Itinerary Organization Ideas London

Hi Pam, I took a look at what the tour covers and it looks like you’ll be covering a lot of sites and that you will have a guide to do so. Are you asking about what you should do before and after the tour? How many days are you planning to stay? Please give more details so we can help you. I’ll actually be in London at the same time that you’ll be there.

London is a wonderful city and there is much to see and do. I did the London week long tour years ago. And I have been to London on my own. First you need to make a list of places you want to see and do in your free time. Second you may want to stay where ever the tour guide leaves you when your free time begins which may be early in the afternoon or later in the afternoon. The tours start in the morning and then go into the day. Each day and each tour is different as to what time you finish up.

You then need to see where the tour ends up and use google maps to see where you are and where you want to go. This will enable you to know where the tube station or bus stop is to get you to the next location. Again using google maps will enable you to get back to your hotel to either rest, have dinner nearby or meet up with the group again for dinner.

No one can give you a to do list, there is so much to see and do that the tour does not cover. You will get a $100.00 credit to use in the store and by now you may have bought the RS London book with part of the credit. Read the book, see what interests you and then you and ask specific questions.

The best way to group the to do list is to see where things are located and group them by location so that you don't spend all your time using the tube all over the city. Sites and museums are spread out but see where things are that are near each other and go see them on one day and other things further away on another day.

Have a great time. I am going back to London this year again and can't wait.

Ask away. Also check the Tips and Trip Reports category on this website.

Since you're spending additional time there, you can investigate day trips from London by train. There are many you can do-Windsor, Cambridge, Cotswolds tour, Salisbury-there are books that describe the many options.

Thanks for the encouragement! Here is what I have so far, including RS itinerary. FYI I am a recently retired Special Collections photo archivist. I love fabric, quilting, art, gardens, and any museum. I especially want to spend time at the VA museum, Kew Gardens (I have loved Marianne North since I discovered her in my 20s) I will definitely be shopping and love to find a good deal. This isn’t the main focus but I have to be honest here I intend to go to Liberty, Cath Kidston, Conran’s, Floris, Harrods, and any museum shop. Of course I want to look at bookshops too. That being said my husband loves history, ships, wants to buy some shoes (not handmade too costly) loves gardens, bookshops, and me so it all will be fine ;). This is our 30 year anniversary trip.

Here we go:
May 15
SFO to Heathrow
May 16
Hotel in Mayfair the entire trip (Curzon St)
May 17 Free
May 18. Victoria and Albert Museum (no time limits)
May 19 Royal Wedding. Either Docklands/Greenwich or Kew Gardens
May 20 free till 3pm when tour starts
free till 3 when tour begins. Neighborhood tour double decker, bus dinner
May 21 RS tour Covent Gardens, Leicester Square, Picadilly Circus, Westminister Abbey, Whitehall, National Gallery. On our own tonight to see Book of Mormon Prince of Wales Theatre
May 22 RS tour Crown Jewels, Lunch, The City free afternoon and evening
May 23 RS tour EAST End Food Tour, St. Paul’s Cathedral evening free
May 24 RS tour Windsor Castle by train. Tour castle and then free to roam Windsor or come back to London. Free afternoon and evening.
May 25 RS tour Borough Market, Globe Theater, South Banks Thames, Last dinner with tour.
May 26 Free
May 27 Free
May 28: We reserved an all day mini coach to Highclere Castle. 9 am-9 pm
May 29 Free
May 30 Free
May 31 Home Flight leaves at 12 noon for SFO
What we want to see/do if possible.
London Eye
Kew Gardens
British Museum
Imperial War Museum (Mike)
Inns of Court (Mike)
Tate Modern (maybe)
Greenwich / Cutty Sark etc lunch etc by boat or?
Docklands Museum
bookshops Nottinghill or?
historic cemetery
good dept store not as fancy as the big ones
Is Rules worth a lunch/dinner or drink
what local pubs in our neighborhood
Your favorite food
Do we have Time for a day trip to York?

Okay this is crazy long, but I appreciate your suggestions, scrutiny, and ideas for organizing!

Pam and Mike

On one of your free days, you can get a free aerial view of the city from 35 floors up... so long as you reserve a place in advance. Closest tube station is Bank, and the place is called Sky Garden on top of a building Londoners call The Walkie-Talkie.

https://skygarden.london/

For your May 17th free day, for example, spaces will be open starting Monday May 7th. Go on the website, save yourself the required number of spaces, and enjoy a view of London comparable to the London Eye without the cost or crowds.

I would add the HMS Belfast, a WW2 battleship, to Mike’s list. It is moored in the Thames on the south side, near Tower Bridge. You can get a combined ticket with the Imperial War Museum, I believe. You have free access to most of the ship, including the engine room, with lots of interpretive displays and information. Lots of ladders involved.

The Marianne North paintings at Kew are an impressive;dive collection and well worth some time. I found them a bit overwhelming; there are so many of them! And the display is very crowded.

https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/attractions/marianne-north-gallery

Kew is lovely in May. We spent three weeks in London in May 2016, and visited Kew three times during that time. Be sure to see the azaleas and rhododendrons.

