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We have a god daughter coming from OZ who wants to see the sights of the big city, Buck House,St Pauls,London Eye,etc. Has anyone any clever advice about how to pack it all in at a reasonable cost instead of having to pay all the extortionate ticket fees ? T.I.A
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ta roida but I was hoping some of the locals might have some specific ideas for getting around,saving queues and dosh
My hometown Treetop.
Some of the main tourist attractions really aren't worth the money and there are lots of free things to do, such as the National History and Science Museums. A lot of art galleries are also free. The best way to see London is to get in close and experience it - spend an afternoon around Covent Garden, it's wonderful. Or walk across the Millennium Bridge (or many of the other bridges for that matter) and the views are superb. Also good is a leisurely stroll along the South Bank or visit some of the parks such as Regents Park and Hyde Park (not on the scale of Central Park in NY but just as enjoyable). Soho and Chinatown at night are well worth going to (not without an element of danger but keep your wits about you and you'll enjoy it). Why not try some of these and mix it up with a couple of paid-for attractions?
Some of the main tourist attractions really aren't worth the money and there are lots of free things to do, such as the National History and Science Museums. A lot of art galleries are also free. The best way to see London is to get in close and experience it - spend an afternoon around Covent Garden, it's wonderful. Or walk across the Millennium Bridge (or many of the other bridges for that matter) and the views are superb. Also good is a leisurely stroll along the South Bank or visit some of the parks such as Regents Park and Hyde Park (not on the scale of Central Park in NY but just as enjoyable). Soho and Chinatown at night are well worth going to (not without an element of danger but keep your wits about you and you'll enjoy it). Why not try some of these and mix it up with a couple of paid-for attractions?
Thames clipper down to Greenwich and back. You can see all the sights you listed from the river other than Buckham Palace. Pick up the boat at embankment pier. Costs about £12 or so return with a bit of discount for a travelcard or oyster card holder.
with a bit luck you may stumble across johnny busking in soho
Tell her to get an Oyster card for bus and tube fares. (Technically you can use any contactless card but I'm guessing Aussie credit cards might be excluded.) One side-benefit is that each day's total fare is capped.
Plan in advance where to go so she travels by the shortest route, not like an Apprentice candidate from Up North driving across London to buy a packet of crisps.
If she goes anywhere past Westminster tube, she should break her journey there: just step out of the station and you see Parliament just across the road, with Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. Turn round to look up Whitehall and you see Trafalgar Square and Nelson's Column. A few yards up the road you can see a bunch of tourists and armed coppers outside Downing Street. Then she can go back down the tube and resume her journey.
London Eye -- buy tickets in advance unless she is a big fan of queueing (and that might apply to other places as well).
Consider the river buses: https://www.tfl.gov.uk/modes/river/
Plan in advance where to go so she travels by the shortest route, not like an Apprentice candidate from Up North driving across London to buy a packet of crisps.
If she goes anywhere past Westminster tube, she should break her journey there: just step out of the station and you see Parliament just across the road, with Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. Turn round to look up Whitehall and you see Trafalgar Square and Nelson's Column. A few yards up the road you can see a bunch of tourists and armed coppers outside Downing Street. Then she can go back down the tube and resume her journey.
London Eye -- buy tickets in advance unless she is a big fan of queueing (and that might apply to other places as well).
Consider the river buses: https://www.tfl.gov.uk/modes/river/
Thnx lads,will incorporate ideas into our plans,just got to win a bit before though to pay for it all. Still,they took me to the Melbourne Cup on one of my best days racing when I was there.
If she's a foodie, there is incredible street food and dozens of Michelin-starred restaurants.
Make sure she is tooled up and has a can of mace on her.
Treetop, we recently took the family to New York for six days and did most of the (quite expensive) attractions. The irony is that the children enjoyed doing the free things (Central Park, Battery Park, downtown Manhattan) much more than most of the paid-for ones and I suspect many feel the same way about London.
Oh, Abbey Road as well. That's a great freebie laugh watching everybody re-create the album cover whilst the locals, taxis and buses get pissed off and give it large on their horns 
Aye, johnny suspect the same but you feel obliged to make an effort,was thinking things like the open top bus tour and river trip best with a couple of paid tickets to the Eye and Tower might suffice (we have to accompany her due to age )
Hampton Court is easy to get to and is worth spending an afternoon at the Palace and the maze, it's not expensive about a score per adult.
I'm a Londoner born and bred and I wouldn't go to Soho or Covent Garden if they were giving beer away for free but as a tourist then you have to go and have a wander around.
An Oyster card is definitely the way to go, you can't pay cash on buses so that is a must. As a treat then how about afternoon tea at The Ritz for example. Lots of things to do that are free like The British museum which is quite a fascinating place to go to.
