please empty your brain below
Warwick Castle is definitely worth a visit as it is in its complete form, and a joy to explore.

I won't say what made it for me, but being crowded with tourists did not take away the excitement, and you should go with at least one companion.

Ken | 08.04.20 - 8:35 a.m. | #

We visited Spencer House last year and the guide gave us an interesting and information packed 2 hour tour. He explained that Diana Spencer and the present Spencer family had never lived there and the house was now leased to the Rothschilds who had refurbished as it was in the 18th century. It is open on Sunday but only for some months of the year. When the lockdown finishes put it on your 'to do' list.

Sara | 08.04.20 - 8:46 a.m. | #

Holyrood house seems a bit of an odd one out. Yes it’s out of town but it’s really out of town!

David | 08.04.20 - 8:46 a.m. | #

For some of your never visited list...

Sea Life London is ridiculously expensive if you walk up but there are lots of cheaper ways to visit and it's quite fun (if you like fish).

Up at the O2 is actually really fun and I recommend it.

Your unjustified prejudice about Kidzania is, on the other hand, entirely correct. Never ever go there, with or without kids.

Eric | 08.04.20 - 8:51 a.m. | #

There was something about Kew Palace that i found compelling after all that plant life in the rest of Kew Gdns. The small and intimate interior subtly evoked the presence of C18th Royalty.

the other eric | 08.04.20 - 9:03 a.m. | #

A few of the ones you have not visited (or not recently) are run by Merlin. I wonder if they have some sort of sponsorship arrangement with the London Planner.

A Merlin annual pass is not cheap but can be good value if you want to visit the various places (Tussauds, Dungeon, London Eye, Chessington, Legoland, Thorpe Park, Sea Life Centres, Alton Tower, etc.). We had them for a few years when the children were younger.

Warner Bros in Watford is great if you have any interest in Harry Potter. Pretty pointless if you do not.

In ordinary times, you can also visit Spencer House and see the state rooms with a glass of wine at the events they host, such as the occasional London lectures organised by Waddesdon.

Some, like Up At The O2, or indeed a helicopter flight over London, are things you might do just once. Or perhaps not at all.

Andrew | 08.04.20 - 9:06 a.m. | #

I assume the provision of an overpriced bus from Victoria is the reason the Warner Bros. Studio Tour ends up in "London". Wondering if money changed hands to get it there...

TheLupineOne | 08.04.20 - 9:16 a.m. | #

Museum of Freemasonry???

I doubt many tourists come to London with a burning desire to find out more about Freemasons.

Mikey C | 08.04.20 - 10:01 a.m. | #

I went to Madame Tussauds and the London Dungeon a couple of years ago. The former was predictably dreadful, although impressive in terms of sheer crowd control, the latter unexpectedly entertaining.

Jonathan Wadman | 08.04.20 - 10:10 a.m. | #

The Museum of Freemasonry might not appeal to most people but the tour of Freemasons' Hall that you can book will appeal to anyone interested in architecture, particularly Art Deco.
The tour is free and the web site is open to all.

Mike | 08.04.20 - 10:23 a.m. | #

I'd disagree that Warner Bros Studio is only for Harry Potter fans ... I've been twice with my granddaughter (who is a fan while I'm not) and thoroughly enjoyed it ... all you need is a passing interest in movie special effects

DG, talking about aquaria ... my son and daughter in law visited Nausicaa in Boulogne a few months back and are still raving about it ... maybe an idea for your outings trip in the future

Caz | 08.04.20 - 10:42 a.m. | #

Something I’ve spotted in the London Planner on a regular basis is that the Tube and bus maps in the booklet are always old versions despite being an official tourist guide.

Rob Healy | Homepage | 08.04.20 - 11:12 a.m. | #

Contrary to other views, Kidzania comes highly recommended by my local Girls and Boys Brigade leaders for a group outing.

Holyrood House as an excursion from London on the other hand...

Andrew S | 08.04.20 - 11:13 a.m. | #

The bus map at the back of the London Planner still includes route 10, withdrawn at the end of 2018. and routes C2 and RV1 withdrawn last year.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 08.04.20 - 11:20 a.m. | #

Even though I'm not an obsessive rock music fan, I found the stuff in The Vault surprisingly interesting. You have a guide, who was of course knowledgeable but didn't make assumptions about our familiarity with the genre.

Bob L-S | 08.04.20 - 11:26 a.m. | #

Warwick Castle is also run by Merlin. You can definitely feel the influence of Madame Tussaud’s if you visit, especially if you are used to castles owned by the National Trust or English Heritage.

Cjw714 | 08.04.20 - 11:33 a.m. | #

You don't need to go by coach to Warner Bros Harry Potter exhibition. It's dear enough to get in there but it's cheaper to get a train from Euston to Watford Junction using your oyster etc and then the Shuttle Bus from there. I've made the visit more than once but I'm close to it anyway and can walk there. Thanks for your continuing daily offerings DG at this difficult time.

Dave B | 08.04.20 - 11:37 a.m. | #

Wot - no M & M World?

Cornish Cockney | 08.04.20 - 12:10 p.m. | #

The bus map also thinks the 25 still terminates somewhere useful

NickW | 08.04.20 - 1:36 p.m. | #

Wot no Bus Stop M World? :)

Or indeed Bicester retail village.

Andrew | 08.04.20 - 1:38 p.m. | #

I went to the Chelsea Physic Garden on a free entry day a few years ago. Unfortunately it was in winter so little of colour in bloom - I think it was an attempt to boost pre-Christmas trade in the gift shop. That said I thought it a little oasis of calm so close to the Kings Road.

ap | 08.04.20 - 3:35 p.m. | #

Tourist visitors to London may also be Freemasons. I'm not affiliated nor have I ever been, but The Museum of Freemasonry tour of Freemasons' Hall is by some distance my favourite free thing to do in London. Always interesting to learn more about the organisation, and the architecture and design are simply stunning.

Frank F | 08.04.20 - 4:20 p.m. | #

I picked up a copy of this Guide in Lille last year at the Eurostar Station. Regarding the subject of the Bus Map, I wrote to the Mayor's Office last October to point out to them, the inaccuracies mentioned in the comments above. They advised they would pass this over to TfL who would raise them with Visit Britain / London.

Sadly this doesn't seem to have happened. Given that the RV1 was withdrawn last June, one wonders when tourists will be provided with accurate about the Capital's major bus routes.

IanD | 08.04.20 - 5:55 p.m. | #

I visited the London Dungeon in 1981, it was much better than when I had to revisit with my kids about 20 years later.

Similar with Warwick Castle, much better pre-Tussauds.

NPIan | 08.04.20 - 6:45 p.m. | #

Nausicaa in Boulogne is very good, as is the rest of Boulogne. However, much harder to make a quick trip there without a car since the ferry stopped. And Nausicaa is very busy, so you really need to track down a quiet period. In normal times, of course.

Malcolm | 08.04.20 - 10:35 p.m. | #

On the subject of Warwick Castle, it's around a 15 minute walk from Warwick railway station should anyone care to visit once we return to a more normal situation.

Gets an hourly service from Marylebone with a journey time of around 1 hour 25 minutes, and fares start from £6.40 Single.

Barry S | 09.04.20 - 3:47 a.m. | #

Can't believe you haven't been to the Chelsea Physic Garden, you really really should!

Oh, and Spencer House is meant to be really worth a visit - there's two for your list for when you're allowed back out.

SJM | 10.04.20 - 6:32 p.m. | #











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