On Wed, 22 Jan 2003 15:08:39 GMT, Fustanella wrote

    > Here's our wish-list for our upcoming visit. I'd appreciate any
    > comments, suggestions or missing items we should consider. Thanks
    > for all your help!
    >
    > In London:

    > * British Museum
    > * Museum of London
    > * Victoria and Albert
    > * Science Museum
    > * London Transport Museum
    > * Sir John Soane's Museum
    > * Museum of Childhood
    > * Pollock's Toy Museum
    > * Bank of England Museum

Depending on how long you're staying, and how much you can stand before
serious museum-overkill/fatigue kicks in, I'd whittle this list down to
two, maybe three maximum, and would base the choice on what topic
really interests *you* (as opposed to what you think you ought to see
because it's 'important stuff').

The BM, Museum of London, V&A and Science Museum are huge: you need a
targetted plan for visiting, or they're likely to be little more than a
blur of artefacts.

    > * Commonwealth Institute

Really? Isn't the CI housed in a 1960s' tower block in Kensington?
(Only of interest, I'd have thought, if you're interested in the
adoption of modernist idioms in post-war British architecture.)

    > * Westminster Abbey
    > * Priory Church of St Barthomolew
    > * St Paul's Cathedral

You might consider viewing some of the smaller City churches (by Wren)
by attending the free lunch-time recitals (lunch-time is 1:00 - 2:00).
St Lawrence Jewry (by the Guildhall -- also a good museum) does these
on (I think) Tuesdays, and I've been to others at St Bride's (off Fleet
Street) which were excellent. You should be able to check out the
listings for these through the various "what's on" sites.

It's a very pleasant way to spend an hour, with good music, in an
historic and pleasant setting; refreshing thing to do before/after
lunch, and between the museums trail.


    > * National Portrait Gallery

Depending on what you've already seen, I'd put the National Gallery in
front of a visit to the NPG -- unless you've got a particular interest
in portraits.

    > * British Library Exhibition Galleries

The BL galleries (which I flit through quite often) are a bit of a
curate's egg to me: sometimes very interesting but often
disappointing. Depends very much on the current exhibition.


    > * Speaker's Corner, Hyde Park

Not anywhere near as interesting as it's supposed to be; personal
reaction: nope.


    > * The London Eye

Absolutely brilliant.


    > * The Museum Of

Hey: if you're forgetting which one it's supposed to be, that says
"too many museums"!!

--
Cheers,
Harvey

For e-mail, harvey becomes whhvs.

"Fustanella" blurted:

Okay, I grew up in Wiltshire, so these are the areas I know about -
snipped the rest:

    >* Hampton Court Palace

This is easily accessible by tube from London - i wouldn't bother
driving there like the others, myself.

    >* Stonehenge (private access)

Lucky you! :¬)

    >* Sarum/Salisbury

Personally, I'd take a walk around Silbury Hill over Sarum - always
seemed a bit boring to me. Salisbury's good, though. Bath or Oxford
even better, unless you're desperate for some rolling countryside on
the Downs.
Marlborough's pretty good for cream teas and Savernake forest, and is
almost on the way back to London from the following two:

    >* Avebury
    >* The White Horse (Uffington/Lambourn)

Avebury is a bit of a tourist trap these days - hyper industrial tea
rooms and the same National Trust shop you'll have seen at Hampton
Court. I would just stop for an hour's walk then shoot on fast after
looking at a few sheep defiling the stones. NOt really anything else
to do.

There are some fantastic pubs near Uffington with lovely views of the
white horse over sunset from a nice pub garden. I'd looksome up in a
guide, as the right view of this is well worth going a bit further
for, imho.
-
vanessa

Don't assume I'm human

Barbara Vaughan blurted:

    >I would suggest that the National Gallery instead of the National
    >Portrait Gallery, or at least in addition to the latter. The National
    >Gallery is one of the world's finest museums.

OH no, I'd always go to the Portrait Gallery - more time and room to
appreciate the artworks, and downstairs always has hands on exhibits
that are beautifully done. Compare to the herds of tours and art
students clogging up the National Gallery, but never really looking at
anything (the IMpressionists rooms being the worst example.)

