10 Day London Itinerary-- Feedback

I really enjoy Hampton Court Palace. If you have time to fit it in, I would definitely do that.

Messiah is being performed at Royal Albert Hall on April 15th

I do feel like you've got an awful lot of market time there (and I enjoy markets myself), as well as an overload of shopping. If you tell us what sorts of things you're interested in seeing or buying, someone here can probably help you focus on the best of the bunch for your purposes.

If you enjoy gardens, the trip to Kew is definitely worthwhile. It can be a spur-of-the-moment decision, based on weather.

Borough Market is a good place to pick up food for lunch, but it isn't a huge place, and I don't think you'll need a lot of time to see it. I haven't been to St. Paul's myself, so I don't know how much time you'd need there, but I think it might be possible to see it on April 16.

Considerable negative comments have been made on this forum, and elsewhere, about the Changing of the Guard. I think it boils down to needing to show up extraordinarily early to grab a spot from which you can actually see. It has never sounded worth it to me. I think it's the Horse Guards Parade at Whitehall that's often recommended as an alternative. You can probably find earlier posts about it by using the Search function here.

I'd recommend browsing the walking-tour offerings of London Walks. The price is right (15 pounds per person for tours running about 2 hours). Since the pandemic started, the company has required reservations. I'm hoping that will change, because it was wonderful to be able to get up in the morning, check the weather forecast, and just show up at the starting point of a tour. I think taking some walking tours would introduce some variety into your London experience. The guides are very good; some are out-of-work actors, so their delivery is very engaging. And they're licensed, so you are getting accurate information rather than made-up stories.

Edited to add: This sort of trip (10 days in one place) cries out for a dedicated guidebook. Rick has a guide to London (the title is simple "London"--don't get the shorter "Pocket London"). I recommend you get a copy of that or some other detailed guide to the city if you don't already have one. I'm sure you'll find lots of interesting possibilities.

Do check what will be open on Easter Sunday - it’s the only Sunday of the year that all the big shops have to be closed. I don’t know whether this will affect Columbia Market but it would be a good idea to check

Couple of thoughts. Hope your hotel room is in the back of whatever hotel you’ve reserved. SoHo is noisy.

Slow down on arrival day. Don’t want to exhaust yourself on Day 1.

Will you be using Apple Pay or getting an Oyster Card for your public transport? If the latter Get your Oyster Cards at Victoria Station. There should be kiosks but I haven't been to Victoria in ages so research to find out where to go. Be warned Victoria Station is massive but the Underground Station is easy to find. Over by Burger King if memory serves.
There are machines to purchase your Oyster Cards if not using Apple Pay on your iphone ( big assumption on my part re: type of phone)

As far as a pub: Duke of Argyll or Golden Lion OR since close to Chinatown great food at Joy King Lau.
Theres a Bill’s restaurant in SoHo. American breakfasts served. Very popular chain. If you want a full English Breakfast leave SoHo and head to Lilly’s Cafe near Covent Garden.

As far as whats by the London Eye go see the Graffiti Tunnel/Leake Street Arches.

On your Harrods visit why not have lunch in their food halls?

Borough Market day you could visit The Shard and then head to the Thames Path, walk by the Globe, walk over Millennium Bridge, stop in the gorgeous Art Deco Blackfriars pub ( if its not jammed ) . Then check to see if theres evensong at St Brides.

Be sure to reserve for your Easter Sunday roast.

What kind of shopping do you like to do and what sorts of stores do you like at home? London has great shopping, but it’s not in Oxford Street, which I’d equate with the seventh circle of hell. I can give you better suggestions for shopping that will have more character and have more interesting options if you let me know more about what you’re looking for.

ETA: Good advice by Amanda to check as things could’ve changed, but I will note I’ve been to Columbia Road Flower Market on Easter Sunday in the past so at least pre-covid it still ran.

I 2nd what Carol said, Hampton Court Palace is worth a trip.

If you like musicals be sure to see one while in London. London theatre is wonderful. We saw "Wicked" and "Mamma Mia" on past trips to London. You can book theater tickets online in advance or buy them in London. One time we purchased tickets at a booth near the London Eye. Another time we got them in Leicester Square.