Help me plan a trip to London

[Farcry66]

Hi folks,

Its my partners 40th birthday next month. Obviously the big party he was going to have is not going to happen. I've got him some bits and bobs but I really want to put an itinerary of a lovely weekend or midweek break away when we can go - so I'd present it as a rough itinerary but with no dates on it and nothing booked yet!

It doesn't have to be London if anyone has any better suggestions.

I have a budget of about £150 Not including hotel, but does include food. Would like to find some slightly unusual fun things to do. He's an incredibly clever man, musician, plays rugby, loves sci-fi, generally interested in stuff, we both love singing and have massively missed karaoke during lockdown. We do have quite a few friends in and around London, so could include suggestions for things for us during the day and something for a group in the evening. We are both teachers so could be something we do midweek in a school holiday rather than has to be fixed at the weekend.

So ..... any ideas or recommendations?

Victor Wynds museum of curiosities in Hackney
Denis Sever’s house in Spitalfields
The Clown Gallery in Dalston
The old operating Theatre in London Bridge
There’s a phone box in Russell Square if you’re going to the BM that sells tiramisu.
Nunhead Cemetery

As you said your DH loves Sci-fi there is a Dr Who immersive show/experience opening this year. You could get tickets for later in the year when things are hoepfully back to normal? I use Booking.com for hotels in London as I tend to use the pay on the day/free cancellation deals they do

www.immersivedoctorwho.com/

Sir John Soane’s museum - just off Holborn. Super quirky and if you like British museum will ring some bells (at micro size). Wonder through soho and have posh coffees - and loads of places were setting up so you could eat outside and that will likely be repeated this summer.

Take a river bus (not tour) they use the Oyster card system to Greenwich - maritime museum is free, back to the Tate, free, wine at the wine bar near embankment tube, it's really old, and they also have cheapish food or find a ore theatre set menu most the restaurants off the strand type area have them (avoid the branded ones in Leicester Square). Walk around Hyde park, row on the serpentine, I like the cabinet war rooms but a free option a bit different is the Wellcome collection near Euston, medical history.

Think the wine Bar is Gordon’s and second the Wellcome collection

And for an evening walk there is a project to light in wacky ways the bridges along the river which looks fun

Was going to recommend The Wellcome Collection but see that others have already!

I've done a couple of treasure hunts with these guys - highly recommend. Nice way to explore different areas of London www.inthehiddencity.com/london-treasure-hunt

There's quite a few free locations around London like the museums in central London or in Greenwich. I've done the Mithraeum and it was really cool. If you like Roman history the Museum of London does a Roman walking tour and they bring artefacts with them.

If you're looking for places to eat try the offers on Groupon or Bookatable as they can be quite affordable and you can look by area. I'd agree with PP for booking the Sky Garden in the Walkie Talkie and grabbing a coffee there.

There's so many little eateries around London depending on what cuisine you like and which area you want to visit. Also, there's half price offers on some of the tourist attractions through things like the Carex hand wash bottles so you could make things a lot cheaper.

What a great thread, chock full of good ideas and tips, really uplifting. Thank you all! (No idea of when I'll next be in London, nice to pore over my dogeared A to Z tonight)

I don't agree that the budget is low for London so look at other cities. London had loads of free things (all the galleries and museums, many lunchtime concerts etc and lots of cheap places to eat (there are Bao bun takeaway cafes in Chinatown where you can eat for about £2-3). A city like Bath is very expensive.

If he likes music, there's the Handel and Hendrix museum in the house where both Handel the composer and Jimi Hendrix both lived at one point.

Other quirky museums -
Dennis Severs' house lit by candles and left as though as 18C Weaver's family have just stepped out for a moment. There's washing strung on a line and food on the tables. It's great fun.
The postal museum with a ride on the underground mini mail train.
The Mithreas temple ruins under a bank in the city are free if you book and they recreate the walls using mist and light as only the foundations exist. Short visit but fun.
Climbing Monument is cheap and the views are great.
There are a few free rooftop gardens in The city - The Sky Garden is the most famous and you have to queue but I think the Rooftop Garden of 120 Fenchurch Street is way prettier.

Also wonderful - the graffiti art walking tour of Spitalfields and Shoreditch. You get taken around by a local artist and they show you artwork you'd miss - tiny figures hidden in concrete cracks or on top of lampposts, stunning sculptures down secret side streets and lots of graffiti art.

