A few Days in London and Belfast

The Cliffs of Moher (though gorgeous) is in the Republic of Ireland, (and at least 5+ hours away from Belfast) so you may be thinking of Giants Causeway, which is far more interesting, (my opinion) quite spectacular, and an hour outside of Belfast. Bushmill's, the very old distillery is near Giants Causeway, and the Carrick a-Rede bridge and the beautiful Antrim Coast all in that part of Northern Ireland. All very interesting and I'm sure you can find many options for day tours out of Belfast which covers that part of Northern Ireland.

There would be absolutely no reason to have a car in London or Belfast. The Crown Liquor Saloon in Belfast is quite iconic. You may also want to take a Black Cab/Taxi Tour while there if interested in the history of Belfast.

I'd stay someplace in London within decent walking distance to the underground subway for ease of access to get all around London. There are also cabs everywhere of course. And you'll do a lot of walking.

Both cities are very walkable and the Titanic museum is easily reached on foot from the city centre where most of the hotels are located.

With regards to the Ryanair flight, have you checked what the fare will be if including your luggage? Their advertised flat rates are very restricitve and only allow for a very small item, to add a standard carry-on bag and a checked bag incurs additional fees. Personally I'd be inclined to go with BA if only to avoid the tedious ticket purchasing of Ryanair which takes you through multiple pages asking if you want to buy an extra X,Y or Z.

I don't have any particular pubs to recommend however you might want to avoid The Crown Liquor Saloon in Belfast if you want to chat to some locals as it's usually full of American tourists.

It sounds as if your trip is relatively short. Unless you are planning on purchasing a lot of souvenirs, I would try to get down to a carryon and a personal bag, eliminating a checked bag. Getting around on public transportation/short flights will be much easier.

Firstly the Tower Hotel is fine - it is a spectacularly ugly building but the advantage of staying there is that you can't see when inside! It's also good for the flight to Belfast if you take my suggestion below.

You really don't want to drive in either London or Belfast even if you are comfortable with doing it. The tube is the most obvious way to get round London quickly and cheaply. Any road transport will be slower given the terrible traffic.

The Jack the Ripper tour is terrible. Even without considering the ethics of glorifying a mass murderer the tour is really boring, there is very little left of the sites associated with him to see.

Likewise Abbey Road doesn't have a lot of interest apart from the zebra crossing. If you're really interested in The Beatles you should go to Liverpool.

The Giant's Causeway is the world heritage site that is easiest to do from Belfast, plenty of day trip options and it's outstanding.

Flying from London to Belfast by far the best option will be to fly from London City (LCY) to Belfast City (BHD). Both are very easy to transit. LCY is easy to get to from the Tower Hotel by DLR and very easy to get through, you only need to be there 20 minutes before the flight (although I would recommend more given it's your first time). Likewise BHD is on the edge of Belfast city centre and much better placed that Belfast International. BA flies regularly. The fares might be a bit more than the likes of RyanAir but any difference will be well worth it.

Outstanding suggestions. This is our first time to the UK. Will pass on the JTR tour, thanks. Airport tips, much appreciated. We are staying 5 days in London and 4 in Belfast. Tips on local pubs to hang out with the neighborhood folks is welcome. Maybe throw some darts with the best players in the world. I'll start a thread on the Ireland board.

Five days in London, our first time there. Advice and suggestions are welcome. Buckingham palace, Trafalgar Square, Churchill War Room, London Eye, Big Ben etc. Obviously we can't do much in 5 days, so fire away with suggestions so we can research and narrow it down. Thanks, everyone!

We are going in early September.

If you have 5 full days in London and have a lot of energy and the sunset is 7/:30pm you can squeeze in quite a bit. I really enjoyed the Buckingham Palace tour which is available July through September. Buy tickets now. The Royal Mews, the Horseguards. I love Windsor; the castle, the town, walking through Windsor Great Park; a short train ride near Heathrow. Figure out where the changing of the guard is happening to suit your schedule either at Buckingham Palace or Windsor. Seems like a when in London experience! Also, it would take up a full day, but Stonehenge is really fascinating if something like that suits you. Experience High Tea at L'orangerie at Kensington Gardens or someplace else nice for a unique experience. A London West End show in the evening. We had dinner at the Ivy before hand. The Tower of London. Westminster Abbey. And of course the Tower Bridge, you mentioned. I'd do a little research on different neighborhoods within London to find a vibe that suits your style for spending time at pubs that you would enjoy. That might make you reconsider the neighborhood you choose for your hotel.

Excellent suggestions. Tower Bridge and Tower of London for sure. Westminster Abbey, yes! And good restaurants to try some local foods. Any suggestions for restaurants? How about a double decker bus ride? Thanks again!

