An American coming to London

[Alice28]

Hello UK board (a special hi to Gems!! )

My wonderful Mother surprised me the other day by offering to take me to Europe for my 40th birthday next Spring. We are doing an England/France combo tour through Costco. In England we will be staying in London for 4 nights (possibly 5), with one day going to Stonehenge, and one day heading to Stratford Upon Avon. My mom and dad visited the UK for 3 weeks in 2006, so she has lots of favorites she would like to do again. But what do YOU recommend? I'm curious to get some suggestions from natives. We will be staying in the Kensington area of London.

Thank you! I'm so looking forward to visiting your country.

 

[Jordanblackpool]

I would say come up to the North of England to see the REAL England, but im sure that many on these boards would disagree!!!

But seriously London has lots of great things. I am off there in a few weekends time with my girlfriend, Ive not been for a while as I live up North. While were there we are planning on going on the eye and madame tussauds. Were also going to watch Arsenal (my beloved soccer team). I would, if your a fan of sports recomend any soccer match just because the atmosphere is so different than American sports.

http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk

This is a great website. There running an offer at the minute where you can basically click up to three deals, print out vouchers and use them at the attractions, so long as you have a rail ticket. (You can even buy one of them for a couple of pounds).

Were using the offer at The Eye and Tussauds and saving ourselfs about £50 between us!

Oh yeah, id visit Harrods aswell, a massive department store full of some really weird and wonderful things!

Anymore questions just ask!

 

[Pegasus928]

I would say come up to the North of England to see the REAL England, but im sure that many on these boards would disagree!!!

I'm with you on that one

 

[disney_princess_85]

I would say come up to the North of England to see the REAL England, but im sure that many on these boards would disagree!!!

I'm with you on that one

There's more to England than London! I guess it's a tourist trap though.

 

[dizzyredhead83]

Enjoy your planning! London is a very big/busy city with lots to do. I have only been a few times, normally to see a show but lots of people love it for the Palace, Tower of London etc etc...

I know Gems hasn't posted yet but Stratford-upon-Avon is only about 20 minutes from where we live so we do tend to go there a lot. I must say I think we don't appreciate it enough but it a great place for tourism and history. The summer months for us there are lovely!

 

[T16GEM]

Hey Rob!

Robin is a great friend of mine, and I cannot wait to meet her in person finally when she comes over here! Please give her lots of good advice!!! (I know you all will )

Have you thought about a trip to the Lake District, it's beautiful and there are some lovely things to see.

Lou - We are going to meet up in Stratford and do an open top bus!

I totally agree that we do not appreciate it because it's on our doorstep, in the summer we visit every week, the kids love it at the playground, the town is nice too and we can quite happily amble round there for an hour or two.

Happy planning

 

[Dimplenose]

I love visiting London - luckily I am only half an hour away by train.

One of my favourite places is the Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington. Even if you don't want to see the exhibits the cafe is wonderful (as there is no fee to enter most museums I often visit them and just use the loos or cafe.) You can sit amongst the most amazing decor.

Just along from South Kensington tube station is the Hummingbird Bakery. A very quaint little cafe that specialises in cupcakes. (Although that might be like taking coals to Newcastle you might like to see how the UK do a US delicacy.)

(Can you see how my mind works 2 cafes within half a mile of each other LOL!)

There are lots of boat or bus trips that will allow you to see a lot of London in quite a short time.

If you are going to Stratford you might like to combine your visit with Warwick Castle which isn't far away. This is one of the best preserved castles in England. But that won't be easy to do without a car.

Happy planning.

 

[chocolateMinnie]

We have a favourite couple of hours walk we do every trip to London, a copy of a london a-z from Amazon is a good place to start (probably better than a guide book). All the usual places like Tower of London are worth a look, the National Gallery, Trafalgar Square etc. Another nice thing to do is to take the Thames river trip from either Westminster or tower of London to Greenwich (as in Greenwich Meantime). Even if the observatory isn't your thing you'lll walk through the Lilliput set, there is a beautiful park and you can say you've crossed the GMT line

If the weather is nice collect baguettes and cakes plus decent coffee from pauls Bakery (yes I'm afraid I'm recommending a French outlet in london) as it is just outside the Tower and you can eat them when you get to greenwich in the park.

