artnbarb
1000+ Posts
I'm going to use this post to list all the things I want to see and do during our five days in London next summer. I'm also hoping you all will chime in if I forget something important, or if you know of something I don't. We'll arrive in London (from Italy) late Friday night, but we won't have to worry about jetlag - yeah! We'll then have five full days before leaving on Thursday for Bath.
We're renting a room in an apt thru Air B&B, so I won't need any downtime to play house (like I will in the Cotswolds). I lovelovelove London but haven't been there since 2006. I want to revisit some old favorites and finally get around to some places I've never been to. At some point I'll try to narrow the list and to group activities together in hopefully, some logical order.
Here, in no particular order, are some of the things we'd like to see and do:
We're renting a room in an apt thru Air B&B, so I won't need any downtime to play house (like I will in the Cotswolds). I lovelovelove London but haven't been there since 2006. I want to revisit some old favorites and finally get around to some places I've never been to. At some point I'll try to narrow the list and to group activities together in hopefully, some logical order.
Here, in no particular order, are some of the things we'd like to see and do:
- Victoria & Albert Museum. We've only been there once before, and this is a must-see, altho I'm not sure how much time to alot.
- London Eye. We did this once before during the day, but it was cloudy and overcast, so I might be tempted to do it again if it's a beautiful day. BUT......our apt is very near the Eye, so I'm also thinking it would be cool to see London at night from the Eye.
- Westminister Abbey and a walk along the Thames. Again, close to our apt, so perhaps a nice thing for first thing in the morning - or later in the evening.
- Kew Gardens. It will be summer, but unless it's unseasonable hot, I'd like to spend a few hours here. Are there areas that I should seek out? I seem to remember reading that it's quicker to go by Tube than by boat, so that's probably what we'll do - we've cruised the Thames before.
- British Museum and/or Library. Both of these places could probably suck up hours and hours - so help me decide which one to visit (or if both are must-sees!), and if you have secret treasures to share with me at either place! We'be been to the British Museum before but never to the Library.
- A play or musical. This may need to be decided on either waaay in advance, or at the very last minute. I really don't want to stand in line for last minute tickets because my time is just too short, so I'm thinking I'll need to decide and buy tickets to something by....April at the latest. Or sooner? Any recommendations?
- Regents Canal area. I've never been to this area and heard it's charming - maybe a nice place for a walk, or picnic? Advice and ideas welcome.
- A walking tour of some sort. Historical? Foodie? I'm not even sure what my options are. A pub crawl would be great for Art, but since I don't like beer, I'm not sure I would enjoy it - or would I? I'm not particularly interested in a ghost tour.
- Markets. This is a big maybe. I don't plan on doing much shopping at all, and especially not in London where prices will be higher and I'll have to schlep whatever I buy to Bath, and then to the Cotswolds, so I'm wondering if a market is even worth our time. We visited Portobello Rd market last time we were in London and found it a bit overwhelming - and discouraging because we couldn't really buy anything then either.
- High Tea. Or should we just wait til we get to the Cotswolds? I really won't have any dressy clothes, so perhaps tea in the Cotswolds might be a little less formal?
- St Paul's. It's been so long since I was there - this is a must-see.
- The Tower. Ditto - except what about getting reservations for the Key Ceremony? I think I did this on my first visit to London back in 1985 - but I barely remember it!
- I know one day our friends Janet and Stephen will come into London, probably for lunch. They may have suggestions for where to eat, but I'm open to suggestions. We've eaten at the Dickens Inn and Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese - those are the only 2 I can remember. Other than HRC I don't know anything about London restaurants.
- I don't have much interest in seeing the changing of the Guard, or Buckingham Palace, or the Dungeon Museum.
- I love the open-top bus tours for the nice overview they give you - but is it a practical use of our time?