3 precious days in London alone. What to do?

I'd first decide what you want to "save" to do with your husband. Then look at what is left and think about what YOUR interests are. Is there something that hubby might find boring? Or something that you just won't have time for together? If he doesn't like gardens/flowers, then Kew gardens would come to mind. If he's not into shopping- then shop til you drop at Selfridges, Harrods, and other highstreet shops or the wonderful, unique stores that I personally love or at the markets. He hates art? There are some excellent (and mostly FREE) art museums. Maybe there is a day trip you'd especially enjoy- Bath, York, Canterburry, Stratford-upon-Avon, Cardiff Wales, Oxford, Cambridge are all possibilities by train- and you still have enough time to get a discounted advance fare (they usually are available beginning 12 weeks in advance- there are a limited number so book early). Windsor is also very easy to reach by train. And I'd see if there is a theatre production, concert or other performance that YOU want to see- try to get tickets. Also, I'd plan to eat at places YOU'll enjoy that he might turn up his nose at. London is SOOOOOOO easy to get around. And I've always felt safe in the areas most tourists visit. Ditto for the tube- no saftey issues so long as you take normal precautions. PS- I am VERY VERY VERY jealous!

Let me throw in my two cents. I can highly recommend London Walks for their excellent guides and wonderful walks around many different areas of London. I'm a 58-year-old woman who enjoyed several London Walks when I was solo in London. And yes it's true that London is really easy to get around in and as a woman alone you will not feel out of place at all. Go and enjoy it thoroughly. Other responders above have made some excellent suggestions. Happy Travels!

Go see a West End show.

Lots of good art in London. National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, Tate and the huge Tate Modern. V&A and many, many more. You need to spread out museums, you don't want to spend 8 hours of one day in museums. Though on a cold day in March I would probably split a museum day with a Oxford St. shopping day or something else different.

I would say do what you want to do. What says "London" to you? If it's seeing Parliament Square or Trafalgar Square or the changing of the guard or going to Harrod's, then do it. If your husband wants to do the same things, then you'll get to see it all again-what's wrong with that? There's plenty to see and do for all interests, so you won't have any trouble filling your three days.

I was in a similar situation a while ago, my first time in London and only 2 days of that with my husband but 4 days for myself. London is a great place to explore on your own! and with 8 days total you can cover a lot of ground. But first check with your husband what he would llike to do together with you. Has he been to London before? Maybe you can do the sites alone that he is already familiar with or has little interest to see. Some of the things we really enjoyed as a couple rather than doing them alone: * a boat ride on the Thames
* a show in the Westend

Something your husband may not choose- a west End show; day coach tours; theatre, a museum or Art show; and I could wander through London on my own for 3 days easy without getting bored. My wife always seems to find some costume exhibit that I am not interested in. Kew Gardens is great to wander through on your own. Or go wild and do a pub tour

Rebekah - I wouldn't do the day trip to Paris. In my opinion you waste 5-6 hours getting there and returning. I've always enjoy the Tower of London and National Portrait Gallery.

If the weather is nice on your first day there a hop on hop off bus tour is a good way to get aquatinted with the city. When you ride the tube you get on one place, get off another and miss all the sites along the way. For London Eye and a West End show you might want to save to do with your husband. As mentioned above the Original London Walks are fun. I've done the Jack the Ripper tour several times as well as a few others.

So many wonderful suggestions...thank you! When my husband arrives, we plan to go on a mini tour to Stonehenge and Bath, see Westminster and St. Paul's, do a day trip to Paris, and float down to Greenwich. We were hoping to see the Cutty Sark, but unfortunately they are still refurbishing it. Grant (my hubby) has been to London many times, so he has seen quite a bit. Our taste preferences in sites and activities are basically the same. I have been through the London airports half a dozen times, but since I always had a baby with me, it was not practical to hop onto the tube to spend a few hours between flights looking around. I would like to see the changing of the guard, do a hop on, hop off bus tour, go to several museums, browse at Harrods, visit Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park, do a pub crawl, go to a show in the West End, have tea at the Orangery, take a walking tour.... I think that may be more than I can manage in 3 days though. I know Rick always says not to try to do everything and assume you will come back, but with my life circumstances, that isn't likely to be anytime soon. The last big trip I did was wandering around South Africa for 3 months when I was 19, so that experience doesn't help me very much in this instance! ;-) If you have any specific London anecdotes you would like to share, please do. I am still trying to assimilate information before making my itinerary, and I love hearing about personal experiences. Thank you all again for taking the time, I very much appreciate it.

If you want to be able to see more than a brief glimpse, plan to watch the changing of the guard at Windsor Castle rather than at Buckinham. Also, check the schedule ahead of time- in the off-season they only "do" the big parade, etc. every other day, and then only if the weather is good. Not sure about the schedule for Windsor. Personally, Windsor is one of my favorite castles, and the town is great too. Lots of good shopping.

