Please check my 5 day LONDON itinerary
 

We will be in London June 13th (arriving from the U.S. at 8:25am at Heathrow) and will leave London Wednesday morning, June 18th on the Eurostar to Paris.

PLEASE REVIEW THIS ITINERARY AND MAKE SUGGESTIONS/CHANGES. THANKS!!

Day 1 FRIDAY
- Arrive at Heathrow - 8:25am
- Check-in at hotel and get settled
- Lunch (ANY SUGGESTIONS in this area?)
- Parliament/Big Ben (walk by and take pictures)
- Royal Observatory Greenwich (mainly just to see the park and the time line)
- Greenwich Market
- Walk around Leicester Square/Piccadilly Circus/Trafalgar Square at late afternoon/night

Day 2 SATURDAY
- Westminster tour (opens at (9:30am for a 90 min. tour)
- Lunch Cruise – Board from Waterloo Pier at 12:35 and return at 14:15.
- London Eye
- British Museum (only plan on spending a few hours in here….not all day.)
- Free night to do whatever

Day 3 SUNDAY
- Tower of London (arrive before opening at 10am – go straight to jewels and then tour)
- Hampton Court Palace (only plan on spending about 3-4 hours here)
(I KNOW THIS LOOKS LIKE A LONG DAY, BUT DO YOU THINK IT WILL BE OK SINCE WE ONLY PLAN A FEW HOURS AT EACH?)

Day 4 MONDAY
- St. Paul's Cathedral
- Millennium Bridge
- Lunch with co-workers (over by Lloyd’s)
- Lloyd’s Tour (couple hours at most)
- Leadenhall Market (next to Lloyd’s)…won’t take long
- Tower Bridge Experience
- WICKED MUSICAL

Day 5 TUESDAY
- Buckingham Palace (changing of the guard….what time? 11?)
- Harrods ?? (maybe just for the fun of it)
- Free night to do whatever

Just a few comments:

Day 2
- British Museum (only plan on spending a few hours in here….not all day.)

The Museum is only open until 17:30. Your cruise ends at 14:15 and then you'll doing the London Eye. By the time you disembark and get over to the Eye, even if you don't have to wait in line, it'll be close to 15:30 by the time you're done with the Eye. Then you'll need to get to the British Museum, which leaves you just over 1 hour there.

Since the Eye is open until 9pm, I'd suggest you go to British Museum after your cruise, then do the Eye afterwards.

Day 4 MONDAY
- St. Paul's Cathedral
- Millennium Bridge
- Lunch with co-workers (over by Lloyd’s)

First, you'll have to cross the Thames to St Paul's, then cross Thames via the Millennium Bridge, then cross Thames again to get to Lloyds.

I'd suggest you do the following:
From your hotel, take the RV1 bus which stops half a block from Tate Modern. Cross Millenium Bridge to St Pauls, then go to Lloyds from there.

Besides what yk mentions:

Friday doesn't make much sense. You want to go to Greenwich after Big Ben/Parliament and before Leicester SQ - when Parliament and Leicester Sq are walking distance from each other. Plus -- Parliament and Big Ben are <u>directly</u> across the street from Westminster Abbey and you will walk by them on Saturday morning.

Sunday is crazy too. The Tower is in one direction and HCP is all the way across London in the opposite direction. When travel time is considered - each will take more than 1/2 a day so you really can't do both on the same day.

Need a bit of re-thinking/re-organizing . . . .

well crap....I have tried about four different itineraries and none have worked perfectly and I guess they won't.

I will try to rethink....about to say the heck with it and just go. ha!

by the way - don't take my post the wrong way. THANKS SO MUCH for all of your help....it is just frustrating when I think I have it planned right and then I find out....I don't. Better to find out now than when I am in London

Janis - you said:

----
Friday doesn't make much sense. You want to go to Greenwich after Big Ben/Parliament and before Leicester SQ - when Parliament and Leicester Sq are walking distance from each other. Plus -- Parliament and Big Ben are directly across the street from Westminster Abbey and you will walk by them on Saturday morning.
----

I did that because I want to go to the Greenwich Market and Big Ben/Parliament is just a walk by to take pictures. We would get on the tube at Westinster and head out to Greenwich for a few hours. Then we would come back and walk around Leicester Square/Piccadilly Circus/Trafalgar Square at late afternoon/night

Aren't you staying at the County Hall?? Don't worry about &quot;scheduling&quot; Big Ben, Parliament, the Millenium Bridge and things like that. They are basically on your doorstep so you will see them just in normal moving from place to place.

