Going to London first time...

[MickeysMommy]

My husband and I are going to London on Saturday.

This is my first time (he's been multiple times) and I'm obsessed with Princess Diana - have been since I was a little girl. We have the London Pass which gets us into Kensington Palace (I think) but what else is a not to miss for a Diana lover?

As he's been so many times, I want to hit the places he might not think of (not just Diana related) but what's not to miss besides the biggies...Westminster, Big Ben, Tower of London etc...?

Amy??? Help!!!

 

[Pacolovestacos]

St Paul's Cathedral. Someone else started a London thread a few weeks ago and I wrote a very detailed post. You should try to find it, will help you out.

 

[NMAmy]

Woo hoo! Hello, stranger! I'm rarely on here anymore so it was very serendipitous that I just happened to stop by and see that you had posted this!

How fun! My very favorite place to go is Hampton Court. It's a bit south of London--you can take a river boat down or take the tube/train. It's got the old Tudor (Henry VIII/Anne Boleyn) portion and then a newer Georgian bit. Check it out online and see if it's worth the hassle to get there. My in-laws live very near by so my sister-in-law always drops me there on her way to the grocery store.

Kensington Palace is a great choice if you are a Diana fan. When I was there last, they had a display of her clothing which was very cool. I love the Tower of London, as well. St. Paul's is beautiful. I made my stepdd go with me. She told me she walked past it twice a week on her way to classes but had never been inside!

If you like museums, you can't go wrong with the British Museum. The Tate Modern is fun and is near the London Eye.

Where are you guys staying?

Too bad I won't be there until August! I'd have loved to meet up with you.

Miss you, pal.

 

[kimblebee]

Big Ben...Parliament.

This joke never gets old lol

 

[ford family]

What joke?

ford family

 

[NMAmy]

What joke?

ford family

It's from the movie, European Vacation. They get stuck on the roundabout and Chevy Chase says it as they go round and round.

DD says I say it EVERY time we walk past. "Look, kids, Big Ben, Parliament."

 

[Lyricallie]

You could do the Diana Memorial walk, I did it last Sunday. It's about 7 miles and starts at the Diana playground in Hyde Park and takes your through the different parks, past buckingham palace and back round again. There is also the Diana Memorial fountain which is lovely and interactive for the kids to play in. Also really randomly on Notting Hill Gate (where I live) there is a Diana cafe with tons of pictures of her. It's a bit bizarre tbh.

If you have any questions let me know I've lived here

My husband and I are going to London on Saturday.

This is my first time (he's been multiple times) and I'm obsessed with Princess Diana - have been since I was a little girl. We have the London Pass which gets us into Kensington Palace (I think) but what else is a not to miss for a Diana lover?

As he's been so many times, I want to hit the places he might not think of (not just Diana related) but what's not to miss besides the biggies...Westminster, Big Ben, Tower of London etc...?

Amy??? Help!!!

for a while

 

[ford family]

It's from the movie, European Vacation. They get stuck on the roundabout and Chevy Chase says it as they go round and round.

DD says I say it EVERY time we walk past. "Look, kids, Big Ben, Parliament."

Thanks for the explanation!
Never saw that film.

ford family

 

[hopemax]

We just did London in March, and had the London Pass. You can use it to access the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace, and they have all the royal carriages on display. So what you would have seen in the wedding and her funeral.

Our favorite day was in Greenwich. We took normal Underground transportation there, so we could be there when the Royal Observatory opened. We did that and the Cutty Sark via our London Pass, and then we took the Hop On / Hop Off City Cruise included on the London Pass back to Westminster. The Greenwich Market was our favorite place for non traditional souvenirs. We had pie & mash at Goddards and it was very tasty, and very affordable. You can also visit the National Maritime Museum and Queens House for free (not because of the London Pass, but because they are free). We ran out of time, and the weather got rainy, so we didn't do these, but a return to Greenwich is the top of our list of things to do. Also, we watched Now You See Me 2 on TV recently, and the final scenes are all filmed around Greenwich in those locations I mentioned. So if you or your husband watched that movie, it's a funny bit of trivia.

Also, make sure to take a Yeoman Warder tour at the Tower of London. Not just wander around yourself. They are free too, although there is even a longer one you can pay for.

 

[Magpie]

You can get your picture with Princess Diana's wax figure at Madame Tussaud's.

Just be sure to get there early and/or pre-purchase your tickets. It can get really crowded.

My daughter and I spent a week in London, and because we're enormous nerds, our trip itinerary included...

The Harry Potter (Warner Bros) Studio Tour

The Who Shop (it's got a little museum in the back!)

