London, England

[MrsMatt]

I'm going to London for the first time (from March 3-9) and I want to know what is on the MUST DO list?

[Kamika]

1. see the Queen

Trés important

[Lost in GA]

2. Pray for good weather

Take an umbrella, and plenty of money...the pound is now almost 2 dollars! Enjoy!

[Demonaut]

28. remember, "pratt" is a term af endearment or "gitt" as another favourite

or favorite, just kidding, use those word ONLY when refering to tony blair

[greatauntoftriplets]

3. Walk as many neighborhoods as you can.

Buy flowers from one of the street vendors for your hotel room. The Portobello Road flea market on a Saturday morning. Pubs -- the Swan on Bayswater Road is very atmospheric.

All the usual tourist stuff, of course, but I wanted to suggest some offbeat things.

Enjoy!

[harrison]

4. Well, I think you should go to Westminster

Abbey.

Also, I think it is worth taking the train to Cambridge and going to Evensong at King's College Chapel. About an hour from London, if I recall. Have a very famous Boy's Choir there.

[NightTrain]

5. Throw an egg at Tony Blair.

Or as I like to call him, "Dubya's Ho'." :evilgrin:

[MrsMatt]

6. I've actually thought about

having my picture taken at 10 Downing St (whilst making a rude gesture)!

[greatauntoftriplets]

8. A fence separates 10 Downing Street

from the real world, going back years. Thatcher was scared shitless of the IRA.

[SiobhanClancy]

11. Could it possibly be....

her maternal concern for Bobby Sands et al that caused that fear? An evil,evil woman:(

[greatauntoftriplets]

14. Yeah, she loved Bobby Sands.....

Have you read Tim Pat Coogan's book "On the Blanket" about the hunger strikers? An excellent read.

[SiobhanClancy]

15. Yes...

It certainly is....his books are wonderful.

Have you noticed that we are in danger of hijacking a London thread and turning it into an Irish one? :evilgrin:

[Lost in GA]

20. Nothing wrong with that

Been to Ireland twice recently, and fell in love with it. Dublin is such a breath of fresh air after London. Sympathize with the freedom struggle from Brit rule, our people did it 50 years ago, and its just starting to pay dividends. Good luck!

[greatauntoftriplets]

29. I agree, Lost in GA

And welcome to DU!

[Lost in GA]

33. Thanks!

[MrsMatt]

18. Guess I'll have to resort to

Photoshop!

[SiobhanClancy]

7. Wear a Sinn Fein T-shirt....

Seriously,though....try to go to the theatre at least once. London theatre is wonderful.

[greatauntoftriplets]

9. LOL, Siobhan.

Tiocfaidah 'Ar La'

[DS1]

10. Get out and see the country

[MrsMatt]

17. We plan on a small day trip to

a city near Windsor - my travel buddy lived there when she was about 14 (her father taught there).

[Merrick]

12. I just got back from there yesterday

Museums: Tate Modern, National Gallery, British Museum
Both the Tower and the Dungeon were pretty crowded when I was there (three hour line for the dungeon, about 45 minutes for the Tower + more lines for individual sites inside. But of course, it was winter holiday for the schools, which just ended, so maybe now its better).
Highgate cemetary is kind of cool. Marx is buried there.
There are some cool walks, as well. I went on one dedicated to Orwell and his neighborhood (a block or so from his house is the Hope and Anchor pub where punk was "born" and the Sex Pistols and Clash used to play.
Besides that, I kind of preferred to just wander around and take a more casual/instinctive approach. Tons of nice neighborhoods with lots of pubs to explore and try.
Pick up a "Time Out" magazine at a news stand when you get there for reference. It lists just about everything that's going on.

[PragMantisT]

13. Speaker's Corner

NE corner of Hyde Park.
Tate Modern
British Museum
Boat to Greenwich
Canterbury Cathedral if you want to get out of town

Have fun.

[smirkymonkey]

16. The bus tour around the city

is great for getting your bearings - then you can go back to see the things you are really interested in. The museums are top notch - depending upon what kind of art/history you are interested in - The Tate Gallery, Tate Modern, British Museum (very large - may want to go back a few times so as not to get overwhelmed) National Gallery, I suppose the Tower of London is kind of a museum as well.

Westminster Abbey is a must, even if you are not religious, it is absolutely beautiful and filled with history of the monarchy - many famous brits are buried there.

