The City of London itinerary help
Dec 18th, 2009, 06:27 AM
#22
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When I said thread about Lewis, I meant one that you might start! I don't know of one lately here. But there's certainly tons of stuff on the internet. You need to decide how long you think you'll be in Oxford, do a bit of research (set him to it, too!) to see what people/places you might want to pursue, see if there are any walking tours offered on the days and times you'll be there (and if so, make reservations immediately if required), and plot out a possible itinerary, knowing you won't get to some of it!
Dec 18th, 2009, 06:30 AM
#23
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Kensington--Palace, gardens, near south kensington museums and knightsbridge not too far away for Harrods but again can't all be accomplished in one day.>>>>
Crikey.
My take: Harrods is usually referred to by people who live here as Horrids. It's a complete tourist trap. Oddly it does do a very good afternoon tea (not cheap). Other than that it's horrible and quite a difficult place to get to.
If in S Ken then I would take a kid to either the Natural History Museum or the Science Museum - they are aimed at a younger audience and have lots of hands on stuff.
I'm 45 and I'm not yet old enough not to be bored into self harm by the Victoria and Albert. When I start to look forward to the V&A I will be off to the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland as my life will be over.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dignitas_(euthanasia_group)
ps if your son likes the V&A: be prepared to go to a lot of musical theatre productions in the future.
The NH and Science museum are very easily doable in half a day (and both are free for all).
Crikey.
My take: Harrods is usually referred to by people who live here as Horrids. It's a complete tourist trap. Oddly it does do a very good afternoon tea (not cheap). Other than that it's horrible and quite a difficult place to get to.
If in S Ken then I would take a kid to either the Natural History Museum or the Science Museum - they are aimed at a younger audience and have lots of hands on stuff.
I'm 45 and I'm not yet old enough not to be bored into self harm by the Victoria and Albert. When I start to look forward to the V&A I will be off to the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland as my life will be over.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dignitas_(euthanasia_group)
ps if your son likes the V&A: be prepared to go to a lot of musical theatre productions in the future.
The NH and Science museum are very easily doable in half a day (and both are free for all).
Dec 18th, 2009, 06:54 AM
#24
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So, Kensington Palace doesn't get rave reviews--good to note.
South Kensington--spouse will take son to either natural history or science museum while I and mother in law visit the V&A and we can meet up later. I agree son will be bored with V&A. I think science sounds more fun for him than natural history. He used to be into dinosaurs but no more now.
Wanted to see what Harrods looks like (see what the fuss is about) but we have so much shopping opportunities here where we are that going to department stores, any department store is not high on my list. Based on the review, if I don't get there no big deal.
Good idea to get son involved in researching sights to see for narnia and harry potter film locations!
South Kensington--spouse will take son to either natural history or science museum while I and mother in law visit the V&A and we can meet up later. I agree son will be bored with V&A. I think science sounds more fun for him than natural history. He used to be into dinosaurs but no more now.
Wanted to see what Harrods looks like (see what the fuss is about) but we have so much shopping opportunities here where we are that going to department stores, any department store is not high on my list. Based on the review, if I don't get there no big deal.
Good idea to get son involved in researching sights to see for narnia and harry potter film locations!
Dec 18th, 2009, 08:10 AM
#26
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"Diorama's are more fun for a child. "
Than what? You don't (as far as I can see) tell us now old the son is. But I defy any child with the teeniest smidgeon of curiosity to be less interested in the Museum of London's Roman section than in a diorama.
Food, drink, street sounds (including Latin curses) stuff about how we're still digging up dead Romans all over the place.
The younger members of the flannerclan get the Roman bit, a quick gawp at the Lord Mayor's Coach, a check to see if there are any temporary exhibitions with button they'd like to press - then it's out. Exposing anyone under 14 to a museum for over an hour is both cruel and unusual punishment, in my view - and a guarantee they'll never set foot in one again voluntarily.
I'd also investigate the teaching resources at http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/Eng...+resources.htm for kits that will get his mind working a great deal beter than a diorama. And you might try getting him to read Marcus Didius Falco's adventures in London in Lindsey Davis's The Jupiter Myth, and retrace the seedy detective's footsteps.
CW - uncharacteristically - misses a couple of other bits of Rome. There's the bits of wall visible from the Museum (not actually Roman, but rebuilt a few centuries later where the Romans had first built one), the memorial to the city's post-Boudicca praetor, Julius Classicianus (copied in the Museum) copied on the wall to your left as you're walking from Tower Hill tube to the Tower, and the amazing collection of Roman portraits in the Egyptian bit of the British Museum.
