In London - what should we do?

[spamjoshua]

The Rosetta stone is in London...

British Museum - The Rosetta Stone

Take a boat ride to Hampton Court (or Greenwich and Newton's workshop):

Hampton Court

If willing to head out of town as well...

Shakespeare and a Castle...

Official website for Visit Stratford-upon-Avon

Official Warwick Castle website: Best Price Guaranteed for Britain's Ultimate Castle.

[robin3mj]

We usually get the hell out of the city as soon as we land (having spent enough time there when my wife lived there) but if you're gonna see the sights, the Bar in the upper floors of the Tate Modern is a good place to see the views. Peking duck in Chinatown or the Cinnamon Club for s good meal.

[Bittersweet]

I go fairly frequently for work and lived there for a year. As you're in the seventh circle of hell I might suggest the American Bar at the Savoy. I'm a longtime fan of cocktails and spirits. Sure, it can occasionally be hard to get a seat. Service can be rude but most often not. One of the original homes of the cocktail. I try to go every time I'm in town. If you can, sit at the bar and let the bartender make what he's into at the moment. When it's perfect there it's really perfect.....

[adamrogers2009]

Forgot to add that we ended up in the seventh circle of hell today. Our bags are still in Boston and nobody has an idea when they will be put on a plane to London. Someone recommended we go to Primark and get a few clothing essentials. I have never been in a more depressing, crowded, messy place with rude customers who have no sense of personal space. We did not need to go to Harrods but somebody could have suggested a local Gap store. Primark is a London experience I hope to soon forget.

Just down Oxford st from the Primark is Uniqlo - a Japanese brand that does basics pretty well and prices are not expensive. Marks & Spencer on Oxford st is fine too, and also inexpensive, but the Uniqlo is better. Beyond that you cross into the "I don't want to pay that much; my bag will be here soon" category.

[adamrogers2009]

Museums:

The V&A is my favorite, Tate Modern is cool, National Portrait Gallery on Trafalgar sq is good too. British Museum is a must yes, but it's too big in my opinion. Too much to see, and you you'll get tired and miss a lot of great stuff. Focus on 1 or 2 areas of top interest and then head out.

If you are up for a day trip out of the city, Canterbury is really nice, and there is a high-speed train from St Pancras that is just over a hour each way.

[adamrogers2009]

Daunt Books Marylebone - Daunt Books Marylebone Stock up on travel literature (not just guide books, but those also.) Where I bought a brand new copy of Bruce Chatwin's Songlines on recommendation from the lady working there quite a while ago.

I have Daunt to thank largely for my son's name - they let me read the name books without buying any...
Great shop, more intimate than Foyles.
Marylebone is great in general as a place to grab lunch/dinner/drink - nice spots up and down the high street. Not much to see from a tourist perspective though.

Another food recommendation. You mustn't leave without having the British national dish - chicken tikka masala. Good curry shops in every neighborhood all around the city. The pubs serving Thai food are interesting too.

[classtimesailer]

Mind the gap.

[NYCfixie]

Look right

Mind the gap.

Good practical advice even for us New Yorkers who now live in Boston.

[oldmuthariley]

You could always go to Byron burgers for a meal but you'll have to get past the scruffy protesters ( who are dressed in primark)

Byron protest: 'chef deported without being able to see his pregnant wife' | London | News | London Evening Standard

[vertical_doug]

Too bad, the Globe has a midnight matinee of Shakespeare MidSummer Night's Dream on Aug 26th. You should come back to London just for that.

On St Paul's side of embankment just east of Millenium Bridge, there is an old stairway down to the Thames. During low tide, go down to the river and skip stones in the Thames.

Brompton Oratory,

When you are near St Paul's, two blocks away is St Mary-le-bow in Cheapside. If you can hear the bells of bow, you are cockney.

Skip wagamama and eat Ramen at Ippudo. Afterwards, go to Seven Dials.
MOCKitchen in Charing Cross Arch for cheap hole in the wall Vietnamese. Across the hall in the Arch is Heaven, the world famous gay disco. Doesn't open until 11 pm.
It is like a flashback to the 80's and Frankie goes to Hollywood.

