A perfect weekend in London?

[winniewoo]

Have managed to wangle two nights away child free in London in October with DH. Expecting No 3 babe in January so I need to make the very most of this precious time. DH likes to be busy so it's to be London. Really grateful for show recommendations, restaurants and places to see and avoid. I know I should trail the web but I get bamboozled so hit me with any ideas...oh and hotels of course, central..nice but not over the top. Thanking all in advance!!

There's a Marriott near County Hall - not sure of prices, but good, central location. Near to the London Eye, walk into Covent Garden, the Strand (go to Savoy for a cocktail) or go to Fortnum and Masons for afternoon tea...or the Waldorf for tea. Yum.

Go to the Aquarium or the Saachi Gallery - all on the south bank near the london eye. Oh, and Festival Hall and the South Bank.

What's your budget for the weekend?

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Look for special theatre offers here

You should try and see The Big Life! Fantastic show about a group of people coming over to England in the 50s. A big ska musical. Funny!

Thanks everyone..keep the ideas coming. Quite fancy the Jerry Springer show..or even ' We will Rock you" or perhaps it's a bit old hat?

Budget will be well and trully blown so no hard and fast rules there...but managed to get a special offer travelling first class rail from Carlisle so that should be good.

Will have a good look at the hotels mentioned..do fancy cocktails at the Savoy.

Any cheesy boat trips? and is madam tussads worth a go...

Questions..questions..such a country girl at heart so getting very excited coming to the big smoke!

There are the frog tours, though they may be called Duck tours now. Start at the Wheel. Fantastic, go on land and water.

MarsLady...you're a star! I will not sleep tonight with all this buzzing around in my head!

you have to have breakfast at Patisserie Valerie in soho... gorgeous... then the markets in either camden or greewich... or if you like flowers get to columbia road on the sunday for the fabulus flower market...

You gotta go on the wheel. Wonderful.

winniewoo, the Charloote St hotel, in charloote st, (funnily enough!), wi, off Rathbone Place which is off Oxford St, Tott Court Rd end, is FABULOUS.

Any of the art galleries are fab, national portrait, tate modern.

What food do you like?

Wandering around covent garden and notting hill is fab. Great boutiques and restaurants in notting hill, i love it there.

Really, any food ( can you tell I'm 5 months preggers!) but no thai or sushi. Just a good restaurant as oppose to a pub and something a little special..gotta go...DS awake!

Least you're not on a budget and won't need to stay in the EasyHotel with its orange walls

Mmmmmmmmmm..sounds interesting!

if you go to notting hill and like italian i love osteria bascillica. It's cosy, unpretencious, good food etc etc.

Sounds good, Thomcat. Really need to get a map and try and suss areas out.

So naive..just tried to get tickets for Billy Elliot..125 pounds a seat..no thanks!!

If money is no object, stay at the Covent Garden Hotel (10 Monmouth Street) a few mins walk from all the theatres and Covent Garden and the Royal Opera House and the British Museum.

check out lastminute.com for cheap theatre/musical tickets? not sure if the 'last minute' in the name really does mean last minute tho, iykwim!it also has great ideas for days out in london..

definitely go on the london eye..stop by the tate modern...then walk to covent garden from the strand and stop by the Savoy like desperate housewife and other mumsnetters have suggested..

for sunday brunch, try dimsum in one of the chinese restaurants either in chinatown or bayswater, if u like that sort of thing?

Thanks Hazlinh..goodness you were up early! Great to know where to start so will def do that trip. London Eye then take it from there. Any other ideas much appreciated!!

Ooh Thomcat, I used to like Osteria Basilica(o?) too. And I love the Great Court at The British Museum winniewoo, you could try one of the smaller theatres if you want to see something but not pay £125 somewhere like The Gate

The more I think about it the more I think you should really check out notting hill, it really is so fab. Portabello Market is just wonderful, and all the little shops around htere and then you could end up having drinks in a snoody little bar and then wander off to Osteria Bascillica for dinner (best to ring ahead and reserve).

Then central london, do you where is lovely - Marylebone and round there, lovely little restaurants, cafes and shops and then you could take in a bit of regents park which is round the corner.

Wandering round soho and china town and covent garden is good too.

Victoria and Albert museum is great, I like it there.

include a visit to tate modern and have lunch at the restaurant at the top with a great view over the river (book if you can or have early lunch to get the best tables)

you can walk across the millennium bridge to st paul's afterwards

another recommendation - nay, command - to go to Patisserie Valerie (the Soho one or there's one in Knightsbridge and another on Kensington Church Street) - the cakes are divine.