London in May

Westminster Abbey and rent the audio tour.
Churchill War Rooms and museum. Buy tickets before leaving home.
British Museum
Tower of London and Tower Bridge
Victoria and Albert Museum
Hop On Hop Off bus tour takes a full day but you will see the major sights.
Go to the theatre at night.

A lot of posters have discouraged the Hop On/Hop Off buses in London because they are likely to get seriously hung up in traffic, and you're likely to spend more time waiting for the next HO/HO bus than for a regular city bus (which would be a lot less expensive).

Absolutely don’t waste time or money on the Hop On Hop Off bus.

What are your May travel dates?

Are you avoiding the King’s Coronation?

Take the tube to Westminster, exit. You’ll be right at Elizabeth’s Tower with the Big Ben bell. You can then wander around Parliament Square.

Take the time to visit Westminster Abbey. Personally I’d take a Verger’s tour. Then take a stroll on Bird Cage Walk up to the Palace and the Queen Victoria Memorial Statue.

From your hotel near St Paul’s take the tube ( Central Line or District Line ) from Mansion House station to Westminster station. 15 minute ride at most.

He should be happy to see the most iconic spots in London by doing this.

A lot of posters have discouraged the Hop On/Hop Off buses in London because they are likely to get seriously hung up in traffic, and you're likely to spend more time waiting for the next HO/HO bus than for a regular city bus (which would be a lot less expensive).

True, but if you hop on the first bus of the day at 10a and don’t get off until you complete the revolution you will see 45 impressive landmarks.

If you try doing the HoHo bus on arrival day, as many aim to do, you’re quite likely to be asleep passing about half of those 45.

If you try doing the HoHo bus on arrival day, as many aim to do, you’re quite likely to be asleep passing about half of those 45.

I agree, stay on your feet on arrival day and skip going to major museums too.

Thank you for the advice. We will probably skip the bus because we do like to walk. We’ll be in England May 24th - 29th. There’s so many itineraries online and it gets very confusing.
I would like to make reservations for an afternoon tea also. Does anyone have a recommendation? Nothing to fancy as we will probably be out seeing the sights before we head to tea and won’t have time to get changed.

When I visited London a few years ago, I took a suggestion of another
Forum poster and booked a visit to the Sky Garden. It was a lovely low stress thing to do on arrival day, and is free during the week, but you do have to book ahead. Tickets can go fast, so you may need to get up early to book as soon as they are available. Instructions are on the website.
https://skygarden.london/

I would like to make reservations for an afternoon tea also. Does anyone have a recommendation?

I really enjoyed the afternoon tea at Harrods Tea Room. https://www.harrods.com/en-gb/restaurants/the-harrods-tea-rooms

https://www.slugandlettuce.co.uk/st-pauls-london/experiences/afternoon-tea

Also enjoyed my afternoon tea at Orange Peoke in Barnes.

https://www.bank-holidays.com/holidays.php?annee=2023&id_pays=145
Spring Bank Holiday 5/29 Some places closed.