What would you do if you had a day to yourself in London?

[ratatouilleandrice]

As the title says really. It’s going to be sunny. Can’t wait but clueless as to what I actually want to do!

Go to the Foundling Museum then find a nice place for lunch.

roughly, which area of the city will you be in @ratatouilleandrice?

I think I would suggest going round on one of the hop on hop off buses, getting off at stops of particular interest.

I would avoid the really crowded areas like Covent Garden.

I’ve never been to Portobello Road Market and always fancied checking it out, so probably that. Though I don’t know London massively well, so I can’t say whether it would be worth it, and there may be better markets to mooch around.

What kind of things do you enjoy?

Morning at National Portrait Gallery and have lunch there. Then go to V&A for the afternoon.

Really enjoyed Buckingham Palace, I didn’t think I’d be as interested as I was but it was a great experience and all killer, no filler!

I love mooching around the V&A. Just visit a couple of highlight exhibits like the great bed of Ware! The good thing about the V&A is you can pop in and out quickly, or spend hours there.

If you are into art, then the Quentin Blake centre for illustration has just opened. It’s not just his art! The Tate Modern and Southbank are top spots for art and design enthusiasts.

I enjoy mooching around Covent Garden, the little boutique shops and stalls, makeup and perfume shops. There’s a Pilgrims pizza and other affordable places to eat around there.

There are some lovely shopping arcades to wander around, have a coffee, such as Leadenhall, Burlington Arcade.

Tours I’ve enjoyed which you do as a group and can do solo are the street art walking tour near Liverpool Street (Brick lane etc), Jack the Ripper in the same area and the Harry Potter tour (from Leadenhall market).

Daunt books if you’re into books

Afternoon tea in a hotel might be a nice thing to do, St Pancras or something grand

I went to the Tower of London and then walked back along the Thames towards Waterloo, stopped at the Tate Modern but didn’t pay to go just looked around the building, crossed the bridge and went to St Paul’s Cathedral and then walked back along the South Bank. I really enjoyed it!

Nova exhibition is really good (although sad) if you're in London now. Sky gardens or horizon 22 worth a visit and free but need to book in advance. Brick lane. I like national Portrait Gallery - it's not normally too busy.

National Gallery for me. One of the top 3 art galleries in the world, IMO.

I’d probably spend at least some of the day in one of the parks if it’s going to be nice weather. I like St James Park and Regents Park but really any of them are pretty good.

I always think the museums are a bit of a waste if the weather’s decent (& I don’t personally enjoy art galleries)

This is an excellent itinerary, you can roll in some gelato at borough market too if you like.

Agree . My perfect day in London.

Chocolate strawberries at Borough market are also the best. Not sure where they get their 🍓 from but they are really good!

Exactly what I did a few weekends ago. Zurbaran at the RA, lunch at Bocca Di Lupo in Soho followed by ice cream at Gelupo, then Tracey Emin at Tate Modern followed by Hurvin Anderson and Whistler at Tate Britain, followed by a drink.

Re-visit the pubs of my youth!

What an excellent day!

I am going later
Pre theatre menu at Toklas - out on the terrace, then Pride the musical

mumsnet is obsessed by Borough market which at the weekend is a HELL HOLE - see also the SouthBank

It was!

I would go to the jewellery gallery in the V and A , have a coffee in the courtyard then walk to Kensington Gardens where I would see the Diana memorial and look at the beautiful flowers. Id have lunch in the cafe outside by the Serpentine, then go to see the David Hockney exhibition at the Serpentine Gallery( need to book). If time Id walk through the park to Marble Arch and have a mooch around the shops.

and covent garden. All bloody awful

Seven dials is nicer

yes! The Shiaparelli in the V ad A is as good as the Chanel thing was

It’s busy but it’s not a hell hole. You’re being somewhat dramatic tbh. If it is too crazy the new Arches are always empty! But I am not averse to a ten minute wait for my favourite gelato (I like 3 bis). It’s a major city of course it’s busy.

Wow, you have some staying power! I love art exhibitions but they exhaust me more than almost any other activity. Three in one day is a marathon.