We are definitely heading to London in November and will be taking a side trip to Paris. Recommendations on what we should definitely see?

Big Ben/Parliament......as you drive continuously around Lambeth Bridge roundabout

the daily reenactment of the French surrendering

(this may or may not be an actual event)

This was the first thing that popped into my head!

The Changing of the Guard and the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London tour.
Trafalgar Square
Westminter Abbey
St. Paul's Cathedral
Double Decker Bus Tours would be a suggestion. I didn't get to take one but wish we could have.

Paris -
Notre Dame Cathedral
Eiffel Towner (beautiful to go up to see sites at night)
The Louvre (huge so wear good walking shoes)
there are lots of little shops and sidewalk cafes that are neat to see.
Arche de Triumphe (just be careful if you try to walk through traffic to go see it - 12 streets coming into a circle that goes around it!)
Find a good pastry shop - French pastries are the best!)

I'm quite envious, Walden.

The Louvre, for sure.

I don't remember exactly where we were, but Marie Antoinette's country home was AWESOME and so was Luxembourg (where Patton is buried?) (these were driving distances...don't know what your transportation options will be)

Arche de Triumphe.

One of the wineries...the glass factories were cool (but that may have been in Germany, I can't remember).

The Palace at Verseilles is very interesting also. Will take some driving from Paris and not sure how far out it is. I was on a bus and only 18 at the time. Ha!

If you have time in London, take the train out to Windsor and tour the castle.

You can write to the Tower of London and request an invitation to the Ceremony of the Keys. It takes place every night when they lock up the tower. There is no fee, but you need an invitation.

Verseilles has Marie's country home... very cool.

Paris - the catacombs, Musee d'Orsay, Pompidou Centre, the Opera House is gorgeous, simply strolling the Tuileries Garden at dusk, with a logely sugar and lemon crepe.

Love Paris.

About a 50 minute or so train ride.

In London, you have to do the London Eye, and in Paris La Moulin Rouge is a must see.

I've been to Paris, Illinois, but not the one in France. I'm envious.

Montmartre and Sacre Coeur

Musée de l'Orangerie

Macarons (no, not macaroons)

I would say a side trip to Giverny, but it probably would not be worth the time in November.

If you can get a day or two to Brussels, well worth it! Great relaxed city, everyone speaks english, takes a half a day to see the sights, and then you eat and/or drink your way through the rest of it.

If that is too far out of the way, I recommend Bruges in Belgium as well... a smaller but just as quaint version of Brussels.

If you go on The Eye in London, you get to see a bunch of the city from up high!
-Big Ben
-Tower of London
-The British Museum at Trafalgar Square was awesome!
-Double Decker bus tour
-King's Cross station for Platform 9 3/4!
-Buckingham Palace

PARIS
-The Lourve
-Eiffel
-Arche de Triumphe
-I wished we'd gone to Moulin Rouge
-Get a chocolate croissant! They are TO DIE FOR!!
-I'm a huge old movie nut so getting to see the actual places from movies like Charade was really exciting!

Musee d'Orsay was my most fav museum - even over the Louvre. I loved seeing the Louvre, though.

I've probably already told this story before, but as we were entering the Louvre some young ladies we exiting and I heard one exclaim "If I see one more picture of Jesus I will throw up". I thought "How rude" but as I was leaving the Louvre I did think that I was a tad bit overwhelmed myself.

The Eiffel Tower at night is breathtaking and not to be missed.

In Paris - Pick a church - any church - and be amazed and awestruck and overwhelmed.

London is on my bucket list.

Bruges was cool. We went on to Amsterdam and hit the tulips the exact week they bloomed to their fullest. Best moment ever!

Yes, must try a pain au chocolat!

I felt Moulin Rouge was overrated... but if you go with your daughter, beware strolling the side streets of Blvd de Clichy... some, uhm, unsavory endeavoring young ladies may be advertising their services from the windows above.

And some unquie shops and theaters you may not be comfortable explaining the purposes of

OH! I forgot Notre Dame cathedral! When we were there, an acapella men's choir was performing there and it gave us goosebumps it was so beautiful! Plus, the stone carvings are amazing.

This reminded me of the very dark comedy called In Bruges, about two Irish hitmen hiding by posing as tourists in Bruges. I'd like to relate some of their comments about Bruges, but they all be [censored].

We will only have 7 days; taking a day trip to Cardiff Wales and a day trip to Paris. Rest of time in London. No Moulin Rouge with my daughter with me! Musee d'Orsay is already on our list of things to do in Paris. Planning to get the Travel Oyster Card in London - the website indicates that you get free admittance to the most visted sites in London. Did you all find it easy to get around with public transportation?

The metro/subway systems were great! "Mind the gap!"

If you are planning in travel London via public transportation, make sure you buy a pass for the "underground". It's been a number of years since I was there, but it was so much easier (and cheaper) than "pay as you go". You can get passes that are good for 3 days, 7 days, etc.