So I'm heading to London next week. Anyone been? Suggestions? Advice?

Pubs.

If you're planning on getting around by yourself, head immediately to the nearest bookstore (there - or maybe you can find one where you live...) and buy yourself a "London A to Z". Its value cannot be sufficiently stressed.

Find the nearest tube or train station to where you're staying. If you're going to be spending a day or two wandering around the city and are staying anywhere outside the City of London itself, buy an all day pass. It might look expensive (I think it was 8 or 9 pounds last time I was there) but it'll save you in the long run.

In general, try to find someplace to stay that is nearer the centre of town. London is huge. You can spend most of your day traveling if you stay too far away. Given a smaller room closer to downtown, or a larger more opulent one on the outskirts, I'd favour the one downtown. You're not going to be spending much of your time in your hotel room anyway, are you?

If you're a science nerd, visit the Museum of Science and Technology.
If you're a nature / biology nut, visit the Museum of Natural History.
If you're an art / history nut, visit the Victoria and Albert Museum.
If you like any combination of the three, they are (fortunately) located near to each other.

If you like Indian food at all, go to the Agra. (135 Whitfield St W1 - Warren Street is the nearest tube station.) Order the tandoori chicken.

If you're not quite sure what you want to visit, there are hop-on-hop-off tour buses running through the city of London itself which cover a lot of the major tourist attractions.

You can do a (long) circuit from Trafalgar square, along the Strand to St. Paul's Cathedral, down to the Thames embankment and along it then back up to Trafalgar and hit a lot of interesting sites.

London is stupidly expensive. Budget for it.

I was going to say "Buy some Branston pickle" but 1. you can get it in some regular grocery stores in the U.S. now and 2. I bet they wouldn't let you take it into the U.S. on a plane since it's a liquid. Kind of.

I haven't been there in years, but if you're looking for a real goofy way to kill a few hours, the London Dungeon is fun. However, if your trip is short, that might not be the best choice!

don't eat the cheese.

:D

Depending on where you stay, there is a great Chinese restaurant near Kensington called "The Good Earth". I highly recommend it. It is one of the best Chinese places I ever visited and I go there nearly every time I visit London (2-3 times a year).

If you don't mind dropping some money, go to Nabu for sushi. It is really nice, but really expensive.

The Mango Tree is a great Thai restaurant. I highly recommend that as well.

For Italian, go to Cipriani. If you only eat at one place in London, eat here. Amazing food and some famous people can be seen. Hard to get a table, so make a reservation in advance. Again, a little expensive - but worth it. It has a cool atmosphere too.

For socializing, head to the Sanderson Hotel. At the 7-11pm time there are tons of people hanging in the bar socially. If you are into that kind of thing, all the beatiful (sexy, hot, etc) people hang out here. Not being one of those people myself, I only know it because I stay there often. The hotel rooms are not that functional but they are artsy-fartsy and worth a 1-night visit if you feel up to it.

I pretty much hate London, one of my least favorite places to go. Tons of people love it, but I am one of the exceptions. That is why I only have places to eat on my list. The only good thing I find about the city is the restaurants. The good ones are exceptional but cost a bit. The mediocre ones totally suck.

I can give you more options if you need. Just send me a PM.

So I waited and, Oh my brothers, I got a lot better munching away at eggiwegs, and lomticks of toast and lovely steakiwegs and then, one day, they said I was going to have a very special visitor.

Awesome chain for yummy chicken: www.nandos.co.uk

Awesome pizza chain: www.pizzaexpress.com

Site seeing: I love the Hop-on Hop-off tours. www.alllondontours.com/body.asp?tour=LON-B0017&page=TourDetails

I agree with the sentiments above though: London is HUGE and EXPENSIVE.

Have fun and take lots of pics!

That Pizza place was a trip.

You get shown to your table where the napkins are folded neatly in your wine glass. And then you order pizza and eat it with expensive silverware.