We will be on an upcoming "Best of London in 7 Days Tour." Prior to the actual start date of the tour, we will be spending a couple of days discovering London on our own.
If you have previously taken the "Best of London in 7 Days Tour," could you, please, let us know which 'must see' London attractions might have been left out of the tour so that we may add them to our pre-tour?
Thanks
If you have already signed up for the tour, you should have received a detailed itinerary. Even the one on this site advertising the tour is pretty detailed. I suggest you compare that with your list of "must see" sights and plan from there. The only "must sees" are the things that YOU must see. You won't be graded on your trip to London.
Two things I like to suggest are the tea bus (https://b-bakery.com), which I have done in several cities now, including London, and Bustronome (bustronome.com), which I have only done in Paris. It's a nice alternative to the HOHO bus.
Depending on the time of year (I wouldn't want to do this when it's hot out) and the exact dates of your trip, enjoy a Sunday roast lunch in a pub. You can find all sorts of recommendations. Here is one list: https://www.timeout.com/london/food-and-drink/londons-best-sunday-lunches
I can personally vouch for William IV in Hoxton. We rode the bus there from Victoria Station. Great meal and very friendly staff. I wanted to go to Smith's, near our hotel in Paddington, but I couldn't get in on short notice. They have a 90-minute bottomless wine accompaniment!
If it’s the Rick Steves tour, the thing that I’d most want to add on is Hampton Court Palace. This is very easy to do by yourself and will take most of a day.
V and A Museum; National Gallery; National Portrait Gallery (it was still closed when we took this tour in June, 2023); British Library; Imperial War Museum; and Royal Albert Hall (we took a tour of RAH the day before the tour started).
Are you interested in anything in particular - a time frame (WWII?), art museums, Royal sites?
The things that are not covered that I enjoy are:
London Walks - I particularly like the WWII walk if that lands on a day that is available to you but seriously any of them are good. I've done a bunch.
British Library - their permanent collection (free) has several Magna Cartas plus a bunch of other interesting things!
National Gallery - The British Museum is included but not the National Gallery which is spectacular
Buckingham Palace tour if it's of interest and if you are there July 10 or after.
Royal Mews (the stables)
King's Gallery
(Website for those 3)
https://www.rct.uk
Wallace Collection if you like art
London Transport Museum if that is of interest
V&A Museum
Day trips if you feel up to it:
Bletchley Park (where they broke the Enigma Machine)
Hampton Court Palace
Thanks for all your suggestions/tips. I'll add them to my list of places/things to research.
For clarification purposes, we are taking the Rick Steves Tour late June. By 'must sees,' I meant places of interest that a first-time in London shouldn't miss. I guess I should have been more specific in my original post.
Remember to add a play during one of your evenings. There is a recent thread about how to buy tickets; consensus being through the theater’s website to pre-book or through TKTS for day off. Use the search feature for that thread; it makes more suggestions. Start your play research at https://www.theatremonkey.com/shows
Thanks for the theater tip. I'll check it out.
"By 'must sees,' I meant places of interest that a first-time in London shouldn't miss."
But to me, a must see depends on what you enjoy. I love the National Gallery because it's got Constable's famous painting called the Hay Wain (plus Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Leonardo, all the "biggies", haha). Others might be bored to tears by an art museum! For some seeing a football stadium might be a must see but I'd rather poke my eye out with a stick, lol.
And to me you have the major "must see" on your tour - Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and St Paul's.
(Which reminds me, the London Walk on the Blitz which takes place around St Paul's is wonderful as well!)
Greenwich if just for the view.
Tower Bridge Exhibit if not afraid of heights.
Evensong at Westminster Abbey, St Brides or St Paul’s
Enjoying pub grub at: The Dove, the Victoria Paddington, the Seven Stars if not allergic to cats,
or The Mitre Paddington.
I’ve not taken the tour and if Hampton Court isn’t included definitely add it to your itinerary. Add Shoreditch for the street Art.
Don’t miss seeing theatre and definitely venture outside of London. Richmond park is wonderful especially the free roaming red and fallow dear. The silver vaults are interesting, the Sir John C Riblat room in the British Library ( the Treasures Gallery ) is wonderful.
Personally I also love the dichotomy of the architecture:
The Gherkin near Leadenhall Market
The Blackfriars pub across the road from Blackfrairs station.
If walkers the Park Land trail is really nice. Tube to Crouch Hill. Walk back towards the old dairy. Fabulous exterior art work. Cross the road and grab a coffee and then head out to the Parkland Trail. Really really nice, joggers, walkers, dogs on leash…Excellent way to “ blend in” exercise and relax.
I throughly enjoyed the uncrowded Hunterian Museum. Avoid if you see school busses.
A stroll from Marie’s deli in Chiswick along the Thames path to Hammersmith Bridge is pleasant meander.
Honestly, been visiting London for 50 years. So much to see and do and explore. Have a great time.
The Kew Gardens is a nice change of pace; check out the theater shows. Opposite idea is to do less of London and do a few days outside the city, like to Southern England.
Once again, thanks for your wonderful suggestions.
I agree that generally speaking a must see depends on what one might enjoy. Maybe I should have said not to be missed instead of must sees. For me, even if not particularly interested in religion, I would consider Notre Dame in Paris a not to be missed (aka must see) for someone visiting Paris for the first time.
Borough Market, or Portobello Market; they're both interesting, and very different.
One of the things my husband and I have started doing whenever we're in London, is seeing a play at the Globe. Your tour will probably visit the Globe, but seeing a Shakespeare play there is a great experience, a "not to be missed" for us.
Take the boat from Westminster Pier to Kew Gardens. You might also enjoy taking the tube to Hampstead Heath.
My last couple of trips to London I carved out time to go to the London Wetlands Centre for some birding and found the experience just what I needed to balance the fast city pace.
I’d also recommend an evening of theatre (much more affordable than Broadway) or music. The Royal Albert Hall often shows films with live orchestra and Proms is coming soon too! Lastly, I love London Walks! Hampstead Village & Heath or a pub walk are great options.
https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/london
https://www.walks.com/
Thanks for all your inputs. They are giving us great insights into planning our upcoming trip.
One scenic way to travel through London is the Uber Thames Clipper boat. Route here, with piers/stops marked on the map:
https://www.thamesclippers.com/plan-your-journey/route-map
Take the boat from any London dock to Greenwich. There, you can tour the sailing ship Cutty Sark, tour the Maritime Museum, walk up the hill for quite a great view and to see the Greenwich Observatory.
Someone mentioned London Walks. Great company, great walks around neighborhoods in London. A variety of themes: Harry Potter film locations, Jack The Ripper walk, Old Westminster walk, and more.
They also do day trips out of London, so you could sign up for one of those. You meet your guide at the train station for these trips, and the guide goes with you to give you a walking tour and escort your group back to London. Choose a day trip to Oxford, Cambridge, Canterbury, Bath, or one of the many other places they go.
https://www.walks.com/day-trips-from-london/
Book online ahead of time.
Thanks for your suggestions. I have to say that the cruise is quite appealing.
