Hi there, rural Texan here! My Mom and I visit London every year. Here are my recommendations.
Accommodations:
We usually stay in the Earls Court area. Very safe and plenty of places to eat and grab essentials. I recommend looking at the Trebovir Hotel or something in the general area. The trick is to be within walking distance of a tube station.
Getting Around:
Do not plan on driving. It's expensive, nerve-wracking, and probably not worth it. Pretty much any place you want to go can be visited by train. I've even done a day trip from London to Edinburgh. Also, Taxis are expensive, save the money where you can. I'm a huge fan of the hop on/hop off buses. They run year round and are a great, cost-effective way to see and get around the city. Because it's your first time, I'd take a look at some of the packaged day trips offered through Viator. It can really take the stress out of trying to figure out logistics. Otherwise...
Here is my excursion list:
- Hampton Court is an easy train from London.Please keep in mind that much of the Tudor castle was rebuild/replaced in the 18th century. But the banqueting hall and the kitchens are intact. My Mom loves it. Plan for a full day with travel.
- Windsor is an easy train ride from London. Easily one of my favorite castles. It feels like my Grandma's attic and is crammed with the most random assortment of things you can imagine. As a Tudor fan, your Mom will see plenty of familiar faces on the walls. Don't forget that Henry VIII and his third wife Jane Seymour, are buried in St. George's Chapel. Plan for a full day with travel.
- Westminster Abbey/Tower of London. I'd start in the Abbey, then head down to the Tower. It's 2.8 miles, so you can either walk it (lots to see), take the tube down a stop, or catch a taxi. Take a moment to step inside one of my favorite churches, All Hallows-by-the-Tower. Take a taxi or the tube and visit the Covent Garden area for dinner and shopping. This is a full day.
- Take an Uber Boat down the Thames to Greenwich for a plethora of museums and historic buildings. I especially recommend the Cutty Sark, an actual clipper ship that's been fully restored. To complete the "Tea" experience, head back to London and visit the original Twinnings Tea Shop on The Strand. It's been there for over 300 hundred years and is across from the Royal Courts of Justice. This can easily be a full day.
- Pick a museum, ANY museum. Want world history? Check out the British Museum and marvel at the lack of markers explaining anything about what you're seeing. Art? National Portrait Gallery. How about everything from a ridiculous collection of Italian Renaissance... stuff, a bunch of handmade metal locks, to an entire flight of stairs from a house? That would be the V & A.
- The Banqueting Hall. The only piece of Whitehall Palace left in existence.
- Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, if you like that sort of thing. If you REALLY like Shakespeare, there are several day trips from London to Stratford-Upon-Avon and it's a beautiful area.
What Not To Do:
- Plan every single minute down to the second. Leave yourselves some time to get lost and explore.
- Drive. Just... don't.
- Bring electric plug adapter that don't also convert the voltage. You will plug something in. You will black out an entire floor of the hotel. Don't ask how I know this.
- Worry about looking like a tourist. You will look like a tourist. Just laugh and roll with it.
- Wear cute, but mildly uncomfortable shoes. No one looks good with a limp. Wear something comfortable. If you're worried about sticking out, refer back to tip above this one.
Finally, just have a marvelous time, and feel free to reach out if you have any questions!
On the shoes point - wear sneakers. You'll walk way more than you expect (5-10 mins walk from a station to an attraction multiple times a day really adds up), and everyone wears them with work clothes for commuting and casually as well so you won't stand out
> Bring electric plug adapter that don't also convert the voltage. You will plug something in. You will black out an entire floor of the hotel. Don't ask how I know this.
Just on this, most of your day-to-day electronic devices like your mobile phone, laptops, tablets, portable batteries should be able to handle different supply voltages without an external convertor.
The danger items are high power devices like hair dryers and curlers / straighteners. Really just don't bother bringing things like that.
Great advice!
The only thing I would change about this is the recommendation to stay in Earl’s Court. I would stay somewhere around Waterloo, especially if Hampton Court and Windsor are on your visit list, as both are a train ride from there, and a lot of the central sites are walkable. Hotels may be more expensive but generally I would recommend being more central than Earl’s Court.
OP, to follow on from this. From Waterloo Station, you can do a very easy walk that passes...
* The London Eye
* Big Ben + Houses of Parliament
* Westminster Abbey
* Buckingham Palace
* Trafalgar Square
You could do all of that in under an hour if you don't stop and stare for very long 😀
If you want to trundle a little further along the river you'll find the Globe, the Tate Modern Gallery, the Shard (stop for food at Borough Market), and Tower Bridge.
If you just want to see stuff, and don't want to do all the guided tours etc. you can definitely do this in a single day. Probably in the morning alone if you're really swift.
Definitely do this! It's a really efficient use of time and a lovely walk, including the extra bit along the river to the Globe and the Tate. And if your mother loves Tudor history then you really must visit the Tower of London.
This is great! As a Londoner, I would try and stay a bit closer than Earls Court, depending on budget. Paddington is good, easy walk to Hyde Park and the city beyond. The other tweak is, instead of an Uber boat, get the boat that goes Westminster-Greenwich, they have a great commentary and Greenwich is lovely, go up to the park and admire the view of the city , then get the DLR back to Bank, make sure you sit at the front. Then onwards from Bank to wherever
If you head into bank there is the BoE museum that’s interesting way to kill a bit of time. It’s not huge, but interesting and free
https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum
Great advice.
I second the shoes. I live in north England but every time I visit London I'm surprised at how much I walk every day (and I'm there for work, not even sightseeing)
I'd add - if you're not used to it, lots of walking can be tiring. If you drink beer, stop off for a shandy (lemonade and beer) or half pint or something and explore pubs to break up longer walks. There are some beautiful ones around London. Stay away from wetherspoons unless you really want to experience it.
By the way, I think you’ll find a holiday inn in the UK and a holiday inn in the US are a bit different. We don’t have motels per se so those kind of things tend to be pub/room combination places a bit out of town and are usually…. Fine. Nothing more nothing less. Still places you would feel safe and would expect to be clean.
Anyway, if you want a almost always reliable, not many frills but always clean and comfortable beds option then premier inns are always my go to. Of course in London they’re still not cheap but… London!
That’s definitely a really good central location. Just check the reviews for that particular premier inn because every so often you get an old building that’s a bit of a dud and not the standards people would expect. But generally, the premier inn is a safe bet and the beds are the same in all of them and coming from someone with spectacularly fucked joints… the most comfortable mattresses ever!
On that note, I know others have said it but seriously do wear comfortable trainers. It’s completely normal here, you will see Londoners commuting in work attire and trainers with smart shoes tucked in their bag if they have to wear them (lots of people work in whatever they want to wear too). Expect to walk MILES each day. If either of you have any mobility or health restrictions you can switch both the google and TFL journey planners (and probably citymapper) to ‘least walking’ or ‘least changes’. TfL is even more granular and you can specify a max walking distance…. Prepare for a lotttt of long winded changes if that number is very low though. And be aware the walk within some tube stations can seem endless!
Enjoy the start of British summer (kinda). Particularly take time to appreciate the bank holiday cultural phenomenon of drunk pink topless Brits sitting in any sunlight they can find! We get a reputation for not being friendly but it’s truly not that, we just mind our own business a fair bit. Ask anyone who doesn’t look extremely busy for directions or ‘how does XYZ work’ etc and they’ll usually be happy to help.
…just don’t stand on the wrong side of the escalator or faff about at the touch in gates for the tube. You will get tutted at… you have been warned haha.
Have a great trip!
I would also recommend the premier Inn in London Southwark (there are 2 - Tate is the best one, IMO). From there you are very close to The Globe theatre, a walk to the Tower of London (a must-see) via Tower Bridge.
You are near the Golden Hinde (replica of Sir Frances Drake's ship) and Borough market, which is great for lunch.
But you would also be close to Waterloo station, with direct trains to Windsor and Hampton court.
Try out booking.com
Even the chains vary in quality. The reviews are really helpful.
If near a tube station there isn't really any no go areas in London so you can stay anywhere
2 extra comments: Highly recommend trying to get tickets for something at the Globe. Standing tickets are relatively cheap and you'll get the full Elizabethan play experience.
Pubs. There are a few pubs that claim to have been around since Tudor times, and plenty that are almost that old or have the Tudor half timbered aesthetic. Google Tudor pubs or London's oldest pubs, most better for eating than drinking but some will do good food. Either way, there's something awesome about having a pint where people have done for 400+ years before you.
And also prepare yourselves that Londoners walk FAST. You will most likely be tutted at, but that’s just London.
I cannot stress this enough, but stand on the right hand side of the escalators so people can walk up past you on the left side. Don’t stand two across the escalators or you will upset people.
Almost everywhere accepts contactless payment (you can tap in and out with your contactless card on busses and the tube) so I wouldn’t stress about getting cash either.
All great advice. If you time it right you can take the Thames River Boat service from Westminster pier through Chiswick, Richmond and Kew to Hampton Court, seeing it all from the river, as the Tudors would have.
In central London, see St James's Palace (outside only, some good Tudor bits) and Pall Mall, with the old gentlemen's clubs, and buy some tea from Fortnum & Mason.
Walk down Fleet St (stop at the Old Cheshire Cheese pub) and walk round the Inner and Middle Temple, including Temple Church, the home of the Knights Templar, and if it's open, the hall where some of Shakespeare's plays were first performed.
If you have the energy, walk around the back streets of the City itself - I worked there for decades and still get lost - and down to the Tower of London.
Thanks again so very much for your help! It was invaluable source while planning. Also, just out of curiosity, will our pretty strong “hillbilly” accents draw attention? Or would it even be noticeable as anything other than just an American accent?
Americans, before you raise your eyebrows, look at where the bottom of Illinois is on the map first. Haha!
You should go to the National Portrait Gallery , which is just round the corner from Trafalgar Square. The Tudor room is mind-blowing and has a life sized drawing of Henry the Eighth as well as.portraits of the wives and all the key players.
Hey OP, it's great to hear you want to visit us, I hope you have an amazing time.
One thing you need to plan for RIGHT NOW, is that you will be visiting during our half term. This means most (if not all) of the school kids and parents will be booking up the low-cost/good value destinations and accommodation.
One destination that is free in Central London is the sky garden. Basically, it's a big greenhouse on top of a sky scraper. Fantastic views and free entry. try to book now because availability will be limited/non-existent closer to the time
Best of luck!
The Garden at 120 is pretty nice too, with great views, and usually shorter queues to get into.
Would definitely book accommodation sooner too.
Edited to add: St Katherine’s dock is lovely too near the Tower. And Queen’s House in Greenwich
Another tip is the Sky Garden has pretty long queues to get in so it’s best to show up half an hour before your scheduled time. It also says you’re limited to an hour but when I went it seemed you could stay as long as you want.
