London trip for adults - suggestions?

[Jamsangwich]

I'm having three days in London with my sister soon, and I'm trying to plan our trip.

The V & A is a certainty. Other than that, we're kind of floating around aimlessly at the moment. She mentioned a bus tour, so that could use up one day just hopping on and off it, and it can take us to or near most of the big tourist stuff.

I've no idea what's worth a visit and what isn't. I'd really appreciate any suggestions. There's too much choice and we only have three days....

[sleepismysuperpower1]

tower of london- you don't have to go inside, the outside is beautiful too

the globe (try booking a tour)

I would agree with the bus tour, you can hop on and off

if you have some spare time (maybe in the evenings), visit holland park. it contains woodland, and supports a surprising range of mammals, birds and insects, including peacocks. The park also has a Japanese garden, orangery, tennis courts and a cricket pitch.

all the best and i hope you enjoy your visit x

[crustycrab]

It sounds a bit like you are wanting to waste the days, just using them up with a bus tour. Personally I'd use the tube and not bother with a bus tour.

Have a look at what's on at the Royal Albert Hall
Walk along the South Bank
Kew Gardens
Harrods
The Tower of London
London eye
Sky garden (free and nice breakfast coffee/pastries).
Covent Garden
Camden for lunch, bars?

[TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross]

Go to the Globe as groundlings - £5 for a ticket.
Take a river clipper to Greenwich - you can use your Oyster card to travel on them.
If you're travelling by train, visit the 2for1 days out in London website to see what offers they have.
Go to Hampton Court and Kew Gardens.

[Loveislandaddict]

V and A was lovely. The science museum and Natural history museum is next door. I think Harrods is fairly close also.

West End show

Tralfager square - National gallery, Downing Street, horseguard parade

Buckingham palace, royal mews

[Spudina]

I liked the aquarium, Tower of London, Kew, and Highgate cemetery tour is interesting and different. I always try and see a show, or at least I would pre kids. I loved the Sherlock Holmes museum! Always wanted to go to the Zoo and to try some outdoor swimming (is it one of the parks that has it?) but never had the chance. You are making me want to go now!

[Spudina]

Also, are they still doing The Woman in Black?? That was awesome

[Jamsangwich]

Thank you! I love the idea of the river boat.

[tinytemper66]

Fortnums and Mason!

[Ricekrispie22]

I’d really recommend a tour of the Royal Albert Hall www.royalalberthall.com/your-visit/tours/, especially as you’ll be virtually next door at the V and A. They last about an hour.

You can easily catch the River Boat to and from Kew content.tfl.gov.uk/river-bus-tours-map.pdf Kew is open until 7pm (8pm on some days of the week). When we last went, we arrived after lunch and stayed until closing. We then found a bite to eat nearby before heading back to our hotel.

The Fashion and Textile Museum in Bermondsey is good if you like that sort of thing.
Borough Market and Spitalfields are excellent places to browse.

[gerispringer]

You can get the boat to Greenwich and easily spend the day there - the market, museum, Queens House, Park , observatory, also go on the trip down to the Thames Barrier. If you want some shopping time don’t bother with Oxford Street head to Covent Garden much nicer.
Book the free Sky Garden visit in advance as you can’t always get in on the day. Book a show in advance so you’ll have that to look forward to as well. Bring comfortable shoes, umbrella and ££s.

[Jamsangwich]

Thank you so much. I'm hoping to avoid shops as much as possible. I keep reminding her we do have shops here too! I love the thought of Kew, but were staying close to Fulham Palace gardens and are planning to spend our last morning, pre train home, there. I think two gardens would make her homicidal.....next time!

[reluctantbrit]

It really depends what you like to see. If you are interested in history than the Tower is good. Hampton Court is easy by train from Waterloo but is a full day. Windsor Castle as well.

Depending on the time of your visit you can have a tour in the Houses of Parliament.

We did a bus tour with visitors who were the first time in London, they really loved it, getting a feel for the city. Expensive but good

Borough market, Greenwich is lovely with the Cutty Sark and the Maritime Museum/Observatory.

There are tons of small museums worth looking into, Foundiing Museum, geffrye museum, Benjamin Franklin House, Dennis Severs' House. Wallace Collection, Aspley House (Duke of Wellington), and lots more.

