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Best of London Regrets (?)

Soon to hit the road for the Best of London Tour. I am trying to schedule stuff for the tour's free time and also make plans for pre- and post-tour days. I know a lot depends on personal preferences. London obviously has a vast amount of choices. For those who have done this tour (including pre / post tour days)......what was a time waster? or...oops.....I overlooked the obvious? or.....needed more time? or ......heard great things, but just could not make it happen. or.....should have stayed longer in the pub?

TIA!

Posted by
83 posts

I see from your other topics you are considering a food tour and a ghost walk.

Look at the other offerings from London Walks Company. They have many history walks (Roman London is a fav) and neighborhood walks (old neighborhoods that date back to medieval period or the Victorian era) that are all interesting. Go to www.walks.com to see if there are other walks that might be of interest to you.
They have a couple of Harry Potter Walks and a couple of Beatles Walks that are very good.

About the food tour you say you might take in your other topic you posted....you don't need it. The 2026 version of RS Best of London tour, the group goes on a food tour of the East End. Then another day, at lunchtime, they take you to Borough Market, where you can do your own food tour by wandering among the many food stalls and sampling different dishes. Free samples are also handed out at the cheese stands. So I would not add another food tour....just my opinion.

Your topic here is "Best of London Regrets (?)" so I will say, my only regret was not spending more time in museums. The tour goes to the British Museum one afternoon, but a couple of hours would not be enough for me. I would return to the British Museum on one of your days off, as there is enough in there to keep a person entertained for 3 to 4 days.

Two things I would add, that are not included in the tour's activities......
The Victoria And Albert Museum--the V&A.
Day trip to Hampton Court Palace--short trip easily done.

Posted by
6875 posts

We did a Jack-the -Ripper Walk about ten years ago. Totally wasn't worth it. There's just no atmosphere as a guide walk you around modern buildings, and points out where several of the unfortunate victims were found. Skip it.

Posted by
136 posts

We will be on the tour April 26-May 2. I am curious what others who have taken the tour have to say about your questions, too, so I'm posting to follow along.

We are going a few days before the tour starts and staying in the Fulham area, my husband is hoping to get tickets if they have a game while we are there, the game dates should be posted in March, he is an avid Premier League fan, so it will be fun even if we just go to a pub where the local fans hang out.

We don't have much else planned in London, but I did make a list of some pubs that look interesting, and I want to go to the V&A Museum, even if my husband doesn't tag along for that. Sometimes just wandering around and getting lost can be fun too.

Cheers to you and happy travels!

Posted by
10055 posts

Haven’t been in the tour but have been visiting and staying in London since Nixon was in office.

So offering these ideas to consider:

1.) Download the Tower Bridge lift schedule schedule
2.) Like animals? Visit Mudchute Farm
3.) The Battersea Power Station conversion is impressive
4.) Definitely see theatre. You can now order same day tickets online. Witness for The Prosecution, Operation Minemeat and Hamilton are stellar.
5.) Explore Richmond park to see the fallow deer
6.) research the London Walks website
(www.walks.com) to see if any are of interest
7.) pubs such as The Whitecross, Ye Ole Mitre and the Mayflower are interesting
9.) The Parkland Walk is a nice outting
10.) If a Doctor Who fan see if the replica of the Tardis still stands outside Earl’s Court Underground Station
11.) Visit Liberty
12.) Get lost in Selfridges
13.) Visit Harrod’s Food Hall
14.) The Huntarian Museum is interesting. Check opening days and times
15.) On the hour see if your hear Big Ben tolling
16.) if weather clear Tube to Greenwich then walk up to the Observatory. Great POV of the city.
17.) Visit the tiny WW2 Museum that is in the basement of St Ermins Hotel in West Minster
18.) visit the Kings cafe at the British Library
19.) See all the street art in Shoreditch
20.) Tour the Wimbledon Museum

London is never boring.

Posted by
3478 posts

I’ve been on 15 of Rick’s tours and I would say that the Best of London was crammed full of delights. More so than other tours and I’m not complaining about the others. There was just so much to do and see in London. A highlight was getting great same day seats for the Lion King. My only regret was not riding on the Eye! I never expected it to be as wonderful as it was.

Posted by
6900 posts

We've done this tour twice, about 10 years apart, and enjoyed it both times. I do have one suggestion: the group does take a great tour of the Globe, but something special to do on your own is to see a play at the Globe, if possible. What a great experience! We enjoyed our first Globe production about 10 years ago, and have now made it a tradition that whenever we're in London, we book a show (or two!) at the Globe. There really is nothing like it.

Posted by
2807 posts

If you enjoy military history, especially WW I and II the Imperial War Museum is a do not miss.