Going to London

I love London! You have lots of great advice. You can't go wrong, because there are so many wonderful things to do. Do try to have high tea in a fancy hotel one late afternoon.

I'd just add, pack a few scarves and little pair of stretch mittens. I used mine in London on a few cold, drizzly July days. So I could ride the top of open buses and walk through the drizzle all day. Cheer-i-o!

I'll add the British Museum. Amazing if you are into world history.

http://www.visitlondon.com/attractions/detail/285709-brit...
http://www.britishmuseum.org/

Take layers. London in November will be around 30-40 degrees (maybe 50s, if you're lucky), and probably wet.

Go see:
Tower of London - you could spend a whole day here if you wanted. Very cool.

Westminster Abbey - get a tour with one of the vergers so you can see the "behind the scenes" stuff.

The Tate's - if you're into art.

Oxford/Picadilly circus - hint, if you want show tickets, you can get them at booths there on the street for half price usually just before show time. Also..great shopping here!

In ay neighborhood - wander into a pub and enjoy the lifestyle!

IMO, Buckingham Palace is crowded and overrated, but St. James Park just in front of it is lovely for a walk and nice scenery. You can walk there from Picadilly Circus, so just take a day and stroll.

The Imperial War Museum and Churchil''s Bunker (this is walkable from Westminster Abbey, and you can grab lunch at the original Red Lion pub on the way) are also cool if you like WW I and II history. DH loved those.

Notting Hill and the Kensington High Street are also nice for walking around and experiencing "life".

And finally, if you enjoy soccer...go see a Premiere League match. We're Chelsea fans, but you could do Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester or one of the minors. The Brits don't mess around with soccer, and it's true crazy fandom! We went to a Chelsea match during one of our visits, and there was nothing like it!

Enjoy! London is one of my favorite cities!!
You can take the tube everywhere you need to go.

Google can be your friend - just google "visiting London in November" and all kinds of forums and stuff will come up. You may find some interesting things in travel blogs. Also google about jetlag so you can maximize your time and adjust quickly.

I've been to London, twice. its an ENORMOUS city. There is lots of places that used to be very safe and touristy, but not anymore. Do not rely on travel companies or tour guides to be honest and have your safety in your best interest. I dont know what your race or color is, so I am going to just warn you. If you are of middle eastern or Arab decent, or looking in anyway there are a few places to avoid.
London is a HUGE melting pot of different cultures and lifestyles. Depending on what you like, you will find something of interest there. I used the London Pass last time I went. Its open to use on pretty much anything there. I loved it. http://www.londonpass.com/?aid=26&gclid=CODS9pv86bICF...

If you dont want to use it, it also has some great tips of whats going on there in Nov. Someone else says layers. I say warm clothes, and bring something for the rain. Every time we went there we spent 2 weeks or more, and it rained about 50% of the time. Nothing torrential, but its always lightly raining or misting. I actually liked the countryside better, and the smaller local owned pubs and inns. I did some of the must sees, like Buckingham Palace, London Tower, and Trafalgar square. I even went to see Abby Road! Outside of London I visited farms, and battle grounds, I loved the estate tours they have. SOME of the most richest, elaborate homes with these ginormous gardens are in UK. London has some of the MOST gorgeous old homes. I loved the tours of these, I took carriage rides through them.
Things to stay away from or not say? or you will get laughed at or worse. Is DO NOT call them European to their faces, they hate it. Not many there LOVE Americans so best try not to tick them off. There is different accents depending on the area of the city, the income of the people, and the blood lines. It doesnt mean they are from different parts of UK its just different parts of London. Then you will bump into Irish and Scottish ALOT which sound even more different and even harder to understand. If you cant understand something, dont ask them to speak English or that you speak English. BIG mistake, tell them your American. They will talk slower and sometimes be offensive about it, but dont take offense. Its just their way. This is not every where but in the outer areas and the countryside its much worse. Measurements (weight/lengths) and electrical wattage will be different there, bring the proper transformers for anything electronic. GET USED TO LOOKING in the opposite direction for TRAFFIC at the crosswalks and lights, or risk getting creamed by cars. Their rules of the road, and whats on paper are two different things. PEDESTRIANS have to be very careful, its not like here AT ALL. You will be creamed if you are not paying attention. If you want to see "London Bridge" or what we consider London Bridge, dont say London Bridge, Say Tower Bridge. If you say London bridge you well get taken way up north, to a little normal looking bridge, and then you will have wasted time and money. The bridge that people see in the movies and pictures is called Tower Bridge. Do not walk around alone or just 2, at night in any area, no matter how clean and nice it looks. Its very dangerous. Hire cabs if you can, and stay very close to your hotels.

