Spending a week in London

[SysError]

A few more thoughts:

Whenever we go to Europe I need at least a day, sometime more, to get over my jet lag.  My wife does fine.  I cannot function.   We always plan for a very light day on the first day.

Check your credit card for terms and fees and exchange rates.  Some of them are very high.  We realized that for us the best exchange rates/fees came when we used our US based ATM cards.  Check to make sure to see what your bank charges and to activate your cards for Europe.

A lot of places in Europe use chip based card readers.  When we were there most shops had chip and swipe readers, I do not if that is still the case.

If you are in London exclusively, here would be my picks:

British Museum - http://www.britishmuseum.org/

British Library - http://www.bl.uk/

Tower of London -  http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/
Lots to do – need a full day.  While there do not miss:
The Fusilier Museum  - http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/stories/palacehighlights/thefusiliermuseum
http://www.fusiliermuseumlondon.org/

RAF Hendon - http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/

Imperial War Museum - http://www.iwm.org.uk/

Imperial War Museum London - http://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-london

Churchill War Rooms - http://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/churchill-war-rooms

And do not forget the theater:
When shows are in a day or to:  http://www.tkts.co.uk/
If you can plan out a bit: http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/londontheatre/info/tickets.htm

If you are going to travel outside of London check this out:
http://www.aviationmuseumguide.co.uk/index.php

We went to Tangmere.  Well worth it.  - http://www.tangmere-museum.org.uk/

Here is a “trip report” I put together a while ago and later posted to this forum.  Just a few words on Tangmere and RAF Hendon.

http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,369597.0.html

http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,369598.0.html

Also you may want to check out Fodors http://www.fodors.com/ or Trip Advisor http://www.tripadvisor.com/ for more ideas/tips.

Good Luck!

[Brooke]

If you are in London exclusively, here would be my picks:

No Westminster Abbey?

[SysError]

No Westminster Abbey?

I lived in Rome for a few years, Westminster is over rated.   

[eagl]

Take at least one evening to go to the theater and see a play.  Some outstanding performances there are part of the daily routine.

[Gray]

     If you do the rental car thing, Duxford is worth the trip.   I don't mean the drive, I mean the whole trip.  . 
    We visited the UK last April and I was totally surprised when my girlfriend announced that the day would be at Duxford for me.   Yes, I paid dearly for a week after, but Duxford is someplace I'll never forget. 
    They actually flew those gems overhead while we were touring the field.   A YouTube video of a Sputfire will never give you the smell of the exhaust as they go blasting by in a low pass......just sayin'.   

[USRanger]

Jolly always did like his "tube rides".

[Brooke]

I lived in Rome for a few years, Westminster is over rated.   

Rome is impressive, no doubt.  But no building in Rome has Darwin and Newton buried in it, as well as numerous kings and queens. 

Also, the inside is stunningly beautiful.

If someone hasn't seen it before, it would be a shame to miss it on a visit to London.

[-ammo-]

Jolly, you did say your wife was going, right?

[SysError]

If someone hasn't seen it before, it would be a shame to miss it on a visit to London.

Fair point.

So do not forget Westminster Abbey  -  http://www.westminster-abbey.org/

[zack1234]

more history in the North of England.

If you hear anyone speaking English take a picture.

[SysError]

Jolly, you did say your wife was going, right?

Selfridges!! - http://www.selfridges.com/content/store/london/

Right on tube and bus lines.

Better than Harrods. 

There is even a documentary on the "Secrets of Selfridges". 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWlstWRC8WQ

[Ratsy]

Selfridges!  As a boy at Christmas time, the toy department was like a glimpse of heaven.  My indulgent mother always gave me at least 2 hours there and, as a parent now, I know what that cost her.

My family transferred to Torrejon AB outside Madrid when RAF Brize Norton became RAF again in June 1965.  But my mother decided that we would spend Christmas in England and off we went.  Selfridges was the first place we went after checking into the hotel.

In 2008 we were in a hotel in Kensington and I was introduced to Harrod's since it was close.  Wow.  I don't have words.  Top shelf.

But, this has nothing to do with airplanes does it?

 

 

[Traveler]

Churchill War Rooms - http://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/churchill-war-rooms

It right in the city and even my wife enjoyed it.

[xbrit]

more history in the North of England.

If you hear anyone speaking English take a picture.

The first five days of my trip we will be basing ourselves in
Wigan doing Day trips around the north west. Then we will
be moving north to Scotland for a couple of days after that
the London area for  another five and finally about six days
in the southwest and Wales.

[SysError]

The first five days of my trip we will be basing ourselves in
Wigan doing Day trips around the north west. Then we will
be moving north to Scotland for a couple of days after that
the London area for  another five and finally about six days
in the southwest and Wales.

Are you planning on going to the IWM Manchester? 

I never been there and I'm wondering if anyone here has been and what sort of impression(s) they got from the place?