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Post by WireHangers on Jun 26, 2021 16:37:54 GMT
Finally getting to visit London from Scotland in September if all goes well. Other than seeing some shows we haven’t got much planned but I’d like to do some things that aren’t your typical tourist haunts.
Can anyone recommend any unique restaurants to eat at, interesting things to see or do, etc.
Also looking for suggestions to have pre-theatre dinner.
Much appreciated!
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Post by anthony40 on Jun 26, 2021 19:06:36 GMT
WireHangers I would recommend one of two things to see, both of which are free:
1/ Little Venice- positioned behind Paddington Station this is a wide basin where the canal boats turn around. You can have breakfast there on a permanently moored canal boat- either in the boat or on the side path- as both joggers run past and swans glide by. It featured heavily in the Paddington 2 film.
You can also catch a canal boat that will take you through Regents Canal, past London Zoo and into the hear of Camden Market. The canal boat ride takes about 45 mins.
To get to Little Venice, with go to Paddington Station and follow the well trodden public path behind the station to can't the tune to Warwick Avenue (The Bakerloo line- the brown line) and its a 5 minute walk.
2/ Postman's Park- a small peaceful inner city park shadowed by St Paul's it has a terraced wall with tiles depicting heroic feats carried out br everyday Londoners of the past the closest station is St Paul's.
It is also a 5 minute walk from both St Paul's and the restaurant where first Dates is filmed.
In the other direction is the Millennium Bridge featured in the Harry Potter films, leading to the Tate Modern.
Speaking of Harry Potter, if you go to St Pancras station, you can see Platform 9 & 3/4.
If you're there, go into the newly restored St Pancras hotel. The grand staircase is where the Spice Girls danced and sang a zigza zig ah.
It's also where they held their press launch for Viva Forever!- the Spice Girls musical.
I hope this helps
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Post by couldileaveyou on Jun 26, 2021 19:57:31 GMT
There are some absolutely gorgeous cemeteries that are wonderful to walk around, especially Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park and Highgate Cemetery (in which you can also see the world's largest potted plant); Hyde Park Pets Cemetery too. I enjoy having a lunch break in the ruins of St. Dunstan-in-the-East, a church destroyed during the Blitz and turned into a public garden.
The underground Temple of Mithras is worth a watch, and the Old Operating Theatre Museum is creepy in a funny way and some times they show horror movies there. The Petrie Museum at UCL has a lovely and underappreciated collection of Egyptian Archeology. Also, despite being at the very center of the city, Banqueting Hall is very neglected by tourists and visitors: the Rubens' painting on the ceilings are just spectacular. From the top of One New Change there is a wonderful view of Saint Paul Cathedral.
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Post by viserys on Jun 26, 2021 20:01:22 GMT
Speaking of Harry Potter, if you go to St Pancras station, you can see Platform 9 & 3/4. It's in King's Cross Station next door, not St. Pancras. Just walk on towards the toilets until you see the cluster of people waiting to take a photo. There's also a merchandise shop (because of course). As for unusual things to do, this has been on my bucket list for a while www.postalmuseum.org/attractions/mail-rail/ |
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Post by ruby on Jun 26, 2021 20:37:45 GMT
I can recommend the Postal Museum and the mail rail is fun and very interesting
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 26, 2021 20:44:09 GMT
Don’t travel by tube. Use the buses, top deck.
TFL river transport for example Westminster to Greenwich. Look at the city from the river.
Restaurant… not unique and very much a cliche but Joe Allen near Covent Garden is fun, very west end, stagey with the posters and memorabilia. People wills sniff at it but the food is ok.
