Help me with my London list

[ikeepforgetting]

I moved to London in 2002 with then boyfriend who became husband, couple of DC. I am now divorced from the miserable old sod and realise that there are probably loads of things that I haven't experienced here because life became about him, work, kids, drudge - and I forgot I lived in one of the best cities in the world.

To mark my new freedom, I want to put together a list of must-do things in London for the discerning 52 year old! I have one so far, an evening at Ronnie Scotts. I love music, food, quirky little shops, parks, pottering about, a bit of art.

Any and all ideas very welcome!

Please don’t feed the parakeets as someone above suggested - they’re an invasive species

The park keeper was the one who was giving the food to the dc to feed them.

Just to add, if you’ve got Ronnie Scott’s on your list, you may like The Green Note in Camden - very small, more folk/jazz but something different almost every day. The ground floor hold about 40 and it’s seated. The basement is really tiny.

https://www.greennote.co.uk/

I love De Beauvoir Town, a walk there then the canal. Also Kensal Green Cemetery - do have a coffee and cake in Delicias (my favourite coffee and very inexpensive).

Lots of great suggestions here. I also suggest that you start with Thames Rib boat experience? It is so exhilarating - get those endorphins going!

Anything at The Bridge Theatre is usually good

A lot of the organised walks are very good too, We went on one of Brunel's London which was very interesting but there's something for everyone; ghosts, food, literary, film or music related, guided tours around around art galleries

I also found Battersea Power station visit fun (with a trip to very reasonably priced Roti King for lunch?)

Wow, thank you all for these brilliant suggestions. Lots of these going on the list! I was lucky enough to work beside Borough Market for 15 years so that's a well worn favourite already, and very much recommended to everyone.

Looks like breaking the list into neighbourhoods might be an idea, maybe one neighbourhood a month with all these recommendations mapped out. Ooh I feel a spreadsheet coming on!

I can’t account for the intelligence of the park keepers. The general rule is not to feed any of the wildlife in the parks. But parakeets are particularly problematic as they are out competing native species.

A few favourites which spring to mind:

Design Museum in Kensington
Charles Dickens Museum
HMS Belfast
Spitalfields

There are some excellent suggestions on this list - I'm stealing some of them and adding;

V&A Storehouse
Smithfields Market (I hear it's due to close permenantly soon so make haste) - I found it totally fascinating
Mudlarking tour of the Thames Foreshore (I think it's the Thames Trust who run these)
The William Morris Society Museum
Tour of the Houses of Parliment

We used to have a Histoic Houses membership which gave access to lots of lovely places and occasionally there were occasional 'special' events which were excellent - behind the scenes at The Goucho Club was a memorable one!

I moved to London in 2001 when I was 23 and loved it, going to new places every weekend, I had to move away in 2014 when I had my DD but I still have my London flat and stay there 3 times a year. I know everything already mentioned apart from Japan House so I must check that out. Some more suggestions
Art galleries on Cork Street, go through the Burlington Arcade.
Sir John Soanes museum
Samuel Johnson House
The Building Centre
The Freud museum

Yes to Roti King, Battersea

The lift experience in the power station is expensive, but I really enjoyed it.

Recently visited Moco art gallery by Marble Arch, really quirky contemporary art.
Then wandered over to Hyde Park for a stroll towards the Serpentine, great for bird and people watching.

Dennis Sever’s house near Spitalfields market. A very strange and interesting experience.

Ice skating at Somerset House followed by the Courtauld Gallery and some lunch in winter.

Swimming in Hampstead pond in summer.

Going to the V&A to see some of the stuff in the archives, like the original pencil sketches for the Winnie The Pooh books

I love this thread! Lots of favourites on here but also lots of things to add. I must save it.

For music I second the Blues bar in Soho! Theres a piano bar in that area too.
Also have a look at what’s on at the Royal Albert Hall, and they do nice candlelight concerts at St-Martin-in-the-Fields.

I’d suggest having a look some of the lesser known public squares and gardens - great for a short break and a bit of peace and quiet (e.g. Mount St gardens, Paddington St gardens). And the nature reserve at Camley St near St Pancras. There are some lovely areas for walks e.g. along the canal from Little Venice to Camden, or a City of London / Spitalfields walk (loads of history). If you have been away from London for a while, try some of the places which have been redeveloped with lots of shops & bars e.g. Coal Drops Yard, Paddington Basin.
(So many things to do and see in London!)

Lots of great ideas; thanks so much OP.

I would add:

Guruwalks' Southbank tour - Pubs, Prisons, Prostitutes and Plays - it's free and you pay what you think it's worth at the end. Includes an old operating theatre in the garret of a church - fascinating. A word of warning - I was pickpocketed while engrossed in listening to the guide. In no way the fault of the tour but I won't ever forget to keep an eye on my bag in a crowd again.

Wilton's Music Hall. The oldest Grand Music Hall in the world, renovated beautifully but not overly modernised so still very atmospheric. Only £10 for a history tour, and they put on an interesting range of plays and events too. Once you've visited, it's amazing how often it pops up in period dramas on TV.

Browns on Albemarle Street is my favourite for afternoon tea. Not cheap, but imo much nicer - and much more generous - than some of the big-name hotels. Don't eat lunch beforehand!

Cindy Lawford's Fashion Tours London. We did the Savile Row and Jermyn Street one. It was a 70th birthday present for a very dapper friend who loved it. Cindy is great; full of enthusiasm and interesting stories. She takes you behind the scenes of the iconic tailors and shirt-makers of the area and we chatted with amazingly talented people and heard about their skills and their famous clients. I'm looking forward to going back to do another tour soon.

Adds Browns to my list.

How about a couple of Michelin star lunches? I’ve only been to Hakassan and Gymkhana so far - both do decent value set menus at lunchtime.

Kutir in Chelsea is in the Michelin guide (no star) and does a very good value lunch in a beautiful building.

Wow this list is amazing.

https://www.dennissevershouse.co.uk/

I'm actually giddy with excitement! Thank you and keep them coming. Yes please to restaurant must-dos. From fancy to cafes to lovely views. Love this!

I'll probably do a lot of this solo too, but nothing so far feels like it needs a partner/friend tagging along which is even better

Dennis Severs House. I haven’t been but would love to. I must make the effort.
https://www.dennissevershouse.co.uk/

Snap @RisingAbove

@MadameCholetsDirtySecret Apparently amazing in Winter so that's definitely on the list

Loving all these ideas as I’m about to mooch around London myself.