I'd go to Tate Britain as a first choice, though. Tate Modern is
godawful. I liked modern art till I went there.
-
vanessa

Don't assume I'm human

Harvey V blurted:

    >You might consider viewing some of the smaller City churches (by Wren)
    >by attending the free lunch-time recitals (lunch-time is 1:00 - 2:00).
    >St Lawrence Jewry (by the Guildhall -- also a good museum) does these
    >on (I think) Tuesdays, and I've been to others at St Bride's (off Fleet
    >Street) which were excellent.

Mmm, there's good lunchtime theatre at the Bridewell nearby, too.
-
vanessa

Don't assume I'm human

"congokid" wrote

    > >> Ice skating under Marble Arch
    > > I haven't done that in years. Hoo.
    > According to Time Out magazine there's an ice rink at Broadgate
    > Arena near Liverpool Street Station which is open until April.

http://www.londonskaters.com/faq_ice_skating.htm

On Wed, 22 Jan 2003 10:08:39 -0500, "Fustanella"
wrote:

    >Here's our wish-list for our upcoming visit. I'd appreciate any comments,
    >suggestions or missing items we should consider. Thanks for all your help!

    >* British Museum

A great place. Consider also the British Library.

    >* Cabinet War Rooms

A personal favorite. The Imperial War Museum also is good, though
located a bit out of the way.

    >* British Library Exhibition Galleries

Oh, I see you've listed the British Library.

    >* Speaker's Corner, Hyde Park

Only worthwhile on a sunny Sunday morning, if then.

    >* Various "The Original London Walks"

These can be fun.

    >* The Museum Of

I like it. Sort of a conceptual art thing.

    >* Stonehenge (private access)

It's a long way to go for a short visit. I can't imagine anyone
spending more than half an hour there, unless you're a druid or a New
Ager or whatever they're called. (I went only because that was the
one thing that my son really wanted to do during our visit to
England.) Still, it's worth a detour if you're going to Salisbury.

How many months do you plan to spend in order to visit all this stuff?


___________________________________________
Unit #02582: Endangered Old-Growth Redwood
Toothpick Artisans, LLC [TINEO-GRTALLC]
--
Frivolity is a stern taskmaster.

On Wed, 22 Jan 2003 10:08:39 -0500, "Fustanella"
wrote:

    >Here's our wish-list for our upcoming visit.

Your upcoming visit for six months?

---------------------------
A truly cool book:
The World Is Already Yours
Conscious living in the real world
www.alreadyyours.com (sample chapter, etc...)

Don't know how many months you are planning to visit
but as you pare down,
the Cabinet War Rooms is a must! Here is their link:
http://www.iwm.org.uk/cabinet/index.htm
The feel of history & how WW I I London may have been,
was incredible.
Rent the (extra charge) audio headset to wear while
you walk through. Cannot recommend it enough!

Enjoy,
George

"Charles Hawtrey" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > On Wed, 22 Jan 2003 10:08:39 -0500, "Fustanella"
    > wrote:
    > >Here's our wish-list for our upcoming visit. I'd appreciate any comments,
    > >suggestions or missing items we should consider. Thanks for all your
help!
    > >* British Museum
    > A great place. Consider also the British Library.
    > >* Cabinet War Rooms
    > A personal favorite. The Imperial War Museum also is good, though
    > located a bit out of the way.
    > >* British Library Exhibition Galleries
    > Oh, I see you've listed the British Library.
    > >* Speaker's Corner, Hyde Park
    > Only worthwhile on a sunny Sunday morning, if then.
    > >* Various "The Original London Walks"
    > These can be fun.
    > >* The Museum Of
    > I like it. Sort of a conceptual art thing.
    > >* Stonehenge (private access)
    > It's a long way to go for a short visit. I can't imagine anyone
    > spending more than half an hour there, unless you're a druid or a New
    > Ager or whatever they're called. (I went only because that was the
    > one thing that my son really wanted to do during our visit to
    > England.) Still, it's worth a detour if you're going to Salisbury.
    > How many months do you plan to spend in order to visit all this stuff?
    > ___________________________________________
    > Unit #02582: Endangered Old-Growth Redwood
    > Toothpick Artisans, LLC [TINEO-GRTALLC]
    > --
    > Frivolity is a stern taskmaster.

