big trip to London spreadsheet

[Cerastez]

I am 6 years post FIRE and the pandemic has given me a serious case of the travel bug!  I have had far too much time to plan out a two week trip to London.  I really like museums and I wanted to really hit everything.  And of course I wanted to do it cheaply.


https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1A4cKLif-0sGMSnc16-szf3rizkH_o-P1hVpI8S60H88/edit?usp=sharing

[dblaace]

I spent 4 days in London on am 11 day Europe trip in 2011 London, Paris, and Berlin.

I got the best deal on travel and lodging by buying it in a package.
Pick up a copy of the Rick Steves guide for London. (I got a prior year version but that may not work since the pandemic nay have changed things.) It has lots of tips that come in handy. The walks in the book are easy to follow and take you through a tour of an area on foot and point out things you might miss otherwise.
Portobello Market in Notting Hill on Saturdays
Speakers Corner in Hyde Park on Sundays
Tower of London, get there when it opens and see the Crown Jewels first or you will end up waiting in line.

Oyster cards are a great deal. The mass transit in Europe was great but some lines close for maintenance so be prepared to reroute as needed.
2 for 1 deals for attractions and museums if your not going alone. https://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/2for1-london.

It was pretty busy for me just being 4 days but you will have more time to take it slower. Enjoy

[sparkytheop]

Two notes about The Tower of London-- tour with a beefeater (free, they post the times of the tours, and these guys are funny).  Second, see if you can get a pass for The Ceremony of the Keys.  On one hand, it's much easier to book now than when I did it because you can book online, but on the other hand it fills up much faster because it's easy to book online. 

Also, when you're in the area of The Imperial War Museum, consider going to "The Grapes" (Limehouse, on Narrow Street).  Things may have changed since 2012, but I had the best fries "chips" ever in that little pub.  So amazing that I'll go back someday, just for those fries.

ETA: Also, if it's your thing... We did the Jack the Ripper Tour with London Walks.  I made sure to book a night when Donald Rumbelow was leading the tour (and made sure to get into his group when things split).  I don't know if/how often he leads walks anymore, and I'm sure the other guides are great too, but it's really cool to see him on shows like Murder Maps, or hear him in a pod cast, and remember that night and that tour (where, of course, I also spent 10 pounds more and bought his book from him, that he autographed at our last stop for the night).

[MarcherLady]

You have got most of my top picks on your list already but I'd also add:

• Harrod's food hall for the architecture & glazed tiles - just don't get suckered into buying anything!
• Covent Garden is a bit touristy (hell, so is the rest of London) but is great for people watching
• Before COVID I would also have suggested you find a spot to sit in one of the mainline stations (maybe London Bridge while you are staying there?) during the morning rush hour, just to people watch and soak up the atmosphere as the office drones pour off the trains & head across the river to work. I'm not sure how much  rush-hour is a thing any more, but I doubt it has changed that much.

And to add: I have not felt uncomfortable as a lone woman in London. Use your usual common sense rules about walking in quiet areas after dark, and try not to look too much like a tourist and you should be fine.

Trafalgar Square and Oxford Circus, plus anywhere crowded on the Tubes or other public transport can be risks for pick-pockets.

[Reddleman]

This is a really great itinerary!  People are always shocked that I travel as much as I do, despite the fact that I claim to live a "frugal" lifestyle.  But as this spreadsheet proves, you can spend a few weeks in one of the most expensive cities in the world for about the same price many people pay for a long weekend away!

I'm generally not that much of a planner, more go with the flow, but this will definitely work.  Just remember that you don't *have* to stick to your plan every day if something else comes up.  Given that you're staying in a hostel, it's likely that you'll meet people who you might want to get side-tracked with along the way.  It's part of the fun!

Have a great time!

[FLBiker]

Agreed, you've got a great plan!  I lived in London for a year (as a student) and it is an awesome place to just wander around.  You'll have a blast!

[xbdb]

Nice spreadsheet!  I would encourage you to visit a few pubs and enjoy some fish and chips.

Also, not to throw too much of a wrench in your plans, but...

