Augusta78

I am happy to hear that London does not have the same "vibe" as Manhattan. Based on some of the responses, i was a little concerned that the appeal to London comes from some of the outer towns and sites (Bath, stonehendge, York) but I am gathering that this is not entirely true???

flygirl

I don't think it's possible to run out of things to do and see in London, no matter what you are interested in. Any last minute trip with friends sounds like a lot of fun so just on general principles alone you should go! May is a great time to visit, too.

jent103

Augusta - London definitely has appeal all on its own. Bath is an hour and a half away by train; York is about two, I believe. They're great in their own right, and any would make good day or overnight trips while you're there, but they're not London. I'm planning on 4-5 days in London in June and was planning a day trip to Bath, but keep wondering if there's not too much in London to take a day away from it.

mnapoli

I've travelled to London for 30 years, and while I enjoy the surrounding towns, its the city that I love. There is a great energy and I love the Londoners! My greatest love is the history of the place, and we in the U.S. we do not have the great long historical tradition of the British. My favorite thing t do in London is to get up very early on a Sunday morning and walk around the Old City. I sometimes feel like people from long ago are walking along with me! New York cannot compare to London...

amyb

I have to comment on the "very expensive" part of a post above. I brought what I usually would for a 5 day trip last month and came home with nearly 30% of what I took as spending money. Because almost everything I did was free, or nearly so, I got a lot more bang for my buck, so to speak, than I did in Paris, Vienna or Rome in the last year or so.

YK...don't tempt me! Enjoy NYC though (checking the Vermeer? We're hoping to go later this month or next). When DS and I go for a day like we usually do, we always say it feels like a week...it's just mentally so much to be there even for such a short time!

Hagan

I never had any desire to go to London either, but I planned a trip 3 1/2 years ago that included hubby and my brother because THEY wanted to go. It was really at the bottom of my wish list.
Well, we just came back last week from our second visit there, and I am in love with the place. Now I have to say that Paris is my very favorite city, but London is a close second. Rome is way back in third for me.
As others have said, there's just so much history, it's an easy city to get around (with the tube and walking), it's a visual delight and the people are just great. Very friendly and fun. Each of our trips was for 6 days, and we did one daytrip outside London each time. I find it relatively stress-free for such a large city. I've also been to Brussels and liked it, but 2 days is about right there. Believe me, you'll find plenty to do in London to fill your 6 days. Go go go!!!

sallyky

We spent two weeks in London last Sept. We enjoyed it so much we are here now for another two weeks. There's no way we'll get through our list of things to see and do. We love St. James's Park. We enjoyed the Picasso exhibition today. We took in the Darwin and the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibits in the Natural History Museum. We visited the V&A. We took the boat to Greenwich. We had dinner in Chinatown. We had a short visit to Hampstead. And did I mention loving the park. Oh, and we saw the horse guards ride past as we were on our way to Green Park. did I just do my whole trip report?

Sally

yk

<i>did I just do my whole trip report?</i>

NO NO NO! Sally, I expect another epic trip report from you! My goodness, I have forgotten you're back in the UK already! Can I just say I'm sooooooo jealous?!

Apres_Londee

Wheeee, yk's taking us to London!

(and I should clarify that Dido is Purcell. I meant to ask if you like Baroque opera, yk. I just got too excited thinking thinking about Iestyn Davies and Partenope. I need to stop posting when I'm half asleep. And if thespirit is going to that show, I'd love to hear a mini-report over on the opera thread in the lounge )

Apres_Londee

sally, I feels like only yesterday that you were in London! Thanks again for all your info about the Archway flat. Are you staying in the flat again, or trying thing new this time? Have a wonderful rest of your trip!

Sassafrass

I've spent a lot of time in NYC, since DH is from there and DD lives there. London is very different, just a different vibe, low rise buildings & amazing history. Theater is about half the price for most shows. It is not my favorite city in Europe, but for comparison, I like NYC and love London, would enjoy living in London. It just seems easier to be in.

With six days though, I would definitely go to Bath. It is interesting for history and architecture, and very pretty.

Where are you going in Belgium? I highly recommend Bruges for your two days.

Apres_Londee

Preview button is totally posting. Or my turquoise is broken.

Sassafrass

Apres, you are right. Same thing happened to me.

sallyky

Hey yk - I wanna come back to London too. May should be about right. ;-)

Apres_Londee -- We're staying about five minutes walk form St. James's Park this time. We love it. We can walk lots of places and coming home I find myself singing -- I don't have to climb 89 steps -- haha -- I can take the lift if I want to -- haha. And on and on. Hadn't realized how much a gumption trap those steps were.

And yes -- when I clicked preview, it posted.

Apres_Londee

Sounds lovely, sallyky. I love St James Park, I get such a kick out of all the birds and squirrels. They are so much cuter than North American squirrels, just like Beatrice Potter.

I'm glad I'm not the only one with a broken Preview button. I thought maybe I'd lost my mind.

janisj

Ya all come on over I think there is a London GTG later in the month but I'll only be in London from May 8-15. (After that I'll be out in Warwickshire for a week . . . . )

yk

Actually, janis, IF I do decide to go, I'll probably go during the time you're there. I'm thinking of cashing in some FF miles and the off-peak period ends May 15 (40k FF miles).