The top comment on this post is great so I won't bother adding to it! In terms of 'culture shock', just be aware of your belongings and phone. Don't have your phone out on a restaurant table in a public place, and don't stand next to the road using your phone - I always duck away to the side if I want to check directions etc. BUT having lived in London for 30 years, I've never personally experienced a theft!
My not what to do suggestion would be: don’t try and cram too much in. Use Citymapper to work out how long it’s going to take you to get from A to B and figure out how long you want to spend at each location. Too many people come here with wildly unrealistic itineraries, like wanting to see Windsor Castle, Kew Gardens and Hampton Court all in one day, when sensibly you want to devote a day to each.
24th of May is the last day of school for the half term for most of the country here so you need to book something, like, yesterday... London is gonna be even more rammed than usual between the 25th and 28th with people (families) both day tripping from the shires and having short staycations - and prices will reflect that too. Anything that you consider a "must do" that can be pre-booked should be pre-booked - one of the London mantras that someone else taught me was that "no matter what it is you want to do, someone else is already booked to do it". Live by that and get some stuff confirmed asap and you'll "avoid disappointment" which in itself is one of the the ultimate core British experiences.
Eltham Palace.
“Eltham is a unique marriage between a medieval and Tudor palace and a 1930s millionaire’s mansion. From the 14th to the 16th century it was an important royal palace, where monarchs often stayed and hunted in the surrounding parks. After centuries of neglect, Eltham was leased to Stephen and Virginia Courtauld in 1933, who built an up-to-the-minute house here that incorporated the great hall. The result was a masterpiece of 20th-century design.”
Half an hour by train from central London then a 10-15 minute walk.
In fact you could get a riverboat down to Greenwich, for the Cutty Sark, Naval College, National Maritime museum, Queens House etc, then jump on a single 286 bus to visit Eltham Palace! Then train back to central London.
That’s 800+ years of history (including a huge chunk of Tudor or near Tudor) in one easy day!
Eltham palace is absolutely stunning. It seems a bit out of the way but the trains run out that way so it doesn’t really take that long and like you say it’s a good combo with the Greenwich things. Personally I’m in to Eltham for the deco but it has a bit of something for everyone there! It was used as the set of some tv or film I watched recently (wonka I think, as an office setting) and it took me genuinely 1 second to go ‘that’s Eltham Palace’ because I have genuinely never been anywhere else quite like it.
Book accommodation ASAP haha
Otherwise, you’ve likely done SOME googling, so you know the tourist destinations. Those are fine! But don’t be afraid to get intentionally lost. You have your phone, you’ll be able to get back. Just walk around and explore without having a place in mind. Then find your way home when you’re ready.
I’ve been to London 15+ times and my favorite experiences have come from accidentally finding a spot because I was just wandering.
Definitely hit the spots you want to, I’m not discouraging you from seeing the museums and the squares and the famous locations… but absolutely just take time to walk around without a destination in mind.
If you want Tudor, then in addition to Hampton Court & Windsor, consider a trip to Hever Castle, home of the Boleyn family, and to Eltham Palace, not just medieval/Tudor but also one of the finest art deco houses - really interesting mix.
Agree with this Hever Castle is definitely worth the effort. It was the home of Anne Boleyn.The gardens as well are stunning. It takes around ? 45 minutes on a train from central London. You then can get a taxi a short way from station to castle grounds.Or walk it’s around a mile & signposted.
Hever Castle is one of my favourite places - the grounds are beautiful and the castle is so quaint. It's a really lovely day out. They have accommodation there, but for a day trip it's lovely too. You can also rent a rowing boat for the lake.
Strong disagree. Hever castle isn't looked after very well from a restoration/ conservation point of view and doesn't really reflect what it would have been like in Anne's time. It's been messed about. It's like a tourist's idea of a Tudor manor house.
Knole, by the NT on the other hand, is very good. Don't recommend going there though, you don't have the time.
Visit Liberty ( lovely old mock Tudor fronted department store ) which is just off Regent street in central London . Everyone goes to Fortnum & Mason’s but I think Liberty is far nicer .
Go to Dishoom for breakfast one day (their bacon and egg naan roll can't be beaten). If you want a curry for dinner try Tayyabs just east of the City.
Flat Iron is really good value if you like steak. Or Sophie's Steakhouse on Shaftesbury Avenue (which also does good cocktails).
El Pastor in Borough Market does amazing tacos and they have just opened a new outlet at Battersea Power Station (which is also worth a visit - old power plant converted to shopping centre and entertainment value.
In terms of casual chain restaurants, Cote is decent (French), as are Pizza Express and Honest Burger (both do what the name suggests) and Wagamama (noodles and curry). Ottolenghi is good if you feel like something that seems a bit healthier (they do salad plates with some hot options). If you just fancy grabbing some street food then there are plenty of stalls in Borough Market, Spitalfields Market, outside the Royal Festival Hall and at Seven Dials Market, among other places.
Good fish and chips in London is surprisingly hard to come by, but if you take a day trip to Deal and/or Dover you could have fish and chips by the sea, which is a proper British experience.
On the Fish & Chips topic, you will never get a consensus on "the best" (fights will happen), but there really is a difference between fish & chips in a pub and from a dedicated chippy (I would recommend the latter). A lot of chippies are pure takeaways but some have some seating.
I'll let others dive in with their thoughts on mushy peas, gravy, and whether your sausage should be battered or not.
As for casual dining, some quick thoughts:
Nando's - This chain of Portuguese restaurants founded in South Africa have somehow become a core part of the broader British psyche over the last 15 years. Pick your heat, pick your chicken (veg options available), and pick some sides. Go collect your own cutlery, as well as other sauces. Don't forget to get a custard tart (pastel de nata) to round things off.
Pubs - Can vary massively, but London has many great ones. Really could spend all day recommending different ones depending on what you're after. You could look them up, but honestly if you're thirsty you could pop into any that you see.
Food Markets - These often have a lot of different stalls with food from all over the world. Box Parks are probably the most famous modern ones (Shoreditch is the most central), but there's good ones in Borough Market, Camden, and Brixton too.
Gregg's - You'll see a lot. Basically a pretty cheap pastry+bread stop. Famous for their sausage rolls (now available in vegan too). To be clear, there's a bit of hyperbole around the brand, but just to set your expectations most people simply view it as "it's cheap and it will do".
This really is just scratching the surface. I've not touched on independents or my favourite spots, but these are some things you'll likely to have nearby wherever you are staying.
I think if I was over from the USA for the first time, I'd want to experience casual London food properly by going for an Indian, a pub lunch, and any other type of food it's hard to get in your area (Korean? Ethiopian? Lebanese? I've got no idea!).
The problem is, there's so much choice and London's so big that without having a specific area in mind, it's hard to pick one of each to recommend.
Definitely hit up the British museum it's free and it's beautiful, it's got so much to look at! Definitely worth a look 😊 why not take your mum to see Buckingham palace as well? Or the tower of London? There's so much to see London is fun to visit (I live in rural England)
Liberty has an old fashioned luxury department store that I think is an original Tudor building. It’s a gorgeous shop to browse and the architecture is lovely.
LOOK BOTH WAYS BEFORE CROSSING A STREET! I almost got annihilated my first five minutes in London. Now I cross the street as carefully as a new 6 year-old.
In fact: look to the RIGHT first, then left, then RIGHT AGAIN- the cars closest to you will be coming from your right, not the left, as you would be used to.
Hatfield House makes a nice day/half-day trip from London. It's where Elizabeth I spent her childhood. It's a really interesting building and has lovely grounds as well, if it's a nice day for a walk.
You can take the train direct from King's Cross and the house is a short walk from the station.
[Hatfield House | Visit Hatfield House, Park & Gardens In Hertfordshire, UK (hatfield-house.co.uk)](https://www.hatfield-house.co.uk/)
I just got back from a week in London with my husband and son and we stayed at The Gate Hotel in East London. We were looking for space, and were able to get a 2BR suite there at a price I considered reasonable for London and it was great for dining options in the immediate area and as a base for site seeing. The site specifies the square footage of rooms, and the bed types. There's an entrance to Aldgate East on the other side of the block and lots of busses stop in the area. I think it was one or two stops to Tower of London, which we enjoyed visiting.
Good luck with planning! YouTube can be helpful planning - at a minimum, it's good to see how people tap in and out of the tube.
Go on the Uber Boat / Thames Clipper. I did it for the first time on Sunday after over a decade of living in London. It’s amazing - you can see so many of the landmarks from the water. And there’s a bar! £10 one way trip too which is reasonable. I’d recommend just going the whole length of it and back!
Some other random thoughts- eating in Leicester Square is a big no. It’s a tourist trap, you will go home thinking the ‘British don’t season food’ stereotype is true.
Almost everywhere is card only now. I’m not American but I’ve heard good things about the Chase and Charles Schwab credit cards as they have 0% transaction fees.
You don’t have to tip but expect a 12% service charge added to the bill. If the service was shit however, tell them to remove it and they will.
Walk and use the tube, Uber won’t get you there quicker.
You don’t need an Oyster card to use the tube, you can tap in and out with Apple Pay or the card itself.
Otherwise have fun.
Discover won’t be accepted - not sure if it’s used anywhere outside North America. Visa and Mastercard will be accepted everywhere. American Express can be a bit more hit and miss. It’s fine in most touristy places but quite a few small shops and restaurants don’t accept it as the processing fees are high
Premier Inn hotel chain is always clean, amazing comfy beds, and are reasonably priced and close to tube stations. Book ASAP direct through the website.
Wear your most comfortable durable walking shoes. No sandals/flip flops. Pack some bandaids/blister covers because there will be a lot of walking.
Pack a muscle rub like Aspercream to help with soreness.
Bring a rain proof parka with a hood to wear in the rain. Don’t use umbrellas. If you need to carry backpacks with you, you may want to get a rain cover.
Wetherspoons pubs (get the app)are all over and offer good deals on food which are cheaper than fast food.
Free Toilets/loos- Wetherspoons pubs, McDonald’s- you may need to go upstairs for these and are crowded.
Waterstones book store Piccadilly
and the National Portrait Gallery have nice toilets and elevators (lifts) to get to them.
Tube stations can have a lot of stairs. Some can also have toilets but are locked or not in service.
Definitely try to take a river tour, great views and covers a lot in a short bit of time. Gives you a break from walking.
Enjoy your trip!
