Who's been to London?

Re: Who's been to London?

• RD913

  September 2009

  I haven't been there since my undergrad days, so I can't help much with the places to eat/places to shop.

  Things to do, now that I can help with:

  1.  Take a day trip (or afternoon trip) to Hampton Court Palace.  Summer home of Henry VIII and assorted wives.  Beautiful and amazing.  http://www.hrp.org.uk/hamptoncourtpalace/  Very easy to get there via train, and palace is within walking distance of train station

  2.  Tower of London - Ceremony of the Keys.  Watch the yeowmen warders lock up the castle for the night.  It's free but you have to get tickets way ahead of time.  http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/WhatsOn/ceremonyofthekeys.aspx

  3.  If you like shopping and don't mind crowds: Portebello Road is fun to experience http://www.portobelloroad.co.uk/

  4.  Changing of the guard at Windsor Palace

  5.  Take in a west end play.  Get super-cheap tickets by going to ticket booth the day of the play.

  6.  Go to Hyde Park when you need a break from the hustle and bustle of the city: http://www.royalparks.org.uk/

  7.  See a Shakespeare play at the recreated globe theatre: http://www.shakespeares-globe.org/  Get the floor "seats" - where you actually stand during the play.  they really are the best "seats" in the house, and it's not as difficult to stand as you might think.  Something magical about watching Shakespeare in "the globe." Saw Ceaser there and the cast actually was in the crowd with us for a couple scenes.

  Have fun!  I love london - it's one of the best cities in the world.

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• mrspresley

  September 2009

  we were there a few days in Feb - I've had a rough two days at work and i'm exhausted so I'm turning in for the night... but will come back to reply to this post later so just check back on it
  

  Lemon Poppyseed Muffins

  

  

  

  Jaime & Brent
  Oahu, Hawaii | Sept. 9, 2005

  My Food Blog - Good Eats 'n Sweet Treats

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• chikarakobu

  September 2009

  Ooooh!  Lucky you!  I would definitely say a day trip to see the Stonehendge (sp?).  It's quite cool

  As for eats, I can't say I ate anything that impressive while I was there but I guess fish and chips?  There's this chain-supermarket (I'm totally blanking on what it was called) it may have been Marks & Spencer or maybe not...  But you'll see them everywhere and they have really good sandwiches for a picnic in the park.

  It might be cold but Brighton Beach was pretty as a day trip.  I went in the summer so I can't say what it'd be like in the colder months.

  If there's a place that does high tea, that would be awesome!  I don't know how the husbands would feel about that, though...
  

  -- Stuff I Like

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• SanHawaii08 member

  September 2009

  okay, this is *long* - i put this list together in feb for my cousin:

  London sights, in no particular order -
  

  • Buckingham Palace - If the state rooms are still open, I'd take the tour - it's expensive, but just chalk it up to a once in a lifetime experience.   If it's winter, there will probably be fewer people, so you could watch the crossing of the guards.  Not really worth it if it's crowded though, IMO.
  • Stonehenge and Windsor are nice, but depends on how much time you have - if not a tone of time, I wouldn't make the trip.  Save that for later, and spend time exploring London proper this time!
  • Westminster (Westminster tube stop) - I popped out and took a look on my way elsewhere, but the buildings (Parliament row, Big Ben, Whitehall, etc) didn't mean much to me given my embarrassing lack of knowledge in that area.  And it's not like there were any placards posted that explained what everything was - here's where a tour guide would have been useful.  Again, interesting to see, but didn't spend a ton of time here.  (Actually, I just learned that Big Ben is the bell itself, not the actual tower!)  Good photo of the London Eye from here.  You could also see the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London www.tower-of-london.com (I haven't been).
    
