London, anyone ??

[anneparis]

I have finally convinced my husband to take me to London for a long week-end !! Phew, what a hard task it was, since he was still post-traumatized by his stay in a very mean British family's home ...when he was 11 !!!!!
Hotel is booked (the Cavendish), but I would like to have your thoughts on good restaurants (Indian and others), great afternoon teas, not-to-miss museums, and maybe interesting walking tours !
Wow, what a long list of questions, sorry for that !
Merci de vos réponses nombreuses !
Anne

[greyghost1]

Hello Anne,
I love London. A perfect breakfast place, across from the Smithfield Market is Smiths of Smithfield... and has homemade sausage and it is sooo good. Then St John @ 26 St john St is outstanding for lunch. (resv required as it is always full) We ate well there and stumbled back to the hotel. The Victoria & Albert almost always has a great special exhibit. The National Portrait Gallery does also.
If you find a great Indian rest. please let me know. I have always wanted to try one in London.
I highly recommend The London Eye, esp. at sundown.
I had a great Italian meal -very unexpected- at Fontana de Trevi Restaurante Italiano @ 10 Craven Terrace W2 3ED. A wonderful, creamy Cream of Broccoli soup, an awesome Osso Buco that melted in the mouth, lovely bread, and the best Tiramisu I have ever eaten.
Sommerset House seems to have some intriguing exhibits and the Admiralty Rest. serves outstanding food. But it is rather expensive.
Well just some of my favs. Whatever you do, have a great time.
Betsy

[sistereurope]

Hi Anne,

Congrats on convincing your hubby to go to London! I haven't been in aver 15 years so I'm afraid that I can't be of much help except for the obvious sites...but knowing what a "foodie" you are, you might start some restaurant research by checking the Chowhound UK board:

www.chowhound.com/boards/42

I consult Chowhound before any trip (and frequent my hometown Baltimore/Washington Board as well)...most of the people who post are lovers of all types of good food, and you can get great info about places that run the gamut from hole in the wall cheap to 5 star and everything in-between. I've never been steered wrong by any of the recommendations I've followed.
Have fun, and be sure to report back!

[Jody]

You might want to try the Wolseley on Piccadilly for breakfast, lunch ,tea or dinner! It's getting great reviews .

I was going to suggest either Racine ...but it's FRENCH!!

I'll share our favorite with you. We've been going there for about 25 years or more, usually several times each trip. I have a reservatton for this Tuesday evening as an matter of fact. La Famiglia on Langton st. We've been going there so long we have our own table and usually the same waiter.

www.lafamiglia.co.uk

You didn't say just when this week-end trip will be, but there is an excellent exhibit t the Royal Academy called Making History, a show ofsponsered the the Antiquaires . They are also showing the Paul Mellon collection of British artists. There's usually something good at the Courtauld too. The ice rink will be filling the courtyard at Somerset House about now.

If I find any more good places next week , I'll post them for you.

[cybee]

Hurrah, Anne! I can't wait to hear all your plans and what you eventually do in London! I have a couple children who are interested in London also, so I am thinking we will have to add London to one of our Paris trips when I am with them! I am clueless about London though..so I will follow with interest any and all advise you receive regarding the same and then would love to hear a trip report!!!! (if you decide to do one, of course! ) Have fun planning!

[Jody]

That's it!!

Now , does anyone remember the expression for chewing off the end of a baguette on the way home? It's a funny word and I've heard it several times .

Whoops!!!! wrong post

[geordy]

I haven't been in awhile either but a Brit friend suggested Rules Restaurant on Maiden Lane in Covent Gardens for a typically English dining experience.

An old pub or two is always nice too! Dickens, Samuel Johnson and others drank at The Cheshire Cheese in the City. Had a good pub lunch there the last time in London.

I always love to go to the theatre in London...the "new" Globe theatre is on my list...but as it is I think "open" like the original it probably isn't open(!) in Winter! And I'd love to go to the Royal Opera!

[greyghost1]

s.e. Thanks for the chowhound site...v. interesting. It also has some places in Scotland and we'll be on the west coast of Scotland in April also. Funny on the 1st page someone mentions St John and it is recommended. We plan to visit it again this April, also SOS-Smiths of Smithfield- demarias...thanks for Wolseley...will try it for breakfast also in April. And I agree La Famiglia is very good too.

[anneparis]

Thanks to all, I will have a look at all your suggestions. By the way, I will be there from november 29 to december 2nd (3 nights).

