24hr hours in London

[WelshMoth]

Natural History, Borough Market and a river Thames taxi. Can someone fill in the gaps for me please for a pair of 20 year olds?!

They’re staying in Clerkenwell but will probably have the energy to stay out all day all night! They want to see the things listed above but want more ideas please!

What are they interested in? And why the Natural History Museum?

Hit the bars in Shoreditch

They are 20. They should have sufficient agency to work this one out for themselves.

That's plenty, they just need some bars for the evening (probably not ones that mumsnetters would recommend).

I should think they will be exhausted with all that and a night out! Also agree with PP, should be able to work that one out for themselves. With perhaps a heads up on less desirable areas.

Check out if somethings on at the Barbican. St Paul’s is free to enter on Sunday.

TikTok will have lots of ideas. My FYP regularly shows content like the cool places in China Town.

The Science museum is next door to the NHM. My kids prefer it because it aligns with their interests better.

Camden market is popular with that age group. Perhaps a walk through Regents Park on the way back down?

Thanks everyone (or else to those who’ve actually been helpful).

Because it’s free 😂 and because they’ve never travelled solo to London before. It’s a very impromptu visit (leaving very early tomorrow) so they’ve not had much time to plan - I thought I’d ask here as there’s nothing better than first hand experience but of course, there’s always one or two jobsworths who have to state what they think is obvious).

C'mon, if they're old enough to book last minute tickets to London they're plenty old enough to work out what to do while they're there. I would have been mortified if Mummy had been micromanaging my weekend away at that age.

Just walk about round Leicester Square, Coventry Garden, Piccadilly. They could walk over Waterloo Bridge and go to the South Bank. Or go up one of the tall buildings with a bar/garden - some of them are free.

Sky gardens also free and great view

https://mercatometropolitano.com/elephant-castle/

Mercarto Metropolitano midway between Borough and Elephant & Castle is a great venue. Straight down the Northern Line from Angel to Borough. Much livelier and considerably cheaper than Borough Market venues. Loads of brilliant eateries in one place, bars, various DJs and great vibe. Safe walk between there and Borough Tube and depending on where in Clerkenwell they’re staying, easy walk or bus from Angel Tube (or bus with a change at Waterloo and minimal walk at either end).

Science and V&A are also free and on the same road as the Natural History Museum. That is right by Hyde Park with the Serpentine and Kensington Gardens (also free).

British Museum also free (near Russell Square) as is the Tate Modern (combine the latter with a walk along the Thames down to the South Bank).

Camden Market is not that far from Regents Park.

National Gallery is by Trafalgar Square and could then walk around Leicester Square and China Town

All these are free, but what are they interested in?

Its not unreasonable to ask for other people’s experiences to add to the ideas for a last minute trip to a new place, whatever the age of the traveller.

CityMapper and the TFL app are both useful to estimate journeys and check if lines are open - install them before leaving.

If they don't know London, they might like to visit the "big" shops such as Harrods, Fortnum & Mason, Hamley's etc just to look. Oxford Street for actual shopping.

Again, a bit of a leap there. Thanks, jobsworth 😂

Amazing. Thank you.

Awesome. I’ll stick it on their list!

This is excellent. Thanks ever so much. I’ll pass this on.

Yes, never been. I’ll pass this on! Thank you!

Thanks so much - this is why I posted. I thought the Tate too but not the others. Huge thanks.

Don’t bother with the NHM unless they are fascinated by natural history. You have to book a slot and it’s full of kids. the V and A is much more adult and less rammed and the cafe is lovely. The jewellery gallery is amazing and well worth popping in just for that, and the fashion section if they are interested in that. I’d go into Kensington gardens where they can walk from the V and A, have a look at the Serpentine Pavillion (it’s an art installation that changes every summer) you can usually get a drink there . You can walk through to Green Park or Marble Arch and then do Oxford St though so wouldn’t bother Id go to Covent Garden for shop or head to Battersea Power Station which is fab, you can get there on the tube or boat. Coal Drops Yard is another great area near Kings X for shopping and eateries.

I agree swap the NHM for the V&A which is next door - far more interesting IMO, not many young children and not so crowded. Tate Modern is great for 20 year-olds.

I hope they have fun!

National Portrait Gallery is great and easy to get to. I'd go there and Covent Garden and then over to the Tate Modern and a wander along the south bank. If they can afford an uber boat along the Thames that would be a nice thing to do too.