London

I'll be stopping over at Heathrow from 7.5 hours next Thursday morning.  I plan to take the tube to see Windsor castle for a couple of hours and stretch my legs before the next 11 hour leg of my journey.

If you've never been to London, just have fun doing all the standard touristy stuff. Go see the Changing of the Guard, London Tower, do the double decker tour, etc.

There's nothing wrong with doing touristy stuff when you're a tourist.

Loved London and it was easy to see a lot with all the public transportation.  Buy an oyster card.

>> There's nothing wrong with doing touristy stuff when you're a tourist. <<

Except you're standing in lines next to non-locals.

I'd go to the West End and saddle up in a pub.

I had an overnight in London this past summer.  The public transportation was excellent and easy to navigate.  It allows you to see a lot of the sites in a little time, but wish I had more time to check out the British Museum.  Overall, however, the city seemed to be a dirty, overpriced shithole.

It's all perspective, Ned. If one wants to see the sights, they'd kind of have to do touristy things If they want to see local culture, hole up in a pub.

I'd suggest getting on the Circle Line, hopping off at every stop, then hopping back on to the next stop. You'll see a lot of touristy stuff (everything from Sloane Square/Kings Road to Harrods/Knightsbridge to Poratbello Market to Madam Tousades) and be mired in the culture.

The Antelope pub is on Eaton Terrace, right off Sloane Square. It's a great place to see the culture of the old-line British blue-blood aristocracy (or at least it used to be). I spent hundreds of hours in there, and some of the patrons were movie stereotypes.

You're right, BK.

In Lisbon last summer on our first night we sat in a plaza cafe with locals until 3am. Exchanged hats :)

Next night we went to the local St.Anthony's / Sardine Festival. Danced and drank Sagres Beer with the locals. Never went to a museum. If/when I return to Lisbon I just might get into some of the museums.

Me head over too-- probably September- first timer also.

Looking forward to seeing my cousin- she lives in some sort of castle north of town --- Woot !

If you are a musician  - check out Denmark Street.

It's sort like 48th street in Manhattan used to be - this short block has about a dozen killer guitar stores.

This is very close to the British Museum which is an A+ art museum.

Not too far to Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square!

Love this town.

In July Clapton will be doing his farewell show in Hyde Park with Steve Winwood, Carlos Santana and Gary Clark Jr.
The night before will be Roger Waters at O2 Arena.
The following week - Paul Simon winds it up in Hyde Park....

The only problem is - the US Dollar is tanking over there and costs are way up.

I will be there 3/3/ - 3/10 for the first time also.  I can't wait!

My son went for 3 weeks back in middle school with the people to people program. One of the only thing he talked about then and to this day was eating the haggis. Said he loved it, but he has always eaten strange things.

That is all I have.

Clapton's final show??
hmmmmm

Check out Nick Masons drum shop, Footes

I haven't been there since 1985, and I was on a LOW BUDGET, so I don't have a lot to say other than the continental breakfasts in London are better than I found in other European countries.  

London has a lot to see but I am partial to Paris.  First time visiting I would do the tourist sights, Tower of London, crown jewelry, changing of the guard etc.  Check out the Tate Britain, used to be Tate Gallery, or Tate Modern if you are more interested in contemporary art. If you are by Liverpool Street Station make sure to have a pint at Dirty Dicks, look for the dead cats. 

I really loved the building that the Natural History Museum is in. The stones and columns had fossils implanted in them - unusual and interesting. The museum had some good stuff, too.

Last visit to London was Feb.  1997 part of Phish north Europe tour.

We flew into Heathrow and took the subway and Cab to our moderate hotel.  They still had the gigantic antiquated cabs,  which we all liked.  No idea if they exist anymore.  They were HUGE and looked like 1940's USA sedans,  sort of.

We did go on the Underground / subway here & there, which was Kool.  "Mind the Gap".

Maybe Hammerstein or Odeon was venue name.  We wanted to go on Samuel Smith Brewery tour,  but failed.

So I can't be of  much help except to say,  "Have A FUN !!! "

>>>>The only problem is - the US Dollar is tanking over there and costs are way up.

The dollar never goes far in the U.K.  .71 is the current rate, and is actually very good historically, normally hovers in the .50-.60 range.  So you give them 100 bucks and you get 71 pounds, right now, no thanks.  

>>Overall, however, the city seemed to be a dirty, overpriced shithole.

expensive - yes

shithole - disagree

>>so I don't have a lot to say other than the continental breakfasts in London are better than I found in other European countries.  

our hotel was pretty nice and the breakfast was extensive, so we would load up there and be good to go until dinner.