Quiet spots in Central London

[BlueNell]

My autistic DS (17) has agreed to come with us to London for a few days as he is keen to visit the Natural History Museum. He’s only left the house twice this year so this is a pretty big deal. I’m conscious that he could become overwhelmed with all the crowds, buildings, and traffic.

I know there’s a few parks but which parks are best for potentially seeing wildlife (he loves birds) and are there any good quiet spots we could visit if he’s finding it a bit much?

Camley is nice, but very small, with a good little cafe. It’s next to the canal and Granary Square (fountains, market, ice creams, summer outside films) good for walking up to Camden but the latter may not be a good place for someone who can’t tolerate crowds. Dawnosaurs sounds like a great tip @Needlenardlenoo !

If you’re near Covent Garden area, the garden of the Actor’s Church is really quiet, we tend to take sandwiches in and sit on a bench for a 20 min down time. It’s like an oasis in the madness.

https://saintolave.com/

It's a church close to Tower Hill tube. Lovely garden for a respite. The views to the Tower of London from the station are spectacular. Plus there's part of the roman wall. It's not loud, not too crowded and with the church a little bit of sanctuary.

There’s a lovely little garden/park not far from the NHM. It’s called Tavistock Square Gardens and during a recent trip to London I spent time in it every day.

As the mum of a young man who’s 33 and severely autistic I think this could be a good place for your darling boy.

just let me change the size of the image I want to post.

Agree

Where abouts are you staying? London is huge… so then we can tailor answers and make it’s practical

Go to Richmond Park for birds. North East London has many migratory birds along the Thames.

He might like the Horniman Museum in South East London - it’s like a mini NHM and has lovely peaceful gardens

Tavistock Square Gardens.

For someone that has only been outside twice this year then I think NHM in the summer holidays would not be a good I choice. even the pavements and restaurants are packed and tube is heaving as all of the major museums are clustered together there.

I’m a Londoner and would only go either very early or very late in the day.

If you are staying on the South Bank, you can get quick trains from Waterloo to the river and green spaces to the west - Richmond (busy town centre but Richmond park is massive and you can walk along the river but beware the path is closed between Kew and richmond), other stations that ring Richmond park (eg North Sheen), or take train to Kew Bridge (river) or Gardens (Kew Gardens), Barnes Bridge or Barnes (river or Barnes common), Putney (river west to Hammersmth and Barnes or Putney Heath/Wimbledon common). It is an area with lots of green space and generally green riverside walks, plan it on google maps.

If you want a quiet museum near Waterloo and have any interest, the IWM is close.

I hope you have a lovely time.

If you're near the strand, the inns of court are always peaceful places to duck in to and have pretty gardens, particularly during the summer - Lincoln's inn (the inn itself, not Lincoln's inn field which will be busier) or middle and inner temple.

Also could head the other direction through the Quaker garden (Friends House) which is next to the Wellcome Collection towards Coram’s Fields (near Tavistock Square too).

THIS

The V&A is lovely but packed with families and friends meeting up in the summer. Plus there's sometimes queues to get in. It's very vivid, loud and I wouldn't recommend.

Natural History Museum and Science Museum are ALWAYS rammed.

The V&A is just across Exhibition Road. ALWAYS quiet
The grounds of Imperial College are just North of the Museums.
Shady and quiet but near enough to dive back in.

Kensington Gardens is at the top of Exhibition road.
The wooded flower area to the north of the Albert Memorial is usually quiet.
Its a short walk from there to the Serpentine where there are ALWAYS birds

South Ken tube station is a nightmare.
DO NOT walk the tunnel to the museum if he is in any way claustrophobic

Chelsea Physic Garden is never crowded IME.

For birds there's the pelicans in St James's Park which is not crowded but do pay for the deck chairs. Bring a packed lunch. Toilets nice and clean upin The Supreme Court Parliament Square. Free entry.

I like Postman’s Park too - there’s an interesting memorial to every day heroes there as well. And you could go for a wander round the Barbican high walkways, which are usually very quiet.

@placemats i have to second your mention of St James’s Park. My son, he’s severely autistic with multiple other dx, loved it there and even though he can no longer travel we always pay a visit to the park when in London just to go down memory lane. We have a sit down on the deckchairs and wish he was with us whilst laughing about things from the past.

Tavistock gardens is near the British Museum, not the NHM! However, in Bloomsbury there is also the Grant Museum of Zoology, part of UCL’s museums. The Wellcome is a nice science museum too near Euston.

If you decide to go to the NHM, and I think you will find it a struggle, the Spirit Collection is usually a calm and quiet area if you need a bit of time out.
Have you planned where and what you are going to eat?

Op, there’s also the British Museum which is very close to Tavistock Square Gardens. But that was busy when we were there and might be too much for your son.

London Zoo never feels too busy (we've been many times), lots of birds there. Regents park and Primrose Hill are right there - nice views from the top of Primrose Hill.

Like PP said, the Horniman museum is a bit further out but nice and quiet. Just beware - I think their famous overstuffed walrus is not on display at the moment.