Madame Tussauds

The London Dungeon (seriously tacky fun)

The London Aquarium (we actually spent all day there, which is apparently a bit unusual as it's not that large)

221 B Baker Street (Sherlock Holmes museum)

The London Eye

The Tower of London (including the Yeoman Warder Tour)

Hyde Park with the Diana Memorial

The British Museum - twice! Still didn't see as much as we wanted.

Assorted other museums and shops and wandering around.

Wooster and Jeeves at the theatre.

 

[disykat]

Wander around Harrod's dept. store. Check out the memorial at the escalators.

 

[amberpi]

@Magpie - The London Dungeon truly is tacky, silly, fun, especially if you've been at the pub before

I did a contract in London (digs I would NEVER be able to afford) and have been for work more times than I can count. I spent so many, many, many weekends at the British museum, and then the Tate, V&A to a lesser degree. The British had such a huge empire for such a long time - they stole a bunch of really cool stuff The British Museum is just amazing.

Wish I could help on Diana, but I hope you report back. I'd be open to seeing some of that history when I go back next.

 

[MickeysMommy]

Gosh, everyone, thank you so much for your replies.

We are staying in a flat in Chelsea but other than that we have no set itinerary. I obviously want to see all the touristy/historical things but don't want to cram it all in and forget or rush what we are doing. I love to walk and wander around wherever we go and just "look" if you know what I mean. Plus, it's gotta be a little like WDW where if I don't get to see something on this trip - then I'll have to go back, right?

 

[Minnie824]

take a day and take the train out to Windsor castle. That was a fun day. I agree, go to Harrod's. We got there early and had lunch in one of the restaurants....it was a pizza place, very good. If you have time take in show at the theater. Also, if there on a Saturday do the parliament tour.

 

[Planogirl]

How long will you be there? Will you have a car? Maybe I missed this.

Have a blast! I'm definitely green with envy.

 

[KristiMc]

You can visit her childhood home Althorp. Looks like it is about 1 1/2 hours from London. http://spencerofalthorp.com/visit/

 

[MickeysMommy]

So tonight is our last night in London and we're sad. Thankfully we were not affected by the terrorists that hit London Bridge but it was the same time we were arriving. So incredibly sad.

Things we did - not all Diana related - and I think I cried the whole week.

Sunday - Kensington Palace, Hyde Park, Harrods, Sloan Square, ate at neighborhood pub
Monday - Tower of London and saw all my jewels, I mean the Queens
HMS Belfast Navy Ship - DH's dad was in the US Navy
Tuesday - hands down my absolute favorite part of the trip. Westminster Abbey. No words. It's a religious experience to just walk in the doors. Trafalgar Square, Regent St, Piccadilly Circus
Wednesday - Windsor Castle. Unbelievable.
Thursday - St. Paul's Cathedral - again, unbelievable.
Friday - Shakespeare's Globe, the Royal Mews, river cruise, double decker bus
There's lots of walking/tube riding I left out but we've had a fabulous time. I can't wait to come back and enjoy a holiday and not try to cram all the historical stuff into one trip.

Thank you for all the suggestions!!

 

[Felicis]

I absolutely adore London, I lived there for nearly 2 years, about 20 years ago, and loved it so much. So pleased that you had such a great time!

 

[mmouse37]

Love London!!! In addition to all mentioned, if you have the time check out the Camden Market in Camden. Really cool flea market type market with tons of food stations and merchandise. It used to be horse stables.

Also Portobello Road....like a giant street long flea market with antique shops and such. It was featured in the movie Bednobs and Broomsticks with a song!

MJ

 

[sunshinehighway]

So tonight is our last night in London and we're sad. Thankfully we were not affected by the terrorists that hit London Bridge but it was the same time we were arriving. So incredibly sad.

Things we did - not all Diana related - and I think I cried the whole week.

Sunday - Kensington Palace, Hyde Park, Harrods, Sloan Square, ate at neighborhood pub
Monday - Tower of London and saw all my jewels, I mean the Queens
HMS Belfast Navy Ship - DH's dad was in the US Navy
Tuesday - hands down my absolute favorite part of the trip. Westminster Abbey. No words. It's a religious experience to just walk in the doors. Trafalgar Square, Regent St, Piccadilly Circus
Wednesday - Windsor Castle. Unbelievable.
Thursday - St. Paul's Cathedral - again, unbelievable.
Friday - Shakespeare's Globe, the Royal Mews, river cruise, double decker bus
There's lots of walking/tube riding I left out but we've had a fabulous time. I can't wait to come back and enjoy a holiday and not try to cram all the historical stuff into one trip.

Thank you for all the suggestions!!

Glad you had a good time. London is amazing. You sounds like me, already planning your next trip before you've even left for home. Disney World and London the two places I do that. Have a safe trip home.