London for a few days before a Cruise - where should we we stay, eat and play?

Where to play?

If you are in Paddington, at Maida Vale there is the Paddington Recreation Ground, website is:=

http://www.better.org.uk/leisure/paddington-recreation-ground

When in London, we usually stay around Bayswater/Kensington area in West London. It's a pretty lively place, and the Underground is a short walk.

London is a huge city so without knowing what sorts of things you're interested in, making sightseeing suggestions is like throwing darts! The first thing you should do is get a guidebook (buy one or check a few out of the library), do some reading and make a list of what you think you might like.

No, Buckingham isn't open to visitors in June but there are oodles of better things to see anyway. You will have to work around days that some attractions are closed (we don't know your dates) but a rough list of some high points...

Westminster Abbey: very old and very important must-do
Tower of London: even older must-do
St Paul's Cathedral: "The People's Church"
British Museum
Victoria and Albert Museum
National Gallery
Museum of London
London Transport Museum
Imperial War Museum
Tate Modern
Hyde Park/Green Park/Kensington Gardens (connected)
British Library; Sir John Ritblat Treasures of the British Library Gallery - a personal favorite of mine!
http://www.bl.uk/events/treasures-of-the-british-library

Just a start!

A bit further afield are Hampton Court Palace and Greenwich (Royal Museums) but just a couple of days in the city isn't enough time to do these too.

" I'm thinking that just getting a London Pass and using a Hop on Hop of bus would be good."

London Pass rarely offers value for money as many of the museums/galleries are free.

Hop on buses - just use normal buses for a fraction of the price and greater flexibility.

Trains to Southampton depart from London Waterloo.
These 4 hotels are all close to Waterloo, by the London Eye, and just across the Thames from the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey.
http://www.premierinn.com/en/hotel/LONWAT/london-waterloo-westminster-bridge
http://www.premierinn.com/en/hotel/LONCOU/london-county-hall
http://www.parkplaza.com/london-hotel-gb-se1-7ry/gbcounty
http://www.parkplaza.com/london-hotel-gb-se1-7ut/gbwestmi

Saturday pm
Trafalgar Square >> National Gallery >> Piccadilly Circus
Sunday
Tower of London >> Tower Bridge >> St Pauls >> Tate Modern
Monday
Buckingham Palace (check Changing the Guard schedule) >> St James's Park >> Horseguards >> Whitehall/Number 10 >> Westminster Abbey >> Houses of Parliament

Thank you all so much for your comments and suggestions! I will research them all and see how much we think we can do.

I would love to max our time out but I'm a little worried about jetlag.

Any ideas on where to eat? We won't want to spend a lot of time eating. Just grabbing a quick yummy bite will do.

Thanks again! Your awesome!

Casual but good food and great value around Soho ...
http://thepalomar.co.uk/
http://www.dehesa.co.uk/
https://www.brasseriezedel.com/
http://www.polpetto.co.uk/
http://terroirswinebar.com/
http://www.copita.co.uk/

Ditto to what ramblin' on said about the London Pass: you have to do the math and be realistic about how many attractions you can fit into a day, and weigh the value of those free museums (British Museum; National Gallery, British Library, etc.)

Give yourself 4 days in London as in reality it will only be 2 full days because of travel from the US and travel to Southhampton to catch your cruise.

Arrive Heathrow. Travel into London to your accommodation. Spend the remainder of the day getting acquainted with London via the Hop On and Off bus tour. Dinner in a pub or cafe near your accommodation. Fitful night of sleep.

Tower of London, be there at opening. 2-3 hours at the Tower. Walk from there to Leadenhall Market place, have lunch. From there walk to St. Paul's. From there tube to another part of the city. Are you shoppers? Museum goer's? Interested in Greenwich? Maybe this is the day you grab tickets at the 1/2 price ticket booth in Leicester Square for a theatre performance that evening. Or maybe you go online now to see what plays will be at Shakespeare's Globe in June and July, sign up to be notified when tickets go on sale and book seats for one of those performances that evening. After visiting St Paul's you could tube back to your accommodation to nap if you felt the need.

Start the next day with a Guided tour of Westminster Abbey then walk over to the Churchill War Museum. I think you are incorrect and tours of Buckingham Palace will be available in June and July. Double check this website in January 2016. https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/visit/the-state-rooms-buckingham-palace .

Next day Board your train to Southhampton.

As far as easy places to eat there are thousands of cafes, pubs, etc. Sandwich boards on sidewalks denote lunch and dinner specials etc. Pret a Manger's ( chain) has fresh soups, salads and sandwiches. Get some items to go and enjoy a picnic in any of London's lovely parks. St James, Hyde Park, etc. or find a bench along the Thames and enjoy watching all that happens on the River. Cafes in the Museums are nice and remember the majority of Museums are free.

London is a vibrant, bustling, historical world city. You need to decide what you truly wish to see and do there.
Lastly, visit a bookstore where you live and leaf through Rick's London guide. Really helpful to first timers.
DO NOT get the London Pass. Total waste of money.

Enjoy your quick visit.

There is so much to do, and your decisions should be based on your specific interests. My husband and I did a London Walks tour of Westminster Abbey. We found that a great way to get information and move through the very crowded space. We received a great deal of history that we would have missed if we went on our own. We also loved St. Paul's Cathedral. The multi-media guide is fabulous, and walking up to the very top was great fun. Finally, just walking along the Thames on a Sunday afternoon offered great people watching as well as time to take in the sites.

I think you are incorrect and tours of Buckingham Palace will be
available in June and July.

The http://www.royal.gov.uk website notes that the state rooms open to summer visitors in August and Sept. (although they opened very end of July last year). That's been the schedule for many years now so while it's not impossible, I'd be surprised if it shifted to June/July.

http://www.royal.gov.uk/TheRoyalHousehold/WorkingfortheRoyalHousehold/SummerJobs/TheSummerOpeningoftheStateRoomsatBuckinghamPalace.aspx

Same info on this 3rd-party website:

http://www.365ticketsusa.com/the-state-rooms-buckingham-palace

The Queen's Gallery at Buckingham (essentially an art gallery) is open all year:

https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/visit/the-queens-gallery-buckingham-palace/plan-your-visit

Kathy is correct. The Queen does not usually leave London for Balmoral until the 2nd half of July, returning in September. This year the State Apartments were open to visitors from 25 July to 27 September.