Leaving in three weeks and 3 days so I just wanted to get some quick feedback on our plan (hubbies third time my second to London- his second my first to Paris)We are flying into London because it was cheaper and I wanted to spend a few days there ( wish it was more but that's all hubby could get off from work) June 7th – Delta Flight June 8th – Land at Gatwick 7am get to hotel ( Vicarage Hotel in Notting Hill area chosen for husband's fond memories of post college trip stay in the area)walk through Hyde Park and then head to Churchill Museum and War rooms- dinner at pub close to hotel June 9th – Tower of London9:00-1:00, National Gallery June 10th – British Library-9:30 -11:30(Hubby pick) Grab lunch and head to Globe for play(Much Ado...) at 2:00 ( already have tickets and seat cushions booked) June 11th- .checkout of hotel walk market on Portobello road pick up bags take taxi to St Pancras to catch Eurostar to Paris(Leaves at 4:30 already have tickets booked) Arrive in Paris at Gard de Nord-( about 7:00 Get to Hotel Castex (hotel for the RC tour) Walk around and have dinner. June 12th- Sunday-Versailles 8:00 catch train( Get tickets the day before at Gard de Nord)- Return to Paris late afternoon. Rest then take taxi to Montmartre and tour Sacre-Coeur, have dinner at Moulin de la Galette June 13th- Monday- Orangerie,, , Arc and Champ, shopping eating, gardens, Eiffel Tower June 14th-. Army Museum and Napoleon Tomb, Rodin Museum- then at 5:00 join RC's Paris and Heart of France Tour for next 11 days. We will have a two day museum pass in Paris after we join the tour ( usable starting on the 15th) but should we get a two day pass for the 13th and 14th when we are on our own or just pay as we go? Thanks in advance for any feedback or suggestions.
Posted by
Park Ridge, IL
524 posts
Hi Gail! Nice planning! You will have a fabulous time in London, Paris, and France! A few considerations. Have you checked the Paris portion of the tour to see what they cover? You are hitting quite a few of the highlights and wonder what the tour covers. June 13th you are covering a few different areas of Paris. I would consider moving the Eiffel Tower to June 14th unless you were going at night. Also, the Champs is now disappointing and it is not what it once was. I have 2 sets of friends who recently visited and both said they should have listened to me becuz they wasted their time. The view from the Arc is awesome and from a distance the Champs looks fine. Each day when you need a break find a cafe in a Paris neighborhood at a quiet corner or on a place. Get a drink, rest your feet, and learn the art of cafe sitting. Do this twice a day! Outside if at all possible. Good luck! Bobbie
Posted by
OP
Atlanta, GA, USA
62 posts
Hi Bobbie,
Thanks for your reply. Everything we are doing in Paris is not part of the tour. I was planning on doing the Eiffel at night but we also have our last night of the tour dinner near the Eiffel so may save it till then. Interesting about the Champ( felt the same way about the Ramblas in Barcelona) so may rethink just doing the Arc. DH will make sure I take time out to relax- I am the planner but he is the go with the flow fellow. Can hardly wait!
Posted by
Seattle, WA, United States
96 posts
Gail, I had to laugh when I saw this, because I have fond memories of the Vicarage Hotel from my post-college trip to London many many years ago!
Posted by
Los Angeles, California
1986 posts
Gail. I like the pace of your plans and that you are not trying to cram something into every minute you are there. Both Cities are just great to walk round in after you have seen your sights for the day... although a little surprised that in London especially you arent doing any (many) of the highpoints (Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, British Museum). On your first day, you wander through Hyde park. I would keep walking through green park and St james park and visit the horses at Horse guards. You should have ample time
Posted by
OP
Atlanta, GA, USA
62 posts
Lynne-
The Churchill/ War Rooms and the Tower of London are two things that neither one of us has done. I agree that the library may only take a short while but then that gives us a cushion if we get a late start or to take a leisurely lunch before hitting the Globe ( have been on the tour but never seen a play there). I am reading a book to my 4th grade class called the Shakespeare Stealer which is of course set in the time of Shakespeare so they are very excited that I am going there this summer ( they know that it is a replica but to a 10 year old it's still cool). Thanks for the tip on the gallery.
Posted by
OP
Atlanta, GA, USA
62 posts
Brian,
My husband and I have both been to London before. While I have no problem repeating things, there are many things I have not seen so that was how I came up with the plan.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, United States
96 posts
Gail, I recently took a trip to London after an interval of many years. I don't know if you went to the War rooms/Churchill Museum on previous trips but if so I think that it is a great idea to go there. The Churchill Museum part is relatively new and we found it fascinating. Again, I'm not sure if you went there on previous visits but the Tower of London was one site that we found worth a second visit, especially because the armour in the white tower was not there on a prior visit. So that choice also looks good. Your overall pace looks great. You may find that your visit to the British Library takes up less than two hours. If you're looking for a quick thing to plug in somewhere and you enjoy art I recommend the Courthauld Gallery. Small and so doesn't take long to go through but has some impressionist masterpieces and had very few visitors when we visited in July. A nice change from so many other busy sites. Have a wonderful trip.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, United States
96 posts
A neat kids book that your students might enjoy: "William Shakespeare & the Globe" by Aliki.
Posted by
Downingtown, USA
2446 posts
Only suggestion is on the Tower tour, would skip the end of the walk with the Beefeater that takes you in to the chapel, it was a very boring half hour we thought. I think Champ was way too commercial. Sacre Coeur was great except for the many, many gypsies on the stairs trying to sell something. Enjoy trip.