First Timer Itinerary(?) during Bank Holiday & Tube Strike

Your Saturday looks pretty full to my eyes. Portobello Market is lots of fun, but it's very crowded. The streets are narrow, so it takes awhile to navigate; you can't just sail through. Then you have to get to Hyde Park- are you planning to walk through for ride by on a bus? The V&A is lovely and huge and frequently has special exhibits- you probably want to check and see if there are any that may interest you ( these usually require a special ticket with timed entrance). You might be able to get through the British Library in an hour, if you just stick to the high points. But, the British Museum is another huge one that may have special, timed-entrance exhibits. So, add a the crowds that can come with a bank holiday weekend and this day is packed. You are going to have such fun, but you may need to do some prioritizing.

Walking from Whitechapel to the Westminster area on the Friday will be very long and buses will be very slow on that date. My personal suggestion would be to visit Hampton Court and Kew on that day. You can take the Overground train, which will not be affected by strikes, from Whitechapel to Clapham Junction, and then get a train to Hampton Court or Kew Bridge from there and back. (Note that there is a second "Hampton" station called "Hampton Wick", which is some distance from the palace.)

Also, you will not be able to visit Shakespeare's Globe on the Tuesday afternoon unless you have tickets to a play. The theatre is used for performances on most afternoons except Mondays. On other days, if you want a tour of the theatre, you need to come in the morning.

Sat Aug 29

Portobello Market or Camden Lock or Covent Garden market - CG market, it's pretty small compared to the other two.

Victoria & Albert museum - HUGE! think about what you want to see before you go, I went yesterday, loved it.

Hyde Park - assuming you get the weather, love Hyde Park, walk the outer path which is 4 miles, really nice.

British Museum - personally, I'd forget the BM and just do the V&A.

British Library - there is really nothing to see here, the Magna Carta exhibition, ok... but it's £12 to get in. But, it is worth going just to see the Treasures Gallery (only books and documents, no gold, jewels, etc.), it's free to enter, and interesting. The BL isn't very far from Camden, walkable... maybe combine the two. Treasures Gallery is an hour to view at most.

That Saturday looks like a problem child. The 2 biggest museums in London (and 2 of the biggest and most comprehensive in the world - think of doing all the Smithsonians and then doing them again) in one day plus a market and a long walk and the British Library.... on a Bank Holiday Saturday!!!

You guys must be the Energizer Battery Rabbit - on steroids.

Fair dinkum.

Instead of walking to Westminster, consider popping over to the Tower dock and taking the riverboat.

Relaxing, good views, reasonably fast, and perhaps a discount....

This is exactly the kind of advice I was looking for - both ribald and serious. Definitely reconsidering the Hampton Court day and the Saturday agenda. Appreciate the tips on the Globe Theater and the museums. I also wondered if the museums would be extra crowded on the bank holiday? Not that we can avoid it, I'm afraid. If anyone else has opinions, kindly offer them!

I too agree that your Saturday plan is too spread out and ambitious. Look at what each area or museum has to offer and pick what best suits your family on this trip. You don't have to see it all!

We've been to Kew Gardens and Hampton Court Palace twice recently, although not on the same day. Both attractions are spacious and we've never felt the crush of a crowd that you may experience at other London attractions. They are both easy to reach by bus with 1 change or so (I don't know where you are staying). They aren't even super crowded on "special event" days, we discovered in the past. Very different from one another and very enjoyable.

I also wondered if the museums would be extra crowded on the bank holiday?

All depends on the weather, and you won't know that until you roll out of bed, open the window, and stick a finger out.

If it gets wet, it is raining, and everybody will be in museums.

If it is sunburnt, it is sunny and everybody will be headed off to the seaside or parks. Museums will be less full. Unlike Germany, (mostly) people keep (mostly) all their clothes on at both the beach and the parks when it is sunny.

If it comes back in covered in wet leaves, it is not only raining but blowing a gale. Close the window and go back to bed.

10 minutes later, check again. You never know.

You can get from Hampton Court to Kew Gardens quite easily by bus (quicker and easier than by train). Get any bus to Kingston (111 or 411. Possibly the X26 as well but I'm not sure it stops at Hampton Court), then change in Kingston for the 65. That's a really nice route that weaves through Petersham village then to Richmond past the riverside meadows.

For me this flows better ...

Thu, Aug 27
Buckingham Palace (for changing of the guard) => St James's Park => Horse Guards => No 10 => Westminster Abbey => Churchill War Rooms => Houses of Parliament and Big Ben

Fri, Aug 28
Covent Garden => Trafalgar Square => National Gallery (open late on Friday) => National Portrait Gallery (open late on Friday)

Consider shifting either the V&A or British Museum to Saturday (in order to avoid concentration fatigue on Friday).

Got it. Message heard that some of these days are impossible. I took the advice of some of the earlier posters and have already revised the schedule to something more like what Philip and Brisbane David helpfully suggested. I will be posting it in a bit for comment - I hope you'll check back! Thank you very much, friends, for taking time to make suggestions!

Mon, Aug 31

Southwest Trains from London Waterloo at 0906, arrives Hampton Court at 0942
1000-1300 Hampton Court http://www.hrp.org.uk/HamptonCourtPalace/
#111 Bus from Hampton Court to Kingston Upon Thames, then #65 Bus to Kew Gardens (total 60 mins max)
1400-1700 Kew Gardens http://www.kew.org/
District Line Tube from Kew Gardens Station to Central London

This is all very helpful information. We will be in London next month, on a Friday through Monday. Wondering if it's worth it to buy a Travelcard if only to avoid lines.

From what I can tell, the Travelcard doesn't give fast entry. You need to take the 2-4-1 voucher up to the ticket window, show the voucher, and pay for the other ticket. I asked a similar question earlier on this forum and you could search for the replies on that one. If you have additional questions for the forum, it might be best to ask a new question instead of tagging onto a question already asked, such as mine. You will likely get more answers that way. Take a look at the website for the paper travel cards and whether they cover the sites you wish to see - http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/2for1-london. We are in London for 7 days so it makes sense for us to buy the card. I have also pre-printed travel vouchers at home (much handier) but you can also pick them up at rail stations over there.

"Wondering if it's worth it to buy a Travelcard if only to avoid lines."

You don't, not sure where you got that idea from. Queues aren't a big problem usually except maybe at Westminster Abbey and Madam Tussauds.

Kay and Harleydonski, many thanks for your replies and tips.

If you can take the #15 red bus on Monday from Trafalgar Square to The Tower of London.
It travels via The Stand and Fleet St, and is a good way to see 'working' London.
https://tfl.gov.uk/bus/route/15/?direction=inbound