Wed recommend allowing 1 hour to travel to the castle and at least 2 hours for the visit. The highly informative and entertaining Science Museum fills five floors with interactive exhibits. Our Oyster Card will be expired so well need to pay for the transportation to the airport. Day 1: Arrive in London Days 2, 3, 4 & 5: Explore London, consider a day trip to Bath, Stonehenge, or Windsor Castle Day 6: Train to Paris in the morning Day 7, 8 & 9: Paris Day 10: Fly home READ THE FULL ITINERARY: Tower bridge in London | 10 Days in Europe Itinerary Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris | 10 Days in Europe Itinerary Glad you are finding our 3 day London itinerary helpful in planning your trip. This is a great itinerary. Dear Team, Wishing you a wonderful trip to London! Once you've finished at the Tower of London, you can see the next sight on my 3-day London itinerary: Tower Bridge. Tower of London Thank you SO MUCH for your work in preparing the itinerary. We will rely on public transportation. But if you want a more luxurious experience, youll want to make a reservation in advance. Spending 3 days in Paris? Tours must be booked in advance. Wishing you a great trip to London, Jessica. Stonehenge is far from London so you cannot use your Oyster Card or take the Tube. Yes, I think that if you have limited time on a trip, you want to plan ahead and do what you can so that you can spend as much time as possible doing things and visiting places rather than having to plan and figure things out on the go. Just note that the tours dont include entry into any attractions. Since you have a child visiting, Id maybe pick at least one place that would be particularly fun for him or her. Just note you need to take a short bus or taxi ride from central Bath to many of the car rental agencies, including Enterprise, as most are a little outside the city center. It provides information on his life from his early years to his death in 1965, with a focus on his long political career. Where to eat? Love it! If youd prefer to explore Greenwich or Camden, you can find a day itinerary for both of these neighborhoods as part of our suggested 6 day itinerary. Jessica, Wow so glad I stumbled across your blog . Will Jones Sep 10, 2018 5 min read Trafalgar Square is the nearest London gets to having a centre Geoff Stringer / Lonely Planet London is bursting at the seams with a ridiculous number of world-class things to see and do, from tantalising food markets to mesmerising museums. Youre very welcome and just let us know if you have further questions as you plan your trip to London! Id recommend booking a day tour for the most convenient option. You say the cruise goes to London but does it actually end in London itself? Wishing your family a fun visit to London! Alternatives:Other nearby attractions include the Tate Modern (free, charges for exhibitions*), HMS Belfast(fee*), Southwark Cathedral (free, donations welcome), andThe Old Operating Theatre Museum(fee*). Planning Tip: For optimal museum hopping, you can ride the RB2 riverboat from Bankside Pier next to Tate Modern to its sister museum, Tate Britain, via Millbank Pier. Read our Privacy Policy. Christmas Day is quiet, with all shops and museums closed and the public transport network shut. So I would not worry too much about it when visiting London. Wishing you safe & happy travels to London! If you have a London Pass, you get free entry into one of the paid exhibitions. Good views both during the day and the evening. Those arriving from Scotland can check out our Edinburgh to London guide, and might want to consider taking anovernight sleeper train. We are so happy that you found our 3 day London itinerary helpful for planning your trip to London. Despite looking like you've walked in on a Bridgerton party, these establishments are perfectly welcoming. Next, indulge in some of the delicious local Caribbean cuisine and take in many of the citys finest Black artists at 198 Contemporary Arts and Learning. My friend and i will be in London (first time) on 14th April departing 18th April from Gatwick to South Australia. Here are some. Is it worth getting the London Pass or would it be better to pay as we go in case our wants exceed our endurance. From secret spots of historical significance to things that are just plain weird, here are some of the strangest sights hidden away in London. Writer EmmaDonoghue discusses her life in travel; from her enduring love for Nice to the Art Deco of Brussels. Does it offer discount for Aladdin and the other plays that you mentioned? after the 3 days? Hi Rio, Glad you enjoyed our London itinerary and hopefully you get a chance to visit some more attractions on your next trip. Glad you like our 3 day London itinerary. A classic way to spend an evening in London is drinks, dinner and a show, and for this happy trio, youll want to head to the West End, also known as Theatreland. The regular Oyster Card can be purchased at the concierge desks in Gatwick North Terminal or Gatwick South Terminal or at the Gatwick Airport train station (or most Underground stations once in London). It is also nice for sunset views and is open late. From here, it is a short walk to many of Londons West End theaters (head up Shaftesbury Avenue)or to Londons West End shopping area (follow Regent Street). Laurence. Or you can buy tickets at the station or in advance online. Although I would like to ask, roughly how long or how many hours does