Need advice on my trip to London

[Westegg]

I'll be going Thanksgiving week. I'd love to hear any suggestions on where to go/what to do. We have some plans, obviously (Stoppard's new play, the Tate, etc.), but you guys is all so smart!

Thanks.

[Fleshdancer]

1. wear white sneakers and talk very loudly. They love that over there.

:D

[Westegg]

3. Thanks! Am also procuring LARGE cowboy hat for trip.

[billyskank]

9. Make sure also that you describe everything as quaint.

This is considered highly endearing. :D

[Westegg]

11. Am also bringing my "Don't Mess With Texas" t-shirt/nt

[RebelOne]

2. Make sure you go to the Tower of London.

And then hop a train and go on up to Inverness, Scotland to see Nessie. Loch Ness is beautiful. And from there, go on down to Dover and grab a ferry to France.

[MorningGlow]

4. Hang out in pubs

Real ones, preferably a bit of a distance from the touristy areas. You won't be sorry. And check some travel guides for the ones near you that offer good food (I've had good pub grub and...reaaaaallllyyyy BAD pub grub).

But don't let anyone talk you into a Scotch egg. :scared:

YMMV, of course.

[meegbear]

5. As Marge said on The Simpsons ...

Remember a lift is an elevator, a lorry is a truck and botulism is shepherd's pie.

[xchrom]

6. the victoria and albert museum.

kew gardens and royal horticultural.

the haymarket theatre.

the national gallery and the national portrait gallery -- they're right next door to each other.
have lunch at the national gallery -- do the sit down thing.

the portrait gallery is fascinating because it will rock you how many important people there are in england's long history.

[Westegg]

7. Thanks much!/NT

[Ramsey]

18. Ditto- VAM is amazing!

As is the British Museum.

There are several companies that do walking tours all over the city which are a greast way to see and learn. Last time I was there I did sevral, including a Jack the Ripper Pub crawl.

You can also join a tour group to Stonehenge, which is an easy distance from London and a great site to visit!

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

19. Good stuff.

I rented a car to see Stonehenge. It's nice to take a drive around the countryside too.

[bif]

8. Take the sightseeing boat up the Thames to Greenwich

And be sure to visit Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park on Sunday. You won't believe the nutjobs on their soapboxes, ranting about everything under the sun. It's an old English tradition. I'd also reccomend the book, Londonwalks. It has about 10 1-hour long self-guided walking tours that let you in on stuff you'd easily overlook.

[nosillies]

10. some of these are repeats, but I'm seconding them

Greenwich and Greenwich Market (there's a great pie shop there, Goddard's, have pie for dinner AND dessert!)
Camden Market -- riding on the canals is fun
Tower of London
Westminster Abbey
National Gallery
a Jack the Ripper tour, always creepy and fun
Soho sex shops are always fun
check out a football game -- schedule here http://sports.yahoo.com/fbgb/scoreboard
The Royal Mews, I don't know, I just like them for some reason
The Grenadier in Belgravia is a good pub

[Babette]

16. Thirding the Grenadier....

Great pub, cool pewter bar. The regulars were very friendly with us. Be sure to make reservations if you want dinner there. It's back on a little side street, and a little hard to find, but worth it for the history.

Don't miss Westminster Abbey. Be sure to give yourself time to look at ALL the tombs or you will kick yourself when it's in a movie like "DaVinci Code" and you don't remember seeing it!

Tower of London is a must see. Yes, its touristy, but it's an important part of history and the Beefeaters are hilarious in their storytelling. Be sure to get there early (opening time) and go straight to the Jewel House!! You will have plenty of time to see the other sights later. When we went we saw the jewels first, and it was so empty of tourists that early in the morning that we were able to ride the people-mover past the jewels about six times! Soon after we finished there was a line out the door and across the courtyard.

[cemaphonic]

12. No one has yet mentioned the British Museum, so I will

I could easily spend days in that place.

Bath makes a nice day-trip from London, though I would find it hard to fit that into a week.

There is a great little museum in the old Royal Observatory in Greenwich, especially if you love clocks. (Accurate timekeeping for navigation was a huge project in the 18th century)

[Anarcho-Socialist]

13. I love the British Museum too

n/t

[sarge43]

14. Another one they loved

"We saved your ass during the Big One." That always makes friends

The classics: The Tower, Westminister, The British Museum, (while you're there, check out St Martin's in the Fields. It's our little white steepled churches done in granite.), a West End show.
Just walk around the west end, especially the side streets, charming little shops filled with mouth watering treasures, sit in one of the pocket parks and talk with a Bloke.

I used to go to Parliament Bridge in the morning and think about all the history that has come up that river. The old grey lion at rest beside the Thames.

"He who is tried of London is tried of life." Samuel Johnson

[Kerrytravelers]

15. Be sure you know the language. It makes getting around easier!

:rofl:

[Brigid]

17. Watch the traffic.

Don't forget, they drive on the wrong side of the street there. :D