Would love some advice/feedback on long awaited June trip to London

Uber boat is the faster but is a public service. But if you want a commentary go on City Cruises.
For central Greenwich and the foot tunnel use Cutty Sark DLR.
It's only about 6 miles back to Tower from Greenwich. so very do-able. If you get tired you're never far away from the Greenwich to central London TfL bus.
I think Rye is absolutely worth it, and so easy nowadays. Change at Ashford International out of the South Eastern High Speed.

I recently returned, and while my family's (me and wife) interests will differ from yours, there's some commonality in our London site priorities, specifically: Abbey, St. Paul, Tower of London, Churchill, British Museum.
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/york-and-london-march-3-11-2023

We were out of the Abbey from our 9:30 entry time, by about Noon. We didn't take a Verger or Hidden Highlight tour, but did spend a LOT of time in the Jubilee Galleries and the Chapter House. We had an early entry to the War Rooms, and their security line can get a bit long. It is under a building that is the headquarters of the British equivalent of a Cabinet Level Government Agency, so security is a bit tighter than other sites. We spent from 9:35 to Noon or so there. My wife has the better records (photo metadata), but I was pulling up our National Gallery tickets at 12:02, so must have been on the way out. My gift shop purchase didn't post until the next day and doesn't have swipe time on it anyway.

On our Tower of London - St. Paul's Day, we logged over 8 miles of walking total. We meandered a bit between the two, crossed the Tower Bridge and came right back across. There was a bit of meander/back track after St. Pauls for dinner and then to get a cab to our hotel. I'm not saying don't do it. We did it and we're unfit middle aged midwesterners. We even summited St. Pauls, all 522 steps.

The British Museum: I had a plan, for a quickie, but it turned into a full romance, and I paid a bit extra for our bag storage as a result. No one expects the Inquisition, no one can eat just one potato chip, and I don't think anyone can spend just an hour and see just one thing in the British Museum. It is literally the most amazing museum collection I've been to (and I grew up taking field trips to the Met in New York which has a claim to the belt).

Three nights is York is about right, imho. Book the Minster, get a free tour, linger in that magnificent building. I rate the York Castle Museum as a can't miss, but your mileage may vary.

On our trip, I limited us to two major sites a day at most, so as to incorporate some shopping and slow time. We found the time for that. I have the most trouble with planning meals, because I never know what we're gonna feel like at the end of the day. I get informed so I can adapt, but unless it's a destination eat (see: Rattle Owl in York for Sunday Roast), it's always match the eat to the moment, look for a place with locals and a good crowd.

Since you mention Witness for the Prosecution, consider spending one or two hours at The Old Bailey. We did that 12 years ago and it was truly magnificent. Saw a cross examination of a key witness in a murder case that was spellbinding. (At the end of the criminal defense barrister's cross, the Judge turned to the jury and said, as only an English judge can, "Maybe she just made it up." US judges cannot comment on the evidence, but English judges can.) In another courtroom we watched an examination of a forensic police computer expert in a terrorism trial that was also interesting. Very much a "through the back door" experience. 90 fascinating minutes to see key bits of two trials. The Court security personnel knew what was happening in which courtroom and directed us to ones that would be of interest.

IF you choose to go, check RS' book on where to stash your day pack and electronics at the travel agency, nearby. Court security won't let you in if you have much of anything on you. LATE NOTE: That travel agency might not be there - or still doing that. The Court suggests you leave such items at your hotel. https://old-bailey.com/visiting-the-old-bailey/ Surfing the web leads to one suggestion to combine with a visit to the British Museum and leave your gear checked in there, while you pop over to the Old Bailey.

The war rooms section of the Churchill War Rooms won't take too long, but the Churchill Museum section can, depending on your level of interest in Churchill. I spent more than half a day at the CWR (maybe 6 hours?), and it might have been longer if I had been alone.

Thanks so much for everyone's feedback so far, I love this forum!

isn31c- Love your tips regarding Greenwich. My husband and I love to walk. I think it's the best way to explore any new city. And you're right, it's not like we're in the middle of nowhere stranded if we decide we can't walk anymore! Also thanks for confirmation regarding Rye.

Max- you are hilarious, I've been following along with all of your posts. I just don't post much, I'm a lurker. I love your style though. Thanks for all your insight, especially with regards to Churchill war rooms and Tower of London/St Paul's day. We will just go for it I guess. I hear ya about the meals too-thanks for taking the time to write all the info out.

Fred- I will do some research on The Old Bailey, that sounds intriguing. I honestly don't know anything about it, I like the idea though.

acraven-yikes 6hrs? I can see doing that if the interest level is high. If I get tickets for 2pm, we'd have 4 hours approximately. My husband and I spent 6 hours at the WW2 museum in New Orleans two years ago. I'm sure he would've been there longer if he was on his own too.

Your hotel is close to Regents Park. Maybe that should be your first walk after checking in to the hotel.

Or just tube to Westminster and see Parliament Square. Then follow Birdcage Walk adjacent to St James Park up to the Palace. If the Royal Standard is flying the King is in residence.

