Weekend in London- ideas

[Alakazam8]

In London next weekend with dd. We are staying Fri Eve till Sun lunchtime. We are seeing Frozen and the Lion King on Sat but I’m looking for ideas for Sat and Sunday morning. Was thinking about a lido but don’t know which one would be good (staying at Euston) and central, places for lunch- would like a place that cooks food at the table but not sure which do that, or any other ideas. Done a few things on a previous visit but by no means everything.
We’d be grateful for any ideas to help us get the most out of our weekend. (Not to expensive either please)

It's supposed to get very warm over the coming week, so a lido is a great idea. No idea about lidos in North London, but there's in Brockwell Park and one in Charlton, both south of the river. You could try the Hampstead Ponds, which offer open air swimming - three ponds, I believe, one women's, one men's, one mixed. Hampstead Heath is one of my all-time favourite places and has wonderful views. Plenty of places locally to eat/have coffee/drinks. Highgate is also very near.

If you like galleries/museums, there are any number of big, free ones in central London you could just browse through for as long as you feel like it. The Wallace Collection is less well known and great fun, plus easy walking distance from Euston. Has a terrific cafe/restaurant in the centre. (You'd have to check whether you can just walk into any of them off the street these days - I haven't been to a gallery or museum in London since pre-pandemic, so don't know.)

Have fun!

How old is your DD?

Benihana picadilly would be fun for a kid i guess? Its asian/tepenyaki. Rainforest cafe doesnt do that but is very popular w/ kids.

If you want an actual chefs table
Kebab queen (covent garden ish) , kitchen table (charlotte street/fitrovia) are my absolute faves.

Google novelty automaton its not far (walking distance) I'd recommend that and a nice brunch saturday morning.

The area around Kings Cross, Coal Drop Yard, has lots of nice places to eat, and is generally a cool place to hang out. You can walk there very easily from Euston, and could then walk down to the theatre.

You may find this thread from a few days ago interesting:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/4338928-First-timer-in-London

If you're looking for cheap, you can't beat the museums and National Gallery. Big, wonderful and free.

If you can get booked in a visit to the skygarden is free and great for London views/photo ops

Thanks some great ideas to look at here. Think benihana is what I was thinking of so thanks for that. does anyone know how I book a lido- struggling to find out when and how online?
Dd is 12 but has Asd so a very young 12…

Lidos are great but you could do a more central place like the Diana fountain or the V and A museum have a shallow splash pool in the courtyard at the moment. These are all I know of but I’m sure there are others. It keeps the London feel but allows you to cool off and have fun.

Dd loves swimming and really likes to swim so was wanting to try and find something if possible- @SummerStressing are there any central lidos or outdoor pools that we could go to?
@BadlydoneHelen just looked at sky garden which looks amazing- but can’t book in this time- will try for next time though.

Just seen that you can swim in the serpentine (Hyde park). I can’t think of any others. Maybe some hotels might have ones that you could book into on a spa rate.

Thanks - will look at serpentine then as a start- that sounds ideal!

Serpentine lido suspended due to algae unfortunately. Booked for Benihana now though on Sat!

www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do/lidos-and-outdoor-swimming-pools-in-london

Oasis sports centre in Covent Garden has an outdoor pool. Not sure how you book slots etc at the moment

I think Oasis is closest to Euston.

Hampstead Heath Lido is lovely and easily reached from Euston but it books up waay in advance at the mo, tickets are like gold dust and with the forecast as it is you'll need to be quick to book...

Also the Oasis pool here: www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/london/camden/oasis-sports-centre?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=google_my_business

This might be helpful Op re pools:
www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do/londons-best-swimming-pools

We could go early to Hampstead Heath and get a free flow session- not have to book. I think it would be quieter then too (hopefully) so we’ll try that if we can’t book Oasis. Didn’t know about that so thanks for that idea.
Any ideas for Sunday morning- only have an hour or two…

Walk from Coal Drop Yard at Euston up to Camden, stop there for a drink then keep going to London Zoo (you can see the creatures from the canal without paying to go in) and walk back through Regent's Park.

Hampstead Heath lido (Parliament Hill) are released every Monday at midday for the week ahead - you will need to book them tomorrow, and they are not booked in advance.

www.hampsteadheathswimming.eventbrite.co.uk

I've swam in the Free Flow sessions and never had a problem getting in in the morning on the weekends, evenings have been a different matter.

At 12 she's allowed in the Ladies Pond as well - a very different experience; she'll need to do a quick competency check thing first.

A second for the Diana memorial, you can paddle in it and it's central

@Alakazam8

Dd loves swimming and really likes to swim so was wanting to try and find something if possible- *@SummerStressing* are there any central lidos or outdoor pools that we could go to? *@BadlydoneHelen* just looked at sky garden which looks amazing- but can’t book in this time- will try for next time though.

Keep looking for sky garden tickets as they often get released..last time I was in London in July....I logged on at 2pm and there were 2 tickets for 4.30pm which had been rereleased

Ok thanks- that’s a great tip about sky garden. Would be great for Sunday morning!

Sorry if stating the obvious but if you really want to go to Sky Garden, just book breakfast at one of the eating places there - a restaurant reservation includes an access ticket automatically.

Ooh thanks - will try that too. Any other ideas for things to do on Sunday morning around Euston or nice places for lunch before we leave?