Itinerary #1: Introduction to London

This is the itinerary that Ed recommends to those visiting London for the first time, although I personally never get tired of doing it. It puts you right into the middle of some of the city’s most famous sights.

Take the Tube to the Westminster stop (Circle, District, and Jubilee Lines). When you come out of the main exit, Houses of Parliament and Big Ben will be directly in front of you (due to a renovation, Big Ben will be shrouded until roughly 2021). As you look to your left, you’ll see Westminster Bridge, which is a nice spot to take some pictures. If you continue across the Bridge, you’ll come to the London Eye. We did this once; and while expensive, we all loved it. Worth doing if you can make a reservation and/or don’t have to wait a long time.

Note: If you visit in summer, Houses of Parliament is open for tours. I’ve done this twice (once with the kids) and highly recommend it. If it’s your first visit, however, I’d focus on seeing more initially and doing the tour another time. You need to book in advance.

After taking in the sights for a bit (or after doing the Eye), head toward Westminster Abbey. I highly recommend doing a tour. You can usually walk inside and see the church without paying a fee; but without a tour, you lack context of the incredible events it has seen. So many famous people, from Charles Darwin to Elizabeth the 1st, are buried here. You’ll need at least an hour.

Pub stop – If you need a break, the Red Lion is a good option (48 Parliament Street). You can get a pint or two and a decent lunch here. In pubs, you order food at the bar. Can’t find a seat? Don’t despair. There’s also an upstairs seating area.

Optional side stop at Churchill’s War Rooms – About a ten-minute walk from Westminster Abbey or the Red Lion are Churchill’s War Rooms, which is the bunker from which Churchill managed WWII operations. If you have any interest in WWII history (or even if you don’t), it’s a very worthwhile stop on your itinerary. History buffs will love it.

From Westminster, map your way to 10 Downing Street (only about a two minutes’ walk). You can’t do anything more than peer through a gate these days, but it’s on the way so worth a brief pause. You never know who or what you might see. Continue on to Horse Guards Parade, which is basically a parade ground where ceremonies like the Trooping of the Colours take place. You’ll see the guards standing outside (and sadly, probably being abused by tourists). Walk through the gateway, and you’ll come out into the parade ground on the other side. There’s no tour to do here…just some sights to take in.

From Horseguards, cross the street and enter St. James Park, which I think is the prettiest one in London. There are many great places to take pictures or stop and rest if the weather is nice. There are also snack huts scattered throughout the park. It doesn’t matter which route you take…just aim for the Palace.

People have different reactions to Buckingham Palace. Some are unimpressed the first time they see it. Others love it. I think of it as pretty special and consider it a can’t miss for first timers. You can spend five minutes here or soak it up for quite a while…entirely down to your interests. Be sure to check your calendar for events to make sure you don’t miss anything. The Trooping of the Colours, for example, starts and ends at the Palace and takes place every June. Well worth checking out. Last time, we saw the Queen, Harry, Phillip, Kate, Megan, and Camilla.

If you’re done for the day (and you could hardly be blamed), the Green Park tube station (Jubilee, Piccadilly, and Victoria lines) is relatively close. Just cut across Green Park, which will be to your right if facing the Palace. It’s about a 10-minute walk. If you have some time left, read on.

Note: If you’re there between late July and September, Buckingham Palace is open for tours, and I highly recommend it! A very cool experience. You need to book in advance.

Note on Changing of the Guards: I’m sure many will disagree with me, but I don’t think the Changing of the Guards is worth the time. Unless you’re willing to stand there for an hour or more to wait for it to start, it’s almost impossible to get a decent view. It goes on and on, and I just don’t think it’s that interesting. Also, if it rains, they don’t change the guards (a fact that seems very anti-British if you ask me). If you want to take it in, be sure to check the times, as they change based on season.

If you walk toward the back of the Palace on the left-hand side, you’ll find the Queen’s Gallery, which has rotating exhibits that can be pretty interesting (fee to enter). There’s also a nice gift shop you can duck into if you’re not in the mood for yet another exhibit.

Ready for a pint? I know I would be. There’s a lovely pub in the area called the Star Tavern (6 Belgrave Mews). Set on a cobblestone mews, it has charm, good beer, and decent food. I can’t exactly say it’s close…roughly a 15 minute walk further on…but worth it.

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• n_haines@bellsouth.net