Travellife2.net: Going to London

[ríomhaire]

The usual "I'm going to X" thread. Going with girlfriend, recommend things. We're already planning on seeing the natural history and science museums, and I think I'm going to be brought to the tate too.

 

[Polaris]

You should also visit the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, they have a very nice exposition there about astronomy and history of science.

 

[AKIRA]

Top Gear studio

 

[Hectic Glenn]

How long are you there for Cath?

 

[ríomhaire]

Four days including arriving and departing, so two full days, but we're arriving early and leaving late so we most of those two days too.

 

[Eejit]

Catch a show or play if you can. Something at The Globe would be sweet.

Also, prepare for gray snot.

 

[Marler]

London Dungeons and Madam Tussaudes! Also you might want waterproofs

 

[Farrowlesparrow]

London Dungeons and Madam Tussaudes! Also you might want waterproofs

He's from Ireland.
London can be nice to just walk around. Visit a park or two. There are a so many museums and things to visit that you'd be hard pressed to really have a bad time visiting any of them.

I enjoyed the British Museum when I went a few years ago.

 

[KiplingsCat]

Catch a show or play if you can. Something at The Globe would be sweet.

Are the plays at the Globe good though? I mean do people go there to see good theatre, or do they go because it's famous?

 

[Shyam]

Have fun in London.

 

[VirusType2]

Too bad the sky cloud system hasn't been erected yet. The concept art looks a sight.

 

[Hectic Glenn]

Make sure you get oyster cards to make travel costs a little easier to deal with (unfortunately London is expensive...try explaining that to Ren182, cheap bastard!).

The museums you mentioned are all at South Kensington which is a very nice place to go. You'll need to spend a good half a day there to do it all.

South bank is nice too (Waterloo / Embankment nearest stops). London Aquarium here and the London Eye (ya know the big wheel?)

Oxford Circus / Regent Street are essential shopping locations - walk down to Picadilly circus from there for a look around. Also visit Leicester square...cinemas / restaurants / bars etc.

Green Park is lovely, right next to Hyde park (stations - Green Park / Hyde Park corner). Buckingham Palace is here if you're a super tourist...

Spittalfields markets near London Liverpool Street is good too (depending which day you're there). Covent Garden for the evening is good too (near Ox Street).

Further stuff out - White City (BBC television centre...not sure what you can do there), Camden Town is just different and impressive, Docklands & Canary Wharf - shops and ice rink is pretty good there, stratford olympic development site (yawn?), Hammersmith (book tickets to something on at the Apollo).

Theatre and shows down the west end of London (most of it is all down shaftesbury avenue) is very expensive. You might be able to grab tickets to something on lastminute.com or from the box offices on the night...but do your research first on something you'll enjoy and check it's half decent. There are some really great ones on right now (Oliver, Joseph, Phantom of Op, Lion King etc - good luck on getting tickets though!).

So to conclude, there are infinite things to do in London since there are millions of places to go. Get on the tube and get about. Oh and London is expensive, so don't be shocked.

 

[repiV]

I was in London to see my Australian relatives who were visiting a couple of months ago, and it's definitely a different place seen through the eyes of a tourist...

I found the best thing was just to spend the day walking about. You do get a real feel for the city that way. One day we walked along the embankment from the Houses of Parliament to Canary Wharf, great views and you get to see the transition as you go further out.

Chinatown is always worth a punt, the non-buffet restaurants are the best if you don't mind spending the extra.

Spending the night time in the Leicester Square area just has to be done. I don't particularly like London but I love it round there. So much energy. Also, there's a great place in Mayfair called the Ice Bar. Everything is made out of ice, including the glasses, tables, etc.

 

[Eejit]

Are the plays at the Globe good though? I mean do people go there to see good theatre, or do they go because it's famous?

Both. Obviously some plays there will be better than others, but it's not filled with amateur dramatics groups or anything.

 

[Dekstar]

Are the plays at the Globe good though? I mean do people go there to see good theatre, or do they go because it's famous?

I went to see Shakespeare's most violent play - Titus Andronicus - at the Globe, and it was incredible. 3 people fainted during it.

Rimfire, I'd say definitely try and catch something like Andronicus at the Globe.

 

[Raziaar]

Have fun!