Great city. Enjoy it.

Better keep your husband out of the Imperial War Museum.

Claudia-thanks for the advice-Regent's Park on arrival is a definite possibility, makes perfect sense. I would love to walk along the canal there. There's just too many places and not enough time to do them all justice-need to really think about the things I consider must see and just let the others go.

acraven- Yes, there are many museums to see in London- I would also like to visit the V&A, National Portrait Gallery. I do all the research for our trips so if my husband has his heart set on something he needs to speak up or forever hold his peace, lol. We get along well on vacation(married 30 years) and he is very easy-going. But sometimes he will say "Well, why didn't we go here?" and all I have to do is give him the look.

There's too much to do and not enough time to do it all

Can I get an amen sister ...

We'll be there 9 days after 6 days driving around the Cotswolds, and many places got the axe from the list ... my Westminster Abbey / War Rooms day is very similar ... get there right about 9:00 so I can enter when it opens at 9:30, sign up for the first Verger Tour ... leave at 12:30, lunch at The Two Chairmen ... War Rooms at 2:00pm, then back to the Abbey for Evensong at 5:00 ... dinner at the Munich Cricket Club ... a little tight but thankfully not to distant between places ... my Tower of London / St Paul's day is also similar but longer since I have tickets for the Ceremony of the Keys that night ... lots of walking that day ... another day has about 3.5 hours at the British Museum, I think that's a good amount of time to see the major stuff and wander around some ... doing the Greenwich sites another day (Uber boat to and from Westminster Pier to get some good views of the city) ... then a day trip to Bletchley, squeezing in a few hours at the British Library in the late afternoon after returning ... other days include Easter Mass at Westminster Cathedral, Sunday Roast at Blackrock Covent Garden and the National Gallery ... V&A, Royal Albert Hall and Kensington Palace (dinner that night at The Champion) ... Queens Gallery, Royal Mews then Kew Gardens in the afternoon ... last day is Abbey Road crossing then, if I didn't get run over by a car as I try to recreate the album cover, stroll back to our hotel passing 221b Baker Street, Selfridges and a few other places before taking the train to Harwich and the ferry across the sea to The Netherlands and Belgium for part 2 of the 5 week trip ... leave in 8 days, packing started weeks ago, anxious/excited/nervous meter is off the chart.

I do all the research for our trips so if my husband has his heart set on something he needs to speak up or forever hold his peace, lol. We get along well on vacation(married 30 years) and he is very easy-going. But sometimes he will say "Well, why didn't we go here?" and all I have to do is give him the look.

Another can I get an amen moment! ... 100% same as us ... 37 years in April, we're both easy-going so also travel well together ... I create the plan with her 'must-see' places included, then she (kinda) reviews/approves ... the trip starts and out come the comments so there are many 'the look' moments.

We love to walk in London, especially through the parks and on the Thames Path. Here are some comments:

Arrival day: Regents’ Park would be an excellent choice. Explore the park ( find the Ladies’ Pond!) and extend to walk along the canal path a bit if you like. You can head east past the zoo to Camden Locks and Camden Market ( warning—it can be crowded!). Or exit the park on the northwest side and make your way to Abbey Road if you have an interest in that.

If you prefer to see the parks closer to Buckingham Palace, I suggest you take the tube to Westminster station and start with St.James park, the most beautiful and interesting of the 3 connected parks, in our view. Green Park is the least interesting. Hyde Park offer a lot of variety but be sure to stay close to the lake (the Serpentine). We like the south side for the most interest and scenery, including the Rose Garden and the Princess of Wales memorial fountain.

You could also visit St. James Park after the Churchill War Rooms as they are right together. Or between the abbey and Churchill War Rooms if you have time. You can grab lunch at the cafe in the park if you like.

https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/st-jamess-park/food-and-drink/st-jamess-park-cafe

Greenwich day: we walked to Greenwich from our apartment near Tower Bridge Thames path and really enjoyed that, as well as the boat trip back (Uber/Thames Clipper, no commentary). For the walk and the boat ride we used a book that explains the building and features along the Thames Path, to enhance our experience, and I highly recommend that. The book covers the paths on both north and south banks of the river. You can get a new or used copy from Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/London-Thames-Path-David-Fathers/dp/0711276269/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1QPUBTKL5JL2R&keywords=London+Thames+Path&qid=1679757504&s=books&sprefix=london+thames+path%2Cstripbooks%2C150&sr=1-1

We walked the south side and passed, among other features, the Mayflower Pub, where the historic ship was moored before sailing to Plymouth to pick up the Pilgrims for their journey to the New World. Last September we did a London Walks guided tour of this area and stopped at the Mayflower Pub for an enjoyable lunch.

Tower of London and St. Paul’s day: Excellent choice to walk over Tower Bridge after seeing the Tower itself, and then loop through Borough Market before walking the South Bank path to Millennium Bridge to St. Paul’s. We have done that, with or without Borough Market, on almost every visit to London. You should have ample time and energy to do this.

I hope this helps!

Double check but I think the National Portrait Gallery is closed for renovation.

