# What not to miss on a short London trip **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 21, 2002, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-miss-on-a-short-london-trip/137979 "2002-11-21T17:53:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MattK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@MattK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MattK)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-miss-on-a-short-london-trip/137979/1 "2002-11-21T17:53:33Z")
I’ll be in London this coming Saturday to Sunday (11/23 - 11/24) and I want to get the most out of it. I’m on a tight schedule and on a tight budget, too. On my list so far: Exhibitions/museums: The National Gallery, Tate Modern, British Museum, Science Museum (Bond exhibition!), Earth from the Air, The Photographers’ Gallery Shops/markets: Camden Market, Harrod’s, Covent Garden, Oxford Street plus the usual sights, such as Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Tower… What else should I see? Best fish & chips, cheapest? I read about some huge bookstore in London a while ago, apparently the biggest in London, is that Waterstones? ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-miss-on-a-short-london-trip/137979/2 "2002-11-21T18:17:16Z")
There are a lot of…umm…shops…just off Piccadilly Circus. On side streets. There will be women standing out front inviting you in to see the show. Let me know if the show’s any good. 😉 Also as far as bookstores, just head to Charing Cross Road. Dillon’s is a big one that’s good, but there are lots of great used book stores too. There’s a left-handed shop. Bought scissors there. Good scissors. There’s also a fast food sausage chain. I can’t remember the name right now, but you can get a small container of hot links to snack on or different sandwiches. Good stuff. ---
**Author:** ![cj\_finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@cj\_finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cj_finn)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-miss-on-a-short-london-trip/137979/3 "2002-11-21T18:17:56Z")
Check out the Tate Modern. There is always something good, or at least interesting there. Portobello road is a must if you’re interested a combined shopping/people watching experience. Don’t take my word for it though, these are essentially the only things I’ve seen iin London. cj ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-miss-on-a-short-london-trip/137979/4 "2002-11-21T18:18:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MattK \* > I read about some huge bookstore in London a while ago, apparently the biggest in London, is that Waterstones? Could have been [Foyle’s](http://streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=529839&y=181172&z=1&sv=529750,181250&st=4&ar=Y&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf) but it is IMHO totally dreadful, especially if you want to find a certain title. I have once overheard a store clerk tell a customer that the best thing to do was to go to another bookstore cross the street. My favourite bookstore in London is the [Dillon’s](http://streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=529738&y=182091&z=1&sv=529750,182250&st=4&ar=Y&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf) branch in IIRC Byng Place. It is large and well stocked. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-miss-on-a-short-london-trip/137979/5 "2002-11-21T18:29:49Z")
When I’m in London for 48 hours or less, I usually take advantage of the opportunity to cane a seventh-form schoolgirl. ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-miss-on-a-short-london-trip/137979/6 "2002-11-21T19:37:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ukulele Ike \* > \*\*When I’m in London for 48 hours or less, I usually take advantage of the opportunity to cane a seventh-form schoolgirl. \*\* I always wondered who those cards in 'phone boxes were aimed at. Now I know (although we can guess who was really spanking whom). **MattK** - the items on your own list will take much more than a weekend if you want to do them properly. I’m also sorry to have to warn you that a firefighters’ strike is due to begin tomorrow and last for eight days. Why am I telling you? Because disruption is likely to affect the flow of the underground railways too (staff are refusing to work in deep stations without fire cover). I wouldn’t plan on being able to visit numerous locations spread all over town. [This site](http://www.thetube.com/) should give you the most up to date information available, in case you’re able to view it while travelling. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-miss-on-a-short-london-trip/137979/7 "2002-11-21T21:03:17Z")
Take a Thames boat tour, hokey, but a nice way to see parts of the town. I sat in the gallery for debate in the House of Lords, which was quite an interesting experience, but I have no idea if they are in session on a weekend. You must eat a curry. Or go to Li Ho Fook in Soho and howl at the moon for Warren Zevon. Go to the West End for a play, pick up tickets at the half-price booth in Liecster (?) Square at noon. The used book stalls along the Thames near the Millenium Bridge are great. ---
**Author:** ![MattK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@MattK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MattK)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-miss-on-a-short-london-trip/137979/8 "2002-11-21T21:47:01Z")
Thanks for the info, everton. Stupid strikes, I thought there had just been one. Well, I’ll get a weekend travelcard, which allows me to take busses as well, I guess. I know I won’t be able to thoroughly do all the museums, maybe I’ll simply skip one or two if one proves to be very interesting. Ryanair has these cheap flights quite often and so I’ll probably visit again in the near future. ---