You can take the Eurostar train under the chunnel (Channel Tunnel) to Paris for around $200 (USD) round trip. It takes about 2 hours and there you are. Much easier than flying. From the train station in Paris (Gare du Nord), it's a short cab ride or 30 minute walk to the Louvre Museum and other places you've probably heard about.

[Dicey]

A long time ago, I spent ten days in London with an older, platonic friend. He loved museums and theater, but was less mobile than I. We stayed in Russell Square. We would typically do a museum together in the morning, then he'd hole up with a book while I madly crammed in as much as I could see until the evening, when we ate dinner together and went to the theater.

I loved Sir John Sloan's Museum! I did a big chunk of the Jubilee Walkway, back when it was new and called the Queen's Silver Jubilee Walk and had a blast. Met a lot of locals that way. We bought much of our food at Marks & Spencer (M&S) Food Hall* and ate on the go. We saw a number of plays. My friend would queue up for tickets at the Half Price booth in Leicester Square while I was off exploring. We paid full price to see Les Miz on my (long ago) birthday, which was totally worth it. We loved BBC Television so much that we planned a BBCTV Night In. We stayed in out hotel, noshed on freshly prepared food from M&S and gorged ourselves on first-run British Television. It was a great change of pace.

There's more, but I'm supposed to be sleeping. I'll look at your excellent spreadsheet on a bigger screen tomorrow.

*We window shopped at Harrod's, which was amazing, but discovered far more bang for our food buck at M&S.

[ROF Expat]

If you are into books, bookstores, maps, and antiques, I would highly recommend wandering through Cecil Court.  I don't think there's anything quite like it anywhere else in the world. 

Many years ago, when I used to travel through Heathrow fairly regularly and when security checks weren't as painful as they are now, if I had more than a few hours of layover in London, I would jump on the train, go to Cecil Street, buy a few books, have lunch in Chinatown, and then head back to the airport. 

[bmjohnson35]

Westminster Abbey was probably my favorite stop during our stay in London.  Make sure to find an old pub in town.  If you are from the US, it's cool to sit down in an old London pub and look up at wooden beams that are older than your country.  Of course, you can do this in many countries, but the UK was my first with this experience.   

[moneytaichi]

High tea in London is a must. If you find something interesting, let yourself get lost in it. That's usually my best travel memory. After all, you can look up a tourist attraction on youtube ;-)

[MarcherLady]

@Cerastez , you might also want to post a link to this thread in the UK tax board, there are lots of UK posters who aren't FIREd yet who might not read the Post FIRE board.

[cerat0n1a]

Hmm. I've spent the last 25 years living within an hour of central London, my son lives in London. I'm FIRE'd and have plenty of time and money. I've travelled a lot, been to over 70 countries. I haven't done most of the suggestions on this thread, or most of the things in the OP's spreadsheet :-)

I'd be very interested to read a trip report though. Natural History Museum, V&A and Science Museum all in one day seems quite ambitious.

Amazed that you can find hostel beds so cheaply. OTOH, $45 per day on food seems quite a lot to me.

I'd consider not taking the underground into London from Heathrow if you're arriving at a busy time and you have much luggage. It really is worth paying a little extra to use the regular trains or even the Heathrow Express, depending on where you're going

[cerat0n1a]

Also, the Bank of England museum (mentioned as closed due to Covid) is re-opening next week.

[Cerastez]

Nice spreadsheet!  I would encourage you to visit a few pubs and enjoy some fish and chips.

Also, not to throw too much of a wrench in your plans, but...

You can take the Eurostar train under the chunnel (Channel Tunnel) to Paris for around $200 (USD) round trip. It takes about 2 hours and there you are. Much easier than flying. From the train station in Paris (Gare du Nord), it's a short cab ride or 30 minute walk to the Louvre Museum and other places you've probably heard about.

As it turns out I am thinking about adding on Paris.....https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MrW1rhNoj3JksY5NHXWgF4ZsshbTcnlc7RRgBW-ikl0/edit?usp=sharing

[Cerastez]

Hmm. I've spent the last 25 years living within an hour of central London, my son lives in London. I'm FIRE'd and have plenty of time and money. I've travelled a lot, been to over 70 countries. I haven't done most of the suggestions on this thread, or most of the things in the OP's spreadsheet :-)

I'd be very interested to read a trip report though. Natural History Museum, V&A and Science Museum all in one day seems quite ambitious.

