Help me plan a special London day for a friend following a rough time.

[Se10wonderings]

An old friend is coming to visit me in London in a few weeks’ time. She’s had a particularly rough time over the past year (think, serious illness and awful treatment by her now ex), so I want to treat her to a really special day.

Please hit me up with your suggestions of lovely places for lunch and/ or dinner, and a nice afternoon activity - I’m thinking possibly a spa trip, or maybe a matinee show (but I also think we’ll want to spend our time talking and catching up).

Thanks!

Aw, you sound like a lovely friend. I think you’re right in that you may want to spend a lot of time catching up, so I’d begin with breakfast/brunch at The Wolseley followed by a walk around Green Park and down to St James’ Park. You could then amble around The National Gallery/ National Portrait Gallery if you wanted and have dinner at the restaurant at the top with amazing views. This is assuming it’ll be dry of course!

I wonder if it’s exciting to her to be in London and she’ll want to do London things, or if it’s really just a convenient place for you both to meet and you just want to cosset her a bit.

Also where are you both arriving into London (which station etc?)

Just to add this is a wonderful spa in Central London.

I was about to suggest similar! Wolsely, Royal Academy, wander round St James Park.
Or a Tate to Tate boat trip, an exhibition, and some lunch by the river?

Ah thank you, lovely ideas already! She's going to get a hotel somewhere central so will work around that. I'm in se London but will of course come to her.

Off to swoon at AIRE now....

Any clues re which bit of London?

I'd suggest a (smallish) gallery .... Wallace Collection, King's Gallery or the Courtauld

Depending on where you are, a late lunch somewhere nearby, followed by a walk in the park/by the river, and then a drink.

For a drink, try Swan at the Globe on South Bank or (if you want very special) Claridge's.

@EsotericMnemonic which spa ?

Aire near Charing Cross.

@EsotericMnemonic thank you
OP I hope you have a wonderful day with your friend.

I don’t think you can go wrong with a boat trip on the Thames. I also love a potter around Camden Market.

Have a similar thing planned for friend. My plans are breakfast somewhere nice. A boat down the Thames, a trip to Spital fields for the music and lunch. Walk somewhere or an open top bus, finished off by cocktails at Covent Garden and a show.