[Persea]

I recently did a bus tour - first time and I live here - and I don’t think it’s worth it. It was £34, which I think is bloody expensive.
If you want a cheaper option how about this: www.tripsavvy.com/number-11-london-bus-route-1582169

[MsMightyTitanAndHerTroubadours]

look at Days Out Guide if you are going on the train, absolutely loads of 241s on there, it's a real money saver. Usually offers for the river boats too, you can use your oyster card but it's quite pricey iirc.

have a poke about Shoreditch and Portobello Road if you like vintage/second hand clothes.

I also like the SkyGarden...I like tall buildings!

[sleepwhenidie]

Book Sky Garden?

Go for afternoon tea somewhere lovely? (there was a thread on this recently)

Wander along the SouthBank, there’s so much to do - if you are there Thurs/Fri/Sat then Borough Market is fantastic. You can drop into Tate Modern, go over the Millenium Bridge and admire St Paul’s, back over and past the Globe theatre, on to London Eye, take a river boat to Greenwich...easily fill a day just there.

[lalafafa]

Cheap bus tours
uk.megabus.com/products/london-bus-tour

[lalafafa]

A walk around Spittlefields/Brick Lane
www.google.co.uk/search?q=soittlefields+hugenot+houses&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwiFiMjDivTiAhVR8IUKHciYAQIQ2-cCegQIABAC&oq=soittlefields+hugenot+houses&gs_l=mobile-gws-wiz-img.3..0i8i13i30.15202.19660..20013...0.0..0.276.1252.13j1j1......0....1.........0i13j30i10.o_XwRGCme7w&ei=_GUJXYWaJtHglwTIsYYQ&bih=622&biw=414&client=safari&prmd=mvin&hl=en-gb#imgrc=oHF2NLCHt7rQeM

[lalafafa]

www.soane.org/
www.wallacecollection.org/
Kings X is amazing now
www.kingscross.co.uk/

[SerenityNow00]

Go on a London Walk www.walks.com/, they're good fun and really interesting.

[Alonglongway]

Not entirely sure where Fulham palace gardens is but guessing it’s pretty near Putney? Would be nice to walk across the bridge and take the river boat into central London. It’s a commuter boat from Putney - weekdays only and last one goes around 0945 - or tube in and boat back

[HeronLanyon]

Hey then Thames clipper out to Greenwich from Westminster pier would be good start point. Unrivalled views of eye southbank Tate wobbly bridge the tower tower bridge golden hind all the city buildings then it speeds up on to Canary Wharf and Greenwich. Really great trip and some good restaurants at Greenwich plus observatory royal naval college with painted hall the city sark etc. If you’ve got a weekday in the three I’d recommend as it can get busy weekends. Have fun !

[Jamsangwich]

Oh wow, thank you all so much! This is amazing. I'm copying and pasting this thread so I have it all on hand for future reference. We've agreed that the tour bus is not going to happen, it's a pretty horrific price (to me anyway).

We've chosen the V & A, Covent Garden, St Paul's Cathedral and Kensington Palace for our two full days activities. Sadly I thought our train was around 6pm, but it's mid afternoon so our third day is really only two thirds of a day. Still, it's enough time to explore Fulham Palace Gardens first thing (we're staying in Putney) and have a couple of hours in Kings Cross before our train back to Edinburgh.

Thank you all!

[MsMightyTitanAndHerTroubadours]

if you get the bus from Trafalgar Square (just opposite Charing Cross Station, by the Co-op!) towards Tower Hill they run the old style routemasters, and since they seem to set three off at the same time it's really not hard to have one almost to yourself! It might be a 15 bus, but not certain...you cannot miss the old routemasters though!

And do look at Days Out Guide you can save a fortune, just for flashing your train tickets and printing off a voucher.

[BearRabbitPants]

London Dungeons

Tower of London

View from the Shard

River Rockets fast Rib Boat ride along Thames

National History Museum

Covent Garden / Oxford Street (shopping)

Leicester Square (drinks/clubs)

West End - see a show- Phantom of The Opera is FANTASTIC

London Eye

[reluctantbrit]

The British Library is next to Kings Cross, they have a lovely collection to view for free, worth going over and looking around.