Spare couple of hours in Westminster, early morning...what would you do?

[Greensleeves]

We'll be arriving at Victoria at 6.30am (cheap coach tickets!) and have tickets to see Westminster Abbey at 9.30am - if you had a spare few hours in that bit of London, what would you do with it? I'm a history and politics obsessive, so will be quite happy just pootling about looking at stuff, but if anyone has any other ideas I'd be grateful

House of Parliament tour, Jewell tower, cabinet war room.

You can attend a morning service at Westminster Abbey every day. Just look at their website.
when I lived in London, it was the most frequent time I attended.

Dh and I have often been up early during weekend trips into the city, we honestly just really enjoy wandering the streets while it’s quiet! Don’t underestimate the simplicity 😂

I suspect that the ‘sights’ won’t be open pre 9.30.

So I’d see Downing St/ Whitehall / Parliament from the outside if you haven’t before, and have a good breakfast.

The Blue Boar is good food and you might do some gossipy politician-spotting.

River boat ride on the Thames Clippers from Embankment (the regular commuter boats). You can pay just by tapping your contactless card, although last time I went, you had to buy a ticket from the machines for the kids. Maybe go up to the Tower and back or something.

Most museum and other sites don't open till ten so I would do a walk from this series:

metropublications.com/collections/walking-guides/products/copy-of-londons-hidden-walks-1-volume-2

There are 4 volumes so pick one with a walk in that area that interests you. Lots of interesting historical and other details and although it is great if you can go into the sites mentioned, they are really interesting even if you can't.

I would just do some walking. Walk from the coach station along Victoria St. If you branch off in either direction there are loads of interesting little back streets and pubs.

When you get the the end at Parliament Sq there is a feast for history/politics nerds. You could also take a wander up Whitehall.

If the weather is nice have a potter around Green Park and go and see the Pelicans.

Go and look at St James's Park when it's not crammed with tourists.
The lake is lovely and there are lots of birds, including the pelicans. Buckingham Palace is at the far side.

Oh, lots of great suggestions! Thank you

I'm definitely up for some politician-spotting, the river trips sound great, and I'm going to have a look at that link with the walks on it.

I'm so excited, we haven't been to London in years and this is a "research trip" for the historical fiction book I'm writing, so it's going to be packed with museums and exhibitions [happy dance]

Oh good shout, we'll definitely do an hour of bird-spotting in St James' Park as well. DH will love that.

I'd go for a walk, looking at the sights from the outside, round St James's Park etc. Stand on Westminster Bridge before all the traffic gets going and read Wordsworth to yourself. Breakfast from Gianni's and eat it in the park. Service in the Abbey or Cathedral?

Ooooh @Greensleeves that sounds exciting! You could also listen to the Rest is History podcasts they did about all the statues in Whitehall and Parliament and Trafalgar squares, while following their steps and seeing if you agree with them 😀.

After the pelicans (good shout), you can get breakfast from 8am in the Cellarium at Westminster Abbey (access via Dean's Yard).

I'm the early morning I'd get a coffee and spend some time checking out the statues in parliament square and having a nosy at the protestors. Unless it's bloody cold or wet.

Hope you have a great day.

Go here for breakfast - it is legendary

Yes to The Regency cafe!

I would walk down the river on the Westminster side as far as Battersea, cross over, nose around the refurbished power station area, have some breakfast around there, then head back on that side.

If you are wiritng a historical novel I wuld spend a lot of time nosing around the back streets to get a feel for what London could have been like before the big thoroughfares (like Whitehall, Victoria st, Embankement) were built.

Walk through Green Park out towards Piccadilly and grab breakfast at the Wolseley, it's open from 7. Even if you're just grabbing a coffee and pastry, it's an institution and as a writer you'll enjoy the rich visuals and people spotting!

And wander round the back streets between St James's and Green Park as they are still something out of Georgette Heyer novel. Although my favourite is Pickering Place on the opposite side of St James's

www.londonxlondon.com/pickering-place/

I'd enjoy walking around and seeing the sites, St James Square (there's a nice enough cafe there near water open from 8am), Downing Street, Big Ben, London Eye from the river. Any time left over a walk along the bank out going east.

Forgot to say, Horse Guards Parade and you may see Horse Guards and horses the other side.

Lie in wait for Rishi and pelt him with eggs.

@londonmummy1966 ooh yes - the churchyard of St James Piccadilly is a great one.

It's a few months since I've been in St James's Park but the pelicans weren't there last time because of avian flu, so I'd check first in case they're still on their holidays.

Definitely the Regency for breakfast and I'd agree with any or all of the walking suggestions .