London trip review

[marytini]

Oy. I just about had this all typed out when my computer decided it was a fine time to restart. So here I go again.

Ok, we arrived at Liverpool Street station via the train from Harwich. We bought the 7 day travelcard for the tube etc and to use for the 2 for 1 deals. Cab to hotel.

We stayed at the Hilton London Tower Bridge, south of the river. I thought it was a great location. City Hall and the HMS Belfast were right behind it, along with great views of the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. London Bridge station was a few blocks down the road.

We met up with a nestie from my anniversary board, then walked along the river to Borough market where we had some lunch. I really liked the market and wish we had made it back there again while in town. Continued our walk, past the Globe Theater, Tate Modern etc. Then took tube to Green Park, walked through there to Buckingham Palace, though St. James Park, past Horse Guards Parade, Downing Street etc. Later parted ways with my friend and went back to hotel.

Day 2, we went to the Cabinet War Rooms/Churchill Museum, which I really enjoyed. I thought it was really well done. Afterwards we wandered around, went by Cecil Court where part of Harry Potter was filmed and by 3pm ended up at Westminster Abbey so we could attend Evensong. The church is of course beautiful. Walked back to hotel via Westminster Bridge and along the river. The Mayors Thames Festival was going on, so it was crazy busy.
Dinner at Gourmet Burger Kitchen, which has a fun atmosphere and the food was good too. www.gbk.co.uk/
Then we did a Jack the Ripper walking tour with London Walks. It was just okay. The guide was great, but the tour was like "here's where a house once stood where a victim was found."

Day 3 We went to Towe of London in the AM, using the 2 for 1 deal again. Very short line to pay, no line to get in. A Yeoman Warder tour was just about to start, so we joined in. The tour was great, then we explored the rest of the place and really enjoyed it.
Afterwards, we made our way to St. Paul's to tour. We used the audioguides and climbed the dome. Made our way back to the hotel, then had dinner at the Draft House by Tower Bridge. It was tasty. www.drafthouse.co.uk/

Day 4 we went to the British Museum in the AM. Got the audioguide, but the museum was just ehh for us. It was alot of artifacts and our hearts just weren't in it. Plus we knew we'd be hitting up alot of museums in Paris.
Made our way to Harrods, explored the food halls, then bought sandwiches and took them to Hyde Park for a picnic. Caught the #9 heritage bus to Trafalgar Square, then another bus to Tower Bridge and walked back to the hotel.
Originally we were going to do a Beatles walk with London Walks, but after the Jack the Ripper tour, we decided not to. We considered a regular neighborhood tour with them, but just decided to wander around ourselves.

Thoughts/tips:
The travelcard/2-for-1 deals were a good deal. Even though we were only there for 4 days, we got the 7 day travelcard. A 1 day travel card would have been 7ish pounds anyways, so 4 days worth was 28 pounds. The 7 day card was 29 pounds. Plus we got 2-for-1 entry to Cabinet War Room, St. Pauls, and TofL. That saved us about 50 pounds. The whole concept of buying a tube pass at a train station was a little confusing to me at first, but these links helped:
www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Travel-g186338-c133479/London:United-Kingdom:Paper.And.Oyster.Travelcards.2.4.1.Offers.html

www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm/rurl/topic/88337/london-travel-card-402-for-1-london41.html


We also needed a photo for the card, so I brought our spare passport photos. I think DH was shocked I was so prepared!

Pret a Manger is everywhere, and good for quick snack or lunch.
Marks and Spencer has yummy cookies. There was one outside out hotel and I think we went 3 times to buy a bag of cookies.

The first 2 days we were there was the last 2 days of the Paralympics, so it was a bit busy. After that it wasn't nearly as bad. Overall, London was our least favorite of the 3 cities we visited. I think b/c of the size/number of people(not just b/c of the paralympics).

A few photos:
View outside our hotel

[rizzo]

Thanks for posting. I am headed to London in November so this was super helpful.

[hz80408]

This post makes me want to go back! It sounds like you had a fun trip! We have Pret's hear in Chicago, but I realized they have a different menu than UK (grrr no Chicken Ceasar Sandwiches here!) I took the same pic as your #2 (and I'm sure thousands of other travelers); it's my fav from London

[mbcdefg]

Great post! You hit a lot of the sites that I missed when I was there. We're hoping to get back next year with some friends.

I also have the phone booth/Big Ben pic. If it was as artsy as yours I would've had it blown up into a poster to frame.

[marytini]

I actually wouldn't haven't thought to take that picture if it wasn't for the other nestie I met there. I had to wait a bit for people to walk by so it was fairly clear.

[hz80408]

Lol nice; here's my shot. I waited to try to get the double decker:



What were the barricades up for in yours? Paralympics?

[marytini]

Yes the barricades for the paralympics. I think the marathon went by there.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using ProBoards

[aurora]

Thanks for the review! I was just in London for a day (at the end of a work trip) and wished I had more time to explore.