I believe I'm heading to London for a long weekend in October to meet up with my pops. For those that live there, or those that have travelled there, what should be on my short list for my first-ever trip to the city? And what should be avoided?
Thanks.
4 days in London?
2Off the top of my head, in terms of museums, I'd say:
The British Museum
Sir John Soane's Museum
The National Gallery
John Soane's is a crazy collection stuffed into a town house. It's close the British Museum (one of the greatest collections of loot in the world) and could be visited in the same afternoon. Your dad would definitely like it. The National Gallery is pretty awesome also.
If you're in London on a Sunday maybe Brick Lane would be worth a visit, with its Sunday markets and Bangladeshi/Indian restaurants.
I'll try and think of a more detailed list of things to see and things to be avoided and post it tomorrow.
What sort of thing do envisage doing? Is shopping involved?
The British Museum
Sir John Soane's Museum
The National Gallery
John Soane's is a crazy collection stuffed into a town house. It's close the British Museum (one of the greatest collections of loot in the world) and could be visited in the same afternoon. Your dad would definitely like it. The National Gallery is pretty awesome also.
If you're in London on a Sunday maybe Brick Lane would be worth a visit, with its Sunday markets and Bangladeshi/Indian restaurants.
I'll try and think of a more detailed list of things to see and things to be avoided and post it tomorrow.
What sort of thing do envisage doing? Is shopping involved?
4 days in London?
3If you've never been before then just do all the touristy things; these are some things that spring to mind:
Tower bridge, westminster (houses of parliament/big ben/general cool stuff), south bank, Tate Modern, the parks, St Pauls cathedral, Barbican centre, hamstead heath, highgate cemetary, national gallery/trafalgar square, greenwich, Soho, river bus/river-taxi along the Thames, open-top double decker bus around the sites, covent garden.
Markets that are good are Portabello and Spitalfields.
In the centre of town be careful about pick-pockets and try to buy snacks and drinks from Tesco Metro or Sainsburys. Shops in central London charge rip-off prices for tourists.
London museums are free, so make the most of them. The V&A and the Wallace Collection are my favourites. Both Tate galleries are awesome, but Tate Modern is a definate.
Taxis are expensive, but the tube is pretty good when it's not being blown-up. Buses are ok too. Buy a travel card which will last all day and can be used on buses and the tube.
Buy an "A to Z of London" and check it before boarding a tube to get from A to B since often it'll only be a 10 minute walk; the tube map? She lies!
Have fun and be careful!
***EDIT***
Buy tickets for the London Eye before you come over!!
Tower bridge, westminster (houses of parliament/big ben/general cool stuff), south bank, Tate Modern, the parks, St Pauls cathedral, Barbican centre, hamstead heath, highgate cemetary, national gallery/trafalgar square, greenwich, Soho, river bus/river-taxi along the Thames, open-top double decker bus around the sites, covent garden.
Markets that are good are Portabello and Spitalfields.
In the centre of town be careful about pick-pockets and try to buy snacks and drinks from Tesco Metro or Sainsburys. Shops in central London charge rip-off prices for tourists.
London museums are free, so make the most of them. The V&A and the Wallace Collection are my favourites. Both Tate galleries are awesome, but Tate Modern is a definate.
Taxis are expensive, but the tube is pretty good when it's not being blown-up. Buses are ok too. Buy a travel card which will last all day and can be used on buses and the tube.
Buy an "A to Z of London" and check it before boarding a tube to get from A to B since often it'll only be a 10 minute walk; the tube map? She lies!
Have fun and be careful!
***EDIT***
Buy tickets for the London Eye before you come over!!
4 days in London?
4i was there last october and stayed in a flat at the barbican.
the things i enjoyed were:
four seasons painting by cy twombly at the tate modern
the hum at the tate modern entrance
walking around the east end and finding banksy graffiti
camden market
the spitz (live venue)
hope you have fun!
the things i enjoyed were:
four seasons painting by cy twombly at the tate modern
the hum at the tate modern entrance
walking around the east end and finding banksy graffiti
camden market
the spitz (live venue)
hope you have fun!
4 days in London?
5As a music geek (I assume...) you should head over to Denmark St - "Tin Pan Alley."
It's loaded with boutique guitar shops that Americans can't afford on the weak dollar. Come to think of it, it would be tough on a strong one.
The folks there are nice though, and you'll have some great chats. Many are old studios. Regent Sound, where all the greats recorded, is a great music store now. I stood where Ray Davies recorded and oggled guitars. The counters were made for them by HiWatt, and look like 4x12 cabs. The Studor that the Beatles used on the early records is right there for you to see.
Walk down Oxford St and you'll pass by Maccari Music, where all of the greats bought their gear. Home of Colorsound stompboxes too. All of this is within 5 minutes of eachother.
The Design Museum is sort of a pain to get to, but well worth it. If you're in the Tower Bridge area, that's your best day to go. It's on the south bank, at "The Docks". That area is super cool. It looks like stuff in Dwell Magazine, if you need a reference.
