4.5 hours in London-what would you do?

[AuADHD]

We are arriving into Euston and have 4.5 hours behind an appointment. Dc are 11 and 17. Must do’s are the Lego store Leicester Square, and Fortnum and Mason although the later might be on the way home after the appointment. We’d like to try one of the ice cream places, and that massive cinnamon bun place in Covent Garden.
Where is a must see? Thank you.

By the time you've got to the lego store, queued to get in, spent loads of time in there then got to your appointment you won't have time for much more than the cinnamon bun place. I think it took us about 15 mins to get into the store then we were in there for quite a while. Where is your appointment?

It’s at the Portland Hospital. We’ve never queued for long with the Lego
store and will be there not long after it opens. We usually spend about 20 minutes in there. We get to Euston at 9am then the appointment is 2.30pm so I’ve allowed an hour to travel between wherever and the hospital as I’m terrible for underestimating how long things take.

Personally I wouldn’t go to that area at all!

I’d maybe go down to London Bridge and do a combination of some or all of the following:

visit Borough market if it’s on, walk along to the Tate Modern (either to see free permanent exhibitions / the turbine hall or a paid one if there’s something you fancy) passing the Globe (or even see a play if there’s something on and you’ve time/ don’t do the previous things) cross the Millenium Bridge to take a look at St Paul’s cathedral (going in or not depending on how much time you have left) and if you’ve got time left you could take a bus along Fleet Street and have a look at the Inns of Court.

That would then bring you along to Covent Garden further along the same route.

As an alternative, I also really love Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery if you’re more over that way. Can be combined then with seeing Houses of Parliament/ Buckingham Palace and a lovely walk in St James’s Park.

I’m sorry but I wouldn’t go near Leicester Square or that area unless it was for the theatre.

There's the Paradox museum, almost opposite Harrods. You might have time for that? That maybe of interest to you dc & is on the piccadilly line

What’s wrong with Leicester Square? We usually picnic in one of the parks. Usually Green Park as close to F&M.

It’s just very crowded and touristy and doesn’t really give an experience of London - most of these stores are selling things you can find in loads of cities all around the world and originate for elsewhere too. I realise Fortnum and Mason is an English brand but I would find it hard to be excited about it.

London has so much rich history and incredible sight and experiences that are truly its own that it seems a shame to spend the time looking at shops.

St James’s Park is lovely, I grant you. (Edit - sorry I saw you said Green Park not St James)

If someone is coming to my city I would want to show case it and show you authentic sights, not Danish, American, Japanese, Chinese etc shops (I realise you haven’t mentioned American, Chinese or Japanese stores specifically).

I’m not trying to be a snob but I just love my city!

Edit 2 - I was trying to stick to central stuff as you don’t have much time but there are so many other areas too outside of zone 1

Just for clarity - I do also think China town is cool for something to eat if you find yourself in that area, and of course London is informed by its amazingly rich migrant heritage, but I don’t think eg the Lego store, the M&M store (just as an example) are examples of that.

@GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing I get your point. Lego is our special interest so Leicester Square is always a must, but only for Lego, nothing else. F&M for my favourite chocolate and my mum’s favourites too. I always choose her a selection from the counter. The hospital is right next to Regent’s Park so we might go there for a change. I’d love to do the science museum but I think that would need a day of its own. We aren’t really into art galleries and we definitely don’t like lots of shopping. It’s restricted to Lego and Fortnum and Mason. I can’t stand all the Harry Potter type shops and American candy even though I like both. It’s nothing special to us as we can get those things in Manchester or online.
We might wander up to Buckingham Palace as we often do. We love the silly squirrels in St James’ Park!

With 4.5 hours, I would get the tube straight to London Bridge, walk to the pier and get on the Uber boat up to Greenwich/the O2 then get the Cable Car over the river and the DLR back to town from Royal Victoria. Absolutely loads to look at on the way, including the new beach in the docks (book a swim if you fancy it).

Half an hour to get to Leicester Square, an hour in the Lego store, 20 minute walk to Fortnums, an hour in there (they have a great ice cream parlour btw) - you won't have any time left. Or if you do, very quick stride around Green Park and you might even get as far as Buckingham Palace, but maybe not. Best to be realistic.

To see the major points of interest in central London you probably need 3 very well planned days.

Did you read the OP @HumBumBum or just the thread title?

Baby pelicans at st James Park if you go to green park.

I think what you already want to do will fill the time. Have fun.

Why not go along to London dungeon or the eye?
A river cruise
A museum?

The Lego store really isn't all that if you've been before. Very little you can't just get online.

Regents park is ideal after your shopping and son close to the hospital. The boating lake is fun. It's hot and sticky in London but lovely in the parks.

I would go to Battersea power station if I were you it’s quite cool, you can go up the chimney for views have great shops and restaurants including a Lego store

Regents Park is also a great shout - I haven’t been there nearly as often as I should! TBH I don’t know that area very well. Don’t think I totally took in which hospital you were going to on first reading of your OP.

We do love Lego too! In fact I have been looking at how we might go to Legoland Billind and the Lego house some day… So definitely not at all immune to its charms.

Science museums (or any of the museums) is definitely an all day event, I agree. But very well worth it! My tip for those would be to definitely bring a packed lunch.

I will come to you for tips if I’m in Manchester without a specific purpose like work or taking DD to look at the Uni (as we did last week) as I always feel like I’ve probably not seen much of the place beyond the very surface level! (Don’t worry I don’t actually plan to DM you!)

Cabinet War Rooms, off Whitehall is an option

I must do this some time!

Lots of good tips on here that I’ll do myself at some point!

Wellcome Collection on Euston Rd might be appropriate

Battersea power station is a great shout. You can get the northern line from Euston and back to Warren Street for the Portland. Really cool Lego store plus great architecture and you can go up one of the towers on the tour.

I'd give a whole day for Battersea. The op would have less than 3 hours and with kids in toe who wants a mad scramble to make it back to the appointment.

I second this, or the Grant Museum of Zoology is a few minutes walk. Love a jar of moles.

Have you done London and the big sites before? If not, sack off all the commercial tat you have planned (buy Lego online and ditch the cinnamon bun place) and go somewhere like The Tower of London, or do an open top bus tour or one of the river boats with really good commentary.

Or I’d go to St James’s Park, look at Buckingham Palace from the outside (see if your timings work to see the changing of the guard), walk through the park to Horseguards (stop and look at the pelicans), get an ice cream en route, go along Whitehall to see Big Ben and Parliament then do Westminster Abbey or go back up Whitehall and see Trafalgar Square before heading to Covent Garden.

Cabinet War Rooms (now called Churchill War Rooms I think) is also excellent - echo a PP that this is a great plan if interested in the War or DC are studying it, and it’s near St James’s Park and Parliament.