Another must-do for us is to visit Harrods for Krispy Kreme donuts LOL.

Stratford is quaint but beware it is a tourist trap - much worse than London. IMHO if you can fit in a trip to York you would be better than going to Stratford.

If you want any leaflets or anything just ask. I'm sure someone is able to grab things for you. I would be happy to pick things up on our next trip to London (likely to be Easter or the Summer) and I'm sure other dis-ers would do the same.

 

[Zeebs]

As a tourist who lives here I love London.

A couple of questions - How you getting around to places like Strafford and Stonehenge? Stonehenge will take about an hour to visit, personally I don't think it is worth a whole day of a bus tour. Combining it with Bath is a good option.

In London the Tower of London is worth a visit to learn about the history and to see the Crown Jewels.

Catch a changing of the guards (not that I have managed to do this yet)

See if you can get in a West End Show

Trip to Harrods

A visit to Portabello Market if into Antiques or Camden Market for a mixture market of odd stuff and crafts, jewellery etc.

A boat ride on the Thames gives you a good view of places like Houses of Parliment and some other stunning architecture and the commentry is very interesting and funny.

The open top bus ride offers the boat ride as included. The tour is good for getting an overview of the city and gives you lots of interesting tibits about the city. You go past places such as where the Great Fire of London started.

I also liked wandering around Westminister Abbey.

For Art the Tate Modern can be interesting, but I prefer the National Portrait Gallery off Trafagar Square which allows you to see Nelsons Column.

right so I have filled in 3 weeks for you

Kirsten

 

[T16GEM]

If you are going to Stratford you might like to combine your visit with Warwick Castle which isn't far away. This is one of the best preserved castles in England. But that won't be easy to do without a car.

Libby - I hadn't thought about Warwick Castle,

Rob - depending on your dates we could go on a trip there too! It's fab!

 

[dizzyredhead83]

I have never actually been to Warwick Castle as such (again things on your doorstep you don't do, but not sure why this is), however had a Christmas do there one year and it was ace! The guy that got me up to dance during one of the "sketches" actually had a real sword stab in his hand, stitches and everything which I thought just showed how in character the place must be on a proper visit. Maybe I should come with you & actually appreciate local history

I know everyone says go to Harrods but I was really disappointed and couldn't wait to get out of there. I may have been unlucky but I thought the other customers in there were really rude, snobby and unpleasant. To top it when in the pets section I noticed they had puppies & kittens in a little confined room and this really upset me. I vowed never to step in there ever again!

Gems - I hope the open top bus day is warmer than it is today -3 it was just on my way back from Costco! You need to enjoy fish and chips by the river too from the chippy that you need a mortgage for haha

 

[Button]

Personally not a lover of London too busy and everyone has heads down. I too don't rate Harrods the prices are so inflated but you kind of have to do it. Hamleys is the same.

Go to the West End and take in a show.

I'd recommend a trip to Windsor.

Whatever you decide enjoy. Oh and I'm a southerner but would recommend heading up north it's beautiful in places.

 

[paulh]

I would say come up to the North of England to see the REAL England, but im sure that many on these boards would disagree!!!


!

and the usa is great to visit as all is in florida

If only here for a short times London ok, but please remember there is other things north of it and in between it and Scotland
Paul

 

[Alice28]

Oh I absolutely agree there is more to England than London. I wish I had time to do more. I'm sure those of you who visit the states probably don't contemplate a visit out to my state of Oregon, even though it's a gorgeous place. Right? Time factor is the issue. I work and more importantly, my DH will be holding down the fort for the two weeks I get to go play. We have 3 kids.....so......you see why I have to limit myself to just a few places.

Anyhoo, thanks so much for the suggestions! I appreciate it! We are not going to rent a car in London- I don't think Mom nor I are brave enough to drive on the 'other' side of the road.