the daily itinerary last? Yes, you do need to get and use the HOHO ticket while your London Pass is valid, you use your London Pass to get a same-day ticket to get on the bus. Hi Jessica, we are planning 4 and half days in London and then 3 days and nights starting in Bath and Cotswold. But it depends on what you are looking for as youll see souvenir places all around as you travel in London. Some may just have reduced hours. The London Pass will definitely save you money on your time in London if you do all the above. For your time in London, Id recommend the Oyster Card if you are looking for a transport card. It's getting colder, but parks are splashed with gorgeous fall colors. St Pauls Cathedral (here we would use the tube to go back to almost where we started to take the cruise) My question is, are there any of the locations you mention that could be unsafe for an older lady traveling alone? And of course, more serious things do happen (we were in London during the 2017 London Bridge incident for instance) but these are unusual. Walking through the adjacent woodland, Green Park, you will get to the forecourt of Buckingham Palace , where you will have to . London Bridge has existed in some form since Roman times, although the current one was built in the 1970s. Where did you purchase them? Local tip: The permanent collection is free, and the gallery's ziggurat extension, the Blavatnik Building, opened in 2016, provides 60% more exhibition space and a new (and free) vantage point in London. It depends on where specifically your cruise ends, where is the cruise terminal? In addition to world-class museums almost all of which have free admission the city is home to beautiful parks, buzzing markets, stunning churches, and phenomenal viewpoints. Here are our faves. Entry to see the permanent collection at the V&A is free. There is National Rail website which is the official UK train website which has info on the trains in England, Wales, and Scotland. We will be visiting London October 25-28. A temporary installation will be constructed in central London to provide visitors with a new perspective on Hyde Park. Or any special tips for me related to this? A royal coronation only happens once in a generation or a lifetime. I have watched The Wicked, Lion King, Phantom of the Opera and the Les Miserables at my hometown. Windsor Castle & Kensington: Windsor Castle, Kensington Palace, Royal Albert Hall, Shopping at Harrods. Although the Sky Garden is technically a public garden and can be visited for free, we recommend booking a space in advance as they are often fully booked and cant always accommodate walk-ins. The Big Smoke on the big screen, Traveling to London for the royal coronation? I am planning to go to London next year. The quintessentially English indulgence of whiling away an afternoon eating dainty sandwiches and cakes and drinking tea may give you the feeling you're being observed by Lady Whistledown herself. Free eye-opener tours allow you to focus on specific parts of the vast collection. A small well-preserved section of the Whitehall palace complex, theBanqueting Hall (fee), can still be visited today. Among the highlights, you will find the oldest door in the UK, Poets Corner, the Coronation Chair, 14th-century cloisters, a 900-year-old garden, royal sarcophagi and much more. So that might be a place for your to consider. All Things To Do Free 1-Day Itinerary 2-Day Itinerary 3-Day Itinerary Day 1 1. We are staying a total of 6 days in London and 3 in Edinburgh- London 4 days, Edinburgh 3 days and London 2 days. We only ask for your e-mail so we can verify you are human and if requested notify you of a reply. It can be a good late afternoon or evening activity as it keeps running after many of the other attractions close. Well be getting off a NCL cruise. The palace is not open to visitors. What would you recommend doing that day? We also recommend downloading your QR code to a separate local place on your phone so you will have access even if you cant open the app for any reason. London local Tharik Hussain contributed updates to this article. You could spend days in the huge Victoria & Albert Museum, which housesthe worlds leading collection of decorative arts,and still be astounded at its variety and depth. I was in London for 5 days a few years ago. So we first share information on how to get around London, how to save money on sightseeing, day trip recommendations, advice on where to stay, and further trip planning resources. Cruise down the Thames, take a selfie with a Beefeater at the Tower of London, or visit The View from the Shard - the choice is yours. Hi Jessica and Laurence, Its a perfect spot for a picnic in the capital on a summers day. UK residents can contact their local MP or a Member of the House of Lords to arrange a free tour. What's the best way to explore a new city on the day you arrive? Yes, the two general London walking tours: 3 hour Palaces and Parliament Tour and then the 5-hour 30+ London Sights Tour are newer additions to the London Pass. However, certain areas of East London, notably Shoreditch, are famous for having particularly impressive graffiti. Im breaking down the draft so maybe you have some suggestions. magnificent State Rooms which were mostly designed and built in the 19th century. My problem seems to be fitting Saint Pauls Cathedral in a more efficient way, on day 2, as we also plan to take the river cruise that day. You are often not