If you like Ferris wheels and heights, the London Eye is a great view.

Personally, I really like exploring the neighborhoods and getting to see things off the beaten path - my favorite area is Bloomsbury/Soho/Fitzrovia/Holborn. A lot of people like the more posh neighborhoods, and if you like to shop there is Harrods, Harvey Nick's, etc. (Knightsbridge/Kensington/Chelsea). Also, Covent Garden and Picadilly/Trafalgar are other good shopping areas.

Buckingham Palace is not that interesting, but it seems to be a priority for a lot of people. I would get a guide book to see what London has to offer and then decide what you would like to do based upon how much time you have.

Also, I think going to Tea and riding in a London cab are two "must do" experiences. Tea at Fortnum & Mason is pretty good (scones are average, but the tea itself is great) or you could try Harrods for tea as well. The food halls at Harrods are incredible, and if you are a foodie, you are sure to be delighted. Well, Have a great time and fill us in when you get back!!

Oh, Almost forgot - you must go to the theater at least once during your stay - it's part of the quintessential London experience!

[Duncan Grant]

19. Lucky you!

See a couple of shows - it's worth every penny.

Go to the National Gallery (Trafalgar Sq) - and see a few masterpieces of European painting.

Go to the British Museum (Rosetta stone, Elgin marbles, Assyrian reliefs).

Go to Harrod's and buy a bottle of Sicilian wine (white) and some specialty cheese, fruit and chocolate. Have a picnic in some secluded park.

Have lunch in a pub somewhere in Bloomsbury (Shepherd's pie and a pint).

Ride the tube (mind the gap). ;)

Get a great travel guide (I like the "Lonely Planet" series myself) and do a self-guided walking tour.

Make friends with the locals and have fun!

[MrsMatt]

21. I am pretty lucky

Got a cheap flight and my travel buddy has a friend who's an ex-pat working for AmEx who will put us up for nothing. Couldn't aford NOT to go.

Any thoughts on the Vic & Albert Museum? MrMatt's a costume designer and I know he'd probably not allow me back in the house if I failed to visit (unless I begged very prettily).

[Gloria]

24. V & A is a MUST!!! Esp. the wax figures of dying people/skeletons....

they have a collection of some of these wax vignettes.....The V & A is simply wonderful!!!!

My second cousin who married a Brit worked at the V & A and now works at the Geoffrey Museum.. She designed the herb garden there....

[Duncan Grant]

32. Do it for MrMatt!

It'll be a great story to share through e-mail...tell him how much he was in your thoughts while you were there. And you'll love it, too!

(I'm going to check fares now...I have chronic wanderlust!) :evilgrin:

[MrsMatt]

34. I got an e-mail notice last week

from a major airline carrier for $400 R/T Minneapolis/Milan Italy.

The deals are there!

[Gloria]

22. Dress in layers...................and check out

the boat to Hampton Court if it' still running....

and go up to the Barbican...London Museum.....and go see the Roman wall that is in the underground carpark...

Happiest 6 months of my life were spent living in London.....Visited many times before, but only once since and that's already 13 years ago. Due for a vist back...was just thinking about it today before reading your post!!

Also...take one of those walks around London...They have different walks for different sections of town. I went on one for the Eastside and another which went down underground into an old church vault......spooky.

Take a train out to the burbs...Putney, just across the Thames, and walk along the Thames (west)...past the boating club and then a ways further. Cross back over and there's a great pub on the River....Drink Guinness!!

[MrsMatt]

23. Guiness - yum.

My dear husband waxed eloquent about Guiness on tap after a trip to Dublin!

[Lost in GA]

31. Dublin and the 'Source" bar

There is nothing for lager lovers like a pint of Guiness in the "Source" bar on top of the Guiness factory at St James Gate. The problem is that after that, nothing tastes the same. The closest taste to that in the US that I have enjoyed is the long neck bottled Draft Guiness.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

25. Are you a Beatles fan like me? If so, do the Beatles' London Walk!

http://www.abbeyroadcafe.com/content/walks.html

This walk is a unique opportunity to Imagine Beatlemania and the Swinging 60's. It is a Magical Mystery Tour of the Beatles' London haunts: their Apple offices, where they played the famous 'rooftop session'; Paul McCartney's offices; the 'birthplace' of Beatlemania; the world famous Abbey Road Studios, the crosswalk and of course The Abbey Road Café!

