The City of London itinerary help

Old Dec 19th, 2009, 12:07 PM
  #41  
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You know guidebooks are written far in advance of their release date and not always up to date by the time we get to read them. So their prediction at the time of writing was to have cutty sark re-open by 2010, but like anything else sometimes it takes a lot longer than they originally planned. However, when they want to accomplish something quickly, they can. I watched a skyscraper go up within a year, but a small shopping complex took two to complete. It all is a matter of money and commitment.
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Old Dec 19th, 2009, 07:04 PM
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The Clipper from Blackfriars to Greenwich took...about 20-30 minutes, I think. I wasn't timing it.

I'd like to suggest that you not gear the whole trip around your son. Make sure and do some things you want to do, whether or not he is enthusastic about your choice.

For Harry Potter filming sites, use the Internet Movie Database - www.imdb.com - to look up each film. You'll find filming locations listed there.

Here's my quick overview of our 2 1/2 days in London:

1st afternoon - did the hop-on, hop-off tour with the Big Bus company. Had dinner, bought some groceries, and collapsed.

2nd day - took the Thames Clipper to Greenwich to see the National Maritime Museum, the Prime Meridian, and the Royal Observatory. Went back into London and took the verger's tour of Westminster Abbey, then walked over to the Cabinet War Rooms and Churchill Museum. That evening, Cholomondley_Warner gave us a quick tour of the South Bank area, and we had dinner at the George Inn. Stopped on the way back to our room for night pictures of the Houses of Parliament, etc.

3rd day - British Library's "treasures room," Platform 9 3/4, the British Museum, and went to see Stomp that evening.

If you click on my name, you can find my UK trip report.

Lee Ann
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Old Dec 20th, 2009, 07:20 AM
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Thanks ElendilPickle. I did read your trip report. It was very nice that you got a chance to meet up with CW! I'll have to do more research on the George Inn. I do have a few things on my list that I am sure son will not be thrilled about--V&A and national gallery come to mind. But for V&A, I think spouse will venture off to either natural history or science museum nearby.

Did you take any London walks tours?
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Old Dec 20th, 2009, 07:40 AM
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Hopstop.com will give transportation and walking directions (with times) between any two places in London.
I took Royal London walk, very good. I have taken most of them and liked all. But you need to do the ones to cover your wanted sites. Very good at Westminster Abbey. In fact, imho, all better than doing on ones own. They know more. The trip to Stonehedge and Salisbury cathedral was my favorite. Saw the cathedral, a village, and Stonehedge, plus beautiful countryside. If they still give it, highly recommended. I also like the hop-on hop-off bus. Good for first day when tired and also gives overview. I have always found the guides on the bus to be very knowledgeable and interesting. Have taken it more than once.
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Old Dec 20th, 2009, 07:53 AM
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Thanks for the hopstop.com website. I didn't know about that one. Someone else mentioned walkit.com which seems useful too.
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Old Dec 20th, 2009, 08:09 AM
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The GEorge is in Borough High St - just next to John Harvard's (he of the university) house.
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Old Dec 20th, 2009, 08:16 AM
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Does it have a kid license? I think that is what it is called--to allow kids in to eat? Food is good? Is there anything special to order or is it all just good? How many different kinds of beer do they have?
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Old Dec 20th, 2009, 08:51 AM
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Yes, yes, no, about a dozen.
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Old Dec 20th, 2009, 10:08 AM
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Okay. I need help with first day itinerary. We are coming in on eurostar (hopefully this winter's problems will be fixed by then so no further delays but who knows). Will be staying in the Holborn area and will probably be ready to explore at around 3PM. I should mention it would be a weekday.

Should we just do kings cross platform 9 3/4, british library and dinner? That means going back to the kings cross St pancras area or should we do musuem of london and eat dinner in clerkenwell and save the kings cross, british library for the day we are going to do the british museum?
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Old Dec 20th, 2009, 03:43 PM
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We wanted to do one of the London Walks, but we couldn't fit any into our schedule. I don't think you'll be disappointed, though, if you do one.

If St. Pancras has somewhere you could leave your luggage, you could see Platform 9 3/4 and the British Library after you arrive. They are, basically, right next to each other.

Lee Ann
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Old Dec 21st, 2009, 04:50 AM
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St Pancras does indeed do left luggage:

http://www.stpancras.com/about-stpancras/amenities/

If your train arrives at 3pm, you could be in the British Library by about 3.30/3.45, which should give you a fair amount of time (as long as you're there during the week - they close at 5pm on weekends and public holidays).

http://www.bl.uk/whatson/

On the other hand, of course, you want to get checked in at your accommodation. If that's in Holborn, I'm guessing you mean the Renaissance Chancery Court (that used to be the
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Old Dec 21st, 2009, 04:56 AM
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(Hit the wrong key -) Pearl Assurance building, in which case, the BL and King's Cross are a 10-15 minute bus ride, or even shorter tube ride, away.
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/gettingaro...ation-2128.pdf

Alternatively, the British Museum would be on your doorstep there, so you could do a bit of that on your arrival day (it's free, so there'd be no hardship in going back again if you get tired or run out of time).
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Old Dec 23rd, 2009, 07:32 AM
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europeannovice: Regarding how long we spent at the Tower, we were there from just before opening at 10:00 (I think) until 1:30 or so. Both my sister and I had been there before, and all three of us had been inside the Tower for the Ceremony of the Keys a couple of days before. You could easily spend a full day there if you wanted. I guess the one thing you might want to do that we didn't on this trip was to walk the ramparts a bit--my sister's leg injury ruled out some of those types of opportunities. The key to efficiently using your time at the Tower is to be there at opening and initially bypass the Yeoman Warder's tour in favor of going to see the Crown Jewels. If you do this, you won't waste a lot of time standing in line for the jewels, and you can go back and pick up the YW tour afterwards. If you go see the jewels later and spend an hour in line to do so, then your trip to the Tower is really going to take up most of the day.
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Old Dec 23rd, 2009, 12:02 PM
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Thanks everyone for all your suggestions and maps etc.

Elainee,
Pleaase be sure to report back on what your grandkids like in both London and Paris so I can get some more ideas.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year to
Everyone!
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