Underwhelmed with London. Suggestions for next 4 days

I should note we've done Windsor, Winchester abbey, Will do tower day after tomorrow.

Perhaps another day trip to the coast? Brighton perhaps?

Walk through Regent’s Park or head out to Richmond and visit the lovely and peaceful Kew Gardens.

Have you looked into London Walks. They are guide led, walking tours and there is a wide variety. I took a 1/2 day tour to Greenwich last time I was in London and really enjoyed it. You meet near Tower of London metro stop & take a cruise to Greenwich. Also, have you looked into going to a play? The cost is more reasonable than in NY and there is a wide variety. If you liked Windsor maybe 1 day you could go to Hampton Palace. I do hope you try to stop somewhere else for a meal. You could have afternoon tea at a tea shop-it doesn't have to be a fancy tea. You could grab a black cab and 5 minutes away is one of my favorite restaurants. Grumbles is one step up from a pub and has a lovely menu. I like the fish pie, but it has a variety of items on the menu.

Ken, it sounds like you've had some bad luck. I haven't yet been to London, I'm planning a trip for September. I did hear the Borrough Market can be very crowded. Perhaps some folks can recommend quieter markets.

There are some cities that are just really crowded. In Venice, we were up and out by 7am. We walked around for a while and then came back for breakfast at 9am, so that could be a strategy for you. Another tactic could be to look at London Walks. They are quite inexpensive and people seem to love them. With a tour you wouldn't have to worry about navigation. There is quite a variety of topics. https://www.walks.com/

Most museums are free. You could check some out and if they don't appeal, check out something else. I could be wrong (often am) but I wonder if the British Library and/or the Archives would be less busy. https://www.bl.uk https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

If you liked Windsor, maybe you'd enjoy a daytrip to Hampton Court?

Or a day trip to Bletchley Park (WWII Code breaking) or to the Wimbledon Tennis museum. I also would suggest day trips to smaller towns about an hour away. Hopefully, someone with more experience will pipe in.

I'm with Laurel, I'd head to Kew Gardens. It is big, spacious and green.

Do you have an interest in the Tate Britain which is near your hotel? The Wallace Collection (art museum in an old mansion) is also not usually crowded.

The British Library is usually not crowded and their permanent collection includes Magna Carta.

Skip the British Museum as it's very crowded.

Sorry you are not having the vacation you wanted. IF you decide on Europe again, I'd go the end of March (before Easter) to avoid crowding). Guided tours are also fun, in my opinion although you might feel restricted.

I'm not a great fan of London either!!! There's a lot more of England waiting to be discovered. Avoid the usual tourist traps...

Think about day trips out from London. Catch the train to Sevenoaks and go and visit Knole House. The house is often described as a calendar house with 365 rooms, 52 staircases, 12 entrances and seven courtyards.... It is surrounded by an extensive deer park and there are lots of walks you can do.

Another place to consider is Rye - again doable as a day trip by train. This is a delightful small town on the edge of the Romney Marshes with a long history. It retains its narrow cobbled streets and old houses. Climb the church towwer for the views.

Think about Whitstable or Margate....

Another vote for Hampton Court. Also, what about Kew Gardens?

Things will probably be quiet from Tuesday onwards, once the holiday weekend is over

Get on Booking.com and see what you can find outside of London and leave. I realize it's May and you can't count on sun and sand, but they do have beaches there. Try one of those. Or a smaller city like Liverpool if you're a Beatles fan. Or get on a plane and fly to a beach destination. Don't torment yourself. And don't rule out all European destinations because you got overwhelmed (not underwhelmed) by one of the biggest, busiest and most touristed cities in the world.

What if you did a few of these Rabbies Day Tours? They mostly leave from the Victoria Coach Station area - about a mile from your hotel. So you take a cab there, hop on a Rabbies bus, have a fun day, and take a cab back to your hotel.

https://www.rabbies.com/en/england-tours/from-london?

Rabbies puts on a fine tour and you’d see some areas outside London.

