And yes, I am no where near ready. I have some idea what we'll do on a couple of days b/c reservations have been made, but we're so indecisive about the others. I guess we'll wait to see what weather and mood brings. Tentativily though
Arrive Wednesday morning - after we freshen up, settle into the apartment, perhaps an afternoon on one of those on-off buses to get acquainted with the city again.
Thursday - Astral Tour to Stonehenge. Our morning is free, so maybe a bit of shopping or a visit to the V&A museum.
Friday - lunch with a friend; Maybe the Portrait Museum or British Museum, London Eye?
Saturday - Portabello Market
Sunday - open - Buckingham Palace perhaps? Hampton Court?
Monday - tea at 3:30, show at the West End that night. Maybe the London Eye? Churchills' War Room?
Tuesday - open - Maybe the Tower of London, Westminster Cathedral?
Hello Kim ! Don't panic... the weather has "returned to normal" so it is cooler and showery.
What can I be of assistance with ?
As you say you will have to go with the flow but I don't think you will need all day Sat at Portobello market and didn't you have reservations for afternoon tea at The Ritz ?
Look out for a leaflet entitles "Summer in London" which will give you 2 for 1 entry if you travel by train, into The Cabinet War Rooms,and offers a £3 discount on www.theorginaltour.com tour of London, as well as many other discounts.
Wendy
Posts: 2747 | Location: Lightwater Surrey U K | Registered: 30 March 2003
Kim, I was going to post on the blog about my little "tourist day" yesterday. Seeing you mention the on-off bus, I just wanted to give a hearty recommendation for it. It always seemed so cheesy but I did all three lines (skipped the green line, the davinci one) plus the free cruise yestereday. I learned a lot of tidbits and, I think, some little-known factoids -- has to do with bricking up the windows. I'm sure the Brits on the board know that one!
Anyway -- it was a great way to see the entire city and figure out exactly where everything is and how far from this-that-or-the-other-place and to get reacquainted with the city.
Stop in and say hi or something -- I'd love to meet you finally I think starting tomorrow I'm going back to working nights, but it's easy enough to get some time!
Hey Kim, I may have already told you this [seniormomentitis ] ... but when you're at the Tower of London, take a few minutes to walk across Tower Bridge. The bridge itself is one of my favorite sights in London, and it's very cool to see the Tower from the other side of the Thames.
When I was last in London I stayed with a friend in the Canary Wharf area, and every morning I'd walk across the bridge to catch a bus or hop on the tube. It holds a special place in my memories.
**edited to add: The National Portrait Gallery is amazing!! Paintings we've seen reproductions of in history books and documentaries are right there! Another great memory.
Posts: 14290 | Location: The Beautiful San Francisco Bay Area | Registered: 06 August 2001
Hope you have a great time-- and I know you will. London is a wonderful city.
I really recommend the Tower of London (like Colleen's idea too). It's fun to take a boat down the Thames to the Tower (leaving from Westminster) and see London from the water.
I don't see Harrod's on your list-- it's fun to at least peek into!
Wendy, thanks for the tip about the guide; I'll look for it. I'm thinking Portabello for 1/2 day on Saturday, maybe a picnic in one of the parks Saturday afternoon. Mom has an old friend who lives outside London that she's hoping to connect with too, so that's another weekend possibility.
Maria, e-mail me your work address, worse comes to worse we can always pop in to say, 'hi' but would love to finally meet you too.
Colleen, Tower Bridge, check, will do.
Kathy, boat on the Thames from Westminster to the Tower? That could definitly cure the boat itch I had to ride to Hampton Court w/o all the time. Do you have any other information?
It's getting so close; I really need to get my act in gear. I also want to check out the London Walks ghost tours.
I cannot wait; just the three of us should be a blast and some good bonding....if we don't rip each others heads off first
Editing to add....Wendy, will you be in London at all while we're there? Any chance for a gtg?
Kim, if you do the Original Tour, the boat cruise is included in the ticket. There are three choices for the boat -- one is a circular cruise from Westminster down past the Tower Bridge; one is a point-to-point cruise that lets you hop-on-hop-off type of thing at 5 (or is it 6) different docks (Westminster, Tower, Embankment and three others), and the third is one that I can't remember
Maybe we can figure out a GTG! I sent the address to your slow trav email address.
There are several companies with boat tours along the river at Westminster. We just chose one there and went as far as the Tower Bridge.
Don't miss the London Eye, and I loved Westminster Abbey. It looks like you've got a very busy schedule. Be sure to allow some time to just wander around your neighborhood as well. We did that for one whole day and in some ways it was my favorite day.
I thought I'd chime in here and recommend a walk/museum I love to do. Start at the Tate Modern and do a quickie through some of the areas, primarily through the main hall. The Tate Modern is an old converted power station and they have this huge turbine room (or something like that) where they always have amazing installation art. You can also see some "classic modern art" (if I can say that) by people like Dali and Picasso. When you've had your fill (it doesn't take me long), go out and walk across the Millennium bridge. It's a beautiful view with the river on either side and St Paul's rising up in front of you. End your walk when you get to St Paul's... if you can, go inside and have a look around. It's gorgeous. Depending on how long you spend in the Tate, this would take anywhere between 1 to 3 hours.
I'd agree with Suzanne on this: Tate Modern is a marvellous building, and a fascinating converson job. And the view from the cafeteria on the top floor is spectacular (as are some of the prices, but a cup of tea shouldn't set you back too much!).
BTW, is that me or someone else booked in for Fri lunch?! I can't remember just how firm our plans are - but Fri is definitely the day for the 'handover of the goods'
Jonathan
Posts: 2945 | Location: Stroud, UK | Registered: 18 November 2001
Hope it's ok to post a question in your thread. We leave two weeks from Friday and are far less organized than you, and we've never been there before.
