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London is a wonderful city! It's my second favorite in the whole world (NYC has to be first with me).
For pre-trip research, check out some travel sites Londontown.com is one I've been to and also visitlondon.com. I hope I got them right. Google the names if typing what I just did doesn't work. Also google British Tourist Authority and see if there's an office in San Francisco (I'm assuming you're in the Bay Area?). The BTA office in NYC is a fabulous source of info. They have all kinds of practical and fun brochures, even a map of movie locations! (I dragged the DH to a bunch of Bridget Jones locations)
On the London sites, look for a link about getting from one place to another. They have an amazing search engine that will give you routes from one place to another in London, and you can choose bus, underground (subway to us), or walking.
For getting from Heathrow into the city, you can take the underground, which is cheapest but slowest. Not a great idea if you have a lot of luggage, since you'd probably have to change trains. There's also a non-subway train into the city, which is more expensive but faster. Then you'd have to get from the staton to your hotel. There are buses from the airport, too, but I've never tried a bus.
Check the london transport website. You'll be able to see your options there. There are several different kinds of transit passes, some of which I think you might have to buy before you leave the US.
If you haven't done so already, get a London guidebook. I like the DK book, but any good guidebook will have links to all the museums, and you can see what they're like.
Personally, I love the British Museum (rooms and rooms and rooms of mummies!), and the Victoria & Albert, which is sort of like our Smithsonian history museum.
And the theater! Do try to see a play. Goggle London theatre and see if you get a hit on some theater sites. Sorry to be vague about sites, but they're bookmarked on my desktop and I'm on the notebook at the moment.
If you like to walk, walk along the Thames. The south bank (I think I know your hotel, it's near the Eye?) is fun to walk. you'll pass Shakespeare's Globe (you'll be there in summer, think about a performance there), Tate Modern (I don't care for modern art but the building is cool), the Millenium pedestrian bridge.
We've been to London ten times and still find fun things to do. We've done the biggies (except M. Tussaud's), so now we look for small offbeat museums, and go back to our favorite biggies.
One important thing: first day (if you're not tired from a long-haul flight) take one of the touristy double-decker tours. It's a great way to get a sense of the city.
And for getting to Harwich, I have no idea. There's probably a train. Can you buy a transfer from your cruise line?
You have a whole year to plan! I enjoy the planning/anticipation almost as much fun as the trip itself. Enjoy!!!
Kathy
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