Don’t be embarrassed about being overwhelmed by London. It’s huge and it’s hard to adapt to the driving on the other side and its impact on being a pedestrian. We are always almost looking the wrong way.

A day trip (or make it an overnight if you really want to escape London) to Bath is easy from London and could provide a nice break from the city. I totally understand your sentiments. I've been to London several times and while I'm always happy to arrive in London, I'm also always happy to leave it, whether that be for onward travels or for home.

I'm sorry you are not having a great time. I lived in London for over 20 years and feel much the same as you when I go up these days.
Things are probably a bit more crowded this weekend due to the VE celebrations - see what on here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8072z9pg1yo

I'd also suggest a train trip to the coast - if you like art, Margate, by train 1.5 hrs e/w would be good. There are several galleries, incl Turner. There is also the oldest wooden rollercoaster in the UK in Dreamland.
Don't forget Tate Modern, round the corner from your hotel.

I second the other suggestion for Kew Gardens, a rather peaceful place with an outstanding botanical collection.

How about a river trip, especially the long one in the "wrong" direction, towards Kew.

You say you don't like pub food - not sure what you mean precisely.

If you like Chinese, go to China Town, in Soho near Leicester Square.

If you cross the river by Lambeth Bridge , you will come to the museum of Garden History.
Walk east and keep going till you have passed the crowds of the London Eye - on the edge of the river by the Festival Hall are numerous eateries of all nationalities and prices.
My favourite is the Archduke (it's in the railway bridge arches) - upstairs in the restaurant, rather than the bar. I've been going there since it opened in 1980s.

Good luck - I'd hate you to go home unhappy - bit I felt the same about New York!!

Ken,

The hop-on, hop off would mostly just have you in traffic. After your experience so far, it might be easy, but I don't think you'd enjoy it.

Also, my experience at the Borough Market was the same as yours. I got off the bus to go, took one look at the heaving crowds, and walked away.

I like some of the other suggestions you've gotten. Kew Gardens, Hampton. Consider Oxford or Cambridge.

I hope you can salvage the rest of your trip and hope you don't write off the rest of Europe after this. You might enjoy something like a river cruise next time.

I've been to London half a dozen times and there are things I love about it, but I can find it overwhelming at times. Someone else in the thread mentioned they didn't enjoy New York City. I have enjoyed myself there, but I don't love it and usually cannot wait to leave.

I like Hampton Court Palace (take train from Waterloo Station to Hampton Court Station)
Bletchley Park - Code breaking center from World War II (take train from Euston Station to Bletchley Park)
Really adventuresome day : Portsmouth Historic Dockyards (take train from Waterloo Station to Portsmouth Harbor)

All three suggestions are out of London, and involve only short walks (less than 7 minutes) after you get off of the train.

Totally Okay to have different travel interests. If we were all the same, how boring.......

Ditch some of the RS suggestions right off the top - Borough Market is for the birds (in my opinion) and Greenwich takes some research to determine if its offerings are of personal interest of not. Take a look at your remaining plans and make sure they are you - not someone else's idea. It's too easy to think a guidebook agenda is one's own.

Kew Gardens can be lovely and relaxing (as noted)

You don't mention interests, but consider also:
Hampstead Heath - wonderful for a stroll on a nice day. Kenwood House (free) has an incredible art collection. Curators I've enjoyed chatting with!

Stroll around the Inns of Court area. There may be London Walks - Legal London or something. Fun little throughways and hidden courts. Not generally full of tourists

Day trip to Oxford or Cambridge. May be full with student-types and some tourists, but enough interesting areas that you can wander off the beaten path. Oxford's Ashmolean has great exhibits if interested: https://www.ashmolean.org

Day trip to Winchester - lots to see. https://www.visitwinchester.co.uk

If you indicate interests, I can recommend many smaller London museums and sites that are not typically overwhelmed with crowds. I'm sure others can chime in with their favorites.

Don't feel guilty! My first trip to London, decades ago, was colored by too many preconceptions and I also was disappointed. After countless return trips in various circumstances of solo, family, work travel, my attitude has changed. I will admit that on a recent visit when I was feeling under-the-weather, I found the crowd levels upsetting and had to work hard to overcome this and enjoy myself.

