"That would be so hard to narrow down! The tour provided a really good overview of London. Our group photo is now my computer wallpaper!". What we are seeing would mean nothing if we didn't know the history. You can make your decision once you are there. The tour could best be described as most of Londons major sites in six days. She is a "gem".". It was an overall feeling that I had really experienced London and had soaked up a good deal of its culture and modern history. Larry depending on how far you wish to travel, http://www.timeout.com/london/shopping/sunday-markets-in-london. Dates & Prices Our guide did an amazing juggling act, and it all went very well. 2023 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | CST# 2086743 | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy, http://www.timeout.com/london/shopping/sunday-markets-in-london. "The narrative by our guides as we walked the streets of London.". ", "The Tower of London. Tom was very moved by her death. He was kind, funny, and so interesting to talk with. What an incredible vacation!. We found the British people friendly and helpful. ??". Enjoyed seeing all corners of London plus a trip to Windsor Castle. The following is what I have in mind (yes, I am struggling with it) and would like to have your your advice. Maybe after the British Museum a stroll in Kensington gardens. Down? Our third Rick Steves tour and the best one yet. By Rick Steves and Pat O'Connor. What do you mean its a day off on May 26? This was a perfect trip and everything was what we expected. BUT BUT a 5.5 day tour, in essence, is WAY too short. Our tours are physically active! To be able to actually view the crown jewels was phenomenal.". Our tour guide, Jeanie set a great stride for our tour with her professionalism, enthusiasm, knowledge, and wit. Looking forward to doing another tour with Tom if that can be arranged. Well organized itinerary with knowledgeable guide. We had a wonderful group of fellow travelers. Our tour was amazing, we went to historical sites along with fun locations for tourists. 6:00 Arrive London (Find Starbucks!) "Every day there were "wow" moments, it is hard to pick a favorite. Churchill's War Rooms "There were several, but if I have to pick one, I would say it was at Windsor Castle, specifically St George's Chapel dating from the 1400's.". and visits we made to the Kyoto and Kew gardens.". "My WoW was my independent time. There is so much creativity.". While I knew there were going to be some similar things from the first tour (Tower, Windsor, Churchill War Rooms) in 2016, there was plenty of new things that they incorporated (double decker bus ride, afternoon tea, food tour, Globe Theater, Borough Market, new walks). We could maybe move to a little later time. "The crown jewels were amazing and our group entered soon after they opened. "I would say the best moments were being able to see four West End shows, two musicals and two plays, during our time on the tour. ", There were some unfortunate circumstances: the rail strike, I got food poisoning, that impacted on my overall enjoyment of the trip. We sampled a variety of food in a different part of town. ), and finally, yes, the "Crown Jewels." We have been to London twice in 10 years for a week each. "So hard to pick just one! During your week-long stay in London, your Rick Steves guide will lead you on a magical history tour along the Thames and through the Tower, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's, historic neighborhoods, and plenty of priceless art and even take you on a train trip to Windsor Castle. They certainly sparkled!!". Fabulous. Throughout this process our Guide was Exemplary, to say the least.". Just enough activities and free time. We really enjoyed immersing ourselves in pockets of London usually frequented with locals. We had seen quite a bit of London at the point, and I could absolutely envision that theater in its heyday. "I have to say, Tom was my wow moment! Although the address provided is NOT in the Camden neighborhood. So informative, saw beautiful things every day and so many historical sites! It brought to life London in a way that I had only read about in books. I could not believe that we would be able to see a castle that had survived the centuries and was so prominent in English history for the good and bad that happened there. The underground Roman ruins was quite an eye opener for me.". Day 1: Parliament Square Westminster Abbey Changing of Guards at Buckingham Palace Walking tour of Westminster Covent Garden for lunch Trafalgar Square National Gallery of Art Show in the West End "There were so many "wow" moments! After a busy morning, we'll rest our feet while enjoying that quintessentially English experience: afternoon tea. "Every day of this tour was a wow moment! Certainly less stressful that Oxford Street and not weather dependant. It was absolutely fantastic. We appreciated her foodie expertise, patience, efficiency, and friendliness. Hotel was really good with great location near tube stop and close to Green Park and Buckingham palace , which would be our daily morning walk path. Thank you everyone so much for the great suggestions and advices. 