Cool places to hang out for free in London?

[FusionChefGeoff]

Done Hyde Park
River taxi
Southbank
Covent Garden

Kids are 11 and 14 and we will have a couple of hours before a 2pm show. Arriving into Euston any thoughts on where’s nice just to hang out for a bit??

Not sure if it’s cool but I like the wellcome collection near Euston and sir john soames museum

Coal Drops Yard near King’s Cross. Very cool and lots of interesting shops. Plus the canal to see the narrow boats.

The British Museum is my 14 year old’s favourite place to spend that kind of time.

Horizon 22 or the Sky Garden.

Where is the show?

I don't think it's especially cool but Phoenix Gardens is a lovely place to spend a bit of time if killing time in the West End.

Also, take a walk along the South Bank, browse the book stalls, get snacks from all the lovely food stalls, wander round Gabriel's Wharf and the Oxo tower shops. Go browse the National Theatre bookshop or sit in the RFH or on the terrace outside with a cold drink.

Coal Drops Yard is great and would second that.

There are a ton of free art galleries in striking distance of the West End too.

British Library, just a short walk down Euston Road - the Treasures of the British Library exhibition is free and has loads of brilliant stuff - original manuscripts of famous books, handwritten Beatles lyrics, music manuscripts by famous composers etc.

If your show is on Shaftesbury Ave or environs, I’d do the British Library or whatever’s on at the Wellcome.

You can wait for two hours to get to the front of the queue to get in!

Granary Square, Coal Drops Yard and the canal will fit that amount of time perfectly.

Carnaby Street and Outernet

Regents Park and Marylebone High St

But I’d probably pick Coal Drops Yard and walk down the canal as pp said

@saraclara there’s a side entrance on Montague Place which usually has no queue at all.

I would just meander and try not to do too much. Leicester Square, Chinatown, Piccadilly Circus are all a stones throw away from each other. Covent Garden has shops and stalls you can look at, including an Apple store, plus all the free entertainers.

You could walk from Euston to west end and see what you discover along the way.

The screen thing by Tottenham Court Road. And like a pp said just wander coven garden, Leicester Square etc. there is seven dials food hall if you need to grab something to eat.

is it this weekend? There is some sort of Pepsi ice cream pop up in soho.

Leake Street to look at the graffiti.

Where’s the show? I’d go to the Barbican Conservatory. Ticketed but free and there are usually returns on the door.

Yes and they currently have an open air cinema too.

I'd go for food (Dishoom / Caravan / Morty and Bob's) or if you don't want a full meal have coffee and cake in Camley Street Nature Reserve.

Coal Drops Yard it is then thank you everyone!!! Don’t think I’ve got the patience for a museum or library just want to people watch and get an ice cream really.

Show is Shaftesbury - we’re doing the double Cursed Child!!

If you're arriving at Euston, I'd probably head to Granary Square at King's Cross. It's only about a 15-minute walk, there are loads of places to grab a coffee or snack, plenty of space to sit, and the fountains are always popular with children if the weather's nice. Coal Drops Yard is right next door too, so it's a nice area to wander without spending much. It's an easy, relaxed way to fill a couple of hours before making your way to the show.

These are all excellent suggestions for our next trips too so will be saving this thread

Camley Street nature reserve is across the canal from Coal Drops Yard (there's a pedestrian bridge). Walk down to the canalside and there's a pontoon you can sit on.

www.wildlondon.org.uk/nature-reserves/camley-street-natural-park

It's great for people watching! Families gather there, kiddies play in the fountains, and there are great places to eat, grab a coffee or buy street food. There's even a barge that's a bookshop!

You can walk along the canal in either direction. One way will take you to Gasholder park, which is amazing. The other way there are lawns to sit on, a canopy market, and the book barge.

Grant Museum of Zoology is great, close to Euston

I love st James park on a nice day and there are shady areas you can sit and have a picnic and watch many different birds I always go there if I visit London

I love st James park on a nice day and there are shady areas you can sit and have a picnic and watch many different birds I always go there if I visit London