I'm adding a second vote for the bar at the Dukes Hotel. We went for a martini on our trip a few weeks ago. The bar is charming and the martini presentation is nice. They bring a wooden bar cart to your table to mix the martini. It was wonderful! A new favorite...

Been away from the board for the weekend, and love the new responses.

Looking forward to a martini at Dukes.

Ger, thanks for all the suggestions. I think the Imperial War Museum has been closed and is opening up in July, but will not have some of the big-ticket items back on display we wanted to see. The Shard looks very, very cool! Thanks.

ekc..thanks for the website and julia, I sent you our Tetbury dates. Alert the proper authorities.

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A palace question, albeit convoluted.

We have 5 1/2 days in London. One idea was to visit Hampton Court from London.

However, when we leave London and pick up the car at Heathrow, we are going to make a stop at Windsor Castle before heading to Salisbury. Then, when staying in Chipping Campden, we are going to do a day trip to Blenheim Palace and maybe Oxford.

I'd sort of like to spend all our London time in London. Would not seeing Hampton Court be an error in your opinion, or should we skip one of the other two? Cheerio and thanks.

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I would be more inclined to keep Hampton Court and drop Blenheim, although on the grounds that the time would be better spent in Oxford. Of course, it is hard to run out of things to do in London...

As you're going to Buckingham Palace already, I'd drop Windsor.

I would skip Hampton Court in favor of more time in London - not because it is not worth seeing, but because you have only 5-1/2 days in London. We were there 8 days and feel like we barely scratched the surface!

Three answers...all different...At least now I know why I'm confused.

Right now, I think I will drop Windsor which will give us time to go to Winchester Cathedral before Salisbury. Of course, this plan will change 37 times before we actually leave.

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Maitaitom, we've caught up with your exciting plans for London and vicinity. You've cetainly received enough suggestions to have you on the go for many days. We're offering no ideas except to encourage you to allow a little time to enjoy some unexpected things that come up. For example, we came upon a wonderful free concert in Hyde Park. Have a wonderful trip!

Our upcoming travel plans are for your state. . .only farther north, around Carmel and the Big Sur Coast. Quite a switch from London!

We'll look forward to your T/R!

"For example, we came upon a wonderful free concert in Hyde Park."

Maybe Sir Paul will come out for a couple of songs. Have fun on the coast!

((H))

We have mailed our Ceremony of The Keys request dates.

Also, could someone elaborate on Churchill War Rooms? What has been your experience? If we go, how much time would be adequate to spend there? This is on the cusp for me (we saw a lot of World War II history on our France trip last year), since there are 5 million things to see in London. Thanks.

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far be it from me to confuse you further - so I won't.

[BTW Hampton Court gets my vote - it's completely different to Windsor or Buck House, which you are already visiting] and has the gardens and position by the river as well.

it's a very long time since I've been to Buck House, and I've never been to Windsor [unless it was when I was very young] but I imagine that they are very similar - lots of state rooms and bling.

hope that helps!]

I loved the War Rooms, been twice, but I have not had the opportunity to go to Normandy yet.

It was very moving to be IN the underground bunker , you are given an audio guide that was full of interesting details, and see where the decisions were being made. It probably takes an hour to see it. The time must be posted somewhere since you really follow the audio guide and no more.

Do not go to the market on Saturday unless you really like tight crowds. I dropped my friend off there to "enjoy it "while I was at a musical and she really got out of there fairly quickly since it was such a mob and not pleasant.

Just got our Ceremony Of The Keys confirmation back in the mail! Only 4 1/2 months to go!!!

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"Just got our Ceremony Of The Keys confirmation back in the mail!"

Congrats!! I didn't know anything about this until I read this thread, and by then it was too late for us. July is booked solid. Got some other great suggestions from reading this so I'll add my thanks to all the responders.

Ceremony of the Keys:

As RN Cheryl recommended on March 1st:

"Ceremony of the Keys: outstanding. We were there on a drizzly night, and think we may have seen the 2 princes darting by. Not sure."