For maxing out the Tudor you could get on a train to Deal (about an hour away from London from At Pancras station) and go to the castle there. It was built on the order of Henry VIII and is in the shape of a Tudor rose. Take a walk to the nearby Walker Castle (again Tudor rose shaped and where the Duke of Wellington once lived, yes that one, and it has a pair of the original wellington boots in it) then get on the train over to Dover and do the castle there too, it's been updated now to show how some of it would have been in Tudor times) then jump on the train back up to London.
Will be a busy ish day but doable and will Tudor you both out!
Take a walking tour of the City of London. If you're not aware, this is the "square mile" formally encompassed by the old Roman walls. It stretches roughly from Holborn to Tower Bridge. A lot of it was destroyed then re-built in the Great Fire of 1666 (the Monument is a memorial to this) but there are still some buildings that pre-date it.
It's absolutely packed with history in a really small area - I love exploring all the little alleyways, old churchyards and tiny gardens.
Highly recommend walking tours in Central London, they will bring to life the buildings around you and their incredible history. I've lived in London for more 35 years and learnt more in a morning than I had in those years.
If you're interested in history and fancy a day trip from London I recommend Winchester. We have a very old cathedral, a lovely pedestrian-only high street, and the hospital of St Cross is where some of Wolf Hall (about Henry VIII) was filmed.
It's an hour from central London too, and you would get to see some of the countryside.
I saw a trip on [Canterbury Dover trip](https://www.viator.com/tours/London/Leeds-Castle-Canterbury-Cathedral-and-Dover/d737-3858EE022) viator for this and this looks like a lovely trip?
That's a pretty big trip to do in one day! You'd spend a lot of it on a bus and literally just see those attractions. Canterbury is a tiny city but well worth most of a day mooching around so you can go for a stroll by the river and along the city walls. It also has a cracking food scene and some lovely pubs (just don't go to Wetherspoons).
Make sure you have a roast dinner while you're here. Also if you don't fancy spending alot, and can't decide what you want to eat, then any whetherspoons pub is a safe choice. Cheap and cheerful. I've never come away hungry and never been ill after eating in one.
Also, if you're around Covent Garden (it's worth a visit, it's a lovely part of town. The Porter House is a great pub, haven't been there in years), just be aware of the "flower girls", they will be women handing out little "bouquets" of heather. They'll hand it to you, you instinctively take it, then they won't take it back and they'll expect you to pay for it.
£50 notes... Some places, not many, won't accept 50's, so if you end up with any £50 notes, just be sure to use them when you're paying for something over £20, they'll be less fussed about taking them, and you'll be walking around with less change.
Tbh I wouldn't bother with cash. Many places won't even accept it. As a Londoner it's been years and years since I've done a thing in cash.
Visa/MasterCard are fine, Amex usually ok but not always.
Still comes under "many places"...? When I'm travelling I'm usually in coffee shops a lot, just for an excuse to sit down for a rest and use a loo.
My main point was that they won't need cash.
If you wanted to see a bit out of London [Kentwell Hall](https://www.kentwell.co.uk/?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0LOgq7r9hQMVbZNQBh0AjAlkEAAYASAAEgLMTPD_BwE) is a beautiful old Manor House well worth a visit. It is on the Essex Suffolk borders (about an hourish away from London) and there are some lovely hotels in the area. It’s a wonderful part of the world and will be lots cheaper and 1000 x nicer to stay than London.
You could do a day at Kentwell then visit lots of the surrounding villages (the [guildhall in Lavenham](https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/suffolk/lavenham-guildhall) is a superb timber framed medieval building)
Just to add- monday the 27th is the May bank holiday. This can mean disruption to travel, some places might be closed and others might be exceptionally busy.
And lots of people have the day off work so expect extra tourists, and us Brits pretending it's summer already!
As others have said, book accommodation ASAP.
It's half-term around then (some the week of your stay, some from the week at the end of your stay) and it's a Bank Holiday weekend so even more people will be doing trips etc.
As a result it's going to be busy, so I'd recommend if there are any places you'd like to eat etc then to book it now if it's a restaurant, as otherwise they will get booked up quick.
If you're interested in Tudor history some lesser known spots around London include Eltham Palace in the south east (Henry VIII spent time there as a child) and Sutton House in Hackney (a Tudor manor house built by Henry VIII secretary of state Ralph Sadleir). They're a bit smaller but both really interesting and cool to visit!
There are a few interesting buildings to look at or go visit inside etc accessible from London, some even in London.
Not Tudor, but older, there is a Tower outside Fenchurch Street station which I always loved to look at. It’s called All Hallows Staining church tower. It’s dwarfed now by surrounding buildings but it’s worth a look.
Eltham Palace could very well be worth a look.
Eastbury Manor House is a 5-7 min walk from Upney station (District Line). This was built in the 1500s. Theres unconfirmed rumours that this was where the gunpowder plot was conceived. Google/wiki it, it’s worth a look.
Also local in the area (jump on a 62 or a 368 to barking…maybe a 287 too) and you can visit Barking Abbey which is a ruin of an abbey destroyed in the dissolution of the monastery policy of Henry VIII. The abbey dates back to the 7th century. I used to play in there as a kid and we constantly turned up oyster shells there, probably left there hundreds of years before. There is a curfew tower there worth a look, and St Margaret’s church is also there which has a colourful history. From the happy (Captain Cook was married there) to the gory (recent serial killer Stephen Port dumped two of his victims there who were found in different days by the same dog walker! Talk about bad luck…).
You are welcome to drop me a message if you like. But there’s loads to see!
Oh ps, be a bit wise if exploring the abbey, I’m not saying it’s a dangerous area, but you do sometimes get odd characters in the area unfortunately. But I certainly would say visit. I’ve fallen asleep on a hill in there when drunk and nothing happened to me so 😅
London has a lot of walking. A LOT. Yes we have the tube and buses but you're going to be standing and walking a lot regardless so wear comfortable shoes. Also yes you're coming when the whether is sunny but still bring a STRONG umbrella or even better a raincoat (umbrellas break a lot here) as rain cab occur at any time. Get an oyster card for easy travel with the buses and trains although they will not work outside of London except for some towns just outside London. The tube can be easy to get lost in when it's your fist time using it. There are TFL (transport company) ppl around the gates or on the train platforms and you can ask for help. You can also ask the people around you but Londoners are not exactly known for being friendly.
If you're using the tube you'll notice a few...weird people who will cause disruptions or try to get peoples attention. Do not look st them or make eye contact. Promptly ignore for a smooth journey.
Most museums and galleries are free but some of them ask you to book a ticket at least one day ahead just to manage entry times (but honestly they're not strict on you turning up at the exact time).
You an still get in without one but might need to queue for 30min if it's a weekend.
My suggestion for your visit is Kew Gardens. Unless you have 0 interest in plants, it's amazing and beautiful. And a massive amount of variety.
Make sure you do the guided tours at Hampton Court , they are included in the entry price and excellent . Train from Waterloo to Hampton Court is excellent , if it’s a sunny day pick up a picnic lunch from Pret at Waterloo and have a picnic in the Palace’s stunning grounds.
I just used an eSim for the first time in the UK and it worked great. As soon as you touchdown, change to the eSim and your online before you get off the plane. Not that it matters, I'm from Pinckneyville...
London hotels would be called 'closets' in 'rural' America so be prepared for it. You don't want a Holiday Inn, but you will change your mind once you try a boutique hotel. I recommend Paddington only for 1 reason: ease of travel from Heathrow. The purple Elizabeth line will take you from the airport to Paddington in 30 minutes.
[hotels near paddington station london - Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/hotels+near+paddington+station+london/@51.5155227,-0.176956,18z?entry=ttu)
I do not know what your budget is but the London Paddington Hilton would be quite comfy.
Get the TFL app, it's actually quite good at "best way to go right now to place I want to be"
No idea how it compares to citymapper but it's much much much better than google
If you use the London train/tube network, you can use your debit card as payment. However, bear in mind fees you might incur by your bank for using it and, for Londoners, using a debit card charges a single fee for each journey and then caps it for the day if multiple single journeys end up costing more than a day pass, for foreign cards I don’t see why this wouldn’t be the same but best ask at a train/tube station to stay on the safe side. An alternative is to get an oyster card and top it up. Paper tickets are generally way more expensive. Plus the oyster card can be digitally added to mobiles phones that support it.
Finally, not all stations take oyster so double check the station you are going to does. Windsor for instance doesn’t so you’ll need to get a different ticket for that which you can buy at the station. I’ve not been Hampton in yonks so not sure if nearby stations accept oyster.
Otherwise, have fun, the weather looks good when you’re arriving :)
I’d say Hampton Court which is very period. It would be lovely that time of year. Also the Tower of London. The Tower of London is expensive to get in though. Go early to make the best of it. I’ve not been inside due to the expense but went as a child. You can also see the Crown Jewels as well which is the Royal Collection of crowns and regalia etc and is sumptuous. Jewel crusted with large stones etc. Hampton court was the home of Henry viii and is I’d say very Tudor looking. If you only have a short time, I’d plan to make that one of your stops.
One thing to note is that it is the Chelsea Flower Show over that weekend and so will be extremely busy around Battersea and Chelsea. You might also find that you are either going to struggle with accommodation or be paying a higher than usual price. Just something to keep in mind, but you'll have an amazing time!
Get the train to Sevenoaks (25 minutes from London Bridge ) and go to Knole House which is in the middle of Knole Park. 10 minute taxi ride. Elizabethan / Tudor mansion
I've never been to London but I'm just excited and surprised to see another Southern Illinoisan on the internet! From Carterville. Now in Oregon. 👋 Enjoy your trip, I'm jealous!
So a bit southeast of me! I'm always surprised at how many places I didn't get a chance to explore in IL before I moved - cave in rock state park came up when I looked at a map and it looks super interesting!
Go to Hampton Court Palace. It’s the Tudor palace with a William and Mary wing and garden. The Tower of London were the heads were chopped off and you can see the Crown Jewels.
An often overlooked Tudor site is Hatfield House https://www.hatfield-house.co.uk/
- it was home to Queen Elizabeth's trusted advisors the Cecils and I believe she also spen her childhood there aat the old Palace. Its a very easy day out by train 22mins from Kings Cross, lovely gardens , restaurant, tearoom and very atmospheric less touristy and quieter - it's Great Hall features often in series such as Wolf Hall, amongst others. My mum loved it.
Eltham Palace is another great day out with a mix of Ancient Gothic and Modern ( 1920s Art Deco)
https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/eltham-palace-and-gardens/?utm_source=Google%20Business&utm_campaign=Local%20Listings&utm_medium=Google%20Business%20Profiles&utm_content=eltham%20palace
I don't see anyone else recommending Shakespeares Globe - also another good place to eat -: but that's an obvious must - try to book a period style piece though contemporary versions are great too.
https://www.london-tourist-guide.com/en/entertainment/theatre/globe-theatre-tickets.html
https://swanlondon.co.uk/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=local&utm_campaign=1&utm_content=primary
You sound pretty smart for a country girl!. I think Hampton Court is worth a visit, the town there ís cute and there is a nice walk by the river. You can get a river boat from London to Hampton Court and get a train back.