Not far from the London Eye is Bleecker St. It is the best burger in London. Get a double cheese burger and a Sierra Nevada.

The Tate Britian has 4 Hockney Double Portraits on view and they have just re-hung portions of the Turner Galleries (The old dingy water colours are gone, replaced by better works. ) Definitely a see.

St Pancras Old Church and see the Hardy Tree. (you can read Dicken's Tale of Two Cities for the grave robbery that happens there)

Walk the Thames Foot Tunnel from Isle of Dog to Greenwich.

Since your wife rides, get on a Boris Bike at Big Ben, ride the new cycle super highway along the Millbank to London Tower. It is completed segregated and very nice.

[NYCfixie]

All the burger suggestions sound good but my wife does not eat red meat and she is convinced I am going to get mad cow disease.

So glad to hear about the places to walk to. We love to walk and staying on Palace Place near Victoroa Starion so we can walk or take the tube almost anywhere.

Had a very funny time trying to get on a bus when I tried my Boston Charlie card, then my NYC metro card I still keep in my wallet, and then finally got around to using my Lomdon Oyster card.

Still jet lagged. Still getting use to being on vacation. Still have no bags. They may be here tomorrow night. Tried Marks and Spencer for more basics like undergarments and polo shirts. Do not want to spend too much because I have no idea what will be reimbursed and I am hoping my own clothes show up soon.

My wife and I did find the Barbour Motorcycle store. Our old Barbour coats are very old and cannot be repaired any longer (more patches than original material) so it was nice to find this store they do not have in the US. The coats are cut so much slimmer which made my wife really happy because it gave her a shape rather than fitting like a potato sack. If anyone likes Barbour check out the motorcycle line. Same waxed cloth but in different styles and slimmer cuts than the original hunter line.

Thanks again for all of the suggestions.

[SimonC]

Some recommendations from someone who lives there:

Lambs Conduit Street - has BikeFix which is a pretty cool bike shop, lots of independent boutiques, Noble Rot for a glass of wine or food, and then for culture there is the Foundling Museum a little further North from the top end. You're also close to the British Museum.

It's quite pleasant to do a short circular shopping walk along Jermyn Street, up St James's and Bond Street, then back down via Savile Row and through the Burlington Arcade. Stop for a coffee at La Duree on the corner of the Arcade for people watching then perhaps onward to the Royal Academy. After this you can also always head South for a stroll through St James's Park.

If you are in Marylebone as others have recommend then check out the Wallace Collection, a great (free) museum in a very large townhouse which also has a passable restaurant. Although in that area there are great choices for eating including the Providores.

[pdmtong]

Good practical advice even for us New Yorkers who now live in Boston.

my brother lived in tokyo for a few years, and now in London for the past six and will likely stay longer as my niece is entering her second year at Trinity College/Cambridge in the math/physics program.

he has only goofed up once leaving my house driving away down the left side of the road. me, on the other hand, has to keep reminding to look right while in london

some things I liked:
- walking . once from portobello market back to covent garden (all day)
- talking to locals - like the very old gentleman I met floating his toy boat at kensington gardens - pretty amazing stories about living when churchill and WWII
- british museum - quick dash - assyrian bull, easter island statue, elgin marbles (parthenon) and rosetta stone. DONE.
- music - abbey road. once saw jeff beck at royal albert hall (ronnie wood came out to guest)
- food - food court at Harrods or fortnum and mason Fortnum & Mason | Luxury hampers, tea, coffee, food & gifts - Fortnum & Mason
some example of Indian food affordable or high end such as The Red Fort | Best Indian fine dining in Soho, London
booze central Berry Bros. & Rudd | est. 1698 - Award Winning Fine Wine & Spirits Specialists

Things I did not like
- london eye. it was very cool but the experience for me was not proportionate to the time involved. especially since after 15 minutes the roof tops all look the same to a non-local.

one practical advice. do not just default to taking the tube everywhere. some of the platforms are so deep underground you would actually get to your destination more quickly by just walking above ground then walking down-wait-train-walking up