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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU.... child free day in London tomorrow. I don’t know what to do with myself!

26 replies

OhMyDarling · 08/08/2019 21:41

DD’s are busy doing a workshop in London tomorrow and we are all meeting their godmothers for dinner at one of their homes which is pretty central. So I thought I’d go up to London with them in the morning and find something to do while I wait for them....

But I don’t know what!

We live about 30mins outside of London so we tend to visit at last once a month but always with a purpose. I don’t really have one tomorrow.
What can I do??
It’ll be 10.00-1.00ish and I honest can’t remember/don’t know what adults do in their free time.
I don’t have any money, will take a packed lunch and it doesn’t look like it’s going to be very nice weather though the rain might hold off.

Give me some ideas!!

OP posts:
PatriciaHolm · 08/08/2019 21:59

Wander round the V&A? go see the Psychology of Magic exhibition at the Wellcome Museum?

Or just take a good book and sit in a café!

Original poster
OhMyDarling · 08/08/2019 23:24

No money for a drink in a cafe!
Is that exhibition free??

OP posts:
PatriciaHolm · 09/08/2019 00:42

Yes it is!

OliveToboogie · 09/08/2019 00:51

Either visit a museum or street market and just ppl watch.

BeaLola · 09/08/2019 00:55

Go see theManolo Blahnik exhibition at Yge Wallace Collection - best museum in London and free

GreenTulips · 09/08/2019 01:00

Sky gardens?

caranx · 09/08/2019 05:53

If you like books, the Sir John Ritblat Gallery is amazing and free at the British Library (right next to St Pancras)

www.bl.uk/events/treasures-of-the-british-library

44PumpLane · 09/08/2019 06:20

Natural History Museum wins every time for me!

Peccary · 09/08/2019 06:25

I could happily lose 3 hours in the British Museum but I'm an a nerd like that

Nanamilly · 09/08/2019 06:30

I like walking from Piccadilly Circus down past Trafalgar Square, up the Mall to the Palace, into the park for a good sit down then over to horse guards parade for the walk back to Piccadilly.

I do it every time I’m in London and it’s now become a family tradition when I’m travelling with family. You can make the walk last as long as you like.

AutumnMeadows · 09/08/2019 06:36

If you can manage max £4.50 (daily bus cap) , and in view of the rain you could spend the time sightseeing on the top of ordinary double decker buses.... get on one to somewhere you've never been before, look at the architecture, people-watch and so on. I did this once and was amazed how much I enjoyed it!

crummyusername · 09/08/2019 06:38

Changing of the Guard is 11 I think (google it) if the weather is ok

I’d go for National Portrait Gallery over than NationL Gallery myself, really interesting to look around and there is a portrait award exhibition on (free)

SmallPinkBear · 09/08/2019 06:39

Don’t go to one of the big museums - they will be full of everyone else’s children. I went to the science museum last week and it was hellish.... I would treat myself to a spa treatment at cowshed or somewhere like that and enjoy some me time...

AngeloMysterioso · 09/08/2019 06:40

Dior exhibition at the V&A?

Loopytiles · 09/08/2019 06:41

If it’s raining would do a free gallery and/or museum(s) as PPs suggest.

If nice weather - seems unlikely - and you’d like some exercise would plan a walk to a bit of London you like or haven’t yet seem, and somewhere nice to eat your packed lunch on the route.

Loopytiles · 09/08/2019 06:42

Yeah, I really dislike Science and Nat History museums, way too crowded.

Quite like Tate Britain.

AChickenCalledDaal · 09/08/2019 06:45

DO NOT attempt a relaxing, child free time in the natural history museum, in the middle of August!!!!! There will be so many children you queue for an hour to get in, and the corridors will be solid with people (bitter experience).

Lots of other free museums though. Pick one that would bore a school age child.

AutumnMeadows · 09/08/2019 06:50

How about wandering around the Covent Garden piazza area, lots of entertainers, musicians etc.

If you like churches, the Brompton Oratory is stunning and I think it's free.

St Pancras station is architecturally fascinating .

Harrods food hall or Fortnum and Mason.

user1480880826 · 09/08/2019 06:50

It’s raining and it’s the summer holidays. Avoid the big museums, especially natural history.

I would suggest rate Britain then hop on the Tate-to-Tate clipper and go to the Tate modern but the boat isn’t free.

How about a wander around east London? Brick lane, spitalfields market and whitechapel gallery?

RushianDisney · 09/08/2019 06:55

The Lee Krasner exhibition at Barbican is amazing, and unlikely to be full of children.

bebeboeuf · 09/08/2019 07:02

A wander around Covent Garden, a wander along southbank
A £5 standing ticket to sea Shakespeare at the globe

Lonecatwithkitten · 09/08/2019 07:33

Museum if London either site ( Barbican or Docklands) are free and excellent. Just wandering along the South Bank is always good.

doadeer · 09/08/2019 07:42

Museum of london is great and free and quieter than the main ones. It's next to St Pauls which is lovely to see too

Ragwort · 09/08/2019 07:42

If it’s not too wet then I love walking round the parks, take a flask of coffee if you can’t afford a cafe.

National Portrait gallery might not be too busy?

Borough Market (lots of tastings), lovely to walk along the South Bank, watch Tower Bridge - obviously weather dependent.

Walk along the canals?

We spent a long weekend in London recently and just loved walking around & soaking up the atmosphere, but we live very rurally so it was a huge excitement for us. 😁

doadeer · 09/08/2019 07:43

Oh haha didn't see comment above!