Where's your 'happy place' in London?

[Walnutwhipaddict]

Hey everyone,

So I'm new to London and have a few hours to kill. Just on Oxford street (so hot!!!) and looking for somewhere relaxing (and a bit cooler) where I can chill for a bit.

I would love to go somewhere like the National Gallery, but apparently it's closing at 6 :(

Any suggestions on a nice little place (niche, unusual, off the beaten track, all suggestions welcome!) in central London that I could chill in for a bit please?

Thanks!

The churchyard at the bottom of Wardour St by Shaftesbury Avenue. Not sure what time it shuts. Foyles on Charing Cross Rd good too. Go to Hyde Park?

The Southbank. Its by the river and lovely to people watch and have a coctail. Perfect place to chill.

Regents Park or Holland Park. Grab a book/paper, a drink, and sprawl on the grass. There's a great ice cream place on Holland Park Ave.

Camden Lock or The Natural History Museum.

Churches around east London

Royal Festival Hall on the Southbank. Go up to the 5th/6th floor terrace with a drink.

My favourites are Ruby Blues (Leicester Square) for a cocktail on the balcony, St James Park, Southbank and Covent Garden for a wander

Fortnum & Mason.

Any of the restaurants. Today the ice- cream parlour. The food hall is always busy but the upper floors hardly ever are and are wonderful to browse in.

Mercato Metropolitano at Elephant and Castle - it's a food/drink market with indoor and outdoor spaces of varying noisiness. Sitting with a drink, some churros and book would be my idea of heaven right now.

If you are on Oxford Street Fortnums is one stop on the Victoria line to Green Park. Open until 10.

Ooh, or Waterstones on Piccadilly. Four floors of heavenly bookshop with a bar/restaurant on the top floor.

John Lewis roof top terrace.

It is gorgeous

The Wallace Collection is very closev to oxford street.

Or Hatchards to browse. Or the Wolsely(although probably busy) There is Patisserie Valerie, the other patisserie like Valerie on the same side of Picadilly and another patisserie on the other side.

John Lewis and Selfridges both have roof terraces. The Selfridges one you have to book but they have space tonight according to the website. Depends how far you want to go and for how long - those two are very close for you.

OP if you are new to London and go to Covent Garden don't , whatever you do , decide not to wait for the lifts at Covent Garden underground station and use the stairs.

Everyone does it once and never again!

I came on to say I've just had a lovely stroll round Hampstead Heath but it's a bit far I think.

Liberty

The Cork and Bottle subterranean wine bar off Leicester Square. Convenient place to start / end an evening in central London but off the tourist track (it doesn't look much from outside).

I've been going there more than 20 years now and I love it.

God I feel old.

The cafe at the top of Foyles on Charing Cross road is nice :)

Go and sit under a tree in Green Park, Regents Park or Hyde Park. Hyde Park is past Marble Arch, at the western end of Oxf Str

Postmans Park. Near St Paul's. Gorgeous.

I was going to say that Fiddkestikks!

Would also second Royal Festival Hall where you can mooch about with a whole picnic and no one cares.

Regents Park is tranquil and beautiful too.

Soho square is a nice bit of greenery near Oxford street.