We have 1 day to visit Westminster Abbey, Tower of London and Buckingham Palace on Aug 6 (tues). Tower closes @ 5:30, Abbey @ 3:30, last Buck ticket is 4:45 (closes @7pm). We will be staying in Victoria hotel.
I was going to bus to Westm @ 9am, then tube to Tower afterwards, then tube back to Victoria and walk to Buck for 4:30 timed ticket. I know the Tower will be crowded, but it seems like I either have to pick Tower or Westm 1st thing in AM. Since Buck is open until 7pm, it seems like I should do that last. How awful will Tower be at noon-2pm? I will get advanced tickets. I am thinking the Tower is better with crowds than Westm middday, as there are more places to spread out? WWYD? Elaine
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6713 posts
I'd try to get to the Tower when it opens to minimize crowds there, skip the line for the crown jewels unless you really want to see them. Then tube or bus (depending on time, bus will let you see more of London) to Abbey. After you've seen it, Have a little sitdown in the cloister where there's a cafe. Then walk to Palace for your timed entrance. I've heard more stories about Tower crowding than Abbey crowding. Doing the Tower at midday means traveling twice across the city, instead of once, within your time window. I think seeing all three will be a very full day but doable. You might consider delaying the Abbey till Evensong at 5:00, a great way to experience the place although you might not be able to walk around all the tombs etc. In that case, change the sequence to Tower-Palace-Abbey. Takes off some of the time pressure.
Posted by
Ojai, CA
591 posts
I've never seen the Abbey too crowded but have had to wait in lines to see things at the Tower. I'd start with the Tower first (opens at 9:00).....take the tube to Tower Hill stop. From the Tower it's just a short walk to Tower Bridge which is well worth a visit (an elevator takes you up to the top span and you can walk over the Thames from up there). Next, I'd suggest taking a river boat from in front of the Tower to Westminster Bridge (they depart about every 30" and it's fun to see London from the Thames). The boat arrives across from Big Ben, so you can walk past the Houses of Parliament en route to Westminster Abbey. And, of course, it's not that long of a walk to B'ham Palace. I really think you'll have time to see all of these places without being too rushed. Maybe plan to see the Tower and Bridge from 9 to 1, lunch and travel time to Westminster Abbey from 1-2:30, visit the Abbey for an hour then head up to the Palace.
Posted by
OP
washington, dc
395 posts
hmm, I have read in tour books and online that the lines for W Abbey can be super long, around the block. My tweens want to see Sir Isaac Newton's marker etc.
Posted by
Land of La
9222 posts
Tower first, Westminster Abbey second, then walk to the Palace.