What to do in London on saturday

[thebellagio]

I've promised to drive my husband into London on Sat while he goes to watch a sports match. I've got the day to myself to do whatever I fancy but I don't really know what to do,

When I offered, my plan had been to go to something like Winter Wonderland etc but none of that starts till next week.

I'll be parking at Stratford, but I feel like I want to do something more than just mooch around Westfield. But I don't really know London that well.

I'm not hugely culturally-minded, so a trip to an art gallery would be wasted on me. I couldn't get any tickets to a show, and I took my daughter to Tower of London/Buck P in the summer

Any suggestions?

DLR down to Greenwich for the market and the observatory and parks, train to Kings Cross for Coal Drop Yard and down to the British Museum, in to Covent Garden or Carnaby Street for the Christmas lights, food at Borough Market and the Southbank? There’s a lot of choice! What else do you enjoy?

I'll be honest, it's been so long since I've done anything for 'me', I don't even know anymore!

Hobbies-wise, I tend to do a lot of baking, sewing and I've been teaching myself keyboard. I've lost a huge amount of interest in shopping, when I was younger I used to be able to spend hours wandering around the likes of Harrods, purely to window shop but these days it's been so long I don't really have the patience anymore.

Are there any nice little streets that I should visit?

I might go to something like the V&A, but I don't really know what's on or whether it's worth going

A wander round Regents Park, Little Venice? The new development at Battersea power station is worth a visit, and a walk round Battersea park. I love bookshops so always go to the big Foyles (Charing X Rd) when I can.

oooh i like the idea of visiting little quaint bookshops

Spitalfields market
Eaterly

The V&A currently has a lovely little exhib about Beatrix Potter and an outstanding show 'Africa Fashion' if you're into textiles and clothes.
The current big one is about Korean culture, not sure if you'd get tix for Saturday though.
Advantages: nice cafe, lovely shop.

Might not be up your street but I love to go into St Paul's and listen to the headset about it all when I have some free time.

I'd probably also book somewhere nice for lunch and read my book

There's nothing quaint about Foyles but Charing X Rd is full of quaint little bookshops! Also... Google to see if there are any free lunchtime concerts if you like music.

What's eaterly?

Thanks for the recommendations everyone.

Because I don't really know London, all that seems to come up is the main tourist things, so I'm loving the other suggestions, thank you so much

A treasure trail? My DS and I did the Westminster one which was really interesting.

Have a look at this website. Secret London.

secretldn.com/secret-london-guide-londons-prettiest-streets/

I also like a walking tour and learning about an area. Have lived in London 15 years but still enjoy doing this!

The fashion and textile museum? Daunt books on Marylebone high street is fabulous and there’s plenty of nice lunch options or there is a nice second hand book shop in Hampstead village which is also beautiful on a nice day.

Get on the DLR from Stratford and head to St Katherine Docks in Wapping - lots of independent little shops, sit by the Docks with a coffee and watch the world go by.

Eaterly is an amazing 3 floors of Italian food, eateries and produce near Spitalfields. Amazing pizza

It’s the Lord Mayor’s show in the city of London on Saturday. If you’re up for standing on the street and watching the pageantry and insanity go past it can be quite fun. If you’re not into it then I’d avoid the city and head to the V&A.

Jubilee line to London Bridge and mooch about Borough Market and get some lunch. Stroll along Southbank and if you feel culturally minded, pop into the Tate Modern. Or do a guided tour of Shakespeare's Globe?

It's the Lord Mayor's show on Saturday so a huge parade in the city - great to watch, but if you're not interested avoid St Paul's and the surrounding area. You also may need to factor that in to your plans for the day re. crowds, road closures etc

lordmayorsshow.london/

Depending on what you like to sew, the area around Goldhawk Road (which will be very near you) is full of fabric shops.

Ignore that, it's not near you. If was thinking of the other Westfield...

Fashion and Textile Museum is easy to get to from Stratford (Jubilee to London Bridge) , the street it is in is amazing, the buildings all look as though they are sets from a BBC Dickens drama. I think there is a Kaffe Fassett retrospective there atm. Afterwards you can go to Maltby Street Market for trendy food stalls, or back up to Borough Market, the original trendy food stall place. Make sure you go to the Neals Yard Cheese Shop there.

Then either walk along the river to enjoy Southwark Cathedral , then the Globe. If you get as far as the Tate I like going up to the viewing walks and peering into posh peoples apartments ( oh go on! They love it, their sitting rooms are curated to the nth degree). Or you could go and have a look at whatever is in the turbine hall.

Then back over the millennium bridge, walk through paternoster square to see the glorious endangered animal sculpture, central line from St. Paul’s back to Stratford, or if you still have energy take the central line the other way to Oxford Circus where you can either go and lose yourself in Liberty or take a side trek to Marylebone High Street which has lots of little independent shops including the delightful Daunt Books .

Enjoy your day.

On the way back to Stratford from liberty I would walk up to Bond Street and go on the Elizabeth Line instead of the Central line it is great, amazing stations and super fast trains. If you walk up Marylebone High Street though walk up to Baker Street (turn left at the top of MHS) and take the Jubilee.