By the way, as a mostly solo traveler these days, I often "dine" at my hotel in the evening. Relax and enjoy - restaurant exploration, reservations and planning aren't for everyone!!

Yeah, Borough Market has evolved into this tourist conflagration. While there's a handful of solid vendors there, the pricing is quite high and the sheer volume of foreign tourists crowding about is overwhelming. For other less crowded market/food halls consider: Convent Garden, Seven Dials Market, Mercato Mayfair, Bang Bang Oriental Food Hall, Broadway Market and Old Spitalfields Market.

We don't eat pub food, and are a little ashamed to say we've just eaten and drank at our hotel THe Westminster Curio. Does anyone have any suggestions?

You do know that 'pub food' ranges from basic bar food crap that resembles a Wing Stop or, Buffalo Wild Wings, to very solid, quite reputable elevated fare. One of the most popular pubs in London is The Devonshire, which is recognized for its excellent traditional menu and mentioned in Michelin Guides. Near your hotel is the Jagged Hare, besides an extensive menu also serves game meat. One of my favorites is The Pelican in Notting Hill. For a sit-down restaurant, take a look at Fallow and its chicken-focused sister restaurant Fowl. Hawksmoor and Blacklock are popular steak/roast focused restaurants. Dishoom and Gymkhana are also well regarded restaurants to try London's famous Indian cuisine scene. The Regency Cafe is also near your hotel, this is one of the long-standing English diners where you can get a proper English Fry for breakfast.

Keep in mind, if you're ordering a burger, you're likely to be disappointed as NHS regulations stipulate all ground beef needs to be cooked well-done. Most restaurants pre-cook the patties, then do a second cooking before serving, resulting in quite a dry, flavorless and exhausted patty. Also, do not order fish n'chips unless its from a chip shop where they're dredging & frying your order; most restaurants/pubs get their fish pre-battered & fried from suppliers, and upon ordering they'll do a secondary fry to get it up to temp and crisp-up the outside; its a cost saving measure that many restaurants do resulting in a less-than stellar dining experience. Take a look at Mayfair Chippy, Rock & Sole Plaice, Hobson's, and Pimlico Fish.

Ken, I'm sorry you and your wife are having just a miserable time in London.

I agree with the idea of another day trip or 2 where someone else takes care of the logistics.

And I'm with you on Borough Market. I was there on a beautiful Saturday in late March with about half of London. I couldn't get out of there fast enough.

I'm a bit confused as to your not eating pub food. Depending on the pub, I've eaten scallops, halibut, Beef Wellington, roast lamb, cheeseburgers, fish and chips and more. Many pubs have a separate dining room offering a more restaurant style menu. The Ship Tavern is one of those.

I hope the rest of your trip is more enjoyable.

Your suspicion that you are not Europe people is likely correct. At least you’ll know moving forward planning the next trip.

If above you meant to say Westminster Abbey, then Winchester and the cathedral there is a nice day trip.

Noting that hotel location is pretty critical in London, and you haven’t done so well. I would have tried to stay father north and east, more central to sites and more interesting streets. Maybe resign yourselves to the expense of taxis.

Come to Portsmouth! We've got the sea, the beach albeit pebbles, the weather's great and the history is fascinating. You can reach the city by train in around an hour which will deposit you mere steps from the Historic Dockyard and no need to worry about navigating public transport as much of what is of interest is entirely walkable. For an even slower pace of life you can take the hovercraft or ferry over to the Isle of Wight and explore the wonderful island that rarely features on the radar of most foreign tourists.

...our failure to learn getting around have been the biggest
detractors.

Ken, can you explain what specific part of the Tube you're having difficulty with? Is it trouble reading the map? Is it figuring out which direction you need to be going, thus what platform to go to? Maybe the good folk here can help if they understand a bit better what's hanging you up. I'm guessing you might like London a lot better if you could get comfortable with the Tube.

Same with pub food; what more exactly is not to your liking, and what kind of food DO you enjoy?