Check to see what’s on at the Globe Theatre. It appears you will tour the structure as part of the RS tour, but that won’t include a performance. Seeing Midsummer Night’s Dream in that setting, a very interesting and fresh interpretation of the play, was another highlight of our time there.

What’s on at the Globe:

http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on

For the Inns of Court, we found a great walking tour in one of our London books. I will have to confirm which book when I get home. You can’t go inside the Inns, but the tour of the grounds and accompanying information on the area is very interesting.

Or you could join a guided walking tour:

https://www.london-walking-tours.co.uk/inns-of-court-tour.htm

Seeing Midsummer Night’s Dream in that setting, a very interesting and fresh interpretation of the play, was another highlight of our time there.

@Lola, I saw that performance two years ago, too! One of the highlights of all my London visits. You know you can stream/purchase the performance now from the Globe's website?

@Pam, oh my, fabrics! Liberty. I cannot NOT stop at Liberty. I have boxes of Liberty fabric - a Liberty hoarder, that's me. Last time in London, I took a bus to House of Hackney. Lots of fun and def. off the tourist path. On that trip, I also took the Marylebone tour with London Walks - one of my favorites. Went through some great neighborhoods, into the Wallace Collection, through a market in a churchyard, and I finally ended up in the shopping area of Marylebone - Toast by Post, even Anthropologie (which was more fun than the one here in Philly).

I have taken several London Walks, including the Stonehenge/Salisbury one, and another favorite: the Foodie tour. Bath, Oxford, Cotswold tours might be fun, too if they fit into your schedule - maybe not all of them :-)

And, I have not done this yet, but if your husband likes gardens, how about the Petersham Nurseries?

So many possibilities - enjoy!

Debbie, that is great to know about the 2016 Midsummer Night's Dream performance. I did notice it was available for awhile, but did not realize we could still watch it. My husband will be thrilled to see Meow Meow again (and so will I; such a greT performer),

I would highly recommend going to Hampton Court Palace. It is one of Henry VIII's palaces, originally built by Cardinal Wolsey and then because it was better than any of the King's palaces the Cardinal gave it to the King. It still has the medieval kitchens and a lot of old features. The gardens should be pretty that time of year. I have been and love it! You would also have time to do Kensington, where the Prince and his new bride will be living. I will advise if you do decide to do Hampton Court and Kensington it would probably be worth it to get a Historic Royal Palaces which includes entrance into those two plus the Tower and Kew Palace (but not the gardens, although you get a discount for the gardens.) I got one last year because the cost of a membership was less than a ticket to both the Tower and Hampton Court, which I wanted to see, then I was able to get into Kensington when the tickets were sold out because I was a member. In London it also includes Banqueting House, which if memory serves was part of Whitehall Palace and right outside of it was where King Charles was beheaded. It was a pretty building but not much to see.

https://www.hrp.org.uk/#gs.b0waCAk

I am editing to add that the cost was not less but added with the 10% discount you get at stores plus the entrance made it worth it. Plus I got mine in June or July, went to London in September, and then I am going back here at the beginning of May and will use the membership again so I have got my money's worth. You can get a membership at the Tower (a couple I was with did this.) Now for two it will be cheaper as for a couple the cost is 80 pounds and with the Tower, Kensington, and Hampton Court the ticket price for two is just over 110 pounds, but it does depend on what you will be doing.

One of the nicest bookshops in London is Daunt Books on Marylebone High Street. I think you’d like the whole street. It’s tucked away not far from Oxford Street but it’s like a little upmarket haven of lovely shops. Plus lots of little mews streets nearby (half-streets that used to be stables but are now fancy little flats).

Not in order of importance but in order of my grey cells engaging....

Mayfair pubs:
Coach & Horses on Hays Mews by Berkeley Square and the Marlbourgh Head on Audley. First one is small, 2nd large.

On May 17, Take the tube to Kings Cross and have breakfast at Dishoom near Granary Square which is behind St Pancras Station. Dishoom is virtually attached to St. Martin's College. From there exit and turn right and walk towards the skyscrapers and Lewis Cubit Square. This whole area might have stalls and a market going on. Might not. Didn't in November but sunshine and good weather may change that. Turn Left towards the Gas Towers. Once vacant they are now condos and are adjacent to St Pancras lock and Regent canal tow path. Lovely walk along there as you head back toward St Pancras Station. Turn right under the over pass and head toward St Pancras Church to see the Hardy Tree. If the church is open definitely walk inside. From there meander over to the British Library to see the Sir John C Ritblat Gallery (a.k.a the Treasure Room) at the British Library. One of my favorite spots to take first timers to London. You mentioned you like museum gift shops. The British Library gift shop is nice as well. You could easily return to Dishoom for lunch.

When you are at the V & A on the 18th consider having pub grub and a pint for lunch at the small mews pub called the Queens Arms. From there you could walk over to see Royal Albert Hall and the Albert Memorial in Hyde Park.

