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

Grant Museum of Zoology is a fun one.

Not really in keeping with everyone else here but my two favourite and unusual and free things in London are two monument. The modest one to Joseph Bazellgette on the Embankment near the tube station. He is the man who saved London. And that mental massive statue of Duke of Wellington at Hyde Park Corner. Its so funny, its a naked Greek warrior. It caused such a scandal they had to put a fig leaf on his private parts. Even today it would be scandalous. It was supposed to represent a living person, the Prime Minister no less.
The whole story is bizarre. Both free and certainly different.

Highgate cemetery, Kensington palace & gardens, Sky gardens, Spittlegate market, Hampstead , Battersea power station

If you go to the Natural History Museum or V&A you could go to Lina Stores for lunch - delicious pasta and very close. I would avoid NHM at half-term, it will be mental. Or if you really want to go then at least stay away from the dinosaurs 😬.

Wiltons music hall - any show or just a drink at the mahogany bar. Truly beautiful old Victorian music hall.
Sir John Soane's museum- their candlelight tours especially are really special
Dennis Severs house - a reconfigured house of an imaginary huguenot family
Wallace collection and Daunt books Marylebone high road could be combined
Foundling museum
Museum of london
Shakespeare globe have good tours and events

I'd also like to go to horniman museum, and the painted hall at the old royal naval college.

Not in London but reachable by train: Hampton Court Palace.
Absolute delight if you love history.

Leighton House.

Hampton Court is in the London Borough of Richmond 🤓

There are often really interesting exhibitions at the British Library. I think there’s one on Agatha Christie at the moment, I’m not sure if it’ll still be on in February.

I love Bloomsbury, just wandering around. SOAS has an art gallery with a Japanese roof garden which is open to the public - just behind Senate House on Russell Sq. If you like Brutalist architecture there’s Charles Clore House and the Brunswick Centre with the flats above. And a little bit closer to King’s Cross is the church of Christ the King which has the most amazing internal design. It’s the former mother church of a now defunct sect, the Catholic Apostolic Church. You might be able to go inside if there’s a concert on.

Lamb’s Conduit St near Coram’s Fields is good for a wander esp if you go to the Foundling Museum. And there’s the Charles Dickens museum on Doughty St.

We are going to london for my birthday in January and I also managed to get Bayeux Tapestry tickets.

We go to London loads and these are some of the things we have done or have planned.

Museum of Home & Dennis Severs House (we plan to visit these when we go in January)

Horsleydown old stairs near Tower Bridge. At night the tide goes out and you can stand on the Thames river banks and take photographs of Tower Bridge up close.

Jack the Ripper museum in Aldgate.

Our absolute favourite place which is touristy is The Tower of London and The Imperiel War Museum.

The Royal Mews was another place we enjoyed.

Ive always wanted to go to The Old Operating Theatre Museum but my children refuse to come with me.

Dennis Severs House. It’s in Spitalfields and is amazing- fully restored Georgian house.

Dr Johnson’s house also v good.

Chelsea Physic Garden.

Keats House is meant to be good but I’ve not been.

Stroll through the City and end up at one of the old pubs mentioned in Dickens- the Grapes I think is one.

Greenwich and the Painted Hall.

Chiswick House, Syon House. Hampton Court Palace is jaw dropping if you’ve not been.

A long walk from Hyde Park or Green Park to Kensington Gardens then end up at the museums in South Ken.

A classical concert at St Martin in the Fields.

Pottering in the old bookshops in Cecil Court.

Borough Market.

Lunch at Simpsons in the Strand.

Years ago DH and I did a scavenger hunt by a company called In The Hidden City- it was brilliant. See if they’re still going.

Well done OP- you’re making me miss London! 😂

Also, Apsley House!

Wow! I absolutely dispute that shoes in the WE are unoriginal… yes some are tired and a bit trad but never has there been such an array of top productions, often transfers from the NT etc, and NT shows at the NT are generally fab.

You can sign up for sites like Central Tickets or Today Tix for great deals.

There was also two museums one about Sir Alexander Flemming & The Grant Museum of Zoology which I came across. Im not sure what they are like because my children are squeamish and didnt want to go in. Has anyone been to either of these museums?

Love spending hours in the parks and gardens.

My top recommendation for a meal is Sarastro. It’s in the west end so easy access. Mediterranean food, with a theatrical experience - the inside decor is amazing.

Historical interest - depends if you have a particular area of history that you enjoy?
The previous suggestions I’d endorse are natural history museum, the old operating theatre, I think someone else already said the Mithraeum.
Dont bother with the Museum of the Home, it used to be good but they have really lost their way.
There are plenty of official walks with great experiences offered. Have a look at walks.com for example.

Yes, but the physical address is in Molesey. And all my London friends consider it "outside London" as it's not accesible by tube...
They are missing out, it's gorgeous, and it has some lovely river walks nearby :)

And second Andrew Edmunds. Not italian but food is fresh and very well cooked, great wines, place is very casual.
If you like meat, Blacklock (there are a few) is a good option and more casual than Hawksmoor.

We walked along the Thames path from London Bridge to Brunel Museum - couple of lovely old pubs en route for a pit stop (Angel , Mayflower) then train back.

https://livinglondonhistory.com/londons-ancient-roman-and-medieval-walls-a-self-guided-walk/

This is fun - & free!

hidden London do tours of disused underground platforms - I have done one and it was really interesting.

museum of brands was interesting for a bit of nostalgia - maybe an hour or so.

Walking along regents canaL from Paddington end is nice, you can stop at coal drops years for food.

Lina stores have a bigger one with proper tables at the end of Marylebone high street. Op will be near the Wallace Collection, which also has its own nice restaurant.

Op I would visit The British Museum if only to see the marbles and Egypt and the building itself is beautiful. I would avoid school hols and maybe go early or late in the day. The Life Goddess on Shore St is nearby and a fab Greek restaurant, really cosy.

Highgate Cemetery. there’s East and West. One you have to have the guided tour which is very interesting, the other you can just wander around.

I like to re-visit postman’s park to read all the historical bravery stories and acts by normal people. Just the way they are written still delights me.

For a lovely late lunch or dinner, 10 Cases, it’s just a little north of Covent Garden and an absolute gem. It’s no fuss French menu with an amazing selection of wine that they will happily curate for you.

The Tate have an exhibition of the 90’s running until mid Feb so that might be an option depending when your Bayeux tickets are for.

Thank you for this thread and contributors. I live commuting distance into London but don’t go in very often - used to be every day! These are some great ideas to go and do once I retire or when on school hols. Really inspiring and tThe Dennis Severs House has really piqued my interest.