You'll probably walk across Westminster Bridge 8 or 10 times, and the Millenium Bridge 2 or 3 times -- just to get from your hotel to other sites in your 5 days.

Now go have a glass of wine and relax and quit worrying :)

I think the OP has been shuffling his schedule around many times in the last month, trying to fit as much in as possible. B/c of the Eye/Cruise package plus the Lloyds, some things aren't switch-able.

As for Tower/HCP, I suppose it is do-able. Say, 3 hours at the Tower from 10a-1pm. It'll take probably 1.5 hr at least to get from Tower to HCP, so they'll arrive at 2:30. That still gives them 3.5 hrs at HCP. (This does not include any time to stop for lunch.)

I personally don't think it's ideal, but I think the OP will be happy with it given the time constraints.

To the OP, is seeing Changing of the Guards that important to you? I've seen it a couple of times (involuntarily) and really don't think it's such a big deal. Unless you get there really early for a spot in the front, otherwise you'll be standing in your tiptoes trying to peek behind people's heads. If you skip it, you'll free up pretty much your whole Tuesday for something else. Just my opinion.

How about if you go to Hampton Court on Tuesday and go to the British Museum on Sunday? (And skip Parliament/Big Ben on Friday)

Also, did you say what hotel?

Our posts crossed -- Just go to Greenwich. Skip everything else on your arrival day. You'll be too tired to schlepp all over London and the boat trip will be relaxing.

(It is too bad you are tied into a lunch cruise and the Eye on a specific day -- or the lunch cruise at all -- since that really limits your flexibility. But what's done is done)

Sorry, we were all writing at the same time...

I'm pretty sure OP is staying at Marriott County Hall, based on his other posts.

All our posts are crossing - we ALL want to help you so much.

The lunch cruise is the biggest problem IMO. And maybe if you had posted here first we could have talked you out of it. It will take a big chunk out of your already limited time. There are lots of other ways to see/ride on the river. Is there any way you can cancel the cruise/Eye package or is it a done deal??

Thanks again for putting up with me! Man - so greatly appreciated!

I will be staying at the County Hall Marriott.

Good idea noe847.

I could do:

Day 3 SUNDAY
- Tower of London (arrive before opening at 10am – go straight to jewels and then tour)
- British Museum

Day 5 TUESDAY
- Maybe changing of the guards...not sure
- Hampton Court
- Harrods ?? (maybe just for the fun of it)
- Free night to do whatever

i guess I could see if I could cancel it, but I would have to sell it...I paid $102 for the package for 2 people....I can't get a refund. I thought a cruise would be fun and it was a good deal....guess not. :)

Whatever you decide, and whichever way you end up doing, I hope you'll write a trip report after you come back from your trip. You owe us a TR after all these *great* advice we gave you! ;)

Dang right! A nice trip report will be provided! I should be paying you guys/gals!

If your EYE/Cruise is not cancellabe and nonrefundable, then don't worry about it. Just go and enjoy yourselves.

I think your new itin looks better and more do-able.

Don't worry if you are &quot;stuck&quot; w/ the cruise. It is just that there are sooooo many other boats. The main problem is being tied to taking that particular boat in the middle of that particular day. Even if it was a dinner cruise - then it wouldn't take up so much daylight sightseeing time.

But you will enjoy it, so if you must -- you must.

Go with what you've planned. You'll never get to do everything in London. Make sure you know what your absolute priorities are and do one each day. Fill in with the rest and/or leave a bit of time for serendipity. Chances are you will get enough of a taste that you'll want to return. At least that's how it's worked for me.

