Booked a flight to London... suggestions please.

[kevstreet]

My wife and I booked flights to London departing December 26th. I'm sure the weather will be less than desirable but the Christmas holiday is the only time we have available.

My questions:

1.) How bad will the weather be? Will we be able to do all the touristy stuff in the winter (London Tower, Westminster Abbey, etc.)

2.) What should we make a point to see/do?

3.) Is it worth it to take a day trip to Paris?

If you have any suggestions for tourist attractions, restaurants, museums, pubs, etc. I'd appreciate it, we've never been to Europe so we could use all the assistance we can get.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[PartyGirlUK]

Weather will definitely be overcast, probably raining. Days where the rain is torrential or it is snowing are rareish.

Paris is fabulous.

How long will you be there for?

[jaffa]

1) The weather will probably be rainy and a bit cold, but not freezing. You will still be able to do all the indoors things like the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey etc, but places like Hyde Park will obviously not be very fun. Also, the London Eye is probably not reccommended in winter, as you wont be able to see very far.

2) Um, museums (Science, Natural History, Imperial War, Victoria/Albert, British Museum), Harrods (for the wife), Tower Of London is ok, big queues to see the Crown Jewels though. Changing of the guard at Buckingham palace is always a classic tourist choice, it really depends what you're into. The national gallery? The Tate Modern? etc

3) Paris is nice from what i remember, a day trip sounds like a good idea.

[MrMon]

London is great no matter what the time of year. I miss it. Dec. 26 is a holiday there, I think, but if you're arriving Dec. 27, shouldn't be a problem.

Get guidebooks immediately and start planning. Also look for a book called "Cheap Eats in London". Despite its reputation, there are lots of great places to eat there, this will help you avoid the bad ones and keep the cost down.

Forget the day trip to Paris. Day trip to Oxford, Cambridge, Bath, Stratford, or Portsmouth, depending on your interests.

Must do's that most tourists miss:

Portobello Rd. Antique Market Saturday Morning
Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London, you need to write in advance for this, though it's free.

I'm sure you'll get lots more suggestions about the obvious places.

[jaffa]

If you're a beatles fan, then obviously Abbey Road, The Beatles Shop etc.

Camden is good too, especially the market.

[kevstreet]

Thank you for the comments and suggestions. We leave on the 26th, arrive on the 27th and will be staying for 5 nights.

Will be there for New Year's Eve, any idea what we should do for that celebration while in London?

Should we look for hotels in any particular area or doesn't it matter because of the great subway system?

[jaffa]

I've always found the tube to be pretty good myself.

For new years, i hear that there's usually a banging party that goes on at the London Docklands.

I may be completely mistaken though.

[2Fast]

Outside of the typical touristy stuff, I would go to Nobu Berkeley for drinks later if you are out as it was a good scene there earlier this year when I was there and it's generally difficult to find good places open later on that aren't clubs

[Guyon]

I envy you. You def. need more than a day trip to Paris...not nearly enough time.

[PartyGirlUK]

The guy who suggested a day trip to Cambridge has made a wise suggestion indeed.