I know that everything will be closed on Monday. Friday, probably, too.

I'd love to go at any time, I love London!

By "everything" you don't mean restaurants, too? Guess I'll need to get all my shopping done on Sat.! I'll probably only be there Fri morning until Mon...hmmm...maybe Tues.!

The week after Easter is spring break all over Europe, so you can expect crowds of student tours at all tourist sites. I used to think that every parent in France must send their kids on tour to London then.

Our son lives and works in London; he took a two year posting with his accounting firm there. He lives on Falcon Road near the Clapham Junction rail station. We stayed at the Travelodge nearby this spring; google maps has it a 27 minute walk from Clapham South underground station. We are most definitely not experienced travelers and this 2 week trip was the longest I'd been away from home in my adult life haha. The Travelodge was fine; these rooms are tiny by any north American standards and that takes some getting used to. Also, I don't know where you live, but I judge a crowd by Costco on a Saturday; we were not prepared for life in a city such as London! Bring earplugs!

ETA sorry, I see you've been before!

I will never travel abroad on Easter weekend again. Worst.time.ever.

Delilah: why?

Easter is probably second to Christmas to Londoners, IMO. But hey, it's spring, and it's always a good time to visit your son and London. I don't know much about Clapham though. If you aren't traveling ON that weekend it likely won't be so bad. Say, travel over on a Wed and return a week later and avoid the weekend.

Hmm. Well, I'm having second thoughts. Maybe I should go earlier in the month. I only thought it would be a fun opportunity because we haven't seen him on Easter since he's been in college. But my schedule is flexible -- I can go any time -- and I'd prefer not to go if it's going to be crowded everywhere, etc... This has been helpful, thanks all!

I am not sure I agree. Easter and Christmas are big for school holidays, because in the UK, IIRC, they are both like trimester breaks and they get a lot of time off.

But that would mean that a many Londoners would leave on holiday. (yes, some domestic travel might happen too, but I still don't think it'd be anything like high season in summer).

SueB, Every place was closed except a few bookstores run by expats.

But that would mean that a many Londoners would leave on holiday. (yes, some domestic travel might happen too, but I still don't think it'd be anything like high season in summer).

Sorry, but at least when I was over there everyone in the rest of Britain wanted to go to London for the break. Yes, it is just like high season in the summer, for that one week, or at least it used to be. I don't go to England anymore, so can't say what it's like now, except that it is always much more crowded all the time.

I think I'm still likely to go -- now that I've slept on it -- but will see if I can go Wed-Mon so I have more time. The thing is, maybe things will be closed, but if school is also closed, DS has more free time to hang out with mom. :)

Yes, some of the 'big' tourist attractions will be closed on the bank holidays, and Sunday but check out the free places like the National Gallery & British Museum for example, I don't think will be closed on the bank holidays. Some others, maybe not either, like Portobello Road open market on Saturday, I dunno. Would your son enjoy those with you? I always enjoyed Portobello Road for a couple hours followed by lunch.

My son is easy, he'll do whatever. He will have been there for 3 months by then, so he'll be able to be my tour guide! I've pretty much decided to leave the Tues. before Easter and stay til Mon. A good friend might meet me there on Thurs and return home with me on Mon, so I'd have a nice mix of me time, girlfriend time, and DS time. I hope Portobello Rd is open! Loved exploring last time we went.

I'll do some more investigating on what is open/closed as the time gets closer. Thanks, everyone. Thinking of the visit is a nice distraction from the fact that I won't see my (21 yo) baby boy for 3 months!

Sounds perfect. Have fun!

DS says, anent the Brexit consequences, "Visit my country. It's on sale."