Walk along the Embankment by The House Of Commons and Big Ben. No need to go in many places on this trip, just walk. It's a great town for that so bring good shoes.
I'm not at all religious, but going to Evensong at St. Paul's Cathedral is a beautiful thing. It makes you realize why Christianity is attractive in some forms. It's an amazing experience. 4pm daily.
Do NOT miss the British Museum. You may not see the whole thing though. Like the Louvre, it's best done in three trips. Stay for four hours, and then go get a beer. It will be there when you go back to London, the Brits will make sure of that.
From there you can walk to Covent Garden to see the sights. It's touristy, like a lot of London, but not cheesy. If you like Scotch Whisky, go to Cadenheads off of Neal St. They have things there that are rare as hell, and you can actually buy them in small bottles.
A good walk:
Find The Strand/Fleet St. along the Thames, now find High Holburn/Oxford St to the North. Walk up Regent St., turn right, poke around Soho (Carnaby St is right here if you're interested - a little cheesy, but worth a look), walk down Charing Cross, Denmark St, is off of it near Totenham Court Rd., walk over to Regent St, down to the Strand, to see Parliament. Get a beer.
You'll see Picadilly, Oxford Circus (and you can keep on going, but you'll have seen it), you'll see Seven Dials, some pretty neighborhoods, a load of stuff you've seen in movies, the hub of British Rock music in the 60's and 70's, governement, great bridges over the Thames, and even some Roman ruins.
Honestly, I wouldn't stray too much from this part of town - this rectangle. Getting out to see Chelsea, Knightsbridge or Hyde Park is worth it, but you don't have time. See this stuff and relax. It seems like a lot, but since it's all in a tight area, you get a lot of bang for your buck (or pound). That means you might have to cut out the Docks as well, but that's how it goes.
Places to eat:
Belgo Centrale - near Seven Dials. Mussels and great Belgian beer of all sorts. Underground in a posh bunker setting.
Wagamama - Now all over London. Japanese noodles, cheap, and an attractive staff. Great for jet lag.
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese - Off The Strand, and easy to miss. A little touristy, but loaded with locals too. Meat pies and hearty food. Well worth the visit. Dickens, Pepys, Johnson, etc used to get hammered here, no shit. Before you sit down, look around the whole place. The cool parts are easy to miss if you just walk in and sit down. I like the bar down in the basement. You should be able to get lunch and a good beer for about 6-7 pounds. If someone tells you it's touristy, tell them that you're a tourist, and go anyway. It is cool.
Get Fish and Chips from a real chippy, not a restaurant. Basically, if there are places to sit, you're in the wrong place.
Get Indian food. It's better there than here.
Drink loads of beer. Loads. It's amazing. Hang out in pubs and talk to people. Brits are really friendly. Buy nice people a pint.
Don't believe the BS that British food sucks. London is an eater's town. Watch the wallet though. My suggestions are reasonable for city eating.
Ride the Tube. Buy a day pass. If you get lost, look at the map until you know where you are. If you miss your train, no worries, another will be along in a sec.
Hop on a London Bus. It will follow a circuitous route, and eventually take you back to where you got on. London looks different from the second floor. It's a cheap way to see the city. Pick a nice route, sit at the front of the bus, and enjoy.
Take a London Cab somewhere once. They are cool and the drivers are nice.
If you need a place to stay, let me know and I'll tell you about some great places in Russell Square. Nice as hell, and affordable.
See who's playing. Last time I was there so was Slint. Surprise! Great show.
Have a great time. I consoder that place my second home and I wish I was going.
It's loaded with boutique guitar shops that Americans can't afford on the weak dollar. Come to think of it, it would be tough on a strong one.
The folks there are nice though, and you'll have some great chats. Many are old studios. Regent Sound, where all the greats recorded, is a great music store now. I stood where Ray Davies recorded and oggled guitars. The counters were made for them by HiWatt, and look like 4x12 cabs. The Studor that the Beatles used on the early records is right there for you to see.
Walk down Oxford St and you'll pass by Maccari Music, where all of the greats bought their gear. Home of Colorsound stompboxes too. All of this is within 5 minutes of eachother.
The Design Museum is sort of a pain to get to, but well worth it. If you're in the Tower Bridge area, that's your best day to go. It's on the south bank, at "The Docks". That area is super cool. It looks like stuff in Dwell Magazine, if you need a reference.
Walk along the Embankment by The House Of Commons and Big Ben. No need to go in many places on this trip, just walk. It's a great town for that so bring good shoes.
I'm not at all religious, but going to Evensong at St. Paul's Cathedral is a beautiful thing. It makes you realize why Christianity is attractive in some forms. It's an amazing experience. 4pm daily.
Do NOT miss the British Museum. You may not see the whole thing though. Like the Louvre, it's best done in three trips. Stay for four hours, and then go get a beer. It will be there when you go back to London, the Brits will make sure of that.
From there you can walk to Covent Garden to see the sights. It's touristy, like a lot of London, but not cheesy. If you like Scotch Whisky, go to Cadenheads off of Neal St. They have things there that are rare as hell, and you can actually buy them in small bottles.
