Things to do in London?

Cumbrian_Male

We are off to London in October and looking for things to do.

On the itinerary are London eye, Tower of London, Oxford Street, Harrods, Hamleys, and we want to see a show and like the look of the Ripper walking tour.

What else are considered must see/do?

Where is best for show tickets? Tkts or lastminute etc?

We arrive on Tues about 5pm and depart on Sat 4.30pm.

All suggestions welcome.

redpete

Covent Garden, Somerset House, National Gallery / Trafalgar Square, British Museum, Imperial War Museum, Natural History Museum, Foyles Bookshop.

catch22

What a coincidence - I have just booked a train ticket to London via Virgin Trains. They happen to include the following link which might be beneficial to you http://www.virgintrains.co.uk/2FOR1/

Apart from what the previous poster mentioned you could add The Victoria and Albert Museum.

If there are any 'tastecard' deals around at the moment, you can get good discounts on food in certain restaurants, especially as your there during the week.

London really has to be one of the best capitals in the world, compact wise.

mum26

The last time dp and I went to London we found buying our tickets direct from the theatre to be cheapest (Avenue Q) and also we got Legally Blonde "raffle" tickets direct from the theatre too, although that involves a bit of hanging about.

The Dungeons are quite good fun and Covent Garden is lovely for a wander round.

Bongedone

The ticket stands scattered around are the places to buy. There is one in Leicester Square and I think there is one on Picadilly Circus.

Somebody will tell you the name of it soon.

minerva_windsong

You want the TKTS booth on Leicester Square for cheap tickets:
If you're prepared to go to the matinee you may find you get cheaper tickets, especially now summer hols are over.

I'd go to Wahaca for pre-theatre food if you like Mexican.

Definitely agree with Covent Garden, National Gallery (although I prefer the Portrait Gallery myself), Natural History Museum, V&A (I so want to see the Grace Kelly exhibit), British Museum and Foyles.

You can pick up a map for Covent Garden outside Leicester Square station as most of that area and Oxford Street is fairly walkable. I'd also suggest a river cruise up to Greenwich as a sightseeing expedition if you can.

redpete

minerva_windsong wrote: »

I'd also suggest a river cruise up to Greenwich as a sightseeing expedition if you can.

Good suggestion, I forgot that. Cruise up the river and visit the Greenwich Observatory and Maritime Museum and just enjoy the surroundings.

Stompa

Cumbrian_Male wrote: »

...and like the look of the Ripper walking tour.

The last few times I've been in London there seems to have been a Ripper tour around every corner. I counted 4 different ones yesterday - I imagine the local residents must get fed up to the back teeth with them!

ERICS_MUM

Afternoon tea at the Ritz. Did this for my 50th birthday and it was a great experience, not at all "stuffy" IYKWIM.

Walking - Covent Garden to Soho to Chinatown then have a genuine chinese meal in a restaurant frequented by local chinese families.

Double decker bus tour - there are a few available, Harrods used to do one.

While you are down at the Tower of London you could also pop into Tower Bridge and get a view from the top (no idea how much the entrance fee is, sorry).

It is possible to arrange a tour of the Houses of Parliament, which would be an amazing experience (well, it would be for me, not sure how you feel about politics !). See this link:

http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/visiting-and-tours/tours/


London is a great city, you can see such a lot just by walking around and it's so easy to jump on and off buses and tubes to get anywhere you want.

Linda

Generali

Some slightly more offbeat suggestions:
Viaduct Tavern on Holborn Viaduct - they have medieval cells in the cellars from Newgate Prison you can go and see if you ask it's also unusual as it has a copper ceiling.
Inns of Justice/Appeal Court - appeals are normally quite short so you can see the wheels of justice turning
Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green
Jerusalem Tavern - best pub in London probably
Borough Market - foodie heaven
Smithfield Market - interesting place if you're an early riser. Follow with brekkie at the Fox and Anchor if a pint and a fry up at 6am is your thing.
Monument - lovely views
Maltese Monument nr Tower of London - an amazing story of how an island won the VC in WW2
Museum of London

PlutoinCapricorn

If you get a one-day bus pass, the no. 11 and no. 23 will take you past many of the top attractions - if you are lucky you can sit up top at the front. The no. 23 on Saturday will go to Portobello Road market. You can get a free bus map for central London from Piccadilly Circus information centre.

St. James Park is a good place to go when the sun is shining.