  • There are several different free walking tours of London.  My sister really enjoyed the one she did.  Unfortunately, i can't remember which it was, but I can ask and see if she remembers.  You could search on google for a good option, if that interests you.
  • Shopping (Bond Street, Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden tube stops- you can walk all this if you want) - my favorite was the Oxford Circus area - Regent Street and Oxford Street are the main drags there.  I particularly liked: Cos, Liberty, Selfridges, Muji (also in NYC), Harrod's food hall.  There's also Hamley's, the world's largest toy store.
    
  • Marylebone is one of my favorite areas to just hang out and walk around (exit Bond Street, walk north on James St) - very cute neighborhood with shops and restaurants.  There's an awesome scandinavian design store on Marylebone High St.  See La Fromagerie below.
  • Museums - the Tate is good if you like modern.  I also really like the V&A and the Science Museum (hah).  (Museums are good b/c lots of them ...all of them?...are free!)  My sister liked the British Musuem (I didn't go). 
    
  • Markets - Camden Market, Portobello Market, Spitalfields are all very popular.  another great way to just walk around and see things
  • Theater - London has a very vibrant theater scene.  Lots of day-of tickets available for 50% off (though the big shows, like Wicked, Hairspray, are generally not available, and you need to pay more than face-value for those.)  I saw Wicked in London - paid double the face-value of the ticket - totally worth it.  Get tickets in Leiscester Square
  • If you're up for checking out the night life, check out some bars in the city: http://www.worldsbestbars.com/city/soho-fitzrovia/index.htm.  I've heard of Bar Red being a cool place. For clubbing, Leicester Square is the happening place at night.  [editor: okay, this may not be so interesting when you're pg!]
    

  and some of my favorite London food -

  • La Fromagerie (Bond Street tube stop - in Marylebone) - love, love, loved this place.  they sells food stuff too, which was fun (for me at least!) to look at.  on sunday morning/early afternoons, they make raclette and ham sandwiches outside, which looked yummy, but I didn't get a chance to try it

  • Barrafina (Leicester Square or Tottenham Court Rd tube stop) - http://www.london-eating.co.uk/28308.htm tapas place.  you actually sit at the bar, like in spain (so i'm told), and are able to watch them cook some things.  you can order and nibble while you queue - we had some wine, ham, bread, and olives while we waited.  everything we had was good, the ham we had was great, i also liked the squid (it was a special, amongst lots of other yummy looking seafood) and the pork chop.  the tortilla (spanish omlette-like things) was good, but incredibly filling.  the ham croquettes were yummy too, but too filling.  chocolate torte was decadent.  tons of stuff looked good, too bad i couldn't try them all   (there are a ton of restaurants in this area if you decide not to wait - there is always a line).  food in london (london in general!) is ridiculously expensive though, and this was no exception.
    
  • Golden Hind (Bond Street tube stop) - amazing fish n chips - which you have to try while in London!

  food on my list to try next time:

  • Ping Pong - "British version of dimsum"
    
  • Imli - Indian style tapas
  • High tea at the Ritz, Dorchester, or Brown's hotel
  • Hakkasan http://www.urbanpath.com/london/chinese/hakkasan.htm - everyone raves about it
  • London has some of the best Indian food in the world. Check out any of the Michelin starred Indian restaurants: http://www.londoneats.com/news/michelinstarred.asp

   

  

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• SanHawaii08 member

  September 2009

  ack, all my formatting disappeared - sorry it's such a mess!  there are 3 sections - sights, food i particularly liked, and food i want to try next time
  

  

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• sanae78

  September 2009

  Thanks ladies!  I've printed out your posts and will start making a comprehensive list.  So much to do there and so little time! 
  

  

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• Married2MrWright

  September 2009

  I'll be in Glasgow, Birmingham, Brighton, Reigate and London next week, so when I get back, I'll let you know!  Of course, I am traveling for work, not nearly as fun as a babymoon.  I just hope I am not too tired with the schedule they've arranged for us!  EEK!

  
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• sanae78

  September 2009

  Lori, I hear Brighton is really nice!  I don't know if we'll get to make it out there but you'll have to let me know how it is!
  

  

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