So i'm going to London in April!?

Question

any tips.. what to pack.. what to wear.... and must seen things or cool places to visit that aren't in the tour book! thanks!

Answer 1

In April, the weather can be unpredictable. But it shouldn't be cold. Bring a small collapsible umbrella, a light rain jacket or wind breaker and some light sweaters to layer underneath, but you can take off if you get warm. Although London is a safe city, there can be pickpockets, particularly on the Underground. So, I'd recommend wearing a money belt inside of your clothes or putting money in your shoe, etc.

There are so many great places...it would really depend upon your interests. On a Saturday, it's fun to wander the market on Portobello Road. Even if you're not interested in the crafts and antiques, it's a cool glimpse of the diversity of London. There's also some cafes and coffee shops to people watch.

Take boat down the Thames from just across the street from Big Ben down to the Tower of London. Do the tourist bit - take lots of photos of the Tower Bridge, etc. Then, if the weather is nice, cross the Tower Bridge and take a stroll along the Thames on the other side. You'll go by some fabulous architecture, museums, etc.

If you go to St. Paul's Cathedral, go to the top of the dome. Fabulous 360 views of London and the "whispering gallery" is interesting. If you sit on one side of the inside of the dome, face the wall, cup your hands and whisper something....someone on the other side with their ear to the wall can hear what you said.

Just try not to bite-off too much to where you don't enjoy the pulse of the city.

Have a fabulous time!

Answer 2

Wear comfortable shoes, take a waterproof coat and an umbrella. You may need a sweater.

There's lots to see.and visit. Here's a brief list of the main attractions.

Palaces - Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, Hampton Court Palace. All of these are open to visitors.

Museums and Galleries - Natural History Museum, Science Museum, National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, The Tate and Tate Modern, British Museum, Imperial War Museum.

Famous Buildings and Monuments etc - The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, Whitehall and Downing Street, Clarence House, St James Palace, Tower of London, Trafalgar Square, Marble Arch, Monument, Tower Bridge, London Eye.

Churches - Westminster Abbey, St Paul's Cathedral, St Clement Dane, Temple Church, Saint Martin in the field.

There's such a lot to see I can't possibly list them all here. I'd recommend an Eyewitness Travel Guide as they're very comprehensive and include attractions, opening times, photos and maps.

Try the website for The Original London Walks as they do loads of guided tours around the city, They're very cheap and you can take Jack the Ripper, Harry Potter, The Da Vinci Code, Charles Dickens, Museum and Ghost walks. They are very good indeed and you get to see the places lots of tourists don't eve know about.

Travel by tube or bus, It's cheaper than by taxi and very convenient. You can get travel cards from your nearest tube station.

The main shopping streets are Oxford and Regent Street. You can try New Bond Street for Designer labels. Camden for alternative clothing. There's a big mall in Brent Cross also. Fortnum and Mason of Picadilly, known as the Queen's grocers s a fantastic store as is Harrods of Knightsbridge. Leadenhall Market is lovely also and its been in one of the Harry Potter movies.Saturdays are great for Portobello Road Market and Borough Market.

As for food, there are places to eat everywhere. China Town in Soho is good and Brick Lane for Indian Food in particular.

There are lots of public parks and green areas in London. I'd recommend lunch al fresco if it's fine.
Have fun.

For really cheap and good food there's a place called The Stock Pot, just off Leicester Square.

Answer 3

get your umbrella with you