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So...I have etched out a rough draft of the day below. My goals are to visit 3 iconic places, eat three times (I travel to EAT lol), visit one local market or shopping center (or other place where there will be a higher percentage of locals than at the 3 touristy places I'll be visiting) and not feel extremely rushed doing it all. I think that's reasonable for just a 1 day intro to the city.
3:00 until: Snack and people watching at Borough market Home / Borough Market
The market closes at 6. I will have to play it by ear afterwards if my friend isn't available until later in the night to meet for dinner/head back to her place.
I think that accomplishes my above goals and is also enough to get more than a handful of nice photos while there as I love taking pictures. I like museums but the two exhibits at London Tower I think will be enough to fulfill that fix for this visit. I really wanted to do Westminster Abbey but I tried to keep everything in close proximity to each other.
Although I arrive at 6 am I see it could take a while to get to my first stop so I started my day at 8:30 am. Now I just need to figure out the bag situation as with the above agenda it makes sense for it to be left as close to where I'll be as possible.
Comments? Suggestions? Seem reasonable...?
I think it's possible that some on here are trying too hard to inject their own opinions and preferences instead of really listening to you. With the itinerary you've listed I think it's very doable ...it's a bit on the busy side and that's assuming that jet lag hasn't messed with you too bad. I'm a fast paced traveler......somebody who has pushed itineraries to their limits to "see more". Sounds like something I would have penciled in for myself actually. The only thing I would edit/suggest would be to swap St. Paul's Cathedral with Westminster Abbey. (maybe take a black cab) St. Paul's is amazing don't get me wrong but there's also a ton to see at Westminster Abbey which is very close to Parliament/ Big Ben if you were interested in checking that out from the outside.
I think it's possible that some on here are trying too hard to inject their own opinions and preferences instead of really listening to you. With the itinerary you've listed I think it's very doable ...it's a bit on the busy side and that's assuming that jet lag hasn't messed with you too bad. I'm a fast paced traveler......somebody who has pushed itineraries to their limits to "see more". Sounds like something I would have penciled in for myself actually. The only thing I would edit/suggest would be to swap St. Paul's Cathedral with Westminster Abbey. (maybe take a black cab) St. Paul's is amazing don't get me wrong but there's also a ton to see at Westminster Abbey which is very close to Parliament/ Big Ben if you were interested in checking that out from the outside.
Don't make me change my plans back to what I originally had them as.....
Originally the agenda did have Westminster Abbey in place of St. Paul's Cathedral.
However, if I go to Westminster Abbey, I would have to skip the market which I really wanted to do
I would have to go straight from Tower Bridge to Westminster Abbey because of the time that it closes. I wouldn't have the time nor would it probably make sense from what I'm seeing on the map to travel from Westminster Abbey practically back to the Tower Bridge area to partake in Borough market.
That's why I substituted it for St. Paul's cathedral because it's in the same general area as the market. I typically enjoy markets (because of the food/shopping ) and because I figured that would be the one place where I might be amongst at least as many locals as tourists perhaps....
While I'm glad I saw the Tower of London because of all the history there, it just wasn't that interesting for me. If you discover similar, you can cut out early and there's a River Bus stop on the Thames right there and you can just relax and enjoy the view of the city. (Use the balance on a London transit Oyster card- you apparently can't directly pay at the boat)
I think it's possible that some on here are trying too hard to inject their own opinions and preferences instead of really listening to you. With the itinerary you've listed I think it's very doable ...it's a bit on the busy side and that's assuming that jet lag hasn't messed with you too bad. I'm a fast paced traveler......somebody who has pushed itineraries to their limits to "see more". Sounds like something I would have penciled in for myself actually. The only thing I would edit/suggest would be to swap St. Paul's Cathedral with Westminster Abbey. (maybe take a black cab) St. Paul's is amazing don't get me wrong but there's also a ton to see at Westminster Abbey which is very close to Parliament/ Big Ben if you were interested in checking that out from the outside.
I was thinking the exact same thing regarding doing Westminster Abbey instead of St Paul's. I'd drop the display of armour at the Tower if necessary.
This might sound crazy, but the only suggestion I have is actually adding something - the Museum of London, which is very near St Paul's. I'd personally do a self-guided tour of St. Paul's rather than the guided tour, and spend some of that time at the Museum of London instead. It's free admission there, so even if you kind of breeze through it, you still see some very interesting things without feeling like you've wasted any money.
But otherwise, I think your plan sounds fine. I am very similar in that I don't sleep too well on a plane but I do best just powering through that first day and getting adjusted to local time. You may have a bit of a rebound of tiredness on Day 2, so I wouldn't plan anything extremely taxing that day, but by Day 3, you should be just fine.
Don't make me change my plans back to what I originally had them as.....
Originally the agenda did have Westminster Abbey in place of St. Paul's Cathedral.
However, if I go to Westminster Abbey, I would have to skip the market which I really wanted to do
I would have to go straight from Tower Bridge to Westminster Abbey because of the time that it closes. I wouldn't have the time nor would it probably make sense from what I'm seeing on the map to travel from Westminster Abbey practically back to the Tower Bridge area to partake in Borough market.
That's why I substituted it for St. Paul's cathedral because it's in the same general area as the market. I typically enjoy markets (because of the food/shopping ) and because I figured that would be the one place where I might be amongst at least as many locals as tourists perhaps....
Ya know, Borough Market (a couple of blocks from the London Bridge station) to Westminster Abbey (Wetsminster station) is a 4-minute tube ride. And the Abbey is right outside the tube station (check out the Cloister of the Abbey, pretty interesting ... and quiet).
Ya know, Borough Market (a couple of blocks from the London Bridge station) to Westminster Abbey (Wetsminster station) is a 4-minute tube ride. And the Abbey is right outside the tube station (check out the Cloister of the Abbey, pretty interesting ... and quiet).
That's good to know....so it wouldn't be too difficult to return to London Tower area via tube from Westminster Abbey then to check out the market?
This might sound crazy, but the only suggestion I have is actually adding something - the Museum of London, which is very near St Paul's. I'd personally do a self-guided tour of St. Paul's rather than the guided tour, and spend some of that time at the Museum of London instead. It's free admission there, so even if you kind of breeze through it, you still see some very interesting things without feeling like you've wasted any money.
But otherwise, I think your plan sounds fine. I am very similar in that I don't sleep too well on a plane but I do best just powering through that first day and getting adjusted to local time. You may have a bit of a rebound of tiredness on Day 2, so I wouldn't plan anything extremely taxing that day, but by Day 3, you should be just fine.
I'd love to add something but wouldn't you agree the agenda is already tight? With just 1 day I have to be realistic that it will take time to get to and from each of these places...travel time is included in the time frames mentioned, leaving less time than explicitly stated to actually tour the places I'm touring...
That's why my goal was 3 places and that's it...I'll have to return one day to 'really' do the place justice
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