How should I spend seven free hours in London on Sunday?

[ahsurelookit]

I will have approx 7 hours free in London this Sunday. From 10am to 5pm

Any recommendations on what I should do?

I have been to London many times, I grew up in Berkshire. I loved the Natural History Museum as a child I have also been to many of the other main museums. But I haven't actually ''done'' a lot of other touristy things I have seen them but not been inside - Big Ben/ Westminster abbey/ Tower etc

I'm going for a hen party but everyone else is leaving earlier so I will be alone. I will also have a small over night bag (easy to carry to potentially not allowed in some places). The hotel is very close to Piccadilly.

I was trying to get a ticket to the Sky Gardens but there is no availability I have been checking for weeks.

I fly home from Heathrow at 8pm so I was planning on getting the tube around 5ish.

Ideally I would like some sightseeing and a nice lunch.

Any thoughts?

What a lovely idea. I think all of the main tourist sights are worth visiting at least once in a lifetime so which appeal most and start there?

Depends on your budget but I would leave my bag at the hotel and get one of those hop on hop off bus tickets getting off at anything I hadn't seen properly before

Do you enjoy a walk? Most cities have “free” walking tours you can book onto, you just pay a tip at the end. We always do them in cities as you see things you wouldn’t think of. I imagine there’s lots of different ones in London depending on your interests, we’ve done literary tours, tv/film tours, pub tours etc.

If you can manage with a smallish backpack, the sort you could use as your small carry on for Ryanair, you can take it in museums and similar and it will be easier to carry around.

This thread is talking about current exhibitions in case anything interests you?

When in London or another city that has a Uniqlo, I always make a point of having a good look and try some things on.

I love the Sir John Soanes musuem and the Wallace Museum (also nice spot for lunch). Small and beautiful spaces.

Something I enjoyed recently was a tour of one of the galleries at the V&A from a curator - they are listed on the website - it was fascinating having someone so keen talking about their favourite treasures.

The Skygarden often has walk in tickets - especially if you go early-ish. I've got in by queuing for not very long twice now when it said it was full. I think you need photo ID.

@ahsurelookit Where are you staying? Near the City or west? I always love a look around St Paul’s and then go over the Thames via the Millennium Bridge and then go into the Globe. Plenty of places to eat. Or look at everything around Westminster and see if you can get a ticket for the Eye. A trip on the Thames is always good in my view.

Another vote for Sky Garden but definitely walk with photo ID.

You do need photo id for the Skygarden.

Would check TFL's (Transport for London's ) website also to see if there are any engineering works planned on the Piccadilly line towards Heathrow.

Thanks, yes I have a bag that is the exact right size for getting on Ryanair flights!

Oh I never thought of going into Uniqlo to try things on. People on here rave about it but there are no physical shops near me to try anything. I just checked, it is less than a 5 min walk from the hotel

I'll look through that thread as well

Over to Columbia Rd Flower Market for the market and independent shops, good coffee and breakfast? Columbia Road Shops – Columbia Road Flower Market

Then stroll across the the Museum of Home Home - Museum of the Home

If you don't mind being on your feet, the London Walks walking tours are very good

@stapletonsguitar I'll look up walking tours.

@MeetMeOnTheCorner we are staying about 2 minutes from Piccadilly Tube station. For some reason the Eye has never really appealed to me, even when I had a season pass for Thorpe park which meant I could use the eye for free I didn't. I always thought I'd get bored after a while!

@Gardenquestion22 OK I think I will try get a walk in ticket, as I will be alone it might not be too difficult. I will have photo ID with me. But good to know!

@AttilaTheMeerkat I never thought of issues with the tube! I will keep an eye on it now. Are there any apps? I haven't been in London since 2017 and didn't really use public transport as was visiting family

Come the following Sunday instead? It’s the London Marathon!!!

Lizzy line also goes to Heathrow or train from Paddington I think. Uniqlo is very boring!

I like walking. I was planning on wearing a comfortable cord skirt, fitted shirt and a light jacket plus my light green trainers. I guess anything goes in London! But I want to wear trainers.

I am guessing I should bring cash for the tip. How much would be usual?

I am glad the MOH who organised the hen thought of that!!!

I’d give yourself a bit more time to get to Heathrow from central London in case there are any disruptions.

Brasserie Zedel is at Piccadilly and is great for lunch - check out the Art Deco loo’s.

Picturehouse Central, Prince Charles and the Curzon cinemas are close by if it’s raining and you want to see a film. They do food also.

I like to wander through Soho, maybe catch some Sunday lunchtime Jazz and a drink/coffee or jump on the tube and visit Westminster Abbey or the Tower.

Or you could walk to the South Bank through Trafalgar Square (and see The Mall). From the South Bank you get a good view of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. Loads of restaurants there too (OXO Tower Brasserie is nice with great views but a bit spendy) and if you walk towards London Bridge you can pop into the Tate Modern.

There are lots of other rooftop places to visit. You could book lunch at a Sushi Samba or the Duck and Waffle and marvel at the views.

Time Out will have a list of all the current exhibitions.

I don't think you need to tip at all, though someone else might put me straight, but £4/5 would be very generous

We did a walking tour in London last week and the tour guide accepted cash or card.

The Lookout at 8 Bishopsgate is free too.

The citimapper app is good for getting around

https://tfl.gov.uk/maps_/tfl-go. This is the official tfl app.

I’d also second Columbia Road Flower Market if it’s a nice day - it only runs on a Sunday morning but is colourful and vibrant and tiny shops line the street which are nice to browse. Close by in Spitalfields is Dennis Severs’ House - small museum that’s definitely a bit different and worth a visit.

I live in London and love walking around the city. On Saturday I went for lunch with a friend then went off for a wander on my own. I started at Buckingham Palace, walked around st James park then up through Green park to Piccadilly. Stopped off for a wander round Fortum and Mason’s and ate and drank my way round all the free samples (lots of tea, biscuits and chocolates)! Then walked up through Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square, down Whitehall and then down to Millbank where I strolled along the riverside then sat for a while just taking in the views and people watching before heading off to Victoria for my train home. Was a lovely day, lots of fresh air and exercise while taking in some of the sights. I would recommend!

Walking tour - we did one, it was so interesting