London, anyone ??

[anneparis]

Thanks a lot, today is the "itinerary day", I will plan everything. I have already reserved high tea at Lanesborough and will book restaurants...

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

The thing about London (as with Paris) is that some of the favorite tourists sites are favorites for a good reason - so do go on the London Eye (it really is a spectacular way to see all over London, which doesn't have nearly as many vantage points as Paris). View from London Eye toward the Strand:




Also, the National Portrait Gallery is wonderful (including John Singer Sargent's "Portrait of Madam X" and a wonderful portrait - don't recall who - of a very formidable matriarch who looks like she could have straightened out the entire country with a disapproving glance). Also, I definitely agree about the Britsh Museum (and in addition to seeing the exhibits, do go into the reading room on the ground floor - it's like being inside a huge Faberge egg):





Also, I find the Tower fascinating, just because it's so old (1000 years) and there is so much history centered there:





One last thing - try to make time (at least a couple of hours) to go to Westminster Abbey. It is the burial place of many of England's kings and queens (although not all, by any means), as well as many other people who were famous or important (at least in their day, some are pretty much unknown now), including Mary I ("bloody Mary"), Elizabeth I, and Mary Stuart (Mary Queen of Scots), and of course it was the venue for Princess Diana's funeral. On my first trip to London, I happened to be there on a Saturday afternoon and was walking around when suddenly wonderful music began - I had the good fortune to be there during choir practice, and was privileged to just sit sat in the back and listen. (It may be out of print now, but my favorite guide to Westminster Abbey is a book called "Permanent Londoners" which is a guide to the cemetaries and other burial places of London, and is a very interesting read because it gives quite a bit of information about some of the "residents.")

A guidebook really is a must, I think, because London is so big that unlike Paris, you can't just start walking and find yourself near most of the places you wanted to visit. There are many smaller museums that are fun and/or interesting (I enjoyed the Museum of London which has, among other things, the Lord Mayor's carriage -- looks like it was the inspiration for Disney's Cinderella coach).

[annettecinca]

I'm glad to see someone finally mentioned the Tower of London! It's one of my favorite "touristy" things in London, but IMO not to be missed. Go to the TKTS booth at Piccadilly (if my memory serves me, pretty sure that's where it's at) for cheap theater tickets. None of our meals really stood out, so I can't recommend any restaurants. Favorite museums are the National Gallery and the V&A. The kids really enjoyed the Museum of Natural History, especially the earthquake simulator which they thought did NOT feel anything like an actual earthquake and still joke about to this day!

[greyghost1]

Anne, please let us know what your itinerary turns out to be. Esp. the restaurants.

[Happygoin]

I loved staying at the Marriott in Mayfair. For any Friends fans, it's the one that was filmed in the Emily/Ross/Wedding episode. I even recognized the doorman on TV. The hotel is really nice as is the area it's in. It's directly around the corner from the American Embassy, which was Eisenhower's headquarters during WWII and an easy walk to Hyde Park. I also loved Speakers Corner on Sunday morning...such great entertainment, and for free! And don't get me started on the terrific shopping in London...

[rssilverandlight]

Anne,

Now that you have convinced him to go to London, when will you be
able to convince him to come back to San Francisco ?

If all works out for next year, we plan to spend a few days in London
so hopefully you will post and we can consider your ideas.

[rssilverandlight]

Becky,

There you go again with some great London photographs.
They brought back memories of my visit there in 1989.

[Happygoin]

Yes, they were really great pictures, Becky, especially the Tower ones.