LONDON IN 4 DAYS

Here's a tip you won't find any guidebook, each evening make sure you walk through Leicester Square. This where the big red carpet/paparazzi movie premieres occur. If your patient, you have a good chance of spotting some A-List celebrities. I've been to London about 10 times and there has always been at least one of these events going on per trip; it's a lot of fun. As soon as you land in London go to the nearest newstand and buy the current edition of Time Out magazine. It give a complete listing of movies, theater, events, and temporary exhibits.

Herbert - on our last trip to London we visited the newly opened Churchill museum. It is part of the War Rooms museum which we had also not seen before. Though my husband found the War Rooms very interesting I really loved the Churchill museum. It was very interactive, but in a good way. The pictures, video, sound, etc. has been put together in a very modern way so it was also interesting to contrast it to the much older War Room Museum.

The Tower of London, see the exhibits in the white tower and surrounding buildings too, not just the crown jewels.
I agree with the WWII War rooms/Churchill, particularly if you are a history buff and realize the significance of what you are viewing. but if not, skip
Harrod's food court. Cornucopia of food.
Westminster Abbey -- and walking around that area which includes the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.
Stroll Covent Garden Area
See a play on the West End, if you are into this.
The British Museum
the London Eye (if you like heights)
Catch the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, if you can.

In order to be able to see the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace you need to be there at least an hour to an hour and half to be able to get up to the fence. The Changing of the Guards at Windsor Castle is much more impressive and you have no trouble seeing. A trip out to Windsor would be worth your time. Besides seeing the Changing of the Guards you can tour the Castle, walk down to Eton and see the famous Eton Collge, and walk to Windsor Great Park which is a fantistic place to have a pinic lunch. The Long Mile is located in the park and this in the private road for the Royal family to enter and exit Windsor Castle.

Near:I really enjoyed the Transport Museum in Covent Garden, near the West End theater district. Farther out: I also visited the Imperial War Museum; lots of static displays of military equipment and two halls with exhaustive displays of World War I and II memorabilia. Do not miss the "Trench Experience" on the WW I side. The museum is about a ten-minute walk from the Lambeth North tube station on the Bakerloo line south of the river. Day trip: If you're renting a car, consider visiting Chartwell, Winston Churchill's country home in Kent, maybe an hour from central London, but very rural. It is run by the National Trust and is fascinating.

Do a 1/2 day train trip to Windsor- watch the changing of the guard there instead of Buckingham. Tour Windsor Castle.

Have to see Covent Garden- it is different each day of the week. We like Fridays and Saturdays best-- but all are cool.

Check out Leichester Square- great place to people watch.

Kew Gardens- spend form a few houurs to a whole day here.

Tower of London- up to 1/2 day.

See "We will rock you" or "Mama Mia" - great musicals.

Eat at Top of the Town or E Capital Chinese resturants in China Town.

Do a day trip out to Stratford-upon-Avon or Bath or Canturbury.

We've been more than 40 times and still find LOTS to do.

My family of four took the Astral Travels rock and roll tour of London. It was great. If you love rock and roll history, the Beatles, Rolling Stones, etc., then this tour is for perfect. Lasts about 4 hours and starts at the Hard Rock Cafe.

My husband and I are planning our second trip to London, this time my in-laws and son are joining us. I think the Tower of London should be on everyone's must see list. The British museum is magical, we spent a whole day there.

Here's my sample itinerary that I use with guests:Changing of guards parade is every other day.
Day 1-Check in hotel.Take tube to Big Ben,view clock,Parliament building,visit Wminster Ab-View ferris wheel.Walk up Whitehall street to Trafalgar square.View DowningSt Take foto by guard/horses.Reach Trafalgar, view arches to lft,St.Martins in the Fields to far upper right,take photos of square, go in museum to warm up/dry off/toilet if needed!Zig-zag to lft-up road to Picadilly Circus.Take tube to British Mus.or reverse itinerary and do Brit Mus first PM for personal interests, other museums.
DAY2:(*May have to switch with part of Day 3) Queens Museum near Buck Pal., Watch Horseguards Parade in front of Buck Pal, Tube to Tower of London& visit.Walk to London Bridge and tour, Back across town to St. Paul's, evening for pers.interests.

Day3: train to Greenwich.Cutty Sark, Int'l date line/Royal Observatory, Maritime mus,lunch at Goddards Pie Shop.Day 4 anything else you want to include.

Hi Herbert, Wow are you ever spoiled for choice! I enjoyed the Imperial War Museum very much also the Cabinet War Rooms, who the new Churchill exhibit was not there the last time I was. The Eye of course. You can't miss The Tower of London and one thing you don't hear much about is the tour of Tower Bridge. Imagine yourself looking down on The Tower!! It's great fun and historical. Try to make it to evensong at St Pauls or Westminster..of course it is free and those pesky tourists have gone home. Eat a little something in the Crypt at St Martins in the Field..just off Trafalgar Sq. My favourite thing you ask.. Highgate cemetery. You have to have a reservation for the west cemetery but at the east part there in only an enterance fee. Favourtie touristy thing? A Ghost walk at night. Have fun.

I forgot. Sticky Toffee pudding at Browns restaurant!!

lunch at Crypt in St-Martin-in-the Fields is great but I think the remodel is still happening; evening concerts there ar wonderful and reasonable

Imperial War Museum and Cabinet War Rooms + RAF Museum in Colindale (farther out on Norther--black-- Tube line) if you're a hostory buff

food halls at Harrod's are fun once; do take away for a lunch or dinner in Hyde Park

Ceremony of the Keys at Tower of London; must get tickets ahead; check via British Tourist website

any Thornton's candy shop for their toffee

main Liberty store in Knightsbridge (Oxford Circus Tube stop) if any women in your group or that you ewant to shop for like beautiful scarves

National Trust Shop near Victoria Station for uniquely British gifts

Hard Rock Cafe (Green Park Tube stop) 'cause this is the original

a pub dinner at just about any pub; inexpensive, filling,and good

Lucky you!!! London is (so far) my favorite city in the world! What you see depends on your interests but you can't go wrong with any of the major attractions. Here's my list:
Westminster Abby - a phenomenal piece of history
Tower of London - ditto the above
Day trip by train to Windsor Castle - ditto the above, and leave time for pub in the village of Windsor!
The British Museum
St Paul's Cathedral
The Victoria and Albert Museum
A walk through Hyde Park
A walk by the Thames at night (near Parliament, when it's all lit up)
Pub time - every day!
And my favorite, The British Library, You only really need to see one room of it but that room is full of breathtaking treasures. Look it up on the web or mail me for more info. Have a great trip!!!!