10am - British Museum And I'm not into the tea scene, but noon seems like an odd time for "afternoon tea." ", "Wow. "I think the food tour of East London was probably our favorite event the guide was outstanding and the tour itself was very interesting and tasty. We beat the crowds each day and we had plenty of time at each sight. It was my second time to take this tour and I enjoyed it even more the second time. I'm not sure when you are going, but be prepared for the weather. We had the best time on the local East End food walk learning about the history and culture and the food stops were amazing!". Thank you all so much! The tour made London a place that felt like home. I loved seeing London through the eyes of a professional. Hotel was perfectly located, clean and the staff was friendly and professional. Seeing London was a breeze because of the tour. Tom also provided advice on things to see in London after hours. Westminster took my breath away. We enjoyed every minute. Skip the Eye, expensive and very slow. He was very informative and not dry about the history part!". Phenomenal! I had been to London a few times before but there were plenty of new things to see and learn. I would squeeze in a trip out to Windsor, if you arrive by train by 9am you should be on your way back to London by 1pm ish as you can see it in 3 hours. I event think the guests were wonderful. Most were RS tour veterans and we seemed to get on really well. Very impressed with London mass transit, particularly the Tube - great signage and maps. Everything was perfect! "The Tower of London and seeing the Crown Jewels were unforgettable. Or take the tube to Green Park and walk back up a few blocks to F & M. I think you both enjoy Fortum and Mason for tea and browsing. The Tower of London was terrific. As mentioned in a previous post, London has plenty to keep you busy without venturing out of the city. It was lovely having one of the actors take us on a tour. Cruise the River Thames, and take a spin at the London Eye. It was interesting, fun and informative. Our visit has made the Queens funeral so much more real to us. Also loved exploring the street art. We'll be in Manchester several days before taking a train to London, so no jet lag when we arrive. sleep overnight in Bath. They were stunning. They are stellar shops along Jermyn street to window shop. We saw everything that we expected to see and more. After telling them about or trip, the went on line and BOOKED! We were able to see so much! I couldn't believe that it was in front of me, pitch pitch. Thank you, RS, for another outstanding love of travel Europe experience. A friend of ours and 6 of his fellow travelers with another tour company tested positive last week. Secondly, our guide: Gillian was incredibly helpful--after seeing Rick Steves and his guides on TV we had high expectations--and guess what? Plenty of places to sit and people watch while you shoot in and out of shops, if your mum is tired. "I was personally able to pay my respects to the Queen and her Prince at St. Georges, Windsor Castle. We were provided sufficient information in advance of the tour to plan and pack appropriately. "It was a series of wow moments visiting places so steeped in history.". Lots of history, lots of monarchy, lots of walking and lots of people! Buckingham Palace and Westminister Abbey were my favorites, but I also spent a lot of time at the National Gallery and British Museum.". "The afternoon tea was very fun and had lots of great food! It was a great group of people on the tour. Walking around the grounds at Windsor Castle this time had a whole new significance and visiting St. George's Chapel to pay our respects to Queen Elizabeth II was very special.". "There were several great moments but the Tower of London was especially interesting. I enjoyed seeing and reading about the historical artifacts.". We found the tour to be well organized and easy to navigate. Our first visit to London and we definitely learned the "tube" thanks to the Oyster Card provided by the tour. Should I switch with any other London day? They were exceeded by our dear guide. I watched some of the coronation on TV, so it was fun to see exactly where it all happened". Simply awesome. Moderate