London by myself- what should I do?

[User050105]

I'm going to London next week with dh, but he's working during the day. Usually we go with kids and meet up with family with kids and do kid friendly things. The highlight of our last trip was Airthrill in Catford and looking at the outside of Brentford football stadium.

But this time it's adult only, we're staying really centrally. So grown-up London is my oyster.

I like reading and knitting, so any great shop recommendations?

I'm interested in history, social history in particular. I might visit the foundling hospital, is that interesting? Is there anything to see around Woolwich Arsenal? I had ancestors there. But I can't work out if there is any sort of museum, I suspect not?

I like interesting buildings, I think I'll visit the Tate Modern, but I'm not madly interested in modern art so will mainly just look at the building.

Nice areas to wander round and drink coffee and read books? Covent Garden?

Should I take a day trip somewhere further afield, is Hampton Court Palace worth a visit?

I still have a notion to visit the dinosaurs in Crystal Palace. I realise they're probably not very interesting but I'd like to see them all the same.

Oh and maybe nice cocktail bars. I'm not that interested in shopping.

Any suggestions welcome. I've wanted kid-free time in London for so long and now I have it I don't know what I want to do with it.

I've only got 3 days as well.

Ooh that’s a lot! Not sure how you’ll be getting around but Tube is easy. I would suggest -

Books - Daunt’s in Marylebone Highstreet; Waterstones Piccadilly; there are lots of other independents as well

Buildings - Liberty of London is built with the timbers of an old sailing ship; the V&A is lovely. I know you said you don’t like modern but try going up the Shard or the Gherkin just to have a view over everything else? Also what about a walking tour of the old City?

South Kensington is lovely generally for mooching about, lots of nice coffee shops and other shops. Near Hyde Park but you can wander down to Chelsea.

If the weather is good and you are a swimmer, I would recommend getting yourself to the Serpentine or up to the Ladies’ Pond on Hampstead Heath.

Enjoy yourself!

I'm going on my own on Saturday for the day. Firstly Fortnum and Mason as I need a few things then I'll play it by ear. I might go for the Tower Bridge experience, parks, markets, arcades, sightseeing, an obscure museum, a walkabout or anything that attracts my attention. Unless someone has any suggestions I may have not thought of.

If you go to see the Crystal Palace dinosaurs then you will be close to the Horniman Museum which is a bit different to many museums - lots of Victorian stuffed animals.
If you are there over the weekend they have a farmer's market on Sundays (not sure if it's every Sunday - so double check).

I always love trafalgar square and like to pop into the national gallery.

The Hunterian museum has reopened and is crazy interesting.

The guildhall galley is worth a look too, there's a Roman amphitheatre in the basement.

There is nothing worth looking at in Woolwich Arsenal!

Seabird on Blackfriars Road has a great roof terrace for cocktails (and great seafood).

The John Soanes museum is great.

Another role for the Horniman and South London's famous badly stuffed walrus.

The Mithraeum is also fascinating.

If you like knitting, Loop in Islington is the most fantastic yarn shop ever.

Mooching in Greenwich Market, also the Cutty Sark is there and there are nice pubs. If the weather's good you could have a picnic. And get the boat there.

I love the Sir John Soame's museum on my own, it's small so not overwhelming, and there's some great tea shops/pubs near there where I'm happy on my own.

Also the Wallace Collection, lovely house, usually interesting special exhibitions, free. Very nice restaurant/cafe.

The foundling museum made me cry!

The Wellcome Museum near Euston is worth a look if you happen to be near there and you could have lunch at Dishoom in Coal Drop Yard.

On my own I'll often wander up South Bank from Westminster and cross the bridge to St Paul's. Or vice versa.

I absolutely love a walk through St James' Park to spot spies and squirrels.

Last time in London it was a lovely day and I got a boat down to Kew and had a wander round the gardens and Kew itself, which is lovely.

Museum of brands is fun - all sorts of packing and household goods going back about 130 years.

Founding museum is quite small.

You can do tours of disused parts of tube stations. - they are meant to be really good

Books - Foyles near Tottenham Court Rd

Knitting - Loop in Islington is a great wool shop. Islington itself is very cute, there are antique stalls on the back streets around Loop.

A walk along the canal is so nice (much nicer than the river imo). Just east of Angel there's a cafe on the canal, and you can then walk West to Kings Cross, which has some nice restaurants around Granary Square (eg Dishoom / Bao). The canal stretch west of camden is also very nice. And up primrose hill / regents park and see the rose garden.

The Museum of Brands and Packaging is really quirky and actually so interesting/ nostalgic. Notting Hill is nice to explore (not on weekend)

London Walks do excellent guided tours. I like the Hampstead one.

Jin Kichi in Hampstead is a cute japanese restaurant (reserve to sit at the yakitori counter - fine to go on your own), followed by walk on the heath and dip in Ladies Pond (need to pre book if swimming after 11am, i think).

Leighton House Museum i hear is amazing.

575 Wandsworth Road (national trust property) is incredible. I think theyre only open in summer and get booked up quick.

The Found Bar in shoreditch and Satans Whiskers in bethnal green have excellent cocktails.

Victoria park (east, near mile end) is great for people watching.

It you're into Thai food Kiln in soho is great, and has counter seating so nice to go solo.

Have fun!

I went on a Hidden London tour (by London Transport Museum) of Aldwych abandoned tube station off the Strand, it was very interesting! They only do these tours at certain times though so may not coincide with your time in London.

Oh and Punch Drunk (immersive theatre production) have a production on near Woolich, if you do end up in the area. (I think they do daytime slots too)

The museum of London in Barbican is great for history and social history. It's brilliantly done

@murasaki I think the walrus is away for repairs (he's great though isn't he?).

@lemonsaretheonlyfruit the Barbican bit of Museum of London has closed down (they are moving elsewhere).

I'll second Leighton House museum if you like art and decor.

I hope they stick with the original style, which was apparently due to the fact the taxidermist had never seen a real one so did his best!

Even so, lots to see in there and the gardens are lovely and have a great view of the city.

I would go to the V&A. Then buy some books and have a delicious late lunch and read them. Don't try and do too much!

Social History: Museum of the Home (formerly Geffreye museum) is interesting.

And Yinka Shobinare’s exhibition at the Serpentine . Covers colonial history to present day.

Hampton Court is fab. The house, the gardens, the lake, nice walk over the road in Bushey Park

Social History (but modern …) 2 Willow Rd NT property.

Woolwichworks events www.woolwich.works/whats-on

If the weather's nice-ish, a walk along the Thames is never a bad idea. Start at St Pauls - even the outside of the Cathedral is lovely, or go in (of course!). Walk across the Millennium Bridge to Tate Modern, then mooch along the South Bank to Westminster. There's much to see and dip into as you walk. Loads of cafés for pitstops too. Or get the Clipper River bus down to Greenwich, then explore there. The park/ Observatory is glorious, but there are a lot of other things too.

I love the dinosaurs. Been going since I was small and never tire of them (very recent photo!). But it might be a bit of a trek for a short trip, depending on where else you want to go.

Waterstones Piccadilly is amazing and there is a very nice cafe bar on the top floor. Woolwich is a bit meh, lots of new build flats, some nice cafes but not very interesting. You can get the riverboat to Woolwich from central London if you wanted to have a Quick Look. Also highly recommend Greenwich for a fun day out. Lovely park, nice shops and places to eat, the Cutty Sark and maritime museum are really interesting. Again , easily accessible by riverboat or the DLR.