trip to London need advice

buzzlightweight

buzzlightweight

buzzlightweight

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Its my 30th @ the end of Feb and I'm planning a trip to London on Saturday the 23rd.
I have already booked tickets for the Shard and I'm planning on going to Covent Garden but I was just wondering what other places should I consider?

My dad and I are getting the 6am train and our ticket for the Shard is booked for 5:30pm (sunset ;)) so we have plenty of time to mooch around.
We are not afraid of walking (both keen ramblers) or getting a taxi or two.

Oh FYI there are a lot of rules for the Shard, no tripods or mono pods, no bags over 20" x 15" x 8", you will need id, no criminal records.
We have found secure luggage storage at Paddington station so we will off load our gear and only take our cameras and a couple of lenses.

So back to the topic in hand, I would really appreciate any ideas.

Many thanks Buzz
 
A bean bag as a stabiliser instead if tripod?

Outside the shard, well around that area there's London & tower bridge, the scoop, hays, the tower opposite, More London, HMS Belfast, and uhm, southark market is around the corner as well which is good for street stuff :)

kd
 
King Damager said:
A bean bag as a stabiliser instead if tripod?

Outside the shard, well around that area there's London & tower bridge, the scoop, hays, the tower opposite, More London, HMS Belfast, and uhm, southark market is around the corner as well which is good for street stuff :)

kd
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i like the idea of the market and HMS Belfast, planning a walk across tower bridge to parliament/BB

TY kd
 
That's literally all a stones throw from the shard :)

St. Paul's, Tate modern is probably within a half hours walk, maybe slightly longer..

I meant borough market rather than southwark xD but basically the same thing to be fair :)

kd
 
thewanted said:
Borough Market is near the Shard, and is really nice if you like upmarket food and drink.
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sweet so borough market is now on the list ;)

King Damager said:
That's literally all a stones throw from the shard :)

St. Paul's, Tate modern is probably within a half hours walk, maybe slightly longer..

I meant borough market rather than southwark xD but basically the same thing to be fair :)

kd
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st pauls sounds good

PhotoPixels said:
Saw the prices to go up top in `the shard`:eek:
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£25 pp is very worth it, they only allow you 30mins up there but also only 8 people at any one time so its not crowded at all :)
 
ElDude said:
Tate modern is also worth avoiding as it's full of pretentious crap :D
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I took my wife there on a trip to London and she spent most of the time tuting or laughing at the modern !

Her quote for the day was 'a 5 year old could have done that' !
 
Eee, back when you were probably still in nappies I was working in that part of London. Lots of good suggestions given so far but add the Lloyds building and St Katherine's Dock to the list.

I'm going to be 30 for the 31st time in April. :eek:
 
Whilst I've not been up the shard, I will say I'm in two minds about it.

At £20pp, its quite a lot. Considering you could go to vertigo 42, buy a bottle of really good champaign, have a lot longer, and erm, the drink.

It isn't however as high.

Camden Town should also be in your intinery as its great for street photography, if you head up to the lock end (Camden Lock) and book in advance Gilgamesh is good value on their set deals.

There is the saying that london has a park for every season, depending on the time you have you might want to spend some time finding them, they are scattered everywhere so just choose something that fits in with your time. That said, Primrose Hill does offer spectacular views, and is a short walk along the now gentrified canal path from Camden Lock.

The borris bikes are the best way to quickly nip across town, well unless its raining. You pay a fee (I think £2 now) for unlimited journies in a 24 hour peroid that are under 30 min. (Nothing stopping you docking the bike, only to take another straight out). Download one of the apps for your phone and its really easy.
 
Ah yes, that would make it better ;)

As I say, I've not been in the Shard, but I've been to Vertigo 42 many times and the place on the Herion Tower. I should mention Vertigo is a bar at the top of the Natwest Tower, now just called Tower 42, so has good views of London, it isn't as high as the shard, but for anyone reading, would you rather spend £50 on a bottle of champers, which you can sit drinking for as long as your reasonable want, or on two tickets for an 8 minuite quickie, on a taller building.

Either way, avoid the London Eye, that's just a concentration camp for tourists.
 
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