London this Friday

[Stillcountingbeans]

What can we do in central London this Friday - late morning and afternoon, for two adults?

No churches or cathedrals (seen enough to last a lifetime)
No art galleries - unless something really different
Not Buckingham Palace (pricy, feel like I've seen the best bits on their website)
Not Westminster Abbey (too expensive for too short a slot)
Not the Tower of London (done it)
Not the London Eye (done it)
Not Madame Tussaud's (done it)
Not Kew (done it, and too far out)
No wine (alcohol-free party member)

So far on my list I have... the planetarium 😕

We like history and architecture and gardens
We don't like sporty activities, loud music, or hordes of children.

Our itinerary so far is:
Arrive Thu lunchtime, spend early afternoon seeing the 'boring' bits of the Natural History Museum that we never see with children/grandchildren in tow.
Then walk past Albert Hall and across Hyde park, then tube to hotel.
Meal booked, then see Les Misérables (thanks to the MN hive mind for that advice).
Then so far we have Friday free, before starting the journey home late pm or early evening.

All suggestions very gratefully received.

The Hockney exhibition near Kings Cross? I know you said no art galleries but it's not really an art gallery as such.

Go to fortnums purchase all the biscuits.
Then eat/shop your way around Covent Garden?

The Mithraeum is wonderful and free (although you need to book). It is quite a short visit but well worth doing https://www.londonmithraeum.com/?utm_medium=CORP-PHIL_&utm_content=pdsrch&utm_source=Adwords_SEM&utm_campaign=NonMKTG_CORP-PHIL_EMEA_GBR_2023&tactic=760392&gclid=CjwKCAjw04yjBhApEiwAJcvNoUn5QhhKzmlzSHeDJ5XdtY58r2LhJutYNfRrzQtbl-g8mKgJfEN_3RoCKNAQAvD_BwE

SausageRoll2020 · Today 19:15
Go to fortnums purchase all the biscuits.

😂😂

The Mithraeum sounds interesting. Thank you

The fashion history exhibition at Kensington Palace?

The Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green is lovely.
Samuel Johnson's House in Holborn.
Foundling Museum and Charles Dickens Museums are close to each other near Russel Sq.

Also which bits of the NHM are you planning on? Having been to both in the past year I'd go to the V&A instead of the NHM every time now, especially to avoid hordes of kids.

We went to the Museum of Childhood. I loved it but the children were bored after an hour.
The Foundling Museum sounds good.

There's a museum of Garden History next to Lambeth Palace

Visit - Garden Museum

I should have added we have already seen the British Museum, so will give it a miss this time but may go back someday.

I am going to spend at least an hour, probably more, in the geology hall (call me weird - it is usually empty)

I was just horrified to see toys I used to own in there.

Nothing like it to make you feel old!

Ooh this looks interesting

Also near Holborn and Russell Square - to go with some other suggestions so you can work out an itinerary all close by - John Soane's Museum. Utterly unique and fascinating, and free entry!
Home | Sir John Soane's Museum

Hunterian has just reopened
https://hunterianmuseum.org/

The planetarium is a great idea. And plenty of other things to see and do while you are out there.you could make a whole day of it - boat to Greenwhich from Westminster if you are starting from central London and then explore Greenwich and / or Cutty Sark or the National Maritime Museum. So much to see and do there.

Museum of Childhood closed till July, when it’ll be re-launched as Young V&A.

OP, what do you like, to help us advise? You’ve said a lot about what you don’t want to do. I mean, I think outdoor swimming is one of the great joys of London but you might not like swimming

Oh sorry, history, architecture, gardens.

Garden Museum in Lambeth

Foundling Museum

The architecture tour at the Barbican is fantastic!

No that's fair enough!

If you want to do a fun touristy / London thing I did the Tower Bridge experience recently and that was quite fun and interesting for about £11.

Many thanks to everyone. I won't reply to each person.

I've seen the Cutty Sark, which was great.
However I'm not sure we will have time for a boat ride plus a site-seeing trip?

A boat guided tour could be good, or a quirky museum.

I second the suggestion of the planetarium: the Uber boat to Greenwich is lovely and quick with great views: then get off at Cutty sark , walk to Greenwich park and up the hill to the planetarium, look at the meridian line, catch the ‘Sky Tonight’ show and make a stop at the Maritime museum on the way back if you like too. Lovely way to spend a few hours.

Yes Tower Bridge is on the list for a time-filler if we are in the area.