My mother and I will be going to London in a week and staying for four days. We’ll be in London from late Sunday morning and going home early Thursday morning. So we’ll have three and a half days there.
But what to see and where to shop? And what’s the weather like? (In Denmark we have snow and temperatures around and below freezing point at the moment – I suspect it’s slightly warmer in London?)
What to see? We’re mostly interested in cultural stuff, and we’ve already reserved tickets for a special exhibition at Tate Britain, which I’m really looking forward to see. But then what? Sir John Soane’s Museum looks very interesting, but is it really, or is it a tourist trap? We’ve both already seen Tower, changing of the guard, Tussaud’s, etc. on earlier visits, and I’m looking for one or two sights, museums, etc. that are interesting and not too touristy. We’ll probably visit British Museum, as I’ve never been there and I’d like to see it (or at least parts of it).
Shopping! Where’s the best shops, shopping streets etc.? (youngish for me (I’m 32) and classic fashionable for my mother)
I’ve already decided I would like to buy a pair of cowboy boots, as a fashion item, not real ones, and preferably in a strong colour, but they musn’t be to expensive; where do you think I might find some?
Besides clothing and shoes, I’m looking for books as we’ll – both new and used. I like especially used book shops where it’s possible to really browse and find books I really didn’t know I was looking for (so to speak)
And what to do at evening/night? We have tickets for a musical Monday evening, but haven’t planned anything else. I thought about going to see a film, but do you have any other suggestions?
Sir John Soane’s museum is worth a look, it’s a very eclectic collection of all sorts of bits and bobs. It’s quite small and won’t take too long. It’s the home of Hogarth’s Rake’s Progress and a corking Turner.
Weather: Right now it is bloody freezing - but the British weather is completely unpredictable - even the weather forecasters get it wrong fairly often.
Other Museums worth a look include the Victoria and Albert and the Museum of London. Get hold of a decent guidebook - the Rough Guide is pretty good and see what takes your fancy.
For shopping - it depends on your budget. Oxford St is cheap(ish) and fashionable whereas Bond St has “designer” boutiques. You’ll get cowboy boots aplenty in Camden Town.
For nightlife get hold of a copy of Time Out - a listings magazine that has a list of all Music (all types), Theatre, Comedy, Clubbing etc. The Theatre is very good, and not too pricey.
If you’ve got any questions - fire away there’s a fair few of us London dwellers on here and we cover most areas between us.
Best book shops are around Charing Cross Road. At the Oxford St end you have Blackwells and the famous Foyles for new books and down towards Trafalgar Square are little pedestrian streets with nice second hand shops.
I’ll confirm your thoughts on the British Museum. If you have the faintest interest in archaeology or antiquities, this is THE place to go in the world. The British looted the rest of the world for several hundred years and put the best stuff in one convenient place on Great Russell Street.
I’ve been to the UK twice, and the British Museum is the only place I went twice.
Outside of that, a tour of the Houses of Parliament is pretty cool, but I think they’re sitting at the moment, so tours might not be held.
The Eye is pretty cool, I have to admit. I was skeptical while on the ground, but once you go up, it’s pretty amazing.
Trafalgar Square is pretty interesting if you’re familiar with naval history, and it’s just down a little bit from the Eye and Whitehall. There’s an art museum right there on the square too, (National Gallery maybe?) but I didn’t go in.
Yeah it’s the National Gallery (there’s also the National Portrait Gallery there). It’s one of the worlds best.
There are other galleries in London - The Tate (works from aboput 1850ish) and Tate Modern - more “modern art” - think MOMA. I’d highly recommend both - they are global players.
Cecil Court is used book heaven. I once went in a shop there where the basement was literally full of books - ie. you sat on a 4 foot deep pile of them and dug your way through.
Another vote for the British Museum (which is near the Oxford St end of Charing X Rd). I used to work in the Reading Room and explore the Museum in my lunches - after 4 months I was still discovering new bits. The recent Great Court that now surrounds the Reading Room is fab.
There’s a special exhibition at Tate Britain, Turner-Monet-Whistler, which we are going to see. I’ve wanted to see Turner in real life for years, so I’m really looking forward to it.
The Eye sounds like a good idea, and maybe also the National Portrait Gallery. We don’t have that much time though, only 3½ days so we’ll be skipping Tate Modern.
It’s just got better too - they’ve attached The Churchill Museum to it (I’ve not been to the Churchill museum - it only opened last month, but it has been well received.)
