Planning for the British Isles Trip

We have been traveling with two other couples which makes each trip so much more fun. We'll be taking another trip next year in early spring. This time, they are planning to fly a few days earlier to visit the Normandy region in France before joining our Viking British Isles Explorer cruise.

Art and I spent a week on our own in Paris many (many, many) years ago and absolutely loved it.

However, remembering our first trip overseas with the kids to England and Wales in 1990, we decided to go there to revisit old memories. We'd spent 6 days in the British Isles when the kids were still in grade and high school. We spent time in Wales, Oxford, and Bath but just 2 1/2 days in London. 

We still managed to squeeze in a lot of stops in London and saw Starlight Express and Cats during the evenings. Granted, the kids were so tired they fell asleep watching Cats.

Much of what we did centered on the kids, so we thought it would be interesting to see places with just ourselves in mind. We will be flying in to Heathrow three days early and Art has booked a tour to Stonehenge, Lacock and Bath the day after we arrive. I'm a little nervous since our flight this year was rather traumatic and we came in a day late. Hopefully, that won't happen again. 

Art and I will then have two and a half more days to enjoy before our ship sails. So far, our list of possible places consists of Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Tower of London, British Museum, Imperial War Museum, London Eye (maybe). Art has booked a room for us at the Montana Hotel in the Kensington area. (Is Kensington Gardens a place we need to see?) We considered taking the train from Heathrow Airport to the hotel, but don't want to tackle stairs with luggage even though there are no transfers along the way.

One place we're planning to experience is the Tower Bridge that Art and I did not visit in 1990. We enjoyed the Tower of London 32 years ago, but didn't think to visit the Tower Bridge. From there, we might take the ferry to Greenwich (Prime Meridian) and perhaps visit the Maritime Museum. (Uuuummmm.... you know this is Art's idea.) 

If any of you have been to or live in London and have some pointers, we would LOVE to hear it. Since our last trip to London was decades ago, we know things have changed and our memories are foggy. Now there's the Oyster Card or the London Travelcard, the London Pass. Yikes! Which to get? What else is there for us to know? Sheesh! I'm stressing out and it's still more than half a year away.

Thank you in advance.