London evening suggestions please

[Needtosoundoffandbreathe]

I'm going to be in London for work and have two evenings on my own in this lovely weather. Staying in Paddington. Does anyone have any suggestions of what I can do in the evenings, aside from eating dinner. I'm quite happy wandering on my own - can be aimless though! Happy to use public transport.

From Paddington, you can cross over Edgware Road and explore Marylebone - the high street and surrounds is lovely, then down to Oxford Street, then Soho or Fitzrovia. Or you can walk down south of Paddington and go to Hyde Park (even walk across the park to Knightsbridge / Kensington). Basically, the world's your oyster from there - and there's obviously loads of places to go on public transport. Or walk west from Paddington to Notting Hill, but beware, it's full of trustafarians and investment bankers trying to be edgy

You can walk/get a bus down to Little Venice from there and do a canal side walk or have a drink/dinner there. The Institute for Contemporary Arts is open late.

https://www.walks.com/

Waterstones in picc circus is open til 9 and has a restaurant bar at the top.

Little Venice must be lovely in the evenings at the moment.

It was always nice when I was there, worked there for a year.

I like this suggestion. Being outdoors appeals!

Does the idea of an evening boat ride appeal? I recommend doing it as it’s getting dark & London’s lighting up. Especially if you can get an outside seat.

Thank you for this.

This time last year I walked from Southwark Park along the Southbank to the Covid memorial wall. Then it was a slog to Victoria to get back!

Ooh - yes it does! Any suggestions of where to book or turn up to?

Here’s the tfl link. https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/river/

Biggest bookshop in Europe!!

From next month non-members can Swim in The Sepebtine lake in Hyde Park. Very handy for Paddington.

I’d do this. I’m sure they do them in the evenings but unsure.

That’s for walks you sign up to. Just use google maps but try to plot your walk, eg you can walk through any of the parks to various parts of London. Eg St James’s Park to Pall Mall/trafalgar square, there’s a nice Caffè Nero at Trafalgar Square. Perfectly safe and grab ice cream, soft drink on the way. I think there’s a map my walk site too.

https://www.mapmywalk.com/

I keep forgetting that!

And then of course there’s Fortnums next door.

There's a (TFL) boat from Embankment up the river which has a little bar on it

Wander through Marylebone to Regents Park. Wander through Regents Park (the Rose Garden will be amazing at the moment) to Primrose Hill. Wander around central London’s Beverly Hills before dinner at Lemonia on Regent’s Park Road. Lovely, family friendly, solo diner friendly Greek restaurant which treats every guest as if they are George Michael (one of his favourites) or Kate Moss (seen her there loads of times).

Either walk back the same way (looking at the animals in London Zoo) or get the 274 bus back to Lancaster Gate and walk to hotel.

@Needtosoundoffandbreathe a couple of other resources here and here

There is a free David Hockney exhibition at the Serpentine at the moment - you do need tix though.

You can also queue to get in.

The TFL boats go all over - eg to Greenwich. Thames clipper. Just the cost of an oyster ticket.

Thank you for the suggestions and links. Currently struggling to leave the NW due to train cancellations and delays! Hoping I'll be able to get a seat as my reservation is useless now.

Good luck @Needtosoundoffandbreathe!