@ Toni, I have spent years being jealous, myself. For our 15th wedding anniversary, we were planning a trip to Ireland. Just before we were to book, I got (unexpectedly and accidentally) pregnant. There went that trip! My husband went to South Africa for 3 weeks last year with our eldest son. Grant is from there, so it was nice for him to see family again, but to say I was green with envy would be putting it mildly. So, voila! I now have this trip. I would certainly say I have earned it after all these years of patient waiting. :-D

I think that is the only downside to going in March- the reduced hours, and no outdoor things that would be available in high season.

Rebekah, we were there in March 2004. We loved Herrods--while lots of it is frightengly expensive we found a cute stuffed Paddington bear for the granddaughter in the childrens' dept. , which was quite reasonable. It's worth a bit of a splurge for tea at Herrods, too, and you should feel quite all right by yourself (great people watching). Also, enjoy shopping up and down Oxford Street. Have a wonderful time and let us know how it goes!

Changingh of Guard at Buckimgham Palace is difficult to see and very time comsuming while waiting. Windsor is a good alternative as is the small guard at St James palace- a small platoon peals off the main change (at BP) and marches off to St James. But what I recommend is the Changing of Horse guards, spectacular with all the Gurads on their horses and either in shiny breast plates (or if weather is bad in big coats). Sometimes (probably in Summer) they also have a band mounted on horses. A lot esier to see and a lot more colourful
( South African spelling) Didnt explain why you missed the trip to South Africa

Brian, I missed it because I had to stay home and mind the other 6 children. My job doesn't afford me a great deal of time off. :-) For this trip, my mother-in-law has graciously agreed to come and watch over the tribe.

Joel, good advice. I think we have decided to save Paris for another time. I really think I would rather just see more of the London area. I also forgot to list the Tower as another place I absolutely plan to go.

Rebekah, I think you might find an article I wrote for AAA Carolina's "Go!" magazine a few years ago interesting. We used to go to Europe at least 2 times a year (for more than 20 years). But had to stop in 2008 when my mother-in-law (she's also my best friend) had a major stroke. I've been her primary caregiver since then, and we don't want to be gone long or so far away. I tell hubby that I get travelsick as opposed to homesick, now. Hubby worked for AAA at the time I wrote this. Feel free to private message me if I can help you plan your trip in anyway. http://www.aaacarolinas.com/Magazine/2008/Jan-Feb/britain.htm?zip=28105&stateprov=nc&city=matthews

Toni, thank you so much, that was a fabulous article! Although, after reading about that whirlwind of places, I think I need a nap. ;-) I sure wish I had the energy I did 20 years ago... I will definitely PM you if I need more info, thanks for the offer.

Hello Rebekah. You said you will be at England 8 days. Going to all the places that you said you want to go to would occupy eleven days. I recommend : plan to rest and take care of yourself in England during the few days before your husband arrives there. If a traveler arrives at an airport of London at a time in the morning, after being in the airplane all night, that traveller is likely to need sleep.
I think, during your first three days in England, restoring your feeling of well being and energy should be your highest priority. And, for me, the best aspect of being in England is hearing the English and Welsh people talk.

Rebekah, Considering your occupation if I were you I would enjoy the time alone, sleep late, have breakfast in bed, read some good books...venture out only when good and ready for some nice walks through the city, and when you are out and about and become chilly, pop into a pub for a nice warm drink. Enjoy your alone time, it may be another 17 years before you have some more!

Ron and Wray, you both make excellent suggestions. I am going to try and balance my need for rest and down time with some of the busier things I would like to do. Now that it is less than three months away, I find I am becoming very excited! My sincere thanks for all the helpful tips and suggestions. I will report back after my trip to let everyone know how it went. :-D

Go to Harrod's UPSTAIRS to their high tea. It is every afternoon, but you might want to get a reservation. We didn't have one, but waited for about 45 minutes. It was wonderful. Also, you can eat there (on the left of the eating area) for their enormousl lunch buffett, another time. It was fabulous. We ate at Harrod's four times during our last stay (2010). Their food court is wonderful also. Elaine

This thread is over 3 months old... maybe Rebekah is in London now or back home by now. If so, How was it Rebekah? What did you do on your own and what did you enjoy?

I would spend half a day wandering around Hampstead - both the high street and the heath. I would spend as much time as I wanted in whichever art gallery/museum I desired. I would go to Evensong at whichever cathedral is having a choral practice (and I'm not at all religious but the music is transporting). If I was in a shopping mood Oxford Street and environs
would fit my bill. And my charge card.