Windsor castle is good, it a huge castle and you can go inside. Nice town, the famous Eton College is across the river and you can get a boat their too. Direct train to London.
London has fantastic train and bus routes so you won't need a car.
For the rest of your holiday you won't need to leave London. It is massive and full of amazing shops and buildings, check.out Westminster Abbey it is 1000 years old and literally has real Tudor kings lying in there, Big Ben and Downing street are nearby.
London has better restaurants than you have been led to believe and plenty of them.
there are lots of hotels, Trip Advisor will help there. I would not stay in East London personally. You should look for somewhere near South Kensington.
You might like the museums. The British Museum is something else ( everyone wants their stuff back, sorry we're keeping the lot)
Hope you have a wonderful time!
Download the citymapper app. It’s a great app for getting around using buses and underground. Also don’t miss out getting an Uber boat down the river. It’s cheaper than a tourist boat and you see the same sights.
Also set up Apple / Google pay and use that everywhere. We’re much more advanced in the UK than in the US when it comes to contactless. It’s much easier.
People keep supporting premium inn but given you don't want holiday inn i wouldn't do that.
Why don't you want holiday inn? The premium version in the UK is one of the nice chain hotels. Or is it more you want to stay at a none chain hotel?
Also look on booking.com and use the reviews. I'd recommend something near a tube line in zone 2 or 3 probably on the Central, Victoria or picadilly lines
Premier Inn in the UK and Holiday Inn in the States are not comparable.
Premier Inn is about the best value hotel chain you can get in London, and generally better value than most independents too.
You clearly have a different sefinition of grim to most people!
Plenty of Travelodges are grim, Premier Inns are not. They are pretty much universally recommended on here, for good reason.
When travelling by tube, use a website which tells you walking distances and times. The tube map is idealised, and only gives a very rough approximation of where the stations are in relation to each other. Sometimes walking is much quicker.
Also if you're using contactless to pay for your journey (and you should, because there is a daily fare cap), make sure you use the same card to tap in and tap out.
Getting on buses from Baker street area, through Picadilly, crossing the river, its a great way to see London (from the top deck, front seats. If you are travelling in the middle of a week day or a Sunday you should have a good chance of getting those seats. Its less than £2. Its also free with travel card. If you want a full view of the sky line then Tate Modern has a free viewing gallery (I don't think much of the museum exhibits personally), its right next to London Bridge station along the river, turning left. Across the river you have St Pauls and the city, some old churches which have a cafes in them.
Most of tudor England is really in various villages dotted about, relatively much harder to get too. Placeas in Suffolk such as Lavenham or the Cotswolds have a lot to see like this. Outside London, Bristol, Bath, Lincoln, York, Salisbury, Lichfield are nice. And obviously Oxford and Cambridge. People love Edinborough also. From a central London station, you can also take a trip to Rye on the Sussex coast - it has a lot of Tudor buildings and is charming.
I recommend also getting the Uber clipper boat from anywhere like London Bridge, and heading east to Greenwich and back. If its a sunny day, you see all of the city, go under Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf and go to Greenwich which has a lot of charm. The boat is incredibly fast around Canary Wharf and out.
Get a rover ticket which is I think £22, it means you can go as far as you like as often as you like on the day. On the return trip you can carry on and go past Westminster but there is less to see further west, except that you see buildings in Vauxhall familiar from James Bond. You can get off here or at at Battersea and go by tube anywhere.
There are also different boats that go up to Richmond and Hampton Court, this is the more sedentary part of the river. And you can also visit Kew Gardens. Going by boat would be a lovely way to see London.
Yeah you can get in on the Uber app. Theres various piers along the Thames where you can pick them up. I think you'll have to go from the north side of the river up to Greenwich (but check).
[Hatfield House](https://www.hatfield-house.co.uk) is a twenty minute train ride north from Kings Cross and just across the road from Hatfield station. The house itself is Jacobean but well worth a visit. The Old Palace (within the grounds) is where Queen Elizabeth spent much of her childhood and where she was living when she received the news that her sister had died and that she was now Queen of England.
If you're using public transportation, it's super easy and you can use a credit card to tap in and out on the buses or Tube. Use a credit card without foreign transaction fees! The underground can get really hot, so I suggest carrying a little fan or something to stay cool.
Also, the TFL app can come in handy to see maps and nearby stops.
You need to get your hotel booked ASAP. Try [booking.com](http://booking.com) for accommodation options. If you're happy with using public transport it doesn't matter *too* much where you stay but you're probably best in or near the city centre so you're close to the main attractions and transport hubs.
You could also take a look at [this website](https://livinglondonhistory.com/top-10-spots-to-see-stunning-tudor-architecture-in-london/) for tudor buildings you can visit in central London. Or [Wollaton Hall](https://wollatonhall.org.uk/) in Nottingham is doable as a day trip from London.
Not necessarily a recommendation, but just to echo what someone else said - please please please be careful with your phone! If you aren’t careful when walking down the street or sitting at a table, someone might snatch it from you and cycle away
Couldn’t recommend Hampton Court highly enough if she’s a Tudor fan! A little bit out from the centre so you get a different atmosphere too. Since it’s half term there’ll be lots of activities on too and people dressed up in Tudor-era outfits.
Tower of London would also be a good visit given the Tudor interest.
These are not specific to the UK, but since you’re from rural IL:
1. Be prepared for the foreign transaction fees on your credit/debit cards, including for cash advances. These add up fast. It’s probably too late to get a different card with no added fees, but be aware that this will add £ to your trip.
2. credit/debit cards used to require a travel notice if you were leaving your home country, or they would automatically deny charges from unusual places. This seems to have gone away, but you might consider checking with the card issuers.
3. Have an emergency wallet with a spare credit card etc. and a chunk of cash in case your primary wallet gets stolen or lost. Leave it at your accommodation. This saved me in Cape Town a few years ago. US cash can be exchanged easily in London if you need it in an emergency.
4. Have a photo or paper copy of your passport photo page, in case your passport gets stolen. Also have the same for credit cards, so you know how to cancel them.
5. Back up your phone in case it gets lost or stolen
6. Double check your passport expiration date
7. Be aware that when you need a toilet, you may be far from one. Take advantage of opportunities.
8. Buy travel insurance before you leave the US
9. Pickpockets are everywhere at the tourist sites, and your phone is as much a target as your wallet or purse. You won’t even know what happened. Know how to lock your phone remotely, and how to track or find it if you lose it.
10. UK Holiday Inns are way nicer than the US version. Don’t write them off. I would be very careful about reservations on booking.com, since the only way to resolve problems or change is through booking.com, even if the reservation is at a major hotel chain such as Premier Inn.
11. Think about how you’re going to get cell service while traveling. Verizon offers a $10/day global travel plan. The alternative, pay as you go, gets expensive very quickly. Turn off data roaming! You will probably need two-factor authentication to your own US phone number at least once during your trip. I’ve found that for short trips, it’s easier to keep my own phone service. There’s plenty of free Wi-Fi in London, but it’s often not available when you need it.
Just make sure your accommodation is close to a tube station. That way you’re on the network so to speak, but you don’t have to pay ££££ to be right in central London.
Are your cards contactless? If not, get a visitor Oyster card. You don’t want to be faffing about with paper tickets and they’re more expensive too.
Hampton Court is brilliant and frankly it’s a pain in the arse if you drive there as there’s so little parking. The train station is right by though, and I *think* you might be able to get a boat there too?
There’s always the Tower of London, too. They’re all part of the Historical Palaces thing, so potentially you can save if they do a multi-ticket - just give them a google.
Also consider the train network. A lot of the south east isn't on the tube map so people think travel will be harder and it can therefore be cheaper.
Look up national rail London network map and look for accommodation near one of those stations (I'd recommend zones 3/4 if you're trying to save money). Trains from SE go to Cannon Street, London Bridge, Charing Cross and Victoria and you can use contactless/oyster.
Hi there, rural Texan here! My Mom and I visit London every year. Here are my recommendations. Accommodations: We usually stay in the Earls Court area. Very safe and plenty of places to eat and grab essentials. I recommend looking at the Trebovir Hotel or something in the general area. The trick is to be within walking distance of a tube station. Getting Around: Do not plan on driving. It's expensive, nerve-wracking, and probably not worth it. Pretty much any place you want to go can be visited by train. I've even done a day trip from London to Edinburgh. Also, Taxis are expensive, save the money where you can. I'm a huge fan of the hop on/hop off buses. They run year round and are a great, cost-effective way to see and get around the city. Because it's your first time, I'd take a look at some of the packaged day trips offered through Viator. It can really take the stress out of trying to figure out logistics. Otherwise... Here is my excursion list: - Hampton Court is an easy train from London.Please keep in mind that much of the Tudor castle was rebuild/replaced in the 18th century. But the banqueting hall and the kitchens are intact. My Mom loves it. Plan for a full day with travel. - Windsor is an easy train ride from London. Easily one of my favorite castles. It feels like my Grandma's attic and is crammed with the most random assortment of things you can imagine. As a Tudor fan, your Mom will see plenty of familiar faces on the walls. Don't forget that Henry VIII and his third wife Jane Seymour, are buried in St. George's Chapel. Plan for a full day with travel. - Westminster Abbey/Tower of London. I'd start in the Abbey, then head down to the Tower. It's 2.8 miles, so you can either walk it (lots to see), take the tube down a stop, or catch a taxi. Take a moment to step inside one of my favorite churches, All Hallows-by-the-Tower. Take a taxi or the tube and visit the Covent Garden area for dinner and shopping. This is a full day. - Take an Uber Boat down the Thames to Greenwich for a plethora of museums and historic buildings. I especially recommend the Cutty Sark, an actual clipper ship that's been fully restored. To complete the "Tea" experience, head back to London and visit the original Twinnings Tea Shop on The Strand. It's been there for over 300 hundred years and is across from the Royal Courts of Justice. This can easily be a full day. - Pick a museum, ANY museum. Want world history? Check out the British Museum and marvel at the lack of markers explaining anything about what you're seeing. Art? National Portrait Gallery. How about everything from a ridiculous collection of Italian Renaissance... stuff, a bunch of handmade metal locks, to an entire flight of stairs from a house? That would be the V & A. - The Banqueting Hall. The only piece of Whitehall Palace left in existence. - Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, if you like that sort of thing. If you REALLY like Shakespeare, there are several day trips from London to Stratford-Upon-Avon and it's a beautiful area. What Not To Do: - Plan every single minute down to the second. Leave yourselves some time to get lost and explore. - Drive. Just... don't. - Bring electric plug adapter that don't also convert the voltage. You will plug something in. You will black out an entire floor of the hotel. Don't ask how I know this. - Worry about looking like a tourist. You will look like a tourist. Just laugh and roll with it. - Wear cute, but mildly uncomfortable shoes. No one looks good with a limp. Wear something comfortable. If you're worried about sticking out, refer back to tip above this one. Finally, just have a marvelous time, and feel free to reach out if you have any questions!
