Ideal weekend sightseeing in London

evoke

Hi all, I need to play host and tour guide for a family who are arriving next weekend. They have two full days to tour London. What are the best sights to see without becoming worn out with too much walking?

I've got the following on my list:

1. London Eye

2. Buckingham Palace

I just need a few more suggestions!

susancs

As their time is so short I would just recommend them to do one of the hop on and off bus tours. When friends and relatives have stayed with us in London they have used the Orginal London Bus Tour and found it good to get as much done as possible and get infomation without having to buy a tourist guide book.

The London Eye may not be a good idea if the rainy weather we have been having continues as the view is not very good in these conditions. The changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace is on even dates this month so bear that in mind.

redpete

Greenwich (Royal Observatory, Maritime Museum, Cutty Sark), Borough Market, Camden Market, Imperial War Museum, Trafalgar Square / National Gallery, Shard, Covent Garden,

p00hsticks

A river cruise - you can go from the London Eye up to the Tower and Greenwich

Berni888

This is taken from the London Zoo website

Days out and things to do in London

There are so many things to do in London, and especially in the Regent's Park area, that you could spend the whole day and night there.

After you’ve visited London's best attraction, ZSL London Zoo (voted London's Best Tourism Experience 2010 in the Visit London Awards), and got close to some exciting animals such as giraffes and zebra why not take a stroll up to the top of Primrose Hill and enjoy a bird's eye view of the capital.
Alternatively you could visit some famous faces at Madame Tussauds and then watch some Shakespere under the stars at the Open Air Theatre or a performance at the Roundhouse in Camden.
Enjoy your sport? Then watch a game of cricket at Lord’s Cricket Ground followed by dinner somewhere on the trendy St John’s Wood High Street.
Take a relaxing trip on board a traditional London Waterbus canal boat and disembark at the elegant Little Venice.
Experience the story of the famous Sherlock Holmes and Watson at the Sherlock Holmes Museum or learn about the fascinating Jewish culture and it’s history at the Jewish Museum.
Or if shopping is more your thing why not make your way along the Regents Canal path, enjoying the sights of the canal boats floating by, and visit the bustling Camden market. Then rest those weary feet with a drink at Camden Lock.

Churchill War Rooms

Off the beaten path

2 for price of 1 Thames Cruise £17 at Buyagift

London WaterBus

Just make a plan and work out all the routes before hand, places to eat etc. and have fun

squashy

Get them to look at http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/default

You only need a local train ticket to qualify for the offers. We sometimes visit london with the kids and for paid activities we try and choose one fun/silly one educational(ish). Eg Tussauds and British Museum. The rest of the time we allow for getting around, shopping (Hamley's with kids is a must!) and we try and make things like travelling the tube part of the fun. Some of the ordinary buses go past a lot of the sights and I think they accept oyster cards. You can get lots in just by walking around.

We went this week (just daughter and I) and our itinerary was:

Day 1 arrived late afternoon
London Eye
Walk past houses of parliament and buck palace
Hotel to change
O2 Arena for British Music Experience (I loved this! Went off peak mind you)
Tea @ O2 restaurant- Rodizio Rico (BBQ)

Day 2
Tussauds (early- queuing is obscene)
Bags to Harrods left luggage- cheaper than train station (£5 per bag no time limit)
The Clink Prison
Walk round south bank
Carnaby St shops
Late lunch at Choccywoccydoodah (tv chocolatiers, huge slices of cake)
Hamleys toy shop
Liberty (cute and quirky but luxury home things)
Harrods for food halls- half price meals at the counter near closing

We wanted to go to portabello road market but ran out of time!

Berni888

2 for 1 deal posted on HUKD might be of interest
http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/london-eye

Admission: £19.20*
*For a standard adult ticket. Prices subject to change from 3 Jan 2014
Opening Times: Daily from 10.00 on the standard tickets. Check website for last experiences.
2FOR1 offer NOT valid on 14 Feb 2014 or 5 to 21 Apr 2014 inclusive.
Closed 25 Dec 2013 and 6 to 17 Jan 2014 inclusive for annual maintenance.
Offer not valid on pre-booked tickets

borkid

I'm off to London this weekend and going to the London aquarium and the Tower of London. I've used my tesco vouchers and 2 for 1 deal with my train tickets. So for 4 people it should be about £19 for the 'sightseeing'. Think about how much you have to spend. I came across a site which had some good ideas for things to do for cheap in London. One I remember was using an ordinary bus instead of the sight seeing one. There was also a list of places where you could get a good view of London instead of going on the london eye, one being the roman catholic cathedral, I think in Westminster.

Hope the wetaher keeps dry for you it always helps.

sooty&sweep

Hi
We've just come back from a couple of days in London.
Day 1 We walked London Eye to Trafalgar Sq to see Buckingham Palace to Covent Garden. There was street entertainment by the London Eye & in Covent Garden. We walked along the river alot & theres loads to watch & see down there. Lots of walking but we saw alot inc Sr Francis Drakes Golden Hind.
Day 2 We went into the Tower of London which I would highly recommend. Not cheap to get in but we used clubcard vouchers & it was a full day & my two children thoroughly enjoyed the tour by one of the Beefeaters & participating in the trials of a number of occupants. We also walked across Tower Bridge which was interesting.
Day 3 We were staying in Greenwich so we did the Cutty Sark & the Royal Observatory. We enjoyed the Cutty Sark. In terms of the Royal Observatory you need to pay to get into the bit about Greenwich mean time etc but the astronomy bit was free. My children enjoyed the astronomy bit more than the other part as it was more interactive. Greenwich Market is also worth a visit.
Jen

redpete

Well evoke - what did you do, what would you recommend and were any of the suggestions helpful?