Thanks all - I think this is my revised itinerary based on your suggestions:

Day 1 FRIDAY
- Arrive at Heathrow - 8:25am
- Check-in at hotel and get settled
- Lunch (ANY SUGGESTIONS in this area?)
- Royal Observatory Greenwich (mainly just to see the park and the time line)
- Greenwich Market
- (free time – maybe walk around Leicester Square or Piccadilly Circus or Trafalgar Square)

Day 2 SATURDAY
- Westminster tour (opens at (9:30am for a 90 min. tour)
- Parliament/Big Ben (walk by and take pictures)
- Lunch Cruise – Board from Waterloo Pier at 12:35 and return at 14:15.
- London Eye
- (free time – maybe walk around Leicester Square or Piccadilly Circus or Trafalgar Square if not seen already or do whatever!)

Day 3 SUNDAY
- Tower of London (arrive before opening at 10am – go straight to jewels and then tour)
- British Museum

Day 4 MONDAY
- St. Paul's Cathedral
- Millennium Bridge
- Lunch with co-workers (over by Lloyd’s)
- Lloyd’s Tour (couple hours at most)
- Leadenhall Market (next to Lloyd’s)…won’t take long
- Tower Bridge Experience
- WICKED MUSICAL (if we get tickets for this date!)

Day 5 TUESDAY
- Maybe changing of the guards...not sure
- Hampton Court
- Harrods ?? (maybe just for the fun of it)
- (free time – maybe walk around Leicester Square or Piccadilly Circus or Trafalgar Square if not seen already or do whatever!)

and on Day 4 I will do this as suggested:
From your hotel, take the RV1 bus which stops half a block from Tate Modern. Cross Millenium Bridge to St Pauls, then go to Lloyds from there.

OK - you probably get 6 answers all at the same time :D

This is much, MUCH better.

The only slight thing - if you do decide to do the Changing of the Guard, you won't get to HCP until mid afternoon. The train to HCP leaves from Waterloo which is quite close to your hotel. If you walk over to B'ham Palace, see the guard change, walk back across the river and then catch the train you have used up several hours.

Here's the website you can check the RV1 bus schedule:
http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/lond...home/index.php

BTW, the RV1 bus stop should be near the Eye. Ask the people at your hotel and they should be able to direct you to the correct stop. [I like taking the bus in London and I do it often, but it can be confusing to the first time visitor. There are so many bus routes that they have many bus stops within a block or 2. Each stop is good for a handful of specific routes. So you don't want to stand at the wrong stop.]

After you get on the bus, just let the driver know you want to get off at Tate Modern. It's not that obvious from the bus (as the museum is kind of obscured behind other buildings from the road) and you can easily miss the stop.

After you get off, it'll be obvious to you how to get to the Modern, then you just swing around the corner to get to Millenium bridge.

Of course, if you're feeling up to it, you can always just walk from your hotel to Millenium Bridge, and skip the whole bus thing. It's about a 1-mile walk. Depends on how much time you have and how bad your feet ache that morning.

thanks for the info YK. Greatly appreciated.

If you're going to be in London on June 14, then it makes no sense to go see changing of the guard during your stay when you can go watch the parade to and from Trooping the Colour at Horse Guards Parade. You can see all the household units (foot, cavalry, artillery, and bands) marching up and down the Mall. You should really not miss this.

http://tinyurl.com/5hgch5

Would I have time to watch Trooping the Colour and still make it to Embankment Pier for a prompt 12:30 departure time for my lunch cruise?

That might be pushing it???

There will be pretty large crowds - the area around there will be very congested and some street will be closed. It is a major event and well worth trying to see - but unfortunately, not w/ your schedule IMO. (that darned lunch cruise again ;) )

Just a guess ~

If you stand somewhere near the E end of The Mall, there should be time for you to see the Queen's Carriage and other stuff before heading for your cruise. It should be a fairly short walk, though may take longer depending on the crowds.