Have being visiting London since 1972 so well versed on the city and surrounding sites.

Spent a few weeks with friends in Belfast. Titanic Museum is well done. Don’t miss the seafood chowder at Mournes by Kelly Sellars pub, roam about St George’s Market and visit the Peace Wall. Lastly, don’t miss the Crumlin Road prison and Shankill Road murals.

When visiting the museum in whats now called the Titanic Quarter if you were a Game of Thrones fan know that their sound stages and production offices were located there.

In London see all of what you listed but as advised Jack the Ripper tour is a no go.

Research the London Walks website. Great way to explore London. I’ve taken many and have never been disappointed. Last one was Inns of the Court. IMHO the walks are inexpensive, have stellar guides and are kept to small groups. www.walks.com

Board a bus at a bus stop and climb stairs to the top deck. If at all possible try to sit in the front seats. Windows are nearly floor to ceiling. Over the years enjoyed seeing different portions of London riding busses and sitting up front. NEVER jaywalk. Will take your brain time to adjust to the reality that traffic flows the opposite to what you are used to.

The Underground is brilliant. If a train too crowded wait for the next one. Electric sign boards exist in the stations so you can see when a train Will arrive.
Best to ride trains after commuter times. Although not what it was you’ll find the Tube trains to be relatively quiet. People not talking but reading or listening to head phones and a few folks dozing.

Food options are countless these days. Street markets with food stalls, pub grub, restaurants, and cafes.

Was last in London in 2022 for Wimbledon.

Stayed with friends in the Richmond/North Sheen neighborhood.

See theatre!

Walk in the parks and along the Thames Path.

Recommendations:

The Spaniard pub in Belfast
Bittles Bar in Belfast for the history and a pint
In St George’s Market try the breakfast bap stall. You better be meat eater.
Listening to the dialects

I adore The Griffin pub in the Brentford neighborhood of London. Hopefully the pub cat is still there. Good food, nice neighborhood local. Went here after visiting the Syon House and Gardens.

If you are into public art and want to see non touristy parts of London follow the Line walk.
https://the-line.org/ Following it allowed me to discover the lovely non touristy Anchor and Hope pub. It’s on the river close to the Thames Barrier. Believe the area is Charlton.

I also enjoyed the interesting architecture of the area called the Design District which is adjacent to the O2. Take the tube to New Greenwich station to get to it.

Given Abbey Road is a must take the time to see if this London Walk would be of interest.

https://www.walks.com/our-walks/fulldaybeatles/

London is a great city. Always changing, always the same!

Enjoy.

Great suggestions, thanks. The Griffin Pub looks way cool. Saw a pic of the pub kitty. Will definitely make a stop here. Lots of locals? Not too touristy? We really want to mingle with the locals in the pubs. I guess in a tourist city like London, everywhere is touristy lol.

OP during my visit to The Griffin not another Yank was there. Nice place.

A friend trained in from Hounslow. We both agreed it was a lovely spot to meet up.

If you want to chat with locals check out the non touristy Jolly Gardners on Lower Richmond Road. Was there 3 years ago and via friends understand the proprietor, Sue, sold the place.

No clue what new owners have or haven’t done to the place so I may be premature in suggesting it’s spot to “chat with locals.”

All I know was that I overheard a number of retired cabbies complaining about Uber and Lyft. These men were of the age that they would have had to passed The Knowledge to get their licenses.

Nary a tourist but me there. When I’m in London I enjoy finding traditional pubs like the Jolly Gardners.

I walk a great deal and without a doubt by mid day need a loo. Pubs work for me as I can order a pint after using the facilities and rest tired feet. And NO I just don’t use the loo and leave.

I arrive, order food if I’m hungry and/or a pint of Guinness ( which after being poured needs time to settle). Therefore I pay, use the loo and wash my hands. I return to the bar to retrieve my pint and find a spot to sit down.

Over decades of London travels have enjoyed pub pets, watching soccer, rugby and tennis. Also enjoyed pleasant chats.

Another great post filled with suggestions. Thank you! Any parts of London we should avoid after dark? You know, later in the evening leaving a pub. Is the Griffon area safe later in the evening?

As far as hotels, we are thinking about somewhere close to Paddington Station and using the Elizabeth Line to and from Heathrow. Good idea, or no? Do hotels have an airport shuttle? Or a contract with cabs with a flat rate? When we were in Paris, there was a flat rate to get to CDG. If I remember it was 60 Euros?

