What places in London worth visiting
EmmaInUSA
I'll be in London from 26Dec for 4nights. What are the places
worth visiting?
Thanks :)
--
Posted via http://britishexpats.com
J J MIO
London. A “Cashpoint” (same as our ATM) is located only fifty feet from the
customs exit in Heathrow. We usually get about £150 and when we run low we
find another one. They are located throughout the city We also use a debit
card in order to avoid credit card fees.
LONDON SEE & DO
(The fees posted here are undoubtedly “old”. “U” means the Underground
Station))
A nice introduction is a ‘hop on-hop off’ bus that visits the most famous
landmarks http://www.bigbus.co.uk/
After a couple of days of freelancing you may like to take one of the Original
London Walks to see a specific place with an entertaining docent 20 7624
3978 £5 http://London.walks.com
WESTMINISTER AND WHITEHALL
Trafalgar Square The heart of London. A place for pictures U=Charing
Cross or Leicester Sq.
http://www.angelfire.com/in/uktravelinfo/trafalgar.html
St. Martin’s (Actually “St-Martin-in-the-Fields”) is on the corner of
Trafalgar Square and has a relaxing cafeteria and a brass rubbing center in the
basement.
U=Charing Cross http://britannia.com/travel/top/stmartins.html
National Gallery We saw it on an “Original London Walk” We are
novice when it comes to the arts and the docent added so much to
this visit. no fee
U=Charing Cross or Leicester Sq.
http://britannia.com/travel/top/natgal.html &
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk
National Portrait Gallery http://www.npg.org.uk U=Charing Cross or
Leicester Sq. no fee
St. James Park We loved the three parks. St. James, Hyde Park and Green Park
http://www.open.gov.uk/rp/rphome.htm#Hyde
Admiralty Arch On the road from Trafalgar to Buckingham
Buckingham Pal. I think the guards change at 11:30 in the summer but
check that time.
http://britannia.com/travel/top/buckingham.html or
http://www.royal.gov.uk
Royal Mews On the side of Buckingham Palace. This is easy to walk
by but we liked the ‘Cinderella’ coaches. £4.50
U=Victoria Sta.. M-Thurs 12-6pm
http://www.s-h-systems.co.uk/tourism/London/royal-mews.html
Banqueting House Charles I was beheaded on the first floor
balcony beginning the Reformation. Great ceiling paintings
by Raphael £3.50 www.hrp.org.uk
Horse Guards This building is close to the Banqueting House and has the
guardsman which everyone stands next to for a picture. I believe it
also has an hourly changing of the guard (10 or 11 am) where
you can get quite near to the horses.
Downing Street Not that much www.number-10.gov.uk
Cab. War Rooms We enjoyed this because we like WW II history. The basement
headquarters of Churchill was a surprise
because we didn’t realize how confined it was.
Clive Steps, King Charles Street
Daily 10-6 U=St. James or Westminster www.iwm.gov.org.uk
Parliament One day when walking by, we joined a queque and were
admitted into Parliament to watch the House of Commons and the
House of Lords do their thing . If they are open and you have
time when, it’s worth the visit. But wait until you’ve seen all the “biggies”
before spending valuable time here. Adjacent to
Parliament is the Victoria Tower Garden, with a copy of Rodin’s ‘Burghers of
Calais’
http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/VIASCI.HTM
http://www.parliament.uk/
Big Ben Another must for pictures. Supposedly named after
pudgy Benjamin Hall, the Commissioner of Works
when the bell was hung
http://www.aboutbritain.com/BigBen.htm
River cruise From Westminster to Greenwich, Dockland or Thames
Barrier and
from the Tower of London to Hampton Court, Kew or Richmond
St. Margaret’s A church next to Parliament. Frequently overlooked because
Westminster Abbey is so near. Contains the body of
Sir Walter Raleigh
http://www.angelfire.com/in/uktravelinfo/stmargarets.html
Westminster Abbey. A great place. So much to see. We enjoy taking one of
their “special tours”.
£5 entrance fee M-F 9:30-4:45 Sat 9:30-2:45
U=Westminster or St. James Park www.westministerabbey.org
Tate Britain Now devoted to British art. Many Turner paintings Daily
10:30-5 no fee
www.tate.org .uk U=Pimlico
Westminster Cath. Catholic Cathedral Only a block from Victoria Station.