Sounds like a wonerful event, I wouldn't miss that personally.

janis - you don't think Jon will be able to see some of it???

From the website:

&lt;&lt; The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace in a carriage at 10.40am and arrives at Horse Guards at 11am precisely. &gt;&gt;

If he sticks around until 11:30am, I'm sure he can still make it to the cruise by 12:30pm despite the crowds, NO?

yeah - he'll actually be able to see some along the Mall. None of the Trooping but the carriages for sure.

But it is not an event one can just walk up and see. Take the crowds at a normal changing of the Guard and multiply by 300 or 400. So go really early to get a place to stand.

We did the ceremony last year (actually, the dress rehearsal on the preceeding Saturday, but it's ticketed just like the real thing) so I can't comment definitively on ease of getting a spot on the Mall (we were in the stands at Horse Guards Parade). But, you could definitely see the procession to the ceremony (you'd want to get a place around 10 a.m. or earlier) then leave after that (the ceremony at Horse Guards, which you won't be able to see, starts with the Queen's arrival at 11 and lasts a little less than an hour). It probably would be pushing it to stick around for the parade on the way back (at the end of which is when they do the flyover and such) unless you had a position just outside Admiralty Arch, on the north side of the Mall. Even then, I would be afraid that the congestion would be such that you couldn't fight your way through to Trafalgar Square so as to head on for the Waterloo Pier). The entire area will be very congested.

Still, the procession to the ceremony would be much better than seeing changing of the Guards. I believe that each unit will march up the Mall with their band (there are 4 or 5 foot bands and 2 mounted bands that combine for the ceremony), so that would be worth seeing in it's own right. I would also think that you would not want to attempt Westminster that day as there will undoubtedly be folks who want to tour that first, then watch the parade.

One more thought: Even to just watch the procession to the ceremony, you'd probably want to get over there well before 10 to get a good spot. You'd not only want a good vantage point, but somewhere that would leave you with a good exit. If you find yourself in the wrong spot, you could have a long walk to get to where you want to go afterwards.

I might try to catch at least part of the procession and will try to position ourselves to where we can easily make the walk to the Embankment Pier for a prompt 12:30 departure time for my lunch cruise. Thanks for your help and your comments on my itinerary.

You dont say where in the USA you're flying from, but landing in morning in LHR will be &quot;night&quot; for you. So it's good you revised the first day and are taking it easy. I totally agree wtih janisJ about this.

Suggestin: Stroll through Greenwich town. It's a side of London you dont see much anymore. Nothing chic, just a neighborhood feel which is like the London neighborhood lived in almos 40 yrs ago. So aside from the boat ride along the Thames, and the Observatory, you'll get a very good intro to non-touristy feel of London. If you want some REAL typical old style English food, go to Goddard's Pie Shop on Greenwich Church Street for a meat pie (but skip the dessert pies, IMHO).That'll keep you full 'til dinner time.

I lived in London and visited since many times, and you'll never see it all. You know the saying, &quot;When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life&quot; (-:
You NEVER tire of London. What you dont see this time, you'll see the next!

Have a great trip!

We are getting closer!!! Sorry, I didn't answer your question. We are flying from Birmingham, AL to Dallas, TX and then from Dallas to London.

OMG--I'm from Birmingham too. It is an easy walk from the County Hall over to the Mall and BP. My daughter and I stayed there last year and found it very convenient--of course, we were staying on &quot;points&quot; last year. We are returning this July, but have rented an apartment this time since we are paying for it this time! :-) I hope you have a wonderful time. Enjoy the entire experience and don't get upset with yourself if you find that you can't do it all...that just gives you another reason to return!

we will see Wicked on Saturday night at 7:30. Got those tickets purchased!

Just wanted to mention that we also had tickets to see Wicked on the day following our arrival in London (from Vancouver BC). Earlier we'd had a very busy day, as I see you are planning as well, and despite the fact that Wicked was a great show with superb performances, we had a hard time staying awake! I recommend a nap before going to the theatre, or turning in early the night before, to ensure you have the stamina to make it through a day of touring followed by a longish musical.