If you had the day to yourself in London tomorrow what would you do?

[Stupiddriver1]

I have most of the day anyway. Get into kings cross about 9.30 and have to be in Hornsey at 12.00 for a 30 min appt. train back isn’t until 7pm.

I’d like to do a bit of Xmas shopping, general pottering around. I don’t have anything specific in mind shopping wise and am open to other suggestions as don’t think I’d spend the whole time shopping.

Primark on Oxford Street, a stroll round Covent Garden and lunch in one of those eat-your-own-weight-in-noodles buffet restaurants in Chinatown.

Thanks, Covent Garden sounds nice, ages since I’ve been there. I could do primark before my appt and then Covent Garden in the afternoon I reckon.

I'd go to the Blake exhibition at Tate Britain

If you have to be in Hornsey for 12, I would stick around Kings Cross - Granary Square, Coal Drops Yard etc in the morning. Lots of lovely shops and eating options for brunch and maybe the British Library if that's your thing. Then maybe post-appointment what the pp suggested perhaps including Liberty's. Primark's not my thing but there are lots of shopping options nearby. Heals on Tottenham Court Road is lovely and christmassy at the moment too.

*Liberty

I'd meet my daughter for lunch near Old Street. Before a little wander around Spitalfields Market, after a wander near a river. It would be perfect.

I’d go to the Moon exhibition in Greenwich or the Tutankhamen one at the Saatchi Gallery. Then later on Marylebone High Street or Hampstead High Street for a wander and a bit of Xmas shopping.

I'd be very tempted to spend an hour or more in Daunt Books - could buy lots of Christmas presents there!

Agree that the area around Kings Cross is lovely. And you could go to the British Library for a bit of culture too. Also the Wellcome Collection.

Sloane Square for shopping, a drink somewhere nice and to the Saatchi gallery if you fancied something cultural.

John Lewis in Oxford st and Liberty round the corner.

National Portrait Gallery too. I would stay relatively central. PPs Greenwich to Hampstead suggestion sounds lovely but a lot of travel. Opposite ends of London. Wellcome Collection is quite central and isn't too far from Kings Cross. You could go there straight after your appointment from Hornsey for say 1 PM then you are near Tottenham Court Road - Fitzrovia - Oxford St - Soho - Trafalgar Square. Lots of lovely shops and all walkable to each other then a tube back for your 7 PM train after dinner in Soho / Chinatown. I would rather give myself more time and get the bus back to the station to see the Christmas lights though and maybe just grab some sushi for the train!

And yes to the huge bookshop on Tottenham Court Road. I could easily lose half a day in there!

I was going to say national gallery too! If you must go shopping then oxford st and the Wallace Collection (museum).

Yes Wallace Collection is fab and has a great cafe. Not too far from Daunt Books if that's your thing. I know it was mentioned upthread...

Liberty. No hesitation. And IF there was still any time left after that (unlikely tbh) - Hamleys for something for DD4.

The John Soames Museum in Holborn is wonderful. Weird and beautiful - you don't have to know anything about the man (I didn't) to enjoy it.
And the National Portrait Gallery is always worth a visit - I love it.

Is the big book shop Foyles? Went there years ago and loved it.

Right, think I will scrap Primark because even though it’s a big one it’s not overly special I guess.

So will explore Coles yard before my appt as that sounds good. Then go to my appt and then get the tube to Covent Garden, look round there and then walk to Foyles. Also Heals, never been there.

I’ve never been to the British library so if time will go there before getting the train back.

Thanks everyone.

I'd go to the William Blake show at Tate Britain, though that may be sold out. I love Liberty's and I'd also treat myself to afternoon tea.

And some sort of treatment etc at one of the selfridges beauty concessions (you can book online - many are complimentary or redeemable against purchases).

Re bookshop on TCR, you'd be better off heading up to the one at Goodge street which is only 5 mins walk away or go to Foyles which is in the other direction about 10 mins. Or the Oxfam bookshop on Bloomsbury Street is interesting for secondhand curiosities.

Ah I think Foyles might be the one I'm thinking of. Huge, with a big cafe at the top?

Yes, that’s Foyles.

Bridget Riley exhibition? Antony Gormley is fun, then nip over road to Fortnum's for a treat - their window is fabulous this year. But def scrap Primark - what a waste of a train fare! Oxford Street is my idea of hell at any time of year
Daunt Books is miles nicer than Foyle's.
Dennis Severs' house is one of the loveliest Christmassy things to do (but check opening times), followed by a stroll around Spitalfields.
If you were a few days later, I'd say Gingerbread City at Somerset House but it's not open yet.

Have a lovely day! Caravan in Granary Square near Coal Drops Yard is a nice brunch option. Foyles is great and if you have an oyster card you can just hop on a bus from the Heals end of TCR to Foyles although I'm not sure about the one way system as I walk everywhere!! Enjoy. Lots to do centrally, even just pottering around.

I'd go to the National Portrait Gallery and the V&A.