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I can't offer any tips of what to see, but I sure am envious of you going on this trip!!!

Do you know about the textile study room?

And there's a large collection of children's clothing at Museum of Childhood: And the embroiderer's guild directory? And some other museums: including the Whitchurch Silk Mill: Very near the British Museum is the John Soane house: which was one of my favorite spots in London. Not much if you're only after textiles, but a masterful look at handling light and space in a climate much like ours here in the PNW without artificial lighting. And lots of museum-class treasures. Not huge, but worth at least a couple of hours.

Personally, I didn't much enjoy Stonehenge... too busy, too intruded upon. Avebury was much more to my taste:

There's a very nice small museum there: and of course, West Kennet Avenue and West Kennet Long Barrow:

And near the Cherhill white horse:

If you do this, you probably also need to see Bletchley Park:

and a friend would also recommend the Imperial War Museum: (you might also want to listen to Connie Willis's novels, Blackout, and All Clear, for a slightly twisted version of WWII in Great Britain)

(Me, I skipped the WWII stuff and visted more gardens, including the burial place of Captain Bligh, he of the breadfruit/Bounty fame, and the the Tradescant garden:

and the extremely historic Chelsea Physic Garden: and, of course, more time at Kew.)

Kay

(ps: high tea vs. afternoon tea: -- and I have fond memories of afternoon tea in Devon

My husband is off to London in January, again. Now that he's set with his pacemaker and all his medications. I make him shop while he's there. After all his previous trips, his underwear and dress socks are all from Marks & Spencer and will probably last him another 10 or more years. But he needs casual trousers. His body is changing and those he has no longer fit, even though he's fit and the same weight as in high school. Gravity.

The fabrics and workmanship in the clothes he's brought home are fab. I know it's not a shopping trip for you -- it isn't for him, either -- but do look around a bit. All the major stores are conveniently located within walking distance of each other, and it should be great fun for you.

Something he always enjoys are the free and inexpensive concerts given in some London churches. If you're interested, I'll ask him for details.

Yes, it was high on my list. We have only ten days, I am trying to convince DD (and DSIL) to extend by at least one more day.

DD is an embroiderer. She will love that!

Gardens will probably not offer much in March, but I have no doubt we will take a look at Kew Gardens.

Thanks so much Kay! I could probably spend a month (at least) in GB, but DSIL would divorce me. :-}

I fully intend to come home with several yards for my stash. I have scanned the back of a couple of patterns so I will be able to shop for fabric with the yardage requirements right in front to me (in metric!). ;-)

Thanks Joanne. We plan to see at least one West End show and an opera, so probably won't try to squeese in another musical event. I wish we could have way more time there. Do you have any to spare?

Can you stay on after them and do more stuff in London, then fly home? That's usually pretty easy to arrange.

If I ever get back with DH, I'm planning on just leaving him at the Science Museum for a couple of months. When I come back to fetch him, I'll probably have to show him it wasn't just two hours ago I left him there.

Don't forget the Royal School of Needlework, then. They've got some nice kits.

And V&A, RSN, BL, and BM all have interesting books that are hard to find here. Last time I was in the UK in March, I seemed to see a lot of museum books and cards on clearance.

As far as gardens go, the ones in London itself will be ahead of the country gardens, for the most part. Plenty to see at Kew, for instance, less at Wakehurst.

Do I remember correctly you've got a bum knee? If so, you may want to know about

My other tip is to bring a number of pairs of cheap gloves, like those $1 magic stretch types... I found I really needed them in March, and I was forever misplacing one or two. Think I went through three pairs in two weeks.

Kay

Sounds like a WONDERFUL trip! Barbara in FL

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I seriously thought about doing that, and arranging my return flight with a day or two stop in NYC so I could go visit DGD at Juilliard. However, I will be pretty much worn out after ten days of museums/shopping/sightseeing, so I decided to make the visit to NYC later after DGD has a concert scheduled.

LOL

Shared with DD!

I love books! I plan to buy several and have them shipped home.

Even in March?

Yes, bum knee is still awaiting replacement, so I have to be pretty careful. We will look into motorized wheelchairs/scooters..

Great suggestion, thanks!!! I'm laughing at how many more electronic gadgets I have to think about (devices, batteries, chargers, etc) than I had to pack in '81 (none).

Even in late February, ime. Drifts of minor bulbs and early daffodils in the lawns, and of course, lots of glasshouse plants at Kew. Don't miss the alpine house there -- stunning. And you can bask in the warmth of the Princess of Wales conservatory and the Palm House -- a good "collapse day".

FWIW, I try to build in a "collapse" day every 4 or 5 days... extra sleep, maybe a little shopping or laundry, or time sitting on a park bench. Yes, it costs me extra on lodging, but it's worth it for the extra enjoyment I get out of the trip by not being exhausted and footsore.

