I have to say that I am just one of our London posters, and, sadly, that her Majesty now asks us not to feed her ducks. Soft white bread was giving them the collywobbles.

A good place for second hand books until about eight pm is the market under the southern end of Waterloo Bridge, beside the bar of the National Film Theatre

Welcome to London

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Its a shame you could not do an overnight in Paris.

Wow! You guys are the best! Such a wonderful selection of ideas. I think I'll draw up a calendar with 3 or 4 activities that are best on each particular day, and we can pick and choose as the mood dictates. This will give my friend and husband the illusion of making their own choices but in reality will be doing everything I want to do - hey, it's only fair.
Ben, thank you for the tip. Books are my passion and I think Waterloo bridge is fairly close to the hotel - perfect!
And Waterloo's suggestion of the small eclectic museum is also perfect.
In fact everyone's suggestions have been valuable, and, who knows - I may be so pumped up, I do it all!
Thanks again, this trip has already been enriched by your input!

I hope you've done your itinerary in pencil and not pen. :-) I'm an American woman (and Anglophile) who has been living in London since last July. This is the greatest city in the world. I'd just like to throw in a few other suggestions that might help you fill in the blanks.

*London Walks - They are superb. There's something for everyone. They last 2 hours, only cost £5 each, and they always leave from a tube station which really makes them convenient. http://london.walks.com/


*The British Museum is nice, but it's soooo large. I would suggest The British Library instead. You'll see the Magna Carta, original manuscripts by Jane Austen, Chaucer, Lewis Carroll, James Joyce, LOTS of others; original scores by Handel, Mozart, the Beatles, LOTS of others; Lady Jane Grey's prayerbook; illuminated manuscripts; etc. etc. And all of this is in ONE ROOM. The British Library is an overlooked jewel in London's crown IMHO. Never a crowd! http://www.bl.uk/


*Buckingham Palace itself does not open for tours until July. You'll still be able to see the Changing of the Guard (yawn) ... if you have to chose between Buck House and Westminster Abbey, BY ALL MEANS go to Westminster Abbey, and pay the extra few quid for the self-paced audio tour. The experience will be so much more meaningful.


*If you decide to go to the theatre, get your tickets at the Half-Price Ticket Booth at Leicester Square http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/membe...icketbooth.htm. I'd suggest something quintessentially English such as "The Mousetrap" or "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang." I've seen Chitty twice and it's SUCH a feel-good play! Love it!


Other great places:

*Dennis Severs House http://www.dennissevershouse.co.uk/


*Food courts at Harrod's
http://www.harrods.com/


*Kensington Palace
http://www.hrp.org.uk/webcode/kensington_home.asp
The audio tour is included in the entry fee and afterwards you can have a lovely Afternoon Tea at The Orangery, one of my favorite places for tea in London. (Great value for money!)



*Afternoon or evening concert at St. Martin-in-the-Fields with lunch, tea or dinner downstairs at the Cafe in the Crypt
http://www.stmartin-in-the-fields.or...home/index.jsp


*Take in some Shakespeare at The Globe! The season will have just started.
http://www.shakespeares-globe.org/


*I think The Imperial War Museum is very interesting and they have the 1940s house on exhibit.
http://www.iwm.org.uk/lambeth/index.htm


Don't forget that many of these places will have late night views, so if you can't get there during the day, the evening's always an option.

And *do* check out the websites of all these places to find out about special events, concerts, etc.


*Ride the Docklands Light Railway (or just tube over to Canary Wharf and walk *under* the Thames via the Greenwich Thames foot tunnel http://www.urban75.org/photos/london/lon280.html) to Greenwich and have traditional English pie and mash at Goddard's http://www.pieshop45.freeserve.co.uk/. It's delicious! Greenwich is a great place. You can tour The Cutty Sark tea clipper http://www.cuttysark.org.uk/; visit the Royal Observatory (where Greenwich Mean Time begns) http://www.rog.nmm.ac.uk/; and there's a nice little Fan Museum http://www.fan-museum.org/ there.


*I'm a fellow booklover as well. Two of my favorite bookshops in London are Foyles http://www.foyles.co.uk/ and Hatchard's http://www.hatchards.co.uk/


Hope you have a *great* trip, and keep your eyes peeled for blue plaques! :-)




Tea Lover Denise
http://www.angelfire.com/sc/tealover/London.html

Denise! How thoughtful you are for those wonserful tips and links. I've just been enjoying your website. We sound like two peas! I think it's wonderful to read your first trip account and know that you now live there! My friend and I are definately looking forward to tea as a 'must do'.
This trip is truly the culmination of a dream for me.

I would also suggest an early morning trip to the Portabello Market - the best day is either Saturday or Sunday - I can't remember, but someone else here will tell you!

It is a fun way to spend a few hours, but get there early, it gets mobbed by about 11:00am.

I have just a couple of minor addendums to the great suggestions TeaLoverDenise made.

While I agree the Brit Library (especially the greatest hits exhibition) is well worth a visit, it doesn't compare in scale to what the British Museum has to offer. Yes it's huge and possibly overwhelming but they offer a wonderful guided "highlights" tour three times a day. Tour lasts about 90 minutes and there is a fee.

Additionally, the state rooms in Buck Palace are open for tours in August and September, not July. I know this doesn't impact Chotzi's visit in May but it might clarify things for the next fodorite looking for info.

The main Portobello market is on Saturday morning. Get there prior to the crack of dawn to elbow with the dealers. Definitely mobbed as the morning progresses.

One additional slight correction to TeaLoverDenise's information: Tickets to the Mousetrap are NOT sold at the TKTS 1/2 price booth at Leicester Square.

That doesn't mean you can't get tickets to it - but it is best to go directly through the St Martin's Theatre box office. (Don't use a ticket agency, they tack on extra fees)