Than what? You don't (as far as I can see) tell us now old the son is. But I defy any child with the teeniest smidgeon of curiosity to be less interested in the Museum of London's Roman section than in a diorama.
Food, drink, street sounds (including Latin curses) stuff about how we're still digging up dead Romans all over the place.
The younger members of the flannerclan get the Roman bit, a quick gawp at the Lord Mayor's Coach, a check to see if there are any temporary exhibitions with button they'd like to press - then it's out. Exposing anyone under 14 to a museum for over an hour is both cruel and unusual punishment, in my view - and a guarantee they'll never set foot in one again voluntarily.
I'd also investigate the teaching resources at http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/Eng...+resources.htm for kits that will get his mind working a great deal beter than a diorama. And you might try getting him to read Marcus Didius Falco's adventures in London in Lindsey Davis's The Jupiter Myth, and retrace the seedy detective's footsteps.
CW - uncharacteristically - misses a couple of other bits of Rome. There's the bits of wall visible from the Museum (not actually Roman, but rebuilt a few centuries later where the Romans had first built one), the memorial to the city's post-Boudicca praetor, Julius Classicianus (copied in the Museum) copied on the wall to your left as you're walking from Tower Hill tube to the Tower, and the amazing collection of Roman portraits in the Egyptian bit of the British Museum.
Dec 18th, 2009, 08:33 AM
#27
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The London Walks tour that covers the Wren churches, the Monument and the Roman Wall is outstanding - I've done it twice. It starts at Tower Hill and ends up near St. Pauls. I agree that you can't do the Tower and St. Paul's and the Museum of London in one day. You could easily spend 2-3 days only doing sights in the City of London. I've also been to Leadenhall Market and it is definitely worth an hour or two. There are some nice pubs to have lunch including one that Wren designed for his workers. Some of the Wren churches have noonday concerts and irregular opening times, but they are all worth visiting to see the variety of design.
Dec 18th, 2009, 09:22 AM
#29
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Go to Londonwalks.com to see list of walks. Very, very good for excursions out of London. Plus Sunday 3pm Harry Potter walk. All London Walks much better than wandering around by yourself trying to find things. London is a very big city and not easy to go from place to place when you have no clue. Not a gridiron layout like NYC. I go to London several times a year to visit family and always do one or more Walks. I took LondonWalks trip to Oxford and was very pleased. fyi..I do not get a commission from London Walks.
Dec 18th, 2009, 09:33 AM
#30
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I have been on the london walks website and all the walks sound very interesting indeed. They give names to each walk. Which ones are the highly recommended walks that people have been on and enjoyed very much?
P.S. Son is 10 years old, likes museums to a degree--of course the more interesting the presentation or inter-active the exhibit the more likely to hold his interest.
P.S. Son is 10 years old, likes museums to a degree--of course the more interesting the presentation or inter-active the exhibit the more likely to hold his interest.
Dec 18th, 2009, 10:56 AM
#31
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and the amazing collection of Roman portraits in the Egyptian bit of the British Museum.>>>>
That's cheating! I meant the stuff out in the street of which there is very very little (don't forget that the Romans weren't much impressed with London and built their capital at Colchester (which does have a very good museum but little else to recommend it).
If you want to see Roman within easy reach of London you want verulamium - St Albans.
Which ones are the highly recommended walks that people have been on and enjoyed very much?>>>>
I should disclose a slight vested interest as I used to be a guide for another company....A long time ago.
To be honest they're all good. It's probably more a question of picking one that fits your schedule. The literary ones would probably bore the pants off a kid (they bored me - but people like them).
The ghost ones are fun - if a bit hokey.
People will tell you to take the Jack the Ripper ones. Don't. Firstly they're crap (and that's the one I used to do). Secondly they are too gruesome (IMO) for a ten year old. They go into vivid detail about prostitution, evisceration etc.
Your boy can't really go on the pub ones.
Other than that, they're all good.
That's cheating! I meant the stuff out in the street of which there is very very little (don't forget that the Romans weren't much impressed with London and built their capital at Colchester (which does have a very good museum but little else to recommend it).
If you want to see Roman within easy reach of London you want verulamium - St Albans.
Which ones are the highly recommended walks that people have been on and enjoyed very much?>>>>
I should disclose a slight vested interest as I used to be a guide for another company....A long time ago.
To be honest they're all good. It's probably more a question of picking one that fits your schedule. The literary ones would probably bore the pants off a kid (they bored me - but people like them).
The ghost ones are fun - if a bit hokey.
People will tell you to take the Jack the Ripper ones. Don't. Firstly they're crap (and that's the one I used to do). Secondly they are too gruesome (IMO) for a ten year old. They go into vivid detail about prostitution, evisceration etc.
