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Rautakallio · 03-31-2017, 05:29 PM

Just returned from London and there for 10 days. I must admit this is now my favorite City (it was New York). You could spend an entire month in London and you would only skim the surface. First get an Oyster card at Heathrow and take the Piccadilly Line to London and do not take the express (not worth it). We used two excellent apps when there that did not require cellular or Wi-Fi (London Travel Guide by Ulmon and Tubemap by MapWay).

Also, used a credit card with no Exchange fees (Amazon.ca Rewards Visa Card) and has no monthly fees.

Go look at the English Heritage Site. We bought a visitor membership and it gets you into a long list of sites rather than paying individually.

Landed there on the day of the Terror Attack so had to adjust our plans. Took British Airways and would definitely would go with them again.

My list and recommendations:

1. London Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. Highly Recommended
2. London Eye – Recommended as it gives you a good lay of the land so do it early. We bought the tickets online and took the fast trak.
3. Buckingham Palace and the Canada Gates are recommended but not really that impressed with Changing of the Guard. Apparently, crowds were light but we still had to be there 45 minutes early and stand around. If I did it again I would watch them March in to the Palace and then leave.
4. Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus and Oxford are great to see and you can do all those easily in a day. We also went to the National Portrait Gallery, its free and very impressive.
5. Greenwich is highly recommended. My biggest regret was not going into the Royal Observatory. That is where the GMT line is and everyone said it was well worth it. Greenwich Park is beautiful and lots to see and shop around there. We took the Ferry (run by the Tube and you can use your Oyster Card) from there back to Westminster and great way to see London from the River.
6. Drove down to Dover and again highly recommended. Viewed and walked the cliffs and also did a tour of Dover Castle which is amazing.
7. Drove to Brighton (recommended) but stopped in a town called Rye (Highly Recommended). We then drove to Stonehenge which I would recommend. They have a great interpretive center and just seeing it was well worth it. We spent a couple of hours there and that was enough.
8. Went to an area called Brixton. Great markets, shopping and food. Highly recommended.
9. St. Paul’s Cathedral is highly recommended. One of the most beautiful and interesting places I have ever seen. You could spend lots of time there and lots to do around that area.
10. If you have time go to the Royal Vauxhall Tavern on Monday night for Drag Queen Bingo. You will not regret it. Go get dinner before hand across the street at Nandos (amazing Chicken).

With the exchange rate, we found London to be quite reasonable and I had two teenagers in tow.
Hope this helps and have a great vacation!

John

03-31-2017, 05:29 PM	#64
Rautakallio Draft Pick Join Date: Aug 2009	London - just returned Just returned from London and there for 10 days. I must admit this is now my favorite City (it was New York). You could spend an entire month in London and you would only skim the surface. First get an Oyster card at Heathrow and take the Piccadilly Line to London and do not take the express (not worth it). We used two excellent apps when there that did not require cellular or Wi-Fi (London Travel Guide by Ulmon and Tubemap by MapWay). Also, used a credit card with no Exchange fees (Amazon.ca Rewards Visa Card) and has no monthly fees. Go look at the English Heritage Site. We bought a visitor membership and it gets you into a long list of sites rather than paying individually. Landed there on the day of the Terror Attack so had to adjust our plans. Took British Airways and would definitely would go with them again. My list and recommendations: 1. London Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. Highly Recommended 2. London Eye – Recommended as it gives you a good lay of the land so do it early. We bought the tickets online and took the fast trak. 3. Buckingham Palace and the Canada Gates are recommended but not really that impressed with Changing of the Guard. Apparently, crowds were light but we still had to be there 45 minutes early and stand around. If I did it again I would watch them March in to the Palace and then leave. 4. Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus and Oxford are great to see and you can do all those easily in a day. We also went to the National Portrait Gallery, its free and very impressive. 5. Greenwich is highly recommended. My biggest regret was not going into the Royal Observatory. That is where the GMT line is and everyone said it was well worth it. Greenwich Park is beautiful and lots to see and shop around there. We took the Ferry (run by the Tube and you can use your Oyster Card) from there back to Westminster and great way to see London from the River. 6. Drove down to Dover and again highly recommended. Viewed and walked the cliffs and also did a tour of Dover Castle which is amazing. 7. Drove to Brighton (recommended) but stopped in a town called Rye (Highly Recommended). We then drove to Stonehenge which I would recommend. They have a great interpretive center and just seeing it was well worth it. We spent a couple of hours there and that was enough. 8. Went to an area called Brixton. Great markets, shopping and food. Highly recommended. 9. St. Paul’s Cathedral is highly recommended. One of the most beautiful and interesting places I have ever seen. You could spend lots of time there and lots to do around that area. 10. If you have time go to the Royal Vauxhall Tavern on Monday night for Drag Queen Bingo. You will not regret it. Go get dinner before hand across the street at Nandos (amazing Chicken). With the exchange rate, we found London to be quite reasonable and I had two teenagers in tow. Hope this helps and have a great vacation! John