Last minute Itinerary thoughts

Thoughts.....? Be flexible, choose your must sees for each day first, because you may not make it to everything you have on your list. If you can't get something in then be ready to shift things around if needed. Don't add more to day 12 or 13 so when you need to shift you'll have space to move important things you may not get to.

Transport is easy in London, but with that said, it is also stressful (at least for me). Lots of walking to and from the underground, trying to find places you are looking for, etc. We did a ton, but also had to drop off a couple things because we were too tired to deal with trying to "get there". We were there during high season in summer so the crowds make things feel more stressful.

Give yourself a chance to chill. I know it is super hard when there is so much to see. We had tea at Buckingham Palace, tea at Hampton Court, etc. just give yourself permission to slow down when needed. You have a lot on your list.

Have a wonderful time!!

If you're bringing a rain jacket then no need for ponchos or umbrella.

Oyster is not a ticket it's an electronic way of storing money for tube, bus or train travel in London. It's like a bank card, the only value it has are the funds it holds. Either buy one for £5 then just add cash (say £20) and see how you get on. Or add the value of a weekly travelcard to it - as you're there for two weeks that might be better.

Now the paper travelcard, which offers the 2 for 1 deals, is another issue. So you need to decide if you want that instead of the Oyster way of paying for travel. The London Pass is usually seen as poor value.

As far your itinerary goes you have 14 days, so no doubt thou will adapt as you go along but it looks OK. I would devote a whole day to Oxford.

At refreshingly sensible itinerary on the whole for 14 days.

Day 4 is too much time travelling vs time at the places - just cover 2 maximum.

A few suggested tweets - Big Ben and Parliament are in the same location, but you have them on different days. Likewise, Selfridges is a 2 minute walk from the Wallace Collection. The shopping in Covent Garden, Carnaby Street and Marylebone is more interesting than Oxford St etc. Fortnum's is a 2 minute walk from Piccadilly Circus (where there isn't much to see). Personally, I would drop the changing of the guard - very over-rated.

Borough Market is closed on Sundays - check which day you are planning to visit. Check their website as some parts don't open during the week, but it is far too busy these days at the weekend to be a pleasure.

One of London's gems is the Sunday morning Columbia Road flower market in the City, which can be followed by exploring Brick Lane and possibly having a curry lunch there. Worthwhile if you are interested in plants. Shops have limited hours of opening on Sundays - 6 hours maximum, usually 11 - 5 or noon - 6pm.

Hampton Court is worth a day trip if you get time.

Preload an Oyster card - top us as needs be.

Buy your (mostly) discounted theatre tickets at the TKTS kiosk in Leicester Sq the lunchtime of the day you want to go.

Go for a hooded jacket rather than an umbrella - you never know, but you might not need it!

Not sure why you bought the London Pass as the majority of Museums on your list are free. That and if you went for the 2 for 1 deals by purchasing the National Rail issued Travel Card you would save $$'s on the expensive Westminster Abbey, St Paul's and Tower of London admissions. Sorry, can't sugar coat it I believe the London Pass to be a rip off.

Secondly pay heed to what has been suggested in posts before mine:

1. GET an Oyster Card for each of you. Buy when you arrive and by that I mean put down a 5 pound refundable deposit on it, then add 20 pounds to it (if you need more and you might merely top up at a machine in the tube station, very easy) When you are ready to leave for home go to a ticket window and get your refund back or as countless others have done keep it for you next visit to London.

2. Parliament Square is comprised of the Houses of Parliament, Elizabeth's Tower with Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey. You can easily walk from there across Westminster Bridge to the London Eye or Vice Versa. It's also a very lovely walk from Parliament Square up Birdcage Walk through St, James Park to Buckingham Palace. You could stop and do the Church Hill War Rooms and see the Horse Guards. In fact if you got to the War Rooms when they first opened you'd be out in time to walk to the adjacent Horse Guards
   grounds and watch the riders ride out onto the Mall enroute to the Palace for the Changing of the Guard ceremony (which IF you MUST see do so. otherwise a bit of a time waster IMHO)

3. And yes DAY 5 is super busy. Adjust.

4. I'd add Liberty Department store so you could make a shopping day by starting at Selfridges, walking Oxford Street to Regent Street then over to Liberty and from there continue you shopping extravaganza by walking to Forum and Manson. I'd do tea there.

5. You've actually now have a free day by combining these places....maybe visit Portobello Road or Camden Lock markets. Each busy, colorful, fun. Although Portobello is closed on Sunday Camden Lock is open.
   http://www.camdenlockmarket.com

6. OR spend this free'd up day at Hampton Court which is a short train ride and an absolutely intriguing place to visit if you love Henry the VIII. Beautiful gardens.

For Day 4 (unless it is a organized tour), you are trying to see a lot in one day. I'm partial to Oxford and enjoy walking around the streets and taking in the views of the various colleges. There are a number of old and interesting pubs as well. The Ashmolean Museum has a number of great collections. Blackwell's Bookshop is amazing. There are a number of walks along the river as well, and many of the colleges have beautiful gardens. I saw Stonehenge on a tour in 1983, and it was o.k., but you couldn't get that close to it then; it may be different now.