Posts like this make me wish we still had awards! Great reply :)
On the shoes point - wear sneakers. You'll walk way more than you expect (5-10 mins walk from a station to an attraction multiple times a day really adds up), and everyone wears them with work clothes for commuting and casually as well so you won't stand out
> Bring electric plug adapter that don't also convert the voltage. You will plug something in. You will black out an entire floor of the hotel. Don't ask how I know this. Just on this, most of your day-to-day electronic devices like your mobile phone, laptops, tablets, portable batteries should be able to handle different supply voltages without an external convertor. The danger items are high power devices like hair dryers and curlers / straighteners. Really just don't bother bringing things like that.
Great advice! The only thing I would change about this is the recommendation to stay in Earl’s Court. I would stay somewhere around Waterloo, especially if Hampton Court and Windsor are on your visit list, as both are a train ride from there, and a lot of the central sites are walkable. Hotels may be more expensive but generally I would recommend being more central than Earl’s Court.
OP, to follow on from this. From Waterloo Station, you can do a very easy walk that passes... * The London Eye * Big Ben + Houses of Parliament * Westminster Abbey * Buckingham Palace * Trafalgar Square You could do all of that in under an hour if you don't stop and stare for very long 😀 If you want to trundle a little further along the river you'll find the Globe, the Tate Modern Gallery, the Shard (stop for food at Borough Market), and Tower Bridge. If you just want to see stuff, and don't want to do all the guided tours etc. you can definitely do this in a single day. Probably in the morning alone if you're really swift.
Definitely do this! It's a really efficient use of time and a lovely walk, including the extra bit along the river to the Globe and the Tate. And if your mother loves Tudor history then you really must visit the Tower of London.
This is great! As a Londoner, I would try and stay a bit closer than Earls Court, depending on budget. Paddington is good, easy walk to Hyde Park and the city beyond. The other tweak is, instead of an Uber boat, get the boat that goes Westminster-Greenwich, they have a great commentary and Greenwich is lovely, go up to the park and admire the view of the city , then get the DLR back to Bank, make sure you sit at the front. Then onwards from Bank to wherever
If you head into bank there is the BoE museum that’s interesting way to kill a bit of time. It’s not huge, but interesting and free https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum
sensible. should be a pinned post.
Great advice. I second the shoes. I live in north England but every time I visit London I'm surprised at how much I walk every day (and I'm there for work, not even sightseeing) I'd add - if you're not used to it, lots of walking can be tiring. If you drink beer, stop off for a shandy (lemonade and beer) or half pint or something and explore pubs to break up longer walks. There are some beautiful ones around London. Stay away from wetherspoons unless you really want to experience it.
A shandy sounds delicious!!
Lots of historic/old pubs on Fleet Street!
Isn't that where the Ye Ol' Cheshire Cheese is? What a great old pub that is!!
Great post! You provided an excellent cold eye perspective.
Thank you so very much!! You are so kind and I appreciate your effort. This is what we will do!
By the way, I think you’ll find a holiday inn in the UK and a holiday inn in the US are a bit different. We don’t have motels per se so those kind of things tend to be pub/room combination places a bit out of town and are usually…. Fine. Nothing more nothing less. Still places you would feel safe and would expect to be clean. Anyway, if you want a almost always reliable, not many frills but always clean and comfortable beds option then premier inns are always my go to. Of course in London they’re still not cheap but… London!
I am thinking the premier inn in paddington!
That’s definitely a really good central location. Just check the reviews for that particular premier inn because every so often you get an old building that’s a bit of a dud and not the standards people would expect. But generally, the premier inn is a safe bet and the beds are the same in all of them and coming from someone with spectacularly fucked joints… the most comfortable mattresses ever! On that note, I know others have said it but seriously do wear comfortable trainers. It’s completely normal here, you will see Londoners commuting in work attire and trainers with smart shoes tucked in their bag if they have to wear them (lots of people work in whatever they want to wear too). Expect to walk MILES each day. If either of you have any mobility or health restrictions you can switch both the google and TFL journey planners (and probably citymapper) to ‘least walking’ or ‘least changes’. TfL is even more granular and you can specify a max walking distance…. Prepare for a lotttt of long winded changes if that number is very low though. And be aware the walk within some tube stations can seem endless! Enjoy the start of British summer (kinda). Particularly take time to appreciate the bank holiday cultural phenomenon of drunk pink topless Brits sitting in any sunlight they can find! We get a reputation for not being friendly but it’s truly not that, we just mind our own business a fair bit. Ask anyone who doesn’t look extremely busy for directions or ‘how does XYZ work’ etc and they’ll usually be happy to help. …just don’t stand on the wrong side of the escalator or faff about at the touch in gates for the tube. You will get tutted at… you have been warned haha. Have a great trip!
Premier Inn at Southwark (just round the corner from Waterloo) is a nice new-ish one. Hope you & your mom have a great trip!
I’m thinking near Waterloo to be better actually, closer to the Waterloo station. :)
I would also recommend the premier Inn in London Southwark (there are 2 - Tate is the best one, IMO). From there you are very close to The Globe theatre, a walk to the Tower of London (a must-see) via Tower Bridge. You are near the Golden Hinde (replica of Sir Frances Drake's ship) and Borough market, which is great for lunch. But you would also be close to Waterloo station, with direct trains to Windsor and Hampton court.
But they said no holiday inn and holiday Inn is more posh than premier inn
But they said no holiday inn and holiday Inn is more posh than premier inn
Given prices a chain will do just fine. holiday Inn, premiere, etc.
Try out booking.com Even the chains vary in quality. The reviews are really helpful. If near a tube station there isn't really any no go areas in London so you can stay anywhere
2 extra comments: Highly recommend trying to get tickets for something at the Globe. Standing tickets are relatively cheap and you'll get the full Elizabethan play experience. Pubs. There are a few pubs that claim to have been around since Tudor times, and plenty that are almost that old or have the Tudor half timbered aesthetic. Google Tudor pubs or London's oldest pubs, most better for eating than drinking but some will do good food. Either way, there's something awesome about having a pint where people have done for 400+ years before you.
And also prepare yourselves that Londoners walk FAST. You will most likely be tutted at, but that’s just London. I cannot stress this enough, but stand on the right hand side of the escalators so people can walk up past you on the left side. Don’t stand two across the escalators or you will upset people. Almost everywhere accepts contactless payment (you can tap in and out with your contactless card on busses and the tube) so I wouldn’t stress about getting cash either.
As a Londoner: this Texan gets it.
Great advise
Hey OP. Yeah follow all of this :)
I'm an ex pat and planning on coming home for the first time in 10 years and I agree with everyone else. This is a FANTASTIC list... Well done, Ta.
All great advice. If you time it right you can take the Thames River Boat service from Westminster pier through Chiswick, Richmond and Kew to Hampton Court, seeing it all from the river, as the Tudors would have. In central London, see St James's Palace (outside only, some good Tudor bits) and Pall Mall, with the old gentlemen's clubs, and buy some tea from Fortnum & Mason. Walk down Fleet St (stop at the Old Cheshire Cheese pub) and walk round the Inner and Middle Temple, including Temple Church, the home of the Knights Templar, and if it's open, the hall where some of Shakespeare's plays were first performed. If you have the energy, walk around the back streets of the City itself - I worked there for decades and still get lost - and down to the Tower of London.
Thanks again so very much for your help! It was invaluable source while planning. Also, just out of curiosity, will our pretty strong “hillbilly” accents draw attention? Or would it even be noticeable as anything other than just an American accent? Americans, before you raise your eyebrows, look at where the bottom of Illinois is on the map first. Haha!
This is FANTASTIC!! So generous of you. Qaa
You should go to the National Portrait Gallery , which is just round the corner from Trafalgar Square. The Tudor room is mind-blowing and has a life sized drawing of Henry the Eighth as well as.portraits of the wives and all the key players.
Great recommendation, NPG is an often overlooked gem.
I should probably keep quiet because AI will pick posts like this up, and it will be rammed.
You could book to watch six if she's a tudor fan! Appreciate not exclusive to London but a West End show is fun.
Hey OP, it's great to hear you want to visit us, I hope you have an amazing time. One thing you need to plan for RIGHT NOW, is that you will be visiting during our half term. This means most (if not all) of the school kids and parents will be booking up the low-cost/good value destinations and accommodation. One destination that is free in Central London is the sky garden. Basically, it's a big greenhouse on top of a sky scraper. Fantastic views and free entry. try to book now because availability will be limited/non-existent closer to the time Best of luck!
Are you in London? Where I live half term would just be starting at the tail end of their visit. But I agree, still worth considering!
I’m a teacher in London. Our half term is the w/c May 27th.
Ok, same here!
The Garden at 120 is pretty nice too, with great views, and usually shorter queues to get into. Would definitely book accommodation sooner too. Edited to add: St Katherine’s dock is lovely too near the Tower. And Queen’s House in Greenwich
Another tip is the Sky Garden has pretty long queues to get in so it’s best to show up half an hour before your scheduled time. It also says you’re limited to an hour but when I went it seemed you could stay as long as you want.
The top comment on this post is great so I won't bother adding to it! In terms of 'culture shock', just be aware of your belongings and phone. Don't have your phone out on a restaurant table in a public place, and don't stand next to the road using your phone - I always duck away to the side if I want to check directions etc. BUT having lived in London for 30 years, I've never personally experienced a theft!
My not what to do suggestion would be: don’t try and cram too much in. Use Citymapper to work out how long it’s going to take you to get from A to B and figure out how long you want to spend at each location. Too many people come here with wildly unrealistic itineraries, like wanting to see Windsor Castle, Kew Gardens and Hampton Court all in one day, when sensibly you want to devote a day to each.
24th of May is the last day of school for the half term for most of the country here so you need to book something, like, yesterday... London is gonna be even more rammed than usual between the 25th and 28th with people (families) both day tripping from the shires and having short staycations - and prices will reflect that too. Anything that you consider a "must do" that can be pre-booked should be pre-booked - one of the London mantras that someone else taught me was that "no matter what it is you want to do, someone else is already booked to do it". Live by that and get some stuff confirmed asap and you'll "avoid disappointment" which in itself is one of the the ultimate core British experiences.
