STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Shopping -

Carnaby Street
Top Shop
Harrods
Chelsea
Covent Garden

Theater -

half price, day-of, ticket kiosk in Leicester (sp?) square (pronounced Lester)

Music -

concerts at St. Martin in the Fields (next to Trafalgar Square) http://www2.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/page/music/music.html the "concerts by candle light" are stunning  - a string orchestra played vivaldi's four seasons - just a beautiful experience - the church is very gothic too - it's just so cool.

(musical interest) Abbey Road crosswalk next to Abbey Road studios (the Abbey Road album cover where Paul is walking across the street barefoot?) plus you can graffiti your name on the wall that surrounds the studio :))

here's the album cover (the studio wall is the white wall on the left by the VW Beetle) all you have to do is take the underground to the Abbey Road Station, and you're there.

a good walk -

From Trafalgar square through St. James park to Buckingham Palace to Hyde Park (Sunday AM has speaker's corner near the arc) to Kensington Palace (where Charles and Di lived.)

Museums -

National Gallery of London (at Trafalgar Sq.) - great collection of Monet, as well as Jan Van Eyck's Arnolfini Wedding Portrait (my favorite)

Albert & Victoria Museum

National History museum (the rosetta stone and friezes from the parthenon are there)

Other sites -

Big Ben/Westminster Abbey
Tower of London (crown jewels are there)
British Parliament/Whitehall
Picadilly Circus (just because it's a really famous square - I think there's a cool eros statue in the middle too)

the underground is great. the first thing I always do after I get settled into the hotel is go to the nearest main underground station, hop in a photo booth (if there's two of you switch halfway through) and get a weekly travel pass for the underground. it's the easiest and cheapest way to get around (the weekly pass ends up being cheaper than buying tokens every time you go through.) they will give you an underground map there as well.

British food sucks - so try to eat Indian... although you have to eat some gratuitous fish and chips... last time I was there, the pubs closed at 11 - but I know they were trying to change that, so they might be open later now.

I strongly recommend buying a Fodor's Pocket London guide book, and a pocket map of London - I really like the Fodors for restaurant recommendations, as well as attraction/museum hours/info, as well as walking tours.

HTH

Its not true all English food sucks!  Normal food is just comfort food and if you like potatoes then you are golden - I'd suggest just eating lunch at a pub or going to a sandwich stand.  Indian food aka "going for a curry" is really amazing there - Brick Lane is the area with the most restaurants so its definitely worth a trip.  These are also the places that serve food the latest as well.

London has basically every type of food you could look for - I like to eat dinner in SoHo.  Busaba Eathai is a great, hip Thai place there.  Here's a link to a website with more information about restaurants in London: http://www.london-eating.co.uk/

SoHo also has a great nightlife.  There are some pubs and some bars - I think pubs are open late now so that should be nice.  I haven't been back since the 11pm rule ended...  Pick up a TimeOut London (magazine) at a newstand/shop for more information about specific events while you are there.  Here's an article about the oldest pubs in London:  http://www.timeout.com/london/bars/features/272.html

As for shopping all the suggestions are all ready good.  Its fun to go to Camden Town if you are into fairs and funky stuff, the market is pretty much right off the tube stop.  I'd avoid Oxford street (where the huge Topshop is) like the plague on a Saturday morning - everyone and their mother are out shopping that day and its really annoying and frustrating to be there.  Go on  if you have any time on a weekday - it will still be crowded, but not as badly.

The museums are free so take advantage.  I love the National Portrait Gallery and both Tates the most.  The Tates are both in pretty cool areas for a nice walk along the Thames.  I suggest walking from the Tate Britain to Parliament - its a really nice walk.  If you have time I love Kew Gardens in the outskirts of London too.  The whole area is just adorable.

Anyway PM me if you have more questions - I lived in England for two years (though not in London) but I spent a lot of time there.

ILoveChoo wrote:

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oxford st has some really fun cheaper shops. I like top shop and oasis a lot.

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Agreed, Oxford street has everything.  Also hit Selfridges, it is my favorite department store. 
Also Portabella Market, and Office and Faith shoe stores. 

Also Notting Hill was so much fun to walk around.  The houses and flats are painted ice cream colors.  You will also stumble onto some great shoe and vintage stores in that area.

Check out Lucky Magazine's shopping report:
http://www.luckymag.com/cityguides/london