Thanks for spending my weak-against-the-pound-dollars, John. I believe Easyjet is now in my travel plans! 
It made sense when I realized I could fly back into Gatwick and stay there to get on my plane to Houston. That cuts a lot of time off and makes taking the train a non-issue.
I am going to do a bus tour that let’s me see Edinburgh Castle. Any advice on Dining or Hotels? I may splurge on this hotel and stay somewhere Posh. It IS my 5th Anniversary after all!
Isn’t this where I need to go to take a picture of the Guardsmen who can’t move? That is a must in my scrap book!
[quote]
That’s a helluva lot for one day! The Tower can easily be a day’s visit by itself, and the museum is big.
I doubt I will do the Tower Bridge exhibit. But I really have to combine the other two if I want to see everything. Frommer’s says that they can be done in the same day, but you can’t spend but a few hours in the Museum. I just want to see the big ticket items anyway.
I am going to try to use my wife’s demadn…err…request that we add Paris and Scotland to cut this one. Wish me luck. I can go to wax museums in Texas…
Great tip.
My coding was off above. Here is the corrected parts.
I doubt I will do the Tower Bridge exhibit. But I really have to combine the other two if I want to see everything. Frommer’s says that they can be done in the same day, but you can’t spend but a few hours in the Museum. I just want to see the big ticket items anyway.
One more question: If we are going to Paris, why would we use the Train? Plane tickets seem to be just as cheap! It’s even quicker. If we do, should we arrive at in Paris DeGaul or Orle (spelling)?
Flying ain’t quicker. You’ve got to get from the middle of London to whatever airport you choose (that’s a minimum of half an hour, and an additional expense), allow at least an hour for check-in & security, and hour’s flight, and the journey the other end. Plus, you’re more likely to get delayed if you’re flying.
If I take the train to Paris, where do I get on it in London. Where do I get off it in Paris? Are they centralized locations? I’m having trouble with Eurostar’s website.
Ah, for that, you want Horse Guards Parade - off Whitehall, near Downing St.
In London, you go from Waterloo, which is central. The Paris end is Gare de Nord, also conveniently located.
In my experience, it takes an hour to get in to the Louvre. Then the place is frikkin’ big once you’re there. It’s a tough thing to “squeeze in.”
Important note when trying to get around in London – Liecester is pronounced “Lester.” More importantly, Lester is spelled “Leicester.” 
–Cliffy
They also have them in the Tower of London, which is on your itinerary, so I’d recommend you skip Buck Place.
Crossed off the list.
There is the one hour tour that hits the highpoints. Come on, Cliffy. You’ve met me. Cultured I am not.
I’m going too, my first trip abroad. Arrive May 8, leave May 15. I think I’m prepared, but I don’t know. My main worry right now is the possible crush of tourists for the 60th anniversary of VE Day. Is it going to be a huge nightmare?
Is it possible to do Hampton Court Palace and Kew Gardens in the same day, or is that cramming too much in?
Nope. London’s simply too big (and too busy) for an influx such as that to make any difference. All that might happen is that particular roads etc. are closed for special events. (Londoners have long been adept at finding their way around such obstacles - there’s an Eddie Izzard sketch about it: “A bomb? Where?! Regent Street? OK, if I take the District Line, I can go up by Paddington, so…yeah, that’s OK.”
Again, possible, but only just. Train from Waterloo via Surbiton to Hampton Court (it has its own station). No. R68 bus from Hampton Court to Richmond, which is near to the Lion Gate of Kew Gardens. Work your way through the gardens in ‘reverse’, towards the main entrance. Tube back home.
Again apols for any repetition:
Parliament, Big Ben 10 Downing st:
You can’t usually get in parliament (especially immediately after a general election.) In any case you will only see big ben from the outside. You also can’t see 10 downing st - there are heavy gates at the end of it to keep the public out.
I would however recommend the walk from Paliament/Westminster abbey to trafalgar square - through whitehall and Horseguards Parade - just to look at the buildings etc.
Madam Tussauds is total toss. Why would you come 4,000 miles to look at not very realistic dummies?It also has HUGE queues (of unspeakable french schoolkids) and will take forever. You shoud seriously consider giving this the elbow - London has at least 100 better things to do. Swap it for the Templar Church in Middle Temple (which is worth seeing in itself) - then have a pint in the Old Bank of England pub (which is the old bank of england - and worth a look). Beware though - the Temple Church has very odd opening hours and is often closed for church services (the cheek of it!).