Always wanted to climb the 274 foot campile but haven’t made
it yet; daily 9-5 elevator for £2
www.westministerdiocese.ork.uk U=Victoria Station
ST JAMES, PICADILLY,MAYFAIR, MARLYBONE
Spencer House Sunday 11:30am-4:45pm £6 Home of Princess Diana U=Green
Park
Piccadilly Circus Another photo spot under the stature of Eros (not the
god of love but the “Angel of Christian Charity” which
commemorates the Earl of Shaftesbury) This is seen on many London
pictures but there is very little else to see here. If you’re in the
neighborhood it is stopping but I wouldn’t recommend ayou
make a special visit. U=Picadilly Circus
Regent Street “Hamley’s”, world’s largest toy store and “Liberty”, Arts and
Crafts from 100 years ago
Fortnum & Mason Huge store 5 blocks west from “Eros”
www.fornumandmason.com U=Picadilly Cir.
Burlington Arcade Across from Fortnum is the arcade for the rich.
Illegal to whistle, sing, hum or rush on
this expensive arcade
Ritz Hotel On the edge of Green park £395 for a single;
afternoon tea only £60 for two
www.theritzhotel.co.uk U=Green Street
Bond Street Expensive fashions and Sotheby’s www.sotheby’s.com
U=Bond or Green Street
Wallace Collection A museum-gallery of French artists. We were
upset with ourselves because we reached it late in the
day. Did not realize how many wonderful paintings it had. Be sure to rent the
earphones. Mon-Sat 10-5; Sun 2-5
free
www-wallace-collection.org.uk U=Bond Street
Selfidges Dept store-stop in the food section U=Bond Street
Madame Tussaud’s I am not a great fan of wax museums but this is
probably as good as they get.
Daily 10-5:30 U=Baker St. and Kensington
SOHO AND COVENT GARDEN
Covent Garden Much activity in the center of the square. It also has ‘St.
Paul’s-The Actor’s Church’ where you can relax after
you’ve walked your legs off
London Transport Museum Many interactive items offers interest to young
people
www..itmuseum.co.uk
Royal Opera House See main foyer, the Floral Hall (10am-3pm)
Theatre Museum Tu-Sun 10-6 £4.50 3 centuries of memorabilia
www.theatremuseum.org
Opera House Backstage tours M-Sat 10:30, 12:30 and 2:30 £6 U=Covent
Garden
See the Floral Hall from 10am-3pm www.royaloperahouse.org
Backstage Tours Varying hours Theatre Royal Drury Lane U=London
Br
BLOOMSBURY
British Museum Awesome. Good to take a preliminary tour of highlights.
U=Tottenham Court Road, Holburn or Russell Square
No fee It would be easy to spend the entire day here. It also has a
good cafeteria for a snack break. M-Sat 10-5; Sun 2:30-6
http://britannia.com/travel/top/britmus.html or
www.british-museum.ac.uk
The library has now moved and a Great Court created in its space
British Library Now on Euston Road www.bl.uk
U=King’s Cross or Euston
STRAND, HOLBORN AND CLERKWELL
Savoy London’s grandest hotel U=Charing Cross or
Temple
Victoria Embankment Below Charing Cross is the The Victoria Embankment
Gardens, a wonderful garden area to see after touring
Trafalgar. http://britannia.com/travel/top/embankment.html
Cleopatra’s Needle is across the street.
It’s not that much but if you want to say you saw it, this is the time.
Benjamin Franklin House 36 Craven Street
www.rsa.org.uk/franklin Charing Cross
Courtauld Gallery Located in the Somerset House, it was one of the places
we kept putting off. When we finally went we kicked
ourselves for not going sooner. Wonderful Impressionist and Post-
Impressionis paintings. Van Gogh, Monet, Cezanne,
Renoir, Manet, etc.
www.courtauld.ac.uk U=Temple or Covent Garden
Law Courts Open during sessions M-F 10:30-1, 2-4 U =Holburn or
Temple
St Mary-le-Strand In the middle of the strand road U=Covent Garden or
Temple
St Clement Danes Memorial to RAF U=Covent Garden or
Temple
Old Baily Newgate St. (St. Paul’s Tube) Public Gallery open M-F 10-1,
2-4
The courts in the new building are entered from the Old Bailey;
in the old building from Newgate St.
