Weekend in London - Suggestions Welcome

My daughters and I (age 14 and 9) did a Hop on Hop off bus tour on our arrival day in 2018. We were soon dozing off. Of course, some people will have other experiences with this, but it wasn't good for us.

When we visited last year, after arriving we walked around St. James' Park, and we all enjoyed the baby ducks and geese, and the squirrels that let you eat out of your hand. And we saw Buckingham Palace while being out in the sunshine.

I haven't attended a changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, but from what I hear, you have to arrive pretty early to get a good spot, or you will see nothing. Just something to think about, and maybe another poster can confirm this or not.

Forget the HoHo bus. If you want to go on a bus, go on a bus, an actual bus. You won’t get the garbage commentary but you will save a fortune and get to your destination quicker.

An alternative to the hop on bus is the Queen's Walk along the south bank of the Thames. You'll have an unobstructed view across the river of many of the iconic sites, and you'll really have the sense of being in London. Plus, if this is your arrival day from the States, it will give you needed exposure to sunlight to help adjust to the time change.

An easy and cheap way to see the interior of St. Paul's is to attend the Evensong service at 17:00. You're expected to stay for the entire 45-minute service, and expected to leave when it's over - but a less demanding visit when time (and possibly energy) is limited. This can easily be combined with the walk.

I'd skip the HOHO bus tour for the reasons given above. Hard to stay awake + much slower than a regular bus, even on a Saturday. From the British Museum to St. Paul's is about a 30-minute walk, something you might welcome after a long flight. The Tower isn't much farther. The Transport for London website can help you plan a bus and/or tube route anywhere in London. Or you could just spring for a taxi and save your energy for the sites themselves.

Evensong is a good idea if you want to save money, enjoy the music, and don't mind missing a lot of St. Paul's. I did that once and appreciated it, but I'd been all over the cathedral on a previous visit. To see the altar, the American chapel behind it, the crypt, and the upper reaches it's worth the price of admission, and you're not tied to the worship schedule.

I think the changing of the guard is overrated, and I wouldn't spend all that time waiting at a good vantage point. But your walking plan makes sense, and a good map can help you pick the best route to see what you like. Enjoy your limited time in this great city and plan to return for more!

Absolutely DO NOT take the Hop on Hop Off bus tour. Instead use the London Underground ( the Tube). Brilliant means of transport throughout London.

If near Goodge Street station it’s 15 minutes on the Northern Line to Westminster. About the same amount of time and same line from Tottenham Court Road. If closer to Russell Square take the Jubilee Line to Green Park, exit and then board a Piccadilly Line to Westminster.

However you arrive at Westminster, exit the station and you’ll see Elizabeth’s Tower with the Big Ben bell. Walk across the road with the light and meander in Parliament Square ( Westminster Abbey and Parliament buildings)…good views from midcenter of Westminster Bridge back to Parliament. Ignore the shell games, get your pictures and walk back to Parliament Square.

If walkers its about 45 minutes on the Thames River Path to St Paul’s. Lovely way to absorb the sights, sounds and smells of London. Great photo ops.

Otherwise from Parliament Square take Circle Line or District Line train to St Pauls.

I do that your arrival day and save the Tower of London for day 2. Get to the Tower at opening and head straight to the Crown Jewels. See them first then explore the Tower and see if the Ravens are out.

Lastly, if you want to see the Changing of the Guard expect to be disappointed. Huge crowds so unless you get there early to establish a viewing point…

Instead check the Guard Change at the Royal Horse Guards. Far easier to see and IMHO better….you could also follow Birdcage Walk from Horse Guards up to Spur Road and wait for the Horse Guards to head off to the Palace to the changing of the Guard ceremony.

Been going to London since 1972. Always use the Tube. Enjoy main meals mid day at pubs. Walk 6-8 miles daily. Best way to see London and it’s varied neighborhoods.

Great city. Enjoy it.

EDIT: As far as things to see: visit Shoreditch for the street art, interesting shops and food markets. Then head to Spitalfields. Believe your daughter will like Shoreditch.

I think a better choice than hop-on/hop-off is a London Walk. Search that on google or go to walks(dot)com and select something interesting. The Harry Potter walk may be good for your daughters. There are other ones that go around the Tower or St. Paul's. They are 2 hours long and lead by expert guides. One of Rick Steve's oldest guides (Tom H.) also works for London Walks and he's a great story teller. The cost is very reasonable (15 pounds for an adult, 5 pounds each for your young daughters).

After your walk I suggest Barrafina for dinner. They have 4 restaurants near the British Museum, so also close to your hotel. All four are excellent and you don't have to make a reservation. It's Spanish Tapas and an enjoyable atmosphere for children, in my opinion. When you show up there may be a line, but don't worry, it moves along rather quickly. You can also make a reservation if you prefer. A stroll around Covent Garden is nice before heading off to bed.

For your Sunday meander I'd suggest Hyde Park (you'll probably see horses using the track on Sunday), and while you're in the area the Victoria and Albert museum (which is my favorite in London), though the Science museum next door is more geared towards children. A nice family restaurant in the area is About Thyme. It's small but has a nice family atmosphere. For something fancier, and with more options appealing to children, I'd suggest Tozi on Gillingham St.

Our party of five arrives Saturday the 11th and we will start with a walk along the south side of the Thames for many of the purposes previously stated in other posts. London is a fantastic walking city.
Consider visiting St. Paul’s, closes 4:30, and then taking the short walk across to the south side of the Thames via the millennium bridge and strive to walk to the Westminster bridge to gather grand views of historic London. Your walk will lead to ample places to select for eating dinner. Sunset will be approximately 8:45 providing ample opportunity to explore.
The Tower of London is usually open at 10 on Sunday, be sure and book an online ticket. Recommend considering experiencing a Sunday Roast for your main meal Sunday.

https://london.eater.com/maps/best-sunday-roast-london-restaurants-pubs

We will also attend a play on Sunday, Six.

Enjoy your journey!

Take a look at the Central London bus map with routes and major tourist sites:

https://content.tfl.gov.uk/bus-route-maps/key-bus-routes-in-central-london.pdf

Instead of the much-disliked HOHO bus, you could take the # 59 or #188 from near the British Museum south to Aldwych. Get off there and find the stop for the #15, the major east-west bus between Trafalgar Square and the Tower of London, past many of the historic buildings and sites.

On your arrival day, take the #15 east to either St. Paul’s or the Tower of London, get off and walk around; maybe cross over Tower Bridge and walk along the South Bank a bit for good views. When ready, head to Tower Pier and ride a Thames Clipper/Uber Boat upriver to Embankment, or if you have the energy stay on to Westminster Abbey and the Elizabeth Tower. Then find your way home by bus or tube.

On Sunday, return to Aldwych and ride the #15 east to Trafalgar Square (or simply walk there), walk down the Mall and into St. James Park for a lap around the lake and the gardens. Pop up and have a look at Buckingham Palace if you like. Exit St. James Park at the southwest corner, closest to Victoria Station, for your theatre.

You should consider dropping by the British Museum - especially since it's near your lodging. Also, Westminster Abbey is well worth a visit.

Thanks everyone! You've given me some ideas and reminded me of the arrival day struggles. Nothing beats walking!