View Full Version : London Short Break - Things to do.
unreel2002
29-08-10, 19:10
Not PC related at all.
I'm off to London for a few days - 2 Days to be precise getting the train tomorow morning -
Any particular recommendations for touristy things to see, its been years since I went to London, and the Missus hasn't been to see any of the Touristy bits at all.
The musueums are a good day out, Matural History, science and British for a start, all within a short tube ride of each other.
Trafalgar square to feed the fatty pidgeons
Oxford street for shops (hide your CC lmao)
Nice walk through Hide park, find the old Crystal Palace gates
Take in a show at the theatre
Madam Tussauds
HMS Victory
Ever since I heard of this I've always fancied it...
Amphibious Bus ftw ;)
http://www.londonducktours.co.uk/
Imperial war museum is good also.
The musueums are a good day out, Matural History, science and British for a start, all within a short tube ride of each other.
Trafalgar square to feed the fatty pidgeons
Oxford street for shops (hide your CC lmao)
Nice walk through Hide park, find the old Crystal Palace gates
Take in a show at the theatre
Madam Tussauds
HMS Victory
this pretty much covers it dont forget to hit the clubs
michaelkenward
29-08-10, 22:30
Avoid touristy. Do London.
I'm afraid I would avoid just about everything else that has been suggested here, with the possible exception of the War Museum. (I used to hang out there in the 1950s!) But is that want the lady will enjoy?
Whatever you do, don't go anywhere near Oxford Street. If you want to window shop, Covent Garden is much more civilised, albeit busy.
One that is really good – we have taken folks on this with great success – is a boat trip down the Thames to Greenwich. Pick it up a bit downriver from Westminster, which is where the tatty tourist boats leave.
On which, AVOID THE TOURIST BOATS.
Take the Thames Clipper (http://www.thamesclippers.com/). Check the price that might be best for you before you travel.
It is the commuter hydrofoil that travels every 15 minutes or so. It stops off lots of times, but because it is pretty quick it does a much better job that the tourist boats with their shouty commentaries.
Consider getting an Oyster Card (http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/wheretobuytickets/1074.aspx). Much cheaper travel to hop on and off the bus. Transferable, so you can hand it over to the family. Gets a small discount on the Clipper, I think.
When you get to Greenwich, wander around a bit. Maybe try the Narional Maritime Museum.
Good place to get lunch. But avoid the tourist things. (Getting the drift?) Look up the Rivington Grill on the web and see if they have any deals on.
Toptable (http://www.toptable.co.uk/specialOffers.cfm) is a good site to look at for food deals.
If your wallet can stretch to it, Tate Britain has one of the best restaurants in London. And free art.
Another unknown gem is the restaurant at the top of the Portrait Gallery. (More free art.) It is called, get this, The Portrait. Try to book in advance, but it may not be too busy in the holiday season. Wonderful views out over London. But keep it to yourself. It is one that you can use to impress people with your knowledge of London. You would never find it by accident.
If you just want to stroll, the riverside on the south bank between Tower Bridge and Waterloo is good. You can combine this with the river ride. Especially if you buy a hop on and off ticket.
If you haven't done "the wheel" consider it. But try it at dusk.
I can't guarantee that you won't encounter loads of foreign visitors, but there won't be as many as you will encounter on most itineraries.
Be prepared to spend some money. London is a rip off for outsiders.
unreel2002
29-08-10, 22:32
Ever since I heard of this I've always fancied it...
Amphibious Bus ftw ;)
http://www.londonducktours.co.uk/
The duck tour looks interesting...
£20 each though !, hmm wonder if there are any vouchers out there.
michaelkenward
29-08-10, 22:34
HMS Victory
Methinks you mean HMS Belfast (http://hmsbelfast.iwm.org.uk/).
HMS Victory (http://www.hms-victory.com/) is in Portsmouth.
unreel2002
29-08-10, 22:52
Well thanks for the ideas, will have to consult with the missus
I always thought the HMS Victory (nelson) was docked in the thames :surprised:
The river Thames goes through London...
