London Itinerary Progress!

[artnbarb]

I've been trying to get Art more involved in the planning, and in helping me research where to go - but he hasn't been as helpful as I hoped. In the end, he litstened to me talk out loud to myself, describing all the possibilities, and potential negatives. I'm almost sure we're going to take a day trip to the Cotswolds - yes, it'll be s whirlwind day but I don't want to miss a chance to see the Cotswolds - it's been 10 years! since we were there!

Now I have a somewhat long list of things to do/places to visit, and I need to rank them in order of importance, and at some point logistics will have to play a part. I'd love to see the Churchill War Rooms in the morning, then stroll towards the National Gallery, stopping first for lunch. But the only day we can do that is on our first full day, after having arrived the day before at noon. I definitely want to keep us on our feet on that first day, but I also want to be gentle to ourselves. Honestly, London is still magical no matter if your see one sight or 101. Whatever we manage to see and do will be wonderful, but for now I'm having fun doing research again!

• I'll have all day Monday free - but it's our first full day there. I'd like to find an interesting food tour for our first day, not sure what else. Maybe Horizon 22 if it's a pretty day.
• Tuesday we'll be free between 11-6 p.m. National Gallery? Battersea Power Station? (Definitely only one!)
• Wednesday we're free after lunch, and will begin near Big Ben (That's where we'll leave our tour group to go off on our own) Maybe this is the time to visit the Churchill War rooms?
• Thursday we're free all day, and are seriously considering a small group day-trip to the Cotswolds.

Also on the list of possibilities was just riding the HOHO bus full circuit, just to take it all in. Oh, and I'm hoping to try an UMBRIAN restaurant in Soho - Vasco & Piero's! Any thoughts or suggestions welcome!

 

[artnbarb]

I think the National Gallery just won out over Battersea Power Station - look what's on special exhibit - Siena: The Rise of Painting 1300-1350!

 

[Eleanor]

Enjoy yourself - if you are in charge of research then your choice is tops!

 

[Ian Sutton]

No harm in having your plans for Monday pencilled in, so that if either of you feels tired, part of the plan for the day gets dropped.

Monday might be a bad day for food tours, as IIRC Borough Market is shut that day, and the same might be true for other markets. FWIW I find Borough Market highly interesting just to browse, and would probably resent having to follow a tour guide round there!

Given the proximity (a mere 300 metres or so!) yes it makes super sense to see the war rooms on wednesday after you leave the group. Also useful to note St James Park is there as well, so good for a stroll if wanted.

As for being the lead / only researcher, yes I recognise that position. We recognise the things that matter for our partners, and the things where they are happy to go with the flow. One positive you'll have, is that you will get a break from being the implementer of the plans, whilst on the group tour activities.

Other day trip options for the Thursday range from the very easy (Windsor and Eton, Kew Gardens, Hampton court palace and gardens), through to a 1 hr ish train journey away (Brighton or Cambridge), to the utterly crazy (which can be good occasionally) of Paris or Brussels by Eurostar.

 

[artnbarb]

@Ian Sutton , you're right, it was somewhat challenging to find a food tour on a Monday, but I did find a few. I'll post a link later on.

I'd thought about Kew, but decided that because we'll be there in early April I wouldn't put it at the top of my list. We've visited Hampton Court Palace, and rather than strike out on our own to one destination, a small group tour to cute villages seemed more relaxing.

On Friday we will take the Eurostar to Paris, so that one's ticked off as well. And yes, as I've said before, I'm much more relaxed about letting someone else deal with logistics while I just sit back and enjoy. Thanks for your input!

 

[Eleanor]

Don’t completely discount Kew Gardens at this stage. Wait and see how early/late spring is .... Timed right there will be the last of the spring bulbs along with Magnolia, early flowering cherry blossom as well as other flowering trees and shrubs.

 

[artnbarb]

Yes, it's definitely on my list of possibilities!

 

[PenelopeWitherspoon]

I think the National Gallery just won out over Battersea Power Station - look what's on special exhibit - Siena: The Rise of Painting 1300-1350!

This exhibit was recently at the Met in NYC. It was outstanding. I really enjoyed it. Definitely see it if you have the opportunity.

 

[artnbarb]

This exhibit was recently at the Met in NYC. It was outstanding. I really enjoyed it. Definitely see it if you have the opportunity.

Thanks for the endorsement!

 

[NoSpin]

I've been trying to get Art more involved in the planning, and in helping me research where to go - but he hasn't been as helpful as I hoped.

I tell you, that guy is useless, I don't know why you let him stick around!

I'm almost sure we're going to take a day trip to the Cotswolds - yes, it'll be s whirlwind day but I don't want to miss a chance to see the Cotswolds - it's been 10 years! since we were there!

Any thoughts or suggestions welcome!

I guess you know how time consuming it is to get out to even the start of the Cotswolds. In June we stayed in Oxford for a week and it was stil a half hour or more drive to get to the nice towns.

Let me just offer this suggestion, a day trip to Greenwich. You could do it on your own, or we hired a private taxi guide and it was well worth the money. On the way we stopped at the Mayflower Inn on the site where the famous ship sailed, and then stopped to view the Cutty Sark. If you need a reference, let me know.

 

[artnbarb]

I tell you, that guy is useless, I don't know why you let him stick around!

I guess you know how time consuming it is to get out to even the start of the Cotswolds. In June we stayed in Oxford for a week and it was stil a half hour or more drive to get to the nice towns.

Let me just offer this suggestion, a day trip to Greenwich. You could do it on your own, or we hired a private taxi guide and it was well worth the money. On the way we stopped at the Mayflower Inn on the site where the famous ship sailed, and then stopped to view the Cutty Sark. If you need a reference, let me know.

We visited Greenwich on our last visit - I can't believe it took me over 30 years to go, but it was a wonderful day! Highly recommended for anyone visiting London.

 

[Wendy Ashworth]

I think the National Gallery just won out over Battersea Power Station - look what's on special exhibit - Siena: The Rise of Painting 1300-1350!

I’ve spent many hours in the National Gallery over recent years. I love it & would be more than happy to show you round. ( I am gently studying art history.)
It gets busy in a way I don’t remember before lock down. That doesn’t put me off but judicious planning pays off.
I went to Van Gogh’s Poets & Lovers no less than 10 times. It was a wonderful bi centenary celebration.
I often pop in just to view one or two paintings, like the Vermeers or Carel Fabritius little jewels.
The renaissance galleries are a joy but of course they are. My house is dotted with a rotating gallery of post cards of Popes and Doges by Masolino, Raphael & Giovanni Bellini for examples.
You have so much to look forward to.

 

[Gillaspiewoods]

I don’t want the Churchill War Rooms to fall out of this discussion; I was surprised how interesting and enjoyable a visit it was; highly recommended. Enjoy all of your trip and please report back!