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Brief trip to London

JXBrown (Sunset 24, N San Diego County)

21 years ago

DH is going to a conference just outside of London for three days and since I am not working this summer, I decided to go on a last minute trip with him. I'll be by myself for three days and then we will spend another four days together. I haven't been in the UK for 20 years and DH is only familiar really with Manchester where his ex-in-laws live. Any suggestions for must sees in London in August? I know I want to see the London Eye and Kew Gardens (good outing on the husbandless day!) I would also like to take a day trip or two outside of London. We won't have a car.

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Comments (3)

Virginia7074
21 years ago
I was recently there with my DD and friend. Spent 5 days in London and 4 days in Oxford. Definitely the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum, as well as Westminster Abbey.

Ours was a Harry Potter-themed tour, so we rode the Hogwart's Express from Oxford to Carlisle, and visited colleges in Oxford - among them Christ Church, Keble College and New College. Oxford was beautiful, as well as the ride up into the Lake District.

Madeame Tussaud's was on the list for London, as well as the Tower of London. We also went on the London Eye, where we also coincidentally saw Drew Barrymore. (That was a highlight for the girls.) If you want to take pictures, go before noon or after 4; otherwise, the sun's too bright.

Covent Garden Market was lots of fun on a Sunday and is a nice walk from Piccadilly Circus. The changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace happens only every other day in August, despite a rather confusing sign stating that it's every day from spring till autumn. We had a nice walk across Hyde Park one afternoon, to Harrod's and other shops in Knightsbridge.

Security was stepped up, so one change from 20 years ago is likely to be lots of heavily armed police on street corners and in the tube stations.
Annette Holbrook(z7a)
21 years ago
I took my 14yo DS there in July. We went with his Lacrosse team and stayed up in Chester for 7 days, we absolutely loved Chester. Very old city, great place to walk and hang-out.
We came back to London without the team and the two of us did the usual things, Westminster Abbey, The Eye (I really didn't enjoy the Eye, kind of ho-hum IMHO), we also saw a play in the West end which was fun. The surprise of the trip was our visit to "The Cabinet War Rooms", the place where Churchill and his cabinet stayed and strategized during the bombings of London at the end of WWII. Very interesting and something new for me. And it's a quick walk there from Westminster Abbey.
Kew Gardens was breathtaking as usual, and wasn't a bad ride on the tube. My son loved going to see the crown jewels and touring the Tower of London.
If you have the time and the inclination, we also did a one day trip to Paris, which we loved. The surprising thing was how much my "too cool" son enjoyed Paris and has requested another trip where we split equally between London and Paris. We did the Eurostar and really enjoyed it.
So where will you be staying?
Annette
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Rosewitch, England was definitely one of my favorite places I have ever visited. My folks took me there when I was 14, and I remember bits and pieces the Crown jewels, walking amongst the Stonehenge stones (roped off now, vandalism), Stratford upon Avon. Time for me to take my own 14YO. Im trying to think how I can get over there for a whole summer, LOL. Dlynn, I could have worked so much more. I didnt really look at night time stuff and there was loads to do. Greece: cant help you, but shoot Yasou a line, she went a few years ago. LOL Annie! Teresa, well go together. I wanted to explore more cooking and food shops/stores but didnt get to. Terri, here is more a link to Pictures of England, a website pointed out to me by Denise. I started it on Bourton on the Water, where we stayed for a few days. Thanks Sharon, I was actually thinking how can I even come close to posting her quality of travel guides, I dont do the pictures she does LOL. We might have sat at the same table in the Cheshire Cheeses dining room! Sawdust still there, but we didnt make it to the cellar. I missed a lot of the British Museum. It has changed.check out the new atrium. I couldnt keep up with DH and DS16. Afternoons, when I planned museums, I crashed. Next time! Pam, lots of people did more than we did per day! Theater every night, more attractions, I cant imagine. Gina heh heh yeah I need another vacation like a hole in my head. Speaking of whichDH has another week off in August. Nooooooooo! Kathleen, DH says he took an average of 200 pictures a day. Yup. Me, I just buy the post cards or Google the images, same thing (DARFC from the photo bugs here) Cathy, thanks for giving me the War and Peace moniker heh heh. Next time I go with CF friends! LindaC, I know. Im still exhausted. Speaking of the V&A, did you know there was a Dale Chihuly chandelier in the entrance room?
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roar
21 years ago
Theater in London is quite good, and rather reasonable as well.

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