PrincessIndia
20, Brit
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2013
Oooh I am from Manchester but I love London, one of my favorite holiday and day trip spots! I will start with answering/discussing your OP. Sorry if I am repeating what others have already said in here...
1. we'd love to go on the Harry Potter Studio tour
Definitely a must if you like Harry Potter!
2. see the Tower of London
Easily done, You MUST go and see the crown jewels if you do this! You can get the tube to this
3. ride on the Eye
Make sure you book in advance as sometimes people get turned away in peak tourist times
4. spend at least one day just wandering (hopefully that is a safe thing to do) eating, having a beer (me only of course), shopping, chatting with some locals
I would allow 2 days for this, have a walk around, get some bus passes and maps and set your own little walking tour!
5. Sherlock Holmes museum
Never been here- can't advise
6. an art/culture museum (open to suggestions)
I would go to the V & A (Victoria and albert) every time! My favorite museum in London, so interesting and amazing especially the costume gallery. I would steer clear of the Tate but thats down to personal preference. Another option is the Imperial War Museum, amazing place but avoid if you aren't interested in war exhibitions obviously and be aware that you will probably sob if things like that are emotional for you.
7. Big Ben, Parliment, some castles (I'm a huge Henry the VIIIth junkie), changing of the guards
Buckingham palace, Big Ben, Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Downing St etc can be done on the self led walking tour I mentioned above however a day trip to Windsor could be fun for you https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/visit/windsorcastle/plan-your-visit
8. take our photo at Paddington Station (the kids are Paddington fans)
9. have fancy tea somewhere (we just don't have anything like that here, and I'd love for us to experience it)
Harrods was probably my least favorite afternoon tea in london, go to harrods, I can spend up to a day browsing the shops and food counters but don't get an afternoon tea!, When I go to Harrods I would much rather go and get french macarons, a hot chocolate, an amazingly huge ice cream sundae or mickey ravioli, mickey waffles and mickey brownies in the disney theme cafe (they also have a bibbidi Bobbidi boutique and a very fancy disney store on site
- for your afternoon tea I would say http://www.afternoontea.co.uk/uk/london/covent-garden/bb-bakery-bus/ - I had a yummy afternoon tea at BB bakery in covent garden and whats more british than having on a double decker bus! Other good options are the chocolate tea at Mayfair Hilton, and my personal favorites The Madd Hatters cafe in Covent Garden for an amazing wonderland cream tea or La Suite West in Hyde Park. Whilst on the topic- Covent Garden and Hyde park are two locations you must visit during your stay! Hyde Park is just beautiful and a great spot to relax, let kids run off steam and escape the hustle and bustle of the shops and attractions. Covent Garden is my favorite spot for shopping when I'm in London https://www.coventgardenlondonuk.com/markets be sure to see the old fashioned toy store too
10. maybe see Stonehenge if it is possible without having to rent a car and drive (I'm not sure England needs me trying to drive over there!!!)
I would skip it, over rated sorry
11. see some Shakespeare
I would say not to go to the Globe, I find its performances over-rated and I have seen much better Shakespeare elsewhere in london, including at open air park performances!
12. check out a library there just to see it and compare, maybe see a movie while we're there too
Picturehouse central is my favourite cinema in London, The British Library is worth a trip
? I'm sure there is so much more that I'm forgetting to mention. We want to hit all the "touristy" stops but we also want to see a little local action too if we can.
SHOPS- Make sure you hit Hamleys - Its our huge toystore and an attraction in itself, huge displays and staff interaction is amazing, girly boutique, robots etc, Harrods OF COURSE, Liberty London, Any fashion stores you guys don't have- TopShop in London is especially impressive.
Museums- You mentioned Art Museums and Culture but one of my favorite museums is the Natural History Museum, for the dinosaurs, stuffed animals, THE MUMMY'S TOMB, and general amazingness. Also the Science Museum has tons of interactive stuff great for families. I would try and find space for both, they aren't your usual stuffy museums!
Other places- I have a soft spot for Kew Gardens- day trip so check out the website to see if it appeals to you, Boat trip on the thames!, London Dungeons- YOU HAVE TO GO HERE! Seriously you learn loads, its fun, the rides are spot on, its scary and the actors are hilarious http://www.thedungeons.com/london/en/ , Also if you don't live near a Ripleys Believe it or not or a Madame Tussauds then look into those, If you like musicals go to the west end- in fact go anyway! not sure whats happening where when you are going but there is always tons of choice - you can go for Les Mis etc or go for something like Lion King (amazing for all!) or Shrek for the kids (although my favorite at age 10 was Chicago..), Grease or Wicked are nice midway marks. Avoid Charlie and the Chocolate factory- its a terrible musical lol.
Final note is to take a fat tire bike tour- seriously these tours are amazing, I did a night tour in Paris and it was the best of my trip to paris! You get to see so much and the experience is SO FUN! http://london.fattirebiketours.com/tours
If you want more advice on anything related to days out, walking tours, shopping, where to get GOOD FOOD, budgeting or anything else then ASK! happy to help!
xx
1. we'd love to go on the Harry Potter Studio tour
Definitely a must if you like Harry Potter!
