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!

Walk along the South Bank as already suggested then go to the
Esther exhibition at Somerset House. Or go on one of the great guided walks, see Walks.com.

The Hockney isn’t worth seeing unless you’re obsessive about needing to see everything by Hockney. Otherwise, a lovely day. Could go to the design museum instead!

I no longer live in the UK so tend to be in London now for only a day or two, which means I cram things in. Often I might add a play at night or seeing friends for breakfast or dinner!

I love to put the river at the Centre. I am bookish so tend to The National for a coffee with a book, mooch about the book stalls and say hello to the Laurence Olivier statue, past the Globe and a nice bit of reflection in Southwark Cathedral (I am Muslim but love a good church). Everywhere around there is just so nice for people watching and I am tempted by the Tracy Emin at the Tate.

V & A if a weekday.

Wandering around Hampstead maybe?

Just to add that it can be tricky to know what to suggest for trips to London if you live in the middle of London yourself, as I do.

If someone is visiting London for a short time or has never been here before, it's useful to do the tour, as visitors can see all the famous buildings in a compact way.

It's especially good for children and for anyone who wouldn't want to do too much walking.

If someone has particular interests, such as football or art, I suggest places they will like especially.

Tours of the Tower of London are very popular, the Beefeaters are very entertaining as they show people around and the Crown Jewels are worth seeing.

The hop on off bus stops there too.

The Tracey Emin is well worth a look.

The Tracey Emin exhibition is all about her life ( as most of her art is) its a bit emotional The Frieda Khalo one is coming up
in June but will be popular. The Whistler at Tate Britain ( a much nicer venue) is worth a look.

A dip in London Fields lido. Followed by a mooch around broadway market and a visit to Columbia Road (not on a Sunday as although I like the flower market it does get VERY busy).

I tend to gravitate towards the Covent Garden area. There's a couple of coffee shops I'm particularly fond of, there's always something going on in the market itself, and all the craft stalls are great. I also like having a browse in the Opera House shop.

V&A and Tate Britain.

MC Escher is on at Somerset House if you liked that or Hockney at Serpentine or Anish kapoor southbank or Tracey Emin Tate.

I’d probably go to Dalloway Terrace in Bloomsbury for lunch. And maybe take in a park or Kensington gardens. The London Mithraeum is free but you have to book, bank.

Oooo really like lots of these, thanks all. Don’t want to spend more than about £70 including food and transport but that doesn’t limit me massively. I’ve always wanted to go to the Old Bailey to watch a case but it seems like a faff because of the no phones policy, so that’s a no. I’m there 10-7 ish so I can go anywhere really. Intrigued by the Tracey Emin suggestion - in which Tate would that be?

Tate Modern.

To save money:
*Don't spend on hop-o n-off bus. Instead, down load CityMapper, familiarise yourself with it and get regular buses (much cheaper). TFL have a bus hopper fare- check this out before you go. Use your the same card all day on public transport - otherwise it will cost you more.
*There are loads of free things to see - eg can still go to Tate Modern, but don't have to pay to see Tracey Emin. Coffee shop here has good views
*Head to Temple and wander around the gardens. It will be quiet and gets you a little closer to seeing Old Bailey. I think you can eat there too- but depends when you are going. Check it out.

• Could get an Uber Boat- and head to Greenwich or smaller journey. It's fairly pricey but you cover a lot of ground, good photo ops and you can rest your feet.

Oh and someone has already mentioned Gelupo. It's to die for. It would be my splurge.

I would go to some of the museums that sound interesting to me, like the Foundling Museum, the V&A, the Imperial War Museum, the British Museum and the Natural History Museum. A West End show would be nice, and an art gallery, and perhaps a trip to a cathedral or two (like St Paul's), but all of that would be far too much to cram into a day!

Greenwich could be a good idea. Free stuff - the park, maritime museum, Queen’s House, foot tunnel to Docklands. Nice to walk by river and near through Royal Naval College. If market day lots of food stalls or Noodle Time for budget. Or they have usual chains plus M&S food and Waitrose nearby. Paul Rhodes is a nice artisan bakery/cafe for coffee/pastries. You could even get DLR to the peninsula for O2, but apart from that not much there.

I lived in London for many years and still work there all the time but a day OFF in London is a special thing.

I like to walk along the river from Wapping to Canary Wharf and then round the Isle of Dogs to Island Gardens. I used to live in Wapping with a baby who had dreadful colic - we'd have to walk him in the bloody babybjorn for too many hours so we spent a lot of time wandering the river. I still love that walk and recently took that baby, now 23, back along the very route I once did to stop him screaming his head off. Some great pubs along the way too. I love going along Narrow street and wishing I'd bought a river facing Georgian townhouse when Ian McKellen did...

Or I'd go the other way - over Tower bridge and then along the river (as much as you can between TB and LB) to the Southbank ending up with a mooch around the Southbank centre/Hayward. On the way I'd weep for the loss of the London Studios, spend ages in Tate Modern, have a drink at one of several riverside pubs, eat lunch at Padella in London Bridge, do a bit of mud larking around the Oxo Tower then wander around the shops there.

OR I'd spend the morning in the V&A, buy a supermarket lunch and tiny bottle of fizz to consume in Regent's Park admiring the planting, then swan around Liberty's trying lots of perfume and sampling makeup followed by a really special cocktail in a wonderful hotel, like NoMad London or the Mandrake.

I'd visit Hyde Park. Love the big London parks. Design museum is also excellent.

Plus maybe the Queen's wardrobe exhibition currently on at Buckingham palace.

Not sure I’d do mud larking but good ideas.

I’ve done a nice walk by river from London Bridge (by Borough market) to Rotherhithe (map it). You can stop off along the way for coffee/lunch/drink and it’s scenic.

The Silver Jubilee walk along the Thames. St Paul’s Cathedral. Food at The Ned.

This is completely sold out until the Autumn

Sold out until at least the end of October.

can recommend it though - it’s been extended until next April