What to do for a great day out in London and surrounding areas?

I personally love the London Dungeon and the Bloody Tower (expensive though). You can go round Hyde Park, do a tour or visit a show. I have no clue what is hot either but those are the things I would like to do.

I would include a visit to one of London’s fabulous museums. The British Museum is filled with treasures found nowhere else in the world. Or perhaps the Victoria and Albert museum.

I would include an outing for tea, perhaps out into the countryside.

Curry for dinner sounds like fun.

@marinelife “The British Museum” .. Nice one, but my friend went there yesterday.

I would want to go to Harrods to shop and have lunch in the food malls. I would also like to go someplace that has a good “tea” (the kind where they serve you little finger sandwiches and tea and crumpets with clotted cream). Here’s a list of some places to get afternoon tea

If you want some good, reasonably priced Indian food check out this site

I’m a big Sherlock Holms buff so I would want to go to the Sherlock Holmes Museum at 221 Baker Street.

Course I’d want to go to Buckinham Palace and either take a tour, or just stick around for the changing of the guard and to take tons of photos.

I’d probably want to get some good fish and chips and then take it over to Hyde Park for lunch. Here’s a listing on Yelp of someone’s list of good places to get fish and chips. Not sure if any of these are near the park.

And I would definitely want to ride the double decker bus to Fortnum and Mason’s

I’d also want to visit a pub and eat a plougmans lunch

I can’t vouch for anyone other than myself and my own taste, but I would enjoy taking one of these Harry Potter Tours

And I would love to visit the Victoria and Albert Museum

And I would love to take another one of these Hop on Hop off Thames Boat Tours

It’s all about food for me, so I’d love to go find the best Yorkshire Pudding in London

And no trip to London would be complete for me without a trip to the famous crosswalk in front of Abbey Road Studios

I erased everything written before after re-reading the question. She is currently located in London and you have been there in the past. If you two want to stay within the city limits:

* Choose an activity currently on display for a limited time.

* Find out what sites she hasn’t been to yet. If she hasn’t been to The Tower of London, it should be considered. The facilities have a wonderful cafe with a variety of food choices. If neither of you have been to Westminster Abbey or St. Paul’s Cathedral, both are impressive. At St. Paul’s, you can walk up the stairs all the way to the top of the dome and go outside for an awesome view of the whole city.

* If she hasn’t already done so, you might consider taking a coach tour of the city. It is a quick at-a-glance look at many different sites.

* The two of you could just stroll around and admire the architecture. Look for the blue signs on the front of buildings that mark historical locations with a short explanation.

* Do something a little silly. Are either of you Beatles fans? Work your way up to Abbey Road and take photos of each other crossing the famous zebra stripes. Go to Harrod’s for fresh oysters and a Bloody Mary. Take the tube to Paddington Station to find the statue of Paddington Bear. Head to the King’s Cross Railway station where you can find Hogwart’s (from Harry Potter) 9 and ¾ gate. Peter Pan’s statue is located in Kensington Gardens.

* If neither of you have been to Stonehenge yet, you might consider it. it is about a ½ day round trip on a coach from London. The ride would give you two plenty of time to chat.

Enjoy the trip, and please let us know what you end up doing!

I love that London Eye. It has great views of the entire city.

Is Picadilly Circus still ‘cool?’ I went in 1987 so whatever shops and places I went into are long forgotten. I stayed in Chorleywood and visited the National Science Academy (is that what it’s called?) and went to tea parties.
I agree with Kardamom—her list is right on. If I didn’t want to shop, I’d just get on a double decker and ride around town looking for spontaneous opportunities. One part of town I really liked was where they had lopsided houses on a steep hill (no idea where, does anyone else know?)
I enjoyed Westminister Abbey and Hampton Courts as well.

Take a boat trip on the Thames from the Embankment. it is a great way to see the city while avoiding the hot city streets and the crowds.

If the weather is nice, take a boat trip down the Thames from Westminster to the Tower of London. Two great sights at either end and there are stops inbetween, and your ticket allows you to get on and off at any stop as often as you like.

Also the London Eye.

@downtide Where do you think is a good place, in London, to get a ploughman’s lunch? The first time I ever had one (it was marvelous and opened my eyes up to something new and yummy) was in Stratford at some little pub who’s name I can’t recall. We didn’t go to any pubs in London (not enough time). I’m craving pickles, cheese, chutney and crusty bread as I speak!

I’ve been to London only once so I am no expert but my husband and I loved Ye Old Cheshire Cheese. This pub is so old that Samuel Johnson used to go there! Dickens too! We had Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding. It was a miracle that we got a table, maybe because we were early for dinner? For dessert there is nothing better than Sticky Toffee Pudding. You can imagine what it tastes like from the name alone. Here is a link of old London Pubs.
http://www.frommers.com/articles/4185.html
We also enjoyed The Dickens Museum but it will soon be closed for renovation and expansion for the bicentenary of his birth 2012. Only for those who revere Dickens. It is just the idea that the man himself was sitting in that armchair!!!

@Earthgirl I just got tingles when you mentioned Dickens actually sitting in that armchair. I love me some Charles Dickens! Did you happen to see the PBS mini-series of Bleak House about a year ago? If not, I would highly recommend it. : )

Charles Dickens was my dad’s favourite author. I love Great Expectations. Did you see the BBC’s production of Oliver Twist. It was great.

I am watching this thread avidly for things to do in London. Some excellent ideas so far.

I can recommend the London walking tours. They are popular and you would have to book in advance.

@Bellatrix Was that the version with Ben Kingsley as Fagin? I loved that one!

@Kardamom I’m sorry I have no idea where to get a plopughman’s lunch in London. Although it’s a fairly easy thing, I’m sure most good pubs would be able to make one if you ask.

Kardamom No, I didn’t see Bleak House on PBS. I will check it out. When I went to the Dicken’s Museum I discovered that when he had separated from his wife (divorce back then took an act of parliament and was very costly!) after many children and many years of marriage he refused to let her see the children. We tend to idealize him as a social activist and overall good guy so it made me wonder…why?? I just bought a new book that takes the historical facts and tries to imagine just what went on in his marriage. The book is Girl in a Blue Dress by Gaynor Arnold. Should be interesting.

@Earthgirl Yes, I have read that Dickens was quite a douche to his wife. I think he ended up divorcing her and marrying either her sister or her cousin, who lived with them and took care of their kids. And he wasn’t a very nice father either.

It’s so ironic, because all of his stories are about kids yearning to find love in the form of a family. But I can eat his writing up with a big spoon! Patrick Stewart’s version of A Christmas Carol is one of my all time favorites (also like the one with Mr. Magoo and the one with Mickey Mouse).

Kardamom It’s seems there was some intense relationship with his wife’s 17 year old sister who lived with them. She ended up dying in his arms. Don’t really know if they have any proof the relationship was a romantic one, but one would suspect.