Paris and London Itinerary Review
Apr 2nd, 2009 | 08:19 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 49
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Paris and London Itinerary Review
I will be traveling solo to Paris and London this June and just want to know if my itinerary seems reasonable. I have never been to Paris, but I’ve been to London twice. I have a tendency to overplan, so this time I tried to limit myself, especially in Paris. However, I am not sure if I’ve still overplanned. I enjoy medieval and Egyptian history, interesting architecture, and art (no specific time period but not really into modern art). I arrive in Paris in the early morning.
Tuesday: Drop bags at Latin Quarter apartment. Explore Latin Quarter.
Explore the islands of Ile de la Cite, either Notre Dame or Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie. Sainte-Chapelle evening concert if there is one.
Wednesday: Visit Musee D’Orsay. Shopping at Le Bon Marche. St-Germain walk, including shopping and visits to Jardin du Luxembourg, Church of St-Sulpice and St-Germain-des-Pres. Visit the Cluny if time permits. Visit the Eiffel Tower to view it only, at dusk.
Thursday: Visit Musee du Louvre, Musee des Arts decoratif, Jardin des Tuileries, Arc de Triomphe. Stroll along the Avenue Des Champs-Elysees and window shop along Boulevard Haussmann. Visit Jacquemart-Andre Museum.
Friday: Visit Versailles.
Saturday: Le Marais walk, including a visit to Musee Carnavalet. Montmarte Walk, making sure to visit Basilique du Sacre-Coeur.
Sunday: Open air market in the morning and shopping in the afternoon.
Monday (Last Day): Visit Montparnasse. Visit one or two places I had previously planned but didn’t get to, probably Ile de la Cite.
Tuesday: Eurostar to England.
Tuesday – Sunday: Canterbury and Stratford-Upon-Avon
Monday: Arrive in London midmorning. Visit British Museum to see some favorites.
Visit Dicken’s House Museum and British Library.
Tuesday: Visit Buckingham Palace to Attend the Changing of the Guard. Visit the National Gallery. Shopping on Piccadilly and Regent Street. Attend an evening play.
Wednesday: Visit St. Paul’s Cathedral, Somerset House to see Courtald Gallery, and Sir John Sloane’s museum. Possibly visit the National Gallery or the V&A in the evening.
Thursday: Visit Hampton Court. Afternoon shopping back in London.
Friday: Visit Westminster Abbey. Walk across the Millennium bridge. Attend performance of As You Like It at Globe Theater (2 P.M. show). Take a self-guided walk or go shopping.
Saturday: Visit Harrods, Kensington Palace, the V&A Museum if haven’t gotten there yet or Vinopolis.
Sunday (Last Day): Sunday services at St. Paul’s. Explore Hampstead Heath. I am staying in Highgate Village in an apartment.
Tuesday: Drop bags at Latin Quarter apartment. Explore Latin Quarter.
Explore the islands of Ile de la Cite, either Notre Dame or Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie. Sainte-Chapelle evening concert if there is one.
Wednesday: Visit Musee D’Orsay. Shopping at Le Bon Marche. St-Germain walk, including shopping and visits to Jardin du Luxembourg, Church of St-Sulpice and St-Germain-des-Pres. Visit the Cluny if time permits. Visit the Eiffel Tower to view it only, at dusk.
Thursday: Visit Musee du Louvre, Musee des Arts decoratif, Jardin des Tuileries, Arc de Triomphe. Stroll along the Avenue Des Champs-Elysees and window shop along Boulevard Haussmann. Visit Jacquemart-Andre Museum.
Friday: Visit Versailles.
Saturday: Le Marais walk, including a visit to Musee Carnavalet. Montmarte Walk, making sure to visit Basilique du Sacre-Coeur.
Sunday: Open air market in the morning and shopping in the afternoon.
Monday (Last Day): Visit Montparnasse. Visit one or two places I had previously planned but didn’t get to, probably Ile de la Cite.
Tuesday: Eurostar to England.
Tuesday – Sunday: Canterbury and Stratford-Upon-Avon
Monday: Arrive in London midmorning. Visit British Museum to see some favorites.
Visit Dicken’s House Museum and British Library.
Tuesday: Visit Buckingham Palace to Attend the Changing of the Guard. Visit the National Gallery. Shopping on Piccadilly and Regent Street. Attend an evening play.
