Heading to London Sunday for business for a week, staying in St. James area, haven't been in London since 2002-2003, places to go or places to avoid.
Any input would be appreciated,
Thanks,
Spunk

Are you looking for places to tour?

I'm not from the UK, but we were in London a little over a year ago. If you have some time, I'd highly recommend:
The Churchhill War Rooms ** Make sure you purchase your ticket a day or two ahead of time, the lines are long if you don't buy ahead of time. We spent hours there.

The Royal Observatory in Greenwich - we spent a few hours here as well. Afterwards we walked to Greenwich market and had lunch from the Red Cow Carvery (go hungry it was a lot of food)


Link to original video: https://youtu.be/JV9O35YioQo?t=82

Between the Tube and the buses, public transportation worked really well for us. Google Maps helped out a lot figuring out which method or combinations of methods to get to where we were going.

We were disappointed with the London Eye - it wasn't worth the long wait to pick up pre-purchased tickets and the long wait for getting on.

In nearby Smithfield, (one stop away by tube), is the influential restaurant St John. Owner and head chef Fergus Henderson has inspired and influenced chefs from around the world with his nose-to-tail cooking, it's where roasted bone marrow was put on the menu.

Go westward just a bit and you'll hit River Cafe in Hammersmith. One of the most important restaurants to the London dining scene, many chefs around England have gotten their start there. It's Italian influenced but, modern with an English take as ingredients are local.

I toured (on my own) both the British Museum and the Imperial War Museum when I was in the city. My at-the-time-wife had no interest in either. I was fascinated by both.

Thanks guys

I expected more replies to this thread. I’ll be heading there at the end of July for a couple of weeks to visit my daughter will also be going to Scotland in the middle of it for a few days.

quote:

Originally posted by spunk639:
Heading to London Sunday for business for a week, staying in St. James area, haven't been in London since 2002-2003, places to go or places to avoid.
Any input would be appreciated,
Thanks,
Spunk

Apart from court appearances, I haven't been to London since 2001. So all these guys here have gotten me beat. For me, Westminster Abbey or St Paul's cathedral are musts, but then I went to school in the first place and the taking photographs of the second earned me what was a lot of money for a schoolboy in the 60's.

The Tower of London is WAYYYYY too popular, especially as you are going there right smack in the middle of the school summer break, but a hop-on bus ride tour is a great idea - get on and off when you like. Covent Garden is THE place for a coffee and break. But remember that just about nowhere has air-con, though.

Everybody goes to see the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, but it really IS a great way of spending an hour of so - just don't get in the way of any soldiers marching around - they have sharp pointy bayonets, and live ammunition, and will walk through or over you - proven fact.

Booking ahead for the London eye is a must - else joining the endless line will be your fate. You can, like a lot of Americans, take a helicopter ride around the ILCZ, but it's pricey, to say the least. This one is very popular - £300 pp.......

https://www.getyourguide.com/l...rrer_view_position=1

OTOH, have your cameras ready on your final approach to Heathrow - you usually fly the circuit a couple of times, and with the lane really heeling over, you can get some amazing shots - make sure you get a window seat...

Visiting the numerous gun-makers is only by appointment - no rubber-neckers or tire-kickers are permitted in their hallowed sanctuaries!!

Window-shopping, however, is cheap.

PS - take LOTS of money - it's the capital city, and there are positively NO bargains.

Thanks for all the tips and advice, greatly appreciate it.
Spunk

Learn Arabic.

There are some places in London that are off-limits to English-speakers.

The first time I went to London I spent all three days at the British Museum—along with my fiancée and now wife of 50 years. Love the Antiquities!

I stayed at the St James Hotel and Club. Walking distance to the T (Tube).
The London Pass really covered transportation and tickets for a lot of attractions. Usually picked 2-3 things to see in the London Pass per day. Lunch on the go--discovered that the fancy department stores have restaurants on site, reasonably priced.
Theater with a TKTS--lot of good restaurants in that area.

Thanks all!

quote:

Originally posted by fpuhan:
Learn Arabic.

There are some places in London that are off-limits to English-speakers.

My Arabic and Pashtun are rusty but can still follow it, still know enough to know when I’m not in good company.

Been there several times, most recently was Nov 2018 w/o Mrs Sigmund, which gave me tremendous flexibility to visit military history sites. Most are easy to reach on the London Underground, some are away from the city and require taking a train.

https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/

http://battleofbritainbunker.co.uk/

https://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-duxford

https://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/

https://www.secretnuclearbunker.com/entry/

https://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-london

http://www.upperheyfordheritage.co.uk/tours/

http://maunsellseaforts.com/

http://x-pilot.co.uk/services/grand-fort-tour/

https://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/hms-belfast

https://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/churchill-war-rooms

If the Imperial War Museum Duxford, home of the USAF Memorial collection and also the largest collection of FLYING WW2 airplanes in Europe is of interest, I live about forty minutes away - I'd be more than happy to take you around. There are also a lot of WW2 USAAF bases around the local area, with memorials commemorating those who served. Col Jimmy Stewart, later a movie star, was commander at Polebrook, about five miles from me.

If you have any interest in Stonehenge, I would definitely recommend checking it out. I know some people couldn't care less about it, but I loved it. I remember learning about it as a kid and seeing it in person was super cool.

They are all kinds of different day trips to it from London. I did a popular one that went to Stonehenge and the town of Bath.

I also really liked the old main hall of the Natural History Museum in London.

And if you walk across the Tower Bridge, head down Shad Thames. It's an interesting old street along the river.

If you want a pub that has a view, The Dickens near St. Katharine Docks - just east of the Tower Bridge.

https://www.dickensinn.co.uk/

It has been quite a few years since I've been there, but I understand it is still interesting.

The Royal Air Museum, which was mentioned earlier - you can expect to spend HOURS, maybe DAYS, trying to see everything.

Dad and I went there 5 years ago - we had only a few hours. A younger couple, along with their son, spent a while talking to Dad about his recollections.

If memory serves me, entrance is free. Parking is nominal cost. The Colindale tube station is probably the closest if you're not driving. It isn't too far from the area where my mother grew up.

If you happen to find a street-side vendor for fish and chips, give them a try. Some of them have fresh fish you can only dream of here in the stores of the USA.

Tac
I land on Monday my other half is headed to the tennis matches, she’s a huge fan, my email is in my profile would love to take you up on your offer.

IWM Duxford!! I'd forgotten about it as I didn't think of areas outside London. This museum is VERY interesting. It is on my list of places to visit again should I make it back to the UK.

Tac is a very good and knowledgeable host.

quote:

Originally posted by SigSAC:
IWM Duxford!! I'd forgotten about it as I didn't think of areas outside London. This museum is VERY interesting. It is on my list of places to visit again should I make it back to the UK.

Tac is a very good and knowledgeable host.

You're very kind to say so, Sir!! Your check is in the mail.

At OP - please read your PM.