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Post by steve10086 on Jun 26, 2021 20:53:16 GMT
Speaking of Harry Potter, if you go to St Pancras station, you can see Platform 9 & 3/4. It's in King's Cross Station next door, not St. Pancras. Just walk on towards the toilets until you see the cluster of people waiting to take a photo. There's also a merchandise shop (because of course). As for unusual things to do, this has been on my bucket list for a while www.postalmuseum.org/attractions/mail-rail/Mail Rail is cool - would recommend  |
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Post by properjob on Jun 26, 2021 22:47:18 GMT
I second seeing the city from the river and walking/travelling by bus. I've only managed to do one of the hidden London tours before they stopped due to lockdown but hopefully they will be up and running again by your visit. www.ltmuseum.co.uk/hidden-london |
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Post by david on Jun 26, 2021 23:25:11 GMT
A visit to the viewing platforms of the Shard is worth a visit - www.theviewfromtheshard.comAs others have posted, the Mail Rail train is definitely a great visit. I know the museum is doing the tunnel walks in July and August (I’ve booked for one next month), I don’t know if they are doing them after that. I’m a massive fan of the London Transport Museum’s Hidden London Tours. I’ve done several and really loved them. They also do a walking tour around the Covent Garden and Embankment which would give you a great historical insight into these areas. If you are looking for a bit of an adrenaline rush then a speedboat trip down the Thames is worth a go - thamesribexperience.com. A walk up the O2 arena roof is something else worth considering. A fantastic experience but maybe not if you suffer from vertigo - www.theo2.co.uk/up-at-the-o2/climbFor something a bit more chilled out try trips to the rooftop garden at Fenchurch Street www.thegardenat120.com/#content/page/roof_garden or the SKY garden skygarden.london/booking/ |
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Post by WireHangers on Jun 26, 2021 23:54:55 GMT
”In the other direction is the Millennium Bridge featured in the Harry Potter films, leading to the Tate Modern.
Speaking of Harry Potter, if you go to St Pancras station, you can see Platform 9 & 3/4.”
Funnily enough I was actually an extra in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and I live in Fort William where a lot of the movies where filmed, including the Glenfinnan Viaduct which everyone called “the Harry Potter bridge”, so I’m a bit Harry Potter’d out.
The other suggestions are absolutely fab! I’ll definitely do a bit of research on them and add them to the list. Thanks so much!!
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8,155 posts
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Post by alece10 on Jun 27, 2021 8:10:39 GMT
Another vote for Dennis Severs House. Its an amazing experience.
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Post by vickyg on Jun 27, 2021 9:07:23 GMT
Museum of London is great and FREE!And I would recommend the little known DENNIS SEVERS' HOUSE near Liverpool St.You have to book this in advance.Check website for details and photos. Don't bother with an expensive bus tour as you can do this using just a public bus and an Oyster card. And don't bother with the London Eye.You can get the same view by going to the public viewing platform on the 8th floor of the OXO Tower and its free! If you are into the theatre the NT theatre tours are very interesting but need to be booked.Also at the NT well worth a visit to Sherling Backstage Walkway where you can see views down to the paintshop and scenery being made for up & coming productions.Entry through the Dorfman Theatre entrance and again free! Agree about not bothering with expensive bus tours, and I recommend the number 11 normal tfl bus which will show you a lot of cool landmarks for the bargain price of £1.55 each! |
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8,155 posts
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Post by alece10 on Jun 27, 2021 9:33:28 GMT
Museum of London is great and FREE!And I would recommend the little known DENNIS SEVERS' HOUSE near Liverpool St.You have to book this in advance.Check website for details and photos. Don't bother with an expensive bus tour as you can do this using just a public bus and an Oyster card. And don't bother with the London Eye.You can get the same view by going to the public viewing platform on the 8th floor of the OXO Tower and its free! If you are into the theatre the NT theatre tours are very interesting but need to be booked.Also at the NT well worth a visit to Sherling Backstage Walkway where you can see views down to the paintshop and scenery being made for up & coming productions.Entry through the Dorfman Theatre entrance and again free! Agree about not bothering with expensive bus tours, and I recommend the number 11 normal tfl bus which will show you a lot of cool landmarks for the bargain price of £1.55 each! The number 15 bus us also a goodun. Tower of London, through the city, along the strand to Trafalgar Square and then through the westend. |
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Post by kathryn on Jun 27, 2021 10:27:14 GMT
I quite like The Barbican conservatory - think it’s only open at certain times, but if you’re in the area to see something it’s worth checking to see if it is open.