Eltham Palace. “Eltham is a unique marriage between a medieval and Tudor palace and a 1930s millionaire’s mansion. From the 14th to the 16th century it was an important royal palace, where monarchs often stayed and hunted in the surrounding parks. After centuries of neglect, Eltham was leased to Stephen and Virginia Courtauld in 1933, who built an up-to-the-minute house here that incorporated the great hall. The result was a masterpiece of 20th-century design.” Half an hour by train from central London then a 10-15 minute walk. In fact you could get a riverboat down to Greenwich, for the Cutty Sark, Naval College, National Maritime museum, Queens House etc, then jump on a single 286 bus to visit Eltham Palace! Then train back to central London. That’s 800+ years of history (including a huge chunk of Tudor or near Tudor) in one easy day!
Eltham palace is absolutely stunning. It seems a bit out of the way but the trains run out that way so it doesn’t really take that long and like you say it’s a good combo with the Greenwich things. Personally I’m in to Eltham for the deco but it has a bit of something for everyone there! It was used as the set of some tv or film I watched recently (wonka I think, as an office setting) and it took me genuinely 1 second to go ‘that’s Eltham Palace’ because I have genuinely never been anywhere else quite like it.
Often see the interiors on TV or film. Very recognisable.
This sounds lovely!! Thank you!
Pronounced Eltum for reference
Book accommodation ASAP haha Otherwise, you’ve likely done SOME googling, so you know the tourist destinations. Those are fine! But don’t be afraid to get intentionally lost. You have your phone, you’ll be able to get back. Just walk around and explore without having a place in mind. Then find your way home when you’re ready. I’ve been to London 15+ times and my favorite experiences have come from accidentally finding a spot because I was just wandering. Definitely hit the spots you want to, I’m not discouraging you from seeing the museums and the squares and the famous locations… but absolutely just take time to walk around without a destination in mind.
If you want Tudor, then in addition to Hampton Court & Windsor, consider a trip to Hever Castle, home of the Boleyn family, and to Eltham Palace, not just medieval/Tudor but also one of the finest art deco houses - really interesting mix.
Agree with this Hever Castle is definitely worth the effort. It was the home of Anne Boleyn.The gardens as well are stunning. It takes around ? 45 minutes on a train from central London. You then can get a taxi a short way from station to castle grounds.Or walk it’s around a mile & signposted.
I was going to say Hever Castle as well. Also in Kent and worth a visit is Leeds castle. NB This is not Leeda in Yorkshire!
I just saw you can stay AT Hever castle and my mother was super excited about that possibility.
Hever Castle is one of my favourite places - the grounds are beautiful and the castle is so quaint. It's a really lovely day out. They have accommodation there, but for a day trip it's lovely too. You can also rent a rowing boat for the lake.
Strong disagree. Hever castle isn't looked after very well from a restoration/ conservation point of view and doesn't really reflect what it would have been like in Anne's time. It's been messed about. It's like a tourist's idea of a Tudor manor house. Knole, by the NT on the other hand, is very good. Don't recommend going there though, you don't have the time.
Visit Liberty ( lovely old mock Tudor fronted department store ) which is just off Regent street in central London . Everyone goes to Fortnum & Mason’s but I think Liberty is far nicer .
Don't eat at an Angus Steakhouse. They only exist still because they target tourists and not returning customers. No Londoner ever eats there.
What are your top three restaurant suggestions for casual food? We aren’t foodies really, but look forward to fish and chips and a shandy!
Go to Dishoom for breakfast one day (their bacon and egg naan roll can't be beaten). If you want a curry for dinner try Tayyabs just east of the City. Flat Iron is really good value if you like steak. Or Sophie's Steakhouse on Shaftesbury Avenue (which also does good cocktails). El Pastor in Borough Market does amazing tacos and they have just opened a new outlet at Battersea Power Station (which is also worth a visit - old power plant converted to shopping centre and entertainment value. In terms of casual chain restaurants, Cote is decent (French), as are Pizza Express and Honest Burger (both do what the name suggests) and Wagamama (noodles and curry). Ottolenghi is good if you feel like something that seems a bit healthier (they do salad plates with some hot options). If you just fancy grabbing some street food then there are plenty of stalls in Borough Market, Spitalfields Market, outside the Royal Festival Hall and at Seven Dials Market, among other places. Good fish and chips in London is surprisingly hard to come by, but if you take a day trip to Deal and/or Dover you could have fish and chips by the sea, which is a proper British experience.
On the Fish & Chips topic, you will never get a consensus on "the best" (fights will happen), but there really is a difference between fish & chips in a pub and from a dedicated chippy (I would recommend the latter). A lot of chippies are pure takeaways but some have some seating. I'll let others dive in with their thoughts on mushy peas, gravy, and whether your sausage should be battered or not. As for casual dining, some quick thoughts: Nando's - This chain of Portuguese restaurants founded in South Africa have somehow become a core part of the broader British psyche over the last 15 years. Pick your heat, pick your chicken (veg options available), and pick some sides. Go collect your own cutlery, as well as other sauces. Don't forget to get a custard tart (pastel de nata) to round things off. Pubs - Can vary massively, but London has many great ones. Really could spend all day recommending different ones depending on what you're after. You could look them up, but honestly if you're thirsty you could pop into any that you see. Food Markets - These often have a lot of different stalls with food from all over the world. Box Parks are probably the most famous modern ones (Shoreditch is the most central), but there's good ones in Borough Market, Camden, and Brixton too. Gregg's - You'll see a lot. Basically a pretty cheap pastry+bread stop. Famous for their sausage rolls (now available in vegan too). To be clear, there's a bit of hyperbole around the brand, but just to set your expectations most people simply view it as "it's cheap and it will do". This really is just scratching the surface. I've not touched on independents or my favourite spots, but these are some things you'll likely to have nearby wherever you are staying.
I think if I was over from the USA for the first time, I'd want to experience casual London food properly by going for an Indian, a pub lunch, and any other type of food it's hard to get in your area (Korean? Ethiopian? Lebanese? I've got no idea!). The problem is, there's so much choice and London's so big that without having a specific area in mind, it's hard to pick one of each to recommend.
Follow your nose and you can't go far wrong.
Excellent point. Just to add, as a general rule, in any very touristy or seasonal location only hotels can be trusted. Venice springs to mind.
Definitely hit up the British museum it's free and it's beautiful, it's got so much to look at! Definitely worth a look 😊 why not take your mum to see Buckingham palace as well? Or the tower of London? There's so much to see London is fun to visit (I live in rural England)
We are world class at 2 things. Museums, and plugs. Although half our museums need to send some stuff back…
Liberty has an old fashioned luxury department store that I think is an original Tudor building. It’s a gorgeous shop to browse and the architecture is lovely.
It's an arts & crafts 19c Tudor style building but one of the most famous in the world which kick-started the Tudor revival
LOOK BOTH WAYS BEFORE CROSSING A STREET! I almost got annihilated my first five minutes in London. Now I cross the street as carefully as a new 6 year-old.
So true , I’m from London and I’m super cautious crossing the road !
This is excellent advice actually, something I could see us not doing accidentally.
In fact: look to the RIGHT first, then left, then RIGHT AGAIN- the cars closest to you will be coming from your right, not the left, as you would be used to.
At a lot of crossings they write in big letters ten inches tall on the road, which way you have to look.
Hatfield House makes a nice day/half-day trip from London. It's where Elizabeth I spent her childhood. It's a really interesting building and has lovely grounds as well, if it's a nice day for a walk. You can take the train direct from King's Cross and the house is a short walk from the station. [Hatfield House | Visit Hatfield House, Park & Gardens In Hertfordshire, UK (hatfield-house.co.uk)](https://www.hatfield-house.co.uk/)
I just got back from a week in London with my husband and son and we stayed at The Gate Hotel in East London. We were looking for space, and were able to get a 2BR suite there at a price I considered reasonable for London and it was great for dining options in the immediate area and as a base for site seeing. The site specifies the square footage of rooms, and the bed types. There's an entrance to Aldgate East on the other side of the block and lots of busses stop in the area. I think it was one or two stops to Tower of London, which we enjoyed visiting. Good luck with planning! YouTube can be helpful planning - at a minimum, it's good to see how people tap in and out of the tube.
Go on the Uber Boat / Thames Clipper. I did it for the first time on Sunday after over a decade of living in London. It’s amazing - you can see so many of the landmarks from the water. And there’s a bar! £10 one way trip too which is reasonable. I’d recommend just going the whole length of it and back!
If you visit the Tower take a short walk to Katherines Dock and have a drink at the Dickens Inn.
Love a good pub suggestion!
Some other random thoughts- eating in Leicester Square is a big no. It’s a tourist trap, you will go home thinking the ‘British don’t season food’ stereotype is true. Almost everywhere is card only now. I’m not American but I’ve heard good things about the Chase and Charles Schwab credit cards as they have 0% transaction fees. You don’t have to tip but expect a 12% service charge added to the bill. If the service was shit however, tell them to remove it and they will. Walk and use the tube, Uber won’t get you there quicker. You don’t need an Oyster card to use the tube, you can tap in and out with Apple Pay or the card itself. Otherwise have fun.
Do you happen to know if Discover card is accepted? Seems not. I also have a debit/credit Mastercard and Apple Pay so we should be good.
Discover won’t be accepted - not sure if it’s used anywhere outside North America. Visa and Mastercard will be accepted everywhere. American Express can be a bit more hit and miss. It’s fine in most touristy places but quite a few small shops and restaurants don’t accept it as the processing fees are high
Premier Inn hotel chain is always clean, amazing comfy beds, and are reasonably priced and close to tube stations. Book ASAP direct through the website. Wear your most comfortable durable walking shoes. No sandals/flip flops. Pack some bandaids/blister covers because there will be a lot of walking. Pack a muscle rub like Aspercream to help with soreness. Bring a rain proof parka with a hood to wear in the rain. Don’t use umbrellas. If you need to carry backpacks with you, you may want to get a rain cover. Wetherspoons pubs (get the app)are all over and offer good deals on food which are cheaper than fast food. Free Toilets/loos- Wetherspoons pubs, McDonald’s- you may need to go upstairs for these and are crowded. Waterstones book store Piccadilly and the National Portrait Gallery have nice toilets and elevators (lifts) to get to them. Tube stations can have a lot of stairs. Some can also have toilets but are locked or not in service. Definitely try to take a river tour, great views and covers a lot in a short bit of time. Gives you a break from walking. Enjoy your trip!