guaranteed seats if you dont book in advance on many trains. If you need to get a hold of the airport concierge counter, Id recommend calling them rather than email them. Just for one full operating day of the sightseeing bus to whenever the bus service begins to when it ends. Harrods is one of the most famous luxury department stores in the world. Even if you change some of the attractions or take away a couple of them, you would still save money with a London Pass if doing a similar amount of sightseeing. Would moving around London (mainly using tube, HIHO, and walking) during New Years eve and New Years day itself be congested, meaning we may have to scale down on the number of places that we plan to visit? You need to book tickets in advance if you want to tour the palace, you can get tickets here for a tour and self-guided tours include audioguides. Some budget tips: London Pass will save you money on attractions and theatre tickets. If you are flexible about the performance you see, a good way to save money is to check in at the TKTS booth in Leicester Square which offers half-price and discounted theatre tickets or you can go directly to a theatres box office on the day for cheap standby tickets and returns. You can modify the itinerary as you wish but we would suggust maybe doing the sightseeing bus on the first day you arrive to get an overview of the city (rather than so much to get from place to place) by taking one of the routes. Admission to the Galleries is currently an extra 5.00 and you will receive a timed ticket since space is limited. Many businesses and attractions will be closed on Monday for the funeral. But you can often get good deals if you shop the sales and pay attention to discounts. Th next day we will try to see a lot!! Once signed up you can then click on the Printer icon on the sidebar or at the end of the article. Cross over the Thames via Westminster Bridge, admiring Big Ben on the left, then turn right and make your way up Whitehall, past 10 Downing Street, until you reach Trafalgar Square, the closest thing to a centre London has. The London Pass does not include free theater tickets, but it gives you up to 50% off on certain shows so you can purchase theater tickets at a discounted rates through their concierge service with your Pass. Hopefully that helps, and just let us know if you have any further questions as you plan your trip to London! The city is far from empty, though, and major sights remain open, making this the perfect time to explore London's incredible museums and galleries, wander thechilly but atmospheric streets, and get your fill of local food and drink in the warm confines of a traditional London pub. Any help you can give 2 older ladies would be appreciated very much. and you dont want to feel rushed on your first day. The river is a perfect vantage point to enjoy several of Londons most famous landmarks: Monument, St Pauls Cathedral, the Shard, Shakespeares Globe, Tate Modern, the South Bank arts complex, the London Eye and finally Westminster Bridge and the Houses of Parliament. So lots of shopping opportunities, but not sure about great outlet stores in the city or where to get a good deal. Yes, I would probably leave yourself 3 hours for everything just to be on the safe side for everything as it is hard to predict time it takes for security etc. If you have less than 3 days in London, we have also written a suggested guide to spending1 day in Londonas well as a2 day London itinerary. 2. Will look up the article you suggested. With seven floors of interactive, educational and eye-opening exhibits, the spellbinding collection at the Science Museum mesmerizes adults and children in equal measure. Those interested in military and war related history, should check out this list of London war museums and memorials. If this specific spot looks familiar, it might be because youve seen it on the silver screen blockbusters like Bridget Joness Diary, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban have all used the surrounding streets to film memorable scenes. Lonely Planet Make My Day London: Lonely Planet, Fallon, Steve, Filou, Emilie, Harper, Damian, Maric, Vesna: 9781743606971: Amazon.com: Books Books Travel Europe $9.99 Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns FREE delivery on orders over $25 shipped by Amazon. I liked seeing the sparkly jewels. Explore Westminster: Buckingham Palace w changing of guard; Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Westminster Bridge, Westminster Abbey Thank you for your article on visiting London! Any outlets where I can get a good deal on bags ? Were interested to follow your 3 days itinerary and buy a London Pass for 4 people. Most cruises end in either Dover or Southhampton, and if that is the case, you would need to catch a train from either to London. Here is a good listof the theaters which also denotes the current main production being shown at each. Last updated: April 14, 2023- Written by Jessica Norah 144 Comments. Great itinerary, thank you so much for your recommendation. Now we recommend deciding between a visit to Windsor Castle or spending the rest of the afternoon exploring more of Kensington. Others in that area you might check out are The Four Seasons Hotel at Ten Trinity Square, The Ned, and the Rosewood Hotel. Key events:The London Parade,London International Mime Festival, London Art Fair, February is chilly and wet, and it may snow, which tends to bring