Wednesday: Visit St. Paul’s Cathedral, Somerset House to see Courtald Gallery, and Sir John Sloane’s museum. Possibly visit the National Gallery or the V&A in the evening.
Thursday: Visit Hampton Court. Afternoon shopping back in London.
Friday: Visit Westminster Abbey. Walk across the Millennium bridge. Attend performance of As You Like It at Globe Theater (2 P.M. show). Take a self-guided walk or go shopping.
Saturday: Visit Harrods, Kensington Palace, the V&A Museum if haven’t gotten there yet or Vinopolis.
Sunday (Last Day): Sunday services at St. Paul’s. Explore Hampstead Heath. I am staying in Highgate Village in an apartment.
Apr 2nd, 2009 | 08:47 AM
#2
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 27,030
Likes: 0
Hi,
I think your itin looks pretty good. Just a few comments on the London part:
On Wed; while you're at John Soane's Museum, consider visiting the Lincoln's Inn, Inns of Court, and the Temple area. They're one of the more preserved sections of London, dating back to Elizabethan time.
On Friday, see if you can visit Westminster Abbey on a different day because it's kind of "out of the way". Don't miss Borough Market on the South Bank. Great place to browse through all those food stalls and a good place for an inexpensive lunch. While you said you don't like modern art, I think it's still worthwhile to pop into Tate Modern, if not for just a look at the architecture (you did say you like architecture), and the gallery where the Rothko's Seagram murals are. IMO, it is the most beautiful gallery in all of London.
And here are a few more things you may be interested, and which you may be able to fit in if you forgo shopping:
Wallace Collection - wonderful collection of all things French: Louis XIV, XV furniture, Sevres porcelain, Rococo paintings (think Boucher and Fragonard)
http://www.wallacecollection.org/
Spencer House - belonged to Spencer family but now owned by the Rothchilds. They did a fantastic job restoring the place. Only open for visit on Sundays.
http://www.spencerhouse.co.uk/index2.htm
On Sunday while at Hampstead, don't miss Kenwood House (has a Vermeer there), and perhaps visit 2 willow road? (A modernist house)
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/s...show=nav.12783
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-2willowroad
Lastly, one museum that I really enjoyed is the Imperial War Museum. Might not be what you are interested in, but very well done indeed.
P.S. since you're traveling alone, you won't be able to take advantage of the 2-for-1 deals. However, this website has a few 20% off coupons which you may benefit:
http://www.discountbritain.net/
Also check out lastminute.com under "London Attractions", there are some minor discounts (10% off) for HCP, Kensington Palace, St Paul's etc.
http://www.lastminute.com/site/enter...ut_attractions
I think your itin looks pretty good. Just a few comments on the London part:
On Wed; while you're at John Soane's Museum, consider visiting the Lincoln's Inn, Inns of Court, and the Temple area. They're one of the more preserved sections of London, dating back to Elizabethan time.
On Friday, see if you can visit Westminster Abbey on a different day because it's kind of "out of the way". Don't miss Borough Market on the South Bank. Great place to browse through all those food stalls and a good place for an inexpensive lunch. While you said you don't like modern art, I think it's still worthwhile to pop into Tate Modern, if not for just a look at the architecture (you did say you like architecture), and the gallery where the Rothko's Seagram murals are. IMO, it is the most beautiful gallery in all of London.
And here are a few more things you may be interested, and which you may be able to fit in if you forgo shopping:
Wallace Collection - wonderful collection of all things French: Louis XIV, XV furniture, Sevres porcelain, Rococo paintings (think Boucher and Fragonard)
http://www.wallacecollection.org/
Spencer House - belonged to Spencer family but now owned by the Rothchilds. They did a fantastic job restoring the place. Only open for visit on Sundays.
http://www.spencerhouse.co.uk/index2.htm
On Sunday while at Hampstead, don't miss Kenwood House (has a Vermeer there), and perhaps visit 2 willow road? (A modernist house)
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/s...show=nav.12783
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-2willowroad
Lastly, one museum that I really enjoyed is the Imperial War Museum. Might not be what you are interested in, but very well done indeed.