Oh gosh, if you enjoyed Windsor Castle then you're bound to enjoy Hampton Court. Yes, do that one. You'll most probably enjoy your time at the Tower too; interesting place, that!

Another vote for the British Library, specially the Treasures of the British Library. Best of all? It's free, and unlikely to be overrun. We really liked that one.
https://events.bl.uk/exhibitions/treasures-of-the-british-library

I'm sure the British Museum will be chaos but you might take a look at the National Portrait Gallery? I thought that one was interesting (just the attire of the sitters in the Holbeins and others of that era) but I'm sort of an art geek.
https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/

What about a ramble around Highgate Cemetery?
https://highgatecemetery.org/visit

"I'm sure this is going to put me in a extreme minority..."

To be honest, so far as many living in Britain are concerned, you are probably in the majority! Sure that London has some nice things to see, but it isn't a place anyone normal would want to live.

Since you're not leaving before 8th May, perhaps head north. You could have a few days in York or Edinburgh. A much nicer life.

But if you're stuck in London hotel accommodation then it is easy to take a train to somewhere nicer. It will partly depend on where your hotel is. But Oxford, Cambridge, Portsmouth or Whitstable are all much nicer and more interesting places to go. Certainly, don't force yourself to spend the rest of your time in London!

Can you confirm your hotel and address? Westminster Curio? If I have the right one, this is a location many on the forum like and is 6 minutes from a tube station.

I hope you will consider additional trips to Europe. My husband and I have really enjoyed visiting multiple countries and cities of all sizes. London is about 4 times bigger than Paris or Rome, to get a sense of why the tube map is so complex. Have you checked with your hotel for directions?

If you are into MI5 (James Bond) there is a special exhibit at the archives. My understanding is that the library and archives are free to visit

Wherever you end up on Sunday, seriously consider have a traditional roast dinner, whether in a pub or in a restaurant.

I agree with your assessment of the Borrough Market. Here’s an activity my husband & I both loved:

Our last day, we participated in The London East End Food Tour with Eating Europe. We both highly recommend it! It was a feast, beginning in the Spitalfield Market - our new favorite open market! Our guide, David, was very knowledgeable with a dry sense of humor, and he shared so much history & ethnic culture along with sharing six tasty restaurants with us over 3 1/2 hours. My husband & I both felt it went fast, which is always a sign of a great food tour!

I am giving you “full permission” to stay someplace else one night. That could get you on the train to a location that feels like a place fun for you, and you could spend 1 1/2 days there. I did this when I was at Marbella, Spain in February for two nights. I left after one night and chose a much better option for what I needed during that trip.

Ken, sorry you are having problems. Public transportation can be daunting, especially for those of us who have no or limited access/experience at home.

As I researched my June trip, I found several small museums: Wallace Collection, Sir John Soane Museum. Kensington and Hampton Palaces were both great and not as crowded as the Tower of London. Look at Google maps to bunch an area of sightseeing together for less transportation needs. Plus there is a thread from a year ago that mentions small museums.
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/england/hidden-gems-for-a-repeat-visitor

To get out of London without too much work on your part, take a look at Rabbie’s Tours. I have two 1-day trips scheduled out of London and two out of Killarney Ireland. Rabbie’s has been recommended multiple times on the forum. https://www.rabbies.com/en/england-tours/from-london

Food tours are always good. I’ve done six in several country’s with Eating Europe. https://www.eatingeurope.com/london/

Don’t give up on Europe. There are many wonderful, interesting places to visit. A Rick Steves tour may be a good starting point for you.

Get on a train and go to Rochester or another small own. https://secretldn.com/villages-close-to-london/
Sorry you're having such a hard time in London, it is rather crowded. I too had a horrid time at Borough Market the second time there. Look at this article for suggestions of cute towns/villages to visit, at the bottom of each village is how to get there. Rye has a lot of tourists, but was still enjoyable. Also, link for pretty villages in UK https://secretldn.com/prettiest-villages-uk/

Bath is just over an hour by train and you can arrange a walking tour. Cantebury is not the prettiest town but the Cathedral is famous and worth a visit. If you like historical buildings, also in Cantebury is St. Martin's Church from the year 597 (see Wikipedia for full description) its the oldest church building still functioning.

