I'm going to London in early April, what should I do?

Question

What should I bring, as well?

Answer 1

Bring an umbrella!

Seriously, the weather in April can be so unpredictable here I would suggest you pack at the very last minute. I've seen snow and I've seen days in the 70s.

Plan on doing the usual touristy stuff and know that although you get a very slight discount for doing so, it is better not to book in advance but to just turn up on the day (depending on weather) for sightseeing tours.

Something I always recommend to potential visitors is Anthony Veal's guide to London pubs (if you can get it). It's almost embarrassing to say that bars are part of our culture, but so be it.

I recommend the following for the first-time visitor (in no particular order):

Hotels: Be extremely judicious. Most cheaper accommodation is out in the boonies, unattractive, cramped and even dirty. Unless money is no object, try to find discounts on hotel chains such as Thistle and Jurys. They might not be the cheapest options but offer value for money in terms of quality of accommodation and service, and location. Note that some US chains like Holiday Inn, Days Inn and Ramada have hotels in very dodgy areas. Do your research and plan on paying a little more for lodging. In a good (central) location you will save a lot of money on transportation because you will be able to walk to restaurants, etc.

Transportation: Travel is cheaper on a one-day travelcard, which kicks off after 9.30. It is expensive, but one way and return tickets are ludicrously expensive. If possible, get on tours where you are picked up from your hotel. More chance of that if your hotel is fairly central. See above.

Culture: Tate Gallery, Tate Modern and British Museum. Also, the Natural Science Museum is extremely interesting, especially for kids. If you want to go to a West End theatre and see the latest musical or play, you can get cheap same-day tickets in a booth in Leicester Square. Lots and lots of galleries with free entry. Buy a Time Out guide at the airport on arrival - they publish every cultural event, concert, play - name it - that London has to offer that week.

Eating out: Note that many restaurants in "Theatreland" do pre-theatre specials (like in New York) - more value for money, and some of these restaurants are really top class affairs. Note also that London is an extremely expensive city for eating out. You can easily spend $100 a head with wine at an "average" restaurant.

If you want to eat in a trendy place you will need to book in advance. On the positive side, if you look at sites like Top Table and London Eating Out they post offers, and it is not exclusive to restaurants which are lacking in customers. With one of these offers I ate at one of the most popular restaurants in town, the self-proclaimed "most expensive restaurant in the world" for half the normal price. Not cheap, but it was value for money all considered. Also, if you can't bear to spend a ton of money on eating at a fancy restaurant, consider a pre-dinner drink at a trendy restaurant or bar. Many of the capital's top restaurants' bars are separate from the restaurants and are open to the public.

Shopping: Considering that most goods are double the price of the USA, you may not want to do much of it, especially as you can get many of the same fashion and other items in major US cities as here. However, you will find British brands and some European marks are cheaper. You will want to make the mandatory trip to Knightsbridge, though, to buy a trinket from Harrods, just to get one of their shopping bags. Quality-wise, any British-made item you buy, from a soap to a raincoat, will be tops, even if you find the service to be substandard.

Tourist attractions: Too many to mention, and largely depends on you. The London Eye is very popular, but having gone up it on four drizzly days I was never impressed. However, going up on a clear winter evening it was magical, because so many of London's monuments (Big Ben, St Paul's, all the bridges) are lit up like a Christmas tree (though tastefully!) and you can't see the ugly (the pollution, the less attractive buildings, the railroad tracks). The Round London hop-on, hop-off bus tour is OK but better is the boat tour which travels down to Greenwich, a beautiful and historically significant site well off the central London tourist map. By the time you reach Greenwich you will probably be grateful for the open spaces and fresh air, not to mention the examples of architecture and British history you expect from a visit but few visitors actually get to see.

Other places which are away from central London but worth a visit are Kew Gardens and Richmond Park, both havens of tranquility a short tube ride away on the District Line, and Hampton Court, which is a short (20 minute) overground train ride from Waterloo but really amazing - the architecture, the gardens, the grounds, the swans, and a tour of the inside (former residence of Henry VIII). More centrally you can row a boat on the Serpentine in gigantic Hyde Park, you can do a "Jack the Ripper" guided walking tour, visit the London Dungeons and the Tower, which are quite interesting for "gore value".

If you can change your plans to come in June I can recommend a gozillion other things to do. That is our "season".

Answer 2

Depends how long you're there and what you want from London. You must do the London Eye. Bring a brolly with you - that's always a good tip.

Answer 3

It depends on what you're interested in. Historically, London has it all, of course. But there are many modern museusm and galleries as well.
There's a website about Tourism in London. Google it and have a look-see.

Answer 4

The average daytime temperature for early April in London is 14 degrees centigrade, 57 degrees f. At that time of the year on the cusp of winter and spring the weather is very erratic, so it could be much colder or warmer. Be prepared for showers

Answer 5

London Eye, a Ferris Wheel that is steady and heated/airconditioned where you can see most of london

Answer 6

Have tea with the Queen at Buck-house.

Answer 7

What you gonna do is up to you, but brings lots warm clothes

Answer 8

try