itinerary for London part and questions

This trip is taking place in May.

Friday looks the best. Have tea with your daughter while the guys go to the Globe or elsewhere.

If you do the play at the Globe on Thursday, you may not need to go back for the tour on Friday- so that afternoon could be open, or you could have a back up activity planned. I enjoyed the tour, but it is mostly you sit on the hard seats (experiencing what playgoers experience0 and they describe what a day at the theatre would have been like in Shakespeares day. depending on your playgoing experience the day before

I agree with Brian that a theatre night at the Globe would allow you to skip the tour on Friday and use that time for other things. (You'll miss the Globe museum, but most of the tour is spent sitting in the stands, listening to a guide discuss the theatre.) I also agree with Swan that your daughter might consider taking tea with either you or your husband while the other parent and the boys to one of the military sites, if she is not as into WWI and WWII as the rest of you. Initially I thought your first day was too busy, but after some reflection I think it can work. As for Saturday, if you really decide to do the Imperial War Museum on your departure day, be sure to be at the doors of the building when it opens. You'll want at least three hours there (and will probably want more), but I think you'll need to leave by midday in order to catch your train to Paris (which, I think requires you being there 45-60 minutes early). EDIT: One last thought: I don't know which Blitz walk you refer to. One I see online ENDS at St. Paul's but begins at Bank. Either location, they are close enough to the Tower of London to be a reasonable next item after visiting the Tower, perhaps after a lunch somewhere. Therefore, a Thames cruise right after the Tower might not be the best choice.

Just a warning: You can spend days at the British Museum. There's a pretty decent restaurant at the top of the stairs that wind around the immense central column in the lobby. If feet are hurting, avoid the steps: There's an elevator around to the right of the column. Downing Street is a walk-by. The street itself has been barricaded for some years now. Horse Guards won't take much more time ur you miss the ceremony. Trafalgar Square is great for people watching. Musicians are also usually on hand along the steps of the National Gallery hoping you'll pitch a few coins their way.

Horse Guards wont take very much time just as a walk past; however if you dan time it for the dismounting ceremony, or the changing its well worth it- and staying around for the whole affair. to me its very stirring. Downing Street now isnt worth anything any more, just a check mark on your score card- although its right next to Horse guards, so you get two for one

Re Miffs suggestion. I would walk from the Tower to St Pauls, via the Moniment and Bank of England and Cheapside(main street, gets you right to St Pauls). A part of the City few people get to see. But then I walk everywhere in London, so much part of the flavor

Are you arriving from the USA at 11:00 Wednesday? You may not be to your hotel until after 12:30, making a visit to Westminster Abbey or the Cabinet War Rooms before the dismounting ceremony a challenge. To each his own. I consider the dismounting ceremony, changing of the guard, and Lipizzaner Stallion performances to be worthy of only a few minutes. Agree with others that you should split up for tea, unless you want to take tea at one of the museums. Split up again to send you husband on a pub walk. He should not leave the UK without a few pints of real ale.

Yep, flying from USA. I should have made it clear. I don't expect to do all of that when we get there. What if the plane is late? How long will lunch take? I mean, who knows. If we decide to do Windsor or Imperial War rooms, then I figured we wouldn't do the changing of the guards. I just have all of it on there so I know what to choose from. Does that make sense?? I'm thinking maybe they should do RAF after lunch on Friday and my daughter and I could do a tea. Although I like history, looking at a bunch of planes is jus ok.. Christine

Wednesday. Even with the world's fastest lunch, your sightseeing probably won't begin until 1:30 or 2:00. Consider skipping the Abbey tour as the Churchill War Rooms will take at least an hour...maybe 2. Your daughter may be restless, but she will love the little gift shop. 10 Downing Street is just a peek through the gates. The dismounting is very good and worth trying to get there on time. After pics in Trafalgar Square, think about supper in the crypt of St. Martin's across the street. The kids might like to do a brass rubbing. Thursday. Consider tubing to Covent Garden and taking the RV1 bus to the Tower. It's a great route across Westminster Bridge and along the South Bank, letting you get a glimpse of lots more interesting stuff. It ends at Tower Bridge. After the Tower, take Bus 15 from the Tower Hill station to St. Paul's - and you can see the Great Fire Monument on the way. DON'T SKIP THE WALK. It puts your mind smack in the middle of London's WWII bombing experience. Helena is an excellent guide. About the Globe....Consider standing with the peons and leaving when you are tired (much cheaper) and you still get the flavor. The theater seating is punishing. Friday. The RAF museum takes almost an hour to get there...but so worth it. You might just do Evensong at the abbey and head to the British museum....even if it is just for the mummies, the Rosetta Stone and the giant Assyrian sculptured beasts - with 5 legs.
I agree with the others that you'll have to split up if your daughter gets to go to tea.

Christine, we found that very often, the morning Globe tour is the Globe, the afternoon tour is actually the Rose. The issue is whether or not there is a matinee performance at the Globe. You might want to go to the Globe website and check the performance schedule, if the Globe is what you really want to see.

The morning (Thursday) you go to the Tower of London, be sure to get there the minute it opens. It can get pretty crowded later in the morning, and very crowded after lunch.