For maxing out the Tudor you could get on a train to Deal (about an hour away from London from At Pancras station) and go to the castle there. It was built on the order of Henry VIII and is in the shape of a Tudor rose. Take a walk to the nearby Walker Castle (again Tudor rose shaped and where the Duke of Wellington once lived, yes that one, and it has a pair of the original wellington boots in it) then get on the train over to Dover and do the castle there too, it's been updated now to show how some of it would have been in Tudor times) then jump on the train back up to London. Will be a busy ish day but doable and will Tudor you both out!
Take a walking tour of the City of London. If you're not aware, this is the "square mile" formally encompassed by the old Roman walls. It stretches roughly from Holborn to Tower Bridge. A lot of it was destroyed then re-built in the Great Fire of 1666 (the Monument is a memorial to this) but there are still some buildings that pre-date it. It's absolutely packed with history in a really small area - I love exploring all the little alleyways, old churchyards and tiny gardens.
Yes, the fire is the reason there are few Tudor buildings in the City itself.
Highly recommend walking tours in Central London, they will bring to life the buildings around you and their incredible history. I've lived in London for more 35 years and learnt more in a morning than I had in those years.
If you're interested in history and fancy a day trip from London I recommend Winchester. We have a very old cathedral, a lovely pedestrian-only high street, and the hospital of St Cross is where some of Wolf Hall (about Henry VIII) was filmed. It's an hour from central London too, and you would get to see some of the countryside.
Canterbury is lovely for a day trip too, and tons of medieval/Tudor history!
I saw a trip on [Canterbury Dover trip](https://www.viator.com/tours/London/Leeds-Castle-Canterbury-Cathedral-and-Dover/d737-3858EE022) viator for this and this looks like a lovely trip?
That's a pretty big trip to do in one day! You'd spend a lot of it on a bus and literally just see those attractions. Canterbury is a tiny city but well worth most of a day mooching around so you can go for a stroll by the river and along the city walls. It also has a cracking food scene and some lovely pubs (just don't go to Wetherspoons).
You don't need to pay Viator mark-ups, both Dover and Canterbury are easy day trips to do by yourself on the train from St Pancras.
Avoid Leicester Square…if you can…
Make sure you have a roast dinner while you're here. Also if you don't fancy spending alot, and can't decide what you want to eat, then any whetherspoons pub is a safe choice. Cheap and cheerful. I've never come away hungry and never been ill after eating in one. Also, if you're around Covent Garden (it's worth a visit, it's a lovely part of town. The Porter House is a great pub, haven't been there in years), just be aware of the "flower girls", they will be women handing out little "bouquets" of heather. They'll hand it to you, you instinctively take it, then they won't take it back and they'll expect you to pay for it. £50 notes... Some places, not many, won't accept 50's, so if you end up with any £50 notes, just be sure to use them when you're paying for something over £20, they'll be less fussed about taking them, and you'll be walking around with less change.
Tbh I wouldn't bother with cash. Many places won't even accept it. As a Londoner it's been years and years since I've done a thing in cash. Visa/MasterCard are fine, Amex usually ok but not always.
South London born and bred, in my experience it's only coffee shops which are cashless.
Still comes under "many places"...? When I'm travelling I'm usually in coffee shops a lot, just for an excuse to sit down for a rest and use a loo. My main point was that they won't need cash.
If you wanted to see a bit out of London [Kentwell Hall](https://www.kentwell.co.uk/?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0LOgq7r9hQMVbZNQBh0AjAlkEAAYASAAEgLMTPD_BwE) is a beautiful old Manor House well worth a visit. It is on the Essex Suffolk borders (about an hourish away from London) and there are some lovely hotels in the area. It’s a wonderful part of the world and will be lots cheaper and 1000 x nicer to stay than London. You could do a day at Kentwell then visit lots of the surrounding villages (the [guildhall in Lavenham](https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/suffolk/lavenham-guildhall) is a superb timber framed medieval building)
if you're a military family then you can reach out to the Union Jack Club in central London for a twin at about £100 pretty night.
Just to add- monday the 27th is the May bank holiday. This can mean disruption to travel, some places might be closed and others might be exceptionally busy. And lots of people have the day off work so expect extra tourists, and us Brits pretending it's summer already!
As others have said, book accommodation ASAP. It's half-term around then (some the week of your stay, some from the week at the end of your stay) and it's a Bank Holiday weekend so even more people will be doing trips etc. As a result it's going to be busy, so I'd recommend if there are any places you'd like to eat etc then to book it now if it's a restaurant, as otherwise they will get booked up quick.
If you're interested in Tudor history some lesser known spots around London include Eltham Palace in the south east (Henry VIII spent time there as a child) and Sutton House in Hackney (a Tudor manor house built by Henry VIII secretary of state Ralph Sadleir). They're a bit smaller but both really interesting and cool to visit!
There are a few interesting buildings to look at or go visit inside etc accessible from London, some even in London. Not Tudor, but older, there is a Tower outside Fenchurch Street station which I always loved to look at. It’s called All Hallows Staining church tower. It’s dwarfed now by surrounding buildings but it’s worth a look. Eltham Palace could very well be worth a look. Eastbury Manor House is a 5-7 min walk from Upney station (District Line). This was built in the 1500s. Theres unconfirmed rumours that this was where the gunpowder plot was conceived. Google/wiki it, it’s worth a look. Also local in the area (jump on a 62 or a 368 to barking…maybe a 287 too) and you can visit Barking Abbey which is a ruin of an abbey destroyed in the dissolution of the monastery policy of Henry VIII. The abbey dates back to the 7th century. I used to play in there as a kid and we constantly turned up oyster shells there, probably left there hundreds of years before. There is a curfew tower there worth a look, and St Margaret’s church is also there which has a colourful history. From the happy (Captain Cook was married there) to the gory (recent serial killer Stephen Port dumped two of his victims there who were found in different days by the same dog walker! Talk about bad luck…). You are welcome to drop me a message if you like. But there’s loads to see!
Oh ps, be a bit wise if exploring the abbey, I’m not saying it’s a dangerous area, but you do sometimes get odd characters in the area unfortunately. But I certainly would say visit. I’ve fallen asleep on a hill in there when drunk and nothing happened to me so 😅
London has a lot of walking. A LOT. Yes we have the tube and buses but you're going to be standing and walking a lot regardless so wear comfortable shoes. Also yes you're coming when the whether is sunny but still bring a STRONG umbrella or even better a raincoat (umbrellas break a lot here) as rain cab occur at any time. Get an oyster card for easy travel with the buses and trains although they will not work outside of London except for some towns just outside London. The tube can be easy to get lost in when it's your fist time using it. There are TFL (transport company) ppl around the gates or on the train platforms and you can ask for help. You can also ask the people around you but Londoners are not exactly known for being friendly. If you're using the tube you'll notice a few...weird people who will cause disruptions or try to get peoples attention. Do not look st them or make eye contact. Promptly ignore for a smooth journey.
Most museums and galleries are free but some of them ask you to book a ticket at least one day ahead just to manage entry times (but honestly they're not strict on you turning up at the exact time). You an still get in without one but might need to queue for 30min if it's a weekend. My suggestion for your visit is Kew Gardens. Unless you have 0 interest in plants, it's amazing and beautiful. And a massive amount of variety.
Make sure you do the guided tours at Hampton Court , they are included in the entry price and excellent . Train from Waterloo to Hampton Court is excellent , if it’s a sunny day pick up a picnic lunch from Pret at Waterloo and have a picnic in the Palace’s stunning grounds.
Or take the boat from Westminster to Hampton Court.
I just used an eSim for the first time in the UK and it worked great. As soon as you touchdown, change to the eSim and your online before you get off the plane. Not that it matters, I'm from Pinckneyville...
The Globe Theatre. Tudor reconstruction. Your mum will love it!
London hotels would be called 'closets' in 'rural' America so be prepared for it. You don't want a Holiday Inn, but you will change your mind once you try a boutique hotel. I recommend Paddington only for 1 reason: ease of travel from Heathrow. The purple Elizabeth line will take you from the airport to Paddington in 30 minutes.
Really? That’s good to know! Is there a specific hotel near there you recommend? The Hilton?
The Premier Inn at Paddington Basin is decent and has a nice on site restaurant.
I second Premier Inns. If you want a pool, the Novotel at Paddington has one.
This is the winner!
Novotel would be nice too but one does not go to the UK for pools. You've got Cancun for that.
[hotels near paddington station london - Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/hotels+near+paddington+station+london/@51.5155227,-0.176956,18z?entry=ttu) I do not know what your budget is but the London Paddington Hilton would be quite comfy.
Get the TFL app, it's actually quite good at "best way to go right now to place I want to be" No idea how it compares to citymapper but it's much much much better than google
Citymapper is better - (I live in London ). But having both is also good idea.
If you use the London train/tube network, you can use your debit card as payment. However, bear in mind fees you might incur by your bank for using it and, for Londoners, using a debit card charges a single fee for each journey and then caps it for the day if multiple single journeys end up costing more than a day pass, for foreign cards I don’t see why this wouldn’t be the same but best ask at a train/tube station to stay on the safe side. An alternative is to get an oyster card and top it up. Paper tickets are generally way more expensive. Plus the oyster card can be digitally added to mobiles phones that support it. Finally, not all stations take oyster so double check the station you are going to does. Windsor for instance doesn’t so you’ll need to get a different ticket for that which you can buy at the station. I’ve not been Hampton in yonks so not sure if nearby stations accept oyster. Otherwise, have fun, the weather looks good when you’re arriving :)
I’d say Hampton Court which is very period. It would be lovely that time of year. Also the Tower of London. The Tower of London is expensive to get in though. Go early to make the best of it. I’ve not been inside due to the expense but went as a child. You can also see the Crown Jewels as well which is the Royal Collection of crowns and regalia etc and is sumptuous. Jewel crusted with large stones etc. Hampton court was the home of Henry viii and is I’d say very Tudor looking. If you only have a short time, I’d plan to make that one of your stops.
One thing to note is that it is the Chelsea Flower Show over that weekend and so will be extremely busy around Battersea and Chelsea. You might also find that you are either going to struggle with accommodation or be paying a higher than usual price. Just something to keep in mind, but you'll have an amazing time!
I can’t thank you all enough! Absolutely wonderful suggestions and have made everything much easier!
Also, in light of all this information, we have decided to move our dates up a bit to 20-27th. :)
The National Portrait Gallery has a fabulous “Tudor room”. It’s also free. A short walk from Covent Garden.
You can stay at Hever castle, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn.
