I liked the tower and St Paul's and the British museum. I didn't see westminster when I was there.
But I think my favorite thing was just walking and busing around the city and seeing big Ben, the Millennium bridge, Piccadilly circus, and the different neighborhoods.
We went to London for our Honeymoon and the #1 place on my list was The Tower of London. I've always had a fascination for its history. It was awesome.
We're thinking Tower of London and Westminster. How much time would you say is enough at each to feel like you got a good visit in?
OH. And how the hell do people get from Heathrow to central London without spending a million dollars!?!
We spent maybe half a day at the Tower of London, but I could have spent the entire day there. We got there at opening, had lunch there and stayed maybe another hour. We did the audio tour at Westminster and took some time to look around. I can't remember, but I think we were there 1-2 hours? One really neat and unexpected place we stopped after the Tower of London was All Hallows by the Tower. It is the oldest church in London and we were given a tour by an elderly couple who worked there. It was really interesting and didn't take much time.
We took the underground everywhere. I think we bought a day pass everyday and it wasn't expensive.
ETA: for your night time activity. Since everyone else will recommend day stuff. West End theater is wonderful, but you can only see the Globe at the Globe. Obviously you should go to the theater many nights, though.
We got to tour the globe during a HS trip while they were still building it. SO COOL!
For your daytime activity though, another vote for Tower of London.
Post by londoncalling on Apr 19, 2015 16:24:02 GMT -5
Saw this from the app.
If you are able to be at the Tower for opening, head straight back to the Crown Jewels. People get caught at the entrance waiting for beefeater tour and you can get through the Crown Jewels with minimal wait. Then double back to pick up a beefeater tour for the rest of your time there.
If you can see 2 things, I'd add Harrah's. You will never be in another store quite like it.
Oh man that's true, Harrah's is amazing. I could have spent a full day just in the food hall.
Question for Londoners or people who really know it well: how can you tell the difference between an actual pub and the chain places that look like real pubs on the outside but are basically Bennigan's? We wasted a lot of time there (granted this was 10 years ago and we didn't have smart phones) trying to find a good pub when the city seemed to be full of crappy fakes.
I'm not huge on going in to the sights - so I would not go to British museum etc, but start at Westminster abbey, walk past Big Ben and Houses of Parliament, take the London eye for the views, then walk along the south bank of the Thames, passing the globe theatre, looking at tower bridge (lots of photo ops), good view of St. Paul's and stopping for some pints and lunch along the way. Great views, sights, pictures and beers and lunch . At night I'd go for a fun dinner at a newish restaurant in soho then hit some pubs/bars. And a pub breakfast the next morning.
If you can see 2 things, I'd add Harrah's. You will never be in another store quite like it.
Oh man that's true, Harrah's is amazing. I could have spent a full day just in the food hall.
Question for Londoners or people who really know it well: how can you tell the difference between an actual pub and the chain places that look like real pubs on the outside but are basically Bennigan's? We wasted a lot of time there (granted this was 10 years ago and we didn't have smart phones) trying to find a good pub when the city seemed to be full of crappy fakes.
Research in advance. There are so many chain pubs and restaurants and I really hate "wasting" a meal at a chainy place. Looking up gastropub son yelp etc in advance is helpful, and then if you have them on your phone, you can go to one close to where you are.
Post by themoneytree on Apr 19, 2015 17:21:25 GMT -5
Lunch and a jug of Pimms at the Dicken's Inn in St Katherine's Dock. If the weather is good you will not regret doing this. Trust me. This is so very British and it is really close to Tower Bridge/ Tower of London so you can combine the two very happily. You will LOVE it.
Also Kew Gardens. And Covent Garden which is touristy but lovely and if you like the opera it's there and amazing.
I can't pick just one thing and I could go on and on. Have fun!
Post by trytobearunner34 on Apr 19, 2015 18:43:44 GMT -5
Another vote for Churchill War Rooms. London of Tower would be my runner up vote.
A friend told us a cab ride would be worth it when we first arrived; however, after you converted it to us dollars the nearly $100 ride was so NOT worth it.
We used the underground the remaining days (which was pretty easy to maneuver once you get a feel for how it works) and used it to come back to Heathrow. It was about 45 minutes during am rush hour, but would totally suggest it upon arrival.
Oh and to get from airport to town, I'd splurge on the heathrow express and then take a cab. It's expensive but the dollar is strong, and omg the tube from heathrow takes ages and is kind of a nightmare with lots of luggage (unless you know you're getting off at a stop that has good handicap access). Since you're only going for a day it kind of sucks to spend so much time on the underground imo.
Another vote for Churchill War Rooms – it's fascinating if you have any interest in WWII. The museum is really well done.
Otherwise I think the Tower is sort of a London must-see. Evensong at Westminster is a neat experience, as is the London Eye in the evening when the city is lit up. You could easily visit Westminster, then walk to the War Rooms, then walk past Big Ben and over the bridge to the London Eye, but getting to the Tower from that side of the city requires a Tube ride.