Lincoln Inn Fields London’s largest square Bordered by
Lincoln’s Inn (www.lincolnsinn.org.uk).
Old Curiosity Shop and Hunterian Museum U=Holborn
Sir John Soane’s This was a pleasant surprise. John Soane, famous
architect, left his house to the government provided
they left as it was. His way of displaying Hogarth’s “Rakes Progress”
was a new experience for us. The guard that day explained the message of
the paintings and added much to our enjoyment
U=Holborn Tu-Sat, 10am-5pm (free) http://www.soane.org/
Marx Memorial Library Mon 1-6; Tu-Sat 1-8
www.marxmemoriallibraey.sageweb.co.uk
U=Farringdon
THE CITY
St Brides Wren’s tallest spire U=Temple or Blackfriars
Dr Johnson’s House www.drjh.dircon.co.uk
St. Paul’s Cathedral is a awe inspiring. If you have stamina and
good lungs, make the climb to the very top-not just half way. Keep going up
the two levels above the “whispering gallery”. I made it when I was 60 and
thought I was going to die on the climb. M-Sat 8:30-4
U=St. Paul’s
http://www.angelfire.com/in/uktravelinfo/stpauls.html
Mus. of London Built along the old city wall showing times from the Romans to
now. Very well done. Might be more appealing
to a youngster than the English Mus. no fee M-S 10-5:30
U= St. Paul’s http://www.aboutbritain.com/MuseumofLondon.htm
Monument daily 10-6 £1.50 Breathtaking view after climbing 311
steps U=Monument
Tower of London £11 M-Sat 9-5; Sun 10-7 U=Tower Hill
http://britannia.com/travel/top/tower.html
http://www.angelfire.com/in/uktravelinfo/tower.html
Ceremony of the Keys Many have written about this as a treat but I was
unimpressed so it’s your call.
http://www.bta.org.uk/introducing/keys.htm
This is a well written opinion of one who enjoyed it.
“It is the locking up of the Tower of London every night. They have been
doing it more or less this way for about 700 years. If
you send for tickets you must list everyone and their address in your party
and include a postage return coupon (get it at a post office) with it so they
can send the tickets to you.
I took my 9 y.o. nephew once and he loved it (so did I).
Address your request to:
MS H. Thiele Assistant Security Officer
Her Majesty's Palace and Fortress
The Tower of London, London, UK
Include the date you want and some alternative dates.
Tower Bridge Go up in the elevator £6.50 10-6 U=Tower Hill or London
Bridge
http://britannia.com/travel/top/towerbridge.html or
www.towerbridge.org.uk
LAMBETH AND SOUTHWARK
London Eye Ferris wheel £8 Across from Parliament
U=Waterloo or Westminster
To get reservations, you go to the ticket office in County Hall adjacent to
The London Eye, and buy your ticket for a particular day and time. You can
also get a voucher and a reservation in any Tourist Information Office.
www.ba-londoneye.com
Globe Exhibition open daily; £7.50 U=Southwark or Blackfriars
Tate Modern Daily 10-6 www.tate.org.uk no frr U=Southwark or
Blackfriars
Southwark Cath.. We visited this on “An Original London Walk”.
Shakespeare’s brother buried here
After seeing this, we ate lunch at ‘George Inn’, 17 Borough High St. The
George is only 3-4 short blocks and definately worth a
stop for lunch. U=Tower Bridge
http://britannia.com/travel/top/southcath.html
HYDE PARK & KENSINGTON
Hyde Park www.royalparks.co.uk U=Hyde Park, Marble
Arch or Lancaster Gate
Speaker’s Corner is most noteworthy but it has lots more to see.
At t far end is Kensington Palace and Kensington Gardens. (The home of Diana
when alive)
www.hrp.org.uk £9.50 U=High Street Kensington or Queensway
The ornate ‘Albert Memorial” is near the Harrod exit.