A good walk:
Find The Strand/Fleet St. along the Thames, now find High Holburn/Oxford St to the North. Walk up Regent St., turn right, poke around Soho (Carnaby St is right here if you're interested - a little cheesy, but worth a look), walk down Charing Cross, Denmark St, is off of it near Totenham Court Rd., walk over to Regent St, down to the Strand, to see Parliament. Get a beer.
You'll see Picadilly, Oxford Circus (and you can keep on going, but you'll have seen it), you'll see Seven Dials, some pretty neighborhoods, a load of stuff you've seen in movies, the hub of British Rock music in the 60's and 70's, governement, great bridges over the Thames, and even some Roman ruins.
Honestly, I wouldn't stray too much from this part of town - this rectangle. Getting out to see Chelsea, Knightsbridge or Hyde Park is worth it, but you don't have time. See this stuff and relax. It seems like a lot, but since it's all in a tight area, you get a lot of bang for your buck (or pound). That means you might have to cut out the Docks as well, but that's how it goes.
Places to eat:
Belgo Centrale - near Seven Dials. Mussels and great Belgian beer of all sorts. Underground in a posh bunker setting.
Wagamama - Now all over London. Japanese noodles, cheap, and an attractive staff. Great for jet lag.
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese - Off The Strand, and easy to miss. A little touristy, but loaded with locals too. Meat pies and hearty food. Well worth the visit. Dickens, Pepys, Johnson, etc used to get hammered here, no shit. Before you sit down, look around the whole place. The cool parts are easy to miss if you just walk in and sit down. I like the bar down in the basement. You should be able to get lunch and a good beer for about 6-7 pounds. If someone tells you it's touristy, tell them that you're a tourist, and go anyway. It is cool.
Get Fish and Chips from a real chippy, not a restaurant. Basically, if there are places to sit, you're in the wrong place.
Get Indian food. It's better there than here.
Drink loads of beer. Loads. It's amazing. Hang out in pubs and talk to people. Brits are really friendly. Buy nice people a pint.
Don't believe the BS that British food sucks. London is an eater's town. Watch the wallet though. My suggestions are reasonable for city eating.
Ride the Tube. Buy a day pass. If you get lost, look at the map until you know where you are. If you miss your train, no worries, another will be along in a sec.
Hop on a London Bus. It will follow a circuitous route, and eventually take you back to where you got on. London looks different from the second floor. It's a cheap way to see the city. Pick a nice route, sit at the front of the bus, and enjoy.
Take a London Cab somewhere once. They are cool and the drivers are nice.
If you need a place to stay, let me know and I'll tell you about some great places in Russell Square. Nice as hell, and affordable.
See who's playing. Last time I was there so was Slint. Surprise! Great show.
Have a great time. I consoder that place my second home and I wish I was going.
4 days in London?
6The Cabinet War Rooms is a really cool spot if you're into WWII history.
http://cwr.iwm.org.uk/
It's a bunker about two stories below ground where they ran much of the war out of. Quite primitive by today's standards. It's also where Churchill would stay quite often.
http://cwr.iwm.org.uk/
It's a bunker about two stories below ground where they ran much of the war out of. Quite primitive by today's standards. It's also where Churchill would stay quite often.
4 days in London?
7Don't, whatever you do, go to Madame Tussaud's. Quite why tourists queue along the Marylebone Road to look at a bunch of waxwork dummies has always flummoxed me.
4 days in London?
8itchy mcgoo wrote:I believe I'm heading to London for a long weekend in October to meet up with my pops. For those that live there, or those that have travelled there, what should be on my short list for my first-ever trip to the city? And what should be avoided?
A lot of the obligatory touristy stuff is obligatory for a good reason, so don't let its touristiness put you off. I loved the Tower of London tour, and the slightly-less-well-known Jack the Ripper walking tour (http://www.walks.co.uk/) -- which was recommended to me separately by at least 3 people. If you're into that sort of thing, try to go on a night when Donald Rumbelow is doing it.
I found Travelcards for the tube to be pretty convenient. They're expensive as balls, around double the cost of the NYC subway, but there's no way around that. You may well find that a cheaper pass, which allows you unlimited travel only within zones 1 and 2, is enough. Don't buy access to more zones unless you need to.
I thought the Imperial War Museum was more interesting than the British Museum, although the latter really is an amazing collection of loot. If you're more grown up than I, you might like the British Museum or the Tate Modern. Westminster Abbey, and to a lesser extent St. Paul's, are also obligatory for a good reason. Aside from their religious role, they're pretty spectatular cemeteries and museums. If you've got extra time (which you shouldn't) Harrod's is kind of a kick too. Can't imagine why anyone would go there twice, but once is okay.
4 days in London?
9i just happen to be going to london with the family tomorrow, these tips are extremely helpful. thanks!
4 days in London?
10Barry Shostakovitch wrote:Don't, whatever you do, go to Madame Tussaud's. Quite why tourists queue along the Marylebone Road to look at a bunch of waxwork dummies has always flummoxed me.
So true!