**Author:** ![Francesca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@Francesca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francesca)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-miss-on-a-short-london-trip/137979/9 "2002-11-21T22:11:44Z")
The huge bookstore is not Foyles or Dillons, but Waterstones in Picadilly Circus. It’s five floors and it’s massive. I’ve spent hours and hours in there before. As for the things on your list - I hate to say it, but as **everton** said, there’s no way on earth you can get all that done in two days. The British Museum alone would take at least two days if you wanted to do it properly - fitting it in in that schedule means you’d see about 5% of it. You’d be better off narrowing it down so you see less but more, if you get what I mean. So I would recommend the British Museum, the National Gallery and the Tate Modern for cultural things. A good way to see the tourist sites is to take a London Bus Tour - they’re all over the place but the best place to catch one is in Trafalgar Square. They generally last a couple of hours, they’ll go round Westminster and St Pauls Cathedral, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and all the touristy places and you’ll get a tour guide telling you all about them. It’s not tremendously cheap but on your schedule I would say that would be the best way to see the places you want to see. The fireman’s strike is going to mess up your transport a bit I’m afraid. Most of the central things like Leicester Square, Picadilly Circus, Shaftsbury Avenue and Soho are all within very easy walking distance of each other. So buy a good map. As for eating, you’re spoiled for choice 🙂 I would recommend a meal in China Town (sandwiched between Soho and Picadilly Circus and Shaftsbury Avenue). The Indian restaurants on Charlotte Street (runs parallel to Tottenham Court Road, perpendicular to Oxford Street) are excelent too. For evening entertainment, you could see a show or buy Time Out, an excelent listing magazine that will tell you what is going on where (it also lists exhibitions and museums and so on). Anything else you need to know? ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-miss-on-a-short-london-trip/137979/10 "2002-11-21T22:33:42Z")
Oh yeah, talking of _Time Out_, you might find [its website](http://www.timeout.com/london/) has some ideas that catch your eye. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-miss-on-a-short-london-trip/137979/11 "2002-11-22T00:12:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ukulele Ike \* > When I’m in London for 48 hours or less, I usually take advantage of the opportunity to cane a seventh-form schoolgirl. I’d hate to know what to do when you really have some time to kill. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-miss-on-a-short-london-trip/137979/12 "2002-11-22T01:58:47Z")
…depends on whether or not I can get reservations for the Tower. [sub]Man, I sure hope “seventh-form” means at least 16 years old…I’d hate for everyone to think I was some sort of pervert[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-miss-on-a-short-london-trip/137979/13 "2002-11-22T02:30:02Z")
I would not visit London without a trip to Westminster Abbey. The War Museum is outstanding if you like WWI/WWII history. Best fish and chips I know of are Shakepeare’s Fish and Chips, across from Victoria Station on the north side, just past the buses. ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-miss-on-a-short-london-trip/137979/14 "2002-11-22T02:59:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ukulele Ike \* > \*\*…depends on whether or not I can get reservations for the Tower. > > [sub]Man, I sure hope “seventh-form” means at least 16 years old…I’d hate for everyone to think I was some sort of pervert[/sub] \*\* Hah! “Form” just means “grade” so I’ve alerted Special Branch of the Met to keep an eye out for a New Yorker with a little gee-tar. See how much you like the Tower then, Mr Mod (on yer way to Hell that is). ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Doris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@Sir\_Doris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Doris)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-miss-on-a-short-london-trip/137979/15 "2002-11-22T11:35:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ukulele Ike \* > \*\*…depends on whether or not I can get reservations for the Tower. > > [sub]Man, I sure hope “seventh-form” means at least 16 years old…I’d hate for everyone to think I was some sort of pervert[/sub] \*\* The 16-18 year olds staying on at school are _6th form_ (upper and lower). I’m sure that’s what you meant. _Year 7_ on the other hand is for 12 year olds :eek: ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-miss-on-a-short-london-trip/137979/16 "2002-11-22T11:41:55Z")
I did the London Eye for the first time this summer - really good on a clear day, and good value for money. It’s within walking distance of the Millenium Bridge and the Tate Modern too. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-miss-on-a-short-london-trip/137979/17 "2002-11-22T12:18:25Z")
7th form is the way around advertising spanking underage girls. Or so I’ve been told. ---
**Author:** ![MattK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@MattK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MattK)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-miss-on-a-short-london-trip/137979/18 "2002-11-22T13:19:54Z")
Thanks for all your recommendations so far. I’ll be gone in 6 hours. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-miss-on-a-short-london-trip/137979/19 "2002-11-22T13:35:35Z")
Don’t forget to try real ale if you haven’t done so before. Just look for hand pumps in the pubs. ---
**Author:** ![Francesca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@Francesca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francesca)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-miss-on-a-short-london-trip/137979/20 "2002-11-22T16:43:51Z")
**Floater** - he’s from Germany! They have one or two beers there 😉 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-miss-on-a-short-london-trip/137979.md?page=2)