A friend has been traveling with a "Luggie" scooter, and likes it, btw. Took it from Florida on a recent trip to England and Scotland. Another friend brought one with her from LA to Portland, and I handled that one.

It folds to heavy-ish suitcase size, but still within my ability to pick up and put in the trunk of a car. (50 lbs or so). My one quibble with the design is that it needs a couple of good lifting handles -- the one you reach for instinctively is the handlebar, and it then extends, defeating the lift. I'd probably add a couple of REI cam load straps to it just to increase the ease of lifting when collapsed, as the load straps weigh little, are easy to use and easy to store. Kay

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You've received so many wonderful ideas so far from others from this group. I nudged Kate Dicey on Facebook that you are going, so perhaps she will send you a private mail with some detailed addresses for stashy places. ;-) My personal suggestions: Don't miss Liberty's; it's not only what they have to sell, it's the entire building - wonderful! Just around the corner from them is an entire quarter with lots of tiny shops that sell all kinds of fabrics. And there is a place called Yumchaa at the corner of Berwick and Hollen St. where Kate and I had lunch while shopping for my wedding gown fabric. They are into tea (and what a tea that is!) but they also sell what is called Urban Picnics.

Oh, and if you are set on shopping for exclusive fabric, try Joel &Son . They are set in a rather prosaic part of town but there are more fabric shops in the area, and they are, you know, 'By Appointment - Her Majesty...'. So don't be afraid to go there. And try to get some real ale in a pub - it's just a treat (and try the pub food, too). These guys have a list of pubs with the right stuff: I can't give more tips, only perhaps that you might consider mailing your fabrics home instead of taking them in your luggage. Depends, I guess on what they will charge you for an extra suitcase on your airline. ;-)

So I hope you'll have so much fun, and be sure that my best wishes and a good deal of my envy will accompany you. ;-)

U.

Just came across this tonight, and sent the link to the traveling husband, and now to you, too!

"Ursula Schrader" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news:m5p7aj$5k6$ snipped-for-privacy@news.albasani.net...

Hmm, this is the conversation I had with Kate on Facebook:

09:29 Ursula Noeker

Oh, something completely different: Beverly posted in alt.sewing that she's going to London, and of course she liked some ideas for places to see... I'm sure you can be of assistance to her. What a pity that you don't (can't) hang around that group any longer...

09:43 Kate Dicey

The V&A museum, Museum of London, the London Eye, the Tower of London, Covent Garden for posh little shops, Oxford Street for Christmas lights, Liberty's for afternoon tea. For garment fabrics, Walthamstow. Market: both the stalls and the shops.

Getting those alt. groups on the phone or the Chromebook is almost impossible. Once I get a proper computer set up again, things will get back to normal. Hopefully after the New Year.

That is what Kate sent to me, but perhaps you will get pm, too, I have no idea.

U.

Thanks so much, Kay, I really value your input.

Thanks, very useful! My DD is doing the major work planning our itinerary, I have forwarded it to her.

Thanks, Ursula! I was especially interested in a recommendation for fabric shopping, so this was great!

Thanks so much.. I had sent a private e-mail to Kate a few days ago but did not receive a reply. I wondered if I had the wrong address for her. Nice to know she is still around. It would be such fun if we could arrange to meet in GB. :-D

B

so much fun, Enjoy all of it. Juno

Hmmm, one thing is that she is suffering quite a lot from her Fibro, plus a couple of other ailments; and one of her cats died. You know, she had those ginger/white kitties, boy and girl, Sugarpuff and Cornflake (whom I used to call the Cereal Siblings), and dear old Mr. Cornflake suddenly suffered from kidney failure and medication didn't help, so they had to put him to sleep. It's not too long ago, and I feel quite sad about it myself. Perhaps your mail came in during just those days, and Fibro makes you forget your own bum if it wasn't grown solid to your body (at least the link she posted once said as much) ... If you like, I could give Kate a gentle nudge on FB and she'll contact you under your least protective mail address? I'm sure she'd like to meet you, too. Well, I'd like to just as much but I'm just not 'in funds' enough to do any travelling at this time. However, wouldn't it be just big fun to meet, all three of us, in London and have a downright fabric shopping spree? Or at least to visit the V&A? When I was there with my lover, I had no idea that there was something like it. (Note to myself: Must remember to win lottery!) ;-)

U.

He tells me that he already knew of some of those places, that he'd heard of some others but didn't know where they are and now he does, and that some are completely new to him. He mentioned that London has lots of fast-food places, but that like here, not all of them are good, so he's very glad to have the list. Woohoo, I did something to help!