If you are in the busy London area of the Tate Modern and St. Paul's Cathedral, try a pint at Blackfriar's, an eccentrically decorated pub with a long history. In modern times it escaped demolition for an office development and now the younger business inhabitants crowd the pub when offices close.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Black_Friar,_Blackfriars

One thought about mingling with the locals. The regulars in a pub tend to regard it as "their local" and may be more stand-offish than you are used to. Not unfriendly, just a bit more formal. So don't push it.

The Griffin is in a residential neighborhood.

As stated been going to London for over 50 years.

Have never ever felt unsafe.

Stayed at the Richmond Premiere Inn on Lower Mortlake in 2021. It’s a good 20-25 minute walk from it to the Quadrant where you catch the Tube.

One night had gone to theatre. Rode the tube from Covent Garden back to Richmond. I was surprised how crowded it was. Made sense though. “ Locals” appreciate theatre as well.

Was near 11pm when I started walking back to the PI. Paid attention to my surroundings. No ear buds.

Over the years have stayed in the following London neighborhoods: Richmond, Paddington, Fulham, Camden Town, Russell Square, Islington, Bloomsbury, Hammersmith, Notting Hill, Holland Park, North Sheen and Bayswater.

As a solo traveler I’m very cognizant of my surroundings.

These days I’d be more fearful walking in NYC, DTLA

(downtown LA), Miami, or Portland than I would in London.

Great post, thank you. Looking at the Royal Cambridge Hotel close to Paddington Station. Anyone ever stayed there? Good location. Close to the train and other sites we want to see.

Ryan Air is good, read all the details

In London the Royal Cambridge doesn’t get good reviews on TripAdvisor.

What are the reasons you chose it? Location?
Price.

What happened to the Tower Hotel?

Did you look at the Premiere Inn chain? Have stayed at more than one. Research them.

Tower Hotel definitely still in play. So many places to choose from it's almost overwhelming. Will look at Premiere. Now, we are thinking about renting bicycles to get around the city. Is that a good idea? We rented bikes in Washington, DC and it was a really big help.

Premiere has great locations. Thinking about one location close to Tower Bridge. Website is kind of confusing. Says the room has a shower, so does that mean no private bathroom? Toilet? Also, we are thinking about Santander Bicycle rentals. Has anyone used them? 800 docking stations in London. Very convenient if they work.

You need to be careful if you're out on the roads on a bike. You can weigh it up yourself when you see the traffic, and there's lots of separated bike lanes these days, but it's quite risky.

"Lime" rental bikes are very popular these days. They're electric and the Santander branded ones from TfL aren't.

Edited to add, in response to your question, no, it isn't a good idea for getting around. Maybe for some fun away from the traffic in a park, but no, don't plan to use a bike to get around. It's too dangerous. Use the tube, bus and walk.

Of course we will go to Abbey Road Studios.

I agree with a previous poster who said that there isn’t much at Abbey Road except the famous crosswalk. It didn’t seem the studios were open to the public, but maybe there’s tours or something if you make inquiries? But if you’re interested in a Beatles-related experience, I recommend a Beatles themed walking tour with Walks of London. We thought it was really interesting with lots of Beatles info/trivia. The guide was named Richard Porter and he seemed to know a lot about his topic (I think he wrote a book). We took the Magical Mystery Tour, which did include a stop at Abbey Road and we saw the aforementioned crosswalk. But it was terrifying how many people nearly got hit by cars trying to get a photo.

Interested in staying here. Need a room with two beds as my Son is traveling with me. Would like a room with a full bath. The description says, shower, but doesn't mention a toilet. Does this room have a full bath or no? Running into this issue with many hotels. Need a twin room.

https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/hotels/england/greater-london/london/london-kensington-olympia.html?ARRdd=04&ARRmm=09&ARRyyyy=2024&NIGHTS=4&ROOMS=1&ADULT1=2&CHILD1=0&COT1=0&INTTYP1=TWIN

All Premier Inns have en suite bathrooms- so yes a toilet.

Many, but not all, have baths with overhead showers. Some just have walk in showers. You would need to ask the property for a definitive answer.

Paddington isn’t a great place to stay in my opinion as it’s a bit ordinary and not very central. If you use the Elizabeth line you can carry on across central London and that opens up many more interesting places to stay. For example going to Liverpool St or Whitechapel will get you close to the Tower Hotel and plenty of others. Getting further east makes LCY an even better option for your flight to Belfast.

All Premier Inns have on suite bathrooms - all will have a shower, toilet and wash basin. They may or may not have a bath.

Agree with Johnew52 regarding Paddington. Do not stay in Paddington. We stayed there one night after a return from Paris, with an early departure for Heathrow the next morning. Not a great experience.