Lovely girlie London day out

[janeite]

Off to London at some point next week.

Should I go to the Wallace Collection or Tate Britain?

Is there anywhere that we could just 'drop in' for afternoon tea, if we fancy it, that isn't crazy prices but still feels special? Have never been for afternoon tea before.

Or anywhere for a nice lunch that has fussy vegetarian appeal and again, is reasonably priced?

And which shops shall we mooch in? Is Anthropologie worth a look?

Thanks!

re afternoon tea:
try national portrait gallery caff or the wolseley

both a fair bit cheaper than all the hotels.

Thanks Martha. Which do you like best? Would prefer to not have to book, so we can choose time, or indeed, whether or not we want it on the day - depends where we go for lunch!

Either Wallace or Tate Britain, depends what's on. Wallace collection is more central - close to Selfridges. I always think the National Portrait Gallery is worth a look and it has a lovely bar and restaurant on the roof overlooking Trafalgar Sq.

Liberty's has a nice tea shop type of place, then you could do all of Regent Street too - Top Shop, Cos, Anthropologie, Liberty, Hoss etc etc.

Or just mooch around Selfridges.

Leon does good veggie food. The one in Carnaby street is near Liberty.

Primrose Bakery has opened a place in Covent Garden now and do AMAZING cupcakes.

You'd have to book the Wolsely I think, but it is super nice.

I had a lovely annual day out with my mum and sister last month. We went to the National Portrait Gallery - great photography exhibitions there - and then Wahaca for an outrageously long lunch. Lots of veggie food there, no booking, drop in.

It does get quite busy, we went for opening at 12 so sat easily but it was full with a long queue by the time we left. We then staggered round the NPG which was lovely.

the cafe in V&A is lovely I think - it's not a proper afternoon tea like you'd get at the Wolseley but it's such a beautiful setting and if you are watching pennies, a piece of cake and a cup of tea there won't set you back too much

I went to the Tate Britain last week - there's a lovely pub round the corner from it. Walk directly along the embankment back west (out of town) the pub is right on that road.

Will deffo do Regent Street - and Liberty. Tea in Liberty could be nice - is it worth the money?

And we always have a quick mooch around The Portrait Gallery - love it.

Leon looks good too.

Ooh some lovely ideas! Not 'watching pennies' as such (it was my fortieth this month and also work has been really stressful, so I am having a month of treats!) but my Yorkshire Ancestors keep whispering in my mind, if I go too 'mad' with cash!

Liberty's caff is a lovely, lovely setting but probably a bit over-priced tbh.

Don't forget it us half term next week so lots of museums and galleries will be busier than usual. I would choose one that's least likely to appeal to children if it is a girly day out!

For something a bit different I went to the cafe here - great views of the Thames, and the Tate with my best friend last year. The shop there is also brilliant.

The Terence Conran trio of restaurants on the South Bank are a great destination for lunch if in the area.

Just posted a reply and it disappeared!

Will certainly avoid children! The 'girlies' are dd1 and I - she's 15.

I think The Wallace Collection should be safe, shouldn't it?

Bump for the Saturday evening people.

Wallace Collection is nice for afternoon tea and certainly very elegant and ladylike. Also has the advantage of being at the bottom of Marylebone High St where there are lots of lovely shops (Whistles, Agnes B, Comptoir du Coton, Cath Kidston etc)

Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters are both worth a look.

Leon is great for veggie lunch but gets very busy so get there early

Laduree in Burlington Arcade do the most divine cakes and lunches, and Patisserie Valerie in Brompton Road is hand for the V&A and has lovely cakes and nice sandwiches.

More lovely ideas, thank you! Where is Burlington Arcade please?

It's near the Royal Academy, just off Picadilly, so handy for the are around Green Park and St James' Park. Beautiful shops to browse in too...

Thank you. Will have a google.

Anybody else want to talk London to me?

For afternoon tea, it has to be sketch, just off Regent's street. The interiors are amazing, worth going just for the toilets

I think the Tate Modern cafe is pretty good for lunch, with great views over the river. Will be full of kids at half term though. Maybe not.

Thank you. Sketch looks amazing - too expensive though - and we'd have to book. Just tea and cakes somewhere ordinary would be fine.

Think we might go to the Wallace Collection. Are there any nice coffee shops etc on Marylebone High Street?

Go to Patisserie Valerie for coffee and amazin g cream cakes on Marylebone High St. I went for afternoon tea to wolseley for MIL birthday recently andit was fab. About 15 quid a head I think for sandwiches and pastries and tea.

Wallace Collection has a lovely restaurant in its inside courtyard.

We're going for a girlie day out in London at the beginning of March and our plan so far is a visit to Kensington Palace followed by tea at The Orangery, you don't have to book and I've been before and it was really lovely.
www.hrp.org.uk/KensingtonPalace/CafesAndRestaurants.aspx

Thanks. PV looks good and they have several branches.