OT: 3 days in London, recommendations?

[huskypantz]

Disclaimer: aside from this sentence, this post will not mention GDL, Herbst, B1G or ACC.

The family is taking a trip to Europe in June, specifically for a wedding in Italy. We've decided to do a stopover in London for 3 days. I have a daughter who will be almost 20 months when we get there. We're also bringing my wife's cousins along, 18 and 19. Does anyone have any recommendations on what to see or advice about London? We don't have a lot of time and I'm the type to set up an itinerary ahead of time, but it can be a little tough with a toddler in tow. TIA

 

[B1GEast]

3 days is not enough, it's been years since I've been there, stayed in Notting Hill just weeks after it was filmed, came back home with my girl friend, who I'm now married to, and literally a week or two later saw the movie.

Things to see in no particular order;

Tower of London

British Museum - you would need over a week just to see this, but go if you have time

St Paul's cathedral is a must

Trafalgar square - people watching, really cool

The Buckingham palace

Hyde Park

Harrods

There just too much to do for 3 days, but go and have a blast, the Brits are great.

 

[CAHUSKY]

Westminster Abbey is one of my favorite tourist spots in the world. Went to Easter Mass the last time I was over there in 2003 and it was awesome. I lived in London for a year back in the 80's and absolutely loved it. Buckingham Palace, St. Pauls, Tower, etc. etc. If i only had 3 days I would definitely hop on one of the double decker tour busses and spend a few hours riding around. Its definitely "touristy" and not something I would do it I was there for an extended period of time but you get a lot of bang for your buck on on one of them and will see more of London than you could possible see on your own. Im not sure how you pull this off with an infant but if you dig the theatre there is nowhere better than London to catch a show. If you happen to be wondering through Kensington stop by 132 Cromwell rd and see how my apartment is looking.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Concur with Buckingham Palace, Parliament, Horse Guard Palace, Big Ben, etc.

It may sound like the canned touristy answer but I enjoyed them all last summer. We were there in early July, sandwiched between the Queen's Jubilee and the Summer Olympics.

I would also recommend taking a stroll through any of the parks. Just for the people watching.

As for the food, curry is huge there as well as some eggs, beans and toast. And you have to have fish and chips at least once.

I had four trips to Portsmouth, England last year. Flew in/out of Heathrow and made two trips to London. Going back at the end of February. We try to take in something new each time.

 

[DaveHuskiesFan]

Where are you headed in Italy? Spent a semester abroad there and may have some recommendations depending on where you're going!

 

[Stinger92860]

Neal's Yard Dairy Cheese Shop in Covent Garden in London. Would you please pick up some Stilton for me.

Any Indian restaurant.

Any pub near St Paul's.

Cheers!

 

[joey3$trike$]

Yeah where in Italy, was in Rome in October. Great Place!

 

[B1GEast]

British cuisine sucks, try international restaurants, there are plenty in London. I tried their English Breakfast, yuch.

 

[Chin Diesel]

C'mon, how can you not like British cuisine? Especially breakfast.

Since our flights in to Heathrow are overnighters, we make it a point to have a right proper breakfast after we get our rental car and before we start driving on the left side of the road from the right side of the car.

One of our favorites near Heathrow is the Golden Cross, a great mom and pop pub that serves a fantastic breakfast.

http://www.goldencrossheathrow.com/index.php?id=main

The usual for all of us is the traditional British breakfast platter.


Breakfast Platter
Two Eggs, Two Bacon, Two Sausage, Beans,Tomato, Hash Browns with toast & with your choice of tea or coffee 8.00

 

[CAHUSKY]

C'mon, how can you not like British cuisine? Especially breakfast.

The usual for all of us is the traditional British breakfast platter.


Breakfast Platter
Two Eggs, Two Bacon, Two Sausage, Beans,Tomato, Hash Browns with toast & with your choice of tea or coffee 8.00

Agreed chin. English breakfast is the dogs bollocks. I spent a lot of time in England, RSA and Namibia and breakfast was always my favorite meal.

 

[Rumrunner]

Chicken Cottage for late night drunken cheap available everywhere food.

Look at Premier Inns. The best value in london for families. clean, new, centrally located, depending upon where you're staying. Remember they like to charge per prrson per room.

Get the tube app for android/iphone. It works off line.

Remember there are a lot of steps in most underground stations, so strollers blow.

On sundays the natural history museum-it's free. Free is something you don't see a lot if nowadays. I was once charged a pound for a pat of butter for my toast.

Get a driver from lhr to london, cheaper than black taxis, plus they makes you feel big time. i haven't rented a car in london since i was charged $125 night parking, plus you cant drive into central london anyways. I'm a big fan of driving myself, but save that for when you're out of london.

Prepare to feel fat.

 

[Stinger92860]

British cuisine sucks, try international restaurants, there are plenty in London. I tried their English Breakfast, yuch.

Great choices in London where did you eat, at Heathrown in 1965?

One of my favs is Wykeham Arms in Wichester, near the Cathedral. Excellent! It' been a pub since 1775.