On the 20th before the tour begins start your day by walking and exploring Hyde Park. Head toward the Sacchi Gallery and the Serpentine. Cross the Serpentine via the Carriage Drive bridge and head toward the Lido (its a swimming spot). There's a great little cafe. Tables and benches outside, tables inside. Perfect spot for a nosh and coffee. Great for people watching and getting a dog fix. At 10am the gates to the nearby Princess Diana Memorial Fountain are unlocked. Very unpretentious spot. Simplistic and beautiful.

I agree about visiting Hampton Court. I spent close to 4 hours there. You can use your Oyster card for the train that takes you there from Waterloo Station.

Historic cemetary that should be seen is Highgate but you need to make reservations. If you can't go there then visit Brompton without having to reserve anything.

Lastly, get up early on Saturday the 26th, tube to Nottinghill Gate and make your way to Portobello Road. If you are there before 8am you can walk unencumbered up to Gail's Artisan Bakery and grab a window seat. Watch the vendors set up.
Out you go to meander and explore Portobello Market. Lots of stalls with fun gifts. Great shops as well. At the far end of Portobello Road under the graffiti'd train overpass is Goldborne Road Market. Lots of food vendors there. Less touristy as well.

Glad you are going to theatre. One of my most favorite things to do when in London.

GREAT city. Never disappoints me. Enjoy.

I would also opt for the Sky garden rather than the London Eye but i would do it on your free afternoon in the City 22nd as it's in that location. Re the inns of court, they are quite spread out, that must be some walking tour! I've always had a soft spot for Lincolns Inn but probably just proximity to where I once worked, but from there you could swing passed the Royal Courts of Justice (I love the facade) and stop off if any one of a number of fine pubs in the area - the Seven Stars round the back of the law courts is cute, the Old Bank of England on Fleet Street is very grand, Ye Old Cheshire Cheese for cosy historic feel. Then head down Fleet Street on foot or by bus and take in St Paul's Cathedral. Even if you don't go in it's well worth the view from the outside, then walk over the Milennium bridge to The Tate Modern.

Thanks to all for your thoughtful and detailed advice. We have had some family emergencies since I posted and life has been hectic! I am seeing hot days on the London weather sites and hope that doesn’t happen too often on our trip as the cool rainy weather honestly appeals to me! All the best from beautiful Chico, California

Yes, that can be a problem. I have all the windows in the house open and the shade in the car roof shut. I just asked Siri about the temperature. It is 23 C where I am, that's 73 Fahrenheit. Sweltering.

I haven't heard how much hotter it will get by the end of the month. I don't think anybody knows - it is more than 4 or 5 days out so a guess.

Hi Pam: just a couple of bits of info as I just returned from London. V & A: they have a very nice cafeteria inside which isn't expensive. I had lunch there including a piece of green pea cake with lemon frosting - delicious! If you went in the morning and wanted to take a break at some point to rest your feet/legs, it's a nice place to go and that way you don't have to leave the building and look for somewhere else to eat. We spent 2 hours at the V & A - you could definitely spend all day but that depends on how long you can really spend looking at things & reading descriptions. My limit is 2-3 hours so if you don't plan to spend all day, get the map and go to the stuff which interests you the most. I really liked the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert collection, which had lots of silver and gold items, gold boxes, mosaics, etc. I also enjoyed the jewelry.

Imperial War Museum: my friend and I went just to the Churchill war rooms and spent about 2 hours; you could easily spend about 4-5 if that interests you. My suggestion is to skip the Churchill museum in the middle, go all the way through the war rooms, and then don't exit - double back to the Churchill museum if you have time. We ended up spending a lot of time in the Churchill museum and then were too worn out to finish seeing the actual rooms.

Also, the London Eye had long lines and limited hours, as I just posted separately. You've gotten other suggestions for seeing the city from on high so I would consider just skipping the Eye.

Mostly - just make sure you allow some time to rest in between sightseeing. I know you want to see as much stuff as possible but sometimes it's just good to sit, drink a cup of tea, and rest your legs and feet.

Good luck!

I'd make sure to spend more time at the National Gallery than the tour allows. It's free to enter. That tour day seems kinda busy, so I imagine it'll only cover the most famous paintings. It is truly one of the word's greatest museums and it focuses only on European painting from about 1250 to the early 20th century. I've been there 7 times and feel like I've only scratched the surface.

The V&A is also outstanding and, given your interests, is worth as much time as you can allocate to it.

Don't know if you'll get to read this, as it looks like you are already enroute. But, just in case, I would second the suggestion someone made about the SkyGarden https://skygarden.london/sky-garden also The Mithraeum https://www.londonmithraeum.com/ both of these are free but you have to book ahead.

The British Library has a really cool display hall of important printed documents and we ended up spending more time there than planned.

Tate Modern is eye-rolling pretentious as an art museum, but they've got a really nice top floor with viewing deck over the city, and are on the voluntary donation for admission system, so if you're in the area, it can be worth a trip up the elevator.