London? Top NY Times Place to Visit in 2011!

[TLCOhio]

Coming in the Sunday New York Times travel section, they have this headline: "The 41 Places to Go in 2011" with this highlight: "There is never a bad time to go to London. But this year may be better than most: the 2012 Summer Olympic Games has prompted the construction of 12,000 hotel rooms, and several hotels that have been around for a while are burnishing their appeal with notable new restaurants."

 

This story does note this warning: "Expect hotel and restaurant bookings to be tight on and around April 29, date of the royal wedding, for which London tourism officials expect a pre-Olympics wave of visitors."

 

Always lots to see and love in London. This is a good collection of insights for 2011 options and potentials.

 

Full story of all of these 41 highlighted locations at:

http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/travel/09where-to-go.html?hp

 

This summary includes info and insights on Iceland, Antwerp, Budapest and Dresden. Interesting info and ideas.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For lots of interesting details, great visuals, etc., from our July 1-16 Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. Don’t be shy and feel free to ask any questions of interest. This posting is now over 28,400 views. Appreciate those who have “tuned in”.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

[Nanatravel]

Thanks Terry. An Ohio guy reading the NY Times! That is great. I will have to read the story as we will spend 3 days pre-cruise in London.

[TLCOhio]

Thanks Terry. An Ohio guy reading the NY Times. That is great. I will have to read the story as we will spend 3 days pre-cruise in London.

 

Yes, GUILTY as charged. Usually read that newspaper, along the Wall Street Journal and other major papers, the night before they come out the next morning. Glad you are doing three days prior to your cruise in London.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For lots of interesting details, great visuals, etc., from our July 1-16 Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. Don’t be shy and feel free to ask any questions of interest. This posting is now over 28,400 views. Appreciate those who have “tuned in”.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

[genmasjoy]

We are also spending three nights in London on our own precruise, the cruise is a river boat leaving from Antwerp so we are taking the Eurostar. I love London, last visited in 1999, so I haven't yet seen the London Eye, Tate Modern and the Millennium Bridge. Hope the weather will be nice, we are going in early April, thankfully, three weeks before the Royal wedding.

[Giantfan13]

London is just a magnificent city to spend time in. from all the famous attractions, to the theater, to wonderful museums or even to just strolling along the Thames, you can spend a week there and not truly experience it all.

 

People say London is expensive, but it is really not. You can stay in hotels that are not right in the heart of town, and with the Tube system, you can be where ever you like in a matter of minutes. Sure there are wonderful restaurants, but you can also get some great Fish and Chips and not spend a fortune.

If you buy a London Travel Rail card, there are many, many attractions you can get into as a two fer, in other words buy one ticket get one free. We used that to do the Tower of London, Tower Bridge Experience, Globe Theater tour, Thames River Cruise. You can also pre book tickets for the London Eye, online, for a specific time, so you do not have to wait on those never ending lines. Use the HoHo bus tours around London for cheap and easy transportation around London and you get to see so much doing it.

 

Here are a few of my pix of this magnificent city

 

Big Ben and Parliament, at twilight

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europe139.jpg

 

the London Eye

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europe080.jpg

 

Tower Bridge at night

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europe151.jpg

 

Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europe1466.jpg

 

My favorite place for lunch, the Sherlock Holmes Pub

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europept2315.jpg

 

The Tower of London

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europept2127.jpg

 

Cheers

 

Len

[TLCOhio]

We are also spending three nights in London on our own precruise, the cruise is a river boat leaving from Antwerp so we are taking the Eurostar. I love London, last visited in 1999, so I haven't yet seen the London Eye, Tate Modern and the Millennium Bridge. Hope the weather will be nice, we are going in early April, thankfully, three weeks before the Royal wedding.

 

Best wishes for getting great weather in London. We've had nice weather there for the last three times there. YES, the London Eye is super interesting, both to see and get great views while riding. Below are two visual examples or previews.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For lots of interesting details, great visuals, etc., from our July 1-16 Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. Don’t be shy and feel free to ask any questions of interest. This posting is now over 28,900 views. Appreciate those who have “tuned in”.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

 

 

London’s Eye is a unique symbol along the river that allow great views around the town of its landmarks:

 

 

 

From the London "Eye" wheel, it offers great views of the key sights and sites:

 

[JanetAlice]

I have a question about the Eye. It was built when I was in London last, but was concerned because I get nauseous on Ferris Wheels. Is the sensation different than a traditional wheel. Also I was wondering if anyone might know of a discount ticket broker for the West End. I believe there is a twofer window for the day of the performance but I was wondering if I could purchase something in advance.

[TLCOhio]

I have a question about the Eye. It was built when I was in London last, but was concerned because I get nauseous on Ferris Wheels. Is the sensation different than a traditional wheel. Also I was wondering if anyone might know of a discount ticket broker for the West End. I believe there is a twofer window for the day of the performance but I was wondering if I could purchase something in advance.

 

If you noticed from the picture I just posted, the capsule you ride in has several options/advantages. It is all-enclosed, solid and you can stand nearer to the outside views. Or, you can sit in the middle, farther from the "edge". It does not have that "open, rocking" feel of a Ferris Wheel. For me it was all fine and very interesting. Clearly, different people have varying perceptions, comforts and likes. Things are very "SMOOTH" in how this operates, people are loaded, its stability, etc. Give it a try!!!

 

On theatre tickets, there is a half-price option at Leicester Square. See the website below for their hours, etc. Also, at many boxes office, late, you can ask, and they they might have half-priced tickets. We did that in mid July for the fun, enjoyable 39 Steps play. Walked up at 8 pm and got half-price tickets in a great location. Generally, the half-price tickets are only that day-of, unless it's a preview or some other special situation.

http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/tkts/leicester_square/

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For lots of interesting details, great visuals, etc., from our July 1-16 Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. Don’t be shy and feel free to ask any questions of interest. This posting is now over 28,900 views. Appreciate those who have “tuned in”.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

[JanetAlice]

Thanks for in info Terry. I am waiting for my tickets for the Ceremony of the Keys. Once I have that I can proceed planning the rest of the days.

[TLCOhio]

Thanks for in info Terry. I am waiting for my tickets for the Ceremony of the Keys. Once I have that I can proceed planning the rest of the days.

 

Keep doing your good research and planning. Don't be shy in asking your follow-up questions. Lots of people on these boards are happy to be helpful. The only "dumb question" is the one you don't ask.

 

Below are a couple of my other favorite pictures of sights to see in London. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For lots of interesting details, great visuals, etc., from our July 1-16 Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. Don’t be shy and feel free to ask any questions of interest. This posting is now over 29,000 views. Appreciate those who have “tuned in”.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

 

 

Harrod's unique Food Hall has lots to see and eat:

 

 

 

London’s Trafalgar Square is a wonderful, central gathering place for people. The Westminster, “Big Ben” Tower is shown in the background. At the center of London, this famed Square has Nelson’s Column with the four lions and has the National Gallery overlooking it: