Last minute, first time, trip to London

We stayed at the Nadler Kensington (formerly Base2Stay) twice and are returning soon. It is close to the Earls Court tube station and we easily took the tube from Heathrow to the hotel. The walk is short and easy from the tube to the hotel and no transfers on the tube.

We are visiting another family member who is studying abroad. He suggested we stay near the south Kensington station. He will be getting, or attempting to get, soccer match tickets before we arrive.

Any feedback on hotels, or restaurants is greatly appreciated. I'll pick up a guide book and search the internet more for ideas on what to do with an 18 year old!

I was also thinking that some sort of play or performance would be fun to see but I'm not sure what...suggestions? And, are jeans okay or do we need to wear nicer clothes? What about tennis shoes?

Thanks Emma, I appreciate your help!

I think you should take a walking tour around some pubs. Not a pub crawl but one that focuses on historic and interesting pubs.

There are couple on Fridays run by the London Walks company and I enclose the link
http://www.walks.com/London_Walks_Home/Fridays_Walks/default.aspx#12894

I would also suggest, although I have no idea what you might like, seeing at least one concert, of whatever style, or a play. Time Out or the Evening Standard are good sources for upcoming shows.

I hope you get to a football game. Don't restrict your choices to the best known clubs such as Arsenal or Chelsea where the tickets are notoriously difficult to obtain without paying over the odds. Take a look at West Ham, Fulham, Crystal Palace or Spurs who all play in the Premier League

smees,

you can start googling now "whats there to do and see in London" and see what floats your boat. Or you can wait and see what drops in your lap. Some hotels/places to stay will have brochures/propaganda of touristy stuff.

happy trails.

Thanks David, the pub walk sounds perfect and we will most definitely check out more than just Chelsea and Man U matches!

I appreciate the suggestions.

If you end up staying in South Kensington there is a nice pedestrian square near the tube station with lots of restaurants and cafes (head east on the Thurloe St. side). The French Bakery on the corner is a nice place for a quick breakfast. There are also lots of places to eat on Brompton St. Bumpkin is a good choice if you want to eat British food. Before I was in London last year, I downloaded a TripAdvisor app that included reviews of all of the resturants in London. It was useful to identify nearby options.

I stayed in an apartment when I was South Kensington last summer, so I can't help with a hotel suggestion. There are many in that area, however.

Both Heathrow and South Kensington are on the same tube line, so you can take the subway directly if you'd like. They're also close enough that cab fare is not too bad, relatively speaking.

If you haven't been to London on a previous trip, my suggestion is that you hit some of the classic must sees - The Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, London Eye, and the British Museum. There are plenty of other options depending on your interests. There is enough to see and do that if you just bring a guide book, read it on the plane, and wing it you'll still have a great trip.

Have fun!

I stayed at the Bentley which is easy walking distance to the gloucester stop. It is pricey but a very swanky, nice hotel. It is a Hilton (or at least it used to be) if you have Hilton points which is how I ended up there. My favorite thing in London was the Tower of London. Unoriginal, I know. But so interesting and a lot of space to move around and things to see. You also get great views of the city. If you get there right when it opens, you will walk right in and really have time to look at things without feeling rushed.

You also might look into tours at Stamford Bridge - where Chelsea plays. I think Wembley also does tours. My son toured Stamford Bridge and loved it!

Thanks everyone for all the great tips. Leaving on Thursday and staying at the millennium Gloucester...can't wait!

I have been on the London tour and been to London before that and there are tons of things to see and do! But I am not going to list them all. The first thing you need to do is look at the RS week long tour which shows what they do every day. This will give you a good outline of where to go and what to see. Then you need to purchase the RS London book which you can read and determine what both of you want to see and do. You can also use this website and look at the free videos on London. You can also search on YouTube and see free videos of London which will show you places to see while visiting. By doing this you will be prepared and have a good plan as to what there is to see. I wish I was going back to London! Have a great trip! If you want to fill the evenings besides the pubs, you may want to consider seeing a play while in London.