Traveling to London & Paris

Sounds like Alexandra has highlighted all the hotspots!
I second the double-decker bus tour and Covent Garden. Also the Stonehenge/Bath tour. We soooo wanted to do the Cotswolds, but most of the countryside was closed to tourism when we were there because of foot and mouth disease being rampant among the livestock.

A couple other things we enjoyed were the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace and a Thames River tour. And, then there's Harrod's for the most overwhelming of shopping experiences. Pick up something for the baby and grab a snack in the cafe.

The travel guides that I've had the most fun with in Europe are the "Let's Go" series. http://www.letsgo.com/ You can find them in any book store. They are written by Berkley college students and they are fantastic at highlighting local gems for eating and shopping, as well as neat sights in the "nooks and crannies" of an area that aren't necessarily on regular tour stops.
Their website even has a "pod tour" of London -- you can download a walking tour to your ipod! And, most of the basic info for British travel and tourism is on the website.
They also suggest a variety of iteneraries based on the number of days you have to spend in a particular location, etc.

Personally, I thought Indian food was horrible. We were quite happy with Pub fare and fish 'n' chip shops, with an occasional pizza parlor. England is not known for it's food, it's known for its history -- eat cheap in the UK and save your memorable dining experience for Paris!

Have fun!

EDIT:
I meant that I second Camden Market, not Covent Garden. Oh, and how could I forget Greenwich! It's a little out of the way from the other tourist stops, but really was neat to see.

While in London, it might be worth a half a day to go up to Greenwich and see the Prime Meridian. The Trafalgar Tavern is a good place to stop and eat lunch. The London Walks are also fun. There are several to choose from (http://www.walks.com/)

In Paris..the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower. We also took the subway down to where Princess Diana was killed. We did this mainly as a challenge to see if we could wander through the city without getting lost.

In Paris you must see Sacre Coer, a beautiful cathedral, in the Mont Marte area. If you have been to Paris before, you have probably walked up all of those stairs to get up there. You can see the vastness of the city of Paris from up there. This is the area where all of the artist are. If you have ever watched any of the movies (especially the older ones), this is usually the area they show people walking down the street among the artist. There are lots of shops with souvenirs. You may find a nice affordable watercolor there as well as along the street by the bridge at the Eiffel Tower. The Arch de Triumph is a must as well. There are so many museums - the Louvre Make some time to just sit in a sidewalk cafe and people watch. The French love their fresh flowers and bread. The experience that will stay with you the longest though is the taxi ride from the airport to your hotel! Just remember that tartar is ground sirloin with herbs and spices that is served raw.

My favorite places in England are not necessarily in the city of London. Bath, England is a fascinating place with all of the Roman baths and sites there. As far as palaces in England, Hampton Court Palace is great with all of the courtyards and the tours are conducted by people dressed in period costume. Maybe there will still be flowers around. Windsor Castle is also a favorite. If the Queen is there, you will not be able to tour, so be sure you check on that before you go. We bought Teddy Bears in Harrod's in London for Christmas presents. They have a great restaurant upstairs that is a nice place for lunch. Trafalgar Square is a great place to visit and thee lots of pubs and some very nice restaurants there - can't remember the names right now though. Remember to take your umbrella and rain coat, but the weather right now should still be fairly descent.

In London just remember to look BOTH ways before you cross the street - most street corners are marked with an arrow to remind you which way to look.

I know that you have a great time!

In London, go to Camden Market for incredible and CHEAP shopping. Bond Street has the upscale shopping and you might spot Kylie Minogue or Elle MacPhereson!
I remember London having a lot of Indian food(curry bowls). My favorite late snack was a prosciutto panini from any of the all night deli's.
Of course there are your tourist sites to see such as Picadilly Circus,Covent Garden,Westminster Abbey,London Bridge,Tower of London, and Buckingham Palace.
Madame Tussaud's is a really neat place to check out. So is the London Dungeon..it's a little creepy but your husband will probably love it.
The London Eye is that big ferris wheel right near the Thames river.
I would definitely do a London bus tour and sit up on top deck. They have a departure station on Baker Street next to Madame Tussaud's.
Oh, and be sure to take a day tour to Cotswolds. The Cotswols is the beautiful English countryside with cottages,old churches, and pubs. Check out the Astral Cotwolds Connection tour.
Do not leave London without checking out Stonehenge. The tours usually combine Stonehenge with Bath( another daytour) and most include admission to the Roman baths.
Windsor castle is about 20 miles from london heathrow and a neat place to see as well.
One day, I would do the Stonehenge,Bath and Windsor tour(http://www.affiliate.viator.com/brochure/product_show.jsp...) and another day, I'd do a full Cotswolds in depth tour. http://www.londontoolkit.com/tours/astral_cotswolds.htm
As for restaurants, if you're on a bdget, eat at any of the Rasa restaurants. Its Indian type food but very good and affordable.http://www.rasarestaurants.com/UserPages/index.aspx
Once you've had your fill of Indian, the area around Dalston is full of inexpensive Turkish cafes. Dalston is a very authentic experience of London.
Gaele's,Queen's pub(primrose), and the Fish Shop have the best fish and chip plates.
The Orangery has a great brunch buffet and afternoon tea. The Foyer in Claridge's Hotel is great for afternoon tea and people watching.
For trendy bars and pubs, hang out in Soho, Islington and Clapham. Off the main Soho drag there are posh, little bars, like Bar Chocolate. Anam(in Islington) is a popular place that has a Thai menu and delicious drinks.