U=Knightsbridge
http://www.Great-Britain.org/London.htm
http://britannia.com/travel/top/albmem.html
http://www.angelfire.com/in/uktravelinfo/kensington.html
Brompton Oratory Roman Catholic church with ornate interior and
beautiful organ
http://britannia.com/travel/top/brompton.html
Harrods Too expensive for me but seeing the ‘loo’ is worth the visit
for many
www.harrods.com U=Knightsbrige
NORTH LONDON
Regent’s Park Another park having the most beautiful of flowers. Tulips in
Spring; roses in summer. If you
like flowers, like we do, it’s beautiful when they are blooming
U=Baker Street, Regent’s Park or Great Portland Street
Camden Markets Another unique market experience. Best on weekends We visited
on our own and with an Original London Walk on another visit. If you like
the idea of a ride on the canel you can catch them here.
Three companies run boats on Regent’s Canal between Little Venice and Camden
Park
U=Camden Lock http://www.camdenlock.net/index.html
Jason’s Trip Narrowboat cruise from Camden Lock to Little Venice 10:30,
12:30 or 2:30
OUT OF TOWN
Windsor Castle Daily 10-4 Tour of castle Trains leave every 1/2 hr
from Waterloo Sta.. 30 minutes
Greenwich A 15 min. train from Charing Cross Sta.
or take a boat from Embankment Pier (£7.5)
or take the Dockland Light Railway to Island Garden
http://www.greenwich-guide.org.uk/greenwich.htm
We saw this once on our own and once on a walking tour When on our own, we
took the Docklands Light Railway to Island Tunnels
and walk through the tunnel under the Thames.
With the walking tour we caught a boat below Tower Bridge.
Both good but the tour offers more history comments from a docent.
Hampton Court Tu-Sun 9:30-6 Train from Waterloo, Boat from Westminster Pier
£10.50 To reach it means bus, car, train
or boat. No tube
Kew Gardens Daily 9:30-4 U=Kew Gardens
MARKETS
Flea Markets http://www.demon.co.uk/hotel-uk/markets.html
New Caledonia Friday 6-2 The flea market for the die-hards 3/4 mile SW of
Tower Underground
also U=London Bridge or Borough
Camden Passage Sat 8-5, Wed 7-4, Thur. 7-4 U=Islington, Camden Passage
Camden Antiq Mkt Big day is Sat or Sun U=Camden
Covent Mkt The Jubilee antiques market is on Monday
Portabello M, Tu, Wed, Fri 8-6; Thur. 8-1; Sat 7-6 (Sat is the big day)
U=Nottinghill Gate or Ladbroke Grove
http://www.portobelloonline.com/
Petticoat Lane Sun 9-2 Middlesex St. U=Liverpool St., Aldergate,
Aldergate
Brixton Mkt Fri 9-4 U=Brixton
Gray’s Antique Mkt & Mews 58 Davies St. U=Bond St.
Greenwich Sat -Sun 9-5
Old Spitalfields Daily between 11-4 Sun. is busiest U= Liverpool
Street.
WEBSITES & INFORMATION
Brit. Tourist Center 1 Lower Regent Street London SW1
BTA http://www.bta.org.uk
Brochures and maps http://www.wwb.com/company/c005893.html
Current events http://www.thisislondon.com
Shows in London http://www.playbill.com
Theatres http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/
We enjoyed The Woman in Black a ghost story, “guaranteed to send shivers
down your spine”. Several years ago it was at the Fortune Theatre in Russell
Street near Covent Garden underground station.
GALLERIES & MUSEUMS
Nat’l Portrait Gal. M-Sat 10-6; Sun N-6 U=Leicester Sq
Nat’l Gallery 2000 paintings M-Sat 10-6; Sun N-7 U=Charing Cross
Vic. & Albert Mo-Sa 10-5, Sun 2:30-5:30 U=Kensington High
Coutaud Gallery Somerset House, Strand U=Covent Garden, Temple
Impressionist and Post-Impressionists M-S 10-6
British Museum M-Sat 10-5 Sun 12-6 U=Tottenham Court Road
MOMI Mus. Of Moving Images Children and adults Daily 10-6
South Bank Centre U=Waterloo
Mus. of London Tu-Sat 10-5:30; Sun N-5:30 150 London Wall
U= Barbican, Moorgate
Theatre Mus. Tu-Sun 11-7 Russell Square U=Covent Garden
Vic. & Albert Mus. Tu-Sun 10-5:30; Mon, N-5:30 U=South Kensington
Britain at War Daily 10-4:30 £6 64 Tooley St. U=London Bridge
Jack (California)
Hatunen
<mem...@britishexpats.com> wrote:
>
>I'll be in London from 26Dec for 4nights. What are the places
>worth visiting?
