Londoners, I need advice. August or late September?

NYCNika

I am trying to plan a small Europe break (London, Oxford, Lille, Maastrich and Amsterdam in 2.5 weeks) and deciding between mid August or late September? Is London in any way like Paris, where August is not a good time to visit? What is your advice?

NYCNika

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Flixie00

I don't really think it matters, except it will be a little warmer in August (well it should be).

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NYCNika

Why would September be a better option?

My rational for looking at August was to get out of NYC where it is a freaking 90 degrees in July and August. I would think it would be far more pleasant in London?

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laurajcrampton

I don't think it makes much of a difference, the weather here is temperamental whatever the month, although August should be warmer. There's still plenty to do in London, whatever the time of year! Just make sure you bring both shorts and jeans! (even in September).

Snoozypaws3000

School holidays are in August so you tend to get more English tourists in London that month but it is always busy so anytime would be good.
Make sure you get to Camden Market!
It is amazing for funky clothes, shoes, bags etc

x

NYCNika

School holidays are in August so you tend to get more English tourists in London that month but it is always busy so anytime would be good.
Make sure you get to Camden Market!
It is amazing for funky clothes, shoes, bags etc

x

I googled Camden Market and the first thing I was drawn to:


Now I can't think of anything else but donuts Thank you!

beccyleigh

after the 1st week in September all the schools go back so London would be quieter (relative, it's always busy) but at least you wont have teams of teen kids & mums with young kids cramming up the tourist attractions.

August would be hotter but again, it wont be that much colder in early September.

Surfrider

I lived in London for 6 years. I think August is a much better plan. September (especially late Sept) is cutting it too close to the start of the crappy rainy weather season. There's nothing as great as London in the summer!

You can also grab cheap tickets (~$100 round trip) on the Eurostar from London to Paris.
http://www.eurostar.com/

You can easily make an amazing day trip out of it. Take the first Eurostar out of St. Pancras station London around 6am (local), arrive in Paris at Gard du Norde station about two and a half hours later. Gard du Norde also connects to the city's metro system (subway). As you get off the Eurostar, look for the signs to the Paris Metro and hop onto Line 4 which will take you directly to St-Michel / Notre Dame.

This is a good start point for the day tour. Check out Notre Dame and as soon as you are finished, you just walk down to the river next to it and look for the Batobus (boat bus).
http://www.batobus.com/english/index.htm

The batobus will run in a circle around the city to all the highlights you are looking for. Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Champs Elysees, etc. If you buy the day pass, you can simply hop on and off the boat at each stop as much as you like. If you plan the day correctly, you just end up back at Notre Dame and go back via the Metro Line 4 to Gard du Norde to catch the 9pm Eurostar back to London.

Very very worth it if you have the time!! Feel free to message me if you have any London questions.

NYCNika

I lived in London for 6 years. I think August is a much better plan. September (especially late Sept) is cutting it too close to the start of the crappy rainy weather season. There's nothing as great as London in the summer!

You can also grab cheap tickets (~$100 round trip) on the Eurostar from London to Paris.
http://www.eurostar.com/

You can easily make an amazing day trip out of it. Take the first Eurostar out of St. Pancras station London around 6am (local), arrive in Paris at Gard du Norde station about two and a half hours later. Gard du Norde also connects to the city's metro system (subway). As you get off the Eurostar, look for the signs to the Paris Metro and hop onto Line 4 which will take you directly to St-Michel / Notre Dame.

This is a good start point for the day tour. Check out Notre Dame and as soon as you are finished, you just walk down to the river next to it and look for the Batobus (boat bus).
http://www.batobus.com/english/index.htm

The batobus will run in a circle around the city to all the highlights you are looking for. Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Champs Elysees, etc. If you buy the day pass, you can simply hop on and off the boat at each stop as much as you like. If you plan the day correctly, you just end up back at Notre Dame and go back via the Metro Line 4 to Gard du Norde to catch the 9pm Eurostar back to London.

Very very worth it if you have the time!! Feel free to message me if you have any London questions.

Thank you for the tips. I've been to Paris before and did all the mandatory attractions (and stuffed my face with mille-feuilles). This time I would like to make a short trip to Lille instead (I have a half sister that I have never met that lives there). I think there is a train from London that goes to Lille. And I will be staying in what I think should be a very convenient location -- St. Pancras Renaissance London Hotel that is right at the station.
Transportation to anywhere in the city should be good from there. And it looks very nice:










I plan a day trip to Oxford, not sure what the best way to get there is or is it best to stay overnight.
I liked Inspector Lewis series and thought it would be nice to see this town in person.

But in general, what are your favorite places to eat in London and what common attractions are tourist traps that are not worth it?

NYCNika

I am also very conflicted if we should take our toddler (he will be 2 years and 8 months) with us. On one hand, we have 2 more vacations this summer (Vegas and Miami) and we are not taking him with us, and if we don't take him to Europe too, he will spend too much time being taken care of by relatives.

On the other hand, I don't know how traveling with a toddler will be like. We won't be able to see many things, popping in for a drink in a pub or a lounge will be problematic.. It might be stressful for us to try and make planes/trains. His sleeping schedule might be disrupted. And, he won't remember anything. And what if he gets sick?

But, he will see new things, be with this parents, and places we are staying in are nice and hygiene/safety in those countries does not present a problem.

I can go back and forth on this forever. It is tough.