London for a day

Hey kids, looking for suggestions from you Londoners!  I have a very good friend coming to spend 10 days with us (I'm so excited I can hardly stand it) 

I just looked into the MegaBus and its super cheap for us from Bristol to London (£7 each round trip)  We are coming home on the last bus, so that gives us 8 hours to trip around. We will be coming on Thursday, October 19th.  Only things on our list so far are the London Eye and eating super fabulous sushi.

Considering our time limit, what else should we do?  Houses of Parliment? Big Ben?....help!

Thank youuuu!!!   

What kind of things are you into - museums, just sightseeing, pubs, etc?  There are just so many things to do in London!

Like if it were me, I'd definitely do the Eye as I love it (but lots of people don't for some reason!).  I'd probably walk along the Thames or even take a boat ride.  Would go to Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square, and probably see Buckingham Palace.  Would take my friend to Paul or St. Martin in the Fields for proper tea (ok Paul is French but it's lovely anyhow).  And depending on how late it was would also take her to a pub!

when I was here the first time to see my now DH, we went to London for a few days. we went to the LONDON Aquarium, the London Eye, saw Buckingham Place with the changing of the Guard, Tower Of London, Big Ben, Houses of Parliment, didnt go in walked by. we also went to see the Brittish Museum, ST Pauls Cathederal but couldnt go in it was being restored at the time, we also  went to see Westminster Abbey.  Hope you have a good time while your friend is here visting.

The V&A and the Museum of Natural History! And Harrod's or Fortnum's food halls!

I agree about the boat ride if they are running at this time of year, and if the weather is good.  If not there is the Queen Mary which is a boat moored at embankment which is a great place to stop for lunch or a drink.  Given your timescale I would get on one of those sightseeing buses, I think it costs about a tenner and you see everything - from the outside at any rate.

That's awesome Jenn... cool to hear you are travelling. Megabus arrives near the Victoria station and from there you can do just about anything in London. The sightseeing buses are an excellent way to cover central London and hit all the sites without walking... very handy if the weather sucks.

Or a walk I have done many times is to walk from Victoria to Buckingham Palace and down The Mall (pronounced Mal) towards Trafalgar Square or through St. James's Park in the same direction. Then left at Whitehall and past the Horse Guards (horses right on the street) and keep going and bam you've reached Big Ben, Houses of Parliment and Westminster Abbey (and the cathedral is just further to the right.) Head left across the river and see the London Eye and walk along the Thames until Waterloo station and go left across the bridge again and keep walking through Charing Cross station to the Strand (street) go right and follow the signs  to Covent Garden on the left which is a cool place to look at the markets, have a bite or drink.

You can also check to see if there are any matinee theatre shows happening in the West End or have tea.

If the weather is good, walking is perfect. If it's bad or you want to cram in all the tourist sights and learn more about London I highly recommend the sightseeing buses.

You will have a great time!!

My first trip to London I made the (gasp) shocking error of calling a long distance coach a bus and I learned quickly how to ask for directions to the COACH station not the BUS station. I travel by coach all the time. It is a good way to get about the country.

Find a good tourist map before you go... A-Z is too much of a hassle is you just want the basics.

I've lived in London for nearly a year and visited many times before and I still haven't been in many of the major museums. The Natural History Museum and National Portrait Gallery are the two I have seen and are my favorites. The National Portrait Gallery and St Martin in the Fields are right at Trafalgar Square so easy to tick off at the same time.

My point, don't feel like you have to visit all the museums. It can bog a tourist down and there are so many other pleasures to be had out in the open.

My point, don't feel like you have to visit all the museums. It can bog a tourist down and there are so many other pleasures to be had out in the open.

If you want to hit one of the museums, maybe look for one that has a special exhibit on that you're interested in. Then see that, but don't get caught up seeing the whole museum. I agree -- it can take a full day to see just one museum!

If you have just the one day, and want to pack in as much sightseeing as possible without getting too in-depth into any one particular thing, those open-top tourist buses are pretty good.  They take you to all the hot touristy spots and the commentary clues you in on everything.

If you are into walking, I've been on several London Walks and they're really good.
http://www.walks.com/

FWIW I like the London Eye too.   

you can always do what I always end up doing...EATING!
Last time we were there we had dinner at Bodeans (American BBQ) fantastic!!!
I think it was in Soho.   

I love taking the train to London. This past Wednesday my DH and I packed a lunch, took the train, and went to the Imperial War Museum. Spent the whole afternoon there. It was great. Afterwards we walked back over the river and casually walked on the otherside of the river (across from Big Ben, Parliment, etc.) and walk back to Victoria Station. Not a penny spent except for the train fare, and had a glorious day.

Thanks for all the suggestions!  My nice laminated Streetwise London map my friend gave me before I left SF will now come in handy! 

We are def doing the Eye and I'm looking at one of the river cruises, the high speed boat!  I'm not really into the touristy tour loads of people thing (and I know my friend Greg would smack me if I booked something like that!)  Other than booking those two things, I think we will just walk around.  He might want to check out the Science Museum too.

As Geeta and others mentioned, Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square, and probably see Buckingham Palace. 

I found the thread about sushi recommendations, thats a must! 

We are def doing the Eye and I'm looking at one of the river cruises, the high speed boat!  I'm not really into the touristy tour loads of people thing (and I know my friend Greg would smack me if I booked something like that!)  Other than booking those two things, I think we will just walk around.  He might want to check out the Science Museum too.

...and doing the London Eye isn't touristy with loads of people?    The good thing about one of the sightseeing bus tours is that one includes a cruise on the Thames... not to mention the commentary about London and cool tidbits that aren't in guidebooks. Just a point to talk up particularly if the weather sucks.

...and doing the London Eye isn't touristy with loads of people?    The good thing about one of the sightseeing bus tours is that one includes a cruise on the Thames... not to mention the commentary about London and cool tidbits that aren't in guidebooks. Just a point to talk up particularly if the weather sucks.

I have to say I love the bus tour...it really gives you great sights while being very flexible of hopping off if you see something you want to check out more. I also love London Tower and think it is a must see.

you can always do what I always end up doing...EATING!
Last time we were there we had dinner at Bodeans (American BBQ) fantastic!!!
I think it was in Soho.   

There are 3 Bodeans but the one in Soho is the most central.  It's on Poland street, just off Oxford Street, within sight of the big HMV "superstore" on Oxford Street.

http://www.bodeansbbq.com/

I second this nomination - Bodeans is def the best BBQ I've had this side of the Atlantic!  But skip the cole slaw - it was yucky.     I didn't even eat half.