4 days in London – London chat forum

Welcome Guest!  No need to register – we encourage guests to post a reply or start a new topic.

4 days in London

Post a reply
Share: |More

Australia (au)bmartin   22 May 12, 22:35

Hi everyone, we are a family of four Aussies planning 4 days in London. I have gone through the trip planner and added all the things we would like to see as follows - Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Cleopatra’s Needle, Houses of Parliament, Kensington Palace, London Eye, Nelson’s Column, Piccadilly Circus, Royal Albert Hall,Tower Bridge,Tower of London,Wellington Arch, Westminster Abbey, Tate Modern, St. Paul’s Cathedral,Princess Diana Memorial Fountain, Kensington Gardens, Madame Tussauds. We are staying at the London Novotel Tower Bridge and I would really appreciate any feedback on whether it is possible to see all these things in 4 days and if so, what to group together to do each day so as to make the best use of our time. Thanks :smiling:
User avatar
My trip planner

Big Ben Big Ben

Address:
Houses of Parliament, Parliament Square, Westminster,
London
Trains:
Charing Cross BKL NRN, Embankment BKL CRC DSC NRN, St. James’s Park CRC DSC, Westminster CRC DSC JUB
First designed by Charles Barry in 1856, Big Ben has become London’s most iconic landmark, towering over Parliament and Westminster Bridge.
 

Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace

Address:
The Mall,
London SW1A 1AA
Opening times:
Closed to the public, apart from the Summer Opening during Aug–Sep. Opening times may not apply on public holidays
Trains:
Green Park JUB PCL VIC, St. James’s Park CRC DSC, Victoria CRC DSC VIC
Buckingham Palace is the Queen’s official London residence, and is used to entertain guests and foreign heads of state, and as a backdrop for ceremonial occasions.
 

Cleopatra’s Needle Cleopatra’s Needle

Address:
Victoria Embankment,
London
Trains:
Charing Cross BKL NRN, Covent Garden PCL, Embankment BKL CRC DSC NRN, Leicester Square NRN PCL, Temple CRC DSC, Waterloo BKL JUB NRN W&C
Cleopatra’s Needle is a huge Egyptian obelisk that stands on Victoria Embankment. It dates from the reign of Pharaoh Tuthmose III in 1475 BC.
 

Houses of Parliament Houses of Parliament

Address:
Parliament Square, Westminster,
London SW1A 0AA
Opening times:
House of Commons public gallery (when in session): 2.30 PM to 10.30 PM (Mon, Tue); 12:30 AM to 7.30 PM (Wed); 10.30 AM to 6.30 PM (Thu); 9.30 AM to 3 PM (Fri). Opening times may not apply on public holidays
Trains:
St. James’s Park CRC DSC, Westminster CRC DSC JUB
The Houses of Parliament are the seat of British Government. The legislature consists of two parts – the Commons and the Lords. The building also includes Big Ben and Westminster Hall, which dates back to 1097.
 

Kensington Palace Kensington Palace

Address:
Kensington Gardens, Kensington,
London W8 4PX
Cost:
Adults £12.50; Children £6.25 (5–16); Infants free (under-5); Family ticket £34.00. See www.hrp.org.uk
Opening times:
10 AM to 6 PM (daily); Last admission 5 PM. Opening times may not apply on public holidays
Trains:
Bayswater CRC DSC, High Street Kensington CRC DSC, Queensway CNT
Kensington Palace has been home to many British royals including William III and Queen Victoria, but is perhaps most famous these days for being the former residence of Diana, Princess of Wales.
 

London Eye London Eye

Address:
Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, Waterloo,
London SE1 7PB
Cost:
Adults £18.60; Children £9.54 (4–15); Infants free (under-4); Family ticket £56.28. See www.londoneye.com
Opening times:
10 AM to 8.30 PM (Jan–Mar), 10 AM to 9 PM (Apr–Jun), 10 AM to 9.30 PM (Jul–Aug), 10 AM to 8.30 PM (Sep–Dec). Opening times may not apply on public holidays
Trains:
Charing Cross BKL NRN, Embankment BKL CRC DSC NRN, Waterloo BKL JUB NRN W&C, Westminster CRC DSC JUB
The London Eye is the largest observation wheel in the world, and stands on the bank opposite the Houses of Parliament. The glass-covered capsules hold 25 people each and take around 30 minutes to revolve. On a clear day you can see for 25 miles.
 

