kimberlyb

Thank you for the suggestions. It's actually not our first trip to London, and have visited the Tate Modern before, as well as a bunch of places not mentioned. My daughter isn't interested in that museum nor the London Eye, but those are great suggestions if we find that we have more time and we change our mind. The Borough market is on the list for lunch if we can make it work.

millie2112

glad you put a day between bath and windsor train trips.

macdogmom

Aah, I completely understand. Another suggestion is Clerkenwell or Shoreditch are fun place with lots of young people (not sure how old your daughter is). I’m on way to London in May and like you have visited many times, so our 3 day weekend there is more about eating and wandering the streets. I did just buy tickets for the David Hockney show and I may trek over to the V&A museum which is one of my favorite places in London. We’re staying in Convent Garden so I can have easy access to those aforementioned restaurants!

janisj

I'm going to the David Hockney at the Lighthroom too, on May 22, and sometime on the 21st the Donatello exhibition at the V&A

Kiddo

I've done the verger tour at Westminster Abbey a couple of times over the years and highly recommend it.

kimberlyb

Thank you! We will definitely try to do that. We've been before, but never taken the verger tour. I I'm planning on booking advanced timed entry online before we arrive, so is the verger tour something that I can add/book ahead of time? Any tips on how to do this would be appreciated.

janisj

The Abbey's website has all the info one needs . . . https://www.westminster-abbey.org/visit-us/guided-tours

kimberlyb

Thank you. Would a verger tour replace the self guided audio tour?

macdogmom

I’ve seen a few Hockney exhibits and this sounds interesting.

janisj

If you take the Verger's tour you could dispense with the audio guide but you will still want to see the parts of the Abbey the tour doesn't cover. Since the audio guide is free and included with admission I'd take it anyway - it will explain what you are seeing when the verger isn't there to tell you

I saw the BIG Hockney exhibition at Tate Britain in 2017 and another at the Royal Academy a couple of years before that. I've been following the development of this show and it looks fascinating.

kimberlyb

Thanks. I plan on making advanced entry reservations for the Churchill War Rooms after we finish up with touring Westminster Abbey and grab a quick bite - maybe at the cafe on site. I was planning on about 1.5 hours for the audio tour, but that wasn't including the verger tour (according to their website takes about 1.5 hours). How long do you think I should account for our Westminster Abbey visit then - 2 or 3 hours??

janisj

Don't absolutely 100% count on taking a Vergers Tour. They are limited in size and totally 1st come 1st serve. Sometimes there are 30 or 40 people expecting to take the tour - but they only give out 20 tickets. Tours are given 4X a day (but can occasionally be cancelled). A complication is - you pretty much need to be there at or soon after the 9:30 opening time (by 10:AM for sure IME) to to have nab the first morning tour - but the first tour isn't until 10:30 -- then 11:00, 11:30 and 2PM

If you do get at tour I'd think maybe another 45 minutes or so to see the Cloisters, Pyx Chamber and the Chapter House. More if you also visit the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries (additional ticket).

Caveat -- It has been at least 6 years since I last did a vergers tour and things could be tougher now - or not . . .

If it was me -- I'd just assume I would not get a Vergers tours and be thrilled if I was successful.

kimberlyb

Understand and appreciate the insight. I noticed there were only a limited number offered per day on the website. I plan on making advanced reservations for the 9:30am opening, so will plan a little extra time before I schedule the War Rooms to be safe. At the very worst case and we can't get the 10:30am verger tour, we can have a leisurely lunch and stroll before our timed entry at the War Rooms. Thank you!