the city's transport to a grinding halt. Your efforts are really appreciable, this is an amazing itinerary for spending 3 days in London. Thanks for sharing! You can see a full list of attractions and benefits here. Otherwise, you canbook a tour ticket onlinefor a self-guided audio tour or guided tour. In general, youneed to visit an average of 2 to 3 higher priced attractions per day to save money with a 3 day London Pass. it. 3. This includes public bus, tram, and rail services (including the Tube) within the city. Best, Jessica. Everyone goes at their own pace. Me and my mom are going to travel to London next week, we arrive on the 4th at about 3pm and we leave on the 7th at about the same time, so that means we have 2 full days and 2 half dayswe have a lot things we want to do but we are kinda short on time and we need to stay with a budgetThis time, Im really lost and it has been really difficult to plan this trip.Do you have any tips or suggestions for our trip? Today we recommend exploring the City of London. But this is also the time the city is buzzing with events from one of the largest street parties in the world to smallpop-up book fairs and markets. I really appreciate your work. For the day trip, yes, the price of the entry fee for Windsor is probably included in your tour cost. For the above reasons, and to avoid the crowd, we are actually considering the option of taking a day trip to Bicester Village on New Years eve for some shopping. Harrods. Hope that helps, and feel free to reach out if you have further questions as you plan your London trip! Or you can rent a car in Bath but you dont really need a car to explore Bath itself as the highlights are located within walking distance of each other. Also Regents Street, Bond Street, Mayfair area, Knightbridge area (Harrods). Guided tours of the Royal Albert Hall help you understand the history of the concert hall and take you to see the auditorium, gallery, and the private suites of the Royal Family. If you are getting a London Pass, then Wicked is currently one of the shows that pass users are eligible for discounted tickets, you can see more about this here. 2023 Lonely Planet, a Red Ventures company. Highlights include portraits of William Shakespeare and Queen Elizabeth II, the latter courtesy of pop art sensation Andy Warhol. Youre amazing. If you still have time and stamina you might want to continue on across Westminster Bridge to where youll find several attractions located along the Thames, including the London Dungeon and the London Eye. Gastropubs dot Londons culinary cosmos, many rivaling the best restaurants. Jessica. Since many visitors use theLondon Pass, the attractions that are included on the London Pass are starred (*) denoting that passholders receive free entry so these attractions have (fee*) next to them. Elsewhere in the park, you'll find the Kenwood House, a grand 17th-century house with an impressive art collection, plus three swimming ponds (nominal charge, which is often ignored), and plenty of quiet spots for a back-to-nature-in-the-heart-of-London picnic. Its a beautiful green space and we recommend a little wander if the weather is nice. The phone number to both desks is on the page I sent earlier. -Note that if you are from Miami you might find London a bit chilly depending on the weather when you visit, as it can be cool and rainy even in the summer at times (or it can be pretty hot). London is a beautiful place to visit . Based on your 3 days itinerary we have planned the London part. Amazing blog about London, really interesting and very informative! Miami Fl. Hyde Park alone ranges across a mighty 142 hectares; throw in Kensington Gardens, and you have even more space to roam and everything you could want: a central London setting, a royal palace, deck chairs, boating opportunities, open-air concerts, art galleries, magnificent trees, a tasteful granite memorial to Princess Diana as well as a magnificently overblown memorial to Prince Albert facing the grand form of the Albert Hall. Bicester Village is definitely an option and I think it only closes on Christmas. You can read our Oyster Card guide for more info you can purchase it in advance (the Visitor Oyster Card which can be purchased here) or get one once in London. This bridge dates back to 1862 but there has been a bridge here since 1750. If I download the London Pass app on my phone prior to the trip, will I use data as I access it while in London? Locals lark about with pancakes on Shrove Tuesday.Key events:Chinese New Year, Imagine Childrens Festival, Pancake Day Races, Spring is in the air, trees begin to blossom, and daffodils emerge across parks and gardens. We fly back home at noon on Saturday the 18th. Experience London - Lonely Planet | England, Europe London is such an awesome city and what a great itineary! Youre welcome GG, just let us know if you have any questions as you plan your trip to London! We were planning on attending Mass(Covent Garden) around 9ish that morning then continuing on from there. Glad you are finding our London posts helpful in planning your trip. Buckingham palace, Day 3 With world-class museums, galleries and theaters, there is plenty to see and do in London. Which do you recommend? This itinerary is perfect! However, as noted above, you may not have time to do everything on your list so keep that in mind. They can help save you money and also help you organize your time the London Pass also includes