Help with London Trip

[keeganface]

We have booked a few days in London in the Easter holidays. We have tickets to see Hamilton but need a bit of help with where to go and where to eat.

We are staying for two nights in Premier Inn Leicester Square. Does anyone have any recommendations for places to visit and eat that won't break the bank?

Depends how you define "break the bank" really. There are lots of things like burger king and McDonald's near there which will be the cheapest options. But there are also places like Nandos, Pizza Express and Bills. You can get some decent food in Chinatown too.

Flat Iron Steak is excellent and not super expensive. It's a mini chain and I really like it.

How old are your children and what do you all like doing?

Market Halls are almost opposite Hamilton - like a food hall with Chinese, Indian, Mexican, burgers etc. not for fussy eaters and loud music / seems to be full of 20 somethings whenever I’ve gone. Bar serves BrewDog.

Aside from that Leicester Square has a MacDonalds. Lots of mid price pizza/ pasta/ etc. plus China Town just behind Leicester Square.

Ooh Brasserie Zedel for sure. Amazing value French restaurant in a stunning place!

Try Pizza Union! Super cheap and delicious www.pizzaunion.com/

In terms of where to visit, all the royal parks are beautiful and free, also lots of great museums in London are also free so I'd check those out - V&A, Imperial War Museum, Natural History Museum.

Get free tickets to the British Museum (timed entry) - near Covent Garden and fab Egyptian rooms amongst others

Seven Dials food market, near Covent garden is another quite fun indoor food market. And obv Borough market. I know you weren’t just asking about food though! Getting a riverboat is nice, in either direction.
You could walk all the way through St James Park to get to ‘Hamilton’ if you fancied. Are you with or without children?

Wonkies china town - chair sui pork on hot rice - about £8 now? Huge plate and FREE Jasmine tea - re fills - leave the lid open.

Buzzy fast service, and the chinese bakery opp does nice buns/cakes.

Don't go to a chain! Failing that - Lebeanse type places - Shwarma wrap and walk around

^^ or seven dials

There is a really nice Italian restaurant close to the theatre called Il Posto.

We are mid London break right now. I have a few ideas for free things to do. I think you inevitably end up spending some money in London but there are also some amazing things you can access free. I don’t know London well at all so I’m sure others have better ideas too!

Sky Garden: free, book tickets for a time slot, amazing views, you can go to the cafe or bar while you are there but you don’t have to.

Tate Modern: free to access loads of stuff, we were handed a free sketchbook and pencil for kids as soon as we went in and there was a free drop in kids art activity, then tons of art to see even if you don’t go to any paid for exhibitions.

Wandering along by the river, fabulous views, loads of random street entertainment and obviously… free.

I live close by & love:
Rudy’s pizza on wardour st
Wing wing next to Leicester sq tube, their soy & garlic wings are amazing!
Brasserie Zedel
Limoncello near Mary Poppins
Cafe Boheme opposite Mary Poppins
Ladureé in Covent Garden for macarons in their salon
Lowlander on Drury Lane

The emirates air line across the river (it’s a cable car with fab views of Canary Wharf). It costs about £4 for the trip and you always get a pod to yourself.

The slide at the orbital at the Olympic park.

Depends on the age range and their interests.

Most museums still have a pre-booked ticket system but DD even managed to get a ticket on the day on a Sunday.

Sky Garden. is nice for. the hour to just view London from above. You. need to pre-book and you. need a. passport (at least last year you did).

Greenwich is nice to walk around and the maritime museum is free, not the Cutty. Sark though.

If you. have time for a full day. and don't mind the entry. price, Hampton Court Palace is easy to go to from Waterloo. and worth the trip. But then, we are a history mad family. We took sandwiches (like we did to the Tower) and just ate on a bench in the courtyard.

For food - I would try and get sandwich stuff at M&S or Tesco and do a picnic for lunch. Take a pocket knife and maybe some teaspoons with you as most places now have wooden cuterly for their lunch deals.

Thanks some great ideas there.

It will be me , DH and DD who is 15.

She loves the Sherlock series so a trip to Baker Street will be worked in I think.

We like most food, but like a previous poster I want to avoid chain restaurants .

I went to Wonkies in the 90s bloody rat casually wandered out of the kitchen I think and sat in the middle of the floor sniffing at the air. I got up and walked out leaving my dinner on the table.

We stayed in South Ken ( to see the Christmas lights ) and walked a lot !
Going past Kensington palace and you might see an entourage of police on motor bikes , a posh car and security , which we found thrilling ( but we are bumpkins )
If DD is into makeup / posh handbags etc go to Harrods
We had dinner at Tuttons in Covent Garden , which was good , we like Hawksmoor in Air street , there’s a few more in other places too ( bit pricey though )
Walk along the Thames ,( DH and I walked from Tower Bridge to Piccadilly and back ) when we stayed during a tube strike once
There is a footpath
Borough Market is worth a look

Book the national history museum and the science museum. Both free but you need to prebook. Kennsington Palace Gardens are wonderful.

Also forgot to add we are all huge book lovers so if anyone can recommend any book shops that would be great.

Foyles on Charing Cross Road

Hatchards

Have a look at Coal Drop Yard.
Lots of nice eateries that are reasonably priced for London in that area.

I adore Brasserie Zedel. The food was exceptional and the location stunning!

This is really useful- thanks OP!
We’re going over Easter weekend, DS9, DD7. Watching Frozen @ Drury Lane but not until the evening and have been a bit stressed around what to do around this/day after that doesn’t cost ££.
This is a massive treat for us, we rarely go away and this will be their first time visiting and mine in 10 years 😂 I was 25 with no children last time!

If you like pizza and are going to Baker Street then I recommend www.anticapizzeriadamichele.co.uk/baker-street .