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composerjohn
Citizen
Username: Composerjohn
Post Number: 147
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 10:44 am: |     |
My wife and I are going to London for our first real vacation in over six years (sans baby). Yay!  We are leaving soon. Any suggestions for fun things do around London? I know we want to take some type of Beatles tour. Thanks! |
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 420
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 12:24 pm: | |
Some of the things I did and also some of the things I wished I did when I was in London a few years ago:
-Go to St. Paul's Cathedral and go go up the steps to The Whispering Gallery (The Whispering Gallery runs around the interior of the Dome and is 259 steps up from ground-level. It gets its name from a charming quirk in its construction, which makes a whisper against its walls audible on the opposite side.) I went to St. Pauls which is a really nice cathedral but didn't have time to do the Whispering Gallery. It got the heck bombed out of it during the war, but was very nicely rebuilt and has a nice tribute to the American's for their part in the war effort.
http://www.stpauls.co.uk/page.aspx?theLang=001lngdef&pointerid=169345dwprEOVViTR Ld8xXbHBDHGbzge
- Covent Gardens
http://www.coventgardenlife.com/
A place with everything - shopping, restaurants, sightseeing, music, etc.
- Walk across London Bridge. You can make a day or 1/2 day of it and go to the Tower of London (which I did) and then go to the Bridge which seems very cool, as they have high-level walkways.
- Westminster Abbey - very nice. It's really odd, but in front, across the street, they have a Lincoln memorial huge statue. I just didn't expect to see it there. Parliament (which I didn't see the inside of, but it's beautiful outside) and Big Ben are right there, so you can see all of that by standing on one corner...
Advice - get a ticket on the one of those double-decker tour buses and get off and on. I did that (and also took the tube here and there) and it enabled me to see so much in one day.
I didn't go to Buckingham Palace, but I hear that's a bit overrated.
Have a wonderful time. It's such a great city. |
MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 1911
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 12:26 pm: | |
The Art Museums (National Gallery etc).
Walking along the South Bank of the Thames & checking out the street performers.
Going to shows in the West End ( get discount tickets in Leicester Square)
Out of town - Stonehenge is very cool & a 90 minute train ride away.
A Beatles Walking Tour - YES - worthwhile.
Tower of London is interesting
It's an awesome city. Don't get too hung up on doing all the "tourist things". Be sure to spend time wandering the streets and exploring on your own, too. |
Dave
Moderator
Username: Dave
Post Number: 5303
Registered: 4-1998
| | Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 12:34 pm: | |
Take a boat ride up the Thames to Greenwich, where you can jump back and forth over the Prime Meridian - the very center of time and space. Drink cider. |
jonnyt
Citizen
Username: Jonnyt
Post Number: 155
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 12:38 pm: | |
Slightly off the beaten track:
Highgate cemetery, fabulous gothic/victorian place that inspired Bram Stoker to write Dracula.
Sir John Soane's museum in Lincoln's Inn Field has the most eclectic collection of art, sculptures etc you'll ever see.
Not far from there, the Fryer's Delight on Theobald's Road does great fish and chips.
And take a walk across the Millennium Bridge (aka the "Wobbly Bridge") to the Tate Modern on the South Bank. |
vor
Citizen
Username: Vor
Post Number: 396
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 1:13 pm: | |
If you like Indian Food, look up Brick Lane (near Liverpool Street underground stop). You will have some great food. There are dozens of indian restaurants on Brick Lane (probably twice as many as 6th st in Manhattan). I can't remember the name of the last restaurant I went to but I remember it was a white building ("White" may have been in the name) near a corner. Great stuff!
Have fun! |
composerjohn
Citizen
Username: Composerjohn
Post Number: 148
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 1:53 pm: | |
cool suggestions.. keep them coming.
We are flying into Gatwick. I know there is the Gatwick Express Train into the Victoria station in London. Are there any other (cheaper) ways to get into the city? I am fine paying the Gatwick Express fees (23.50 pounds - about $44), but I just want to check...
Thanks! |
jonnyt
Citizen
Username: Jonnyt
Post Number: 156
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 2:01 pm: | |
Not sure how current this is:
http://www.londontoolkit.com/travel/gatwick_bus.htm |
buhinc
Citizen
Username: Buhinc
Post Number: 47
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 2:16 pm: | |
Definitley check out St. Paul - climb all the way to the top, not just to whispering walls, which are amazing. You can keep on going all the way to the base of the dome. I actually got a bit of vertigo.