You will be pleased...

bookmarking :)

Hampton Court Palace.... it will be there for your next visit! I finally got there on about my 6th London visit last year - but was sick the whole time, so was confined to various bathrooms. Apparently it's quite interesting?

Some great ides here for my few days through London in December - but expecting crap weather :(

I have an apartment conundrum...probably should have just booked a hotel.

I was told originally it was at 5 Onslow Gardens, SW7 3AW, but now they say it will be at 40 Gertrude Street London SW10 0JG, which looks like it is convenient to nothing.

I am trying to get them to switch back, but if I can't, for those who know these two areas, should I just bag that second apartment and start all over? I'm starting the ale early today.

Thanks.

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I wouldn't want to stay there, as you say, not convenient. I once lived briefly in Chelsea, but not down near World's End.

I stayed on Cheyne Row for a few months, which is quite close to there. The area was fine (although SW7 is better :). It about a 20 minute bus ride to Sloane Square along the King's Road. if you walk out onto Cheyne walk there is a bus that takes about 12 minutes to Victoria.

regards

"It about a 20 minute bus ride to Sloane Square along the King's Road. if you walk out onto Cheyne walk there is a bus that takes about 12 minutes to Victoria."

In other words, not convenient!

For better or worse, we now have reservations at London Regency Hotel (100 Queen's Gate SW7). Thanks all.

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had a look at your hotel, Tom, as I don't know it. The location looks great, and if one or two of the reviews are a bit off, you won't be spending that much time there, will you?

annhig. My thoughts exactly. Hell, we barely sleep on vacation anyway. We are all looking forward to this trip a lot. I have figured out our day in Bath, so next up is our six days in the Cotswolds. I am using your list of places to chart out a plan of attack. I'll probably start a new thread with Cotswolds questions soon. Thanks.

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Just to put our two pence worth on this thread.

We absolutely loved loved loved Hampton Court Palace--the grounds are stunning, the interior very nice and not crowded like we found at Versailles in Paris. Plus we were there when they did live kitchen demonstrations that my son really enjoyed. They were preparing real meat with real spices and let my son be the first to turn the meat on the spigot by the fire after they prepared it. They also dressed up in period costume and if you wanted to you can join in on live skits they were doing throughout the day.

Windsor we were not as impressed.

Cabinet War Rooms--we spent about 2 hours there and also really enjoyed. Don't miss it or the Imperial War Museum which is quite good.

Enjoy your trip. Looking forward to your trip report.

"Just to put our two pence worth on this thread."

I'm sure I'll steal that line for the trip report (:

Looks like we will go to Hampton Court and skip Windsor since we will have already had the tour of Buckingham Palace. I think only a small part of Imperial War Museum will be open when we are there. Too bad, because it looks interesting. Thanks.

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I am using your list of places to chart out a plan of attack. I'll probably start a new thread with Cotswolds questions soon. Thanks.>>

please don't blame me if you end up in Scotland.

If you were interested in the Imperial War Museum you might consider substituting their Duxford site:

http://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-duxford

You could combine it with a visit to Cambridge.

For the record, we had nothing to do with the Buckingham Palace break-in....not there yet!

((H))

ttt

We (and England) survived our journey. Thanks to everyone who helped us prepare.

Lots of interesting sites visited in London and in the English countryside, but we also witnessed perhaps the most boring spectacle we have ever seen in our numerous travels around the globe...you will have to wait until the trip report to find out what it was. We also had a nice dinner with a Fodorite in Tetbury. Trip report some time in the hopefully not-too-distant future. Sadly, right now, work beckons.

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Welcome home, safe and sound.

Trip report SOOOOOON, please!! Looking forward to it!!

I have been checking daily to read your report. Please amuse us:):)

I can't wait to hear this one. Glad you are back home, and looking forward to reading about your adventures.

Yippee...another maitaitom trip report...the anticipation begins.

Argh... I can't stand the suspense! No fair having cliffhangers.

Still hoping for a trip report sometime soon!

Trip report please.....