Your library and nearby bookstores have books with hundreds of pages
describing these places; how on earth do you imagine we would be able
to answer your question? We don't have the foggiest what you might
like, in any case.
************ DAVE HATUNEN (hat...@cox.net) ***********
* Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow *
******* My typos are intentional copyright traps ******
Rita
<mem...@britishexpats.com> wrote:
>
>I'll be in London from 26Dec for 4nights. What are the places
>worth visiting?
>
>Thanks :)
What do you mean by "worth visiting"?
Alan Harrison
"EmmaInUSA" <mem...@britishexpats.com> wrote in message
news:547673.1...@britishexpats.com...
>
> I'll be in London from 26Dec for 4nights. What are the places
> worth visiting?
A comprehensive list of possible places to visit has been given by another
poster. The bad news is that on your first day you can pretty well reckon on
everything being closed. We put ourselves under house arrest on Christmas
Day and Boxing Day!
Alan Harrison
I. Wilson Gittleman, M.D.
forcefully.
Thanks Dave; these vague questions pop up every so often; I really
wonder what is in their mind and do they ever go to bookstores!
I. Wilson Gittleman, M.D.
them told you that it is impossible to answer such a vague question.
We don't know your interests, whether you are travelling with someone
else . . . nothing.
A suggestion is to get a book that is suited to your interests, etc.,
and then write for more specific information.
a.spencer3
> worth visiting?
>
OK - Buckingham Palace, Tower of London .................
Surreyman
Holden McGroyne
National Gallery
St-Martin-in-the-Fields
Courtauld Gallery
Westminster Abbey
St. Paul's
Greenwich
British Library
Globe Theatre
Sloan Museum
Museum of London
London Wheel
Tower of London
Tate Museum
Harrod's
Portobello Rd market
This being in no particular order.
Jenn
"Alan Harrison" <Alan.T....@btinternet.com> wrote:
do the trains run then? We will be in London and need to travel to
Ipswich on Christmas Day and then back again to London late on boxing
day.
grey
<mem...@britishexpats.com> wrote:
>
>I'll be in London from 26Dec for 4nights. What are the places
>worth visiting?
That's a pretty subjective question, and the answer must be up to you.
I recommend getting a good guide book, and, when you get there,
hopping aboard an open-top sightseeing bus (hop on/hop off all day) to
get an overview of what you want to dig into in more detail.
---------------------------
A truly cool book:
The World Is Already Yours
Conscious living in the real world
www.alreadyyours.com (sample chapter, etc...)
EmmaInUSA
Holden,
Thanks for this list. This is basically what I was looking for :)
Thanks again :)
congokid
Wilson Gittleman, M.D." <iwg...@webtv.net> writes
Here's a suitable vague response:
Have a look at my website...
--
congokid
Eating out in London? Read my tips...
http://congokid.com
Joan McGalliard
> do the trains run then? We will be in London and need to travel to
> Ipswich on Christmas Day and then back again to London late on boxing
> day.
No public transport in London on Christmas day.
You have to get where you want the day before - or hire a car.
joan
--
Joan McGalliard, UK http://www.mcgalliard.org
Jenn
jem*NO-SPAM*@netspace.net.au (Joan McGalliard) wrote:
> Jenn <je...@hmplc.com> wrote:
>
> > do the trains run then? We will be in London and need to travel to
> > Ipswich on Christmas Day and then back again to London late on boxing
> > day.
>
> No public transport in London on Christmas day.
>
> You have to get where you want the day before - or hire a car.
>
> joan
Thanks -- I think we will hire a car which turns out to be actually
cheaper for 4 people than the trains anyway which are amazingly pricey
for short trips in England. Now -- to find a place to garage it the
night before and after.
Philip Coulthard
If you have to travel on those dates - as Joan McGalliard said,
"Hire a car".