walking: 26 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. "I was surprised at how much I was fascinated with the Tower of London.". ", Good but pace each day could have been slower. Ogle the crown jewels at the Tower of London, gaze up at powerful Big Ben, and notice the Houses of Parliament in motion. I was so disappointed because I thought we weren't going to the Churchill War Rooms. Toms guidance, humor, skills and efforts were second to none. But we were able to see so many sites while still having time to do our own sightseeing several days. I thought the placement of the activities was good over the five days we were busy as a group but did have time to take in our own activities. Well paced. Sleep with street noise and no (or weak) air conditioning. St. Pauls is huge and has such a presence in the city. Enjoy. She even managed to deliver perfect weather for the week. We simply showed up and the rest was planned for us. We saw famous must-see landmarks, but also experienced things the average traveler's itinerary would not include. 5/23 -Stonehenge /Salisbury Drive to stongehenge then drive to salisbury then drive to London and return rental. A good mix of structured tour activities and time on our own. It seemed a special moment for us to view those priceless historic sympbols.". I think seeing Winsor as well as the Churchill War Rooms was outstanding, although everything was wonderful! It was a very busy site, and folks were doing a great job moving through the chapel in an orderly manner.". London was at its finest (except for the cooler weather) and it was nice to unpack and use the Hotel as a base for walking and exploring. Our days were busy, but well paced and we saw so much more than we would have on our own. "There were so many Wow moments. "That is really hard to say - there are so many to pick from. The hotel was clean, comfortable, interesting in itself and the staff was friendly and helpful in the days I was there before our tour started. Cask 6 Charlwood Street, London SW1V 2EE I come from the current local brew capital of the US and this was the only place I found in that corner of London that really cared about brewing. You can't visit for a day or two and cross London off your list. Highly recommend this tour! Might you reconsider? Our group was fun, lively, and no grumps. I would advise returning your car in Salisbury (if possible) and take the train to London, rather than returning your car in London. But our most enjoyable part of the tour was Windsor Castle. "The Tower of London tour. It's an essential part of the Rick Steves tour experience. We saw more than we could on our own every day! We're staying close by (Lower Sloane St). Pub near the Fitzroy is the Queens Larder. Riding the double decker and the food tour around Spitalfields Market is so memorable. "Westminster Abbey, St. Pauls Cathedral, Windsor Castle". 8:30 est. He was helpful, funny, and extremely knowledgeable. . All the sights and walks were very interesting. Our guide, Tom, was just fantastic - erudite and entertaining, with the wonderful British snarky sense of humour, perfectly judged for the crowd. The Rick Steve tour provides a world class experience, regardless of any challenges that bound to occur when traveling in todays world. 12pm - Grab lunch 1pm - Buckingham Palace (exterior only) 2pm - Westminster Abbey / Attend 3pm service Sunday Morning - Ride double decker bus tour starting at Kings Cross area and get off at Kensington Palace, riding the tube to remaining areas. She always made sure we knew what we were doing each day and where we were going. Although I think you have alot crammed in, on second thought most is doable since some of your sites are what I call "walk bys' ,, you will walk by them or see them from outside. The Washington-Mayfair is in a great location. The Rick Steves trip was perfect! Stunning. I made it, but I was exhausted by Saturday. Take a taxi or bus (there are tour buses from the train station) for Stonehenge and you walk in Salisbury. On a personal note, I learned that I am not a big fan of following a group around - especially the slow folks (of which there were several!!) We had a fabulous tour of London. There were so many: the "inside out" building in the city, the "Star Trek Transporter" effect of the Underground, Windsor Castle . Thanks again for the suggestions. "I loved the Tower of London! Tour allowed for a lot of free time to explore London independently if desired or with the tour group. And finally, the tour was amazing (again we had high expectations! hotel is above. So many, around each corner..Windsor was a treat, castle and townalso the borough market was a fun.yummy..", "Riding the old Double Decker bus