Need things to do in London

Boris Godunov · May 7, 2003, 14:01

Ok, I'm going to be in London from May 29 through June 4. My friends and I haven't planned anything specific yet, so I am culling ideas for fun things to do in London and the immediate vicinity.

I was in London back in 1994, so have done the following:

Tower of London
Royal Museum*
Churchill War rooms
Westminster Abbey
Madame T's
St. Paul's Cathedral
Covent Garden Market*
watched the Changing of the Guards.

* = will gladly do again

Things I haven't done but would like to do:

Buckingham Palace (but only open in August, right?)
Royal Opera performance
The Millenium Dome (obviously)
City Museum of London
Jack the Ripper tour (I assume there is one)

And probably lots of other things I just don't know about.

So for those who know London, live there, etc., please give some input on fun things for a Yank tourist to do. I'd also like restaurant recommendations, as I am dreading the English cullinary experience.

Thanks in advance

Dauphin · May 7, 2003, 14:05

Visit some of the museums in the South Kensington area. My university campus was located between the Science Museum and the Albert Hall, just south of Hyde Park. Its a very scenic area and where most of the embassies are located.

alva · May 7, 2003, 14:07

Wembley stadium

Spec · May 7, 2003, 14:07

Spy on Madona.

Bereta_Eder · May 7, 2003, 14:08

visit soho at night.

Andrew1999 · May 7, 2003, 14:10

Go to the London Eye.

Why would you go to the Millenium Dome?

Dauphin · May 7, 2003, 14:13

The Dome is empty. Don't go there unless you want major disappointment.

asleepathewheel · May 7, 2003, 14:24

Quote:

Originally posted by Boris Godunov
Things I haven't done but would like to do:

Jack the Ripper tour (I assume there is one)

Several of those tours, I can't remember which one I took, but it was great fun. Have you read the Cornwall book? Would've bee great to grill the guide on that stuff.

Solly · May 7, 2003, 14:33

That eye thing

A big wheel alongside the Thames that goes round and round, with many large carriages attached to it.

Boris Godunov · May 7, 2003, 14:35

An overgrown ferris wheel...

Gee, let me contain my excitement...

Starchild · May 7, 2003, 14:36

Smookie, it's London. If you can't find something to do there, you're hopeless.

Dauphin · May 7, 2003, 14:37

Given the lack of skyscrapers in London the London Eye does give a very good view of the city.

Boris Godunov · May 7, 2003, 14:44

Some other suggestions I've heard:

St. James Palace
Victoria & Albert Museum
the Old Vic (?).

Day trips to places outside London also needed. I've been to Stonehenge (underwhelming), Stratford, Coventry, Bath and Brighton. I'd love to see some of the nearby castles (but not Warrick, already been there).

Clear Skies · May 7, 2003, 14:47

Damnit...if you'd've been going a little later, you could've met the incredible me...

Japher · May 7, 2003, 14:53

Isn't there a park somewhere over there where ppl get on soapboxes and preach all day? Or is that jsut every park, like here? If there is I'd go there and read the Decleration of Independence in my redneck slang...

Do they call it Quarter Pounder with Cheese? Or what!?

Oh, go see the Eiffel Tower

asleepathewheel · May 7, 2003, 14:56

Quote:

Originally posted by Boris Godunov
Day trips to places outside London also needed. I've been to Stonehenge (underwhelming), Stratford, Coventry, Bath and Brighton. I'd love to see some of the nearby castles (but not Warrick, already been there).

I took a day trip to Edinburgh, was quite interesting seeing the castle and a bit of the city, but that was a little much to try to take a train from london and back again in a day, very exhausting.

Boris Godunov · May 7, 2003, 15:05

Quote:

Originally posted by Clear Skies
Damnit...if you'd've been going a little later, you could've met the incredible me...

Would you believe Starchild has the nerve to plead poverty as an excuse for not coming to visit me? Pfffft!

*End Is Forever* · May 7, 2003, 15:28

Meet Apolytoners!

Boris Godunov · May 7, 2003, 15:31

Quote:

Originally posted by *End Is Forever*
Meet Apolytoners!

Do I look like I'm that loony?

Myrddin · May 7, 2003, 15:44

Some more ideas

Globe Theatre
Tate Modern
(conveniently close together)

Day trips (by train)
Oxford
Cambridge
Bath
Brighton
Windsor

Spiffor · May 7, 2003, 15:45

How about meeting gay Apolytoners ?

Drogue · May 7, 2003, 15:50

The Globe and the Tate Modern are definatly worth a look. If you like modern art, you'll love the tate. If you don;t might not be worth it (though it is free). The Tate Britain is also good.

Oxford and Cambridge are great places to visit. Both really nice, and surprisingly (to most people) different, and both a short hop from London (less than an hour by train or bus).

Spiffor · May 7, 2003, 15:55

Quote:

Originally posted by Drogue
and both a short hop from London (less than an hour by train or bus).

Are British trains THAT slow to fare at the same speed as buses ?

Immortal Wombat · May 7, 2003, 16:16

no, we have super-buses. superb.

Boris: Come see Gatwick, its got um... planes.

Drogue · May 7, 2003, 16:19

No, it's just less than an hour by train to Cambridge, and by bus to Oxford. Not sure about Direct trains from Oxford to London. If it doesn, likely to be 1/2 an hour or so.

Dauphin · May 7, 2003, 16:48

Quote:

Originally posted by Immortal Wombat
no, we have super-buses. superb.

Boris: Come see Gatwick, its got um... planes.

He can stop off on his way to the gay haunts of Brighton.

FrustratedPoet · May 7, 2003, 17:13

Don't go to the Dome. Really. Don't.

I agree with BC that the museums in the South Kensington area are well worth a visit.

If you like modern art then Tate Modern is a must-visit place.

The Globe Theatre is an excellent place to go if you like Shakespeare (or the theatre in general, really).

I also agree with the people that say the London Eye is worth doing.

If you want to take a day trip to Oxford there's a fast and excellent bus service from Paddington Station right to the centre of Oxford. A bit slower than the tain, but much more reliable and runs almost 24 hours a day.
http://www.stagecoach-oxford.co.uk/oxfordtube/

FrustratedPoet · May 7, 2003, 17:28

Quote:

Originally posted by Boris Godunov
the Old Vic (?).

The Old Vic is a theatre in Waterloo. They'll have a production of King Lear on while you're in town.
http://www.oldvictheatre.com/

Buck Birdseed · May 7, 2003, 18:26

I heartily recommend the National Gallery and the National Protrait gallery. I'd check out Tate Modern as well, maybe even the new Saatchi gallery although I hear that's ****.

TheStinger · May 8, 2003, 03:27

Don't Go to Buck house its rubbish.

if you are going further afield than the south try York(loads of history and a great cathedral) or even Manchester a proper industrial revolution city and proof that we have other big cities.