Oh and if she likes sport then a visit to Lord's to see the Ashes is a must. Make sure she is aware at all times, pick pockets are rife on the tube and places like Oxford and Regent Street but that aside it's a very safe place.
I'm a Londoner born and bred and I wouldn't go to Soho or Covent Garden if they were giving beer away for free but as a tourist then you have to go and have a wander around.
An Oyster card is definitely the way to go, you can't pay cash on buses so that is a must. As a treat then how about afternoon tea at The Ritz for example. Lots of things to do that are free like The British museum which is quite a fascinating place to go to.
Oh and if she likes sport then a visit to Lord's to see the Ashes is a must. Make sure she is aware at all times, pick pockets are rife on the tube and places like Oxford and Regent Street but that aside it's a very safe place.
Find out what she likes -- whatever it is, there is almost certainly a London angle. For instance, if she likes art, there is the Summer Exhibition at the RA, as well as all the famous galleries, and less famous ones, and auction houses. Anyway, you get the picture!
Yep would recommend HCP as well, riverboat from Westminster on a fine day. Also ToL, and the Eye is a must do. We had a pod to ourselves on a clear night, epic.
Agree with you Slippy Blue about everything you mentioned and as a born and bred Londoner myself, I wouldn't go to most of those places. But as a tourist, then yes you have to. When we stay at Claridges we usually have afternoon tea there but it is overpriced in my opinion (around £90 if I remember and I suspect the Ritz would be similarly priced - so that would probably dent their budget considerably). Great shout about Hampton Court and it's a nice walk from there along the river to Kingston.
i would suggest using one of the London sightseeing hop on hop off buses. will learn and see more than just wandering around on your own
Its getting more interesting and more expensive lads but thanks, plan to drive down and stay in st albans and get trains in/out, might make a dent in the old pension if I stay at Claridges though Johnny !
leicester sqare,soho,china town,shaftesbury avenue all in close proximity.
riverboat hop on hop off -greenwich cutty sark,houses of parliament,london eye,south bank takes in all this.
my personal suggestions but i would say you wouldnt go too wrong with it
riverboat hop on hop off -greenwich cutty sark,houses of parliament,london eye,south bank takes in all this.
my personal suggestions but i would say you wouldnt go too wrong with it
and get off at knightsbridge tube station to take in harrods and buck palace
I don't make a habit of staying there Treetop, would bankrupt me.
Chavvers, good info there. You're not from here though are you, thought you were in the north?
Chavvers, good info there. You're not from here though are you, thought you were in the north?
I used to stay in B&B's at Finsbury Park whenever I worked in London, I could always get somewhere for £50-£60 a night.
hard to believe johnny the estates in east london didnt get central heating until 1988
I think that was the year that Mrs Mustang let me turn ours on Chavvers.
Windsor Castle is another place to consider, Monday nights at the races as well for good measure, jobsagoodun 
Sod the pension treetop, you can't take it with you !
Richmond Park is lovely for a spot of lunch / picnic. On a sunny day it's glorious with all the deer running about.
Sod the pension treetop, you can't take it with you !
Richmond Park is lovely for a spot of lunch / picnic. On a sunny day it's glorious with all the deer running about.
Emirates Stadium is great. Whilst you're there pop in to our neighbours at White Hart Lane to view their trophy cabinet. It ought not take you too long.......
Recommend this restaurant while in London, treetop. Cheaper than Claridges ;)
.http://www.barbecoa.com/about
.http://www.barbecoa.com/about
My suggestion is that she plans to walk around central London rather than travel by tube.In my view the following 'free' visits should be made
Harrods food hall
Hyde Park
The Tate
Big Ben,Parliament
Leadenhall Street market
Spitalfields
Walk along South Bank from Waterloo to London Bridge
Tower Bridge
Harrods food hall
Hyde Park
The Tate
Big Ben,Parliament
Leadenhall Street market
Spitalfields
Walk along South Bank from Waterloo to London Bridge
Tower Bridge
was at harvey nicks about month ago,bit of a dump,and the restaurant prices seem no dearer than anywhere else.i didnt bother
Harrods food hall
Hyde Park
The Tate
Big Ben,Parliament
Leadenhall Street market
Spitalfields
Walk along South Bank from Waterloo to London Bridge
Tower Bridge
most people buy a day travel ticket for 14 quid
Hyde Park
The Tate
Big Ben,Parliament
Leadenhall Street market
Spitalfields
Walk along South Bank from Waterloo to London Bridge
Tower Bridge
most people buy a day travel ticket for 14 quid
chav the point is you actually experience the city much more when walking particularly down the side streets
Wasn't proposing it would be done in a day...probably over 3 days.
Johnny Mustang....where are you in London.....I was born(Clapham South Womens Hospital...now a Tescos and flats 
) and bred in Balham....moved 3 and a bit years ago.
) and bred in Balham....moved 3 and a bit years ago.