and Crown Jewels". Overview Of 3 Days In London Itinerary Here's a quick snapshot of what you'll see on each day of your 3 days in London. Yes. Back out into the hustle and bustle to visit Covent Garden. I enjoying it very much. Our overall experience was as positive as we hoped it would be. Every day was well-planned and interesting, the atmosphere was friendly, the level of activity was active but not overwhelming, and we had free time every day to explore on our own. Hotel was very well located and had a marvelous bath tub, shower, heated towel bar and floor; these revitalized my energy so I was ready for the next day's walks. He was extremely personable and knowledgeable and made everything enjoyable. The tour had a good mix of planned activities and free time. Our guide had Covid so couldn't join us till day 3 so that also had an impact on the dynamic of the group, "Probably Windsor Castle. During your week-long stay in London, your Rick Steves guide will lead you on a magical history tour along the Thames and through the Tower, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's, historic neighborhoods, and plenty of priceless art and even take you on a train trip to Windsor Castle. Such a wonderful way to visit London especially for the first time! You are right about the grilled cheese sandwiches, and I suggest you add the lavender lemonade across from Kappacasein Dairy, at Marche du Quartier.". Jump to bottom. "Since I am a foodie, my favorite experience was the Bangladesh restaurant. As we had been on an RS tour to England in 2018, we were familiar with the tube & trains; however this time we noted (a) more mental fatigue from dealing with the crowds and loud mechanical noises on the tube and (b) nonavailability of Houses of Parliament tours because tours weren't restarting until Oct 15 (after our departure) following the queens funeral. I am already planning my next trip! Yes, the other suggestions are well worth seeing and you should attempt to return to visit them all. Tom was most excellent and entertaining. "Tom Hooper is just amazing! It was seeing how deeply emotional the people of England were to the Queen's death. Depending on the length of your trip, and taking geographic proximity into account, here are our recommended priorities: The food tour on the East End was a welcome change from the glitz of historic buildingsbut they were interesting also.". "The Churchill War room and museum. My 12-year-old nephew mentioned how much he enjoyed seeing the crypt in St. Paul's Cathedral. She was very diligent on getting us to learn the underground and no one got lost. How to choose? He knew everything! Our tour guide, Tom was exceptional. I believe there is UK Banking holiday on May 26 2023. I felt I was really experiencing life in the UK. London is such a beautiful city, it Wowed me!". I'd do both if possible. I'm afraid that Sunday at Borough Market is a lonely place as it is closed. Our guide Jeanie was a wealth of information and made sure we all were included. I loved seeing in person what I have studied for years. "The Tower of London was a highlight -- so much history we've only read about. As all the venues we visited were expecting the group, so we never waited in a line! I'd love some advice on timing and what to combine. Also I know from personal knowledge of the area, that from a Borough perspective that is correct. I would stay in London and not try to go out on a day trip. This was my first Rick Steves Tour, and I thought it was fantastic! 14,000+ steps a day is to many for this 73 year old. With more time, everything is workable without a car. It was truly amazing to see the Crown Jewels (some items weren't available due to preparation for the coronation). For obvious reasons, some of our plans were altered. I suggest taking the train as much as possible. I enjoyed seeing sights for the second time - Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's, and Windsor Castle to name a few.". My daughter (48) and I could not have had a better experience. We saw the sites like museums, Windsor CastleI had on my list. We've put together a recommended Dublin itinerary to help you get the most out of your 3 days in Dublin. We suggest arriving a day or two before your tour begins to allow ample time to get over jet lag and be well-rested for the first few days of your tour. 5/28- Depart Gatwick. Thanks! Every day we had free time to explore on our own, Jeannie would give recommendations and let us know the best way to get back to the hotel. 