Long weekend - sightseeing in london - NO KIDS!

[sweetheart]

My sister is taking the kids away for a long weekend so dh and I have decided to have a break in London to treat ourselves.

We have been to London loads of times as we live close but we have never done the traditional "tourist" thing!

Can anyone give me some recommendations of things they have really enjoyed, places to stay or eat etc.....

We are going Fri - Mon and will probably take in a show and maybe do a bus tour or something?!?!?!

We are going end of June so the weather should be good.

Walk along the Southbank - take in some art / other exhibitions / live music?

Shopping - Selfridges / other nice places?

Get an oyster card and jump on and off buses to see London as you go to places you want to visit.

Will keep thinking - we are always with DC!

River boat on the Thames. If you like art you can get one that goes between Tate Britain and Tate Modern.

Walk along Southbank

London Eye.

Hampstead Heath/Primrose Hill for great views.

go to the Leicester Square ticket booth for half price tickets on the day.

How much do you went to spend on a hotel? A lot of people recommend the Marriot down by the London Eye (right across the river from Big Ben)

Oh I like the boat idea, not sure about art galleries but I'll ask dh.

We have done the London Eye a couple of times before so I don't think we'd do it again. We'd really like to spend some time wondering around but purposfully if you know what I mean rather than just wondering around lost.

Hotel - I'm willing to splash out a bit. I've stayed in the Radisson in Leicester Square (Hampshire?!?), Grovenor House and Marriott on Park Lane before and they were all nice. I think Park Lane might be a bit out the way though - think we want something more central.

Dh is quite good at buses in london as he used to use them for work - i am an underground girl at heart but you can't see much of London from the deapths!

What about the markets? Worth a look - camden etc

Maybe a restaurant in China town might be fun. I have been to Veeraswamy before so think I might take dh there.

Is Vinopolis worth going to?

I have just come back, we went last weekend.

We stayed here and it was fantastic, reasonably priced for London, think it was £85 for the Friday and £105 for the Saturday. Its really central, the Russell Square tube is just 5 minutes walk, but Oxford Street etc is really within walking distance.

We ate here which another mumsnetter recommended and it was the most magical meal and evening weve ever had, fantastic food, and amazing service.

We did a show (recommend seetickets.com to book as they give you actual seat choice) and we also did the London Eye which was amazing.

I cant wait to go again, me and dh had a fab weekend, child free, and really enjoyed it. Have fun

Greenwich? A market + Observatory + Royal Naval College + Maritime museum +accessible by boat.

Thanks - that restaurant looks amazing! The hotel rooms looked a bit cramped - are they spacious? One thing I was mega impressed by at the Marriott was the size of the rooms.

Any other recommendations?

Afternoon tea somewhere posh? The Ritz and Claridges get booked up weeks in advance (worth a shot, though), but the Dorchester and Landmark hotels often have availability.

Borough Market

Or why don't you have a morning/afternoon in Notting Hill - fab shops and you can gawp at the rich people.

I think Vinopolis is a bit touristy.

If you like fish eat at J Sheekey

If you want a posh Chinese - Hakassan

Camden market for teenagers and tourists only ime. But got to Primrose Hill, nearby, it's v nice.

Oh, yes, I'd forgotten Borough market and Notting Hill from my pre-kids days!

I agree that Camden is for teenagers.

You could go clubbin' too

Oh yeah afternoon tea - I'm loving that idea!

Dh and I do still club but in big groups - think it would be odd on our own. Maybe some nice bars though - or perhaps some live music. I did hear of a champagne bar at the paladium - is it Movida or something? That sounds nice maybe?!

I have looked at Hakkasan before for a work do and remember it looked great - might have to look into that too.

Ohh I love all these ideas - I can't wait for the weekend!

Any more......

Isn't the Ritz cloding soon?

Another place to think about for afternoon tea is Browns Hotel.