How would you spend a solo day/afternoon in London?

[ErinAndTonic]

Need some ideas, keep having the odd solo day/afternoon/evening to spend and want to find other things to do that don't involve shopping and getting more tat I don't need 😅

Quite like the coffee and book idea that I've never done.. but any recommendations food exploring or otherwise, basically just need inspo!

(Just to clarify I sometimes go for work and only really work 9-1 but get later trains back as it's miles cheaper, and I enjoy it, hence lots of afternoons there)

I'd visit the newly revamped National Portrait Gallery, or go to a theatre matinee, maybe at the National Theatre. Or have a wander around Liberty's.

Wellcome exhibition in Euston.
Lunch at The Ivy (not as pricey as you'd think especially if you're not tied to time).
Stroll along the South Bank and finish with a warming drink at the BFI/National Theatre. They provide blankets to sit outside, you can people watch and, at this time of year, watch the lights sparking up on both sides of the Thames.
Crumbs. I miss London.

I love the National Portrait Gallery, then a mooch around St James’ Park.
The Mercato in Mayfair is fab. It’s a food hall / market in an old church and a beautiful place to relax for an hour or two.

My dd and I did just this over the weekend...

I'd add to your list:

-Go look at the Liberty store Christmas display
-Wander along southbank near the Globe theatre
-British Library
-hop on a river boat - the uberboats run like tube trains and are not expensive. Twilight on the river is amazing.

• if you have a zone 3 tube ticket then head out to the cable car at the O2 and take a trip up
• if you have a bit of spare cash get a historic royal palaces membership which gives you access to the Tower of London, Kensington Palace and Kew Palace for a year. Single timed tickets are often available.

Crumbs, I miss London.

Oh me too, me too!

Not quite the right time of year if you aren't free until the afternoon but you can walk sections of the Thames Path https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/walking/thames-path

I'd go for the matinee plan too. There are also lots of free lunchtime concerts in places like LSO St Lukes. Tickets to the Radio 3 Lunchtime Concerts are also good value:

https://tickets.lso.co.uk/choose-seats/1425401

I used to love the map/travel bookshop in Covent Garden, but I'm not sure if it's there anymore.

You could wander around Eataly. Or have a cake in one of the Ottolenghi places. Or a cardamom bun in Fabrik.

Window shop in Hatton Garden. Have a nose 'round the Barbican.

Have lunch at the Seven Stars pub.

It's relocated to mercer walk just a few minutes walk away from the original store.
It's much smaller and not as impressive but still has a good map selection in the basement

If you know in advance which days you will be there have a look at Friday rush at the national theatre.
They do seats for the following week's performances for £10

Have you ever been to the Tower of London? You could do the Beefeater tour then see the crown jewels. There's an evening light show in November:-https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/whats-on/crown-and-coronation/#gs.75qotu

Do a tour of The Merchant House in Spitalfields (once the current exhibition is over) - living history style museum where you feel the inhabitants just left the room
https://dennissevershouse.co.uk/about/dennis-severs

Churchill War Rooms. Utterly fascinating.

John Soames Museum. Fantastic private collection.

Museum of the home. Also v good in the run up to Christmas.

I am always happy in the British Museum or the VnA

Matinee. You could start with the book of Mormon?

Go up the shard, or free if you book in advance - the sky garden. boat along the Thames, you could take it to the Tower of London.

St Paul’s - whispering gallery. Westminster abbey in general.

Edgeware road for Lebanese food. Borough Market for all sorts of good food and a great bit of london -could combine with the shard and the old operating theatre and go to padella for early dinner.

Skating at Somerset house if you feel energetic.

Museums or galleries for me, or wandering around Liberty and lunch in their restaurant. It’s less touristy than a lot of places. I hardly buy things when I’m there due to the prices, but I do like the building.

Climb to the top of the Monument? I haven’t done this for decades but I still remember the certificate they gave me at the end!

Chelsea Physic Garden

British Museum (can’t remember if anyone has mentioned that yet)

A blue plaques walk: https://londoncheapo.com/entertainment/a-walking-tour-of-blue-plaques-in-bloomsbury/

This 70s East End exhibition looks good if you like modern social history: https://londonist.com/london/art-and-photography/vintage-photos-east-end-1970s-phillip-cunningham

I always think the Garden Museum is pricey for what it is - but there's a fabulous stained glass exhibition at Damien Hirst's gallery which is just around the corner. And free.
Chanel exhibition at the V&A, then cake/drinks at Cromwell Place?
One of the lesser known houses/museums - Leighton House, Linley Samborne House, Carlyle's House (goes well with Chelsea Physic Garden)
Crazy sounding edible family at the Tate.
Queen's Gallery.
Matinee at the National Theatre.
Museum of Fashion - works well with Borough Market.
Wallace Collection.
Stroll around City churches.
LRB bookshop and their fab cafe - the ceramics gallery round the corner - maybe nip into the British Museum while you're there.
Dickens House and Lamb's Conduit Street shops and winebars. (Nice shops, no tat!)

The Fan Museum in Greenwich has been on my “must visit” list for a long time now.

Walk around Spitalfields - posh chocolates on Brick Lane - tea/cake in that lovely Georgian kitchen on Fournier Street.
Also, I've always meant to do the candlelit tour of the Soane Museum and never got round to it.

Museum of the Home in Hoxton. You can see all the interiors of rooms through the ages. Then have a wander through Spitalfields. Have lunch at the counter top at Manteca. Go to Eataly to pick up some nice deli items for dinner at home.

The Shard
50 Berkeley Square
Clapham South Hidden London Tour
Freddie Mercury’s House. - Garden Lodge in Logan Mews . Well you can look at the wall. And imagine

When does Dennis Severs house open the Christmas Tours, do you know?
TIA

I'd get a last minute ticket to a matinee in the west end and buy a big bag of maltesers.

Visit the Wallace Collection, in a beautiful town house in Manchester Square. Who could resist the Laughing Cavalier, he will always cheer you up!

He might cheer you up - but he's in the National Gallery for the moment.

Oh no! This is the trouble, the National Gallery gets all the good stuff!

Oh, he's only on loan to the NG, then off to the Rijksmuseum till early next summer. There are still lots of lovely interesting things to be seen at the Wallace though.

Museum of Brands, fab small museum.

Postal Museum near Kings Cross especially the mail train!