Nelson’s Column Nelson’s Column

Address:
Trafalgar Square,
London
Trains:
Charing Cross BKL NRN, Covent Garden PCL, Embankment BKL CRC DSC NRN, Leicester Square NRN PCL, Piccadilly Circus BKL PCL, Westminster CRC DSC JUB
Nelson’s Column was built to commemorate the death of Admiral Nelson, cut down during his moment of victory in the Battle of Trafalgar.
 

Piccadilly Circus Piccadilly Circus

Address:

London W1
Trains:
Charing Cross BKL NRN, Green Park JUB PCL VIC, Leicester Square NRN PCL, Oxford Circus BKL CNT VIC, Piccadilly Circus BKL PCL, Tottenham Court Road CNT NRN
Piccadilly Circus is one of London’s great thoroughfares. The bright neon lights and statue of Eros are a favourite photocall of tourists.
 

Royal Albert Hall Royal Albert Hall

Address:
Kensington Gore, Kensington,
London SW7 2AP
Trains:
South Kensington CRC DSC PCL
The terracota-coloured Royal Albert Hall is one of London’s favourite concert venues. Whilst it remains most famous for classical music and the annual Prom concerts, it also holds rock and pop concerts, sports events and award ceremonies.
 

Tower Bridge Tower Bridge

Address:
Tower Bridge Road,
London SE1 2UP
Cost:
Adults £8.00; Children £3.40 (5–15); Infants free (under-5); Family ticket £18.00. See www.towerbridge.org.uk
Opening times:
9.30 AM to 6 PM (daily, Oct–Mar), 10 AM to 6.30 PM (daily, Apr–Sep); Last admission 1 hour before closing time. Opening times may not apply on public holidays
Trains:
Tower Gateway DLR, Tower Hill CRC DSC
Tower Bridge is one of London’s most iconic landmarks. The walkway between the two towers has fantastic views up and down the river, and the museum is filled with interesting photos and films of its construction, and the original Victorian steam engines.
 

Tower of London Tower of London

Address:
Tower Hill,
London EC3N 4AB
Cost:
Adults £19.80; Children £10.45 (5–16); Infants free (under-5); Family ticket £55.00. See www.hrp.org.uk
Opening times:
9 AM to 5.30 PM (Tue–Sat, Mar–Oct), 10 AM to 5.30 PM (Sun, Mon, Mar–Oct), 9 AM to 4.30 PM (Tue–Sat, Nov–Feb), 10 AM to 4.30 PM (Sun, Mon, Nov–Feb); Last admission 30 minutes before closing time. Opening times may not apply on public holidays
Trains:
Aldgate CRC MET, Aldgate East DSC H&C, Tower Gateway DLR, Tower Hill CRC DSC
The Tower of London was built by William the Conqueror after the Norman Conquest. The imposing fortress survived the next 900 years as a palace, prison and royal mint, and has played host to some of England’s most famous events. It is now a World Heritage Site, and home to the Crown Jewels.
 

Wellington Arch Wellington Arch

Address:
Hyde Park Corner,
London W1J 7JZ
Cost:
Adults £3.90; Children £2.30 (na). See www.english-heritage.org.uk
Opening times:
10 AM to 4 PM (Wed–Sun, Nov–Mar), 10 AM to 5 PM (Wed–Sun, Apr–Oct). Opening times may not apply on public holidays
Trains:
Green Park JUB PCL VIC, Hyde Park Corner PCL, Knightsbridge PCL
Wellington Arch commemorates the Duke of Wellington’s victory over Napoleon, and stands opposite his former home – Aspley House.
 

Westminster Abbey Westminster Abbey

Address:
Parliament Square, Westminster,
London SW1P 3PA
Cost:
Adults £16.00; Children £6.00 (11–16); Infants free (under-16); Family ticket £32.00. See www.westminster-abbey.org
Opening times:
9.30 AM to 4.30 PM (Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri), 9.30 PM to 7 PM (Wed), 9.30 AM to 4.30 PM (Sat); Last admission 1 hour before closing time. Opening times may not apply on public holidays
Trains:
St. James’s Park CRC DSC, Westminster CRC DSC JUB
Westminster Abbey has hosted every coronation since William the Conqueror in 1066 (except two), and is the final resting place for many of the country’s greatest Kings and Queens. It also commemorates the nation’s finest artists, writers, politicians and military heroes.
 