2. see the Tower of London
Easily done, You MUST go and see the crown jewels if you do this! You can get the tube to this
3. ride on the Eye
Make sure you book in advance as sometimes people get turned away in peak tourist times
4. spend at least one day just wandering (hopefully that is a safe thing to do) eating, having a beer (me only of course), shopping, chatting with some locals
I would allow 2 days for this, have a walk around, get some bus passes and maps and set your own little walking tour!
5. Sherlock Holmes museum
Never been here- can't advise
6. an art/culture museum (open to suggestions)
I would go to the V & A (Victoria and albert) every time! My favorite museum in London, so interesting and amazing especially the costume gallery. I would steer clear of the Tate but thats down to personal preference. Another option is the Imperial War Museum, amazing place but avoid if you aren't interested in war exhibitions obviously and be aware that you will probably sob if things like that are emotional for you.
7. Big Ben, Parliment, some castles (I'm a huge Henry the VIIIth junkie), changing of the guards
Buckingham palace, Big Ben, Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Downing St etc can be done on the self led walking tour I mentioned above however a day trip to Windsor could be fun for you https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/visit/windsorcastle/plan-your-visit
8. take our photo at Paddington Station (the kids are Paddington fans)
9. have fancy tea somewhere (we just don't have anything like that here, and I'd love for us to experience it)
Harrods was probably my least favorite afternoon tea in london, go to harrods, I can spend up to a day browsing the shops and food counters but don't get an afternoon tea!, When I go to Harrods I would much rather go and get french macarons, a hot chocolate, an amazingly huge ice cream sundae or mickey ravioli, mickey waffles and mickey brownies in the disney theme cafe (they also have a bibbidi Bobbidi boutique and a very fancy disney store on site
- for your afternoon tea I would say http://www.afternoontea.co.uk/uk/london/covent-garden/bb-bakery-bus/ - I had a yummy afternoon tea at BB bakery in covent garden and whats more british than having on a double decker bus! Other good options are the chocolate tea at Mayfair Hilton, and my personal favorites The Madd Hatters cafe in Covent Garden for an amazing wonderland cream tea or La Suite West in Hyde Park. Whilst on the topic- Covent Garden and Hyde park are two locations you must visit during your stay! Hyde Park is just beautiful and a great spot to relax, let kids run off steam and escape the hustle and bustle of the shops and attractions. Covent Garden is my favorite spot for shopping when I'm in London https://www.coventgardenlondonuk.com/markets be sure to see the old fashioned toy store too 10. maybe see Stonehenge if it is possible without having to rent a car and drive (I'm not sure England needs me trying to drive over there!!!)
I would skip it, over rated sorry
11. see some Shakespeare
I would say not to go to the Globe, I find its performances over-rated and I have seen much better Shakespeare elsewhere in london, including at open air park performances!
12. check out a library there just to see it and compare, maybe see a movie while we're there too
Picturehouse central is my favourite cinema in London, The British Library is worth a trip
? I'm sure there is so much more that I'm forgetting to mention. We want to hit all the "touristy" stops but we also want to see a little local action too if we can.
SHOPS- Make sure you hit Hamleys - Its our huge toystore and an attraction in itself, huge displays and staff interaction is amazing, girly boutique, robots etc, Harrods OF COURSE, Liberty London, Any fashion stores you guys don't have- TopShop in London is especially impressive.
Museums- You mentioned Art Museums and Culture but one of my favorite museums is the Natural History Museum, for the dinosaurs, stuffed animals, THE MUMMY'S TOMB, and general amazingness. Also the Science Museum has tons of interactive stuff great for families. I would try and find space for both, they aren't your usual stuffy museums!
Other places- I have a soft spot for Kew Gardens- day trip so check out the website to see if it appeals to you, Boat trip on the thames!, London Dungeons- YOU HAVE TO GO HERE! Seriously you learn loads, its fun, the rides are spot on, its scary and the actors are hilarious http://www.thedungeons.com/london/en/ , Also if you don't live near a Ripleys Believe it or not or a Madame Tussauds then look into those, If you like musicals go to the west end- in fact go anyway! not sure whats happening where when you are going but there is always tons of choice - you can go for Les Mis etc or go for something like Lion King (amazing for all!) or Shrek for the kids (although my favorite at age 10 was Chicago..), Grease or Wicked are nice midway marks. Avoid Charlie and the Chocolate factory- its a terrible musical lol.
Final note is to take a fat tire bike tour- seriously these tours are amazing, I did a night tour in Paris and it was the best of my trip to paris! You get to see so much and the experience is SO FUN! http://london.fattirebiketours.com/tours
If you want more advice on anything related to days out, walking tours, shopping, where to get GOOD FOOD, budgeting or anything else then ASK! happy to help!
xx
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