When the world is normal again there are loads of cheap places to eat. You can easily buy gorgeous lunches at the street food markets from £5-8 each.

A fun place for coffee is the Algerian coffee shop on Old Compton Street in Soho. It's £1 for a freshly made espresso and the shop smells phenomenal (if you love coffee!)

I agree that a Clipper boat ride (discounted with a travel card) from the London Eye to Greenwich is lovely. You can then go to the maritime museum, Queen's House, Royal Observatory or Cutty Sark, walk through the old naval area, the antique and craft markets and the park. Then get the cable car (also discounted with travel card) to the 02 or walk the foot tunnel under the Thames and ride the DLR driverless train.

Haven't done it myself but a friend was keen to go mudlarking, thought the organised groups were too pricey, so she checked out the tides and did it herself and found some interesting bits/a load of old junk depending how you see it! You do need to check the tide table very carefully, though - it rises very quickly.

You can do London cheaply.
If you have tesco vouchers you can use them. We've had boat trip, bus tours and meals out when going to London. Also lots of free museums.

York, Liverpool, Manchester also good weekend breaks.

Great thread, thanks everyone! OP, if your partner is interested in quirky cinema, have a look at the Price Charles Cinema just off Leicester Sq. V close to China Town for a reasonably priced meal- avoid the buffets, would recommend Superstar on Lisle St for dim sum at lunchtime or the Golden Dragon for roast duck on Gerrard St. Great idea for a present!

John Soanes Museum is small and quirky - it's at Lincoln's Inn Fields which is a nice little area to wander in. We also like to walk around Belsize Park or Notting Hill - there are so many interesting little corners and plenty of delis/cafes for lunch.

The Thames Clipper to Greenwich is a good idea. The market at Greenwich on Sat and Sunday has many inexpensive food stalls for lunch and the Maritime Museum is free. You can have a pleasant walk up the hill to the Observatory and catch the view/sunset. The planetarium is free and often has free shows on astronomical things. There are also free classical music concerts in Greenwich. Deptford is close by and is hipsterish - lots of pop up places, edgy bars under the railway arches etc.

Portobello Rd but it gets very busy and is quite touristy - atmosphere is good or Shoreditch/Hackney/Spitalfields for trendy places. Primrose Hill nice but gets busy too - nice walks in Regents Park.

What's the open days thing called when you can visit sites not usually open to the public? Can't remember and Google is sending me back to uni tours.
If it happens in 2021, it would be an unusual opportunity.

@TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams

What's the open days thing called when you can visit sites not usually open to the public? Can't remember and Google is sending me back to uni tours. If it happens in 2021, it would be an unusual opportunity.

Open House?

Theres some trendy new hotel chains opened, £65 a night if you book we'll in advance. Could free uo more cash for spending on food etcwww.lockeliving.com/en

I don't know why everyone is saying it's low budget. There are many things to do in London for free/relatively cheap. I love going to museums. Could spend a whole day in one of London's museums. Pop in one of the many independent book shops.
I think you can have a splendid dinner for two for £50, and have some coffee/sandwich type of food during the day.

Great thread. I’m saving it for when we’re allowed to travel again.

I would start saving and add more to your budget as you've got plenty of time before you can actually go. Having a bigger budget will give you more options for trips & food options.

Have a sort through your stuff and see what you can add to your local selling pages. Then add the profits to your £150, even if it's an extra £30.

My favourite pre covid London trips were Borough Market, clipper trip, Globe theatre or any theatre & mainly just bus hopping on normal buses down the tourist routes. Cheaper than a tour bus.

There is an amazing Quaker, vegan cafe in the Friends Meeting House /Bookshop slap bang opposite the main entrance to Euston station. The food is delicious, not half as austere as it sounds, and handy if you are travelling to/from Euston, St Pancras or Kings Cross.

love this thread - thanks OP!

Great tips, thanks

@katy1213

Haven't done it myself but a friend was keen to go mudlarking, thought the organised groups were too pricey, so she checked out the tides and did it herself and found some interesting bits/a load of old junk depending how you see it! You do need to check the tide table very carefully, though - it rises very quickly.

Just so you know, what your friend did was illegal without a permit www.pla.co.uk/Environment/Thames-foreshore-permits