London Must See?

I would suggest you read Rick Steves' book on London. This book is filled with pretty much all the tools you need to start planning this trip. Once you have nailed down your interests then you can fine tune your choices.

I've got the Shard on my list for my next visit, whenever that it. Sounds like a great view. London Walks has excellent guided walks, just choose whatever sounds interesting. Their website includes tourist reviews. I enjoyed Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, a pub in Fleet Street that dates back about 400 years. The Cabinet War Rooms are interesting, not so much a museum. The City of London Museum is not so typical, some hands-on stuff, and lots about the history of the city. Pubs are almost always good, for lunch and for dinner. The food may not be great, but it will go down easily enough with a pint or two. And the atmosphere is usually fun, plus a chance to chat with locals. Greenwich has a museum or two, but also the chance to stand with one foot in the eastern hemisphere and one in the west, plus clambering around on an old ship or two.

Any interest in cemeteries? London's Highgate cemetery is eerie and atmospheric. Look it up online to figure out how to book yourself on one of the tours. Interesting, but not a museum!

Diana, These are so many things. Here are a few I like to do when I'm in London: Tower Bridge tour, The Tower, The Eye, The Cabinet War Rooms, Kew Gardens, tea and shopping at Liberty, The Sherlock Holmes pub, Evensong at Westminster, The Borough Market. I'm a sad case, if there isn't a show I want to see, I'll go see The Moustrap.....again. Highgate Cemetary...the old side. Reservations needed.

I loved The Tower-I could have spent all day. There are alot of things that are free-so if you don't like them nothing wasted. British Library (free)-with things from the Beatles, Queen Elizabeth(not the current one) Magna Carta. What about a Beatles Tour?
Also-Dublin and London go for a Hop on Off Bus tour-they are great!

Does London do a Beatles tour? Gary would love that. Thanks for all the suggestions. I am going to buy the RS London book. Hopefully he has a pocket one. I got the Paris pocket one already.

Yes, Rick has a Pocket London book: http://travelstore.ricksteves.com/catalog/index.cfm?fuseaction=product&theParentId=156&id=464 Remember that "museums" are not just fine arts like painting and sculpture. London has a War Museum (fascinating), a Transit Museum, and even a museum about London itself. And that's just for starters. But London has a lot of everything. You could spend your whole trip just in museums, or just shopping, or just doing London Walks, or just at the theatre... And no one can make the decisions of what to see and what to skip but you. Start with Rick's suggested 4 day itinerary, then modify it to suit your interests. And don't feel guilty about skipping anything, and don't let anyone tell you that you "can't miss" something that you're not interested in. In limited time, you have to be brutally selec-tive. If a sight doesn't make your personal A-list, it's out.

Diana,
The Original London Walks company does, I believe, two walking tours of London with a Beatles theme. Check out www.walks.com . I've never taken either walk but I've taken several other themed walks and every one was terrific.

Things I liked best in London (in no particular order): 1. Cabinet War Rooms 2. Tour of Parliament (I didn't think I would like it - but it was fascinating) 3. Walk by Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square 4. St. Paul's Cathedral 5. Westminster Abbey 6. Abbey Road Studios (you can at least see from outside) near Maida Vale Tube Stop 7. Sherlock Holmes Pub 8. Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
9. Tower of London... There's lots more! :-) Jim

LOVED London.
Westminster Abbey and Evensong, Tower of London, Churchill War Rooms, St. Paul's, tea at Kensington, Parliament and Big Ben, riding the Tube and a double-decker, British Museum (Elgin marbles and Rosetta Stone and so much more), British Library (Magna Carta and so much more), Imperial War Museum, Eye, train to Windsor Castle and St. George's Chapel, theater night or two, a pub or two, Trafalgar Square, eating fish n chips, great art in the National Gallery. Ride in a few of those millions of black taxis. Stroll through the eye-popping Harrod's food court and down the Mall on your way to Buckingham Palace. Still on my to-do London list? The Globe for a performance, see Ben Franklin's home when he lived in London, Charles Dickens spots, day train trips with London Walks, more theater, more tea, the Abbey again, and whatever else I can fit in.

LOVED London.
Westminster Abbey and Evensong, Tower of London, Churchill War Rooms, St. Paul's, tea at Kensington, Parliament and Big Ben, riding the Tube and a double-decker, British Museum (Elgin marbles and Rosetta Stone and so much more), British Library (Magna Carta and so much more), Imperial War Museum, Eye, train to Windsor Castle and St. George's Chapel, theater night or two, a pub or two, Trafalgar Square, eating fish n chips, great art in the National Gallery. Ride in a few of those millions of black taxis. Stroll through the eye-popping Harrod's food court and down the Mall on your way to Buckingham Palace. Still on my to-do London list? The Globe for a performance, see Ben Franklin's home when he lived in London, Charles Dickens spots, day train trips with London Walks, more theater, more tea, the Abbey again, and whatever else I can fit in.

Trust you have the RS guidebook by now and are delving into ALL the wonderful information it provides about London. It's a vibrant exciting city. Since husband isn't a big fan of museums I shall suggest the following for you two to experience. 1. Catching a performance at The Globe theatre. 2. Taking one or both of the London Walks Beatles Tours. 3. Going to Spitafield's to watch the tea dances. 4. Exploring the Hampstead Heath and watching a local rugby match. 5. Visiting the Sir John C. Ritblatt Gallery at the British Library http://www.bl.uk/whatson/permgall/treasures/music.html. 6. Wandering the canals of Maide Vale and Camden. 7. Visiting the Camden Lock Market. 8. Wandering about Boroughs market, then visiting the Shard, and then walking over the London Bridge to explore Leadenhall Market.
9. Evensong at the Abbey or St. Paul's or my favorite spot, St. Brides on Fleet Street. Lastly, whenever you go, grab a Timeout magazine at Heathrow and discover what is on will you are there. Great city. Have fun.