a sightseeing bus and boat tour you can do. Given time, you probably only have time to admire them today, but both do have associated attractions if you want to visit them. 8 questions to ask yourself before you go, Local tips to know before traveling to England, What to pack for your trip to Ireland in 2022, How to plan a big trip whether you have 2 months or 2 years, How to enjoy Amsterdam's canals, cafes and culture on a budget, Top tips for first time visitors to London, New hop-on-hop-off bus journey will cross 18 countries over 70 days, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. It was originally built in the 11th century as a defensivemotte-and-bailey castle by William the Conquerer and has been a royal residence since the reign of King Henry I. 01 / Top Sights Unmissable sights for your itinerary Discover more Sights Westminster Abbey in The West End Tate Modern in South Bank Natural History Museum in Kensington & Hyde Park St Paul's Cathedral in London Tower of London in London Shakespeare's Globe in South Bank British Museum in The West End Hyde Park in Kensington & Hyde Park Do let us know if you have any questions if you are planning a trip to London! In the middle of the street, youll also see The Cenotaph, the UKs national war memorial. Glad you are finding our London itinerary helpful for your trip. As you continue your walk, youll end back in Parliament Square where we started our day. Other highlights include theQueen Marys Dolls House, the 15th-centurySt. Georges Chapel, and the Changing of the Guards ceremony (a much smaller version of the ceremony that takes place in front of Buckingham Palace). There's way more to London than Soho, Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Street. The local operator will depend on where you are going in the country. The 1200km (745-mile) journey between the country's largest cities can be covered in just over 15 hours by fast trains (starting at 40), while regional trains provide a slower but cheaper option, with the 24-hour trip starting at just 15. Step back in time at the Tower of London A world of English eccentricity strikingly enclosed in an imposing 11th-century fortress, the Tower of London is the place to start a visit to London. And really liked your article about London. May 12, 2022 10 min read London is the ideal starting point for exploring England by rail or road Franckreporter / Getty Images Want to see as much of England as possible on your trip but don't know where to start? Circuit the Great Court, topped by a striking glass canopy, and gaze at the Egyptian mummies, Parthenon Sculptures, Rosetta Stone and other world treasures. 7 years ago Save Hi all, We will be travelling to London in July, spending three days to tour the city, one day is booked to tour Windsor/Stonehenge via a tour company. -Appropriate shorts (e.g., not too short) should be OK in London. The reconstruction of The Globe was the dream project of American actor/director Sam Wanamaker. My husband and I are travelling in March to London-Paris-Amsterdam and your blog has been very useful. If you have any questions about the itinerary or visiting London, just ask them in the comments below and as always we are happy to help! London Travel Stories - Lonely Planet The Banqueting House wasdesigned by Inigo Jones and features a beautiful ceiling painted by Peter Paul Reubens. London is one of the worlds largest and most exciting cities, offering visitors thousands of things to do, including museums, royal palaces, beautiful parks, historical sites, and world-class theatre. Sadly, we have yet to actually dedicate a trip to explore the city properly! A trio of world-class museums lie within steps of each other in this wealthyneighborhood, their grand edifices proving an equal draw to the glorieswithin. All rights reserved. After sooooo many reading of London itinerary, this one is the most complex. At Highclere Castle be sure to take time to stroll the gardens and visit the museum the focus of the visit here has become on Downton Abbey but I think the true life story of the family is more interesting. Day 1 of your 3 days in London itinerary is full of monarchs, MPs, and West End stars. We did a ton of walking and feel like we packed so much in. I need to go to the Churchill War Rooms and do the tour of the Houses of Parliament. to go by the tube? Those Victorians sure liked to collect and catalog. But if doing a day tour, then at least you are not doing the driving. Weve purchased the Oyster Card. Then Day 3 you can follow the Day 3 itinerary as it includes Windsor. Clocks go back to winter time the last weekend of the month, and school kids celebrate Halloween with ghoulish dress-up and trick-or-treating.Key events:London Film Festival, Dance Umbrella, Affordable Art Fair, London Cocktail Week. However the London Pass is not a good fit for all travelers, and if you are not sure if it is a good fit or not, read ourfull review of the London Passto help you decide if it is worth it. It's a quintessential London sight, and UK residents are eligible for a free guided tour of the UK parliament, while the rest of us can make do with an online one or pay 28. For a journey to London from either of these cities, you would need to pay for your train tickets separately (cant use Oyster Card) since that journey would be well outside of greater London. You just need data to download it and set it up.

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