boil down all of tourist London to a day, sadly. What interests you most? History, art, etc? Personally, if you've already been to the Westminster area, I'd probably head to the Tower and then to St. Paul's after. But you could also do the British Museum, or the National Gallery/Trafalgar Square, or any number of things.

Do you have a full day - in other words, are you staying in London the night before and the night of your London day? Or is this a day trip from Reading?

flanneruk

"Reading (which is where I'll be staying for the business part of the trip)."

Is it?

There are few hotels in central Reading: the Reading area is awash with them. The town of Reading isn't the hellhole to live in popular myth makes it out to be: but it's pretty devoid of anything for a casual afternoon visitor but chain shops. The one big exception is that the Thames Path (which goes from the source of the Thames in Gloucestershire to the beginning of its estuary) runs about half a mile north of the centre : it may well be a great deal nearer where you're staying than the pretty humdrum shopping area. The Path's a bit dull through Reading - but it gets lovely very quickly east and west.

It strikes me as pretty perverse to worry too much about the place with Oxford 23 mins away: many of the intermediate stations on the line to Oxford and east to London are much more pleasant, smaller, towns than Reading and their station's a couple of hundred yards from prettier bits of the Thames Path. Though Reading's a significant railway hub, most places with direct trains, apart from the small towns along the Thames, are a much longer journey than Oxford. Remember: in a few weeks, it gets dark at 5.


On the map, Windsor and Eton look close. But they both need you to change trains at Slough (which ISN'T smaller or prettier than Reading) and that's likely to eat into a lot of your free time.

If you've had to hire a car to get to where you're staying and working, don't try driving to Oxford, but get the train. You might find a drive through the Thames Valley, or to Abingdon, a better use of your time than messing about with central Reading

annhig

This might, ironically, be the time for the HOHO bus, though a poster who had gone down that route recently came back and agreed that the advice she had received about it had been correct. [ie it's an expensive and long-winded way of getting about London].

Alternatively, why not look at what's on at the many galleries/museums in London, and target one or two of them that interest you? After all, you can't see it all, so why try? just use the opportunity to further/widen your interests and explore whatever part of London the gallery or museum might be in - there's sure to be something there to see.

Meredith

Thanks so much for the comments!

Flanneruk - I"m staying at the Hilton Reading, so you are correct. It's not IN central Reading but seems to be just a short drive away. No matter, though, because I love the idea of visiting Oxford! This idea hadn't occurred to me at all. Ah, the beauty of travel forums! Thanks to Flanner and Ron for the suggestion.

And jent103/annhig - my time in London will be a daytrip from Reading, so of course that cuts down my time even more. I think I will try to focus on just a few things. The history of the Tower of London really intrigues me, so that's on the short list. And I still might try out the HOHO bus (had to Google HOHO - it's so obvious now, but I just couldn't figure it out!).

Thanks to all!

janisj

Everyone has given terrific advice. Oxford would be a no brainer IMO.

Now about the H-o-H-o -- is your free day a weekday? If so that is even <i>more</i> reason to skip the bus tour. The buses can't go any faster than traffic allows. You will spend hours doing a single loop. And that is w/o hopping off to visit anything.

janisj

And yes- they can use bus lanes - but they are still sloooow.

jamikins

Head to the Tower straight away and expect to spend 1/2 a day there. From there you can see Tower Bridge. If you want to you can walk across it and then along South Bank to London Bridge or all the way down to Waterloo. There are lots of pubs and places to eat. If you are there on a Thurs - Sat you can stop at Borough Market for lunch or a bite to eat: http://www.boroughmarket.org.uk/ It is open Mon - Wed but has the most activity on Thurs - Sat.


Along that walk you will also pass The Globe Theatre, the Tate Modern, St Pauls on the other side of the river, the Eye at Waterloo and you can then see Big Ben and Parliament across the river.

Hope you enjoy your time!

Sassafrass

I hated the HOHO bus in London and after being stuck in traffic for nearly half an hour, realized I could walk some of the places faster, got off and did not get back on. With only one day, I would pick two or three things that were of great interest and do those. It would make a more meaningful visit, I think.

Love the idea of an afternoon in Oxford.

Meredith

Again, thanks to all! I will be in London on a Sunday. Does that make any difference in terms of what I visit and whether or not I do the HOHO?

janisj

"<i>Does that make any difference in terms of what I visit and whether or not I do the HOHO?</i>"

not really IMO. The traffic won't be as bad, but they are still pretty slow. Plus the weather will likely be cold if not raining. They do hand out ponchos, but the top deck of a H-o-H-o bus can be REALLY uncomfortable (and no, one really can't see much from inside downstairs).

jent103

If any churches are on your list, there might be more services to work around on Sundays. (I went to a 5pm evensong service at St. Paul's a few years ago, but can't remember if people were allowed to be walking around during the service or not.) So you might look into that on their web sites. Otherwise, I'm with the others who say don't bother with the HOHO bus. Just figure out a list of your priorities and do that - you'll see a lot on your way anyway!

janisj

Re Sundays and St Pauls - it is only open for services, no touring/sightseeing