London (and what to do)

poppet1711

Hi

As a birthday treat next week my boyfriend is taking me to London for a few days.

Although I've been there a couple of times I've never had the chance to do the tourist thing so was looking for advice

What would you guys recommend doing? We got an absolute bargain at a youth hostel in South Kensington and if we can follow the money saving idea for entertainment all the better

We're there from Tuesday until Friday. Ideally I'd like to do something like see a show and some of the touristy sights. We will take advantage of some of the free sttractions like the Science Museum. We're 25 and 26.

I'm completely open to suggestions and looking forward to hearing them

Thanks in advance.

unsure

Buy an oyster card for cheaper travel. There is a lot worth doing in London that is free or inexpensive:
Covent Garden, browsing the market and watching the buskers is a good way to spend a couple of hours (other markets worth browsing: Camden and Greenwich, Portobello Rd for antiques/oddities) .
The South Bank (by the London Eye) is pleasant for a stroll and often has free activities/entertainment in Royal Festival Hall (Google London + Southbank)
It's perfectly possible to walk from Trafalger Square up the Mall, past Buckingham Palace and back round to Houses of Parliament in a couple of hours including a stop for coffee!

The British Museum is free and a must-see; one of the greatest (if not the greatest) collections in the world and all very accessible and unfussy these days. you could spend a whole day in there!
Tate Modern is a lively acccessible introduction to modern art and well worth a visit...also situated right by the "wobbly bridge" (Millennium Bridge) and straight
across the river from St Pauls
(National Gallery, National Portrait gallery ands Tate Britianare both free and really good too).
Museums....so much to choose! Victoria and Albert has come on a long way to make itself more appealing, Science Museum and Natural History often get rave reviews (and they are all very close to each other....and Harrods!)

If you want to go window shopping and nosing around without spending much, Harrods, Liberty, Fortnums and Mason and Hamleys (Toys), Foyles (books) might eat up some time and cause amusement/interest.

On the paying front:
If you are not too fussed which show you see there are always offers. The train companies sometimes have two for one deals. Lastminute.com and a host of others offer discounted tickets (sometimes can be combined with a cheap pre/after theatre meal) again Google is your friend!

We've taken losts of domestic and foreign guests around London and they've all enjoyed then London Eye. The Aquariaum next to it is fairly amazing too if that is your sort of thing. London Zoo is good if you are interested in animals and not against zoos! The Imax cinema is often popular.

For what is on currnetly and for general Ideas, www.timeout.com is invaluable

flossyblog

There are some good ideas on this thread with Tripadvisor
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...n_England.html

bylromarha

Lots of top shows with half price tickets here

http://www.seetickets.com/gilt2010/

OH and I off to London tomorrow (without kids!!!!! WHOOP!!!!) for the weekend - seeing wicked tomorrow night on £60 seats, reduced to £35.