Here's just a few:

Kew Gardens
Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens
Tower of London
Buckingham Palace
Madame Tussauds

I have not put them in my favorite order either.

If you can spend a day going to castles outside of London, you'd love that. I can't recommend a good tour company, but see if you can find one. Don't try to drive - you don't want to be on the freeway there (and they drive on the other side of the road and car.)

Check the weather. I think it's kind of cold there (I was there in August and it was unseasonable warm, I remember.)

The "Underground", the subway system, is very good. Piccadilly Square was fun to visit - that's a stop on the subway and easy to find. I'd try to get tickets to a broadway show if you can. Maybe your hotel's concierge will do it for you.

Wear comfortable shoes. Bring a stylish but lightweight backpack so that you can layer. You must be careful of pickpockets, so get a "purse" type thing that you wear around one shoulder around your body close to you (under your sweater, if you can.) If you are a AAA member, the offices usually carry something like this to put your money, credit cards and your passport in. Talk to your cell phone company about the best way to be able to call home - you don't want to not be able to call stateside just in case of a problem. I would not use the internet on your cell phone, though. It will cost you a fortune.

I didn't take one of those red double decker bus tours around the city, but I think that's probably a good idea. It'll save your feet one day, and if you see something you truly want to go back to, you can do it another day.

I'm happy for you that you get this opportunity. Make the best of it!

Dawn

Bring warm clothes. It should be cool to cold. It will be a damp cold.

See a play or show or an opera/operetta.
See Big B. and the Buckingham Palace.
See the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace
Ride the double decker buses.
See Westminster Abbey. Visit the museum that has the crown jewels.
If they are still there, eat fish and chips from a street vender and use some of their malt vinegar on the fish and chips. (Chips are french fries.)

If you have a free day, go to Edinbugh Castle (Scotland) and see the changing of the guard there too.

I hope you have a wonderful time. Good luck to you and yours.

You've gotten some great advice. I'll add that it's worth making time to get outside of the city center and into at least one of the surrounding villages, such as Hampstead, Greenwich, Dulwich, etc. Hampstead Heath is glorious.

Also, there's a company called London Walks that leads excellent walking tours with just about every focus and interest you could want. Check them out at http://www.walks.com/ - it's inexpensive and you can just show up at the appropriate time, no reservations.

C.:

A voltage converter if you are bringing something like a curling iron - or go buy a travel iron that has dual-voltage.

an umbrella. a mid-weight jacket as it can get cold in November in London.

A credit card so you don't need to worry about money exchanges. Or talk to your bank BEFORE you go and find out how much the currency exchange is with them....

A camera with a GREAT memory card and extra batteries.

There is MUCH to see in London.

http://www.londonpass.com/?aid=26&gclid=CP_Tot2U6rICF...

http://www.londonenglandtours.net/?ctt_id=1736484&ctt...

since I don't know what you are interested in, I included links of things to do and see.

If you have rental car access - driving on the left side of the road CAN BE disconcerting - but a drive to Stonehenge or Canterbury is always worth it. IF you want to stay in London proper?

Trafalgar Square
Pickadilly
Tower of London
Big Ben
House of Parliament
Changing of the Guard

And that's just to start!!!

HAVE A BLAST!!!

Order a really good tour book, read it through, and then decide what's really important to you. The double decker bus tours are very touristy, but still really fun to do and you see a lot. The book we bought had a lot of really neat walking tours which was really cool. And, if you can get out of the city, go see some more remote beautiful areas. We've been twice and it's so much fun. Warning - things are very expensive there. Have fun!