Post by mrsukyankee on Apr 20, 2015 2:54:38 GMT -5
I agree that Borough Market is a great place to go - LUNCH people. And if you like chorizo, then the chorizo sandwich guys are amazing (as are the duck confit sarnies which you can get with prosecco).
Feel free to pm me as well if you want any further info (including lunch places near landmarks).
If you can see 2 things, I'd add Harrah's. You will never be in another store quite like it.
Oh man that's true, Harrah's is amazing. I could have spent a full day just in the food hall.
Question for Londoners or people who really know it well: how can you tell the difference between an actual pub and the chain places that look like real pubs on the outside but are basically Bennigan's? We wasted a lot of time there (granted this was 10 years ago and we didn't have smart phones) trying to find a good pub when the city seemed to be full of crappy fakes.
I'd be wary of any that have plaques outside advertising 'traditional English food'. You can find some good ones on the main streets (Cittie of Yorke on High Holborn is a fantastic historic watering hole), but most will be tucked away on side streets. I second researching 'gastro pubs', or 'historic pubs', or pubs serving cask ales (another sign it's a serious, independent establishment).
I agree that Borough Market is a great place to go - LUNCH people. And if you like chorizo, then the chorizo sandwich guys are amazing (as are the duck confit sarnies which you can get with prosecco).
Feel free to pm me as well if you want any further info (including lunch places near landmarks).
Another vote for the chorizo guy...yum!
Get an oyster card if you are going to take the tube (piccadilly line) from LHR into central London. There is a daily cap on it so once you hit the amount it stops charging you.
The British Museum is open until 8:30pm on fridays so if you are there on a Friday its something you can pop into once everything closes.
Tower of London...go early when they open. You can buy tickets online and get a small discount.
I like The Orangery at Kensington Palace for afternoon tea. Or you could stop by Harrods and have tea and macarons at Laduree, the caramel ones are delish.
We're thinking Tower of London and Westminster. How much time would you say is enough at each to feel like you got a good visit in?
OH. And how the hell do people get from Heathrow to central London without spending a million dollars!?!
There's a train to get into the city. A taxi will cost around 50 pound.
The British Museum is my favorite spot, together with the National Portrait Gallery. If you like Japanese food, only one address: Roka on Charlotte Street. Their lounge downstairs is sufficient enough to take the Eurostar...
If that's not your thing, then Tower of London gets my vote.
100% this. You can do both in a day if you are up for it. I think I was in the War Rooms and Museum for about 90 miniutes. The Tower needs at least 2.5-3 hours.
If are going to do that, do the Tower first, then eat at Polpo (near the war rooms) and finish your day with Churchill.
ETA link for Polpo. The Maiden Lane location is closest to the War Rooms. The chick pea, spinach and ricotta meatballs are to die for
I was only there 1 day (2 nights, but I got in late the first night and left early the second morning). If you have a full day, you could do like I did:
Morning: got up early and went to the Tower of London. I was there probably 2-3 hours. I could have spent more time, but that was enough to walk around, see the Crown Jewels, attend a talk with a Beefeater (they weren't doing tours that day due to rain), and get a feel for the place. Then I walked across Tower Bridge and grabbed lunch in a little cafe (fish and chips!). Then I met up with a walking tour that took me to several places, including Westminster Abbey (didn't go inside), Big Ben, the London Eye, Trafalgar Square. We didn't go inside those things, but I saw them. The tour ended near Trafalgar Square so I walked around there a bit and then walked through the gardens to Buckingham Palace. I didn't make it to the changing of the guards but got to see what it looked like at least.
That night I met up with my tour group and was exhausted, so I don't have any recs for the night. I'd love to go back and actually spend time at each of those places someday, but I feel like I saw a lot in a day.
My top thing to do in London? Probably shop. Nation of shopkeepers and all that. If you're into museums, in addition to the usual suspects, the London Transport Museum and the Vic & Al have the best gift shops. I love to shop in London- especially Fortnum and Mason, Boot's, Hamley's (around Christmas) and Portobello Road Market.
Tower of London has light traffic in late fall, but the guards make you keep moving in the Jewel Room so it's hard to ogle. Check out the armour displays. S/O Wolf Hall, there's a sequential display of Henry VIII's armour from childhood- it keeps getting taller, wider and the codpieces reach ridiculous proportions- it's fun to watch the old nuns giggle over the last one.
In summer, Westminster more doable. Evensong is a special experience if you are open to worship there. The National Portrait Gallery is my favorite museum with V&A close behind. I want to vist Buckingham Palace next time.
I was there for 6 hours, we rode a double decker bus around the city and did a river tour on the Thames. It was awesome.
Yup - it is the one thing I will make all friends/family do. OR go on a London walk. They are amazing - I go on at least two a year (and I've been here 11 years).