Where to go to be warm in London for a few hours

[lilacapostrophe]

Weird title but I’ll explain! Going to London to meet family members for lunch. One is elderly and feels the cold. We don’t want to have lunch and then just go home, but strolling about outside isn’t ideal as it will be cold. Where would you go to spend an extra couple of hours? Art gallery? Museum (I fear the latter will be heaving on a Saturday)? Family members are aged 18, 20, 80 and then a couple of middle agers.

What about the Sky Garden?

Which area will you be in / which station are you travelling to?

I want to suggest you sit on the Victoria line 😆

But more sensible options - I went to the Wellcome museum recently and that was blasting out hot air. They have a cafe in there too.

depending on where you will be - there’s some lovely homely pubs in Wapping etc which would have the wood fires burning

Sky Garden is literally one of the chilliest places in London. I really would not go there. Plus heaps of steps so not ideal for elderly folk.

Wellcome museum is a good idea - rarely busy. The British museum will be busy but is so huge that the more remote galleries are generally fairly quiet. Ditto the V&A.

Otherwise you could book tickets to a museum with timed slots to control numbers, like Dennis Severs House.

You have to book the Sky Garden well in advance.

What about the Barbican?

V and A museum has the most gorgeous tea rooms.

Aww is it. I've not actually ever been but thought it was indoors. Ignore my suggestion OP 😂

I haven’t been for a while but they also have a lovely peaceful reading room with lots of comfy chairs and cushions. Upstairs, and you can take the lift (though yes, it will be busy).

Also you need to book - can’t just turn up. How about V and A? Or fashion museum has an interesting film exhibition at the moment.

The Wallace Collection has a lovely tearoom and is nice for a wander around.

I'm forever promoting Battersea Power Station!

Battersea Power Station

There is so much to do and see, with lots of activities and things of interest for everyone.

Oh wow - lots of ideas! Will check out each and every one. Thank you!

All arriving at different stations - Euston, Victoria, Paddington…so firstly I need to find somewhere to meet for lunch and then we can travel anywhere vaguely central.

Came to suggest Wallace collection as per previous poster. It’s v central (behind Selfridges) is never too busy and the cafe is indeed lovely. Cloakrooms in basement where you can leave bags/coats

I never get tired of the National Gallery, find one of the major rooms, sit down and gaze at the art. I'd think V&A would be a bit far away?

Do you not still have to queue for a while to get in? I waited ages outside with a relative from abroad before we got through security. It seemed a lot of faff for something quite underwhelming.

OP, you could pick up an Uber boat from Westminster or the London Eye and sail downriver to Greenwich and back. It's reasonable and many of them have a cafe on board.

The National Gallery, Tate Britain, Tate Modern and British Museum are all free to enter. You could look around a couple of rooms in one of them and go for a coffee.

That's true - it isn't busy. And has a good cafe.

Royal Festival Hall foyer.

Denis Severs house is recreating a Georgian town house, complete with drafts, ill fitting windows, stone floors, and limited heating! It’s a lovely place to visit, but not to warm up, also there is nowhere to sit apart from the exhibit chairs and they are not at all keen on visitors plonking themselves down for a rest.

The Welcome Museum as already suggested, or the British Library, or The Festival Hall on the Southbank are all free entry, have cafes and seating .

This is the Wellcome Reading Room, @lilacapostrophe

We were freezing at Battersea Power Station! Outside is just a sweep down to the Thames and the wind was whipping off it and making it very cold and miserable indeed. And it’s so cavernous inside it’s not cosy at all.

The South Bank Centre is a nice space to spend time in. Cafe, gift shops and comfy seating areas.

National Gallery or V&A.

Wallace Collection very easy to reach from both Euston and Paddington, and the 2 bus from Victoria plus a 5m walk offers a change-free option, or Victoria Line to Euston then bus 18 to Harley St (the Wallace is about 5-10m walk from any transport option) It is free, absolutely world-class collection, relatively small so doable, not too busy, internal lift (ask staff to direct you - they’re behind doors on the left of the stairs), don’t particularly rate the tea room myself - it’s pretty but service slow. Lots of nice shops of all descriptions and cafés on nearby Marylebone High Street, and a nice little café just round the corner from the Wallace, I forget its name but been there quite a few times. Daunts Bookshop in M High St is definitely a destination.