Where Should I go in London?

No trip to London is complete without a shopping trip to Charing Cross Road and its amazing bookstores (Foyle's, Blackwells, Murder One, etc.). I always visit the Tudor gallery at the National Portrait Gallery to commune with my favourite dead kings and queens. (I'm writing my doctoral dissertation on late sixteenth and early seventeenth century literature.) The NPG has a lovely bookstore downstairs, which is well worth a look.

Oooh! Excellent suggestions Caro. I've never done ANY of those things. Thanks!

I would def recommend a trip to the Borough Markets, near London Bridge tube station. Friday and Saturday vendors come out of the woodwork to hawke their wears, and the sights and smells are amazing! Also, if you're lucky, you might spot Jamie Oliver. There was a totally awesome tea shop near there, but I've recently been told it closed :( Continuing with the food theme, there is a yummy cupcake store (Hummingbird Bakery) on Portobello Road, Notting Hill, as well as a fab cookbook store. At Bath and Brighton (and prob elsewhere!), there is a fabulous milkshake store that will make the awesome milkshakes (apple pie, anyone?). Hmm. I was a little obsessed by food while I was in England ;p

Thanks, Cass! I’ve heard of the Borrough Markets but have never been there. Cupcake store and milkshake store?? Yummy!

I don't know if it even exists anymore but maybe the place where Whites once stood. (Okay, I'll feel like a really idiot of Whites is an inside romance writers thing ;)

And that little plane phobia thing has only been cemented by a show called Mayday. Nothing like watching a show on plane crashes and near mishaps to remember just how easy sh*t happens. For a while I was starting to feel power over the fear - then I watched one about the DC10 when a company commited over 360 murders (as far as I'm concerned). Scared the phobia right back into me ;)

Ah, but one day by boat ;)

CindyS

One of the best things I did last time I was in London was visiting a WWII museum that is located in one of Churchill's underground bunkers. We had just been wandering around and stumbled across it so I can't even tell you where it is, but if you are interested in Chruchill and WWi, I highly recommend it.

LG: London? Sigh...I'm looking forward to hearing all about your trip and seeing your pictures. I hope you have a wonderful time. Sigh...

Wandering around London has got to be one of my most favorite things to do! But I always recommend the walking Jack the Ripper tour. There are lots of companies that offer these, but we lucked out and had an historian who simply talked off the cuff throughout. And if you want a terrific meal, go to Veeraswamy, right off Picadilly. It's been around for a while, but it's very contemporary.

TTFN, LLB

Cindy: STOP watching those shows! I can’t believe you were starting to get over the fear…oh no! Okay, I just checked and according to one site I found, 37-38 St James's St. is where Whites IS located, supposedly the oldest club in London. Great suggestion!

Casey: Thanks! I’ve read about the WWII museum but have never been there.

PM: Hopefully someday you’ll get to London??

Laurie: A jack the Ripper tour sounds very interesting, and I’ve never done one before. I’ll have to check into it. Thanks for the recommendation of Veeraswamy…I really like Indian food, and generally try to have it once while in London.

On the weekend, I love walking down by the Thames and browsing through the tables of used books for sale. Also, I let myself be dragged in to tour Churchill's War Rooms when I was in London last, and that turned out to be one of the most interesting things I saw.

In addition, I went on a boat tour in the Thames. Very touristy, but I liked it because (1) our guide was hilarious and (2) in my mind, I could visualize all those scenes in historicals that involved people travelling by boat on the Thames.

Lynn, thanks for the recommendations! On my very first trip to London, years ago, I went on one of the Thamest boat tours and really enjoyed it. But, I've been thinking lately that it might be fun to do again. And thinking about historical scenes while doing it would be lots of fun. The book stalls sound very interesting, as well...somehow I've never seen them (although I've hit the stalls in Paris many times).

The book tables were on the sidewalk that runs along the Thames in the general vicinity of the London Eye (they may have started just past the Eye, I can't remember). They're only there on the weekend from what I could tell, though.

Oh my you lucky girl! I have never been there so I will live vicariously through you! Oh please do tell us all and submit photos of your trip there, when you come back, ok? You have a famously good time! Tell us all about the food you eat there too! I love trying new foods!

Now, don't forget your toothbrush and paste, toilet paper, (heard you might need that from a friend), and your essentials for a fun time. I always make a list ahead of time so I don't forget anything. One more item is to put all important papers in a safe place, not in your purse if it gets stolen. You might want to make copies of things like birthcertificate, phone numbers, drivers liscense, etc. in case they do get stolen, then you can trace all the numbers right away and make phone calls to all the right people. It is better to be prepared! My friend has been there several times and told me if I ever go to have everything in a safe place.

