Unexpectedly in London- what shall we do?

[BertrandRussell]

Adult dd and da and I are in London from Saturday lunchtime to Sunday evening. Dd lives there-ds and I are visitors. What can we do that we mightn’t have done before? We’ll be based Charing Cross-ish. Any ideas? We may end up lounging round dd’s flat drinking wine- but I feel a maternal responsibility to provide An Outing..

I'd go for afternoon tea at the Corinthia. Or find a really weird film to watch at the ica on the mall.

Pop-up personalised Magnum ice cream store www.magnumicecream.com/uk/pleasure-store.html

Bring an umbrella. It's going to be wet!!!

The Olafur Eliasson exhibition at Tate Modern is cracking for all ages, I recommend booking. I recently did a Hidden London tour of Charing Cross Station, it was brilliant, if they run on the weekend it's worth looking into it. You see abandoned platforms, now film sets, walk under Trafalgar Square, and stand inside ventilation shafts watching trains pull under your feet. See London Transport Museum for booking. I've also heard great things about the Cindy Sherman exhibition at NPG. You haven't mentioned grandchildren, if there are any youngsters you might be interested in these 50 ideas for things to do in London this summer with kids. Many are good just for adults too! museummum.com/2019/07/13/summer-holidays-2019-50-things-to-do-in-london-with-the-kids/

you're not far from the embankment, you could take a river boat trip, cheapest is MBNA, or you could go the other direction and walk along Southbank. You're also pretty near Covent Garden.

Today I went to the Army Museum on Royal Hospital Road. Currently they are running a terrific exhibition about the work of Abram Gains who was responsible for hundreds of wartime posters (old sort of posters, not internet ones) really interesting.

Museum has recently had scads of money spent on it, has a great cafe and super lean loos! Seemed to be very popular with families, kids eat free with adult meals, trails and activities laid on for kids etc. We got in to the exhibition half price with art fund membership - not advertised!!!!.

Afterwards went to Chelsea physic garden which is a bit pricey unless one of you is a friend .

Can thoroughly recommend the Gains exhibition though, as much about him as about the war and propaganda. You can see the influence he had on design ideas later.

District line from embankment to Sloane Square then a 10/ 15 minute walk

Clean loos, not lean loos!

Science tea at ampersand and drop into the V & A museum. Or pop to the sky bar for a wee cocktail and a wander along the river to the Tate Britain.

If you want to drink wine go to Gordon's - right by Charing Cross - and get a bottle (or three) and a big plate of cheese.

RA summer exhibition is always interesting?

Oh and I'd maybe go see an exhibition at the nation gallery or national portrait gallery. Again, five minutes from Charing cross

PS it's the triathlon this weekend, whatever you do don't try to get into east London, it will be buried under a mountain of sweaty Lycra , and there will be road closures galore.

RA Summer exhibition is total crap this year unfortunately :(
It is usually good fun!

Might not be your thing but we stayed at the Waldorf a while back and our taxi driver said that if you go to the radio rooftop bad you get amazing views of the city which I assume would be cheaper and less busy than going to the top of the shard for example although we didn’t end up trying it out. I love just walking the city. We get the train in and then don’t set foot on another for the whole day. It’s all so close if you know where you’re going! We got out at Charing Cross the other day and you’re very close to Covent Garden/trafalgar square/Leicester Square/Piccadilly do its a great location!

See if there are any plays showing at St. Paul’s church in Covent Garden? I saw Alice in wonderland one year and it was amazing! It’s more interactive so you move around the grounds and they get the audience involved - highly recommend!

To add I’ve just looked and it seems Hamlet is showing

Go to the Underbelly festival on Southbank? Not sure what's showing this weekend but you can usually get walk in tickets and it's a fun atmosphere.

The Waldorf seems to be in the middle of major renovations we went to Bond on Motion exhibition in Covent garden with Groupon discounted tickets.

National Portrait Gallery always worth visiting.

French church just off Leicester Square with the Cocteau mural.

Thank you! I think we’ll see if we can get to see the Hamlet. It sounds great. Then brunch on Sunday.

Thank you all- i’m going to keep all the ideas for future visits.