Bradford on Avon is easy to get to and has a lovely tea shop and one of the oldest unaltered anglo-saxon churches- St. Laurence, from 7th century

Also not far by train is the New Forest. Pick a small town there to stay in and see the Forest and the ponies.

Best of luck

I agree that the crowd issue in London is a real downer, it is exhausting to deal with. We were there in October, and in touristy areas, the crowds are daunting...we enjoyed walking in Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park every day as an escape from the crowds...we did not go inside any museums - too many people...we minimized our time spent on the Tube - terribly crowded stations and cars. We always attend a play in a West End theater, so many shows to choose from.

Skip the "bucket list" sights people mention here, stay off of the Tube as much as possible, and walk in neighborhoods like Notting Hill, South Kensington, and Chelsea...

When you say you "don't eat pub food" I have to ask have you actually eaten in a pub on this trip? The food served in London pubs today is quite good, much better than it was as recently as 15 to 20 years ago...other food to seek out in London is "ethnic" from Chinese to Indian, some excellent options. Great international food options on Queensway, for instance...

I found this option in Weymouth:
https://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/seascape-guest-house.html?label=gen173nr-1FCAEoggI46AdIM1gEaLQCiAEBmAExuAEHyAEN2AEB6AEB-AECiAIBqAIDuAKZmdnABsACAdICJDliMDJjMTQyLTgwNmUtNDEyNC1hMjEyLTY5ZDZlZDA4ZDczZNgCBeACAQ&aid=304142&ucfs=1&checkin=2025-05-04&checkout=2025-05-08&dest_id=1706&dest_type=region&group_adults=2&no_rooms=1&group_children=0&nflt=oos%3D1%3Bprice%3DUSD-min-200-1%3Breview_score%3D90%3Broomfacility%3D108%3Bht_id%3D208%3Brated_high%3D1&srpvid=9fc2781a237103dd&srepoch=1746292219&matching_block_id=1171672303_389705699_2_1_0&atlas_src=sr_iw_title&activeTab=main
Weymouth can be reached by train for London Waterloo in 2.5 hours. Return to Heathrow with one change in about 3.5 hours.

London can be brutal and it’s certainly not to everyone’s taste. Many British people also hate it. I only live 100 miles away and many, many people here literally never go to London because they don’t like it. A lot of other people wouldn’t want more than a day or 2. So you are not alone!

Book a train and go to Bath. Just get a taxi to Paddington, don’t even think about the cost, and rescue your trip. If even that seems daunting just pay a few hundred pounds and get a car all the way there. Or pick another small town and go there. You’ll have a totally different experience and will feel so much better.

My concern is this....you don't like public transportation so I'm hesitant to recommend a regular train out of town for day trips or even for a few days.

But if you are willing to get on a regular train, then consider:

Canterbury

Portsmouth

Oxford or Cambridge

Brighton (Sand and Beaches)

Winchester

I'm also going to second (or third) the idea of looking into Rabbie's Day Trips.

If you don't mind me asking, and you don't have to say where, but do you live in a large city?

I’m one of those people who likes London, but I live in a big city and am used to public transportation. That probably makes it a little easier. I’m sorry your experience hasn’t been great.

In addition to the suggestions mentioned, including a day trip to the coast, there are quieter pockets not too far away within London. Even walking through Hyde Park might help. There’s a cafe by the Italian Gardens in the park where you can sit and have a cup of coffee or a sandwich with a view of the fountains, etc. If you don’t want to brave the Tube again, you could take a taxi. Best wishes for the rest of your trip!

The VE Day celebrations are this week. There is a fly past on Monday. The poppies at the Tower start next week.

You could take a trip to Hampstead.

What didn’t you like about Greenwich? Only asking to get an idea of what you might like. Not because I disagree with you.

Obviously like everyone else I'm sorry to hear about your experience. Going to Europe isn't cheap and London for sure is an expensive place to visit and it sounds like you are feeling overwhelmed.