Also check out the Imperial War Museum - the bunker where Churchill stayed during the bombings of WWII. That place was amazing. Both are worth the $$. Buckingham palace was a disappointment and too expensive (10 pounds at the time). Kensington Palace was nice. We hit the double decker buses as soon as we got there -gave us the lay of the land - definitely worth it as stated by above poster. |
joy
Citizen
Username: Joy
Post Number: 222
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 2:24 pm: | |
How long are you going for? I did a semester abroad and have been back many times - and I still didn't see/do/etc everything...My not to be missed list is:
Crown jewels, the Tower, Trafalgar Sq, westminster abby - on the touristy side.
Other favs - Portobello Road market- go early. canal ride thru little venice, camden locks market, walk under the thames to greewich, greenwich, St Martin's in the field have lunch in the crypt - catch a anceint instrument concert there as well, Bristish Museum - have lunch there and see the rosetta stone, get to hampton place to see how Henry the viii lived, pub crawl thru cambrigde circle, charring cross road, see the daffs at london polytech at trent park (cockfosters tube stop), St Jamess park...okay i really have to stop now... |
tjd
Citizen
Username: Tjd
Post Number: 17
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 2:26 pm: | |
We did a Jack the Ripper tour and it was fantastic. It's at night and they take you to all the places where Jack the Ripper struck. The tour guides tells you one of the theories of who was Jack the Ripper. He spaces the story out throughout the tour. That way, you are eager to hear each part of the story. Yes, it was macabre, but interesting.
We went through Club ABC Tours and booked it through them. |
MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 1913
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 2:29 pm: | |
Gatwick Express is definitely the fastest & cheapest way to the city. Don't take a car/cab as it will take forever.
Once you get to Victoria Station you can take the tube (or a cab) to your hotel. |
kws
Citizen
Username: Kws
Post Number: 98
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 3:59 pm: | |
Walk across Hyde Park and catch afternoon tea at the Orangery right behind Kensington Palace. Dress nice but not formally.
The bus tours (Big Bus Company) are a good deal and include a quickie little boat jaunt up the river from London Bridge to Big Ben.
The Transport Museum at Covent Station was a nice little side treat as was Neal's Yard, a great cheese shop a couple of blocks above the Station.
We were in town for a week and picked up a one week tube pass that took care of all of our transport needs within the city. |
jet
Citizen
Username: Jet
Post Number: 753
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 4:19 pm: | |
The Tower is a lot of fun , the Beefeaters are pretty amusing . If your going to do the high tea thing , make it the Dorchester . If nightclubs are in your plans try Sketch in Mayfair. There's a restaurant called Aureole in the Bellgrave ? section , near Harrods good rainy day lunch spot. If your going to try Sketch , make a dinner reservation then stay for the show , they come out & raise the tables making them into bars . |
kmk
Supporter
Username: Kmk
Post Number: 443
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 4:27 pm: | |
jonnyt-
My husband and I are members of Sir John Soane's Museum Foundation! We are the group of crazy Americans raising funds to enlarge and maintain the collections on display at the museum in London.
I am delighted to see you recommend it to others as it is (obviously) one of our favorite places in London.
You can get more information at http://www.soane.org/foundation/foundationhome.htm |
jonnyt
Citizen
Username: Jonnyt
Post Number: 157
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 5:35 pm: | |
Not crazy at all, KMK. Good for you. It's one of my favorite places too |
Barbara
Citizen
Username: Blh
Post Number: 431
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 6:40 pm: | |
Joy - if composerjohn is going this month, he won't see the crown jewels. As we found out, they clean them each February!
Take in some theatre while you're there -- not the big shows you can see on Broadway here, but the "off the beaten track" theatres. |
Ukealalio
Citizen
Username: Ukealalio
Post Number: 1844
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 7:17 pm: | |
Great Clubs for Music in London, try:
Ronnie Scott's for Jazz (Soho)
Jazz Cafe-Camden Town (Jazz, Rock, R & B)
The Borderline (Soho) Rock, Country, Blues
London Astoria (Name acts)
Troubador-Old Brompton Road-All kinds of Music-Dylan played here in the early days as did Paul Simon-Great little restaurant also.
Check schedule at the Royal Albert Hall-Mostly classical but occasional name acts.
Great Indian Restaurant (I think called Indian Brasserie) right next to Ronnie Scott's in SoHo.
Beatles walking tour is well worth it as are all the walking tours.
Try a play in Soho.
Enjoy it's a great city.
|
harpo
Citizen
Username: Harpo
Post Number: 2007
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 9:54 pm: | |
composerjohn,
There are a number of New Yorker-type magazines in London that list all kinds of free venues for music. You can have a great time for free, everything from classical in churches to new music in pubs.
The underground is easy to use and taxis are impossible. Just remember the trains don't run all night.
Be sure to go to Big Ben when it chimes the hour, as many chimes as possible.
The Tate Modern is free if you like modern art. The National Portrait Gallery is unique and a uniquely British experience. The National Gallery is a must if you like painting, as is the Courtaldt. The British Museum is good for the spoils of empire.
