Registered: Jan 2000
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 1683

What to do in London?

Well, I think the family is headed to London this spring for our vacation. Me, the wife, and a 7 month old.

What should we do there? Obviously, with the 7 month old, we'll be staying away from the night life and probably focusing on the site seeing. Is the underground easy enough to navigate? How about with a baby? Is Stonehenge worth the trip? Any hole-in-the-wall places we should venture out to?

__________________
We're all naked if you turn us inside out.
-David Byrne

Registered: Jan 2002
Location: South-East England
Posts: 27

Sorry for a very unhelpful post but its ironic that I live 30 mins from London and when trying to help you the best thing I can think of is Playstation skatepark...

The Tate art gallery is great but with a 7 month old it might not be so fun...

The underground is VERY easy to navigate - very straightforward.

You might like to goto the tower of London but i've never been so i wouldn't really know. Oh and the London eye is definately worth trying out.

Hope this might help... :-\

Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Aberdeen, SD
Posts: 2531

Check out Winchester Cathedral, Big Ben, Stone Henge. Save up money for food.

__________________
-Joshua
Abortion: Darwinism at its finest.

Registered: May 2000
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Posts: 163

Other Sites To See

Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, National Gallery.
If you're into theatre, the National and the Royal Shakespeare Company's Barbican will both probably have something great on. But those are not exactly baby-friendly.
If memory serves, Stonehenge is pretty far from London. I also remember reading something about access being kind of restricted now for environmental reasons, but I'm not sure if that's currently the case. VC members from that part of the world can set you straight about that.
If you go to any rural areas, you're liable to be subject to a bit of extra scrutiny upon return because of the mad cow business. The official word there is that the crisis is over, but I somehow don't think that has filtered down to North American airport personnel.
I went there 20 years ago, and it was a life-changing experience. I hope you have a great trip.

Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 3034

quote:

---

Originally posted by dick-richardson
Check out Winchester Cathedral, Big Ben, Stone Henge. Save up money for food.

---

And just remember that Big Ben isn't the clock _or_ the tower.

Registered: Jan 2002
Location: South-East England
Posts: 27

Oh yeah, I went to see MacBeth a short time ago at the globe (I'm pretty sure thats its name - my mind has gone blank, the shakespeare theatre thing anyway) and it was great. Not so sure if its baby friendly though...

Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Aberdeen, SD
Posts: 2531

quote:

---

Originally posted by Toby
And just remember that Big Ben isn't the clock _or_ the tower.

---

__________________
-Joshua
Abortion: Darwinism at its finest.

Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 3034

quote:

---

Originally posted by dick-richardson
Really? I was unaware. What_is_it?

---

Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Aberdeen, SD
Posts: 2531

quote:

---

Originally posted by Toby
It's the bell that chimes the hour.

---

__________________
-Joshua
Abortion: Darwinism at its finest.

Registered: Jan 2000
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 1683

Hey...thanks for all of the tips.

In regards to Stonehenge, I, too, thought that was now closed to the public.

g_scream: I was recently told that London is having serious flooding problems at the moment. Is that true?

__________________
We're all naked if you turn us inside out.
-David Byrne

Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Aberdeen, SD
Posts: 2531

I thought I heard that Stonehenge has been re-opened to the public. I'd check on it - it'd be worth the trip.

__________________
-Joshua
Abortion: Darwinism at its finest.

Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 3034

quote:

---

Originally posted by dick-richardson
Wow. You don't screw around, do you?

---

Nope (in several contexts), and my wife loves me for it (in all of those contexts).

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: London, UK
Posts: 118

Hi homer

there's loads happening in london - I reckon if you could nip to Office Depot for me and snap up a deal or two I could be persuaded to part with the odd bit of advice ...

quote:

---

The Tate art gallery is great but with a 7 month old it might not be so fun...

---

I'd say go for it, it'll be worth it, I've been many a time - make it up to the kids by taking them to the National History Museum, last time I went they had this awesome archilogical dig set up - you couldn't get the kids out!

quote:

---

the London Eyeis definately worth trying out.

---

I'll second that. For �8 it's a snap - I still can't get over the vast amount of open space the Queens got out the back of Buckingham Palace while we all make do with box rooms and attic space You may need to book in advance if you're coming in late spring

quote:

---

...Save up money for food.

---

What sort a food you into I can fire over some suggestions - not everything's extortionate, sure it's gonna be more expensive than over the pond but...

As for the underground - load up the extended london pdb for metro and you'll be cruising. Don't forget, more than most underground systems, with all the lines crossing each other in the centre (zone 1), stations are closer together than you think - it's often quicker (and cleaner) to walk

Another thing for the kids (you'll love it AND you can say you've been to the theatre in London) check out the Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre - go for aisle seats in the lower part of the theatre - oh and don't pay full whack, get to Leicester Square early in the morning for ticket releases and cancellations you snap up good seats for half the price...

Finally (before I turn the board into a tourist information centre), on the stonehenge front - last I heard was that you could no longer get up close to touch the stones as they're all roped/fenced off. You can still go to it but this (IMHO) together with the price and the location take all the enjoyment out of the experience.

Oh, just spotted you last post - it's pretty wet and windy at the moment (the eye closed this weekend) and parts of the UK are flooding - London's okay so far. Bring an umbrella, you'll get charged a fortune from street sellers if you get caught out

Must dash, I've got to get the rowboat out and head to work

Registered: Jan 2002
Location: South-East England
Posts: 27

Flooding

As far as I know there isn't any flooding, but I don't go there every day and since avantgo refuses to co-operate i'm not in touch with the news as much as i used to be!

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: London, UK
Posts: 118

Re: Flooding

quote:

---

Originally posted by g_scream
...but I don't go there every day and since avantgo refuses to co-operate ...

---

hey, g_scream, nothing to do with silverlink or south-west trains then

...actually scrap that - let's just say public transport in general shall we (cheers red Ken)

Registered: Jan 2000
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 1683

Ian:

Thanks for the tips.

A few of you mentioned the London Eye. What IS that? I saw it on a map. Just a big eye.

As for the museums and such, that will definitely be on the list. The baby's only 6 months old, so, unless he's hungry, he's a pretty quiet kid (knock on wood...)

This may be a really dumb question (or a great idea for a business ) but is it possible to rent nice strollers in London? I'm tempted to bring ours, but I'm not sure if it's worth the hassle.

As for food, I can easily live on fish and chips for a week with the odd pint or two.

__________________
We're all naked if you turn us inside out.
-David Byrne

Registered: Jan 2002
Location: South-East England
Posts: 27

The London Eye is this big wheel thing that is constantly moving. You get in and it gradually (very slowly) takes you round full circle. The idea is you get to see the whole of London and its beautiful views.

Its not bad, you should definately check it out.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: London, UK
Posts: 118

quote:

---

Originally posted by homer
A few of you mentioned the London Eye. What IS that? I saw it on a map. Just a big eye.

---

Registered: Sep 2001
Location: Elk Grove
Posts: 26

You might also go to Kensington Palace, Albert and Victoria Museum, The National War Museum and there are great walking tours. The Jack the Ripper tour was really interesting.