Tate Modern Tate Modern

Address:
Bankside,
London SE1 9TG
Cost:
Free. See www.tate.org.uk
Opening times:
Gallery: 10 AM to 6 PM (Sun–Thu), 10 AM to 10 PM (Fri, Sat); Last admission 45 minutes before closing time; Tours: 11 AM, noon, 2 PM, 3 PM (daily). Opening times may not apply on public holidays
Trains:
Blackfriars CRC DSC, Mansion House CRC DSC, Southwark JUB, St. Paul’s CNT
Tate Modern is the most visited art gallery in London and houses a huge collection of international modern and contemporary art from the 19th-century onwards. You can find works by Monet, Dalí, Cézanne, Pollock, Rothko, Matisse, Pollock, Picasso and Warhol.
 

St. Paul’s Cathedral St. Paul’s Cathedral

Address:
Ludgate Hill, The City,
London EC4M 8AD
Cost:
Adults £15.00; Children £6.00 (6–17); Infants free (5 and under); Family ticket £36.00. See www.stpauls.co.uk
Opening times:
8.30 AM to 4.30 PM (Mon–Sat); Last admission 4 PM; Galleries open from 9.30 AM; Last admission to the galleries 4.15 PM. Opening times may not apply on public holidays
Trains:
Barbican CRC H&C MET, Blackfriars CRC DSC, Cannon Street CRC DSC, Mansion House CRC DSC, St. Paul’s CNT
St. Paul’s Cathedral is Christopher Wren’s masterpiece. It boasts one of the largest domes in the world, and contains the tombs of many of Britain’s greatest heroes – men like Admiral Nelson and the Duke of Wellington.
 

Princess Diana Memorial Fountain Princess Diana Memorial Fountain

Address:
Hyde Park, Kensington,
London
Trains:
Lancaster Gate CNT
The Princess Diana Memorial Fountain can be found on the south side of the Serpentine, in Kensington Gardens.
 

Abbey Road Abbey Road

Address:
St. John’s Wood,
London
Trains:
Maida Vale BKL, St. John’s Wood JUB
Abbey Road is synonymous with The Beatles, as it was where they recorded the vast bulk of their songs at EMI Studios. The studios were renamed Abbey Road after The Beatles released their ‘Abbey Road’ LP in 1969.
 

Kensington Gardens Kensington Gardens

Address:
Kensington,
London W2 2UH
Cost:
Free. See www.royalparks.org.uk
Opening times:
6 AM to dusk (daily). Opening times may not apply on public holidays
Trains:
Lancaster Gate CNT, Queensway CNT
Kensington Gardens is home to the Serpentine Gallery, the Albert Memorial, and has fine views of Kensington Palace.
 
Hotel rating

Hotel chain
Novotel

Novotel London Tower Bridge

Address:
10 Pepys Street, Tower Hill,
London  EC3N 2NR
United Kingdom
Telephone:
Work +44 (0) 207 265 6000
Trains:
Aldgate CRC MET, Aldgate East DSC H&C, Monument CRC DSC, Tower Gateway DLR, Tower Hill CRC DSC
Car-park:
Public car-park nearby
Facilities:
24-hour reception · Garden Brasserie (closes at midnight) · 24-hour room service · Pepys Bar (closes at 00:30) · Fitness centre · Sauna
 

Madame Tussauds Madame Tussauds

Address:
Marylebone Road, Marylebone,
London NW1 5LR
Cost:
Adults £26.80; Children £24.60 (na); Family ticket £99.00. See www.madametussauds.com
Opening times:
9.30 AM to 5.30 PM (Mon–Fri), 9 AM to 6 PM (Sat, Sun). Opening times may not apply on public holidays
Trains:
Baker Street BKL CRC H&C JUB MET, Marylebone BKL, Regent’s Park BKL
Madame Tussauds famous waxwork museum is one of London’s most popular tourist attractions, with life-size models of the rich and famous.
 

