Advice from London Experts?

[jtw999]

Our family is taking a trip to London the summer of 2011 en route to a DCL cruise from Barcelona. I am so incredibly excited about London. As an English and History teacher, I am beside myself!
We have three sons who will be 13, 11, and 8. They are all very interested in History, so I'm not concerned about them being "bored".

This is the itinerary I have created this far and I would love opinions and advice:

First day - will arrive around dinner time and be very jet-lagged as we are traveling from Western Canada - so nothing planned!

Second day - National Gallery - maybe 2 hours?
London Eye
Tower of London - also maybe 2 hours? (Is this the best order?)

Third day - a day spent on the Hop On Hop Off bus tour
- hopefully a play at the Globe Theatre

Fourth day -Romans, Royals, and Ruins bus tour
(Roman baths, Stone Henge, and Windsor Castle)

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Dimplenose]

I'd do the Tower of London in the morning as it will be less busy and you may find you want longer than 2 hours there.

The National Gallery has good audio tours that you can borrow for a donation (I usually give about £3.50). There's a nice cafe here.

Not sure how long the London Eye would take. I'd plan it for mid to late afternoon and split or shorten your National Gallery visit accordingly.

 

[~Piglet~]

Not sure how long the London Eye would take. I'd plan it for mid to late afternoon and split or shorten your National Gallery visit accordingly.

I would agree with Dimplenose about the flight time for theLondon Eye. It takes about thirty minutes to complete the flight and you can pre-book a time, then if you wanted you could always walk back to the National Gallery and spend some more time there

 

[JohnnySharp2]

May get more response if the thread was on the community board?

 

[TheBlundells]

We did the Tower of London last year. We started with a tour at 9 o'clock, then we explored ourselves. We left mid afternoon. We didn't see it all but the Kids had had enough. I have to agree as the day went on it got busier.

We've also done the London Eye. I would also recommend you pre book. It is also possible to book combined tickets for a cruise on the River Thames. We also enjoyed this.

There's so much to do in London! Have you considered the Museums - science, Natural History, V&A, British or Maritime. Hampton Court Palace is also a great day out.

Any questions - please just ask.

 

[Ware Bears]

How about applying for tickets for The Ceremony of the Keys which is the locking up of the Tower. We did this a few years ago and it's a great experience and it's always nice to find something is FREE!!

 

[Constant]

I would second Science and Natural History which are located together, boys of that age will love the Science museum which is incredibly interactive my Nephews are about the same and they love it. It is then only a short walk up to the V&A which is one of my favourites as it is such an eclectic mix. I would consider those three for your third day if you can't make a play.

They are also among my favourite buildings and then if you fancy it Harrods is only a little further up the road.

I am sure that whatever you decide will be good

Have fun
Steve

 

[TheBlundells]

Good idea - Harrods is always interesting for a look around - especially the foodhall!

 

[wicket2005]

You can actually walk around a lot of the main sights quite easily.

We started at Trafalgar Square (National Gallery here), walked up The Mall to Buckingham Palace, down Birdcage Walk seeing Guard buildings, Downing Street, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and Houses of Parliament. We then got the tube down to Tower of London, walked to Tower Bridge, we paid to go in and walk across the top of it, walked to Pudding Lane and St Pauls, tube back to Russell Square and went in British Museum.

Next day tube to Waterloo, prebooked slot on London Eye, tube to the museums Natural History and Science, walked to Harrods, love the food court, walked through Kensington Gardens to speakers corner (didn't like this bit) and tube back to hotel.

Next day tube to zoo.

You can buy an Oyster card which you put money on at machines. This makes moving about cheaper and easier.

 

[PhilUK]

I would recommend:

http://www.londonducktours.co.uk/

Phil

 

[disneyholic family]

keep in mind that london is absolutely swarming with tourists in the summer...
so any of the tourist sights will have massive crowds and lines....so when you're planning time, you have to take that into account..

 

[maymcg]

Hi

We went to London a few years ago and got this -

london pass (i cant post links but its that dotcom!)

We found it great and we got the travel on so we could jump on and off the tube when we wanted and queue jumped at the tower etc. Dont know how much value for money it would be now but its worth looking into.

Hope you have a great time

May

 

[Tanzanite]

We were in London last summer boy it was hot had a heatwave .we went on the Eye what a great experience .We went shopping after Oxford St was swamped with people as was Knightsbridge where Harrods is .To crowded for me i get nervous.But London doesnt usually get that hot in the summer we had 80 degrees weather in June.Hope to go again this Summer.

 

[Ware Bears]

I would recommend:

http://www.londonducktours.co.uk/

Phil

Ooh yes, we've done this, it's much more fun than a hop-on hop-off bus tour.

 

[disneyholic family]

I would second Science and Natural History which are located together, boys of that age will love the Science museum which is incredibly interactive my Nephews are about the same and they love it. It is then only a short walk up to the V&A which is one of my favourites as it is such an eclectic mix. I would consider those three for your third day if you can't make a play.

They are also among my favourite buildings and then if you fancy it Harrods is only a little further up the road.

I am sure that whatever you decide will be good

Have fun
Steve

i would definitely take your kids to the science and natural history museums - if they're like my kids, they'll love them...
and also harrods - just for the amazing food hall (you've never seen anything like it)...more chocolate choices than you thought possible...

also, the hop on hop off bus is very good and one of the companies includes some nice walking tours (for 'free' - included in the price of the bus ticket)..

 

[iluvtot]

We did the Tower of London last year. We started with a tour at 9 o'clock, then we explored ourselves. We left mid afternoon. We didn't see it all but the Kids had had enough. I have to agree as the day went on it got busier.

We've also done the London Eye. I would also recommend you pre book. It is also possible to book combined tickets for a cruise on the River Thames. We also enjoyed this.

There's so much to do in London! Have you considered the Museums - science, Natural History, V&A, British or Maritime. Hampton Court Palace is also a great day out.

Any questions - please just ask.

Hi,
You could get the River cruise from the Eye to the Tower, or even go on to Greenwich! The Maritime Museum is there, and Greenwich Park, and craft market, or on Sundays' an antique Market... The cruise is great, and usually there is someone who gives a commentary. It's usually quite interesting. We did it last year.
Another place which is great to wander around is Borough Market, just by London Bridge. It's a foodlovers' heaven, and you can get lots of taste testers!!

Jules x

 

[CarolynU]

Another vote here for The Ceremony Of The Keys. It's a nightime activity and very interesting. If you are coming in August you can go inside Buckingham Palace.

 

[offtoseemickey]

Have you thought about doing the London Eye of an evening. I haven't done it in the daytime, but it was really good at night, seeing london all lit up was really nice.
PM me if you have any questions, I work in London (1 min walk to trafalgar and leicester square). I'd be happy to help

 

[PhilUK]

http://www.londonribvoyages.com/

Is highly recommended by my Son & His Friends !

Phil

 

[jtw999]

Thank you so much for all your suggestions!!
We have done the ducktours in Seattle (a copy of those in London) and loved them. They were so much fun and a highlight of Seattle for our kids!

We have taken your advice and planned a couple of days of things to see and do.

One thing I'm looking at now is transportation. Does anyone have a suggestion on the best way to get from the National Gallery to the Globe Theatre? Also, how long it might take?

thanks I can't wait!!!