Since you are going "soon," it is likely to miserably damp and cold in London. A hooded nylon poncho is more useful than an umbrella. A trip to the huge Victorian glass and steel greenhouse in Kew is quite lovely and warming in winter, a terrific bit of pure Victoriana, and a relaxing break from the diesel fumes of the city. You can reach it by train. http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/visitor/index.html
The food in Britain is still terrible (unless you fancy jellied eels), but Indian food shines, as does a lot of Italian. You can find great cheap Indian places all over town. Just walk in. (Good Italian will cost you more.)
London is as vast as Los Angeles, but every borough and postal district of it has fascinating sights and offerings. Check out what's near your hotel.
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teach75
Citizen
Username: Teach75
Post Number: 20
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 11:22 pm: | |
I was in London several years ago for a 10 day vacation. My must sees are the Tower of London and Tower Bridge!, Westminster Abbey, Parliament(I sat in on a session)...I can go on and on. Overall, probably my favorite stop was St. Paul's Cathedral. I made the walk up, but the very top was closed due to the high winds. Like KWS suggested, I did the tour through Kensington Palace and then had tea at The Orangery. I loved it. Before I went to a play in the West End we were in a pub for a drink, and "Norm" (George Wendt) from Cheers walked in!
I also flew into Gatwick and took the express train in. It worked out very well. London is an easy town to travel in and through, I found. Have a great time!!! It was my most memorable trip ever! |
teach75
Citizen
Username: Teach75
Post Number: 21
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 11:24 pm: | |
p.s. I had planned to do the trip to Prime Meridian, as Dave suggested and it was POURING rain all day long. Next time... |
happyman
Citizen
Username: Happyman
Post Number: 248
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 11:48 pm: | |
Tate Modern....we went this time last year and they had the most incredible exibit. the museum is housed in a old Power House and the ceiling is mirrored...half a moon is reflected to the ceiling which gives it the illusion that it is a full moon...hard to describe but we Loved it (the kids loved it too).
A short walk down from the Eye...another must! |
MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 1917
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 18, 2005 - 7:52 am: | |
The Tate Modern is a cool building that (I Believe) used to be a Power Plant. You have to really love Modern art, though. I recall one of the exhibits was 3 baseketballs floating in a fish tank. I thought that was one of the stupidest things I've ever seen. To each his own.
Also be sure to check out Hyde Park & Speaker's Corner on a Sunday morning. |
composerjohn
Citizen
Username: Composerjohn
Post Number: 149
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Friday, February 18, 2005 - 8:13 am: | |
Thanks everyone. This is great. If you have more suggestions, keep them coming. I am definately making a list of all the things to do! |
kmk
Supporter
Username: Kmk
Post Number: 444
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 18, 2005 - 8:37 am: | |
I completely forgot! Go to the "Globe" Shakespeare's theater has been completely rebuilt and it gives you an incredible feel of how immediate his plays were....how relevant they were to the common guy. There were surrounded by brothels etc. If I had enough foresight to get tickets to a production ahead of time I would have been on cloud nine!
If I remember correctly, it is an easy walk over to the Tate Modern from the Globe. (Talk about juxtapositions!) |
Innisowen
Citizen
Username: Innisowen
Post Number: 430
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Friday, February 18, 2005 - 8:57 am: | |
All great suggestions above- but why not expand the trip a bit. Hire a car and spend a couple of days in cottage country in the Cotswolds, for example, only about 2 hours drive from London--Cirencester in the thick of the Cotswolds, Gloucester with its magnificent cathedral on the outer edge, and in between, so many wonderful and quaint towns and villages. IMHO. |
composerjohn
Citizen
Username: Composerjohn
Post Number: 150
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Friday, February 18, 2005 - 9:43 am: | |
Thanks everyone. This is great. If you have more suggestions, keep them coming. I am definately making a list of all the things to do! |
composerjohn
Citizen
Username: Composerjohn
Post Number: 151
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Friday, February 18, 2005 - 9:44 am: | |
oops - sorry for the double post. |
Duder
Citizen
Username: El_duderino
Post Number: 574
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Friday, February 18, 2005 - 10:13 am: | |
Hampton Court Palace. It's a 30 min. train ride out of London. It was Henry VIII's primary residence, and all the history of his reign can be seen there. Authentic medieval. It's a fun day trip (half-day, even) and you get to see some English countryside. |
Ukealalio
Citizen
Username: Ukealalio
Post Number: 1846
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Friday, February 18, 2005 - 12:07 pm: | |
Stonehenge is also a fun day trip you can make from Waterloo station. I believe the train ride is less then 2 hours from London. |
Miss L Toe
Citizen
Username: Miss_l_toe
Post Number: 171
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Friday, February 18, 2005 - 1:23 pm: | |
There's been some excellent responses so far!