While the responses have provided a lot of wonderful places to visit (many I have been to or plan to visit myself on our upcoming 3rd trip to London/England) I would hate to see you just end up wandering around wherever you go. The secret is doing a little more research. For example, if going to Bath, Oxford, Cambridge, go to youtube and view some videos and see if there is something that will appeal to you. Go the website of each place and see what you find there that will give you an idea of how you want to spend your time and money.

Spending time in London almost requires using the tube, so likewise search youtube for videos on how to use the tube. I wish many US cities had the transportation options that Europeans take for granted. Apps like Citymapper can give you complete information on what tube station is nearby and what lines to take and how much time will be needed. If not familiar with Citymapper again visit youtube for information.

If still feeling overwhelmed take the advice of walking tours or Rabbies or other tour groups. Let the professionals and locals enthusiasts do the work and just enjoy the experience. Google will give you plenty of options to choose from. This is why we enjoy RS tours so much. My wife loves the experience that comes with having a guide that takes care of us extremely well, but there is enough free time and time we spend either before or after that I have a chance to find those experience unique for us.

Good luck and safe travels! Let us know how the rest of the trip goes.

Sorry to hear you aren’t having a whelming experience and yet good for you for recognizing you aren’t over-crowded urban area people and course-correcting quickly.

If you can’t get out of your London hotel, you’ve received some fantastic suggestions.

If you can, I love the idea of moving somewhere calmer, with an overlap with your interests. For example, you may love a country house spa hotel on the south coast or elsewhere outside London.

My sister-in-law and I spent several days together over the summer. I picked Hardwick Hall and Chatsworth. She picked a spa hotel. I thought it would be a waste of my time and money, but the food was lovely and it was a restorative and interesting cultural experience.

Hope you find something to better suit your needs for your remaining days!

As someone who absolutely loves London I do understand how you feel. We've all been to places we're less enthusiastic about for one reason or another (for.me it is Rome). Sounds to me like based on your preferences Southeast Asia would be a good spot for your next holiday!

For those of us trying to avoid the heat and humidity, what do we love about London? Personally, I like the history and the culture. The museums, the ballet, the West End theatres, the galleries, the stately homes.

What would I suggest for your trip? Lots of great suggestions already, and Hampton Court is probably the best. An easy train ride from London, and a beautiful palace with a significant history. And I also like the suggestion of Hampstead. It's a very smart residential area with some nice shops, but Hampstead Heath is amazing - you'll feel you're in the countryside. And I know you say you don't like pub food, but there's a nice pub, The Spaniards, on the heath. I think you just haven't been to a good pub yet ;)

Bath was also suggested. Great Regency buildings plus the Roman baths. Can get busy, but nothing on the scale of London.

As another day trip, we recently visited Petworth. Lovely little town, quite picturesque. Lots of antique shops. Short train + bus trip from London.

Which brings me to public transport. It's unavoidable. You'll just have to get used to it. I take the train every day at home so the tube is not issue. If you don't take public transport, I understand it may take some getting used to. Yes, people are in a hurry. Yes, doors close without warning. But it is the.most efficient way to get around.

I wonder whether vehicles driving on the left has complicated things for you. It took me awhile to remember to look right before stepping off the curb.

Sounds like relaxing vacations, rather than urban ones, are your thing, which is just fine; we all have different travel styles. For the remainder of your time in London I'd suggest maybe taxis to get you around, and I'd strongly recommend visiting the Tower of London. Hope you find a way to have a better time before flying home.

Just a word of encouragement. It is not too late to watch a few you tube videos about how to ride the tube or take the train in London. It may help you have a better rest of the trip.

I always look for these types of videos before I visit any new city. Just being able to visualize the process in advance is very helpful.

Don't be intimidated by the tube if you get on it going the wrong way just get off at the next stop and get on the tube going the other direction. We found it super easy to use. You can always ask other passengers but a good idea is to ask someone carrying groceries or schoolchildren etc not someone with a suitcase as they may be tourists like you! Relax and realize you have learned how to navigate in a big city and now you also know what is a better type of vacation for you.

