OK, the title says it all. I'm at London (in the Kenilworth Radisson hotel) and will be here for the next 5 days. I already plan to see the Tower of London and the Wallace Collection. What other military history or just history in general related sights should I see? In addition, can someone recommend a good bar that is small and not "touristy", like an old school type pub? Can you smoke pipes in bars here?

National Army Museum at Chelsea is worth a trip, nearest tube is Sloane Square (I think?). New medieval gallaries at the Victoria and Albert Museum also worth an outing. Smoking is banned in all public buildings I'm afraid.

Go to the National Portrait Gallery. Immediately.

Then go to the British Museum, the Museum of London, the V&A and of course Westminster Abbey.

Where are some good places to see funeral effigies?

Day trip to Bath to see the excellent presentation of the Roman excavations there if Roman antiquities are an interest. They've done a really first-class job. It's not specifically weapons oriented, but a definite window to the past. A highlight for me.

The British Museum, absolutely.

Westminster Abbey, absolutely. With the Tower it's the one can't miss site in London.

Windsor Castle and Hampton Court Palace make fabulous day trips, the latter especially if you're interested in Renaissance history. If I could make one day trip from London, it would be Hampton Court.

Day trip to Portsmouth to see the Victory, Warrior, and Mary Rose museum (ship can't be seen right now) if you're into maritime stuff. Alternately you can see the HMS Belfast and the National Maritime Musuem in London.

If you're into more modern (esp. WWII) military history, the Imperial War Museum/Churchill Museum/Cabinet War rooms are fascinating.

Following your trip to the Tower, a stroll along the south bank of the Thames is nice, preferably if followed by a play at the Globe.

Enjoy!

Hey, and you should write up a report with photos after your trip. Post it to this thread.

Have fun!!

I will do that. Thanks everyone for the advice.

I will also be in Oxford later. Any suggestions for things to see and do there?

You could do Royal Armouries, Leeds, as a day trip. Looks like it's about 2 hours each way from London by train, and around $40 for a same-day return ticket. You could be there by mid-morning and stay all day. I'd do that before Tower of London, for sure. You can do Wallace Collection, British Museum and Museum of London in the same day, working from West to East. There's a nice little place for fish and chips across the street from the BM. Excellent Lebanese restaurant around the corner, too.

Be careful about the V&A. Last time I checked they had mothballed their arms and armour collection. Call and check before investing the time to go over there.

Unfortuantely Leeds from london is a LONG journey, We don't have american roads, I would more guess at 5hours than two.

But the Ashmolian in Oxford is good.

Even longer on british trains. It takes me two hours to get from southampton to london on the train.

Around london, there is the castles at Leeds castle (actualy in Kent not oop north) and dover.

Dover, Hastings, Battle, Portsmouth, Stone Henge, Caterburym are all worth a visit.


All easyly doable on public transport.

Rich

Hi,

Don't miss the opportunity to visit the Leeds Armoury, Kings Cross Station to Leeds station is not that long and you will kick your self if you don't go.

Also visit Saint Martins in the Field Church within the area of Trafalgar Square (same as National Potrait Gallery), in the vaults where there is also a relatively cheap cafe, there are funery brasses galore for you to taking rubbings from, or just buy the pre-done ones.

best
Dave
ps if you can get a trip into York, well a worth a visit to the Yorkshire Museum and York Minster, the greatest Gothic 'Cathedral' North of the Alps.

St. Pauls Cathedral sir! And the plaque at tyburn (Worth a visit but it is only a plaque, saw it during my studies on Jack Shepherd)

I can add to the chorus of recommendations for the Royal Armouries at Leeds. Its a bit of a trip from London but its definitely achievable in a day.

I don't think I will be able to do a day trip from London to Leeds (because of other plans) but I may be able to do Oxford to Leeds. How long would that take?

A lot longer then London Kings Cross to Leeds, average time Oxford to Leeds is about 3.5 hours.

best
Dave