I'll add a few more ideas too (odd that no-ones mentioned the 'London Eye' ferris wheel so far. I haven't been on it myself yet but you can get info and book online on the British Airways website:
http://www.ba.com
A short walk along the River Thames from the (wobbly) Millenium Bridge, Tate Modern and the Globe Theatre is the 'Royal Festival Hall' at the South Bank Centre.
When our children were small we often went along there on a Sunday afternoon to the casual free concerts in the foyer....they're usually very good and you can eat sandwiches and have a glass of wine whilst watching the performance. They're not just on Sundays - most days there will be something going on in the foyer and of course there may be a concert or dance performance which you may like to see there as well:
http://www.rfh.org.uk (check out 'Free Events')
There's a brand new museum related to Winston Churchill which opens today at the Cabinet War Rooms:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/insiders/guides/articles/16473959?source=Evening%2 0Standard
Oh, if the weather is mild, do go on a Thames River trip....
You might also like to go to the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew...the largest of its type in the world and you can get there by tube (District Line)The river boats go there too from April onwards.
http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/
My daughter's university halls of residence are just next to the river at Twickenham...she just walks across the bridge to go to lovely Richmond-upon-Thames adjacent to Kew...she just loves it there...if you are there on March 28th don't miss the famous Oxford vs Cambridge University boat race!
Don't forget to buy a 'Time Out' magazine when you arrive, published every Thursday...there is (limited) info on London on their website:
http://www.timeout.com
I'm getting 'homesick' now...I'd love to go and have a pub lunch or go to Brick Lane for a decent curry.... 
You're going to run out of time to do all the things you would like to...
Don't forget that there is a British Tourist Authority office in Manhatten on Fifth Avenue...if you can't get to it phone them up and ask them to mail some maps and tourist guides to you..they don't just cover London but the whole of the UK:
http://www.visitbritain.com/VB3-en-US/contact_us/Index.aspx
(Their Travel Shop is next door where you can buy Heritage Passes etc. before you go to London)
The Home Page for more info on the UK is:
http://www.visitbritain.com/VB3-en-US/index.aspx
Enjoy and have a great holiday!
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Miss L Toe
Citizen
Username: Miss_l_toe
Post Number: 172
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Friday, February 18, 2005 - 1:26 pm: | |
Just a PS.
For the London Eye - here is the dedicated BA website for it (British Airways owns it):
http://www.londoneye.com (also has links to tourist info).
(Where are you staying by the way?) |
vor
Citizen
Username: Vor
Post Number: 402
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Friday, February 18, 2005 - 11:19 pm: | |
do not do the London Eye if you are afraid of heights |
composerjohn
Citizen
Username: Composerjohn
Post Number: 152
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, February 19, 2005 - 9:31 am: | |
the London Eye looks fun. I am not afraid of heights (at least I don't think).
We are staying at the Blakemore Hotel in the Notting Hill area of London near Hyde Park. It looks like a nice, inexpensive place to stay. Plus, the hotel was used in the movie "Notting Hill". Pretty cool. |
Amory Blaine
Citizen
Username: Fscott74
Post Number: 52
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, February 19, 2005 - 10:12 am: | |
Hi composerjohn,
There's no shortage of things to do in London and everyone here seems to have some great ideas.
I'd disagree that the food is bad there. Here are some restaurants near there that you and your wife might like. I'm not too too familiar with Notting Hill so they're mostly in Kensington which is a quick walk through the park from Notting Hill or down Kensington Church Street which has some great shops and antiquey places:
Clarke's on K. Church Street - great brunch
Wodka on St. Alban's Grove - my favorite restaurant ever. Contemporary Polish food and nearly 30 different vodkas. Great people.
Belvedere in Holland Park - very nice restaurant in a great setting
Zaika - a Michelon starred Indian restaurant on Kensington High Street
Balans - great cafe for breakfast or lunch also on the High Street
Babylon - a restaurant in the roof gardens above Barkers on the High Street. Nice setting, but pricey for the food.
Geales is one of the most famous fish and chips shops in London and it's right in Notting Hill.
These are all fairly pricey places, except Wodka, Balans and Geales, but there is a wide spectrum of places you can eat at near there.
Here are a few websites for restaurants in London - you can search by area, price, etc.. You can make online reservations with the last two.
www.london-eating.com
www.toptable.co.uk
www.lastminute.com
There are a few fantastic pubs near there too. The Churchill Arms on K. Church St. is great and has fantastic Thai food too.
The Windsor Castle on Campden Hill Rd. is to me a classic London pub and near your hotel. Great beer/food, cozy fireplaces and beer garden.
London's a great city and you can definitely eat and drink well there.
Have a great time.
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