Hello everyone,
I am going to spend the last week of April in London. It's not my first time and my idea is to focus on the lesser known spots and on the places I missed the previous times. Things I need to specify: my accomodation is near the Tower of London, I am taking just a small backpack with me and I love walking, so no problem there.
This is my plan at the moment
- Monday: I arrive at the airport around 11.30 and I should be at my accomodation around 14 to check-in. Then my plan is to stay around that area. In my list there are the leadenhall market to grab something to eat, the st. dunstan in the church garden, maybe I'll add a stroll around St. Paul and the One New Change terrace. Hopefully I will manage to get the skygarden ticket for sunset time.
- Tuesday: First thing would be the yayoi kusama exhibition, then I'll cross the millenium bridge and get to somerset house (is it worth it to get tickets for the guided tour or can I skip that? What do you think?). Then I'll head to Covent Garden, eat, look at some shops, mainly bookstores (I know minalima is in near that area) and go towards neal's yard. I would love to see the Outernet free installation near Tottenham Court Road station if it's still in place. I'm still unsure about the rest of the afternoon, but I'm thinking of going north towards the British Library (even if I have already visited years ago) and the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel because I'd like to see the interiors.
- Wednesday: my original plan was to go somewhere by train, but to avoid any possible strike I chose to book a day tour to the Cotswolds (visiting only Bourton-On-The-Water and Bibury) and Oxford. I'll have around 3 free hours to visit Oxford and I would love to take one of these tours: option 1. the 60 min or 90 min guided tour of the Bodleian library/Divinity school; option 2. the 60 min tour of Christ Church college; option 3. the 90/120 min free walking tour. What would you do? Any advice?
- Thursday: I've bookmarked a bakery in the Marylebone area where I would love to have breakfast. Before visiting the wallace collection and going to the Daunt Books bookshop, I'm taking a detour to visit the Mayfair market. Then my plan is to get to Baker Street to have lunch in another place I've bookmarked. I'd then make my way to Abbey Road and to the Rembrandt Gardens.
- Friday: First thing in the morning is Portobello market and a stroll around Notting Hill. Kensington and Chelsea are the second part of the day. I plan to see the Kyoto Gardens, the design museum and all the pastel coloured houses around Chelsea. Then I'll start to make my way back to the tower of London as I've managed to buy a ticket for the ceremony of the keys.
- Saturday: I'm going to take the ifs cable car (I've seen suggested by someone ina previous topic and I loved that suggestion) to get to Greenwich (where I've already been so I will be just passing by) and then Canary Wharf. I would also love to see the shoreditch area, brick lane and columbia road.
- Sunday: I have a 19.45 flight from Birmingham. I wanted to take the train around midday (because my plan was to see the flower market, but that must be for another time), however this weekend there will be engineering works on that route. So my plan B is to take a national express bus at 10 to get to Birmingham around 13. Any advice on things to see this afternoon? As of now I've written on my list: canals, St. Paul's square and the library. Anything else?
I would also like to visit the natural history museum (even just a quick stroll to see the whale), would you add it on Thursday or on Friday?
When I travel, I love to look for unique bookstores, street art and gardens. Do you have some suggestions I can add to my itinerary? I also enjoy taking photos, so if you have some specific wonderful spots let me know. :)
Thank you all in advance for the help!