Your boy can't really go on the pub ones.
Other than that, they're all good.
Dec 18th, 2009, 12:05 PM
#32
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I have 10 and 13 year old grandkids in London. They have been there all their lives so we have been every kid place in London. Tower of London is best. My kids find museums rather dull unless it relates to something they know about or studied in school. Really like to do wax rubbing at St.Martins in the Field. Burough Market good if buying stuff. Good food there. They like Greenwich Observatory. Even better if you can find how to get there thru tunnel under Thames. Excellent three masted ship docked there. Their best tours have been with guides who could tell them interesting stuff about what they are seeing. Your son will like Harry Potter tour. Do not go on the Beatles tour, not interesting unless you are a serious diehard Beatles fan. Harrods just big usual department store like Macys.
Dec 18th, 2009, 12:54 PM
#33
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Here's a link to my trip report from 2007:
http://tinyurl.com/yd479lr
We started off with a week in London. We did the Tower, the Tower Bridge Experience, and St. Pauls, in one very full day (Day Five on my report). As I stated back then, we did the Bridge mainly because it was covered on the Great Britain Heritage Pass (which we already had). It provided some nice views, but we skipped the tour of the inner workings of the bridge.
As for other "must see" sites, we saw a lot of them, but not all, by any stretch. Two trips to London and I still haven't made the British Museum, but will someday. Invariably, there are going to be things that you miss.
http://tinyurl.com/yd479lr
We started off with a week in London. We did the Tower, the Tower Bridge Experience, and St. Pauls, in one very full day (Day Five on my report). As I stated back then, we did the Bridge mainly because it was covered on the Great Britain Heritage Pass (which we already had). It provided some nice views, but we skipped the tour of the inner workings of the bridge.
As for other "must see" sites, we saw a lot of them, but not all, by any stretch. Two trips to London and I still haven't made the British Museum, but will someday. Invariably, there are going to be things that you miss.
Dec 18th, 2009, 07:21 PM
#34
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Elainee and others,
Great suggestions. What other things do the kids really enjoy? Did your grandkids take the Harry Potter tour with London walks?
Texasbookworm,
Read your other thread. Do post your itinerary. We need more organized ideas.
Twk,
A great trip report. How much time did you spend at the tower of london?
Great suggestions. What other things do the kids really enjoy? Did your grandkids take the Harry Potter tour with London walks?
Texasbookworm,
Read your other thread. Do post your itinerary. We need more organized ideas.
Twk,
A great trip report. How much time did you spend at the tower of london?
Dec 18th, 2009, 10:35 PM
#35
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Gringots Bank:
Is generally claimed to have been filmed in Australia House (google map WC2B 4LA,about 10 mins' brisk walk W of St Paul's) a complex that includes the Australian High Commission (Australia can't have an embassy here). To avoid disappointment, though, you and your son need to do some pre-research.
I honestly don't know what bits were filmed where. Australia House does include diplomatic premises, and though there are fewer nutters with a grudge against Oz here than against any other country (or rather, all 60 million of us have got a grudge agin the place, but we purge it by hammering them at cricket once a century and going on about it for the next 99 years), internal access is still limited. Though there are bits of Australia House you can meander into, I don't know whether they include what was filmed. There's also a fair amount of computer enhancement of some of those scenes.
Doubtless there's a website somewhere that explains all this - and your 10 year old will be far better qualified to do the research than you are.
Is generally claimed to have been filmed in Australia House (google map WC2B 4LA,about 10 mins' brisk walk W of St Paul's) a complex that includes the Australian High Commission (Australia can't have an embassy here). To avoid disappointment, though, you and your son need to do some pre-research.
I honestly don't know what bits were filmed where. Australia House does include diplomatic premises, and though there are fewer nutters with a grudge against Oz here than against any other country (or rather, all 60 million of us have got a grudge agin the place, but we purge it by hammering them at cricket once a century and going on about it for the next 99 years), internal access is still limited. Though there are bits of Australia House you can meander into, I don't know whether they include what was filmed. There's also a fair amount of computer enhancement of some of those scenes.
Doubtless there's a website somewhere that explains all this - and your 10 year old will be far better qualified to do the research than you are.
Dec 18th, 2009, 11:17 PM
#36
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I would definitely say that it is possible, it would be a fairly long day, and in my opinion it would really depend on how long you would want to spend at each attraction.
The Tower of London is my personal favourite, as this really signify's old London. From there you can see tower bridge, effectively doing two birds with one stone!
Enjoy.
