So, I am going to London for 30 days with my dad, who is a professor and leading a study abroad for the university he works for. Most week day mornings he will be teaching until noon and I am left at the room to travel or wander about London....I am looking for some suggestions on how to spend my mornings! Obviously in the afternoons we will be hitting all the different toursity spots so I'm looking for some reccomendations for different things to do, places to eat breakfast, areas to wander...let me know thank you!!
Posted by
Long Beach, California, USA
3391 posts
Lucky you! We stayed in London for 5 weeks one summer and it was so nice to have the luxury of time, especially in the mornings!
Our strategy was to get up early...the crowds in some areas really get thick by about 10 o'clock so getting out and about before that makes a huge difference! Besides getting to the historical sites early to beat the crowds, we really enjoyed biking around the various parks before the paths got too busy. The area around the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey along with the bridge that crosses the Thames to the Millenium Wheel gets EXTREMELY crowded - getting there before 8 or 9 gives you a great chance for pictures without too many people in them...same holds for most places in town. Maybe try your hand at some photography early in the day?
For breakfast there's a great boulangerie in Covent Garden called Balthazar that has an amazing pastry case! Fun little place. If you really want a WOW breakfast experience go to Duck and Waffle...40 floors up with a view of the city to die for!!
Posted by
Chicago
7841 posts
most of the travelers here are older so ask your dad since he knows more about you than strangers on the internet;
or, get and read some kind of a thorough guide book combined with a smart phone internet thingy
so you can find out pinpoint what you are interested in
Posted by
Tunbridge Wells
6113 posts
What kind of thing do you want to do?
There are numerous walking tours that run from 10-12.
Most of the galleries and museums have free entry. London Transport Museum in Covent Garden is worth spending some time. See some of the more unusual museums such as the Operating Theatre Museum or the Bank of England Museum.
Shopping - try Camden Market, Westfield London or Westfield Stratford, Covent Garden, Carnaby Street and Marylebone.
Walk in the Royal Parks.
Where will you be staying? In all areas of London there will be local cafes. Check out Trip Advisor for nearby recommendations.
Posted by
Land of La
8669 posts
1.) Get the RS London Guide book. 2.) Read it. 3.) What neighborhood will you being staying in? 4.) if you have an exact address of your accommodation, Google map it and use the street view to see what's close by re: breakfast, closest tube station, etc. 5.) What are your interests? 6.) and as far as different things to do:
Rent and Ride a bike in Hyde, Regents, Green, St James parks.
Mudchute Farm
Mudlarking
Make a reservation to tour the Highgate Cemetary.
Visit the Hampstead Heath looking for the bench dedicated to the Muppets creator Jim Henson.
Visit the Whitechapel Bell Foundry
Dennis Sever House
Daunt Books
Walk along the canals in Little Venice
Climb the stairs at Heal's Department store
Tour Chiselhurst Caves
Tower Bridge Experience
Royal Docks Cable Car Ride
Check the Tower Bridge Website daily for lift times
Visit one or all of these markets: CAmden Lock, Portobello, Borough, Brick Lane and Spitafields
Take a free East end graffiti and street art tour
LOTS of interesting things to do and see in London besides the iconic tourist spots.
Posted by
Kingston, Surrey
239 posts
For a proper fry-up breakfast, with brick-orange builders' tea, try one of the traditional cafes. The Shepherdess on Shepherdess Walk or Regency on Regency Street (NOT Regents Street) are excellent to the east and west respectively.
Posted by
Indiana, USA
60 posts
I had been researching walks for an upcoming trip and had come across a few ideas. Someone mentioned Highgate cemetery but there are actually several Victorian cemeteries of interest that are free to walk. One is Brompton on the west side of London, open very early in the morning. I also thought walking along Thames toward Big Ben would be a nice walk.
Posted by
Nashville, TN, USA
3758 posts
Where is your hotel in London--what neighborhood?
I don't want to give you breakfast suggestions for a place that's too far from your hotel or apartment.
Suggest you spend time each day at the British Museum. There's enough there to keep a person busy for five entire days, and still you would not see it all.
You have had some great suggestions already. I also suggest that morning is a good time for photographing the landmarks. Big Ben, Parliament, etc. Walk along the south bank of the river from the London Eye to Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. Good place to take photos of St. Paul's and the north bank from a distance. Continue walking east to Tower Bridge. Cross Tower Bridge to the Tower of London. Get good photos around the outside of the Tower before the crowds get there.