London Itinerary Feedback

Fri. 9/19 Westminster Abbey Lunch at Two Chairmen War Rooms Rick
Steve’s Westminster audio walk National Gallery (open late) OR Mozart
Requiem at St. Martin in the Fields

I feel that it is a bit rushed to visit three interesting places.
National Gallery takes about 3-4 hours to complete the visit.

War Rooms is indeed interesting. It took me about 3.5 hours to visit and digest the tour. I like it best!

Tues. 9/23 Hampton Ct. Palace National Archives (MI5 exhibit-open
late) Late dinner Blackfriars

National Archives - you refer to Kew Gardens? I think National Archives might be a bit far from Hampton Court Palace.

As for the rest, I'm not sure. I leave it to the experts here.

I would do Duxford on the way to Canterbury.

Take the Thameslink train from Blackfriars to St Pancras. Leave luggage at St Pancras or Kings Cross.
Train from either station to Royston for Duxford, on Great Northern or Thameslink respectively.

On the way back pick up your luggage then South Eastern High Speed St Pancras to Canterbury.

On the Tower of London day do the Tower first , then HMS Belfast, then St Paul's ending with Evensong.
Also buy IWM annual membership for £99 joint for both of you- covers the War Rooms, Duxford and HMS Belfast.

I would do Duxford on the way to Canterbury.

Senior moment isn31c - I think you mean CAMBRIDGE not Canterbury!

waslekys - I think isn31c means they could do Duxford on the day they leave London for Canterbury i.e. drop bags at St Pancras, up to Duxford and back and then pick up bags back at St Pancras to pick up the fast train to Canterbury. That will work as long as the OP has nothing else planned for the day other than getting to Canterbury.

J@p28al I think we will opt for the concert and leave the gallery for another time. But yes, a long day. May replace "audio walking tour" with snacks and naps. Or just see how far we get. Revisiting Archives...It is out of the way and, sadly, the boat will not be in service. Really want to see the MI5 exhibit so maybe we will just enjoy the ride.

isn31c, Johnew52 Never thought of this option for Duxford. Definitely investigating. Our original plans had us there on October 4 for the "flying finale" but that is not to be. A casual visit would be the next best thing and we have no plans that day!

Wasleys, No I mean Canterbury on 25 September, A benefit of trains going to both Canterbury and Cambridge from the same station complex, if not the same platforms.
If you wanted to you could even do Thameslink from Royston to Rochester (for that Cathedral) then South Eastern slow trains Rochester to Canterbury.

isn31c Also, great suggestion about the tower day. Evensong is always something to look forward to. And, yes, already purchase the IWM membership. Glad to make good use of it.

My mistake and apologies as I'd read it differently....

Looks like a very nice itinerary. A few thoughts from me:
-If the Cartier exhibition isn't something you've reserved already, I would look at doing that ASAP as I believe it keeps selling out.
-Don't miss Marie Antoinette's former belongings at the Wallace Collection- and my favourite historical artefact- a poster advertising the auction of her things from the Grand Trianon.
-For me, HMS Belfast, St Paul's, and Tower of London is a bit much for one day. You can do it but I think it will be a bit exhausting- I would do two of those and move one to another day, personally.
-Kenwood House is having a John Singer Sargeant exhibition right now that will still be on in September, in case that is of interest- focussed on portraits of American heiresses who married British nobility, very much in line with a recent plotline on The Gilded Age.
-If you haven't planned your transport to Canterbury yet, just be aware there's a fast but more expensive train from St Pancras, or a slower but less expensive train from Victoria. To me the extra cost for the fast train is worth it.