For a romantic(expensive) dinner,go to the Cinnamon Club,Ivy,or Aurora Cafe.
The Dorchester is a nice spot to people watch as well.
Primrose Hill is where the celebrities live(like Jude Law.) :)

Have a great vacation!

Wow, after that last review - I want to go too!!!

My husband & I have spent a little time in London & Paris---I concur with everything the previous mama said. In London, definitely ride on the double decker bus--best way to see sights. Stop off at Buckingham Palace--it's a little bit of a wait but worth it. You definitely have to see the crown jewels...it's hard to believe they are real...and, try to make time for the National Gallery. It was fantastic. In Paris, definitely make alot of time for the Louvre...you won't believe how many famous works of art can be in one ( huge) place. Take the train and go see Versailles. And, the most important thing, always make time to walk the streets to peek in shops and stop for a cafe...that's how you really see Paris. Have a great time.

My favourite Cathedral in Paris is the Notre Dame. Make sure you climb the 400 steps to get to the top of tower. Paris looks beautiful from up there. Also Saint Chapel and its stained glass frescoes are amazing. The Latin Quarter has some nice places to eat and you wont spend a fortune. My hubby, me along with my then 2 1/2 yr old spent about 6 days in Paris and we took the metro for the most part. Yes our toddler came with us and I have to say he is such a trooper!The metro is great - this way we got to walk and see more of Paris then we had planned. Also the double decker bus tours come higly recommended, we did not have time to do those though. The Louvre is a must but pick what you want to see - we did not want to spend half the trip at the Louvre so we just did the Denon wing and got out. Buy the Museum Pass - it is cheaper since it covers most historic places in the city. Cabs are convienient and the French class I took at SMU years ago came very handy here.

I dont know if you are flying between cities but I would not do Al Italia ever. They lost my baggage and have lousy customer service back here in the States.

Rick Steve's Europe is a great guide. His shows on KERA and website has very helpful tips to travel Europe.

I have been to London and Paris several times. I took my husband to Paris a couple years ago.(He had never been to Europe...he had never had a passport!). The best way to do Paris is to walk, walk, walk. It was hard to get lost. Also the metro is really convenient. But when you walk, you find all the little places you will miss with the tour books. (I do recommend Let's Go Paris or if you speak French Le Guide de Routard). Take the Bateau Mouche for a boat tour down the Seine. The Louvre is a must, but plan the time or pick out the specific things you want to see. There is also other smaller museums like Le Musee D'Orsay, Le Musee de l'Orangerie (which houses impressionist paintings.) If museum aren't for you, and they weren't for my husband, go to the top of the Eiffel Tower, Climb the stairs to the top of L'Arc de Triomphe (where there is the tomb of the unknown soldier.) Take a walk down the Champs Elysees. You will notice that in the cafes all the chairs face the street, so you can sit down and have a drink and people watch. And sit as long as you want...nobody will pressure you to leave. If you want cheap meals you can always buy sandwiches on the street and then stop at boulangerie to get dessert. The Latin Quarter will also give you cheap options. All restaurants post their menus outside so you can see the prices.
There is a lot to see if London, but amybe you could take a daytrip like some have suggested. Stonehenge, Bath, Warick are all easy daytrips. Definitly to a double -decker tour. It is a great way to see the city. They used to be used for public transportation, but no more
9due to difficulties accomadating disabled passengers). They still have them for tours and I think on two select 'heritage routes'. There is Westminster Abbey-where you can do a brass rubbing for a nominal fee. St. Pauls Cathedral, Harrods, Tower of London. There are a lot fo outdoor markets that are fun to see. England is not really know for it's food, but you can never go wrong with fish and chips. If you like Chicnese food, you can get some really good food in China Town. If you like musicals, you can buy last minute seats for a fraction of the original price. I saw Les Miserables, M. Butterfly, Ms.Saigon all for the price it probably would've cost me to see one.
Here are a couple website for free things to do in Paris and London.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12823669/
http://golondon.about.com/od/thingstodoinlondon/tp/free_L...
http://gofrance.about.com/od/parisattractions/tp/freepari...

Bon Voyage!!!
Have a great trip. We are planning a trip to London soon, so any tips you have when you get back would be great!