If you are in London...

[Frequentflier]

what are you doing to stay sane and happy? I am in London and new to the UK anyway.I wasn't doing restaurants, but I was keeping myself sane by going to museums and galleries, which are now closed. I don't do malls. I don't have family or friends here; been trying to make friends but it's tough in these times. Work is slow at the moment too.

Am in a v small flat with DH working( loudly) from home and DS isolating. I definitely need to get out for my sanity, and have been walking in the parks, but it is getting chillier. Are there nice places in London I can go to which are open-ish, but not parks? I am in South East London.

Tbh, am not even sure I should be talking the tube, because DH is vulnerable.

It is almost as if people assume that London didn't get the same lockdowns that they did. My entire life has completely changed since lockdown 1. It didn't suddenly go back to normal even if we weren't in tier 3. This ridiculous desire to blame Londoners for successive governments treatments of the north is tedious.

@OutedByHobby

I think people like *@RedToothBrush and @Stationfork* are forgetting that London has some unique problems of its own. Even rich people live in really small homes, and gardens are pretty much an impossible dream unless you bought 30 years ago. We’re totally reliant on public spaces to save us from going stir crazy. We’re also much less likely to have a car so again reliant on public transport. There’s no pressure valve as you might have elsewhere.

I sympathise with the Northerners and with the OP, who’s an expat having to deal with this on her own without a family and friends network.

Agree. In lockdown there were 3 adults and 1 toddler in my one bed flat. It was awful.

Ice skating is happening outside the maritime museum .

@kirinm

It is almost as if people assume that London didn't get the same lockdowns that they did. My entire life has completely changed since lockdown 1. It didn't suddenly go back to normal even if we weren't in tier 3. This ridiculous desire to blame Londoners for successive governments treatments of the north is tedious.

It feels very spiteful and full of resentment to me. I live in a two bedroom flat in a very nice area, but no garden. My close friends and family are two to three hours away, I'm a single parent with little support. Yes, of course I am being proactive in finding things to do outside my flat with my children. There's over 9 million Londoners all with different needs and resources. It's pretty short sighted to assume we are all comfortably off white collar families who can escape to their country homes whenever the whim takes us.

@iwantavuvezela

Ice skating is happening outside the maritime museum .

Also at Hampton Court. A fabulous thing we did recently was "Christmas at Kew". There's still tickets available for after Christmas I believe as the dates were extended. It really was utterly magical.

Why don't you try some mudlarking OP?

I'm in London and with covid right now. Throughout these last few days I've been wondering how any of the covid sufferers in the flats near me (the infection rates are sky high here) have coped as being able to go out in the garden and breathe/gasp has been an absolute lifeline for my family. Btw OP if you're Gujerati, 'kemcho!'

@Elephant4

Why don't you try some mudlarking OP?

You need a permit and I don’t think they’re issuing more this year.

@Etinox

Definitely avoid public transport. Thermos and walk Horniman Sydenham Hill Ruskin Park Streatham Common Crystal Palace Greenwich Park

it’s really hard.

This sounds very familiar!! Literally had the kids in the park in the rain yesterday, it was lovely as everyone else left. Waterproof trousers and wellies and they didn’t care. Then big hand wash and it’s in the car for a picnic & hot choc.

Yeah thanks I lived in London for 10 years, much of it in bedsits so I am well aware of the cramped conditions. People live like that everywhere though. Just because you live out of London doesn't automatically mean you have a garden/large accommodation either.

Also again, I'm not in the North or a Northerner. Just never been released from lockdown so the thought of going to a gallery or having a glass of wine with a friend is completely an alien concept right now and I'm so fed up as those things were a big part of my life.

That’s fair enough, @stationfork, but in no other British city does the majority of the population live in flats.

@Stationfork

OP I want to apologise for how I came across it's all just getting too much for me this week.

To the others that pointed out it sounded spiteful, you're right it did and that is not how I like to conduct myself.

It seems that so many places just get fully and completely forgotten about and it only becomes news or noticed when London/the South is affected. Whereas in reality things have been incredibly restricted for what feels a very long time.

I'm not in a Northern location though.

It's been awful for the north and places like Leicester that they've been in lockdown for so long, but London was hardest hit in the first wave and we still have the highest death toll for the UK so it's not like we haven't suffered down here too! But no one cares about that because the Govt has done a right number on fuelling the north-south divide with its half-arsed decisions and lack of financial support for the north.

Oh there are some lovely ideas here, thanks! I would never have thought of Kew and Hampton Court, genius.

Sorry you got some negativity FrequentFlyer. It's not Londoners' fault that some useless MPs live here. Some posters need to check themselves

I am really loving getting out on my bike. It feels like I own the city! I highly recommend getting or borrowing one and going a bit further than you might feel like walking.

