One word about Bath--great city, you'll love the Roman baths--but the costume museum and the old assembly ball rooms used to be closed on Mondays. Be sure that you check the open days for the places you want to see, since I was sadly disappointed there several years ago because we went on the wrong day.
About Paris...well, Versailles. The same thing. Check the schedule for when they turn the outdoor fountains on--it used to be Sundays, and that is the *best* time to get the whole effect.
On London--we're here until the 23rd, excepting the 17-20th when we'll be in Paris for work. If you'd like to get together for a late afternoon tea, or breakfast before your day gets going in earnest, drop me a line at my email and I can give you my mobile number (cliopro2@yahoo.com).
Must-dos in London: the BM! the Tower! and the National Gallery! You've already got three of my favorites. The National is open late on Wednesdays, so you can pack in a whole day doing other stuff and still see it too. The National Portrait Gallery (right next door) is very good, and has late night showings on Thursdays and Fridays. Across the street is St. Martin's in the Field, and their crypt serves a very good lunch (no kidding) and dinner. Go round to the right hand side and down the stairs.
Bookstores (see my post to aesc for recs on the best ones), naturally: most on Charing Cross Road, a few good ones near the BM. There is a very good one for literature beneath Waterloo Bridge, right next to the National Theatre on the Southbank side, open until dusk every day, too.
You really should see the Food Halls at Harrods; not to be believed, even if you buy nothing. And Harrods is right on top of the Victoria and Albert, which is very nice as well--especially good if you like your museum to show off the medieval or the victorian eras. The Tate is running a big retrospective on Edward Hopper--if he's your thing, then go.
Try to get to one of the markets--there are good ones at Spitalfields (mostly clothing: weekends probably best), Camden (clothing, antiques, everything: get north of the grotty ones, closest to the Tube stop, and find the ones at the very north end--you'll notice a difference), and London Bridge (this for food, exotic foods), which is close to Southwark Cathedral. Great free entertainment.
One of my favorites: walk along the Embankment at night. After you finish watching the theater/theatre, just walk down to the river and follow the crowds. I particularly like the Southbank side, since you get a better view of the city. Another piece of free entertainment.
Restaurants: Rock and Sole Plaice, a chip shop on Endell Street, about a 6-block walk from the BM, between Bloomsbury and Covent Garden, the best; Belgo Centraal, on Earlham Street (near Seven Dials, heart of Covent Garden, only 3 blocks from R&SPlaice), mussels and beer, go early or book; Tas, across from the Globe Theatre, Southbank, Persian and very good; Wagamama, near the BM and many other locations, Japanese noodle shop; Pierre Victoire, in Soho a block off of Oxford Street, very reasonably priced country French food; Cheung Cheun Ku, in Chinatown, if you want dim sum--they put ads in Time Out: London every week, they are easy to find; Oxo Tower (book several days ahead, eat in the Brasserie, not the restaurant, same food, better prices), this is for a nice night out and a wonderful view from the top of the city.
Beyond that...if you love flowers, take time to go to Kew. It is one of the most amazing horticultural things you will ever see; a bit of a train ride to get out there, but worth the trip if you like green stuff. If you groove to science and ship models, then head out to Greenwich to the Royal Observatory and the National Maritime Museum--more model ships than you can imagine--and the boat ride to get down there is great in fine weather. But Greenwich and Kew are both a bit away from the city, good if you want to get out.
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Date: 2004-06-09 02:29 am (UTC)One word about Bath--great city, you'll love the Roman baths--but the costume museum and the old assembly ball rooms used to be closed on Mondays. Be sure that you check the open days for the places you want to see, since I was sadly disappointed there several years ago because we went on the wrong day.
About Paris...well, Versailles. The same thing. Check the schedule for when they turn the outdoor fountains on--it used to be Sundays, and that is the *best* time to get the whole effect.
On London--we're here until the 23rd, excepting the 17-20th when we'll be in Paris for work. If you'd like to get together for a late afternoon tea, or breakfast before your day gets going in earnest, drop me a line at my email and I can give you my mobile number (cliopro2@yahoo.com).
Must-dos in London: the BM! the Tower! and the National Gallery! You've already got three of my favorites. The National is open late on Wednesdays, so you can pack in a whole day doing other stuff and still see it too. The National Portrait Gallery (right next door) is very good, and has late night showings on Thursdays and Fridays. Across the street is St. Martin's in the Field, and their crypt serves a very good lunch (no kidding) and dinner. Go round to the right hand side and down the stairs.
Bookstores (see my post to
You really should see the Food Halls at Harrods; not to be believed, even if you buy nothing. And Harrods is right on top of the Victoria and Albert, which is very nice as well--especially good if you like your museum to show off the medieval or the victorian eras. The Tate is running a big retrospective on Edward Hopper--if he's your thing, then go.
Try to get to one of the markets--there are good ones at Spitalfields (mostly clothing: weekends probably best), Camden (clothing, antiques, everything: get north of the grotty ones, closest to the Tube stop, and find the ones at the very north end--you'll notice a difference), and London Bridge (this for food, exotic foods), which is close to Southwark Cathedral. Great free entertainment.
One of my favorites: walk along the Embankment at night. After you finish watching the theater/theatre, just walk down to the river and follow the crowds. I particularly like the Southbank side, since you get a better view of the city. Another piece of free entertainment.
Restaurants: Rock and Sole Plaice, a chip shop on Endell Street, about a 6-block walk from the BM, between Bloomsbury and Covent Garden, the best; Belgo Centraal, on Earlham Street (near Seven Dials, heart of Covent Garden, only 3 blocks from R&SPlaice), mussels and beer, go early or book; Tas, across from the Globe Theatre, Southbank, Persian and very good; Wagamama, near the BM and many other locations, Japanese noodle shop; Pierre Victoire, in Soho a block off of Oxford Street, very reasonably priced country French food; Cheung Cheun Ku, in Chinatown, if you want dim sum--they put ads in Time Out: London every week, they are easy to find; Oxo Tower (book several days ahead, eat in the Brasserie, not the restaurant, same food, better prices), this is for a nice night out and a wonderful view from the top of the city.
Beyond that...if you love flowers, take time to go to Kew. It is one of the most amazing horticultural things you will ever see; a bit of a train ride to get out there, but worth the trip if you like green stuff.
If you groove to science and ship models, then head out to Greenwich to the Royal Observatory and the National Maritime Museum--more model ships than you can imagine--and the boat ride to get down there is great in fine weather. But Greenwich and Kew are both a bit away from the city, good if you want to get out.
And again, Enjoy your trip!