Jump on a tram if you go to Manchester and head for Salford Quays, lots of new development there including the Lowry Centre (Michael Wilford) and Liebskind's Imperial War Museum.

As for London, buy a copy of Time Out when you arrive and check what exhibitions are current.

One of my favorite places, architecture wise, is Container City, Trinity Buoy Wharf, near (I think) the East India stop on the Docklands Light Railway. It has London's only lighthouse and overlooks the Millennium Dome. Don't know where you're coming from but there's a nice American Diner style caravan located there, where all the artists from the shipping-container buildings meet. Not far away is London's 'Manhattan' - Canary Wharf - ugly as f**K but a good illustration of city planning under Maggie Thatcher!

for london i second the time out (there is a website you can peruse before you arrive). it is the most comprehensive listing of all things current to do in the city...pick and choose as you wish. a must however right now is 'cold war modern' on at the v&a.

also check out the cities markets: borough(most weekdays and saturday) and spitalfields+sunday up market(sunday) are fantastic. the first for all things foodie...the second for a bit of the east end and local designers/vintage.

i suggest you do a walk between the st pauls, millennium bridge, tate modern, borough market, london bridge, llyods bldg, swiss re and the barbican...its a nice way to spend a day...best on a weekday when the city is filled with workers.

if you want a cool view of the city get on a crosstown double decker and try to sit at the front: #11 and #29 are good...

canary wharf is worth a peak, its a bit insane...the stations on the jubilee line are worth noting you can google to find out which are best.

if youre into books: magma is a great shop for all things design.

and finally if you want some more info...like food or drink spots you can email me thru my profile....what part of town are you staying in?

Sir John Soane's Museum, i almost forgot an essential!


these threads are useful if you didnt search yet:

http://www.archinect.com/forum/threads.php?id=64029_0_42_0_C

http://www.archinect.com/forum/threads.php?id=80197_0_42_0_C

Cheers guys, really appreciate your help.

I'm staying at the Bayswater Inn Hotel, Princes Sq near Hyde Park..

I made a few google maps of the places various people recommended, so I'll just add a few more things you guys pointed out...

Here are the links, maybe someone else who is visiting London can benefit from this:

London museums & current exibitions:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=100265488735339439662.00045d025e335a3bc87ac&ll=51.510345,-0.132351&spn=0.086004,0.154495&z=13

London fun:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=100265488735339439662.00045d04a4f8c3b586f47&ll=51.527329,-0.100079&spn=0.085972,0.154495&z=13

Liverpool. Check out the Le Corbusier exhibition in the Lutyens designed crypt of Liverpool Cathedral.

http://www.architecture.com/WhatsOn/Exhibitions/lecorbusier/lecorbusier.aspx

Liverpool is the 2008 European Capital of Culture so you should be quite busy.

http://www.liverpool08.com/

In posts on the discussions linked above I have mentioned most things.

London new/current:

The Saatchi Gallery, in new space by AHMM at Sloane Square/Duke of York Square. It's free, it's full of Chinese Contemporary Art, which sounds not good, is derivative, but most interesting. Worthwhile, particularly if combined with a wander up The Kings Road (not my favourite, but the aesthetic and wealth of the local youth should be seen)

Rothko at Tate Modern? Go to Houston instead

Bacon at Tate Britain? Magnificent. Strap down your stomach and set sail for dissolution.

Babylon at British Museum? When there's so much else to see that's free at the BM (the exhibition of prints by sculptors is excellent), why pay?

www.Projectspace176.com is another space by AHMM. awesome exhibition too (until December 14th).

The Estorick Collection, a gallery of Italian Futurist Art is presently showing an exhibition of collage. Not their best, but (Georgian) Canonbury Square on which the gallery is located is wonderful, and 23 Canonbury Lane a handy booze-stop, and Euphorium Bakery across the street great for coffee and watching.

At the John Soane, be sure to wander into New Square (not new street square) which is adjoining. Also, however broke you might be, make a donation.

You are staying relatively close to the www.LTBfoundation.org Nice building.

RIBA, always changing exhibitions, nice bookshop

National Trust property: Erno Goldfinger's House, Hampstead. Utterly wonderful. The house, pretty much as it was used in erno's reign.

Furniture porn at the new-ish www.EstablishedandSons.com showroom on Wenlock St. Cross the street for genuine all-day drunkenness (with associated smells) in the Wenlock Arms. Go round the corner for Contemporary Art at Victoria Miro and Parasol Unit.

All of the streets below will inspire you, offer architectural delight, and probably coffee:

Hoxton: Charlotte Road, Rivington Street
Soho: Berwick Street, Beak Street
City: Leadenhall Street
Mayfair: Mount Street
Marylebone: Marylebone High Street
Bloomsbury: Bedford Square (Bookshop/AA), Lambs Conduit Street
Islington: Camden Passage

Looking at your maps:

National Gallery Renaissance Faces? Not really.

Gagosian, Richard Serra? Very very Yes.

On my last couple of visits to London (October and November) I got a surprising amount out of wandering through the East End, from around Hoxton Square then North towards Islington and North-East towards Bethnal Green. This less-frequented part of town has some excellent new buildings in it: mainly schools and housing. Then Hoxton Square itself is an arty place to hang out and, for a relaxing pitstop, a wander along the Regents Canal. Like most European cities, London is seen to best advantage in aimless strolling around on foot.

thanks everyone, you've been very helpful
I just finished packing, I'm gonna tune my maps some more according to these last few suggestions and than I'm off to catch my plane

oh and PsyArch thanks for pointing out which exhibitions are good, you helped me narrow things down since I don't have time to check them all out

Good luck in London.

For old-school grandeur, the Royal Academy is great, and squeezed in between the glories of St James (old money) and Mayfair (more old money). The courtyard and some internal galleries are free, and just across the road is the St James outpost of the seminal White Cube gallery (Mason's Yard).

Of a similar ilk is Somerset House, now home to the Architecture Foundation, alongside some occasionally wonderful Art. Worth doing before you cross Waterloo bridge at sunset, it's on the North side of the river, and from the terrace at the back you get the same view as from Waterloo bridge, only without the cars, and with coffee.

from www.moneysavingexpert.com:

if you’re travelling from Manchester to London, go to the Virgin Trains website and click the e-ticketing and m-ticketing section. This offers super-cheap mid-week single tickets, from £1 provided you print the tickets yourself.

Also useful:
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/promotions/
http://www.thetrainline.co.uk

And if you didn't pick it up on the other threads, on arrival in London

buy an Oyster Card for travel from any underground station,
and a London A-Z (mapbook, get the one without the ring-bound spine)