General Chat

Hi, everyone, Hubby and me are going to London on Tuesday for a few days. Our evenings are sorted, as we're going to see War Horse and Mark Knopfler, but we are wondering how to spend our days. We've done the obvious sights and museums, Camden Market, the London Eye, river cruise, Greenwich, Richmond and Hampstead, so are looking for something a bit different. Any ideas, folks?
Lynda

oh you need to speak to lynda, she gave us some fab tips for london, and things to do, especially the number 11 bus ;-)

John Soanes Museum
Denis Severs House
Wallace Collection (behind Bond Street)
Geffrye Museum
Cabinet War Rooms
The Clink Museum

There's a foot tunnel under the Thames from/to Greenwich. From the north side, there is a wonderful photo opportunity for the Naval College. See if the College is open for visitors.

Thanks for the ideas so far. We've looked at John Soames Museum, the Cabinet War Rooms and walked the Greenwich Tunnel on past visits. Looks like we've done quite a lot! Haven't been to the Clink Museum, though.

Tower Bridge and the workings of.
HMS Belfast.
London Dungeons.

F.

'Tourists' have often seen more sights than the 'locals' (or those with an easy commute) ;-) :-D

Richmond park to feed the deer
Regents park, Queen marys gardens
Vist Lords cricket ground at St Johns Wood

George :-)

Forgot to say..london zoo, get a barge from little Venice,
At maida vale

Dulwich Art Gallery
The Hornimans Museum
The Old Operating Theatre at Guys

All lovely gems South of the River

And do if you try to get on the London Eye - a real eye opener on just how lovely London is and on a clear day you can see Windsor Castle (so I am informed)

One thing if you do go to the eye - take a nice stroll along the South Bank it is a lovely walk and FREE.....

Thanks for these sugestions, certainly some good ideas. Took the grandchildren to London Zoo during the Easter Hols. Looks like the weather won't be too good, so will try some of the indoor suggestons.
One place I fancy is Highgate Cemetary - I believe they do guided tours, so must look that up.
I'm looking forward to London - always feel the same excitement when the train pulls into King's Cross!

I've just copied what I wrote on Strays thread re London....



What I'd do......

First I'd get a travel card so you can hop on and off buses tubes all day, then ...

I'd take the number 11 bus from Victoria and try to get the front seats at the top of the bus, the bus passes.....

Westminster Cathedral
Westminster Abbey
Parliament Square
Big Ben
Downing street
Horseguards parade
Trafalgar Square
Covent Garden (passes by, you cannot see it)
Royal Courts of justice
St Pauls Cathedral, get off there.... then

Look around the St Pauls area, then go to The New Change shopping centre, back of St Pauls, get the lift, great view of St Pauls in the lift, and go to the roof, where you can see a spectacular views of London, The Shard, the wheel, old Bailey, etc etc then....

Go over the Millennium bridge, stopping to take in the wonderful sights, then go left to Borough Market to get yourself some wonderful food, then...

Back over bridge, get the number 11 back, and get on and off at the places above you want to see, or walk to the next place you want to visit. If you get off at Trafalgar Square, walk down The Mall, you'll see the fantastic approach to Buckingham Palace. That should take up a lot of the day, it's all free, except for your travel card.

If you have time, and money, there's the Wheel, great views of London, The Shard, daughter went before it it opened and looks spectacular from the viewing platform, Grandchildren loved it too.

I could go on, and on and on, but I think that's enough

If you need a guide, I'm available at 30p an hour

I'd also say if the weathers good, don't spend time inside, there's too much to see to stay indoors .

I was around the St Pauls area yesterday, wonderful, so many people, but there were 1,000's of lovely Germans, here to go to Wembley, I expect a lot of gone home now, so it should't be so crowded.

I may see you there Lynda, we're going on the London eye one day, then back to Art galleries another.

Have a fabulous time
:-D

Thankyou, Lynda! Hubby is quite keen to see St' Pauls, actually, and with our train tickets we were given 2 for 1 vouchers for there and lots of other places. Your tip about the New Change Shopping Centre looks interesting, too.
I love art galleries, though Hubby is not so keen. HMS Belfast and London Bridge is more his style!

The Middle and Inner Temple precincts and the Temple church are interesting and an oasis of peace.

If you can get to Greenwich then Greenwich Park is lovely . you can visit the Maritime Museum and walk up to the Observatory. They have nice walk around are too to with ponds etc.

Its lovely to see the views from the top of the park to the Royal Naval Hospitals that are still on the waterfront.

I come from the area and although at the time I didn't appreciate its steeped with History.
Even Charlton House which was library when I was young , was one of Henry V111 country homes

Covent Garden is a MUST :-D :-D

If you are going to go to any of the exhibitions around -

Please make sure you either get tickets in advance or turn up very early in the morning to get the day ticket - 99% of them are sold out months in advance - like the Bowie one & Pompeii

I have to answer this sort of thing all week -

How about going on a DUCK ~Tour its something different & on a lovely day like today it will be something unusual & a talking point when you get home

Please google it and if you do go I really hope you have fun.

I loved the double decker bus tour - hop on hop off one

If you feel very energetic then you can always book to Climb up the O2.

A lot of the big hotels do wonderful afternoon tea but need booking early - try the Berkeley Pret-a-Pour -Tea - food dressed up in the latest fashions - or the Sanderson Mad Hatters Tea Party - The Corinthia had a special Chelsea Flower Show tea last week - its a bit of fun and a talking pint at hom.

Hope you ahve a wonderful time in London

Pammy - Hubby would love to go into the Temple church, but we've never found it open.
Shirley, we love Greenwich, and like to go via the Docklands Light Railway, so may go again.
Tabitha - The Duck Tour sounds fun, so I'll put it on the list.
Gosh, we have a lot to take in in 2 and a half days!
But now we are both retired and have Senior Rail Cards, we plan to visit London much more - we live only 5 miles from the mainline train, and can be there in 1 hour and 20 mins.

If you have a taste for things a little bit gruesome, The Royal College of Surgeons is interesting.

Maybe you've already been there as it's just opposite the John Soames House.

:-D :-D Temple Church.

I went there about 3 times before I found it open. Thanks to the popularity of The Da Vinci Code, 'they' had decided to extend opening times!