OT - Question for our British posters

But driving to Stonehenge from Heathrow isn’t too bad and should only take you maybe 2 hours. You could get the train from London Waterloo (which you can get to from HEathrow) but then you’d need to get a cab to Stonehenge itself from Salisbury station but if you don’t mind the slight hassle and book now it will probably work out cheaper then a rental car. As for driving itself it’s easy just watch out for roundabouts :) this site is good for maps/directions etc.

http://www.theaa.com/travelwatch/planner_main.jsp?database=B

London has so much to do although I’m somewhat numb to it having lived 30 minutes away from it for my entire life! Obviously do the main things, tower of London, Houses of Parliament/Big Ben and be a typical tourist :) Something I’d definitely recommends is going on the London Eye. If you haven’t heard of it it’s a giant ferris wheel where you sit in a pod and it takes about 30 minutes during which you get great views of the city.

http://www.londoneye.com/

If you want something a bit more thought provoking then you can spend a day in 3 museums that are all within 5 minutes walk of each other and all are free (though you can donate if so inclined) The Science Museum, Natural History Museum and Victoria and Albert museum are are all accessible from South Kensington tube station and are well signposted. Also if you fancy something a bit odd and interesting, the Tate Modern Gallery is great and full of weird and wonderful modern art. It’s also right on the Thames and by St Pauls Cathedral so you can kill two birds in one stone.

Night wise try going to Leicester Square and Piccadilly circus. Leicester Square is where most of the UK (and some world) film premiers are held and it has 6 or 7 decent cinemas (though they are slightly overpriced sadly) Similarly nightlife is good around that area but you are in the UK, and London so don’t expect to get drunk on the cheap :( Also the West End Theatres are all good but again expensive.

Other then that there are a few other bits and bobs like the London Dungeons which is fun and explores some of the myths of old London like Jack the Ripper etc. Madame Tussauds is also good (loads of lifelike waxworks etc

http://www.madametussauds.com/London/

Ummm really that’s about it. The biggest advice I can give is plan your time and be prepared for transport mania around 8-10 and 4-6 so try and avoid travelling then!

Anyways just my two pennies worth hope you have a great time!

Going by your interest in Stonehenge, I’m thinking you’re a history fan, in which case there is plenty to be found around London. The Tower of London is pretty cool, and there are also a good number of walking tours you can go on: we enjoyed the Jack the Ripper one [but then, we would…] But tell us more about what you are interested in seeing and I can give you better pointers.

Oh, and I think “slightly overpriced” is being kind for the London cinemas, especially with regard to our American friends. According to this site, tickets at the Odeon Leicester Square are around the £14 mark or higher – that would be about $26. Tickets to the biggest screen in Arizona [the Harkins Cine Capri] are $10.

I figure the “touristy” stuff will take up my entire first day and maybe a little of the second (Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Tower, Westminster, Trafalgar Square), I was going to go to the British Museum for at least 4 hours the morning of the second, then do the London Eye, then maybe go to Hyde Park, then after that, I don’t know. I was hoping to make the aforementioned half-day trip to Stonehenge on the morning of my third day then make it back to London to do whatever. That is another reason I am considering driving; the tours are all 12 hour day trips out there. I leave for Berlin at 11 on the fourth day, so I don’t know what I can pack into that short morning. I am staying in a hostel right across the street from the British Museum, though.

I do love history, so anything pertaining to it would be great for me. I am going to buy the Lonely Planet book but I thought I would get the local opinion first. What are some great restaurants? Pubs?

...Museum is in my opinion, the best attraction in London. The WWI exhibit (not sure if it was temporary or not) was incredibly lifelike with the smell of mustard gas, etc. Must must must see.

...I’m not British, but I did a study abroad in the UK back in ‘01. I lived/stayed on Edgeware Rd by Marble Arch for part of my time. Great times!