London by train. Which station is best?

[shuz1980]

Im going to London for the day to do some sightseeing. Ive never been before. Im going by train but unsure which station to go to? Which station is the closest to get off at for the main sight seeing attractions? We definitely want to go to Buckingham Palace, Big Ben. Tower Bridge. Then do a bit of shopping.

@SimonedeBeauvoirscat

I knew someone would quibble about Marylebone.

Sorry!

You'll go in to Euston on a direct train from Birmingham. From there you can tube hop, it's east to navigate and for us it's part of the fun. If you want to see tower bridge you can take a short river boat cruise from Westminster/London eye and see Big Ben at the same time Get off a green park of Buckingham Palace. It's doable in one day - last time we did all that plus the Lego store and platform 9 and 3/4

Assuming you are coming on the fast train from New Street into Euston rather than the slow train into Marylebone I'd get the Victoria Line tube to Green Park which is a nice walk through St James Park then past Buckingham Palace and head down towards Westminster (Big Ben, Westminster Abbey etc). Or if you want to skip walking through the park then Victoria Station is the next stop from Green Park.

If you then walk along the Thames or even take a Riverboat up to Charing cross/Embankment you are pretty much in Central London. Covent Garden is a short walk away and from there Leicester Square/Picadilly Circus/Oxford Street.

As others have said, Tower Bridge is nowhere near those other places. I'd save that one for another time.

I would go to Euston, get the northern line tube to Embankment, pick up the river boat from Embankment Pier, it's about 30 mins total time. The river is cooler, quicker, quieter than getting buses. You can Google tours and maybe get a hop on ticket if you want to get off at one of the many river piers along the Thames to look around and get lunch.
How many of you are going, any kids that want to do something specific.

If you just want to look and get an idea of where things are, I'd get a bus tour. They are hop on, hop off and have a commentary. More expensive than a day on the tube though - depends what you're after. Shopping can be done in the evening if you're up for that.

Don’t be deceived by tube maps. A lot of the sites are fairly close together in London.

@VanCleefArpels

Westfield not a great shopping destination if staying relatively central just for the day - Shepherds Bush or Stratford are on the fringes. Oxford St us nothing special, Covent Garden or Harrods or Selfridges much more quintessential London

Selfridges is on Oxford St

Westfields in Shepherds Bush is just 10 minutes on the tube from Oxford St (which, in turn is a few minutes on the tube Euston). If you want to shop somewhere with all the high street/mainstream brands, Westfields (indoor) or Oxford St are your best bet. In the Oxford St area, you also have all the designer stores on Bond Street and Selfridges, the side streets/Marylebone High St/Piccadilly arcades have more interesting smaller shops, cafes and restaurants etc, Tottenham Court Road has lots of furniture/home stores, Piccadilly has the big book stores etc

Covent Garden is fun with the street entertainers and cafes but not great for shopping unless you want a luxury candle, macarons or a plastic pub sign or similar nicknack from the market.

You arrive at Euston, head to Victoria by tube for Buckingham Palace, walk through Green Park and take Jubilee line to Westminster, or back to Victoria and Circle/District. Walk over Westminster Bridge to Southbank take waterbus or District line Westminster to Tower.

@chesirecat99 given this is a day trip from B’ham I was just thinking that something different than the usual high street offering might be more appealing than a mall that replicates what they have available in B’ham.

I'd actively choose the train to Marylebone, to be honest!! If you're booking in advance, it can be miles cheaper - I've had £5 tickets before, a couple of years ago. The Euston ones were always very expensive. And the Euston fast ones were sometimes the tilting trains, which made me feel a little ill.

Marylebone is close to some of the shopping destinations, as well as a few of the sights; you can also then get the tube to others.

However if you are pushed for time, then you may need to get the faster train. It might be expensive at early hours though, whereas sometimes the slower ones aren't.

Tube to Embankment then walk over the Hungerford bridge and past the London Eye, over Westminster Bridge taking in Big Ben and to the left Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey and Cathedral. Up Birdcage Walk or through St James Park to Buckingham Palace, down the Mall, check out Horseguards Parade and Downing Street, head left along to Trafalgar Square then up to Oxford Street. Take the tube to Tower of London as you will then be knackered. That little walk takes in a lot of sights.

Marylebone is a quieter and generally calmer station than Euston which can be horribly busy and overwhelming. You have to go from Moor St or Snow Hill in Brum for that line. If you go from New St you will arrive at Euston. Both stations have access to the tube though.

If you travel from New St you’ll arrive at Euston, the service from Moor St will take you to Marylebone. I much prefer Moor St, both that and Marylebone are quieter and easier to navigate.

I would go for Marylebone- nice little independent posh shops on Marylebone high st and lovely cafes: then you could walk to Oxford street from there quite easily to do selfridges. Bond st for fenwicka, Liberty regent street etc.

None those stations is that close to tower bridge

@Foxhasbigsocks

I would go for Marylebone- nice little independent posh shops on Marylebone high st and lovely cafes: then you could walk to Oxford street from there quite easily to do selfridges. Bond st for fenwicka, Liberty regent street etc.

Depends whether you want to spend 1 hour 20 mins on the train or almost 2 hours.

Ahhhh ok