Unexpected day on own in London

[thesafetydancer]

Posted here for traffic- and advice please?
DH is going to London on business and we thought it'd be a quick meeting however it's now going to take all day, so I'm going to be on my own and have no idea what to do? Ive only been to London a couple times but always with others who sort of took the lead iykwim, and always had plans pre booked.
Would love to go shopping but only know Oxford Street. Thought of a spa day but zero idea on where to start. It's overwhelming looking online/trip advisor.
Am not confident doing anything on my own recently (due to pregnancy loss) and have relied on DH for everything so am really hoping to embrace this experience and not panic like I am now!
So please any suggestions on what to do and also on how to be brave? I really want to do this and not cancel last minute which is what I'm worried I'll do and then regret.

Richmond to Embankment would be quite easy (tube or overground).The lovely National Portrait Gallery is only a 5-10 minute walk away - Covent Garden is 10-15 minutes further on. Or the National Gallery and Trafalgar Square are not far either. Posh hotel, One Aldwych, has a spa - probably loads of other places if you fancy some pampering/a manicure. Fab toilets in the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden - behind the open plan cafe. Stanfords travel bookshop worth a look if you enjoy travelling.

Or if you like Selfridges, you can avoid the rest of Oxford Street by walking to Marylebone High Street (5-10 minutes behind Oxford Street) - interesting shops and cafes there.The Wallace Collection art gallery is nearby as well, although I prefer the other two galleries.

Yes, the British Museum is a good suggestion - has a wow factor if you haven't been before.

Cross post.

Libertys is such a beautiful shop .We lived in London as a child and DM would take me there (They used to have baskets of remnants back then in the 60s) buy some material ,and just marvel at the staircase (standing at the top it is apparently modelled on a grand ships interior ). If you just want a quick few stops on tube , go to Kensington (Harrods) and marvel at the food hall .Buy some choccy to put in a Harrods bag of course!)and mooch around V and A nearby .Magnificent pillar right through building. Apparently V and A was constructed around this according to my Cousin !

Do not j see any circumstances go to Oxford Street. Normal Londoners avoid it like the plague. It's awful.

Richmond is lovely. I would shop there. I wouldn't go any further. Have a walk along the river and in the park, something nice to eat, and avoid central London at all costs.

Have fun!

But she’s not a Londoner. Selfridges , big stores - all fun

The weather today is horrendous so I’d say go to a gallery but if it was nice I’d recommend Highgate cemetery

@amusedbush- there’s a Moomin shop? 😍

Just for info - Kew Gardens and Richmond Park are closed today because of the storm.

I would stay Richmond way! Oxford St is so crowded.
Hampton Court palace is incredible I love going there or kew gardens.

Or if you want a spa afternoon espa at the corinthia near trafalgar square is spectacular

Oxford Street is not fun @AnnDaloozier ! For anyone! (Apart from pickpockets).

I would walk along the South Bank, stopping for a glass of wine somewhere, nip into the Tate Modern and then have some fabulous food at Borough Market.

That’s what I used to do pre-DD!

I would spend the day pottering around in Richmond, have a walk alongside the Thames and look out for parakeets.

Take the District Line to Sloane Square. Can see the Tutankhamen exhibition at the Saachi Gallery (need to book in advance), shop in Peter Jones/Sloane Street/Kings Road.