Adult-focused days out

[LorraineInSpain]

Can anyone suggest any good days out that aren’t targeted at the family market? Particularly interested in places in London and the SE.

National Trust was previously a good shout, but they’ve really ramped up the child-friendliness at weekends and school holidays and although I don’t need things to be child-free, I don’t feel comfortable going on days where there are special child-focused holiday activities.

All the big museums do workshops, lectures, etc. I've done loads and most of them have been brilliant. There are always things on at the Barbican, too, and places like Gresham College and the Charterhouse. London Transport Museum do tours of abandoned Tube stations and other bits of their infrastructure.

If you don't already, I suggest you subscribe (free) to the Ian Visits weekly round-up of things in London. https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/

Also, for NT properties, try the smaller places which don't tend to be able to lay on masses of child-friendly activities. I'm thinking of Willow Road, Fenton House, Carlyle's House in London. Also, not NT, but Leighton House and Linley Sambourne House are also excellent.

Thank you @SqueakyDinosaur - I hadn’t previously seen that website but will have a look.

One of the local gardens near me used to do adult workshops (I went on a candle making one which was great) but they’ve stopped doing them since Covid.

Some museums do Lates... an evening adult only opening. I had a great time wandering around the Natural History Museum dinosaurs with a glass of wine a few years ago!

Oh that would be amazing - I really want to see the new dinosaur exhibition at the NHM but thought it would be child central (even some of my parent friends were complaining about the number of children there)

Are you into nature? I think Knepp estate (Sussex) doesn’t allow children on their tours/ safaris… They def don’t allow them at their camping.

Or a foodie tour of London/ Brighton/ etc. I want to do one of those (sans kids)

Knepp is actually quite near me I think, so will definitely have a look. I thought they were just a camping place, but if they do day trips as well then that could be interesting.

Some of the London museums and galleries also do evening opening during the week, which generally appeals to an adult audience.

I do have one in Oxfordshire if anyone is in or visiting the area. Rousham gardens are one of the most important 18th century landscapes in the country, and a beautifully preserved classical landscape. It’s very low key, with the owners’ chickens running in the yard, and wide views across and out of the landscape. No under 15s allowed, so it is very peaceful. The owners have a self serve ticket machine and you are welcome to bring a picnic and stay all day. No cafe or shop, but a loo in the car park. It is idyllic, and perfect for a lazy weekend day.

The science museum in London used to do lates, themed, with cocktails, on the last Wednesday of every month. They were great.

Zoo Lates is on next month at London Zoo, adults only after hours with food and drink!

This is my idea of heaven!

It's brilliant! Going this year after a matinee of Book of Mormon, definitely not a child friendly day 😂

There is an adults only fairground type attraction at canary wharf. I haven't been but looks enjoyable

Chester zoo is also doing adults-only zoo lates, for anyone up that way!

Watching with interest. Always on the lookout for cool things to do at the weekends

Not in the south at all but if you are looking for adult only craft courses Wernog wood in north wales do craft courses that are all adults only

They have a natural dyeing one in October I have my eye on after payday (I realise its the 7th of the month, I have a weird 15th of the month payday)

Unstaffed English Heritage sites are a good option; I can't recommend any in your area as I'm up north but the website lets you search outward from your home postcode.

Fairgame! This is what I was going to suggest it's great fun, I'm not from London though so that's all I've got

I have also found the NT focus on child centric activities irritating. Not because I hate kids, but because it doesn't encourage engagement and often distracts and detracts from the history. It also causes them to get horrendously crowded.

I can recommend Historic Houses membership. Much the same idea as the national trust but the houses are privately owned and tend to focus much more on the history of the property and less on social campaigning or standard holiday activities.

This is a great question. Anybody got any North West ones?

I've just seen Chester Zoo!

The Science Centre in Glasgow also has a lot of adult-only evenings (I don't recall any cocktails though, sadly).

I absolutely love being able to wander around and play with the demos without having other people glare at me as if I'm stealing a child's toy.

This is not a useful suggestion for the OP I know, but yay, there are things out there for us.

This is such a useful thread!

I absolutely love a book of walks for London. I have loads - my favourites include modernist architecture walks, a literary one and a Jewish History one. They suggest pubs and cafes you might want to stop at en route. I have discovered some really interesting places.

Eltham Palace is still relatively adult-centric. So is Sutton House. I also have V&A membership - a lot of the exhibitions are not in any way aimed at kids. I do have kids but they are older now, so we don't seek out child-friendly days in the same way that we used to.

Literary festivals? There one at Hampton court this weekend that looks amazing