So I'm leaving tomorrow, and I'm starting to think more about it. I just haven't had time to plan.

Since I've been to London many times, I'm not too concerned, but of course, I'd like to make the best use of my free time. I have some questions.

1. On arrival day I get into Heathrow in the morning. I am considering a few options regarding what to do that day. One option is heading out to Brighton, but it seems a little too cool (Google weather shows around high of 66F). On the other hand, maybe it's better than not going at all.

Still I'm thinking of running a quick errand (pick up a book) in London before I head out. And I can't do that until noon. By the time I get to Brighton it's probably 2-ish. Still worth it?

So what do I do that morning? I'm thinking of going to Windsor. I understand that there are two buses: 71 and 77. It looks like the first 77 bus I can potentially catch will put me in Windsor around 9:43. (Where does the bus stop, by the way?)

Problem here: What do I do with my luggage?

Another option is to head into London, leave my bags at Waterloo, and take the train to Hampton Court Palace?

Of course I can also just spend the day and night in London, but I figured that it'd be interesting to do something different.

2. I'm planning on "promming" at a Proms concert. Is there something else interesting worth doing that's only available this time of the year?

3. Monday is a bank holiday. As far I can tell this seems like a non-event. Most museums are open that day. Is this the case? I called Serpentine Gallery, and the opening hours for the Tates and National Gallery are clearer, so I didn't bother to call.

4. I am thinking of going to Tower of London this trip. (I've been there, but it was a *long* time agao!) Is there something I should look out for? I vaguely recall that there can be long lines (I haven't had time to review the threads on this). If there's a list of things I shouldn't miss, please provide.

5. I am also thinking of going to Hampstead Heath this trip. So if there's anything interesting to add there, please let me know.

Thanks!

If I were leaving my bags at Waterloo I would get the first ferry up to Hampton Court from Westminster Pier,(you can easily walk here from the station, passing the London Eye) have a nice tea or lunch at their lovely cafe` - the Devonshire Cream tea is fabulous! Then take a wander around the palace and gardens before walking across the bridge and training it back into town. This can be done the opposite way round but if you miss the last boat back it would mean the train again.
The river trip takes about 2 hours going through Teddington Lock and negotiating several small islands in the Thames.
We love it and do this trip everytime in London!

Couple of points:

- Brighton. Unless it's pouring, 66 (a supreme example of the spurious "accuracy" Americans credit British forecasts with) is perfect for Brighton. You're not going to want to sunbathe are you? Mid 60-mid 70s is perfect for the Lanes (shopping), the Pavillion (ex royal palace) and all the other stuff of London on Sea. If raining a bit, perfect for watching Britons at their favourite holiday pastime of ostentatiously Not Grumbling in the face of mild adversity

- H Heath. Why? It's just a big park. Jolly useful if you need one, and maybe interesting if you're unused to temperate-zone parks. But otherwise pretty pointless - unless you want to confirm how dull panoramas of London are except from Richmond Park, or if you're in plane or the Eye along the Thames. Hampstead itself's nice enough to look at as London villages go.

Hey thanks.

Regarding Hampstead Heath, well, the Wallpaper City guide has this intriguingly lovely description (it's an older one -- not sure if it's in the new one):

"For many Londoners, it is hard to imagine surviving the city without regular trips to the Heath and its ersatz rusticism."

"Hampstead Heath is also emblematic of an idea of north London as a hilly pleasant place, where liberal people live with their dogs and large book collections."

Supposedly you get a nice view of London from Parliament Hill?

Well I'm open to other more interesting suggestions.

while the ferry to Hampton Court sounds fun, I wouldn't do it on arrival day... too easy to get lulled to sleep. ( I assume you are taking an overnight flight from the US ? If not, disregard)

Walking around... outside is always best. Honestly, Brighton sounds wonderful. Nothing like some fresh sea air!

"Supposedly you get a nice view of London from Parliament Hill?"

You suppose wrong. London's not New York. Florence neither, and Parliament Hill's no Fiesole.

From Parliament Hill, it's interesting (sort of) to spot things - though mostly those things are the BT Tower, and the overwhelming sense is of a featureless sprawl. Which is accurate, if ungratifying

There are just five places with a nice view of London, IMHO:
1. Above all, from the streets. That's where the buildings were designed to be seen from.
2. The river, or the Thamespath along it, between the Albert and Tower Bridges
3. A plane that's landing at LHR from the east during the 30 secs it's flying between Tower and the Albert bridges
4. The Eye, because almost all you see is the nice stuff in the centre
5. The bar at the top of the Park Lane Hilton, for much the same reason as the Eye.

It's a bit more than five: there's a nice view from the National Portrait Gallery restaurant, for example, the House of Commons Terrace offers a nice vista up and down the river (if you can get in), and there's a great slug of historical importance about the view of St Paul's from Richmond.

But looking at the whole of London spread out beneath you is a pretty good way of reminding yourself just how immense the ratio of anonymous shlock to nice buildings is.

Well, I suppose for people totally uninterested in English painting, the view of London from Parliament Hill in Hampstead Heath is totally meaningless, likewise the ponds, clouds etc. It's one of the few views in London of London protected by law.