The river Thames goes through London...
yeah that's what i meant, he's going to London & someone said the HMS Victory is in Portsmouth - but i thought it was docked in London
Tower of London, London Dungeons, Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace, London Eye, The O2.
You could use it as an opportunity to try geocaching if you've never done it before! Then you'll see a fair bit of London just doing that!
HMS Victory is defiantly in Portsmouth, seen it, been on it, got the t-shirt, literally.
highly advise a oyster card. they cost £5 to get which you can get back if you want to return it. or you can by a day travel card witch includes a oyster card and give you travel on most forms of transport that day.
then the next day you can put £5 on it and they way it works is that it stops charging you when you have spent enough for a travel card, which is like £5.
bear in mind its £2 a bus, or like £4 for a tube. each.
wonderlust
30-08-10, 10:06
HMS Victory is defiantly in Portsmouth, seen it, been on it, got the t-shirt, literally.
I wonder if he is thinking of the Cutty Sark
michaelkenward
30-08-10, 10:31
I wonder if he is thinking of the Cutty Sark
Possibly.
But he can forget about the Cutty Sark (http://www.cuttysark.org.uk/). Still under wraps.
wonderlust
30-08-10, 10:37
That is very true.
Going to be a few years before it's open to the public again.
Now feel privelidged that I got to go around it a couple of times as a child, once with family and once with the School.
michaelkenward
30-08-10, 10:37
HMS Victory is defiantly in Portsmouth, seen it, been on it, got the t-shirt, literally.
Defiantly is the right word there.
Suggest that they move it somewhere else and there will be trouble.
Is it anywhere near the Mary Rose (http://www.maryrose.org/)?
michaelkenward
30-08-10, 10:40
There is a much smaller olde worlde boate on the waterfront by Southwark Cathedral.
wonderlust
30-08-10, 10:45
Yeah Seen it a few times, I used to work in Southwark
unreel2002
01-09-10, 14:12
Well I've been to London and done a few touristy things.
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg318/unreel2002/London/P1030519-1.jpg
The train that took us there seemed rather badly named -
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg318/unreel2002/London/P1030521.jpg
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg318/unreel2002/London/P1030612.jpg
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg318/unreel2002/London/P1030622.jpg
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg318/unreel2002/London/P1030639.jpg
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg318/unreel2002/London/P1030687.jpg
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg318/unreel2002/London/P1030689.jpg
Looks so superimposed and out of place, how did that get planning permission with those old buildings all around it...
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg318/unreel2002/London/P1030679.jpg
Turnaround and you get something that could easily be in Startrek
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg318/unreel2002/London/P1030678.jpg
Buckingham Palace guards on full zoom.. £17 to go in, I'm not that into Royalty
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg318/unreel2002/London/P1030693.jpg
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg318/unreel2002/London/P1030707.jpg
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg318/unreel2002/London/P1030713.jpg
In Harrods do people actually buy a motorised TV cover starting from about £800 to turn a nice telly in to a tacky reproduction painting!.
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg318/unreel2002/London/P1030790.jpg
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg318/unreel2002/London/P1030819.jpg
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg318/unreel2002/London/P1030821.jpg
Euston Station at dusk...
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg318/unreel2002/London/P1030859.jpg
unreel2002
01-09-10, 15:26
Well no need really, maybe in another 5 years !.
It was the Cutty Sark i meant to put, but somehow imagined Nelsons ship to have been moored on the Thames a few years back, oh well.
Dunno whats wrong with the museums i mentioned, its the same with any decent museum you go to, there are always Johnny foreigners with their clickyclickys whirring away, no different in London to anywhere else.
There is a much smaller olde worlde boate on the waterfront by Southwark Cathedral.
That one's a replica of the Golden Hind (Francis Drake's ship).
Nice pictures. Not much to add beyond what's been said, despite living there for 15 years.
Definitely agree with Covent Garden > Oxford Street though.
Oh and Westminster Abbey is well worth a look if you like your history :).
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