Recommendations sought for a weekend in London

Whoops only just read the last one. Glad she enjoyed the visit.

Chelsea Physic garden is free & interesting if you into plants and medicinal things. River trip was fab (look for online vouchers). Love going to a show! Maybe get 2 4 1. Like the V & A museum. Have fun.

Glad that you friends enjoyed their time in London. I haven't been to an awful lot of cities abroad but, out of those I've seen, I think London isthe most exciting - though I think Edinburgh is great too. Unlike most people, I found New York disappointing.

I've heard that Lisbon is really worth seeing and hope one day to go there.

Thanks everyone for your great suggestions.Caught up with my friend today... she was in London the weekend of Aug. 8th which from here looked as if she was getting biblical rain, but apparently not. She and her niece had a lovely time.... Camden Market, a river trip, an open top bus tour, The British Museum (only complaint was it was so vast that even tho' they were there for over 2 hours they only scratched the surface). They had fish and chips in a pub, she couldn't get over how big the piece of fish was ..... Atlantic cod, not the warm water fish we get here I thought.. but in the interests of Anglo-French relations I said nowt! She was a bit staggered that it cost £12 per portion, but she said it was delicious! So I think it London won over Paris by a short head, although (or maybe because) she lived in Paris for years before moving here ...to the sticks!

We found Churchill's War rooms by accident,it's near Horseguards Parade.Really interesting place to visit,especially if you enjoy history.

We had a couple of nights recently at The Britannia Hotel Canary Wharf

It is cheaper than central London, but the journey there on the Jubilee Line extension is interesting in itself. It doesn't take long to get to central London if that's what you want to do, but we spent the day in Greenwich and really enjoyed it.

The globe has a nice restaurant with views over the river

Harvey Nicks do a pretty good tea (with the option of a glass of Champagne) on their rooftop terrace.

We've stayed twice now at the Travelodge on Drury Lane and intend to stay there again on the next trip. Easy reach of both Covent Garden and Holborn undergrounds. First evening we take the tube from Holborn to St Paul's and then walk over the Millennium Bridge towards the Globe. Good views along the river as it starts to get dark.
If you're looking for a foodie treat, try booking one of the top restaurants at a lunch time. We had a fabulous meal at Gordon Ramsey's Petrus, which we'd never have been able to afford in the evening.
Years ago my impression of London was just one of a rather grubby city, but since the Olympics and Jubilee celebrations, it's really smartened itself up. We've been doing a four night stay each year in January and I'm using the DK Eyewitness Guide to start planning the next one. Loads of information set out clearly with lots of mini maps and photos.
Have a wonderful trip.

We went recently. We took in a show (Jersey Boys). Our hotel was within walking distance of most of the sites so we walked everywhere. I had bought DH tickets for Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and we did that one afternoon. It was fascinating and not too expensive, you get a guided tour. Fascinating to see this little thatched building in the middle of all the modern ones. The Globe is on Bankside not far from St Paul's so you can see that as well.

Somebody mentioned tea at the Ritz but you have to book a very long way ahead. Most hotels do afternoon tea and sometimes you can get two for one deals on deals websites. Recommend Jason's Trip, a narrow boat trip along the Regents canal which goes through London Zoo. It finishes at Camden Lock. Lots of stalls for browsing all sorts of ethnic jewellery and craft stuff. Very popular with teens! You can get a return ticket if you want.

Gosh, so many ideas! Thanks everyone. My friend (Veronique) is a great walker (just back from 2 weeks in the Andes) so I'll be printing off your itinerary, Eloethan.

Agree with you Suzied.... I think Veronique wants to do the non- tourist bits if possible(which I guess is why she asked me rather than Google.)

She is going to book a hotel this weekend which I think will be the Travelodge on the Waterloo Road, despite the unfortunate connection!

We are going to get together next weekend over a glass or two of something red and alcoholic to co-ordinate all your good advice (while respective partners discuss/argue the UK stance on membership of the EU!!) We girls will be discussing something far more important!

Thanks again everyone.

The sightseeing buses are good (we've been on the London, Cambridge and Edinburgh ones) but during the height of the season you do risk, in the more central areas, getting snarled up in traffic and hanging about in one place for quite a long time.

The red tourist double-decker bus - do the whole circular trip at least once. Worth every penny and saves your legs! We've done it in most European cities and it works. You see all the best sights without tiring yourself too much. And in the evening - theatre or a nice walk in a park.

Thanks MiceElf - I've made a note of that link.