On a personal note, I met Richard at Chicago Beatlefest, a Beatles convention, in 2001 and he is really nice.

Valarie

[SiobhanClancy]

30. A great idea!

Another cool thing to do might be the Jack the Ripper walking tour....perhaps followed by a bite in the Cafe in the crypt at St. Martin of the Field's church.(Trafalgar Square).

[Liberal Christian]

26. Things to do in London

Walk from the St. James tube stop through the park to Buckingham Palace. Watch the Changing of the Guard if you must, but it's mostly a lot of marching.

Then, walk from Buckingham Palace down The Mall to Trafalgar Square and feed a pigeon. Then walk to Westminster and look at Big Ben and the Abbey. Don't forget to stop in Poet's Corner. There's a little church in the shadow of Westminster Abbey called, I think, St. Margaret's, that is a little jewel. Lovely.

Then, walk across Westminster Bridge and walk along the Thames to the National Theatre. There's a lovely footpath there with benches and literary quotations engraved in the concrete.

Then, rest, have a beer, eat something wonderful.

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If you like architecture, visit one or more of Christopher Wren's churches. St. Paul's Cathedral is the biggest example, but there are other lovely ones. St. Paul's is far more beautiful inside than Westminster Abbey, but more people are buried in the Abbey.

=====

Go to Paulton's Square, off the King's Road in Chelsea, and pause at Number 23. I used to live there :)

=====

Go to the Peter Pan statue in Kensington Gardens. Check out the Albert Memorial while you're there.

=====

Oh, so many things!!!! I love London!!!!

[alwynsw]

45. Then, rest, have a beer, eat something wonderful.

Please. DOn't you know the Brits conquered the world because they were in search of a good meal?

[Liberal Christian]

46. There is wonderful food all over London

It just so happens that very little of it is "English food." There is wonderful Indian food, Italian, French, all kinds. There are terrific places to eat in London. Yum!!

[alwynsw]

48. Point taken. Point made.

All of the good food originated outside the UK.

[Liberal Christian]

54. Though I am quite fond of some British specialties

When I went to junior high school (or the British equivalent of it) in London, I learned to love some of the "puddings" we had. Sometimes "pudding" was the generic term for desert, but we had some wonderful, very moist sponge cakes topped with custard sauce that I've not seen anywhere else. It's not light French pastry, but it's fabulous comfort food.

I also like British fish and chips with plenty of salt and vinegar.

I'm not a steak and kidney pie fan, but there were some meat pies that were pretty good, and I love Cornish pasties.

I've never had oatmeal as good as I got in Betws-y-Coed in Wales.

And a full English breakfast is a thing of wonder.

[FDRrocks]

27. Go visit Karl Marx's grave in Highgate.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

35. Jerry Springer - The Opera.

[MrsMatt]

37. Oh my god!

I was JUST talking about that with my friend today at lunch as something I was really interested in seeing (she seemed less than psyched)!

[Screaming Lord Byron]

39. It's on at the Cambridge Theatre, in the West End.

[MrsMatt]

36. Thanks for all the great ideas!

It was great to have a lot of my ideas validated, and also some new things to add to my list!

[Snow]

38. Well, I've got a coupla thoughts....

I assume you'll go see the Tower - on the other end of the tower bridge, to your right as you're facing the bridge, is a very nice pub called, ummmm, Copperfield's or Oliver's....something to do with Charles Dickens. The publican claims this was Dicken's favorite pub, and they'll pull you a half pint of Dicken's favorite brew. Nice place.

Go to Hampton Court; that's a pretty park-like setting, huge palace with tons of history.

To get around, you can get these day tickets on the underground that are very reasonable - they go out to Hampton Court, for example, although it's a bit of a walk.

Also, if you want to get out a bit & see a picturesque castle, I recommend Leeds Castle - pretty area, interesting old castle in very good condition, pleasant day in the countryside.

[sweetheart]

40. Get out of london.

I've only spent a few years in the place, and i don't go there
unless forced (like to vote in the dem caucus earlier this month).

Historic london is east of buckingham palace. The west was farm fields until relatively recenly (given the thousands of years of history).

The original city is where the tower is (called "the city") and most
of it destroyed during ww2. I would spend 1 day, go to the museums,
the tower, and walk along the Thames (pronounced "tems"(the river) to the west to see parliament and big ben, and green park buckingham
palace.