Amazed that you can find hostel beds so cheaply. OTOH, $45 per day on food seems quite a lot to me.

I'd consider not taking the underground into London from Heathrow if you're arriving at a busy time and you have much luggage. It really is worth paying a little extra to use the regular trains or even the Heathrow Express, depending on where you're going

Thank you, I will rethink the Natural History Museum, V&A and Science Museum all in one day.  I have heard so many opposing opinions on what I should budget for food.  I am not a foodie or a big eater.  I do want to have at least one meal in a pub.  I am thinking a meat pie and a cider in The Old Bell Tavern.  I also want to have some fish & chips.  Other than that I will probably get food from grocery stores or Borough Market, since it is close to my hostel.

[Trudie]

I was just there for a week.  My suggestions:  Use a Rick Steves book.  Oyster card for public transport. Most museums are free, but time visits early to avoid crowds.  Check out the TKTS booth at Leicester Square for cheap theatre tix.  St. Martin’s in the Field near Leicester Square is excellent for cheap concerts, and the cafe downstairs is really neat and affordable.  The food won’t knock your socks off, so I would pack picnics from Marks and Spencer’s and Pret a Manger quite a bit. There are so many pleasant places to picnic.

[Trudie]

Burrough Market is awesome.  Also, wear a mask on the tube and in crowded spaces.  I know we’re sick of it, but Covid isn’t over yet even though we want it to be.  You still need to test for re-entry to the US.  Budget 40 Euros for a test, per person.

[Kris]

Burrough Market is awesome.  Also, wear a mask on the tube and in crowded spaces.  I know we’re sick of it, but Covid isn’t over yet even though we want it to be.  You still need to test for re-entry to the US.  Budget 40 Euros for a test, per person.

 @Trudie , since you just got back, how/where did you get the test? How did you verify that you took it the day before your flight back?

[NorthernMonkey]

You can buy covid LFTs that you take with you, then skype a nurse while you take the test. They watch you do the LFT, and when you get a clear result, will email you a certificate.



Im from the UK, and I only ever go to London for work, but I'd add. Trains in the UK are pretty good, despite how much we complain about them. Getting the train to York, or Canterbury or Oxford for the day, and then coming back the next is easy to do.

Everyone in London travels everywhere by tube. Use your oyster card to travel quickly and cheaply between stops. Oyster works out the cheapest ticket for yoour journey, so doing lots of short hops and youll be charged for a day ticket.

Do cocktails at the top of the shard. Stay at the shangri la hotel , even if only for one night

[Trudie]

Burrough Market is awesome.  Also, wear a mask on the tube and in crowded spaces.  I know we’re sick of it, but Covid isn’t over yet even though we want it to be.  You still need to test for re-entry to the US.  Budget 40 Euros for a test, per person.

 @Trudie , since you just got back, how/where did you get the test? How did you verify that you took it the day before your flight back?

You have to find a test site, usually a pharmacy.  Your hotel can help.  You will provide your email address and they email your test result, usually within the hour.  You can pull it up on your phone at the airport.

E-med is a good source of proctored tests.  You take a test via camera phone with a proctor, then they send a certificate.

[Kris]

Burrough Market is awesome.  Also, wear a mask on the tube and in crowded spaces.  I know we’re sick of it, but Covid isn’t over yet even though we want it to be.  You still need to test for re-entry to the US.  Budget 40 Euros for a test, per person.

 @Trudie , since you just got back, how/where did you get the test? How did you verify that you took it the day before your flight back?

You have to find a test site, usually a pharmacy.  Your hotel can help.  You will provide your email address and they email your test result, usually within the hour.  You can pull it up on your phone at the airport.

E-med is a good source of proctored tests.  You take a test via camera phone with a proctor, then they send a certificate.

Thanks. In between my asking this and your response, we found a site and booked an appointment.