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4,211 posts
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Post by anthony40 on Jun 27, 2021 10:34:59 GMT
And depending on time (and the weather) a leisurely stroll around Hampstead Heath, past the swimming ponds and Kenwood House is always lovely.
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Post by ruby on Jun 27, 2021 10:45:42 GMT
Another vote for Museum of London, really enjoyed that.
The cable car across to the O2 is good if you like those.
London Transport Museum also great.
Ones on my list that I haven't got round to yet:
Bank of England Museum
Thames RIB experience
Hidden London tours by the Transport Museum (my regular theatre buddy can't walk very well so we're hoping to do those when her walking improves)
My friends went to the film museum (I think that's what it's called) in Covent Garden, they weren't expecting much but said it was very enjoyable.
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Post by lynette on Jun 27, 2021 11:23:19 GMT
Great advice in this thread. Just to add if you have a morning free, go on a ‘walk’ through the City of London . You can get walks from internet or a book, lots available. Go into the churches which are crammed with interest, the little streets still same wiggle as pre fire of London. Some lovely family restaurants still there (Avoid the chains) You can book ahead to go up one of the tall office blocks, great views. And if you have never done it, the Tower of London is a hoot.
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Post by jaqs on Jun 27, 2021 12:07:02 GMT
I’d always recommend the free skygarden over the expensive shard.
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5,158 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Jun 27, 2021 12:32:50 GMT
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Post by alece10 on Jun 27, 2021 14:12:47 GMT
Just thought of another one. Sky Garden at the top of the Walkie Talkie building in the city. Amazing views and it's free. skygarden.london/ |
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Post by theglenbucklaird on Jun 27, 2021 14:24:51 GMT
Great advice in this thread. Just to add if you have a morning free, go on a ‘walk’ through the City of London . You can get walks from internet or a book, lots available. Go into the churches which are crammed with interest, the little streets still same wiggle as pre fire of London. Some lovely family restaurants still there (Avoid the chains) You can book ahead to go up one of the tall office blocks, great views. And if you have never done it, the Tower of London is a hoot. Great advice this post. A weekend walk in city of london, all the churches and history. Don't forget St Dunstan's in the East bombed out church. An hour relaxing there in the middle of the city with the views. |
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Post by cavocado on Jun 27, 2021 14:33:42 GMT
Another vote for Highgate Cemetery. They are trialling self-guided visits to the West Cemetery over the next few weeks - visiting has only been by guided tours for many years. Well worth a wander around. You have to book in advance.
Aquashard is a lovely setting for lunch - 31st floor of the Shard, with amazing views, especially the tables for 2, which are right by the windows. It's not cheap - £34 for a three course set lunch, but I think the viewing platform higher up is around £25 to visit, and it's much nicer to be able to sit for an hour and eat while gazing at the view. They used to do breakfast for around £20 pre-Covid but they seem to have stopped that - perhaps it will re-start when things return to 'normal'.
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Post by TallPaul on Jun 27, 2021 14:54:07 GMT
If you're travelling to London by train, your tickets will often get you 2-for-1 entry to many attractions...though they may be too mainstream to qualify as 'unusual'.
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Post by stagebyte on Jun 27, 2021 15:47:05 GMT
Do they still have the theatre exhibit and archives at the V and A?
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Post by cavocado on Jun 27, 2021 16:46:16 GMT
18 Stafford Terrace is closed at the moment, but worth visiting when it reopens www.rbkc.gov.uk/subsites/museums/18staffordterrace1.aspx. It's an upper middle class Victorian home which has been barely touched since the late 1900s - all the decor, furniture etc is as it was. It's appeared in a few films including A Room With A View. |
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