 

[huskypantz]

Most of my wife's family lives in Brescia, so we'll be staying there. We'll definitely be visiting Milan, Venice and Verona. Depending on time, we will visit Pisa and Rome as well. We will probably be in Italy for 2 weeks. Any ideas are appreciated.

Thanks for the insight, I may have a few more questions after I research a little more......

 

[Palatine]

I liked the Jack the Ripper tour. Start across form the Tower of London. You walk back streets and hear the tale of the Ripper. And it ends at the Ten Bells a historic old pub. Go in the early evening, it takes about 90 minutes. Not for everyone. But it does give you a sense of the city circa 1888.

 

[Northbound]

I thought the London Eye or whatever the huge ferris wheel is called is pretty cool - just gives a unique perspective of the city, that's the only "touristy" thing we did when in London. We dove as deep as we could into the neighborhoods and some of the markets.

 

[B1GEast]

Great choices in London where did you eat, at Heathrown in 1965?

One of my favs is Wykeham Arms in Wichester, near the Cathedral. Excellent! It' been a pub since 1775.

I remember a restaurant called the Phoenician, that was awesome and quite expensive. There was a Greek restaurant and Richard Branson was there enjoying his meal. Saw a few Hollywood actors in London when we went.

 

[ZooCougar]

Go to Soho and Leicester Square. Just shop and look at stuff. I love London, it would be my favorite city in the world if it weren't so expensive.

I also recommend going to a live show, theatre in London is the best in the world outside of Broadway.

Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, it's all good.

You can go so a Statue of Abraham Lincoln in Parliament Square not far from Churchill's. There's another Lincoln statue in Lincoln Square in Manchester.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Good advice all around. One thing to consider. You said you were bringing an 18 & 19 yr old with you. Remember that they're legal to drink in the UK and that the beer and cider is more potent than most US beers. If you gonna let them drink, I'd have them stick with some good red wines.

 

[superjohn]

I wouldn't bother with Pisa, it's a bit out of the way and once you see the tower for 10 minutes there is nothing else to see.

 

[huskymedic]

I wouldn't bother with Pisa, it's a bit out of the way and once you see the tower for 10 minutes there is nothing else to see.

Wassamattau - didn't like all the stalls selling the little tower of Pisa statutes that are made in China?

 

[Chin Diesel]

I wouldn't bother with Pisa, it's a bit out of the way and once you see the tower for 10 minutes there is nothing else to see.

Same for Stonehenge in England. Literally a bunch of rocks in the middle of a field, 45 minutes from anywhere.

 

[NEforceUConn]

3 days is short so don't try to pack too much in, you would be amazed at how much time you can actually take in at anyone special sight. My knowledge of London is from 85 to 90 so the newer stuff and Olympic stuff I am lacking but I know there are some great sights, like the Ferris Wheel. Here are some tidbits that I would offer:

Have a meal at the Savoy (on the Strand) its pricey but a true London experience
Walk around Covet Garden.
Do go to a play - you can get half price tickets pretty easy
Check out Harrods - the Food Hall is downstairs and its basically the largest gourmet deli/supermarket i have seen
Strolling on the Kings Road was a great slice of life - at least when I was there.
The open air bus tour is very good - red line i think.
The British Museum is outstanding.
Most Indian restaurants are inexpensive and delicious.
Most Chinese restaurants are very expensive.
If you can catch a show at Royal Albert Hall you will not forget it.
Do not go to any casinos
Tower of London and the jewels is a lenthy ordeal - fun but takes a lot of time i think.

Have fun.

 

[ZooCougar]

If you do the Tower of London, just like any major attraction in Europe, the best thing to do is to buy tickets online in advance. Otherwise you will find yourself in a line stretching all the way to Scotland.

 

[huskymedic]

Ha.. Check out this article from Flipboard today.

10 Of The Most Overrated Tourist Traps
http://www.businessinsider.com/10-of-the-most-overrated-tourist-traps-2013-1

Stonehenge and Pisa make this list. Read the Blarney Stone blurb for a laugh.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

Take the Big Red Bus tour.
It hits all the major stops.
Its the type of tour where you can get off and on to rejoin the next bus.
If you start early enough you can make a couple of stops.
If there's something you were'nt able to cover you could go there the following day by underground.
If the weathers good and your in an area with a line of Pubs it becomes like a huge block pary.
Partrons order inside but drink outside. Londons great but I like the midlands better.
I have many relatives in Italy. I actually attended a wedding there in 2009.
There is no place like it.
Since your so far north I hear the lakes region is incedible.
Its on the agenda for my next trip to Italy. My UK buddy vacationed there every year.
Things not to miss
Venice (unless the water is high). When your in a water Taxi on the Grand Canal its an O my God moment.
Florence The museum with the the David is not to be missed. Neither is the Plaza
Siena /San Giamoggio walled cities
Pisa the Bastistry/near the tower is one of the most incredible buildings. Its on the way to Rome
I wouldn't go out of my way to see it.
Orvioto incredible location (they actually have a Porchetta Man )
Rome The Vatican Museum /
Rome is a good distance from Brecia and the Drivers are really crazy.
Took a bus tour in Rome.We were never able to get off nor did we complete the route.
I have my other favorite spots but I don't want Americans to discover them.