Please come back and let us know how you are doing. We all are hoping we have helped and are more than happy to provide any additional assistance.

For future travel, I agree with the suggestion to look at a Rick Steves tour. One of the things they try to do is teach travelers how to get around and get the most of your trip. Also, there are beaches and ocean in Europe. ;)

I just wanted to get back on and check in and thank you all for these wonderful suggestions. I'll try to proofread the best I can before I hit submit but if you see the word period curiously cropping up it's because my voice to text has suddenly stopped creating punctuation.

This little side half or full day trips like to the Cotswolds really do appeal to us. For some reason I thought we'd be overdoing it if we did any of those, like the one to bath and Stonehenge, the Cotswolds, etc. A couple of posts I created earlier on before we came let me to believe that Brighton might be a little seedy these days so we may or may not have that way, but today we're going to walk from our hotel which is the Westminster curio on John Islip Road, to Kensington Palace and meander through Hyde Park are least fora good walk, possible tour the palace.

The Good wife and I are going to go through all these suggestions, especially of interest are those rabbies tours. The Cotswolds has me intrigued.

I can't thank you all enough. We've come to our senses a bit, and have when decided NOT to stow away aboard a freighter to get back home !

I do think three quarters of our dissatisfaction is the crowds and the uncertainty on getting around. We're not driving so the left hand side of the road doesn't throw us off, but even though I studied up on how the tube works, when you hit the ground you have to translate that mental knowledge into actual action trauma and that piece is missing, but we'll get it.

The crowds can be very wearing. Get a taxi if you need to and head to quieter, greener areas Hampstead, Richmond or Wimbledon. You’ll hardly believe you’re still in London. Sometimes you just need to do what works for you.

OP: you have gotten amazing advice! I just want to add one nuance… about Brighton.

Brighton does include a (pebbly) beach, plus sun, plus beachy ambiance, plus the cute “Lanes” and the Pavilion…. BUT. You are right. Much of it is pretty seedy, has seen better days, or is over-priced tat. Or all three. And it can be mad crowded!

If London is wearing you down, I’d avoid Brighton - it will depress you! (And I say that having just been there in April to go to their branch of Dishoom and take our “god son” to get ice cream and a beachball.)

London Walks is my suggestion. I went on a walk almost every day last time when I was there just because they showed London in a much better way then if I was on my own. I believe the also have a discount card for taking more than one walk. www.walks.com
Seriously, it's one of the best parts of being in London.

Have you thought to go to Cambridge? Oxford is way too busy but I loved Cambridge University tour-you can sign up to tour a college and IMO, it's much more relaxing than London and much prettier.

I don't know if you have a smartphone but I found the best way to get around London is to put your journey into the TFL Trip planner website(Transport for London).

Finally, Kew Gardens-and the area around are very lovely at this time of year and it's a bit of an oasis in the city.

We've learned a lot about ourselves this week. Beaches. Ocean. Sun.
Sand. No Europe. Unless a to z handheld guided tour or cruise.

I get it completely. After Texas, the US is the most beautiful country in the world so it’s hard to rationalize going anywhere else.

Thanks for any ideas. I know this is NOT how most people experience
London. My wife and I are wired profoundly different than the general
public and we often leave people scratching their heads so feel free
to scratch, haha!

No, if I had your experience I might be feeling the same. I never quite hit your wall, but saw it down the road so abandoned Western Europe for the most part, started working with travel planners who actually know what they were talking about, and started customizing the trips around my things of enjoyment. Things that don’t involve cathedrals, ethnographic museums, Michelin star food, entry tickets and bumper to bumper tourists whacking everyone around them with backpacks suitable for a Everest expedition.

So I am off to Montenegro in a few days. Half the trip me and a quiet high country river; fly fishing and dreaming. Half of the trip me and a view of the one of the most beautiful coast lines; drinking and dreaming.

