What do you LOVE to do in London?

[Oesta]

I'm a Londoner and I've been feeling really down in the dumps reading about crime in London.

I need some cheering up to remember that this city is full of life and happiness and joy. What do you love to do?

I personally love the museums and want to start moving into art galleries next.

There are always temporary exhibitions which change every few months. Or galleries with no permanent collections which just have temporary shows, like the Barbican. Also, part of the charm of art museums for me is getting to know the permanent collections. When the Courtauld was free one morning a week, I always dropped in on my lunch. I knew that collection so well. Lots of galleries and museums also have free events, lectures etc. It can be worth your while becoming a member if it’s somewhere you’ll return to.

We no longer live in London, but when we did we always started the day on Sundays by taking the bus to the Columbia Road flower market, then walking down to Brick Lane for bagels and on to Spitalfields. We also used to do long walks in unfamiliar bits of London, sometimes using books like ‘Secret London’, ‘Village London’ etc. we used to book things for Open House every year — https://open-city.org.uk/open-house-festival. You can enter architecturally significant private homes, or buildings not usually accessible to the public, or go free to buildings that usually charge. Could be anything from City churches to the Neasden temple to artists’ studios to embassies or the Bank of England.

Another thing we did a lot was free concerts.

Check out Atlas Obscura, you might find something to get you started there -

https://www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/london-england

Tower Bridge is my favourite bridge in the world!

Have you ever been inside? It's fascinating and full of the history of the building of it.

Then you exit through a little engine room museum.

As well as the big museums, look out for exhibitions at the borough libraries. I once went to a very interesting exhibition of historical maps of the local area at Tower Hamlets library, and another about railways at Camden library.

I don’t think I have the kind of personality one needs to truly ‘thrive’ in a city like London tbh! It’s not for the faint hearted and I have nothing but admiration for those that really make it work for them despite the high costs, overcrowding and other London-specific challenges. I’ll never knock it and love it for its incredible and unique history and museums and love to travel up for a day trip - and the occasional work trip up to our offices in Westminster and am proud to have lived and studied there! ♥️

How about some churches? There are some fascinating ones and they're cool in this weather.

The most life affirming thing I've ever done in London was take the tube to Stratford International, walk to the Olympic Park and let my toddler play in the water spouts with her toddler friend. Such happy shrieking from so many!

I'm sure it works without a toddler.

This is such a lovely thread 😁 I've been a Londoner for 23 years and it's home to me, more than my 'actual' home ever was. Nowhere on earth is perfect but gosh there is so much to love here

'Crime has always happened - in London and elsewhere.
Just use your common sense, and you'll be fine.'

Couldn't agree more. I feel very safe here - I follow the usual precautions but it's fine. Agree with the advice to stop reading the horror stories, it will do your head no good at all

I love St Dunstan's in the East Gardens!

The ruins and the gardens are Grade 1 listed and just so haunting - it's been overrun by Tiktokers a few times but don't let that put anyone off visiting.

Like many of the churches/ruins in The City they were damaged by the Great Fire of London, rebuilt, then burnt out again in The Blitz.

https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryMagazine/DestinationsUK/St-Dunstan-in-the-East-Gardens/

I'm also a Londoner and often feel a bit jaded @Oesta . I find a visit to some green, leafy spot is a good antidote when city life is feeling grimy and overwhelming. Kew Gardens, a walk along the Thames path, Regent's Park, Hampstead Heath etc. All give a bit of fresh air and a different perspective.

I really love the ballet.

I went to see Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland at the Royal Opera House last week - it was fabulous!

I chose a night when Steven McRae was dancing, as I wanted to see him in particular.

How to find the hidden stuff... follow Instagram and Facebook accounts, read books, visit libraries and small places, read posters and community notice boards (old school), get friends who similarly seek out the fun, unusual stuff - be the friend who always says yes if someone wants to do or try something new, sign up to email newsletters sharing new shows and events. The more hidden stuff you do the more you find. I found friends originally from other countries - South Africa, European countries were often far better at discovering fun stuff and seeking things out of their comfort zone.
Start with accounts like Londonist and Secret London. Work networking events were always good for finding new places too and I had many great days in Putney.
choose different tube stops and specifically research things to do in that area.

I felt the same when I moved there, but I think it took living there longterm to start to take my time with it, relax into it, and recognise that it is a mosaic of smaller places put together, and much more liveable/navigable once you get that. I lived there for a decade and still miss it. I click back into London mode to an extent when I go for a weekend, but it takes me longer.

I love St Dunstan's in the East Gardens!

Just wish the smokers wouldn't drop their fag ends all over the place.

When I lived in London years ago National Gallery and Kew Gardebs or just sitting in Green Park in a deck chair.

There are more opportunities for social things like Meetup.

Also rejoice in the quality of your art, transport and things to do. They may break but they exist. I can’t drive (medical) and didn’t feel the 2nd class citizen I do in Yorkshire.

Step away from NextDoor and local FB groups - they’re full of loons who see danger lurking behind every postbox.

Sir John Soane's museum in Holborn.
Museum of brands, packaging and advertising,
The Wellcome Collection,
Foundling Museum,
Freud Museum,
Leighton Hall has an indoor fountain

i lived in London for 14 years and loved going to the smaller museums,

Trips on the river and musicals

The Kyoto garden in Holland Park is so healing - go mid week in the spring, autumn and winter for a more peaceful time there.

The West End feels such a treat and a great show can feel so life-affirming. I still can’t believe it’s a few Tube stops away from home now, after seeing a show as a little girl and being mesmerised by it all.

Somerset House fountains are so much fun with little ones.

Love that we can get street food or go to a Michelin starred restaurant in close proximity. China Town for amazing Chinese food obvs and sushi too. A few Dishooms!

If you like painting, the Pottery Cafe in Fulham and Northcote Road is lovely.

I love going to Westminster Catherdral . Over and over . Just to gaze at the historic names on tombs and realise the special place they hold in long British history. And then the more modern sites like Poets Corner . To see the place that is televised so often for world events like weddings, etc. Plus the cafe and shop are nice.

I love going to Westminster Catherdral . Over and over . Just to gaze at the historic names on tombs and realise the special place they hold in long British history....

That's Westminster Abbey. Westminster Cathedral is a completely different place. Which might be well worth visiting in its own right (I dropped into a choir rehearsal there once when I had time to kill in the area) but doesn't have all the historic tombs etc.

What a great thread. I moved to London 7 years ago and have so much to explore.. this thread has great advice.
I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else in the world. Have spent just under a year in the ME and was desperate to come back to London. No place like it.
I am always astounded by the green spaces (as someone mentioned already) in such a vast city but the best part for me is the diversity and the way we all live together in harmony celebrating all from different parts of the world.

This. Westminster Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral — brick, neo-Byzantine, late 19thc, interesting mosaics. But if you’re looking for royal graves, Poets’ Corner and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, they’re down the street.

Go to the ancient baths at Covent Garden. We went there for our anniversary recently and it’s a wonderful experience

Had no idea these existed