Buckingham, London Eye, Thames River Cruise and Tower of London on Sunday
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,073
Buckingham, London Eye, Thames River Cruise and Tower of London on Sunday
Would these following sites be doable on a March Sunday?
Changing of the Guards (Buckingham Palace) 11:15am-noon
Lunch (max 1 hour)
London Eye
Thames River Cruise from Westminster Pier to Tower Pier
Tower of London
If I do the above in order, am I likely to arrive Tower of London on time?
What time is a good time to arrive at Buckingham Palace?
Lastly, would it be worthwhile for me to purchase the hop on hop off London Original bus tour (includes Thames River Cruise) + London Eye bundle for 41.94 online?
If purchased separately, London Eye costs 18.90, Thames River Cruise 8.55 and taxi from Russell Square to Buckingham Palace is 10-15? (I will be sharing with 2 other people).
I'm unsure whether or not I will have enough time to take advantage of the complimentary walking tours offered by Original Bus Tour or use the bus for other destinations as their operating time is 8:30-18:00.
Changing of the Guards (Buckingham Palace) 11:15am-noon
Lunch (max 1 hour)
London Eye
Thames River Cruise from Westminster Pier to Tower Pier
Tower of London
If I do the above in order, am I likely to arrive Tower of London on time?
What time is a good time to arrive at Buckingham Palace?
Lastly, would it be worthwhile for me to purchase the hop on hop off London Original bus tour (includes Thames River Cruise) + London Eye bundle for 41.94 online?
If purchased separately, London Eye costs 18.90, Thames River Cruise 8.55 and taxi from Russell Square to Buckingham Palace is 10-15? (I will be sharing with 2 other people).
I'm unsure whether or not I will have enough time to take advantage of the complimentary walking tours offered by Original Bus Tour or use the bus for other destinations as their operating time is 8:30-18:00.
#3
Senior Moderator, Moderator: Community Buzz and Ambassador: Miles & More (Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, and other partners)
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 150km from MAN
Programs: LH SEN** HH Diamond
Posts: 29,751
Note that Changing of the Guards only takes place on even days during March (plus 31st) so you will miss it if you plan to be in London on Sunday 23rd March.
http://www.royal.gov.uk/RoyalEventsa.../Overview.aspx
The last admission to the Tower of London is 17:00.
http://www.royal.gov.uk/RoyalEventsa.../Overview.aspx
The last admission to the Tower of London is 17:00.
#4
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,641
It's Changing of the Guard, not Guards. The Guard refers collectively to all the soldiers who protect Her Majesty.
If you're going to do all that, get a www.londonpass.co.uk
You're missing out if you don't stop off at the Churchill War Rooms, nearish Buckingham Palace:
http://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/churchill-war-rooms
You're really trying to do too much in one day. Relax, you're on vacation and you'll surely come back again one day for more.
Cut out London Eye; not that exciting.
Thames Clipper similarly wasteful and time-consuming, except if your hotel is easy access to one of its piers for your early trip to the Tower.
Start at the Tower for the Crown Jewels early before the crowds get there, walk over the River INSIDE the Tower Bridge, along the Thames Path (southside) past Shakespeare's Globe, pop into Tate Modern for a sandwich and cross over the Millennium Bridge to St. Paul's Cathedral, then along the Thames Embankment cutting into town around the Savoy hotel, walk down the Strand and through Covent Garden to Trafalgar Sq. and Leicester Sq. to buy your Theatre Tickets for that evening in the central pavilion which is the half price tkts.co.uk booth (DO NOT use the others) and then head through Piccafilly Circus to The Mall, and walk past the Palace, swinging round the Churchill War Rooms, and emerge for a walk around Westminster after everything's shut for pic beside Big Ben and at the gates of Number Ten Downing Street.
Grab a bite to eat in Soho (Chinese?) and then to the theatre.
That's more than enough in one day!
If you're going to do all that, get a www.londonpass.co.uk
You're missing out if you don't stop off at the Churchill War Rooms, nearish Buckingham Palace:
http://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/churchill-war-rooms
You're really trying to do too much in one day. Relax, you're on vacation and you'll surely come back again one day for more.
Cut out London Eye; not that exciting.
Thames Clipper similarly wasteful and time-consuming, except if your hotel is easy access to one of its piers for your early trip to the Tower.
Start at the Tower for the Crown Jewels early before the crowds get there, walk over the River INSIDE the Tower Bridge, along the Thames Path (southside) past Shakespeare's Globe, pop into Tate Modern for a sandwich and cross over the Millennium Bridge to St. Paul's Cathedral, then along the Thames Embankment cutting into town around the Savoy hotel, walk down the Strand and through Covent Garden to Trafalgar Sq. and Leicester Sq. to buy your Theatre Tickets for that evening in the central pavilion which is the half price tkts.co.uk booth (DO NOT use the others) and then head through Piccafilly Circus to The Mall, and walk past the Palace, swinging round the Churchill War Rooms, and emerge for a walk around Westminster after everything's shut for pic beside Big Ben and at the gates of Number Ten Downing Street.
Grab a bite to eat in Soho (Chinese?) and then to the theatre.
That's more than enough in one day!
Last edited by oscietra; Mar 6, 2014 at 3:35 pm
#6
Ambassador, Emirates
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LGW / AMS / CPT
Programs: SA KL BA EK
Posts: 4,438
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,299
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: BA/AA/AS/B6/WN/ UA/HH/MR and more like 'em but most felicitously & importantly MUCCI
Posts: 19,742
Changing of the Guard tedious. Churchill War Rooms unmissable. Go War Rooms --> London Eye --> Tower of London --> possibly HMS Belfast and forget the Thames boat ride.
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,073
Thank you for all of the feedback ^
According to the weather forecast, Sun 16th of March will be a nice, sunny day between 8-17C.
As there are conflicting opinions, I will take all of your suggestions and discuss them with my travel buddies oscietra, I will also keep your alternative itinerary in mind.
According to the weather forecast, Sun 16th of March will be a nice, sunny day between 8-17C.
As there are conflicting opinions, I will take all of your suggestions and discuss them with my travel buddies oscietra, I will also keep your alternative itinerary in mind.
#11
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,641
If you're looking for somewhere nice to eat around Buckingham Palace, try Inn the Park in St. James' Park:
http://www.peytonandbyrne.co.uk/inn-the-park/index.html
http://www.peytonandbyrne.co.uk/inn-the-park/index.html