You can often get deals on theater tickets on-line that are as good or even better than the Leicester Square booth, and if you have a busy day, it saves time standing in line.

Thanks so much, everyone, for your thoughts. "Flexibility" will be the mantra of the trip, thanks for your suggestions. I appreciate the Oyster card simplification for me (its similar to the DC metropass)....we will get a couple and top off as needed....I know, I know :) most people think the London Pass is a waste; however, we found the Paris Pass very useful in terms of saving time waiting in lines even if it was free to get in....anyhoo, its bought, paid for and in our hot, little hands so not much we can do now.

We will definitely look at doing Churchills War Rooms early and the the Horse Guards prior to the Changing of the Guard ceremony.

Based on your feedback, we will stick with the hooded raincoats and, as mentioned, buy an umbrella if needed. Day 4 is an organized tour company day tour...it was the only way we could get Inner Circle access to Stonehenge. I will move Parliment up to day one and put Liberty on the list if we get to Regent St....I like the possibilities of Covent Garden, Carnaby St., Marylebon, Portobello and Camden Lock markets and will see what time will allow....one of our biggest challenges was trying to determine how much time we are going to spend at each place: we don't want to cut ourselves short if we want to stay somewhere longer but also don't want each day to be a mad dash simply to finish the "agenda." As you said, just another reason to come back!

I will rethink days 5 and 7 to see where we can adjust. We purposely left days 12 and 13 open so if we wanted to do something either not on our original list or revisit someplace, we can do so. We purposely left the London Eye until the end of our trip so we could look at all of the places we had been vs at the beginning, where I don't think we would really know what we were looking at....

Has anyone heard of "mudlarking" (www.walts.com)? We thought it sounded a bit different and wondered if anyone has done it before---if so, thoughts?

Yes, we actually have TWO sets of tix to Highclere Castle: one set is just tix to the castle. After buying them and looking at what it was going to cost us to take a train and then from the station either rent a car or cab to the castle and back, we found an organized day tour that not only goes to Highclere but also to the Cotswolds and other filming locations. I would be happy to sell the original tix at face value but Highclere says you must present ID and the credit card used to buy the tix so we seem to be stuck with them...if anyone knows different, let me know.

You have been very gracious with your ideas and I greatly appreciate them...thank you again!
CiCi

I have heard of mudlarking, and while I have not done it, I have enjoyed all of my tours with London Walks and recommend them highly.

I'm sorry you already spent money on the London Pass as I don't see much on your itinerary that the Pass covers. You do know the British Museum, the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery and the V&A are all free to enter? Is it possible to return the London Pass (I have no idea)?

If you want the 2-4-1 deals, you need a paper Travelcard as issued by National Rail. If you don't, just get an Oyster card and load two consecutive 7 day travelcards onto the Oyster, plus some PAYG funds to get you to and from Heathrow, if you're doing that. Don't bother with a Visitor Oyster card bought in advance, just buy one when you get there.

Day 7 is a little all over the map, geographically, and you might be tired of crowds after Borough Market and Oxford Street. Tea at Claridge's (the best clotted cream I've ever eaten, and don't miss the ladies' toilets) will make up for that.

Day 5 is awfully busy if you are going inside any of those locations, and also if you are waiting to watch the Changing of the Guard.

Hope you have a very good trip.

Unfortunately, my mother-in-law passed away this morning so we have had to cancel our trip, which was scheduled to begin tomorrow. A lovely woman who had Alzheimer's for many years (13); although we knew the day would come, it still packs a punch when it gets here.

If anyone needs a reason for travel insurance, this is certainly it....we are glad we purchased it so we don't have to deal with lost funds as well as the situation at hand.

Thank you all again for your help and we hope to rebook either later this year or this time next year.
CiCi

Condolences to you and your spouse.

Oh, Cici, we're all so sorry.

So sorry to hear this news.

So sorry to hear this news.

I am very sorry to hear this. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

I'm very sorry for your loss.

Thank you so much everyone, for your kind words, thoughts and prayers....if there is a silver lining to be found, it is that she passed before we left as opposed to after we arrived.....we are hoping to rebook next March once things are settled down a bit.
CiCi

I have traveled in Britain before and planning a trip for four weeks next year. Your London itinerary looks a bit hectic. We spent half a day getting to and going through Windsor Castle. Have been told that Oxford is almost a full day. You are on a tour and also going to Stonehenge, which means you will be very, very busy that day. The day you are plan to do way too much is Day 5: Buckingham Palace Changing of the Guards, Royal Mews, Churchill War Rooms, Westminster Abbey, House of Parliament (this day looks pretty busy; maybe shift some to day 3?)
Westminster Abbey takes a while to go through and see everything well. Sir Isaac Newton is buried there and more. I don't think you are going into see The House of Commons in session. That can take a while, just waiting to get in. Most of your other days look light. A whole day to see the London Eye?