Going to London, what should I do?

[Rylot]

As in what sites should I visit. I've got a London Pass, Travelcard and 200 page booklet of sites and was wondering which ones are worth seeing and what's a tourist trap and waste of time. I'll be there from August 31 til September 10th. I'm going to watch my girlfriend do track at the Paralympic games (Physically disabled version of Olympics) but I'll have a few days on my own to just tour around.

I'm interested in history and especially ancient history. I'm also into art so maybe an art museum would be fun. I also like all kinds of different food. And I want to try some English beers. I'm staying in Silvertown which I guess is in West London if I'm reading these maps correctly. Any suggestions?

Edit: So I'm flying into Heathrow and was wondering if this would work: Take the Piccadilly line to Acton Town station and transfer to the District Line to Tower Gateway and transfer to the DLR and take that to the West Silvertown station. I could also stay on the DLR until the London City Airport station which might be a little closer to my hotel but since the West Silvertown station is only a mile away it doesn't seem worth it to try and go through a crowded airport station.

 

[Stasisesque]

Silvertown is in east London, and it is, to put it bluntly, a shithole. But don't worry, it's right next to the DLR (Docklands Light Rail, a driverless train) so you'll have easy access to the nice bits of London. Luckily, Silvertown is very close to Stratford (where the Olympic Park is). To get there, I'd go Piccadilly Line to Green Park, Jubilee to Canning Town and then swap to the DLR. Both the Jubilee and the DLR will be packed during the games, but you can't avoid that I'm afraid, and honestly, it really isn't all that bad.

As for sights to see, take your pick. Plenty of free museums up in Knightsbridge. V&A, Science, Natural History - some more modern ones down on Southbank (next to Waterloo, where the London Eye is) but these generally aren't free or have pay-to-see exhibits.

The area you're staying in is an industrial wasteland, there really isn't anything to do there aside from the Olympic Park.

I wouldn't class anything in London as a tourist trap and waste of time. St Martin's in the Fields (next to Trafalgar Square) has a crypt and some Roman ruins, and there's another crypt up near Euston but I haven't visited. Don't forget to see the British Library (next to St. Pancras), they have the oldest copy of Beowulf in existence, and some fascinating pre-language texts, and there's always an exhibit worth visiting. Also the silly fun things like the London Dungeons, but beware, these are very expensive. Tower of London, go see the Crown Jewels. Sadly I think Horse Guards Parade is still bedecked out in volleyball paraphernalia. National Portrait Gallery, the Tate, there's an art gallery around virtually every corner! There's too many things to list here. Do you like theatre? Go and see a show on the West End, or off the West End! Or some street theatre in Covent Garden.

And good luck to your girlfriend!

 

[Rylot]

Snip

Right, I meant East London. Apparently I'm also staying pretty much right on the London City Airport tarmac. I'm not big on theater but is the reconstructed Globe worth seeing? I was also hoping to pick up a few books and the guide I've got only lists Foyles Bookshop on Charing Cross just south of Tottenham Court Road station; is that worth visiting? Westminster and Trafalgar Square are looking like areas that I'll want to spend a lot of time in. Thanks for the help!

 

[Stasisesque]

Charing Cross isn't just south of Tottenham Court road. :S It is walkable, but it really isn't that close - and you'd have to walk straight through Theatreland. It's also not really worth visiting, I'm not sure why you'd visit it at all - it's a terminus railway station. The cross for Elinor is outside the station, but it's also slap bang in the middle of a taxi rank.

Trafalgar Square is close to Charing X, so is Leicester Square (just exit the station, walk straight onwards for one and onwards and to the right for the other). The area is good for tourists, but it is all outdoorsy stuff, unless you want to try your luck at a Buckingham Palace tour - though the Mall is worth seeing regardless.

Westminster's also a big tourist draw, with all of the government buildings and Big Ben, naturally. I worked in the area very briefly, so I can tell you to avoid this area during rush hour, and don't try to get into a pub at 6pm. There's a reason everyone spills out onto the streets.

The Globe is only exciting if you saw it before it was rebuilt. Otherwise it really is just another theatre, and if you don't like theatre it won't be for you.

 

[Rylot]

snip

I meant the bookstore is on Charing Cross Road a few blocks south of Tottenham Court Road station.

 

[Stasisesque]

snip

I meant the bookstore is on Charing Cross Road a few blocks south of Tottenham Court Road station.

Aha! That makes much more sense. Foyles is an impressive building, I'd go just to say I've been there - but it really depends on what sort of books you want to buy. There are much cheaper places, any Waterstones for instance, or a Works, or a WH Smiths. Buying a book from Foyles just because it's Foyles is not a good idea.

They are, however, good for second hand books or even out of print books - but again, know what you want before you go looking for it. Don't just buy something there because they say it's out of print, Foyles is primarily a business and has no qualms about ripping you off.

 

[Rylot]

snip

Fair enough. I'm mostly looking for the Science of Discworld books. In the states we get all the main series and some of the 'young adult' stuff but for some reason the science ones never make it. Queue joke about them not being marketable to Americans because they have the word science in the title.

Do you happen to know anything about the 'Chislehurst Caves'? They look interesting and something maybe worth seeing, but they're pretty far to the South East and I'm not sure it's worth the trek.

 

[Stasisesque]

I live near the Chislehurst Caves. You won't be able to get to them easily, you'd need to take a couple of overground trains. They are interesting, but it depends on if you want to do the awkward journey. They aren't that far away, but there's no direct route, though the price will be covered by a travelcard.

The Discworld books you can get from Waterstones.

 

[science girl]

The science museum is worth a look and is free.

 

[MammothBlade]

As in what sites should I visit. I've got a London Pass, Travelcard and 200 page booklet of sites and was wondering which ones are worth seeing and what's a tourist trap and waste of time. I'll be there from August 31 til September 10th. I'm going to watch my girlfriend do track at the Paralympic games (Physically disabled version of Olympics) but I'll have a few days on my own to just tour around.

I'm interested in history and especially ancient history. I'm also into art so maybe an art museum would be fun. I also like all kinds of different food. And I want to try some English beers. I'm staying in Silvertown which I guess is in West London if I'm reading these maps correctly. Any suggestions?

Edit: So I'm flying into Heathrow and was wondering if this would work: Take the Piccadilly line to Acton Town station and transfer to the District Line to Tower Gateway and transfer to the DLR and take that to the West Silvertown station. I could also stay on the DLR until the London City Airport station which might be a little closer to my hotel but since the West Silvertown station is only a mile away it doesn't seem worth it to try and go through a crowded airport station.

The British Museum and Natural History Museum are a must. They're both easily accessible by bus.

Other than that, Harrods is worth a look if you want quality souvenirs.

 

[WolfThomas]

I've actually just arrived in London yesterday. I spent the whole of today in the British Museum it's pretty darn amazing.