London

[Moliere]

I can't believe there isn't a topic about vacations to London. Maybe it just sucks compared to places like Paris and Dayton. In any case, I'm headed out there next month and was wondering if anyone can give recommendations on what to do/see/eat while I'm there. I'm going for business but should have some time in the evenings to party.

[wuapinmon]

You'll get a good list, I imagine. I rather enjoyed walking around Hampstead Heath. It's not your usual place to go, but it is lovely all the same.

[Indy Coug]

I can't believe there isn't a topic about vacations to London. Maybe it just sucks compared to places like Paris and Dayton. In any case, I'm headed out there next month and was wondering if anyone can give recommendations on what to do/see/eat while I'm there. I'm going for business but should have some time in the evenings to party.

Just in London? Elsewhere? What kind of stuff floats your boat?

[MarkGrace]

There is one. Started by SeattleUte.

[il Padrino Ute]

I can't believe there isn't a topic about vacations to London. Maybe it just sucks compared to places like Paris and Dayton. In any case, I'm headed out there next month and was wondering if anyone can give recommendations on what to do/see/eat while I'm there. I'm going for business but should have some time in the evenings to party.

There used to be a pretty cool bridge there, but now it's in Arizona. You can still see that clock in a tall tower while you're there.

[Marvin Hardtospell]

I suggest taking the Thames Clipper out to Greenwich. The view of the city from the river is great. Once in Greenwich, the Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College is beautiful. The observatory and the prime meridian can be fun as well. Taking the DLR back through Canary Wharf is a nice contrast of the old and the new. If you can, try to sit in the very front of the first carriage so that you can enjoy the view through the big windows.

[Moliere]

Just in London? Elsewhere? What kind of stuff floats your boat?

Just London, at least for this go around. I'll be there from a Sunday night to Saturday morning. My hotel will be at Trafalgar Square so it seems I'm kind of where all the action is from a vacation standpoint. Granted I'll be in meetings most of the day, but my evenings should be free to get out and see something. I won't have a car so I'm limited to where I can walk or take the tube unless I pay for a cab. I figure one morning I'll run up/down the Thames and another I'll go running through Hyde Park. I figure Big Ben and Parliament are a must see, but was wondering what other wonders London holds....such as museums, restaurants, landmarks, etc.

On a side note, even though I'm actually working in London, I booked my ticket through Paris so I can fly in early and bum around France for 2-3 days. I think next time I go I'll make it more of a vacation in England/Scotland but I couldn't pass up hitting my old stomping grounds again when I'm so close.

[Indy Coug]

Just London, at least for this go around. I'll be there from a Sunday night to Saturday morning. My hotel will be at Trafalgar Square so it seems I'm kind of where all the action is from a vacation standpoint. Granted I'll be in meetings most of the day, but my evenings should be free to get out and see something. I won't have a car so I'm limited to where I can walk or take the tube unless I pay for a cab. I figure one morning I'll run up/down the Thames and another I'll go running through Hyde Park. I figure Big Ben and Parliament are a must see, but was wondering what other wonders London holds....such as museums, restaurants, landmarks, etc.

On a side note, even though I'm actually working in London, I booked my ticket through Paris so I can fly in early and bum around France for 2-3 days. I think next time I go I'll make it more of a vacation in England/Scotland but I couldn't pass up hitting my old stomping grounds again when I'm so close.

There are a lot of great museums to see in London, but I'm not sure what their evening hours are. I think a lot of them close early. IMO, the Tower of London and British Museum are must sees. Madame Tussaud's wax museum is grossly overrated, but some people enjoy it.

Piccadilly Circus is kind of fun to see at night, but it probably is still daylight until late in the evening this time of year. If you're going to run through Hyde Park, check out the Hyde Park chapel and its revamped visitor's center just a couple of blocks south of there on Exhibition Road. Buckingham Palace is also a short distance SE of Hyde Park.

[smokymountainrain]

Just don't eat the food.

[BigPiney]

Imperial War Museum. I would rank this as 3rd to see after the British Museum, and the National Gallery. Tate Modern is a cool building and worth the visit, but modern art is stupid.

[CardiacCoug]

Just don't eat the food.

I hear there is some pretty awesome Indian food in London. Haven't every been to London myself, but my wife spend 6 months there and always talks about how good the Indian restaurants in London were.

[Bo Diddley]

I hear there is some pretty awesome Indian food in London. Haven't every been to London myself, but my wife spend 6 months there and always talks about how good the Indian restaurants in London were.

There are. And there's plenty of other good food there. Not sure what Smoky's smokin'.

[creekster]

There are. And there's plenty of other good food there. Not sure what Smoky's smokin'.

I like the indian food but thats sort of the point; its indian food. The english stuff is pretty bland.

THe Victoria and Albert Musuem has a very nice collection and we really liked the Tate. Catch a show in the west end. Check out the royal shakespeare theatre. Always somethign good there.

Another thing we really enjoyed was seeing a candlelit concert at St. Martins of the Fields (or something like that) chapel off of trafalgar square

Try to catch Cloisters at St. Paul's Cathedral. Most of the tourists will be gone (they clear the place and then readmit those who want to hear cloisters), and the singing is breautiful.

FInd a nice tea room ofr tea. Its very interesting. Try the orangery at Kensington plaace.

[happyone]

Imperial War Museum. I would rank this as 3rd to see after the British Museum, and the National Gallery. Tate Modern is a cool building and worth the visit, but modern art is stupid.

They are redoing the IWM in London, much of it is closed right now. However, I understand Churchill's War Rooms are still open.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-lon...ing-iwm-london

[Commando]

I'm a big fan of English breakfasts. Also, you can pretty much get anywhere you need to go via the Tube- especially since you're staying at Trafalgar Square. If you're into soccer swag, there is a mammoth sports store at Piccadilly Circus where I picked up some awesome polos and jerseys at clearance. You can pretty much see the must-sees in one shot since they're so close to each other (Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey). If you get out early one day from meetings at all, I think London Tower is worth the price of admission- but it closes at like 5:30 p.m. I always wanted to do the chimney sweep tour, but never got around to it.