Phil
"Joan McGalliard" <jem*NO-SPAM*@netspace.net.au> wrote in message
news:1fl59kk.vc7aear7whhcN%jem*NO-SPAM*@netspace.net.au...
Bob
On Mon, 4 Nov 2002 16:21:35 Jenn <je...@hmplc.com> wrote:
>
>Thanks -- I think we will hire a car which turns out to be actually
>cheaper for 4 people than the trains anyway which are amazingly pricey
>for short trips in England. Now -- to find a place to garage it the
>night before and after.
Where in London will you be staying? Car parking in central London
can be expensive, but depending on where you're staying you might find
some local street parking available.
--
Bob (Reply address valid till end of next month)
a.spencer3
Philip Coulthard <phil_co...@onetel.net.uk> wrote in message
news:3dc6...@212.67.96.135...
> Also no train services on Boxing Day.
> If you have to travel on those dates - as Joan McGalliard said,
> "Hire a car".
Watch out for the new £5 per day 'Congestion Charge' for driving into
central London. I very rarely go to the xxxxx place, so am not sure when
this starts!
Surreyman
Joan McGalliard
> Watch out for the new £5 per day 'Congestion Charge' for driving into
> central London. I very rarely go to the xxxxx place, so am not sure when
> this starts!
They've just started the advertising campaign: February.
Jenn
Bob <new...@bobturini.com> wrote:
> On Mon, 4 Nov 2002 16:21:35 Jenn <je...@hmplc.com> wrote:
> >
> >Thanks -- I think we will hire a car which turns out to be actually
> >cheaper for 4 people than the trains anyway which are amazingly pricey
> >for short trips in England. Now -- to find a place to garage it the
> >night before and after.
>
> Where in London will you be staying? Car parking in central London
> can be expensive, but depending on where you're staying you might find
> some local street parking available.
south Kensington - I assume it will be expensive but we don't have a
choice since we need to get the car on the 24th to have it for the
25th/26th.
Dan Stephenson
Check out Rick Steve's London book. It's great for prioritizing. But don't
miss the British Museum.
--
Dan Stephenson
(remove nospam from email address to reply via email)
JAGUTMAKER
>> worth visiting?
It depends on what you like. Are you a history buff? Are you into art? What are
your interests?
I thought the Victoria and Albert Museum was pretty good. Lots of antiques and
decorative objects.
Westminster Abbey is beautiful if you like looking at churches.
Most people highly recommend the Tower of London, but I thought it wasn't as
cool as Windsor Castle. The Crown Jewels display at the Tower was the best
part. They also have a display of armor and torture equipment.
I didn't go there, but I hear the Cabinet War Rooms are pretty cool. They were
used during WWII.
I took a short train trip to Windsor Castle, and I really enjoyed that. The
Castle is amazing and the town of Windsor is pretty.
Hampton Court Palace is also a fairly short train trip from London. Go to
Waterloo station and take the train from there.
http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page557.asp
Windsor Castle is open every day except:
25-26 December
As a working royal palace, the Castle is used frequently by The Queen for State
ceremonies and official entertaining. Consequently the State Apartments will
be closed on the following dates:
4-6 December
Reduced admission charges apply when the State Apartments are closed. Visitors,
however, can still enjoy the extensive Castle precincts, St George's Chapel,
Queen Mary's Dolls' House, the Castle Exhibition and the exhibition in the
Drawings Gallery.
The Semi-State Rooms
The Semi-State Rooms are open from 28 September 2002 to 23 March 2003.
The east end of the North Terrace will be open from 5 August to 29 September
2002.
St George's Chapel
St George's Chapel is open daily to visitors, but is open only to worshippers
on Sundays.
The chapel will be closed on the following days in 2002:
9 August closes at 13:00
16 August closed
14 September closes at 13:00
21 September closes at 13:00
30 November closes at 13:00
23 December closes at 13:00
24-26 December closed
Queen Mary's Dolls' House
The Dolls' House is closed 18-29 November inclusive.
November to February
09:45 -16:15
(last admission 15:00)
Changing of the Guard
April to the end of June
Monday to Saturday at 11:00, weather permitting.
July to the end of March
On alternate days at 11:00 (with the exception of Sundays)
JAGutmaker