5 hrs in London, what would you do?!

[QuickWash]

For my birthday, I've decided I'd like a day trip into London, by myself, with no small children to amuse or control, and I'm very excited about reading and thinking on the train and visiting a couple of museums/exhibitions.

I'll be arriving into Waterloo and will have about 5 hours in the middle of the day. What would you make a beeline for and why?

Quick hopeful bump..

Well from Waterloo I'd go to Southwark cathedral and Borough Market. Then I'd swivel back to the Southbank, go on The London Eye, then hop on a boat along the Thames and take myself to a peaceful hour at the Chelsea Physic Garden with tea and cake.

From Waterloo I'd walk to county hall, there are lots of outdoor cafe. Then I'd head off to the Southbank, you can walk down by the river and visit the Southbank centre, there are always exhibitions on there. If you visit at the weekend they have an outdoor market and book fair. Also nearby is Somerset House which have exhibitions, it's just over the bridge. The other thing I would do is get the tube to visit The Tate Modern, go next door for afternoon tea at The globe Swan restaurant, you can also look around The globe theatre and then catch the riverboat back to The London Eye which is just a few minutes walk from Waterloo.

Ooh I'd forgotten about Somerset House. Once went to a lovely MNet meet-up on Tom's Terrace there. Now that's an idea for your jaunt op

Lovely ideas, thank you!

I love the John Soane museum. Quirky and interesting and near a park for sandwiches if it is very hot.

John soane is a lovely old house, I don't know if its open every day but it's near the Hunterian museum which is a medical museum and you can sit in Lincoln's inn fields and look around at the Law Courts. What sort of things do you enjoy.

If you go for the Southbank there are some lovely shops to browse in the Oxo tower.

I just like exploring and finding stuff out and seeing new things. I don't have any niche interests particularly and know little of most things 😁

Since dc, I just get v little time to wander and wonder and think, so I guess I'm looking to do that.

I'm not really a shopper as I don't have much to spend and I tend to just buy online! I do like a browse bow and then though.

Are you happy walking op?

The Tate modern is about a 15 minute lovely walk along south bank from Waterloo (longer if you take your time/ pop to Gabriel's wharf etc).

Alternatively you could walk across Waterloo bridge and up to the national gallery/national portrait museum. Both do a lovely tea (you might need to book for a table with a view) or tea at the savoy?

You could cross back over for time at the tate modern if you have it.

The London eye is a bit touristy for me but if you go -and the views are great - be prepared to queue.

Or if you want a view you could keep going from the Tate modern and go up the shard (the loos are the best bit)

Alternatively the v and a is possibly my favourite museum in London but you would need to get the tube there from Waterloo

The above is all quite mainstream.... if you have something more quirky in mind let me know and I'll get my thinking cap on. Or if you wanted to shop/window shop Instead

I agree that the Chelsea Physic Garden is lovely. If you get the riverboat it's the MBNA Thames Clipper (Mon-Fri only - the pink line www.thamesclippers.com/assets/doc/Online-Timetable-June-2018-fc0756fde6.pdf), get off at Cadogan Pier as it's just a short walk to the CPG - don't go to Chelsea Harbour as it's about 1.5 miles from the Garden!

And if you go to, what was, "Tom's Terrace" at Somerset House, it's now run by a different restaurateur www.somersethouse.org.uk/whats-on/somerset-house-terrace

Thanks all, it's so fab to have this insider info.

I'm v happy walking :)

I'm quite mainstream I guess but love discovering lesser known stuff too. I'm just not cool enough to carry anything off 😂

When is your birthday OP?

Or rather, when will you be in London?

Or what day of the week?!

Some of the smaller museums aren't open every day, for example.

We've done this good walk from Waterloo.
Walk along the southbank to St Janes's park. Through the park to Buckingham Palace. Down the Mall to Trafalgar Square and then back down to the South Bank.
Have fun!

I'm probably looking at a Saturday in Sept or Oct, maybe later if it makes a big difference to train ticket cost to do it later in the year. The 'day off' and train ticket is my present but doesn't have to happen on/near my bday :)

In that case, this year's Koestler exhibition starts at the Southbank Centre in late September. It's free and always highly worth a visit. I would probably pair that with @Lindy2's walk if I were you.

I love a wander round the impressionists at the National.

And dd and I spent many hours in Westminster Abbey on our last visit.

Tate modern for the Francis bacon exhibition. Oxo building for coffee, boat up the Thames to Greenwich.

National Portrait Gallery was a wonderful surprise to me!
Or walk to Covent Garden and lunch in China Town

Where do you eat in Chinatown Bio? I've lived in London all my life and never once had a nice Chinese meal in China town that wasn't ridiculously expensive

I did a few days alone in London in June and started this thread. Has lots of good ideas www.mumsnet.com/Talk/london/3220593-If-you-had-48-hours-in-London-by-yourself-what-would-you-do

I had a lovely time - my favourite things were Borough Market, Camden Market, brunch at The Wolsely, walking through the City and Brick Lane/Shoreditch.

Have a great time!

The Lamb, Lamb's Conduit Street
The Mitre, Ely Place
The Harp, Chandos Place
The Bishop's Finger, West Smithfield
The King's Arms, Roupell Street.

HTH. [beer]

Ooo fab thanks for linking the thread!