Is there a better spot to enter Portabello Market? After we left Porta Portese a few years ago, someone said we should have entered in a different place. Also, will I need a raincoat or is an umbrella enough?
We are getting so excited.
Posts: 407 | Location: Watertown, New York, USA | Registered: 22 August 2003
Kim, don't forget to get in touch if you can squeeze me in your schedule! We had a lovely GTG with Chris and Frank last night so we're primed.
BTW one option to consider that would satisfy both your preference for more historic art and your need for a boat trip would be to visit the Tate Britain and then take their boat to the Tate Modern. There's more information here.
And to Millie, I don't think it matters which end you enter Portobello from. It will be busy no matter where you are. And an umbrella will be fine unless you need two arms for your shopping.
Beebee
Posts: 1955 | Location: London, UK | Registered: 09 September 2002
Millie, Kathy (Teachick) posted an excellent guide to the Portobello market in this thread a couple of weeks ago. Scroll up to the second post in the thread.
Kim, glad to hear it
Jonathan
Posts: 2945 | Location: Stroud, UK | Registered: 18 November 2001
Originally posted by beebee: Kim, don't forget to get in touch if you can squeeze me in your schedule! We had a lovely GTG with Chris and Frank last night so we're primed.
Beebee, did you go to that same pub that you took us to a couple of years ago? We were there for Sunday lunch and I had the best Vegetarian Sunday Roast that I have ever had! That was a great pub - what was the name of it? I should write a review!
I had a quick email from Chris saying they had a great evening with you and Bill, but she did not mention Doogal (the dog) - did he not come?
Get to Portobello road market early. When leaving I'd walk back up Ladbroke Grove street which is to the right of Portobello if you are facing up towards the beginning of the market (I cut over once it starts to get too crazy on the main drag). You can take several smaller side streets up here and there as well. Going back up against the flow of traffic is overwhelming. Also, if you go to Regent's Park there is a great little cafe there and the prices are fabulous. You can grab some food and then go and sit in the lovely rose gardens that Regent's Park is famous for. Lots of benches there too.
If you go to St. James Park there are also great little cafes and the biggest one the Serpentine is nice as you can sit out on the water. I like the little one by the gallery, the one at the point where people can swim. The prices are also fantastic and there have yummy scones (good sandwhiches too). I usually pop over to one of these parks after the market. It's nice to relax and decompress...
Millie,
Get off at the Notting Hill Gate tube stop. When you exit you are at the very top of Portobello Road (actually Pembridge Road). There will be some funky shops (including some nice vintage ones) at the top of the street. Walk down and veer to your left (pass the cute little bed and breakfast on the corner of Pembridge and Portobello) and you have begun the walk dow the skinnier and quieter part of Portobello Road. As you keep walking you will first hit the antique stalls and jewelry stalls. The market awaits you!
If going to the Tate Modern, may I make the following suggestion : Go to Embankment tube station, exit, and cross the river on Hungerford bridge taking in the views. Then pop into the Festival hall and see what's happening (there is often a free show or exhibition, and you can see if anything takes your fancy for an evening concert). Walk from the festival hall, in the opposite direction to the London Eye, you could have a quick look at the Globe theatre, then continue until you get to the Tate Modern, possibly stopping at a pub on route. Then cross the Millenium bridge towards St Pauls.
Posts: 833 | Location: Hampshire, UK | Registered: 28 March 2005
Then pop into the Festival hall and see what's happening (there is often a free show or exhibition, and you can see if anything takes your fancy for an evening concert).
The Royal Festival Hall is shut for restoration. It is scheduled to re-open in July 2007.
Posts: 252 | Location: London, UK | Registered: 08 August 2005
Originally posted by Kim: Beebee, that would be great. Should I e-mail you our cell phone number? What does your schedule look like?
Yes, send me your number. Apart from work (which is, annoyingly, quite hectic at the moment ) the schedule is pretty free. So a quick lunchtime GTG if you were near Portobello market/Notting Hill could be possible or after work anywhere else.
quote:
Originally posted by Pauline: Beebee, did you go to that same pub that you took us to a couple of years ago? We were there for Sunday lunch and I had the best Vegetarian Sunday Roast that I have ever had! That was a great pub - what was the name of it? I should write a review!
I had a quick email from Chris saying they had a great evening with you and Bill, but she did not mention Doogal (the dog) - did he not come?
No we met at a nice neighbourhood pub called the Prince of Wales in Holland Park (I met Kathy and Charley and Kelly there a year or so ago). When we met you and Steve we went to the Flask in Highgate. Do you remember we visited Highgate cemetary before or afterwards? The Flask is an absolute jewel of a place with fantastic food and in my book would beat the Prince of Wales into a cocked hat any day but it's not nearly so central. That said the food at the Prince of Wales is also good. Can't comment on the vegetarian offering though as we were all carnivores.
We didn't bring Dougal because I came straight from work, but also because, very sadly, Dougal is extremely unwell. He's been struggling with congenital hepatitis and now has an enlarged heart so any exertion makes breathing quite hard. We just learned that he has only a few more months to live (I'm getting a big lump in my throat as I type that sentence). It's such a shame. He's been such a great dog.
Beebee
Posts: 1955 | Location: London, UK | Registered: 09 September 2002
Topic Closed
] ... but when you're at the Tower of London, take a few minutes to walk across Tower Bridge. The bridge itself is one of my favorite sights in London, and it's very cool to see the Tower from the other side of the Thames. 
) the schedule is pretty free. So a quick lunchtime GTG if you were near Portobello market/Notting Hill could be possible or after work anywhere else.