To ask for your not overly touristy London recommendations?

[Emily3325]

I've managed to snag Bayeux Tapestry tickets for myself and my husband for February. We only visit London maybe once a year and have done most of the tourist hotspots (London Eye, the Tower, etc.). We aren't big drinkers and love history. I'm looking online, and all I'm seeing are escape rooms and similar things. What are some underrated bits to get up to? We're in London for 3 days and will be going to watch a show on the West End on one of the evenings

Excellent point.

Although maybe still snowdrops, hellebores, aconites, iris reticulata, and (apparently) a great cafe. Plus general history.

I loved Denis Severs house, a really unique, fascinating place, especially if you are into history.

We went at Christmas for the silent tour. It's like walking into another world where the ghosts of the past have just stepped out of the room. One of the most magical, evocative things I've ever done and can't recommend it highly enough.

Can I ask the knowledgeable people on this thread for a restaurant recommendation for dinner please?

We're looking for something Italian that feels like a canteen. Central London. Reasonable price, very relaxed. It's for a special occasion for my DH who doesn't like 'posh' places. Thank you.

Start at the John Soane’s museum and walk through Lincoln’s inn Fields, through New Square if it’s open, past the royal courts of justice (on your right) and down through the inns of court , passing the Kinghts Templar church. It’s just very historic and quiet and atmospheric

For a free view across the city - Horizon 22 is good and free.
Ask your MP for a tour of the Houses of Parliament.
Lots of "walking tours" - from music to hidden London.
The cheese boat at Paddington basin...

Skylon restaurant in the Southbank Centre is lovely with views over the Thames. Also the Sky Garden has a nice restaurant with amazing views. Also Gordon Ramsay at Sea Containers has river views.

Look at Mortimer House kitchen. Great food and it’s lovely for a special occasion without being too posh. It’s not like a canteen though; do you mean self-service?

https://www.mortimerhousekitchen.com/?gadsource=1&gadcampaignid=23928265661&gbraid=0AAAABDx4GmVEeTObFpsuBha3-oTv8lUxe&gclid=CjwKCAjwxeHWBhBPEiwAiqtQ-V7QNjGd7FsnM4CnjAm5M2PXtRpKDd5YEZ4cFIeNQUZsxm9W5V1XIRoClEYQAvDBwE

Yes, and it’s so vast that you are rarely in a crowd.

Lina stores is a bit more ‘canteen’. Still table service though. And delicious.

www.linastores.co.uk/locations/greek-street-restaurant

Ohh thank you @CafeYog I'll look that place up.

No, not necessarily self service, just more relaxed, scrubbed tables, nothing fancy.

Lina Stores is more casual.

I think Lina Stores in Soho might be it. Looks perfect. Thank you!

The Bank of England museum if you’re there for a weekday, coupled with a visit to the Mithraeum. Both are free and quick visits and can also be paired with any of the fre tall buildings in the area.

Do a guided walk of anything that interests you. Charles Dickens and Legal London is fascinating.

There's plenty to see indoors at the Garden Museum. All that's outside really is the museum's own small garden. The cafe is nice to sit in as well as out. It's a wonderful museum; great exhibitions, and the permanent collection is surprisingly interesting.
Lots of people have said the Wallace Collection, I know, but I wanted to concur; it's really special.
The Photographer's Gallery in Soho/Carnaby is excellent, not expensive and always has at least two different shows on, so you're likely to be interested in at least one of them. It's handy for cafes etc in Soho afterwards too.

For food, Masala Zone at Piccadilly Circus is in the Criterion building and is stunningly beautiful. If you don't want lunch or dinner there you can just have tea/drinks and snacks and admire the place.

This is what I'd do. I wouldn't follow an official guide, I'd just wander. The architecture in London is so diverse, you'll see everything from monuments, to churches, to parks, open spaces, crazy new buildings, awful 70s buildings and stunning old ones. It's a fascinating city to wander round and don't forget to look up!

Tayyabs! I used to go there and Needoo Grill weekly before I moved to zone 3. I go to the natural history museum a lot as I organise early morning events there, and I absolutely love it. And yes to the wildlife photographer of the year exhibition, it's always breathtaking. I also took my son to the fixing our broken planet (free) exhibition and the VR future world one over the summer and I recommend both for a bit of positivity about the future. The only ok place to eat round there is Brother Marcus which is decent, everywhere else is rubbish.

I think the best thing is to stay in one area and walk around. Take a guided walk if you are not confident. If you love history then there are loads of museums not far from BM if you are staying in that area: Dickens, Foundling, John Soane, Samuel Johnson, plus British Library, Welcome Inst. Away from west end try the Farringdon, Clerkenwell, Smithfield area where you have Charterhouse, St Barts, the new London museum. Or around the city you have some tall buildings for good views as well as little old churches and Leadenhall Market. More eastwards is Museum of the Home and V&A childhood. I would not bother with a west end show ...so expensive and not much originality. But if you like theatre look at fringe. That can be anything from a room over a pub to something new purpose built in zone 2 or 3. Have a great time

I was going to recommend one of these too, also haven’t done London but have done others and they’re great. Also second the Monument, museum of the home (has that changed its name recently?) and Churchill war rooms

Close to the British Museum, Fitzrovia Chapel if the days they are open coincide with your days. Even better if you can join one of their tours.

Museum of the Home used to be the Geffrye Museum.

Restaurants: Poule au pot on Ebury St, Pimlico and Andrew Edmunds, Lexington St, Soho.

Ham House, Marble Hill House, Strawberry Hill, Chiswick House & Sion House.

And then have lunch in the Royal Exchange and pop to the pub in Leadenhall Market