Our tour includes a bus/shuttle out to Stonehenge. We haven't decided yet how we're getting to Stratford- probably a train. But I HAVE to see my friend GEMMA and that is near where she lives. And Lou, you feel free to come too! I've heard lots about you!

I'm not even convinced I want to do a lot of the tourist trappy things like Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, etc. I know we want to do the Eye, check out Harrods, enjoy some gardens, and I wouldn't mind going to certain districts in London just to wander around.

I love the tips of the bakeries/cafes and such to check out! That is exactly what I am looking for! Thanks! Keep 'em coming!

 

[Jonjo]

If you have the time you could consider a day trip to Wales. Cardiff is only two hours away by train from London. And if you would like to look around the historic sights of Cambridge it is only an hour away by train too.

 

[danialclarcke]

I had arrived in the north of England to see England REAL, but I'm sure many of these tips do not agree would. But seriously London has many good things. I'm outta here in a few weekends with my girlfriend, I have not been for a while because I live in the North. While we were there are planned in the eyes and Madame Tussauds. Arsenal will also be. I wish, if you're a sports fan support any football match just because the environment is very different from American sports.

 

[Zeebs]

Oh I absolutely agree there is more to England than London. I wish I had time to do more. I'm sure those of you who visit the states probably don't contemplate a visit out to my state of Oregon, even though it's a gorgeous place. Right? Time factor is the issue. I work and more importantly, my DH will be holding down the fort for the two weeks I get to go play. We have 3 kids.....so......you see why I have to limit myself to just a few places.

Anyhoo, thanks so much for the suggestions! I appreciate it! We are not going to rent a car in London- I don't think Mom nor I are brave enough to drive on the 'other' side of the road.

Our tour includes a bus/shuttle out to Stonehenge. We haven't decided yet how we're getting to Stratford- probably a train. But I HAVE to see my friend GEMMA and that is near where she lives. And Lou, you feel free to come too! I've heard lots about you!

I'm not even convinced I want to do a lot of the tourist trappy things like Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, etc. I know we want to do the Eye, check out Harrods, enjoy some gardens, and I wouldn't mind going to certain districts in London just to wander around.

I love the tips of the bakeries/cafes and such to check out! That is exactly what I am looking for! Thanks! Keep 'em coming!

I have been to Oregon and you are right it is very lovely. We had a great time in Portland. Spent too much money at those markets happened upon a Gay Pride Parade which the kids loved.

You don't need a car in London, the underground while crowded is very easy to get around. Even my parents from a very very very small town in New Zealand (which is a very very small country) managed it.

There are lots and lots of fabulous things to see in England/Scotland and Wales but unfortunately 3-4 days isn't enough time to see everything or even a small portion of it, It isn't also enough time to see London properly. I suspect your tour either starts or ends in London so it is probably better to make use of this rather than taking up precious time travelling.

You mention gardens, Kew Gardens is lovely lots to see and really relaxing to wander around. Easy to get to as well using public transport.

Kenningston Palace is quite interesting. sooooo much to do soooo little time.

The mention of Cambridge is a good idea as it is only an hour on the train and a really lovely city to look around. Punt on the River Camb. But that said if you are going to Strafford you will get to see a whole lot of very old buildings there.

I come from a relatively newish country when it comes to buildings and such so the fact I can see buidings older than 500 years I think is one of the best things about England.

You will have a fabulous time

Kirsten

 

[Tinks1984]

A bus tour around London may be of interest to you and your Mum. We used The Original Tour buses whilst there and you can get a two day pass and hop on and off them as you see fit for the two days. I think some even include a small boat trip on the Thames. And the buses are usually open-topped, so if the weather is good it's great to be outside.

They have people on board doing commentary of the area you're in. They go past many of the main sights and like I said, you can get off and on when you see something of interest to you.

I hope you have a great time in London and the surrounding areas, it's a great treat from your Mum

 

[KemlynUltra]

have a great trip ...... lovely to have you here

 

[Alice28]

thanks again everyone. I am writing down suggestions in my London journal/notebook.