London Forum: Need help with itinerary - 4 days - suggestions please

Thanks LauraRW. We will be there the first week in April - for 4 days. We would prefer to do Windsor in the morning and see the changing of the guards there. However, it seems that TA forums recommend to go to Westminster Abbey and Tower of London - on respective days as first - as they get crowded. If we do move Westminster the first day - we can do your suggestions on April 5th with Windsor first. Seems like that may work fine. Appreciate it.

I think that moving Westminster Abbey to the first day is a good idea. That's what I was going to suggest. You could then walk to the Cabinet War Rooms and then to Buckingham Palace all on that day. Check if the London Walk tour goes inside Westminster Abbey (I don't think so unless it's the actual Westminster Abbey tour walk), and if not, I'd probably skip it since I'm not sure you have 2 extra hours in that day to do the walk. It depends on what time you can get to Westminster Abbey by though.

This leaves you a full day for Windsor and Eton, and you could probably do the London Eye after that, although it might be dark - I'm not sure when sunset is the first week of April. Actually, I think the Eye would fit in any of your evenings. I think it may be better to do it after you've seen some of London so you know what you're looking at. FWIW, my daughter liked the dome of St Paul's better than the London Eye.

If you can do a tour of Parliament I would. It is one of the best (to my surprise) things I've ever done and although it is about a place of British government, you might be surprised to find out about the origin of many globalised practices, customs and even figures of speech (depending on who you get as a guide). It is far better than watching a debate IMO.

That does leave the problem of where to fit in everything else! Maybe switch the Tower to Thurs since 10 Downing St is just a walk by and you could do COTG at Windsor if you go there.

Sunset first week of April will be around 7.35 to 7.45 pm.

btgm and parklandwalk: THANK YOU !

On Wednesday (first day), the Eurostar arrives at 11:30 (St. Pancras) - by the time we change $, buy travel cards, check into hotel - it's early afternoon.

I am going to switch Westminster Abbey to Wed. afternoon as all suggested. We tried to do it early to avoid the crowds - but I guess there is no way around it. I can add Cabinet War Rooms, Buckingham Palace and local things (ie, St. James park, 10 Downing St, Trafalgar Square) - - but we would have to skip the British Museum (which doesn't bother me - but what do you think?) I think that we will skip London Walks and do it on our own.

That would leave Thursday for Windsor Castle and Eton. We'd get there early, but would not be back to later afternoon - as I believe Eton tour starts at 2 p.m. (which is OK with us). We can fit in something that eve (ie, London eye). I think the adding the Tower that day could be much, but if we did, it helps Saturday.

On Saturday, do you feel it is feasible to do Tower of London (2-3 hours), Tower Bridge, tour of Parliament (only done on Saturdays) and St. Paul's Cathedral ? We can skip Shakespeare globe.

And, again, it appears that we may not be able to fit in the British Museum. Unless others feel it's better to see that than some of the other choices we have (Harry Potter WB tour is untouchable though).

Thank you all once again. Very nice of you.

You may have to skip something - there's a lot on your list for only a few days esp, if you are spending some of them out of London.

Yes I would do WA/Cabinet War rooms and maybe the London Eye if the weather's OK, since it's nearby, on Wed.

The British Museum is open late on Fridays (till 8.30 pm) but perhaps drop the cruise and instead do your HP tour then maybe St Paul's that afternoon but that will be a heavy day. (FWIW I would prioritise WA, St Paul's, the Tower and a tour of Parliament over the BM btw).

Sat you could do the Tower and your tour of Parliament and possibly the Eye if you haven't already done it.

Windsor/Eton. Presume the tour you mention is of the school, otherwise I'd just wander round on your own. I don't think you 'd have time to do the Tower if you do the tour that day by the time you get back into London. Hope that helps a bit!

The school tour is not available on Thursdays, but I recommend that you just wander round Eton. It is a charming one street town, and will not take long.

windsor.gov.uk/things-to-do/eton-college-p57…

Keep in mind that St. Paul's last admission is 4:00. I don't see how you can do the Tower of London and tour Parliament and still get there in time to do it justice.

It's all going to be tight. The first day, I wouldn't count on getting to Westminster Abbey until 1:30 or so (although you don't say where you're staying), so if you are there 2 hours that's 3:30. You'd get to the Cabinet War Rooms about 4:00, and they're open until 6:00. This would give you time to see the War Rooms and probably touch on the Churchill Museum but not see everything. Sunset is about 7:30, so that gives you time to walk to Buckingham Palace before dark.

On the second day, if you take out Eton (which I can't comment on since I haven't been there), you could probably do Windsor Castle and get back to see something in London afterwards if you get to Windsor at opening time. Otherwise I don't think you can fit in anything except maybe the London Eye.

On Sat, the first tour of Parliament is 9:15, lasting 75min. It would be likely 11:30 or so when you got to the Tower. If you left at 2:30, you could probably get to St Paul's by 3:00. It is open until 4:30. That's not really enough time anywhere but it's some time everywhere.

DRATS ! Just when I thought we were close to final - seems like I'm not doing it right. Taking suggestions from all - on tweaked plans (below). We'd really like to tour Parliament, but seems like too little time to accomplish it all.

Aside from your comments on revised itinerary, do have a question at the end. Thanks.

Day 1 - Arrive Wed - before noon (from Paris via Eurostar):

Staying at Park Plaza - Westminster Bridge

Parliament (no tour as it's only on Saturdays) - or see question at bottom

Big Ben

Westminster Abbey

Churchill War Rooms

Day 2 - Thursday:

Windsor Castle - arrive early - see changing of the guards

Will skip Eton (unless T.A. things it's feasible) - no tour available on Thurs

Buckingham Palace

Walk thru St. James park

Trafalgar Square

10 Downing Street

Day 3 - Friday:

Harry Potter - Warner Bros. - studio tour (half day)

British Museum - afternoon

Cruise on the Thames (evening) OR London Eye (can fit this anywhere)

Saturday:

Tower of London - arrive early - gets crowded

Tower Bridge

St. Paul’s Cathedral

Walk over Millenium Bridge

Day 4 - Sunday:

Noon-time flight back to USA.

Additional Question: Would it be feasible to skip British Museum all together. Put the Tower of London and Tower Bridge on Friday afternoon - after Harry Potter (Warner Bros tour) in which we will return around 1:30. Then put in the Parliament tour on Saturday morning ?

What can I say?

You will enjoy.