If what you like is beaches, ocean, sun, sand and not Europe then it's fairly clear that you're not going to like London, as it doesn't deliver on anything. And that's fine. I don't like London much either - I go a lot because one of my sons and my granddaughter live there. even though I'm not keen on London in general I do love Greenwich and see nothing of great interest in Windsor so we should probably avoid holidaying together Ken. You can get handheld guided tours in London but I doubt that you would like them either, because even they can't do anything about crowds.

The UK has some of the best beaches in the world but hardly any of them are anywhere near London and you would have to be very lucky to coincide a trip with hot sun (and even then the water won't be hot).

My one line advice would be to get out of London and preferably to somewhere well away from known tourist attractions. Wherever you go in the UK there are places of interest close by.

I can see why you're not enjoying London. It's a place to indulge one's interests in museums and history, which is why I love London and would never choose Hilton Head as my place to live at the beach.

Just to stir things up a bit have you looked into going to one of the plays / musicals in the West End? The last time we were in London we booked a matinee of Wicked about three hours before show time. Enjoyed a first class musical along with a glass of wine and some popcorn. It looks to me you need to find something that allows to you to sit and decompress for a few hours.

I'm going to suggest a day trip to Lewes, East Sussex, and specifically to Charleston House, the country home of many of the Bloomsbury Group. You can get a train from Paddington to Lewes, and there will be taxis outside the train station. It's a short ride to Charleston, which is one of my favorite places on earth. It features a beautiful garden, a newly built barn with cafe and art gallery, and the house itself, which is decorated lavishly with paint, pottery and paintings. It's also very quiet there!

I am so sorry you have had a disappointing experience. We were in London exactly a year ago and even though we are very city savvy, we were overwhelmed by the crowds. We didn't realize it was a bank holiday on the first Monday of May and it was a challenging weekend. Things should lighten up on Tuesday.

It looks like your hotel is nice and hopefully you have a concierge who can help you with some nearby restaurants. Just a change of scenery can be fun. You said you weren't pub people but it looks like there is some steak and Italian restaurants nearby. And London has every kind of cuisine you could ask for.

Since you enjoyed Windsor, maybe to catch the boat to Hampton Court Palace would be interesting. You board at Westminster Pier (about a 15 minute walk from your hotel) and there is a pier at Hampton Court. I would ordinarily recommend Kew Gardens, but when we were there nothing was blooming, we were too late for the tulips and the cherry blossoms and we were too early for the roses.We did love Richmond, charming and beautiful views of the water, maybe a nice place for a relaxing meal. Heading back on the boat might make it a long day. There is a train( not the tube) which would let you off about 15 minutes away from your hotel.

We have a lot of experience on public transportation. When heading to Richmond, we studied the tube map for awhile and were approached by a transit assistant. He was very friendly and advised us on how to get there in great detail, even though we were very confident we already knew what to do. I am sure you would find similar helpful employees. When coming back from Kew Gardens, we got on the train going in the wrong direction, and a very friendly Dad with 2 children asked where we were going and told us to get off at the next station and head in the other direction. Embarrassing but easily remedied! A lot of friendly, helpful people out there.

I didn't love Oxford, again very crowded, but we did love Bath and again it was an easy train trip (again not the tube) The ride is about 1:30 each way. The Cotwolds were wonderful and if you could find a tour, that would be very memorable. Whenever you can use taxis and private drivers, that would ease your stress. Good luck!

We will talk to our concierge when we return from our Tower of London tour this morning about the Cotswolds . but I just wanted to ask some general advice about them, I'm getting that there are a bunch of villages that are strong together, and that one could spend his little or as much time as they want exploring. I'm understanding that there's a train from Paddington to Moreton in Marsh (sp). Would that be a suitable day trip, just sticking to that one village?

Personally I feel the Cotswolds are better explored with more time and a car. Others may disagree. It can be done by public transport, but buses between villages are limited, and if you only have a day, you're limiting yourself. If you're really keen, maybe look at a guided tour.

There are so many other pretty places in England, just as (if not more) convenient from London. Rye has been suggested, and the New Forest also comes to mind.

The Cotswolds are lovely, but they do seem to be a compulsory stop for every American visitor... I'm not saying don't go, but have a look at alternatives.