Here's the link:

www.walks.com/

There's no need to book, you just turn up at the meeting point, mostly at a tube station, and they take place whatever the weather. If you browse the site you can see what a vast choice there is.

Eloethan's suggestion is exactly what I would have recommended. Another additional possibility is is to go on a London Walk which are guided by extremely knowledgeable people and take to you many hidden places which most people are unaware of. The ones in the City of London are exceptionally interesting. They last about two hours and cost around a tenner. They are listed on their site

though the London Eye is good fun and you get a great view. You can pre book tickets so you avoid queues

Yes I agree don't bother with the tourist traps like Madame Tussauds and the London Dungeon or Oxford Street. Convent Garden is better for shopping and more interesting with street performers and outdoor cafes.

My personal choice of walk would be (weather permitting and if your friends like walking):

Maybe start at the National Portrait Gallery/Trafalgar Square, then on to
Westminster, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben.

Cross Westminster Bridge for a walk along the south bank, passing the London Eye, Festival Hall, National Theatre, Tate Modern (can cross the Millennium footbridge here to go to St Paul's), then back to the South Bank past the Globe Theatre, HMS Belfast, Town Hall and Tower Bridge.

Or, for those not wanting to walk so much:

National Portrait Gallery/Trafalgar Square
Westminster, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben.

Then a one day hop-on hop-off river pass between Westminster Pier and Greenwich, with commentary pointing out places of interest and allowing you to get off at various points, such as Tower Bridge. At Greenwich there's the recently restored Cutty Sark, the market (not sure which days), the Maritime Museum, Greenwich Park and the Observatory (from the hill on which it stands there is a lovely view).

St James's Park, Regent's Park and Hyde Park are lovely on a summer's day. And, as you say, Covent Garden is interesting, with markets and entertainment.

What I would avoid (though tourists queue up to go there) is Madame Tussauds - expensive and, in my view anyway, not worth the time or money.

Fingers crossed for good weather, and I hope they have a great time.

Just noticed "art deck" ??? Stupid Kindle. Should of course has read art deco.

I don't know if this is a common French response, but when we had French friends visiting a couple of years ago the highlight of our trip to London for them was Harrods - we expected to spend half an hour in there and lost them for the afternoon. They said there was nothing like it in Paris, which I find hard to believe.

There's a travelodge in Covent Garden which is really central. The V and A is great and there is a wedding dress exhibition on at the moment, there are lots of nice restaurants and cafés near the museum if you didn't fancy the one in the museum. Tate Britain has got a really interesting textile exhibition on at the moment which is fascinating. Peacock Theatre in aldwych usually has some interesting dance shows, I saw a lovely tango one there recently. I would advise your friends to book up a show before they come, especially if they come at the weekend. If the weathers nice there are some lovely gardens to sit in, there's a lovely one behind Somerset house which is not crowded, and Kensington gardens are lovely for a stroll. They can sit on a number 12 bus which goes around the sights, and a river cruise down to Greenwich and a walk around there is lovely if the weathers good.

Oops Riverwalk...... as I clicked 'send' on the email I sent to my friend about the Waterloo Travelodge I realised the significance of it.Fortunately both her and her husband have a great sense of humour (slightly unusual for the French, I have to say!) Also they are both extremely interested in our monarchy ( this time, very French....don't want it themselves but envy ours) so I had though of the August opening of the Buck House state rooms and possibly an exhibition like last year of the royal wedding dresses... would have liked to have seen that myself. Notting Hill for a teenager would combine nicely with Ken. Palace and the Diana connection.
Thanks everyone. I've got loads of info for her now.
It's very flattering when someone asks your advice as she did, as she has other English friends in our village but they are a younger generation so she thought that,at my advanced age(!) I would be the person to consult. Trouble is I haven't been to London since the Millenium

For a weekend trip I would forget Docklands and Olympic Park, etc.

I agree on the Travelodge on Waterloo Road - don't know the hotel but the location is ideal. Many of the famous sites are within walking distance e.g. Houses of Parliament, Millennium Wheel, The Shard, Tate Modern, Trafalgar Square, St Paul's, etc.

It's also near tube stations should they have an interest in places outside the city centre e.g. Kew Gardens. I note she's bringing her teenage niece so maybe places like Camden Market and Notting Hill. Notting Hill can be combined with Kensington Gardens where they could see Kensington Palace (I know the French like the royal family, particularly Diana).

Maybe don't mention the hotel is on Waterloo Road