Visiting London

[amy246]

Basically i'm treating my sis (she's on efests too, think her user name is Alexx or similar) to a weekend in London for her 18th. It's been planned for a while but i can actually discuss things in open since her birthday last Sunday! We're going up on Friday 6th August and staying til the Sunday. So far the plan was go up sometime in the afternoon (via train from Derby) then tube to Convent Garden near the travelodge we're staying in (already booked). Then on the friday night we're seeing the Lion King (tickets also booked, got good seats in the stalls and aisle seats at that!). Saturday i've left free for sightseeing/touristy stuff of her choice (after some input from you lovely people!) then maybe hit a bar in the evening (info also useful). Then going home again around midday Sunday.

So basically i need any info from people on what to do, where to go, any random bits of info that could help. Only ever been to London once before and that was a college trip to the Globe with no free time. I know there's a few topic's about London but they kinda focused on nightlife/christmas so i decided to make a new one! And what with it being in the middle of summer and a weekend i'm thinking the advice may vary slightly! Any help much appreciated!

[strike4A]

very difficult to guide exactly as there's so much to do!!!

weather should be good (!) maybe do a few things around the river?

- river terrace, somerset house

- restaurants/bars around butler's wharf

- vinopolis wine tasting (back of borough market, near london bridge)

- borough market itself in the morning

- london eye of course

night time? bazillion options, depends what you want, bars/clubs/gigs etc.

[oafc0000]

Tower of London is great

[Straight_Outta_Trumpton]

Make sure to look out for these around and about:

http://www.timeout.com/london/around-town/...t-parade-london

[halfpint]

Tower of London is great

[gemstarrr]

i visited london this weekend briefly.

my favourite place was definately convent garden. it has a really nice atmosphere.

also went shopping in harrods which i would recommend. not as though i could afford anything, but theres so much to look at/admire!

[Ed209]

Seeing as you're into your festivals and if you fancy a saturday night out then head to Camden or Shoreditch/Brick Lane area. Full of great pubs and clubs.

Touristy stuff, then yeah Tower of London or the Eye are the best of the bunch that you have to pay for. Free stuff then British Museum, Tate Modern, Science and Natural History are all good.

Camden markets on a saturday or sunday is always fairly entertaining, Borough market is cool if you're into your food. China Town is good to wonder round day or night and get some grub (check out a good place first though), same with Brick Lane.

The walk along the South Bank is really nice for taking in the sights, or if you want a Thames river cruise does the job.

And don't rely on the tube too much, you'll spend half your time underground. If you think you can walk it, then do it. The central area is more compact than people think. Buses are great also, they go everywhere, all the time.

[LondonTom]

The best time I have out when doing the touristy things is when I just wander, your never far from a tube station and if that fails you can always hop on a bus, Just pick a tube station along the river and get out and wonder. Its a brilliant walk at night along the southbank to! (Waterloo/Southwark).

Specific things to do, Greenwich park is great place to chill and offers a great view, as well as having the observatory which is just brilliant and I think still free! There's also a great selection of pubs there and I think the cutty sark might be opening again in the summer, which was the fastest tea clipper built and is just rather awesome. As said before the science/natural history museums are great fun but will be packed at the weekend in the summer holidays to! If you never been to an Imax thats awesome, and shows alot of different things throughout the day. not very Londony but its pretty awesome.

If you got time on the morning, check out brick lane for the market, some great stuff down there and some excellent food fairly cheap (The Bagel Shop, is awesome for salmon bagels and cakes!)

[Goldsword]

There is loads of things to do and see in London for free. There are great views over London from Hampstead Heath just four miles north of Tralagar square.

Then there is a long riverside walk along the Southbank cultural area where you can walk for about three miles from Westminster bridge all the way to past Tower Bridge along the newly rebuilt riverside. There are plenty of cafes and pubs to stop at along the way together with great views of the river.

For nightlife the Smithfield area of the City and Hoxton and Shoreditch are fast overtaking the west end as London's top night life area. If you want a good but cheap west end club though head for Tiger Tiger on Haymarket, it is free to get in before 9pm and has three floors, holds 1500 and is open until 3am.

[eFestivals]

the London Eye is defo worthwhile.

[Guest musiclove123]

The London Eye, Big Ben, the main shopping street, the Underground and of course the Palace

[the_hedge]

British Museum, Natural History Museum and The Science Museum.

There is is the Imperial War Museum as well but girls don't seem to enjoy that

[Atlanteanlost]

the London Eye is defo worthwhile.

Edited May 6, 2010 by Atlanteanlost

[ampersand]

so, london. any place i could do a fun all nighter? can't be arsed booking a hotel.

[amy246]

Thanks for all the info/tips/ideas so far guys (and girls!).

Just a quick question - The London Pass and/or Travlecard - are they really worth it?

[gratedenini]

Look... f**k all this London shite...

you need to get yersell Oop Narth to visit the Consett Eye.

Proper beer with a head. Kebabs which have seen NO meat whatsoever. Abusing ANYBODY with different views. Seeing people without jackets in the winter, skirts as short as a Conservative Manifesto,experience the English Krakow,the freedom to PISS in any alleyway without fear of prosecution,women without knickers,men without fear, meet a community where EVERYONE has a tattoo,double vodkas at less than £2, a taxi home for 3 quid... BUT---- where you would be welcomed in such an endearing way that the thought of going abroad to LONDON WOULD BE TOTALLY ALIEN.

Come to Consett---you KNOW it makes sense.

[doogie]

The Royal Parks (St James Park, Green Park, Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Regents Park) are all fabulous on a nice summer's day.

And free.

[-pogo-]

Yeah I sat for an hour and a half in St James Park once. It's so lovely and nice when it's a good day. If I lived in London I'd probably go there everyday to relax.

[dakyras]

Yeah I sat for an hour and a half in St James Park once. It's so lovely and nice when it's a good day. If I lived in London I'd probably go there everyday to relax.

[TheGayTent]

My missus' birthday next weekend.

Seeing Handel & Mozart by Candlelight at St Martin in the Fields a week on Friday. Savoy Grill booked for dinner, suite at the Savoy booked for Friday

night. St Pauls Cathedral Saturday morning, Wicked matinee performance in the afternoon, rounded off with a surprise family meal at a Mexican restaurant she likes in the evening...

Think everything is sorted - looking forward to seeing her face...