P.S. since you're traveling alone, you won't be able to take advantage of the 2-for-1 deals. However, this website has a few 20% off coupons which you may benefit:
http://www.discountbritain.net/
Also check out lastminute.com under "London Attractions", there are some minor discounts (10% off) for HCP, Kensington Palace, St Paul's etc.
http://www.lastminute.com/site/enter...ut_attractions
Apr 2nd, 2009 | 08:54 AM
#3
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 75,019
Likes: 50
Just a few random thoughts:
• Canterbury and Stratford-upon-Avon -- the two could not be farther apart. How are you getting from one to the other? Seems a strange "two fer".
• Ditch the Changing of the Guard - you will have to get there quite early to have any chance of seeing anything and it will eat up your entire morning.
• It is Sir John Soane's Museum (not Sloane)
• Where are you from - what access to wineries/wine tasting do you have at home? You may be quite ubderwhelmed by Vinopolis.
• "<i>either Notre Dame or Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie</i>" - no need for the "either" - its easy to do all three since they are only a few minutes apart.
• Canterbury and Stratford-upon-Avon -- the two could not be farther apart. How are you getting from one to the other? Seems a strange "two fer".
• Ditch the Changing of the Guard - you will have to get there quite early to have any chance of seeing anything and it will eat up your entire morning.
• It is Sir John Soane's Museum (not Sloane)
• Where are you from - what access to wineries/wine tasting do you have at home? You may be quite ubderwhelmed by Vinopolis.
• "<i>either Notre Dame or Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie</i>" - no need for the "either" - its easy to do all three since they are only a few minutes apart.
Apr 2nd, 2009 | 10:23 AM
#4
Original Poster
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
YK, thanks for your suggestions.
Janisj, I teach English literature and seeing Shakespeare's birthplace, etc. and the Cathedral at Canterbury are big priorities for me. I know they are far apart, and I will be taking the train, which I know stops in London. I know it would have made more sense to spend my week in London between Canterbury and Stratford, or just daytrip to those two places from London, but I want to see other things near those cities too, like Leeds Castle, Warwick Castle, and Knole House.
Janisj, I teach English literature and seeing Shakespeare's birthplace, etc. and the Cathedral at Canterbury are big priorities for me. I know they are far apart, and I will be taking the train, which I know stops in London. I know it would have made more sense to spend my week in London between Canterbury and Stratford, or just daytrip to those two places from London, but I want to see other things near those cities too, like Leeds Castle, Warwick Castle, and Knole House.
Apr 2nd, 2009 | 10:26 AM
#5
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 27,030
Likes: 0
Near Inns of Court is Dr. Johnson's House. Thought you may be interested in that as well with the additional background you wrote.
http://www.drjohnsonshouse.org/
http://www.drjohnsonshouse.org/
Apr 2nd, 2009 | 10:31 AM
#6
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 75,019
Likes: 50
Can you rearrange the order of things? Getting from London to either Canterbury or Stratford is easy - but getting from one to the other is a REAL slog including having to transfer between stations in London by tube or taxi.
BTW - Leeds castle is also a bit "underwhelming". The grounds are very pretty (but not the prettiest in Kent by miles) but the castle itself is primarily a wedding/conference venue. Knole, Hever, Penshurst Place, Chartwell, Igtham Mote and 20 other area castles/houses/gardens are nicer than Leeds. All would be easier to see if you rent a car than trying to manage them by public transport.
Dover is the castle of all castles.
BTW - Leeds castle is also a bit "underwhelming". The grounds are very pretty (but not the prettiest in Kent by miles) but the castle itself is primarily a wedding/conference venue. Knole, Hever, Penshurst Place, Chartwell, Igtham Mote and 20 other area castles/houses/gardens are nicer than Leeds. All would be easier to see if you rent a car than trying to manage them by public transport.
Dover is the castle of all castles.
Apr 2nd, 2009 | 12:00 PM
#7
Original Poster
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
I already prepaid for my London apartment, so I can't rearrange things. I didn't realize I'd have to transfer between stations, but that's okay. Writing off one day to travelling midway through my vacation isn't so bad.
I'm going to be at the Inns of Court to see Temple church (if open), so Dr. Johnson's house is an idea to consider.
I'm going to be at the Inns of Court to see Temple church (if open), so Dr. Johnson's house is an idea to consider.