I'd also recommend the Sir John Soanes museum. He was a Regency gentlemen and architect, and the museum is actually adjacent three townhouses he bought and connected to house his collections. He was eccentric as anything and the museum is fascinating. Plus it's not as vast as the British Museum or the V&A, and I like museums where I don't feel I need to keep rushing ahead in case I miss anything.

I also suggest going into Oxfam and other charity shops whenever you pass one. They've been good sources for me of OOP British romances at great prices, and I once found a Jaeger wool blazer for $25 (the exchange rate was better then, and it definitely was one of my better bargains).

I definitely second going to Borough Market. They have the best fish and chips stand there, which name escapes me. Basically just look for the one with the longest line! Also, they have the best banana bread in the world! I also loved Leceister Square! I got to see the some movie stars during the premiere of 300 while I was there. It is also close by the Chinatown.

Lynn, Thanks for the details on where the book tables are located. That should make it easier for me to find. Michele, excellent tips for travel. Thank you. I hope you make it to London some day, and I will definitely post about my trip once I get back (in late November). Susan/DC, I’ve never heard of the Sir John Soanes Museum. Thank you for suggesting it. I’m going to look it up on the web. Oh, and Oxfam shops. How interesting! I’ve read about them in lots of chick lit books set in England, but have absolutely never been in one myself. I will have to give it a try. Cristina, best banana bread in the world? That sounds interesting. And I’m a huge fan of fish and chips. Thanks!

I would like to suggest painter Frederic, Lord Leightong's house in Kensington with its lovely Arab Hall, some of his paintings, and a lovely atmosphere. Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband, was a frequent visitor to the house as a friend of the painter. Here's the web link: http://www.rbkc.gov.uk/Leightonhousemuseum/general/. Check for guided tours: you will get so much more from the visit. Also Kew botanic garden with its beautiful glass houses: there is always something going on, even in winter. A guided tour of the Royal Academy (free) at 1 p.m. every week day, except Mon. And one more suggestion: the Guildhall, where there is a lovely collection of paintings, including some by Leighton.

There are so many places to visit in London (and around) that I never manage to see everything I put on my list for each trip.

Enjoy your visit!

Take a ride on the London Eye - tickets can be bought in advance on the web http://www.londoneye.com/ - saves money and waiting in line. And the view is really worth it - of course, only if it's not raining, which, being London, is far from guaranteed. So don't forget your umbrella - the small folding kind. Definitely, take a tour of Churchill's War Rooms in Whitehall - so impressive, and really well-installed. A boat trip to Greenwich - the Cutty Sark burned, but the town, and the Observatory, with the meridien line, are lovely. Hampton Court - this takes all day, and is worth it - the gardens have been beautifully restored, there is a wonderful maze, and the palace itself goes from Tudor to Georgian. The season may be too late for Kew Gardens, although the glass houses are good any time of year. The food halls at Harrods - but don't go hungry, or you will be too tempted buy food you can't take home with you:-( Window shopping on Bond Street - major designers, fabulous jewelry, and serious envy... Neal's Yard, near Seven Dials, for aromatherapy and natural beauty products - there is another shop just off Carnaby Street by Regent Street near Liberty. Floris, on St. James Street - a beautiful old store, with wonderful perfumes and bath products. Hatchards on Picadilly, next door to Fortnum & Mason - where so many of my favorite Regency heroines shopped for books - oldest surviving bookshop in London - in business since 1797. So much more - good thing I'm going to London myself next week! Have a wonderfut time - looking forward to your report. Judi

Tara, I’ve never heard of Lord Leighton’s house before. It sounds very interesting. Oh, and I definitely want to go to the Royal Academy. I also haven’t been to the Guildhall. Great suggestions!

Judi, I have walked past the London Eye, but haven’t gone on it. The closest I got was looking at how long the line was. I had no idea I could buy tickets in advance – thanks! I did that boat trip to Greenwich the very first time I was in London, but am thinking it’s time to do again. I enjoyed it so much. Now, what I’m really curious about, is the last time I was there I finally went to Hampton Court, but noticed that there were boats there as well. It would be lots of fun to take a boat to Hampton Court. I really love your shopping suggestions, Judi!

Even though I've been to London many, many times, it's always fun to read about new places to visit and shops and restaurants to check out. And it's nice to see we have so many Anglophiles who visit this website! ; )