On Wed, 22 Jan 2003 11:42:02 -0500, "Fustanella"
wrote:

    >> Add Tower Bridge - I think you can get a tour of the workings.
    >I did not know that. *ding* Added!

Oh, and if you're going to be in the Tower/Tower Bridge area take some
time to check out St Katherine Docks (a late lunch would be a good
idea, to miss the business lunch rush). Cannes on Thames.
--
[email protected]
[abbreviate university name to reply]

On 22 Jan 2003 13:51:17 -0800, [email protected] (Owain)
wrote:

    >> * Cabinet War Rooms
    >Very interesting and one of my favourites. But I see no mention of the
    >main Imperial War Museum ?

Definitely. If you have any interest at all in the military history,
military technology, the First or Second World War or the Holocaust
the Imperial War Museum is a must. The Holocaust exhibit is especially
a must see (though for obvious reasons not for young children).
--
[email protected]
[abbreviate university name to reply]

"Fustanella" - a made-up name if ever I've
heard one - said

    >Here's our wish-list for our upcoming visit. I'd appreciate any comments,
    >suggestions or missing items we should consider. Thanks for all your help!

    >* Sir John Soane's Museum
    >* Wallace Collection

Good choices there - not many tourists are interested in those places
but they're both well worth seeing. The Sir John Soane's musuem in
particular is fascinating. Make sure someone's around to fold back
the panels in the living room to show you the dioramas.

If the Wallace Collection is your thing, you'd like the Dulwich
Picture Gallery as well, and the house and its setting are nice and
relaxing if central London is getting a bit much.

Another place you might be interested in is the Geffryre Museum in
Hackney. It's a series of reconstructed domestic interiors from Tudor
times to the 50s.

    >* Speaker's Corner, Hyde Park

I don't know if Speaker's Corner is worth it - the speakers resemble
people who've just got out of the loony bin more than firebrand
political agitators.
--

Cliff Laine, Flat 798, The Old Lard Factory, Lancaster
remove any trace of rudeness before you reply
__________________________________________________ _________
Sillyness and vanity have just as much sustaining power
as true greatness of soul

Balzac

    > >* Hampton Court Palace
    > This is easily accessible by tube from London - i wouldn't bother
    > driving there like the others, myself.

Hampton Court is NOWHERE near a tube station !
Best route to Hampton Court is Waterloo - Surbiton - Hampton Court by normal
train !!!!
From the station, it's literally just over the bridge.
The palace is quite expensive to get in to, but gardens are free and the
park over the road (Bushy Park) is lovely too.

JIM

PS Is Windsor Castle getting a mention ?

    > * Science Museum

I spotted you missed the Natural History Museum.
You used to be able to go into the NH and through the back door into the
Science museum I don't know if you still can but the NH has (or had the last
time I was there) Some great dinosaurs in the main hall, and a fascinating
cross section of an old oak tree with all the rings showing and dated (just
up the stairs) - Worth 20 minutes walking through on your way to the Science
Museum just to see those two exhibits - and the building itself is a work of
art.(Does anyone know what happend to the stuffed blue whale they used to
have ?)

"Elise" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > > Also, are you intending to go shopping as Harrods is a must!
    > Definitely. Didn't list shopping and munchies as I felt that was overknow.
I
    > understand one should purchase before trying to use the bogs at Harrods to
    > avoid extra fees, right?

I think you have to pay a couple of quid to use the loo unless you're a
Harrods account holder or if you've eaten in one of their restaurants.
Elise

And don't forget to dress smart - blue jeans and trainers and they won't let
you in !

"vjc" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

    > >* Hampton Court Palace
    > This is easily accessible by tube from London

Not by tube, Vanessa, by overground rail from Waterloo.

Ian