The warnings about looking both ways before crossing the street reminds me of Winston Churchill. I read that when he came to the U.S. the first time (on a book tour or something - this was long before he became Prime Minister), he forgot to look both ways, and a car going on "the wrong side of the street" landed him in the hospital. If it can happen to future Prime Ministers in the U.S., it can happen to tourists in the U.K.

Great answers so far. I loved London when I went. Caution, they drive on the opposite side of the street it may take you some time to get used to looking the opposite direction when crossing. I was nearly ran down several times LOL.

Have a great time. There is so much to see and do in London.

If you really have to go, don't ask for a restroom, because they call it the toilet. When I asked for the restroom, they pointed me to the bar/lounge.

If you have a hard time communicating to them, use a different word and don't use acronyms like we do in America. TV - television, ID - identification

They don't use much ice there. If you ask for a drink, they will offer it without ice. If you ask for ice, they will give you about 3 cubes. If you ask for more, you may get a look.

The soda lacks carbonation. So it is what we consider flat. Water is served either with carbonation or without...that is what they mean when they ask if you would like the water, "No gas".

Their restaurant breakfast is different there. We ate, sliced tomatoes, boiled eggs, cubed cheese, tea, toast, and thing to that nature. Being from Vegas, this was different, although tasty.

Watch your bags on the public transportation. So if you have a backpack, clip the zippers together so they can't be easily opened.

If you have time, go to the library and ask for books about traveling to London. You don't want a miscommunication to become offensive.

Have fun, it is gorgeous there. I live in the dessert, so it was amazing to see all the flowers and greenery. London was one of my favorites.

If you drink be sure to have a pint of"Cider and Black ". It is just alcoholic cider with a splash of black currant flavoring , delicious. And i agree with another poster about the ice . They drink most things almost room temperature,ick. It is fun to get candy because they have some of the same kinds but with different names. You have to get Smarties which are like M&Ms and Lion bars are yummy too. They make inexpensive treats to bring home . It's also fun to get makeup at the drugstore . Lots of different brands Mary Quant is great. It's fun to buy shampoo , Timotei . Stuff that you dont see here that isn't expensive. Also, shoes are usually cheaper there;0)
I don't remember the names of all the markets but on Sundays they have open air and partially covered markets that sell everything including cute shoes,belts ,clothes. They are ahead of us in fashion so don't be afraid to buy things you've never seen before.
The bathroom is also called the w/c (water closet).The subway is the tube (chube with accent).
A toast is a grilled cheese and ham . Imagine my surprise as a vegetarian!
You will have a great time . Enjoy and Cherrio!

So much to do and see in London. I been there 3 times and still have not seen it all lol. OK I alway went to the Tower and looked at the The Crown Jewels. ohh what a sight. And then there is the spot where Anne lost her head, and the Beefeaters of course. Westminster Abby is worth going and then walk down the road past Downing Street, Horse Guards parade towards Trafalgar Square and then down the Mall to Buckingham Palace. I would pack a good pair of walking shoes. Madame Tussauds is really a must see. A bit on the expensive side but still so worth it. The best way to get around is by Tube and you can pick up a map at the Airport for free. I hope you have a smashing time and enjoy the Fish and Chips !!!

A raincoat and an umbrella. :)

I personally did the non-tourist thing in London because we had local friends. You can visit Kew Gardens if you like gardens. They have an amazing tree walk. Or you can go to Trafalgar Square and sit on the lions. If I go back, I want to see the Tower of London. You will also be close enough to drive to Avebury or Stonehenge and maybe you can cross over to France if you get some time to do it. There are also palaces to visit.

I didn't have a lot of trouble being understood or understanding them, but maybe that's because I watch a lot of British TV. I will say that bacon is more like ham, so that was a surprise when I thought I was getting bacon for DD. But she loved it. I enjoy off the beaten path places, so ask your hotel concierge where they might go for lunch or dinner.

If you go to Edinburgh (you might want to do so on the train), I'd personally skip the castle and go to the http://www.camera-obscura.co.uk/ instead. I love that city, but the castle is not one of my favorites. I prefer more ruiny ones that are not so touristy, like Raglan in Wales. Or Urqhart off Loch Ness. But we're talking London, right?