Walking along the river is a lovely London thing.

Wow this took off. I didn't expect so many responses or MN moderators to step in.
Thanks all for the useful responses, all of which am noting carefully.. Just back from a long walk by the river and I feel better.

The tube: I think I will avoid weekends, tho am generally working most of the week. Am really not sure if I am being paranoid. I am in Greenwich and the recent reports about the increase in cases made me feel a bit jittery and confused. I feel like I only need to be super careful till May when DH might perhaps get the vaccine?
@confusedcomMum am not Gujarati but do love the food!
I realise now this north south divide is an emotive issue, so may well have put my foot in it, but as is apparent by my OP, I am totally fresh off the boat, so did not realise.

@Frequentflier have you been to Oxleas Woods yet? It’s about a 30-40 walk out of Greenwich, up Shooter’s Hill.
Just before the woods is also Charlton Lido, which is def still open. Very clean, and it’s heated.
It’s expensive for a one off swim £10 for an hour), but good value for a monthly pass at £32 unlimited visits (download the Better UK app to make bookings).

PS - if you need company on a Greenwich park walk, more than happy to meet up, as I live right next to the park and Heath).

And back to south-east London:

Green Chain Walk - signed routes that link up various green spaces in SE London:
tfl.gov.uk/modes/walking/green-chain-walk

Waterlink Way - a route from Deptford to Beckenham along the Pool and Ravensbourne rivers (I particularly like the bit between Ladywell and Catford):
lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/sport/get-active/walking/waterlink-way

Thames Path:
tfl.gov.uk/modes/walking/thames-path

Overland trains into central London feel quite safe at the moment (at least on my line). I'd avoid weekends at the moment though.

From London Bridge itself there are options in all directions: South Bank; the City; Tower Bridge & Bermondsey; along the river to Rotherhithe (very quaint and is where the Mayflower set sail from). You can actually walk (a long way) from LB to Greenwich along the river but the bit through Deptford can feel a bit dodgy. Or maybe just go as far as Rotherhithe or Cherry Gardens Pier and then walk back to LB.

From LB you have train links: Charing Cross for central London (West End/Covent Garden etc). Non-essential shops are still open so some parts might be uncomfortably busy but it's a good time to investigate routes via the side streets. Lights and shop windows are looking lovely at the moment.

Is Cannon Street station still open? A bit closer to St Paul's etc than London Bridge.

Don't forget Thameslink trains from London Bridge can take you to Blackfriars (again, a bit closer to St Paul's etc than LB), Farringdon, and King's Cross if you want to explore a bit of north-central London.

If you walk in the City definitely look out for St Dunstan in the East. I came across it a few weeks ago and thought it was lovely. I won't describe it because that will spoilt the surprise! Also walk down Lovat Lane which is three streets away. Again I wont describe it but suffice to say it's photo-worthy.

This is a great time of year to get out and explore London on foot! The only problem is lack of toilet opportunities, so you can't go too far from home unless you know of a stop-off.

What about walking tour type things so fire of London, Jack the Ripper that sort of thing?
Even if official tours aren’t on you should be able to read up and do one yourself.

No good for at the moment but there’s a beautiful garden inside south bank and one in Canary Wharf. You might also find some roof garden type places open (there’s one with flamingos)

Enjoy London OP. Very tough time to arrive and acclimatise.

Despite reports to the contrary, people are generally friendly, kind and love to share the best bits of the city.

For me the problem with all these lovely walks is finding a bathroom

I hope I can rely on stations but it would only take one cleaner to be off sick and they’ll be closed.

I’m enjoying these walking trails in my local area and finding out more about places I thought I knew quite well! There are lots in London and elsewhere.

www.treasuretrails.co.uk/

My black cab driver friend sends me a destination each week...i walk or cycle to it then have a long walk around...i am discovering lots of things and places hidden away...i sometimes do this twice a week.

Not from London but if the cold/parks are feeling monotonous why not try something like the couch to 5k or aiming for walking a certain distance a week/month. A purpose may make it less bleak and boring?

@AcornAutumn

For me the problem with all these lovely walks is finding a bathroom

I hope I can rely on stations but it would only take one cleaner to be off sick and they’ll be closed.

Loos are definitely an issue in these Covid times but apart from tube stations, the royal parks all have public loos. Some you pay 20p for but with a card, some are free. There are loos primrose hill, Regent’s Park, at james, loads of loos in Hyde park and Kensington gardens. Also I’ve discovered public loo by the church in Covent Garden and also one at the back of market area / small independent shop area by the itv studios on south bank. I am building up a mental map of public loos in central London There are more than you would think at first glance!