London Calling! Seeking Tourist Advice

[JRM]

I will be spending a week in London next month, and am seeking suggestions of things to do/see. I was there two years ago and did all the "standard": Tower of London, Westminster area / Big Ben / Thames, Buckingham Palace, and a couple hours in Camden Lock. I also walked around Picadily Circus, shopped Harrod's, and roamed that general area.

This time, I'd like to go off the beaten path. I probably won't have a lot of time to explore, but my criteria is finding something historic (the further back the better), eclectic, with a wide range of interesting pubs to choose from (and if they have a unique history too -- e.g. "Shakespeare always got in brawls here with Queen Elizabeth" -- that's a plus).

I'll be staying at Queen Mary University of London in Mile End, so things close to here or easily tube accessible would be preferable. Thanks in advance!

PS: The Olympic Stadium is a few stops from QMUL. Is it worth the time to go?

[tandfman]

You didn't mention any museums. London has some of the best in the world. The British Museum, the Victoria & Albert, the Tate, and the Tate Modern are all good. One of my favorites doesn't go back very far in history, but is really fascinating--Churchill's War Rooms.

I'll let the Brits on the Board make further recommendations. I've been to London quite a few times, going back decades, but always as a tourist. I'm sure the locals know lots of places that I don't.

Needless to say, if you're at all interested in the theatre, you'll want to see what's playing when you're there. Ditto concerts, operas, etc. They've got world-class cultural attractions no matter what your taste may be.

[gh]

Not sure I see any real point in the Olympic Stadium, but as a particle physicist, how can you not go to Greenwich to see the observatory/museum, replete with a laser shooting down the prime meridian?!

Grab a boat from the docks near Parliament and enjoy!

Second the Churchill War Rooms rec.

The good news is that—like all the great Euro cities—almost everything is readily tube accessible.

But as tandfman says, trust one of the locals (well, except Mump & Flump; god knows what kind of dire straights they'll get you into :-) for a bottom line.

[Atticus]

You didn't mention going up on the Eye - a must-see experience.

The Tate Modern is too 'weird' to recommend, IMO.

The Globe is a gotta-do, IMO.

Walking up and down the Oxford St shopping district.

And the most touristy thing of all - is mandatory: the double-decker bus tour.

Oh, St. Pauls Cathedral - walk up to the top of the dome!

[bambam1729]

If you're into books, Charing Cross Road for rare and old bookstores. Sportsbooks also used to be there which had tons of, as you might guess, sports books. Haven't been there in years so not sure it is still there.

[gm]

Sportspages is long gone, but Foyle's has remodeled and is well worth a visit for a book lover. I can give you some recommendations if you can clarify what you're NOT interested in.

[gm]

Fun historic pubs to consider include The Viaduct in Newgate Street, near the Old Bailey, and the Nag's Head in Knightsbridge. Of course, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese on Fleet Street is on most tourist lists and worth a visit.

[gm]

While The London Eye is indeed a popular attraction (and an awful addition to the skyline), my old favorite for getting a great view of London is The Monument (http://www.themonument.info/). Climb the 300+ stairs to the top for a great look around the city.

[scottmitchell74]

The above suggestions are great, and I echo many of them.

I would add this -

My wife and I took a guided day trip for a "Sunset with the Stones" where we got to walk among the stones at Stonehenge after-hours. It was a small, intimate group. On the way to Stonehenge we had lunch in Lacock, a quaint village that maintains a lot of its middle-ages look, and we spent a few hours in Bath, which was fantastic. The driver and guide were FANTASTIC, funny, knowledgeable, and even in between stops we saw great things...canals, locks, other points of interest. You can choose the Sunrise or Sunset version of this trip.

This for me was the absolute highlight of our London trip, and I thought London herself was fantastic.

[Atticus]

I am not a foodie by any stretch of the imagination and 'British Cuisine' is an oxymoron (!), but . . . I loved going to all the different types of London restaurants, including the fast-food variety, just because they are so different from American ones. It's (what seemed to me to be) the bizarre customs of English gastronomy that was a highlight of our trips there.

[trevorp]

The Geffrye Museum is worth checking out and not too far from where you'll be.

http://www.geffrye-museum.org.uk

[bambam1729]

The above suggestions are great, and I echo many of them.

I would add this -

My wife and I took a guided day trip for a "Sunset with the Stones" where we got to walk among the stones at Stonehenge after-hours. It was a small, intimate group. On the way to Stonehenge we had lunch in Lacock, a quaint village that maintains a lot of its middle-ages look, and we spent a few hours in Bath, which was fantastic. The driver and guide were FANTASTIC, funny, knowledgeable, and even in between stops we saw great things...canals, locks, other points of interest. You can choose the Sunrise or Sunset version of this trip.

This for me was the absolute highlight of our London trip, and I thought London herself was fantastic.

My wife and I did the exact same trip and would second Scott's A1 recommendation

[tandfman]

I am not a foodie by any stretch of the imagination and 'British Cuisine' is an oxymoron (!), . . .

That used to be true, but no longer is. If you want gourmet cuisine, of almost any kind, you can find it these days in London.

[jeremyp]

Speakers corner a must. Think it's on Sunday. Exhibition Road, my old digs, has three museums, the Albert Hall, and Hyde Park.

https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/hyde-park/things-to-see-and-do/speakers-corner

[cubehead]

I second the Imperial War Museum, Greenwich and Harrison's wonderful chronometers. Also the British Library, they have a wonderful exhibit open to all.

Near Harrods go to 3 Hans Cresent and visit the Ecuador Embassy where the Wikilleaks guy is hiding out. In the 80s it was the world headquarters for the IAAF!

The Surpentine for an afternoon tea is very relaxing. Oh and try to catch a play the theatres in London are tremendous. Just skip the musicals...

Day trip to Oxford is nice. I recommend the Turf Tavern.