Also why are you going to the Sherlock Holmes museum? It’s bound to be rubbish if you think about it (and 221b Baker St is now the headqaurters of the Abbey National Bank).
If you’re going to Stonehenge why not got to Salisbury as well? It’s nearby and has a fantastic Cathedral and is a pretty medieval cathedral city.
MONEY
The Brits have peculiar words for many things. Money
is referred to as “goolies” in slang, so you should
for instance say “I’d love to come to the pub but I
haven’t got any goolies.” “Quid” is the modern word
for what was once called a “shilling” - the equivalent
of seventeen cents American.
MAKING FRIENDS
If you are fond of someone, you should tell him he is
a “great tosser”- he will be touched. The English are
a notoriously tactile, demonstrative people, and if
you want to fit in you should hold hands with your
acquaintances and tossers when you walk down the
street.
CUSTOMS
Since their Labour government whole heartedly embraced
full union with Europe the Brits have been attempting
to adopt certain continental customs, such as the
large midday meal followed by a two or three hour
siesta, which they call a “wank.” As this is still a
fairly new practice in Britain, it is not uncommon for
people to oversleep (alarm clocks, alas, do not work
there due to the magnetic pull from Greenwich). If you
are late for supper, simply apologise and explain that
you were having a wank - everyone will understand and
forgive you.
When the bill for your meal comes it will show a
suggested amount. Pay whatever you think is fair,
unless you plan to dine there again, in which case you
should simply walk out; the restaurant host will
understand that he should run a tab for you.
RELAXING
One of the most delightful ways to spend an afternoon
in Oxford or Cambridge is gliding gently down the
river in one of their flat-bottomed boats, which you
propel using a long pole. This is known as
“cottaging.” Many of the boats (called “yer-i-nals”)
are privately owned by the colleges, but there are
some places that rent them to the public by the
hour. Just tell a professor or policeman that you are
interested in doing some cottaging and would like to
know where the public yerinals are. The poles must be
treated with vegetable oil to protect them from the
water, so it’s a good idea to buy a can of Mazola and
have it on you when you ask directions to the
yerinals. That way people will know you are an
experienced cottager.
TRANSPORTATION
Public taxis are subsidized by the Her Majesty’s
Government. A taxi ride in London costs two pounds, no
matter how far you travel. If a taxi driver tries to
overcharge you grab the nearest policeman (bobby)
and have the driver disciplined.
It is rarely necessary to take a taxi, though, since
bus drivers are required to make detours at patrons’
requests. Just board any bus, pay your fare of
thruppence (the heavy gold-colored coins are “pence”),
and state your destination clearly to the driver,
e.g.: “Please take me to the British Library.” A
driver will frequently try to have a bit of harmless
fun by pretending he doesn’t go to your requested
destination. Ignore him, as he is only teasing the
American tourist (little does he know you’re not so
ignorant!).
For those travelling on a shoestring budget, the
London Tube may be the most economical way to get
about, especially if you are a woman. Chivalry is
alive and well in Britain, and ladies still travel for
free on the Tube. Simply take some tokens from the
baskets at the base of the escalators or on the
platforms; you will find one near any of the
state-sponsored Tube musicians.
Once on the platform, though, beware! Approaching
trains sometimes disturb the large Gappe bats that
roost in the tunnels. The Gappes were smuggled into
London in the early 19th century by French saboteurs
and have proved impossible to exterminate. The
announcement “Mind the Gappe!” is a signal that you
should grab your hair and look towards the ceiling.
Very few people have ever been killed by Gappes,
though, and they are considered only a minor drawback
to an otherwise excellent means of transportation.
AIRPORTS
One final note: for preferential treatment when you
arrive at Heathrow airport, announce that you are a
member of Shin Fane (an international Jewish peace
organization-the “shin” stands for “shalom”). As
savvy travellers know, this little white lie will
assure you priority treatment as you make your way
through customs. Safe travels and Bon Voyage!
I would add to the above that it is traditional (and polite) to shake hands with the other passengers on a tube train carriage.
Also it you knock a policeman’s hat off - you are allowed to keep it.
“American Tourist Hanged by Angry British Mob!”
…and bus drivers are always keen to spend some time explaining which route you need to take, and how the fare system works.
Also, if it isn’t too far out of their way they will drop you off at your hotel.
And further: We drive on the left here - this is also the side of the tube escalators you should stand on.