But sure: Some people would rather go to the Eye, the Hilton, etc.

I also think Kenwood House at Hampstead Heath is one of London's most enjoyable destinations, inside and out.

Why don't you go to Hampton Court or Windsor directly from Heathrow?

There will be a fair on Hampstead Heath for the Bank Holiday weekend, avoid or visit is your choice.

If you were going to Brighton on your first afternoon you might consider spending the night there and coming back on the next day. It is well known for its night life, again a matter of personal choice. It will be getting busy for the holiday weekend.

If you want to visit Hampstead on the cultural front you have Fenton House (National Trust) a late 17th century house a short walk up the hill from Hampstead tube station. Furnished with Georgian furniture and special collections of musical instruments and porcelain. Recently received a bequest of local paintings and drawings including some of Camden Town Group. Will be open on Bank Holiday Monday.

On the edge of the Heath, 2 Willow Road modernist home from 1939 Designed by Erno Goldfinger for his family it includes works of modern art by Henry Moore and Bridget Riley among others open Thurs, Fri and Sat, guided timed entries until 3 then 3-5 timed entries but no guide, Close by is Keats House in Keats Grove which has just reopened after a major overhaul and more on display.

You can then walk across the Heath to Kenwood House (English Heritage) but free. The grounds have been seen in many recent films, has another viewing point. Includes a late Rembrandt self portrait and a Vermeer among other paintings. Remodelled by Robert Adam in 2nd half 18th century.

Enjoy your trip

I can go there right away, but what do I do with my luggage?

Hi, thanks for the modernist house rec. It looks really interesting (I like Bridget Riley). But I don't know whether this is going to work out that well. I guess I can head into London first and go there because the tour is only available on Saturday.

(I was thinking more about Sunday for Hampstead.)

Any thoughts about what to do with luggage if I go with the Windsor or HCP route?

And I do plan to spend the night in Brighton if I go -- but is afternoon arrival too late? I'm thinking it's probably ok?

Actually, your luggage probably is the deal-breaker for a direct shot at Windsor or Hampton Court. Windsor won't take and Hampton Court has an unsecured luggage holding area.

There is a train that goes from Kew and Richmond to Hampstead Heath. Any feeling for putting up in Richmond for the night (cheaper) and then heading out to Hampstead the next day to put up in a b&b?

Bookmarking.
Thanks
P

Sorry if it wasn't clear: The point of heading to Richmond is to give you easy access to Hampton Court, plus the train to Hampstead Heath the next day.

This definitely falls into the "now-for-something-completely-different-category"....

Supposedly HCP is a 25-minute train ride from Waterloo, right? (I think I read it on their webpage, but I didn't check the schedules.) So I don't think I need supereasy access to HCP since it will be easy to visit from London anyway. I did check the train station's webpage and there's no left luggage facility at the station.

I could leave my bag at Heathrow to go to Windsor, but then I'd have to go back to Heathrow to get my bag. So that sort of defeats the whole purpose. Actually I should have just a carry on, but still, I don't think that I can take it with me for the castle.

I think Hampstead should still be easily accessible from London? I mean, it's supposed to be 6.4 km from London (according to the Wallpaper City guide).

So I don't think I want to be that "adventurous" and stay in Richmond. I don't know the town at all.

So if you are going into London, you are simply going to drop your bag at your hotel, right? No need for all this left luggage talk.

Richmond is like a lot of other village-y parts of London that got drawn into the maw. But it still has cows and deer and I believe straw (jack).

For any trip to the Tower:

1. Get there just before it opens and you will have minimal or no lines to get in.

2. If you followed item 1, and want to see the Crown Jewels, head to the Jewel House immeidately at opening, bypassing the Yeoman Warder's tour for the moment (you should come back to the gate to pick up a YW tour after you've seen the jewels). Doing this will allow you to see the jewels without snaking through long lines, and leave more time to see other stuff.

Well, initially I was thinking of making a stop before I go to London (say to Windsor, since I am already at Heathrow). But now I am thinking maybe I should just abandon this plan and go into London because I can't figure out what to do about the bag.

I just booked my hotel in Brighton. So I'll be there arrival night.

Thanks for the tip regarding the Tower!

Now I am thinking maybe I'll go into London to leave my bag at train station somewhere, go to Hampstead in the morning and explore the park and the houses, back to London to pick up the book when the store opens and then go to Brighton.

The next day I guess I can spend the morning in Brighton before heading back to London.

I wouldn't go into London at all that day -- especially since you'll probably only have a carry on. I'd take the Coach from LHR to LGW and then catch the train directly to Brighton. Drop your carry on at the hotel and spend the whole day exploring. (even w/ a little more luggage this route would not be a hassle)

Then the next day take the train from Brighton to London . . .

Thanks, but I am thinking of going in because I'm thinking of buying a book from a bookstore that opens at noon. (During my visit, it's open that day only.)

I agree that it's a bit of an annoying detour.

Can't you just have the book shop post the book to you? Going from LHR to central London to a book shop that doesn't open until noon to Brightion is more than a little weird (meant in the <i>nicest</i> possible way of course )

I'd either go straight to Brighton, or do something in London and forget about going to Brighton