7:30pm - Theatre show (unless we can squeeze to Thursday night), Saturday "It started with the intro to the city on the double decker bus tour. but I really love the food tour around Spitalfields Market. was surprised at how cool The Globe Theatre was. :). All others except the Grenedier near the Wellington Arch disappointing. The hotel was beautiful and staff were very helpful. He made the culture and history come alive for us.". "I've been to London before so my "wow" was probably Windsor Castle. The hotel itself was a bit worn and tired looking though. Trip advisor is great too. There was time to explore on our own so I was able to visit Liberty of London and buy some fabulous material! It was exhausting! The Tower was amazing, so much history. A close second would be the tour of Saint Pauls.". . It was an amazing place filled with beauty and history.". Why challenging? Friday evening for theatre is my least favorite option but Saturday tickets are considerably more expensive and I don't know if we can make the time on Thursday. It was like walking into Diagon Ally in Harry Potter, except with restaurants and pubs. Because accommodation is expensive, the number of sites to see is large, and in June the crowds are huge! "I thoroughly enjoyed the vintage double decker tour that began the tour. February 14, 2022 by Allison Green It took me 3 visits to London for the city to finally sink under my skin. Again, pictures in my head for years came alive.". Lunch at Leadenhall Market, the walk past the Tower of London to Tower Bridge. That was pure WOW for me!!". London is pretty intense with lots of things to see, travel, the London crowds, wonderful parks. He was outstanding. Day 1: 9:00 Tower of London (crown jewels first to beat the crowds, then Beefeater tour, then White Tower); 13:00 Munch a sandwich on the Thames while cruising from Tower to Westminster Bridge; 15:00 Tour Westminster Abbey (consider Evensong service at 17:00); 17:00 Follow the self-guided Westminster Walk. We went to St. George's Tavern twice the last time I was in London (2011) and the food and desserts were great. "I think Borough Market was something I will never forget and want to recommend to all my friends who travel to London.". Hi You can easily start a day at Buckingham Palace, and then its an easy walk to go to Trafalgar Square, Big Ben/Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey. We had a wonderful time. Our travel mates were very pleasant. We enjoyed walking tours, seeing Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, Windsor Castle, and many more sites! Also, if your mum is not up to standing for a time, will she be ok with the HUGE museums you are proposing? I felt it was such great value for the price. On our Best of London in 7 Days tour among other things you'll need to happily. The rooms are beautifully maintained and the audio guides are good. Steven Back, our guide, was 'fabulous' (a walking encyclopedia). We were at Hampton Court in June and spent 6 hours there. Hi everyone! Maybe even picnic in Hyde Park. Such history and beauty all in one place!". 5/23 -Stonehenge /Salisbury "I'd say the East End food tour was the surprise gem of the tour for me. Met up with a friend from the past. Her positive attitude made it quite an adventure for all of us as we battled the crowds and closed venues. Ahead? Loved this week! "Highlights were Windsor Castle, St Paul's Cathedral and the Globe theater. Afterwards take a lovely stroll thru St james Park along birdcage walk over to Westminster Abbey. It was great to finally get out and travel again1". Despite a tube and rail strike our guides got us around London with ease. "Not sure I could identify anything that qualifies as a "favorite wow". I also thoroughly enjoyed our English Tea.". Tower of London / Crown Jewels on the walls and over doorways.". Then we'll take a walking tour along the South Bank of the Thames. We think that speaks for itself. I loved Jeanie. My favorite part of the tour was Tower of London followed by the Churchill War Rooms. "Although it was not part of the tour per se, my wow moment was definitely Queen Elizabeth's death and the British public's reaction to it. I'd keep the palace, war rooms Big Ben, parliament, and Abbey together. "My daughter and I totally enjoyed the Windsor Castle day of the tour. The view of the city from the tower was awesome.". Either way, you absolutely need to be checked in 30 minutes prior to departure time or you won't go - I generally recommend an hour. I had a wonderful time on this tour and would highly recommend it. I got my money's worth for sure. All of the things we saw and did exceeded our expectations! Opportunity to spend Thanksgiving in London! "My favorite wow moment in the tour was seeing St. Paul's cathedral.". 5/27 - London Day 3 Imperial War Museum (London 2 hour bike tour) Train at 9pm to Gatwick. You aren't going to be able to see all of it with in three days. 5/25 - Train to Winsdor Castle - St George and changing of the guards. 