skatterfly

Hi folks, wanted to update and say that I'm now seriously lobbying the husband to make time on this trip for HCP. The more I read about it, the more I am certain the girls will love it!

The only problem is that we have a total of 5 full days in London. (This does not include the day we arrive or the day we leave on Eurostar to Paris.) One of those days is already reserved for going out to the Harry Potter Studios. So that leaves us 4 full days left for London. We will have one more full day in London before we fly home (which I haven't planned at all, just leaving open), but we realize it's not as much time as we'd like.

I have padded my itinerary pretty well, and I had allocated a half day to Kensington Palace. I'm now thinking we could skip that (or tuck it in somewhere else) and spend that time visiting HCP instead. So... depending on how things go, perhaps we can get to HCP after all. Maybe... if I can convince the hubs. If the stars align.

Is it as crowded and zany as Versailles?

Sassafrass

Great info for our next trip to London - hopefully with GD. Thanks to everyone who helped the OP.

janisj

IMO -- HCP is a 10 (or 11) on the 10 point 'major sites' sclae, and Kensington Palace is about a 5 (or 6 if one is REALLY interested in gowns). I'd ditch KP and devote that time and more to HCP.

>>Is it as crowded and zany as Versailles?<<

It gets busy but not nearly as slammed as Versailles. The only bottle neck is at the ticket office/security. After that the crowds are pretty much dispersed because everyone goes a different direction. I'd go on a weekday morning if possible> I don't recall if it says up thread <i>when</i> your trip is? As long as it isn't a Bank Holiday or school break, the crowds aren't really a serious issue.

The cafe also gets very busy but if you eat lunch a little early or a little late even that is manageable.

stokebailey

There's a documentary on DVD or Netflix: Secrets of Henry VIII's Palace. I wish we'd watched before visiting.

Mimar

HCP is on the 2-for-1 ticket plan. Admission is not cheap so you could save a good bit. See www.daysoutguide.co.uk/2for1-london.

skatterfly

Thanks, Janis... that's a great comparison. I've recently discovered the Showtime series "The Tudors" and have been binge-watching the episodes in the evening. ;-) It kind of crazy how curious I am about seeing HCP at this point. I've been to Paris, oh, 8 or 9 times, and never once felt compelled to venture out to Versailles. I've only been to London once, and I'm surprised that I'm planning to spend 2 of our 5 days on day trips out of town.

Stoke, I also just watched the Secrets of HCP DVD... I'm hoping to show it to my DH this weekend. He vaguely recalls going there with his parents in the 80s when he was on a trip with them.

And Mimar and others who mentioned the 2-for-1... that's my plan for now. We will be seeing a bunch of places on the plan so we will have a 7 day paper travel card.

And in case I didn't overtly state it earlier, thanks again to everyone here who has shared information. It's really helpful.

wrenwood

Agree, skip Kensington Palace, we gave it a 1 out of 10, not even close to HCP

stokebailey

I like Hampton Court much more than Versailles.

janisj

<B>Mimar</B>: Nothing to do w/ this topic but I noticed your post . . . by any chance did you see my response to your question on the Help Forum about searching??? Try that -- it will probably work.

ssander

Just remember to buy your train ticket to HCP at a <strong>train station</strong>...don't use put it on an Oyster card...in order to qualify for the 2/1 discount.

I think a 1-day travel card for zones 1-6 (where HCP is) <strong>bought at a train station</strong> does the trick. Either 17GBP or 12GBP depending on whether you start out before 9:30 a, (peak) or after (off-peak).

That gets you there and back as well as the 2/1 discount. (and includes any other tube/bus rides that entire day, such as rides needed to get to/from the train station.)

SS

janisj

ssander: Skatterfly is already planning on having paper travelcards . . .

ssander

...janisj...oops...lazy half-reading on my part...sorry.

SS

europeannovice

We went to Kensington Palace 5 years ago when they were doing renovations and it was not enjoyable.

We absolutely loved loved loved Hampton Court Palace. During the summer they do live kitchen demonstrations on some select days and we had the most fun engaging with the staff. Son lit the tinder box and rotated the meat on the spigot. Plus the gardens and the maze were all great fun. You can spend most of the day there.

europeannovice

Oh read the comparison Windsor or Hampton Court and my vote is still for Hampton Court. Windsor was okay but the security lines etc. take away from the wow factor. Plus there is more for a visitor to see at Hampton Court because no one is actually living there anymore so there is more you can explore unlike at Windsor.