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Circle Line

Posted by (Wilmington, NC) on

Looking at the Circle Line, it has many things we want to do on the route. Kensington and Buckingham Palaces, Big Ben and the House of Parliament, Tower of London and the Tower Bridge, Trafalgar Square and whatever else you fine folks can suggest. How about on the other side of the river? The London Eye? Would you recommend? I was a big tennis fan when I was younger and watched many matches on TV from Wimbledon. I see a train goes out there. Would love to get a picture in front of the Club if it's worth the time to go out there.

We arrive on a Wednesday in September. Check in the hotel around 2, maybe rest a bit. Staying about a half a mile or so from Hyde Park. Thought about filling the rest of the day walking through Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. Good idea? Then we have all day on Thursday, Friday and Saturday before we fly to Belfast on Sunday.

Suggestions for a couple of first timers in London are welcome. Thank you so much everyone. Coming here and watching many Youtube video really helps.

Posted by
13945 posts

"Worth" is so hard to judge for others....Wimbledon would not be worth it to me but I nearly failed tennis in college. However...it really might be worth it and fun for you!

Are you asking about hotels on the Circle line or do you have something in mind already? I'm not sure about that reference. Many of the sights first-timers want to see are within the Circle.

What are your interests? You've named some interesting things but with a short time frame you'll probably need to edit. Here are my thoughts:

I'd cut Kensington Palace. Well, I'd move it to a to a to-do list for your next trip to London.

Will Buckingham Palace be open for tours while you are there? I enjoyed going inside but if splashy interiors are not your thing then I'd put it off until next time. YOu can walk by the exterior and seeing it from the front is all I go for any more.

Are you interested in WWII? If yes, I'd add in Churchill War Rooms

Are you interested in museums? I'd add in either British Museum (Elgin Marbles, mummies, Sutton Hoo Hoard, Lewis Chessmen) or National Gallery (art)

I like Westminster Abbey to see all the burial places and memorials to famous folk. Stephen Hawking is interred right next to Isaac Newton...how cool is that?

Posted by
166 posts

Westminster Abbey, definitely. I have the movie about Stephen Hawking. Just a walk by of the palaces, no tours as our time is limited. We have a hotel about half mile from Hyde Park. Thanks for that suggestion. I suspect the Tower of London will take a few hours?

Posted by
13945 posts

For myself, the last time I went to the Tower of London I was there for 5 hours including a light lunch, lol. You can visit the highlights in less time, though. I do recommend you arrive at opening, go directly to the Jewel House if you want to see the Crown Jewels, then backtrack to the entrance and go on one of the free walking tours given by the Yeoman Warders. The Warder tours are the only ones allowed in the Chapel St Peter ad Vincola which is where both Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard are buried.

Also, depending on where near Hyde Park your hotel is located, you might want to walk thru the park toward Buckingham Palace on your first day, circle around the front and then head back to your hotel. Again, if you are a military fan, there is a very nice open air monument to the RAF Bomber Command at the end of Green Park nearest Wellington Arch. This is also the route the Horse Guards take going from their barracks to the Horse Guards Parade so at the intersection of Wellington ARch and the street called Constitution Hill the traffic signals have indicators for horseback folks!

Posted by
166 posts

Fantastic information! Good idea walking through the park towards Buckingham Palace. It's really close to the park. May be able to do that the first day. Should we start at Kensington Palace and walk through?

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