M
http://www.cheaptravelmoney.com
The Tower of London is my personal favourite, as this really signify's old London. From there you can see tower bridge, effectively doing two birds with one stone!
Enjoy.
M
http://www.cheaptravelmoney.com
Dec 19th, 2009, 03:01 AM
#37
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They like Greenwich Observatory. Even better if you can find how to get there thru tunnel under Thames. Excellent three masted ship docked there.>>>>>
Greenwich foot tunnel is closed for maintenance and the Cutty Sark (ship) burned down.
But there's still plenty in Greenwich - especially if your kid has any interest in matters naval.
ps Excellent police in Greenwich too.
Greenwich foot tunnel is closed for maintenance and the Cutty Sark (ship) burned down.
But there's still plenty in Greenwich - especially if your kid has any interest in matters naval.
ps Excellent police in Greenwich too.
Dec 19th, 2009, 09:05 AM
#38
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Guess I have not been in Greenwich for a while. Very sad about Cutty Sark. When are you going on this trip? I will be in London and Paris with my NYC 10 yr old grandaughter in mid January for a blitz (leaving NYC Thurs.morning returning Tuesday evening) visit, two days in London and day and half in Paris. We will be with all three kids and I will do report on what they liked to do.
Dec 19th, 2009, 11:20 AM
#39
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We are not going until next summer. Just trying to do as much research as possible beforehand.
Elainee,
Please do report back as to what they like in both places London and Paris! Looking forward to your report. We would like to take the Harry Potter London walks tour. I like Beattles music but don't intend on taking the walk. Did anyone go on the royal london walk with them that tours the westminster section?
CW,
I read about the cutty sark. The guidebooks report they are repairing it from the 2007 fire damage and it is scheduled to re-open March 2010. Not sure if we will make it to Greenwich. You can take a ferry there from Westminster. How long of a ride is that about 1 hour? The Greenwich meridian line is there but not sure how much appeal that will be to my son. He does like planetariums though. We have been to many. Does the planetarium in greenwich have decent shows?
Flanneruk,
We found info on Australia House located in the strand. Like you said, not sure what is available for the average tourist as far as viewing the film site. Probably more hollywood created than reality but we can point out the location if we pass by the strand.
Elainee,
Please do report back as to what they like in both places London and Paris! Looking forward to your report. We would like to take the Harry Potter London walks tour. I like Beattles music but don't intend on taking the walk. Did anyone go on the royal london walk with them that tours the westminster section?
CW,
I read about the cutty sark. The guidebooks report they are repairing it from the 2007 fire damage and it is scheduled to re-open March 2010. Not sure if we will make it to Greenwich. You can take a ferry there from Westminster. How long of a ride is that about 1 hour? The Greenwich meridian line is there but not sure how much appeal that will be to my son. He does like planetariums though. We have been to many. Does the planetarium in greenwich have decent shows?
Flanneruk,
We found info on Australia House located in the strand. Like you said, not sure what is available for the average tourist as far as viewing the film site. Probably more hollywood created than reality but we can point out the location if we pass by the strand.
Dec 19th, 2009, 11:29 AM
#40
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I read about the cutty sark. The guidebooks report they are repairing it from the 2007 fire damage and it is scheduled to re-open March 2010. Not sure if we will make it to Greenwich. You can take a ferry there from Westminster. How long of a ride is that about 1 hour? The Greenwich meridian line is there but not sure how much appeal that will be to my son. He does like planetariums though. We have been to many. Does the planetarium in greenwich have decent shows?>>
Cutty Sark: Not a chance it will open in 2010. God knows how long it takes to rebuild a ship - but looks bloody complicated from what I've seen.
I can't help with the Planetarium - sorry.
There's lots of other stuff ther that you might like, the National MAritime Museum, the Queens House, the Old Naval College, the Town itself.
I don't know how long it takes on the clipper (boat) but I can't imagine it takes anything like an hour.
On the trains it takes about 15 mins. DLR about 25 (get off at Maritime Greenwich not Greenwich).
It's a good afternoon/morning out. Very compact so it doesn't take long.
Cutty Sark: Not a chance it will open in 2010. God knows how long it takes to rebuild a ship - but looks bloody complicated from what I've seen.
I can't help with the Planetarium - sorry.
There's lots of other stuff ther that you might like, the National MAritime Museum, the Queens House, the Old Naval College, the Town itself.
I don't know how long it takes on the clipper (boat) but I can't imagine it takes anything like an hour.
On the trains it takes about 15 mins. DLR about 25 (get off at Maritime Greenwich not Greenwich).
It's a good afternoon/morning out. Very compact so it doesn't take long.