2023 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | CST# 2086743 | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy. The tour was excellent - including bus, train, tube and walking made getting around both practical and interesting. Dinner. Our guide did his best to help us whenever possible, "Difficult to say I enjoyed everything, the most moving was seeing QE II crypt, and St. Paul's cathedral". The week before our Rick Steve's tour we went on a Viking River Cruise from Paris to Normandy and back to Paris. Gillian did not undersell it!". Tate Modern and Victoria Albert are a plus. First time taking a group tour and was a little hesitant however found the group, tour, and guide outstanding! Walk across Westminster Bridge back to your hotel. This will give us some time to just walk around and really take in London. Each day we knew the tour schedule. We had an amazing time on the tour! This may have been our first, but it definitely wont be our last city tour. Hotel was very good & good location. ", The Tour itself was excellent. I'm not a shopping maven but if your are keeping the original Sunday plan minus the changing of the guard I'd add afternoon tea at Fortum and Manson after you finished at the National Gallery. (If you're planning a more focused trip, see my recommended itineraries for England and Scotland.). Join us for the Best of London in 7 Days! "There were multiple "wow" moments: the opening of the Tower of London and the crown jewels; the coronation dress at Windsor Castle was jaw-dropping! I really loved the tour guide.". . "We joke that it was the grilled cheese at the Borough Market! I really appreciated the flexibility within the day to either stay longer or head home with the tour guide. The people were great, the place was great, and our guide, Jeannie, was spectacular. That would give you more time Saturday at the British Museum, which has a nice caf for a lunch break. Just amazing place.". Jeanie was wonderful and through her expert guidance we were able to see everything we wanted to see when on our own time. Excellent tour..saw lots in London and our guide was fantastic! Day 3 The last day in the UK's leading city starts at 10 am with a visit to St. Paul's Cathedral, located close to St. Paul's tube station, where you can visit the crypt and climb the dome. Any thing else I can pack in? Would like to see Kensington Palace (exterior only) and Notting Hill area. This was my second Rick Steves 7 day tour. Now to my questions: Tower Bridge, you can see it from Tower of London grounds, Big Ben and Parliment,Kensington Palace, all those are easy walk bys to me. The tour guides at the museums, Westminster Abbey, the food tour and the Globe theater were terrific. Tate Modern and Victoria Albert are a plus. And that in spite of anyone's opinion on the concept of the monarchy itself.". The tour group was the perfect size and our tour leader did a great job. Interesting sites I had not previously experienced. I learned so much! His orientation to the Tube was very comprehensive which helped us move about with confidence on our own. Emma, the reason why I was thinking to buy two separate tickets (airport to westminster; and travel card for 7 days) was because to take the advantage of 2 for 1 deals that come with 7 day travel card purchased at waterloo station. How to choose? Prior to booking our tour with Rick Steve's, as a customer you often ask yourself Will it really be worth it? I will probably skip the changing the guard (it won't be good for my mother if we have to stand and wait long enough for better view) based on the suggestion. Big Ben / Houses of Parliament (exterior only) Several hotels in the street give their address as Camden. This morning we'll head out early to witness the opening ceremony at the medieval Tower of London. Being amongst the British people during that time of mourning will forever be etched in memory. London has become a fascinating blend of old and new and sets a new standard for other major cities.". So how, do you figure out what to do in London in three days? London continues to amaze me with its deep history. My Wow moment was seeing St. George's Chapel in Windsor. I've been on multiple Rick Steves' tours and all have been great. Not into London eye (I get sick). Don't worry, you will see everything on your list but there is always more to see and do in London. "Impossible to have just one - London is such an amazing city mixing the old and the new - because of the jubilee celebrations, we couldnt get near buckingham palace, so seeing Windsor was extraordinary!
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