Depends what you are into.
* Someone already said, Borough Market. Then walk down past the golden hind, down the southbank to london eye. Beautiful on a nice day.
* I like the british museum above all other but a matter of taste
* National Gallery another place I can spend loads of time.
* Touristy but the London Dungeons is fun and will pass an a couple of hours
* Chinatown for Dim sum at Sunday Lunchtime
* Picnic inn hyde park
* Harrods food court and pet store
* Brick Lane for a curry
* Eat at the shard (can get a meal for the same price as paying to go to the viewing platform).
* Ghost walk or ripper tour quite fun
* Someone already said, Borough Market. Then walk down past the golden hind, down the southbank to london eye. Beautiful on a nice day.
* I like the british museum above all other but a matter of taste
* National Gallery another place I can spend loads of time.
* Touristy but the London Dungeons is fun and will pass an a couple of hours
* Chinatown for Dim sum at Sunday Lunchtime
* Picnic inn hyde park
* Harrods food court and pet store
* Brick Lane for a curry
* Eat at the shard (can get a meal for the same price as paying to go to the viewing platform).
* Ghost walk or ripper tour quite fun
I went with my kids last year, done one of the bus tours, think it was about £30 quid; I've been to London many times and have to say it was well worth the money, you get to see most of the tourist sites, and are able to get on/off as much as you like, theres 3 bus routes and the clipper route mentioned earlier and you can go on all 4 as much as you like in 24 hours - all come with an audio guide so when you are done you definitely feel ylike you know lots about the City
To show you the value of the bus tour, it takes you to all the places mentioned on Swardeans list above, with the possible exception of Brick Lane
Not really, work for an IT company and had large project down there so used to travel down Monday night and return home Thursday night. Good time, staying in nice hotels and on expenses 
Love Chavman, funniest on forum, should have his own show!
Indeed......a fine lad with a cracking sense of hooooomur.
WAC
WAC
No visit to London is complete without a day out at Selhurst Park of course to see the mighty Crystal Palace play but that's a given.
Forget all that bring her to Wisbech The capital of the fens
We have the Octavia hills birthplace (Founder of the national trust) Peckover House (Fine riverside Georgian house) Elgoods Brewrey and gardens
Mendies where you can dance the night away
And errrrr f all else.
But . . .
No smog, No pickpockets , well ok a few, no hills, and best of all no chavman
We have the Octavia hills birthplace (Founder of the national trust) Peckover House (Fine riverside Georgian house) Elgoods Brewrey and gardens
Mendies where you can dance the night away And errrrr f all else.But . . .
No smog, No pickpockets , well ok a few, no hills, and best of all no chavman
Day off today Kenners cant be arsed today
Smash laddies instead
Smash laddies instead
Fink aisle go have a look at that Hampton Court Palace thing tho.
Banahan
Johnny Mustang....where are you in London.....I was born(Clapham South Womens Hospital...now a Tescos and flats Sad) and bred in Balham....moved 3 and a bit years ago.
Morning Banna. Blimey, very similar to me, was born in St Georges and grew up just down the road from you and lived in Streatham, Tooting and Mitcham. Am West London now. When we were kids we used to get our first thrills by checking out the prostitutes around Bedford Hill - the innocence of youth eh?
Johnny Mustang....where are you in London.....I was born(Clapham South Womens Hospital...now a Tescos and flats Sad) and bred in Balham....moved 3 and a bit years ago.
Morning Banna. Blimey, very similar to me, was born in St Georges and grew up just down the road from you and lived in Streatham, Tooting and Mitcham. Am West London now. When we were kids we used to get our first thrills by checking out the prostitutes around Bedford Hill - the innocence of youth eh?
take her to the real capital and show her the sights of sunderland, stadium of light, empire theatre, national glass museum, seaburn beach ( cat and dogs ) , mowbray park ( jack crawford memorial ), city museum ( free ) , the list is endless....
Jun 18, 2015 -- 9:01PM, Lucky Luciano wrote:
i would suggest using one of the London sightseeing hop on hop off buses. will learn and see more than just wandering around on your own
http://www.hoponhopoffplus.com
She should perhaps see what is now the real London...Londonistan or on her way to Hampton Court get off the bus in my old area of New Malden the Korean Capital of England where 20,00 of them have their community.
THE-GHOST-OF-DICKIE-BIRD • June 19, 2015 5:53 AM BST
Day off today Kenners cant be arsed today
I can't fault you there mate. I was away for 11.30am.
Going for a siesta before racing though!
Day off today Kenners cant be arsed today
I can't fault you there mate. I was away for 11.30am.
Going for a siesta before racing though!
Yep thats me. . .Up at 4.30 most mornings . . . If im lazy whatever are the yewfff of today then
dickie but you go a bed before 9 you boreing old fart
you boreing old fart
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