Then either catch a train to "Bath" or a flight to "Edinburgh". These cities were not destroyed in WW2 and are absolutely stunning. You will never forget edinburgh as long as you live.

There is always the eurostar to paris, in 4 hours you in central
paris... always available in london gets boring. (london is frkkin
expensive)... if you want to avoid expensive hotel prices "holiday
inn express"... cheap reliable and clean.

Just remember that the historic loondon was all right between london
bridget and tower bridge, and this was a walled city, with "gates"
like "bishopsgate".. which is just a bunch of buildings today...
its rather unfortunate, but the london fire and ww2 really kinda
made it hard to even imagine what the city was like long ago...
in the days of roman "Londonium".


Some american tips... leave your short pants at home. Take the tube, as the taxi's will leave you bankrupt.

To get from heathrow or gatwick to "london", take the heathrow express or the gatwick express. It'll save you 50 bucks... if
you're really on the cheap, take the tube from heathrow.

Also, a bus trip to stonehenge would be a really fun thing as a day
trip as its just a coupla hours to the west and surely you can find
a tour bus goin' that way.


Good luck in your visit. If you get the impulse to come to the far north of the UK, i'll buy you a pint.

[radwriter0555]

41. eat INDIAN FOOD. Eat PUB food! Ride the tube EVERYWHERE, take a

cab whenever you want.

See the tower of london.

Visit the crown jewels...

Go to baker street to the sherlock holmes shops!

go SEE buckingham palace, at least to stand at the gates, then walk through the park to Piccadilly Circus which is AMAZING. World Class Shopping.

Eat.

Then eat again.

oh oh oh oh oh, you MUST MUST MUST eat at Maggie Jones, at Kensington High Street. You HAVE to eat there. You MUST.

Ooooh then find a YO! Sushi where the sushi dishes come around on a conveyor belt.

And bring me a gnome!

HARRODS! Spent a WHOLE FREAKING DAY at HARRODS.

The WHOLE day, Go. to. the. chocolate. shop. IN. HARRODS.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

42. Go to a gig. Here's some ideas.

At the Astoria - Fountains of Wayne, Dropkick Murphys,
At the Metro Club - Mono (cinematic trip-hop stuff)
At the Islington Academy - Stereolab (2 nights)
At the Shepherd's Bush Empire - Steve Winwood (if you're old)
The (English) Beat - Lock 17, Camden

That's all I saw so far.

[alwynsw]

43. Take the bed tour.

You get to tour London in a motorized bed wearing your jammies.

ANd be very wary after dark if you're out walking. London's mugging rate is 8X greater than NYC. (I got that from a UN crime report.)

[alwynsw]

44. AND go to Saville Row and have a skirt, jacket, or suit made

Bespoke tailoring is the BEST!

[T_i_B]

47. Camden Market

I only live a 35 min train ride outside London in Chelmsford and that's where I like to go when I'm down there.

Besides that there is Covent Garden, the National History museum, the National Gallery, Westminster Abbey if you want my tourist reccomendations.

[alwynsw]

49. Take "A Bus Trip to Murder"

It's a nighttime tour that takes you to haunted places, shows Jack the Ripper's haunts, goes out to the Royal Observatory and lots of landmarks such as Big Ben and the Tower of London at night. It's a totally different perspective - and it's fun!

Do go to the Tower for both the Crown Jewels as well as the rest of the exhibits.

[TrogL]

50. Theatre district

Remember however, to eat early.

[mr blur]

51. Try to avoid...

all the Americanised bits of this great city (you can get crap fast food at home, right?) I lived in London for 25 years and couldn't begin to list all the great things about it. Camden Lock market is pretty good (though not as cool as it used to be, I'm afraid). You might be surprised at how green a city London is, it's a great city to walk around, even in the centre. Terrific bookshops - if you're a crime novel fan visit "Murder One" which is near Centre Point/Charing Cross Road - sells nothing but crime/mystery books. It's a corny thing but worth takinbg one of the open-top bus tours round the city - you can get off at any point and rejoin the next bus. I took one with some American friends who visited and was amazed at how much I hadn't seen/known even after living there all that time. If you like the theatre, try to get to see something at Shakespeare's Globe theatre.

[soleft]

52. Use the bathrooms that you can see out of but they can't see you

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4326340/

[bif]

53. Boatride on the Thames

Some of the best views of the city. Take take the one that goes to Greenwich. Do it on one of the first days you're there and you get a good feel for the city.