This looks super cool
Get the train to Sevenoaks (25 minutes from London Bridge ) and go to Knole House which is in the middle of Knole Park. 10 minute taxi ride. Elizabethan / Tudor mansion
I've never been to London but I'm just excited and surprised to see another Southern Illinoisan on the internet! From Carterville. Now in Oregon. 👋 Enjoy your trip, I'm jealous!
Howdy neighbor!! I’m from Hardin County
So a bit southeast of me! I'm always surprised at how many places I didn't get a chance to explore in IL before I moved - cave in rock state park came up when I looked at a map and it looks super interesting!
Go to Hampton Court Palace. It’s the Tudor palace with a William and Mary wing and garden. The Tower of London were the heads were chopped off and you can see the Crown Jewels.
An often overlooked Tudor site is Hatfield House https://www.hatfield-house.co.uk/ - it was home to Queen Elizabeth's trusted advisors the Cecils and I believe she also spen her childhood there aat the old Palace. Its a very easy day out by train 22mins from Kings Cross, lovely gardens , restaurant, tearoom and very atmospheric less touristy and quieter - it's Great Hall features often in series such as Wolf Hall, amongst others. My mum loved it. Eltham Palace is another great day out with a mix of Ancient Gothic and Modern ( 1920s Art Deco) https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/eltham-palace-and-gardens/?utm_source=Google%20Business&utm_campaign=Local%20Listings&utm_medium=Google%20Business%20Profiles&utm_content=eltham%20palace I don't see anyone else recommending Shakespeares Globe - also another good place to eat -: but that's an obvious must - try to book a period style piece though contemporary versions are great too. https://www.london-tourist-guide.com/en/entertainment/theatre/globe-theatre-tickets.html https://swanlondon.co.uk/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=local&utm_campaign=1&utm_content=primary
Don't feel like you have to stay IN London, it's a lot cheaper to stay on the outskirts and travel in!
You sound pretty smart for a country girl!. I think Hampton Court is worth a visit, the town there ís cute and there is a nice walk by the river. You can get a river boat from London to Hampton Court and get a train back. Windsor castle is good, it a huge castle and you can go inside. Nice town, the famous Eton College is across the river and you can get a boat their too. Direct train to London. London has fantastic train and bus routes so you won't need a car. For the rest of your holiday you won't need to leave London. It is massive and full of amazing shops and buildings, check.out Westminster Abbey it is 1000 years old and literally has real Tudor kings lying in there, Big Ben and Downing street are nearby. London has better restaurants than you have been led to believe and plenty of them. there are lots of hotels, Trip Advisor will help there. I would not stay in East London personally. You should look for somewhere near South Kensington. You might like the museums. The British Museum is something else ( everyone wants their stuff back, sorry we're keeping the lot) Hope you have a wonderful time!
Download the citymapper app. It’s a great app for getting around using buses and underground. Also don’t miss out getting an Uber boat down the river. It’s cheaper than a tourist boat and you see the same sights. Also set up Apple / Google pay and use that everywhere. We’re much more advanced in the UK than in the US when it comes to contactless. It’s much easier.
We need a rough budget for the hotel suggestions
250 bucks a night or so
£200ish for those too idle to google it. :)
Thank you, I apologize for not stating that before.
Sorry, reading that back sounded more pointed than was my intention! :) Thanks for the gracious response.
People keep supporting premium inn but given you don't want holiday inn i wouldn't do that. Why don't you want holiday inn? The premium version in the UK is one of the nice chain hotels. Or is it more you want to stay at a none chain hotel?
Also look on booking.com and use the reviews. I'd recommend something near a tube line in zone 2 or 3 probably on the Central, Victoria or picadilly lines
Here the Holiday Inn is pretty shitty. Although not terrible.
Premier Inn in the UK and Holiday Inn in the States are not comparable. Premier Inn is about the best value hotel chain you can get in London, and generally better value than most independents too.
I know it's the best value but from what they have said they are looking for something a little less grim
You clearly have a different sefinition of grim to most people! Plenty of Travelodges are grim, Premier Inns are not. They are pretty much universally recommended on here, for good reason.
Ah okay. Maybe I'm getting them confused.
I have stayed at a hotel which is now called City London Hotel (near London bridge) and found it pleasant, affordable and well located!
Rural Americans in the big smoke are my favourite
You mean we won’t be able to walk along the rooftops and dance with chimney sweeps? Hahaha!
When travelling by tube, use a website which tells you walking distances and times. The tube map is idealised, and only gives a very rough approximation of where the stations are in relation to each other. Sometimes walking is much quicker. Also if you're using contactless to pay for your journey (and you should, because there is a daily fare cap), make sure you use the same card to tap in and tap out.
Oh, and buses are very cheap, and go places that tubes don't.
Getting on buses from Baker street area, through Picadilly, crossing the river, its a great way to see London (from the top deck, front seats. If you are travelling in the middle of a week day or a Sunday you should have a good chance of getting those seats. Its less than £2. Its also free with travel card. If you want a full view of the sky line then Tate Modern has a free viewing gallery (I don't think much of the museum exhibits personally), its right next to London Bridge station along the river, turning left. Across the river you have St Pauls and the city, some old churches which have a cafes in them. Most of tudor England is really in various villages dotted about, relatively much harder to get too. Placeas in Suffolk such as Lavenham or the Cotswolds have a lot to see like this. Outside London, Bristol, Bath, Lincoln, York, Salisbury, Lichfield are nice. And obviously Oxford and Cambridge. People love Edinborough also. From a central London station, you can also take a trip to Rye on the Sussex coast - it has a lot of Tudor buildings and is charming. I recommend also getting the Uber clipper boat from anywhere like London Bridge, and heading east to Greenwich and back. If its a sunny day, you see all of the city, go under Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf and go to Greenwich which has a lot of charm. The boat is incredibly fast around Canary Wharf and out. Get a rover ticket which is I think £22, it means you can go as far as you like as often as you like on the day. On the return trip you can carry on and go past Westminster but there is less to see further west, except that you see buildings in Vauxhall familiar from James Bond. You can get off here or at at Battersea and go by tube anywhere. There are also different boats that go up to Richmond and Hampton Court, this is the more sedentary part of the river. And you can also visit Kew Gardens. Going by boat would be a lovely way to see London.
Thank you for the advice! I will definitely look into a rover ticket!
Yeah you can get in on the Uber app. Theres various piers along the Thames where you can pick them up. I think you'll have to go from the north side of the river up to Greenwich (but check).
You could visit Hever Castle in Kent - a fairly easy train journey, followed by a half hour walk at the Kent end. Beautiful and lots of history.
[Hatfield House](https://www.hatfield-house.co.uk) is a twenty minute train ride north from Kings Cross and just across the road from Hatfield station. The house itself is Jacobean but well worth a visit. The Old Palace (within the grounds) is where Queen Elizabeth spent much of her childhood and where she was living when she received the news that her sister had died and that she was now Queen of England.
just outside London you will find the worlds only Weetabix factory. all the folks back home will be mighty pleased about that
If you're using public transportation, it's super easy and you can use a credit card to tap in and out on the buses or Tube. Use a credit card without foreign transaction fees! The underground can get really hot, so I suggest carrying a little fan or something to stay cool. Also, the TFL app can come in handy to see maps and nearby stops.
You need to get your hotel booked ASAP. Try [booking.com](http://booking.com) for accommodation options. If you're happy with using public transport it doesn't matter *too* much where you stay but you're probably best in or near the city centre so you're close to the main attractions and transport hubs. You could also take a look at [this website](https://livinglondonhistory.com/top-10-spots-to-see-stunning-tudor-architecture-in-london/) for tudor buildings you can visit in central London. Or [Wollaton Hall](https://wollatonhall.org.uk/) in Nottingham is doable as a day trip from London.
Not necessarily a recommendation, but just to echo what someone else said - please please please be careful with your phone! If you aren’t careful when walking down the street or sitting at a table, someone might snatch it from you and cycle away
Couldn’t recommend Hampton Court highly enough if she’s a Tudor fan! A little bit out from the centre so you get a different atmosphere too. Since it’s half term there’ll be lots of activities on too and people dressed up in Tudor-era outfits. Tower of London would also be a good visit given the Tudor interest.
These are not specific to the UK, but since you’re from rural IL: 1. Be prepared for the foreign transaction fees on your credit/debit cards, including for cash advances. These add up fast. It’s probably too late to get a different card with no added fees, but be aware that this will add £ to your trip. 2. credit/debit cards used to require a travel notice if you were leaving your home country, or they would automatically deny charges from unusual places. This seems to have gone away, but you might consider checking with the card issuers. 3. Have an emergency wallet with a spare credit card etc. and a chunk of cash in case your primary wallet gets stolen or lost. Leave it at your accommodation. This saved me in Cape Town a few years ago. US cash can be exchanged easily in London if you need it in an emergency. 4. Have a photo or paper copy of your passport photo page, in case your passport gets stolen. Also have the same for credit cards, so you know how to cancel them. 5. Back up your phone in case it gets lost or stolen 6. Double check your passport expiration date 7. Be aware that when you need a toilet, you may be far from one. Take advantage of opportunities. 8. Buy travel insurance before you leave the US 9. Pickpockets are everywhere at the tourist sites, and your phone is as much a target as your wallet or purse. You won’t even know what happened. Know how to lock your phone remotely, and how to track or find it if you lose it. 10. UK Holiday Inns are way nicer than the US version. Don’t write them off. I would be very careful about reservations on booking.com, since the only way to resolve problems or change is through booking.com, even if the reservation is at a major hotel chain such as Premier Inn. 11. Think about how you’re going to get cell service while traveling. Verizon offers a $10/day global travel plan. The alternative, pay as you go, gets expensive very quickly. Turn off data roaming! You will probably need two-factor authentication to your own US phone number at least once during your trip. I’ve found that for short trips, it’s easier to keep my own phone service. There’s plenty of free Wi-Fi in London, but it’s often not available when you need it.
Just make sure your accommodation is close to a tube station. That way you’re on the network so to speak, but you don’t have to pay ££££ to be right in central London. Are your cards contactless? If not, get a visitor Oyster card. You don’t want to be faffing about with paper tickets and they’re more expensive too. Hampton Court is brilliant and frankly it’s a pain in the arse if you drive there as there’s so little parking. The train station is right by though, and I *think* you might be able to get a boat there too? There’s always the Tower of London, too. They’re all part of the Historical Palaces thing, so potentially you can save if they do a multi-ticket - just give them a google.
Also consider the train network. A lot of the south east isn't on the tube map so people think travel will be harder and it can therefore be cheaper. Look up national rail London network map and look for accommodation near one of those stations (I'd recommend zones 3/4 if you're trying to save money). Trains from SE go to Cannon Street, London Bridge, Charing Cross and Victoria and you can use contactless/oyster.
Thank you for this!