If you’d like to create your own itinerary, then visit here Can you offer bmartin some feedback on this itinerary? Simply post a reply

United Kingdom (uk)patrick   23 May 12, 09:46

If you're going to actually pay to go inside the places, rather than just walk past them, then it's going to be a whistle-stop tour to fit in all of that. I don't think you can do it. I would definitely dump Madame Tussauds (waste of money) and Abbey Road and just do these ones...

These are grouped into how close they are to each other. You can definitely manage each group in one day.

London Eye
Cleopatra’s Needle
Big Ben
Houses of Parliament
Westminster Abbey
Downing Street

Piccadilly Circus
Trafalgar Square
Nelson’s Column
Buckingham Palace
Wellington Arch

Kensington Palace
Kensington Gardens
Princess Diana Memorial Fountain
Royal Albert Hall

Tate Modern
St. Paul’s Cathedral

HMS Belfast
Tower Bridge
Tower of London
User avatar
Where I’ve been (3)
My trip planner

Guest   23 May 12, 13:50

Some of those things will only take you ten minutes, because all you do is go up to them and take a photo of them. You can't do anything else with them, or go inside them. so they are just photo opportunities -- places like Big Ben, Cleopatra’s Needle, Nelson’s Column, Downing Street, piccadilly circus, Princess Diana Memorial Fountain

the Tower of London can fill up a whole half day just by itself, and the same with St Pauls. The London Eye should only take an hour and a half, or an hour if you are lucky with the queuing
Guest

Guest   23 May 12, 22:27

Thanks for your comments, I really appreciate them! :smiling:
Guest

Guest   23 May 12, 22:57

Hi Patrick, your reply was really helpful, thanks! Can you also advise if we do the first 3 groups on different days, are we best to walk or catch public transport and if so, what is the best method of getting around if we are staying at the Tower Bridge Hotel?
Guest

United Kingdom (uk)patrick   24 May 12, 16:27

You can just walk between them, it's not far. It would probably actually take you longer to get the bus.
if you are staying at Tower Bridge then just get the district or circle line to the places. Get off at Westminster for the Parliament group, embankment for the London Eye group, and South Kensington for the Kensington stuff
User avatar
Where I’ve been (3)
My trip planner

United Kingdom (uk)alibags   8 Jun 12, 04:32

Hey
I am too living in Perth, WA and planning our holiday to the UK in December. I found the planner above excellent and spent almost a whole day (at work! :thumbsup: ) sorting out all of my choices and clustering them into days due to locations etc. Sat with a map of London and it was actually quite easy once I set my mind to it.
I will see if I can find a way to post mine - as ours covers 3 days......although not very technologically minded :confused: so bear with me!
User avatar
My trip planner
Post a reply
Share: |More
Homepage Save money on attractions with London Pass

What’s on in London

 

Tourist information

 

London transport

Bookmark your favourite London places with your personalised trip planner

Try the London Quiz
Try the Treasure Hunt

Pick of the best events coming up in London…

Site map | Contact us | About London Drum | Privacy / Terms | Cookies
Copyright © 2013 London Drum. All rights reserved.

Events in London

> London events guide
> Events in May
20212223242526
2728293031    
> Whats on in June
         12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
> Whats on in July
1234567
891011121314

Stage Musicals

  1. Burn The F.. From Mar ‘13
  2. Once From Mar ‘13
  3. From Here.. From Sep ‘13
  4. Charlie An.. From May ‘13

Theatre shows

  1. Ladykillers From June ‘13
  2. Rock Of Ag.. From Jan ‘13
  3. Liola From July ‘13
  4. Viva Forev.. From Nov ‘12

Music concerts

  1. Neil Young 17th June ‘13
  2. Deep Purple 16th Oct ‘13
  3. Rolling St.. 6th July ‘13
  4. Barry Gibb 3rd Oct ‘13

Comedy gigs

  1. Dr Phil Ha.. 17th Dec ‘13
  2. Richard He.. 1st July ‘13
  3. Josh Widde.. 26th Sep ‘13
  4. Stewart Lee 5th July ‘13

Classical music

  1. Jonathan A.. From June ‘13
  2. Tosca From July ‘13
  3. Andre Rieu From Dec ‘13
  4. Swan Lake From June ‘13

Talks & lectures

    cron