What should we do on our first day in London to combat jet lag (we are flying from Philadelphia)?

Question

It may be hard for us to check into our hotel before 3:00 PM. We can however drop off our luggage.

Answer 1

Drink lots of coffee to keep awake and try and go to bed at a sensible time the first night so you get onto our time zone asap.
Have a wonderful trip here.

Answer 2

Even if you could check in to your hotel earlier, try to stay awake as long as possible. If you crash at 7:00 PM, you'll be up and about before the dawn, but will be somewhat aligned with local time.

I've always found frequent exposure to fresh air very helpful in clearing the cobwebs. If weather permits try a gentle amble in one of the parks, Bayswater to the Royal Albert Hall perhaps. I think the Bus/Boat Tour recommendations are excellent suggestions.

If you enjoy the retail environment (in other words, are a shopaholic) you can attempt to weave in and out of the crowds on Oxford Street, New Bond Street, or Knightsbridge. There will be plenty to see and keep you from dropping off, but, beware: Don't buy anything pricey. Some of my most useless, not to mention expensive, purchases have been made while I was fog bound.

If you're travelling with small children, you'll have no choice but to allow them a couple of naps. You might be able to achieve this in a good old pub. While you enjoy the ambience and a pub lunch they can nod off in your lap.

Beware of alcohol consumption though. Apart from its depressive effect, alcohol will continue to dehydrate you after your plane trip has already done a good job of wreaking havoc on your system.

Over the last 30 years I've made this trip more times than I care to remember, but I've always found the London experience to be well worth the little bit of exhaustion I've experienced at the beginning. Enjoy your stay.

Answer 3

Well depending on what time your flight arrives, give a couple more hours before you will actually arrive to check you bags into the hotel. If you still have at least 4 hour plus hours I would do some research before you leave, and check out what's around the hotel, like a small museum...etc..but I wouldn't think of venturing out on the underground to top touristy places or anywhere to far out of the vicinity, you will be too tired to enjoy it, and London bustle can be draining on anyone's energy on any given day never mind having just traveled over the Atlantic. It may just start your vacation off in a bad mood if things seem to overwhelming at first. If you only have a couple of hours to kill, then head down to a nearby pub, and have a few drinks and celebrate the beginning of your arrival, it's a nice way to start off the vacation take in the culture, then have a leisurely walk back, maybe doing a bit of window shopping...by the time you get to check in you may feel relaxed and wound down enough from the flight to take a nap for a couple of hours, before getting ready for a nice meal later.

Answer 4

A general guide: http://www.enjoyengland.com/where/destinations/london/dg.aspx

If you can drop off your luggage, then it depends how you want to fight the jet lag: either relax somewhere, or be active and fight your way through!

The weather right now is bracing, to say the least, so if you are coming soon a combined boat and bus tour will a) show you the popular sites and b) keep you awake if you decided to break the tour mid-way through and let you decide what sites / areas you want to go back to.

It's worth doing - you need to see the city by water and form the bus at least once http://www.londonducktours.co.uk/ - I tell every visitor to do this.

Thinking ahead, plan to see a show too - http://www.enjoyengland.com/where/destinations/london/theatreland.aspx - this is realxing but you may nod-off in a nice warm theatre.

Go on the London Eye http://www.enjoyenglanddirect.com/detail.aspx?ID=64 too - and make sure you take your camera!

For nights out - http://www.timeout.com/london/

Answer 5

Stay awake as late as you can and stay active during the day. You could get a bus ticket and get on and off to walk while seeing the city and stopping yourself from falling asleep.