[Jody]

Anne , this is a pretty good site for checking current exhibitions. The site itself isn't too informative but it does have links to the museum's websites.

www.londontourist.org/art.html

[trechic]

Wow - how timely for me, too! Just yesterday I started doing some research on London. I have never been, and I am not sure why, but it got pushed toward the bottom of my "before I die ...I must do" list. Perhaps the ratio of the USD to the BP? Not sure. Anyway, I have excellent airfare opportunities on Virgin thru my son and so thought ...hmmm...perhaps I should check it out for a short stay.

Can anyone steer me in the right direction as to what area to stay in? Does it matter? Is the tube as efficient as the Paris Metro? I am thinking of a 3 night stay. Seperately, or perhaps combined with my next trip to Paris? This is the very beginning thoughts as I suffer thru PPD.... !

[Penny]

LOL had to check my spreadsheet as I can remember every second (well sorta) in Paris but I think it was the jet lag on the London end.


In my wandering I came up this pub and had wonderful F&C and Guinness.
The Marlborough Head
24 N Audley St.
London W1K
This is close to the Mark and Spenser's on Oxford but all I remember is turning right then right and seeing it. My stomach said go for it! check it out on mappy.com

V&A of course
Wallace Collection: miniatures (as in paintings) and a huge collection of armour even horse armour.

If you want a fancy tea then Lanesborough Hotel.
I was also leaning toward the Wosely (for other meals) after reading their menu. Others will probably have less expensive suggestions.

Tate Modern was not worth the time (my opinion) should have gone to National Portrait Gallery.

You may also want to check out this website www.visitlondon.com/
V&A of course
Wallace Collection: miniatures (as in paintings) and a huge collection of armour (sic) even horse armour.
In April only the Courtauld Gallery was open at Somerset House but was worth it (the only thing I went to with a fee).

If the weather is nice just a walk around the Serpentine in Hyde Park lovely.

You may also want to check out this website www.visitlondon.com/

[Penny]

Forgot this:

Oyster Card- even if you are only going for a weekend it is worth every pence just for the convenience.

I put 20 € plus 3 € deposit on it used for three days and got 6 € back. You would need one for each of you.

and be forewarned if you have never been the stairs (into and out of) underground are steep and narrow (yes, more so that the metro).

[jcjflorida]

Hi Anne,
We stayed in London this past summer for a week after Paris and loved it. The London Eye was fun and I am quite a coward when it comes to heights. We took the last one of the day and saw the city at twilight and then with lights. The British museum is very worthwhile, I especially liked the mummies. The very touristy red double decker buses give a great tour of the city and are a good way to see a lot and rest. We enjoyed Speaker's Corner on a Sunday morning at Hyde Park where people rant about anything and everything. I don't know what that one would be like in winter though. Great Indian restaurants abound. We also enjoyed the theatre - Spamalot was so funny. You will have a wonderful time. We had very good luck with the subway and also found the buses useful. The oyster card works on both.

[greyghost1]

Trechic...I know you want to spend time in Paris, so I would recommend eurostar to London for 3 days combined with Paris. I have stayed in many areas, it just depends on what you want to see. London is much larger than Paris and I find if I plan my days area-wise, I save a lot of transport time. Let us know what you would like to see London-wise and I'm sure we will all have suggestions.
I find the Metro more efficient but do like the tube. One suggestion, try to stay near the circle or district line-more station choices and transfer points. Try not to stay near only one tube station on -well I'll have to remember which line- cause it makes getting somewhere else take longer. We often find the escalators don't work on the tube and the stairs are steep. I always love seeing that dreaded sigh "There are 271 stairs to the top." There are a lot of stations where you have to take a lift to the platform-i.e. Russell Square. This is in the Bloomsbury area. It just takes a bit longer and if you only have 3 days you would want to spend more of it seeing things. Also it seems that on weekends quite a few stations are closed for 'works'. But we enjoy the buses and you can see where you are from them.
Well, let us know. I am planning our April 1st trip to the west coast of Scotland for a week and London for a week.

[greyghost1]

Anne, in that timeframe you could visit the couture exhibit at the V&A. The online pictures are wonderful.

[greyghost1]

Sorry should have wrote this above but you can subscribe free to TIMEOUT LONDON's online version. It appears weekly and has some good current stuff to do.

[greyghost1]

www.timeout.com/london/ (The website url.)

[Penny]

I calculated incorrectly thinking dollars versus pound.

for three days usage. I paid approximately 32 € 7 of which was refunded.
the Oyster is a prepaid card for use on underground and busses costs you less per ride and maxs for the day.

I think to get the discount on London Eye you have to add pass to it but if you need more info I'll find London Transport link.
I was only using for myself to didn't even look into any discounts as the were 2/1

[Penny]

I did a quick search and found the transporation link

www.tfl.gov.uk/

if I am reading correctly you don't have to put a travel pass on Oyster to use 2/1.

but check out the site, lots of information. The one I like(d) best is the journey planner.