Beautiful Parks!
by CoAir13
London has some of the most beautiful parks I have ever seen. It is great to walk and walk and walk for hours.....then, be able to relax in one of these serene sanctuaries in the middle of the city! After walking all day, going to Green Park and lounging in one of the folding chairs they have set out on the lawn!
One Night a Week
by tvor
Most of the tourist attractions, galleries, museums and the big cathedrals are closed by 5 or 6 p.m. Many, however, are open one night a week, often Wednesday or Thursday until about 8. Sometimes there is a reduced entrance fee in the evening. Check the guide books or the weekly Time Out guide for London that you can get at the news stands.
Another bonus is that quite often, if you go to the attraction around 4 or 5 for the early evening, the crowds are thinner and more manageable. We went to Westminster Abbey on it's open night, Wednesday, and were allowed to take photos and the back part of the Abbey where you usually have to pay to see the chapels and crypts was free. The drawback this particular night was that the nave and choir were closed because of rehearsals but the plus side was that we could hear the choir singing :) The Abbey does not charge to see the nave and main bits.
Webguides to London
by tvor
We're all on the internet here and we all use it to do things like make bookings and do research on places we want to go. That's what VT is all about, isn't it?
An excellent website for all things London is Londontown.com You can sign up for a monthly newsletter for things and events going on in the city. I've had good luck booking accommodations on the site. One tip there, though, is to check other levels of accommodations. It might say "budget" but sometimes you can get as cheap or cheaper in the "mid range" hotel listings that sometimes have very good special offers. There are maps of the locations to various major parks and attractions, theatre tickets and a listing for unique experiences. It does not have much info on shopping or eating.
The Official London Tourist Board includes all the usual things you would expect, also has lists of accessible London for people with disabilities, Lists of hotels, restaurants and attractions that are gay friendly (even a section on planning a same sex wedding!), and everything from budget to luxury London.
Another really good site is Virtual London which has lots of information, and gathers together information on tours, accommodations, things to see and do. You can book various things right on the site. There is a wealth of all manner of information from every day tips to info on the Royal Family. Time Out London is the online version of the weekly magazine available at newstands everywhere in London. Traditionally recommended to visitors and residents alike to find out what's on this week. There are reviews for all sorts of arts and entertainment, as well as some hotel reviews and listings. They provide general prices and websites where you can go book them.
Brittania.com Has a gathering of many useful and informative links to accommodations, entertainment, sightseeing, both on their site and other websites. They have a general UK travel guide as well.
Get away from the tourist traps
by KennetRose
Spend some time away from the famous sites. There's no point in me writing about Big Ben or the Tower or Piccadilly Circus, because there are hundreds of pages about those places and there's nothing new I can add. What I can give you is an insider's guide to the offbeat stuff.
You may be a tourist in...
by KidsToLondon
You may be a tourist in London, but you don’t have to look like one. Londoners sport all varieties of fashion, but few of them dress like stereotypical American tourists (you know the look: cameras, plaid Bermuda shorts, white tennis shoes, T-shirts and gimme caps).
Beyond dressing like a tourist, some visitors just act like tourists: unfolding and studying large maps while standing in the middle of a crowded sidewalk is a sure sign of a tourist. If you want to blend in, dress conservatively and tastefully, carry a small camera in a pocket or bag, buy a compact fold-out map and study it before you hit the street. Dressing conservatively and tastefully does not mean dressing up. Casual clothes are usually fine in London, but black jeans and nice knit shirts blend in better than ragged blue jeans and T-shirts advertising your favorite brand of beer.
Cultural stereotypes are problematic, but one other characteristic often associated with American tourists is loudness. Visitors who want to blend in should take this into consideration.
Failure to use correct British terminology is another blend in faux pas. Asking for directions to “the bathroom” instead of using the British terms loo, gents, or ladies marks you as a sure tourist. On the other hand, don’t go overboard and adopt a fake British accent—Londoners will know you are not a native anyway.