Look at the London Walks www.walks.com website. Might find a walk of interest to you. I take one each London visit. Last July it was Inns of the Court. Never been disappointed with a London Walk.

If it were me on your day of arrival I’d tube via the Piccadilly line from Russell Square to Leicester Square ( absorb the sights, sounds, smells ) and walk along Piccadilly to Green Park. Stroll through Green Park to the Palace. If the Royal Standard is flying HRH is in residence. Then stroll up Birdcage Walk to Elizabeth’s Tower and Parliament. Cross Westminster Bridge taking pictures.

We stopped in Rye last September for an overnight stay. It's pretty, but I consider it overrated. A day might be too long. Ypres Tower is a small, minor museum that we buzzed through in half an hour. If you like to wander in and out of shops in a pretty environment, then Rye may be worth it to you. My first choices as a daytrip would be Hampton Court Palace, Salisbury or even the Portsmouth Dockyards.

I would modify Claudia’s suggestion: walk through St. James park, next to the lake and the flowers, instead of taking the parallel Birdcage Walk. And instead of Westminster Bridge, I suggest walking from the eastern end of St. James Park across the Horseguards Parade and through their yard, then down Whitehall Place to the Golden Jubilee pedestrian bridges to cross. The Hungerford railway bridge has these two dedicated pedestrian bridges attached, one on either side. They are uncrowded and very pleasant to use. Once on the other side of the river, turn right and follow the Thames Path past the London Eye and County Hall to see the view of the Parliament buildings and Elizabeth Tower.

https://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/place/25850583-hungerford-bridge-and-golden-jubilee-bridges

Westminster Bridge is too crowded to be enjoyable. We were just there a week ago and had to walk across to reach County Hall for seeing Witness to the Prosecution. What a mess. There were at least 7 different shell games going on and masses of people blocking the sidewalk around each one. It was hard to thread our way through. And this is still the off-season. . . .

If you do choose to use Westminster Bridge to cross the river, use the south side (the right side as you face the river). The sidewalk is narrower, but at least there are no shell games going on, or crowds blocking the path.

DQ- Your trip sounds great! I'm going to steal some of your ideas if you don't mind, lol. Please write a trip report when you get back too. Congrats on 37 years!

Lola-Thank you for all the tips, I'm taking notes. If I'm not mistaken I actually checked out that Thames Path book online through Hoopla. I definitely need to buy a copy as it's nice to know what you're looking at when you go by it.

Claudia- Supposedly the National Portrait Gallery is reopening on June 22. I have looked at the London Walks website before, they look really interesting. I'm just trying to figure out how to squeeze them into the days I have available. I'm particularly interested in Old Westminster, Harry Potter film locations, Hampstead Heath. Seriously if I had the ability to stay in London for a few months, I'd walk all of them. Well, maybe not Jack the Ripper tour!

Allan- Thanks for your experience with Rye, gives me something to think about. I'm not sure what I'm going to do, so hard to make a decision. I wish I had more time to explore.

Thanks again to all of you for your advice and suggestions. I have a lot of homework to do now, I need to let all the info sink in for a few days and figure out some things. I need to sign off because my cat is licking and biting my hand trying to get my attention. He needs my lap for his afternoon nap.

Shelley

Shelley ... if you want to go to the Ceremony of the Keys, you must be prepared to get up early on the exact day tickets are released for June or you stand a good chance of not getting your date ... for June, that would be Monday May 1 ... I believe they are released at 9am London time (the website doesn't mention a specific time) ... I started my quest at 3am (6 hours behind London time), and tickets were already available ... I was number 200-something in the queue, but it moves quickly and 20 nerve-racked minutes later I got my date ... when I checked about 5 hours later there were only a few dates left and only 1 or 2 tickets for that date ... there is a previous thread discussing this, where several forum members practiced a month or two before their date to understand the when and how, I suggest you look into that, you'll have next month to practice since May tickets will be released Monday April 3.

https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/whats-on/ceremony-of-the-keys

DQ- Wow, that's some dedication to snag those tickets! Thanks for your detailed info-I asked my husband several months ago if he was interested in doing it and he said nope. So I shrugged my shoulders and moved on with my planning. Am I missing something? Is it really that big a deal, maybe ignorance is bliss? I'm more intrigued with your food selections, lol. Looked up The Two Chairmen, sounds like an interesting pub. We want to try a few even though we aren't really drinkers. Munich Cricket Club, that's different. We want try a sunday roast also-Blacklock looks nice, do you need reservations for all of these places? I know I want to do Fortnum and Mason for afternoon tea. I have a list of desserts in my head to try- Sticky toffee pudding, treacle tart, banoffee pie, victoria sponge, eton mess. Sorry, should've just sent you a pm instead.

Shelley

Just saw this but wanted to check in with my approval of Old Westminster tour by London Walks. I quite liked it and there’s a chance you may see a cabinet minister out and about. The Westminster by Gaslight tour is basically the same walk done at night and might offer the opportunity to visit a session of Parliament at the end if they’re sitting and you want to go through the airport like security. This will only give you the ability to watch a live session and you can’t wander around.