Chat thread for Londoners (sorry for being quichey everyone else)

[Mintyy]

Right you laahvly cockerney sparrers. Cor blimey, apples & pears, luvaduck etc.

Having lived in London an exhilarating 30 years, I have resolved to make this the year I get to know it better.

Please can you recommend interesting walks and places to visit in areas that you know very well, because I want to head out with my oyster card and explore. Am taking a day off work every week from now on and I want to see slightly off-the-beaten-track London.

So, if anyone was asking me this question I would recommend walking from Chancery Lane Station, through the Inns of Court at Grays Inn, visit to the Sir John Soane Museum, walk up Doughty Street, quick pop in to the Charles Dickens Museum, Coram's Fields, Brunswick Centre, Russell Square (for eg.).

But there are huge swathes of London I know absolutely nothing about! I've never been to Portobello Road for instance, only been to Camden market a handful of times, don't really know much about West London, SW London, Docklands, East central London just outside the city (eg. Limehouse).

Oh there's tons of places to explore! If you have a favourite walk, little museum or park I should see, then please post.

Thank you

Oooh, I feel honoured that one of my Chat threads is going to be kept!

Some brilliant ideas here, and places that I haven't even heard of. Am v happy.

My dh always says that I know London like the back of my hand, but obviously I don't really. There is a tiny part of me that would like to do The Knowledge just as an exercise.

Ok third time lucky... sorry for the late entry as I only just read about this on FB. I found the Brunel Museum via the London Open House prospectus several years ago. It was fascinating to learn about the technical skill Burnel displays in being able to tunnel beneath the Thames and that a part of his tunnel still stands to this day and is used daily by the East London tube line as it transverses the Thames. Fascinating. www.brunel-museum.org.uk/history/the-thames-tunnel/

I think this thread is a lovely idea, Mintyy. Not a touristy thread, as such, but a thread for us Londoners who have forgotten what is in our own 'back yard', so to speak!!

You have kick-started a thought I've had for a few years, but not done yet, which is to use my Oyster to go and revisit some areas where I used to live or work, but which I haven't been to for years.

brilliant thread! As someone who no longer lives in London and massively misses it, it's great to read this thread. I'm fortunate enough to be able to go to London quite frequently so will pick up on a few of these suggestions.

Have just noticed Cannizaro Park has already had some mentions! We used to live in Earlsfield (SW18) and on a Sunday would walk up to Wimbledon village, to Cannizaro park, mooch around and then go for afternoon tea at one of the teashops.
Will have a think about what else I can add.

There's a colony of whip scorpions at Ongar Station. They're not deadly and they're handy if you've just bought some

In no particular order:
Abney cemetery in Stoke Newington
Sutton House in Hackney
The Old Operating Theatre at London Bridge
Dulwich Picture Gallery
2 Temple Place (when it's open)
Liberty's
Mud larking on the Thanes foreshore (needs a license)
2 Willow Rd (modernist house in Hampstead)
Fenton House in Hampstead
Museum of Brands
Geffrye Museum
Temple Inn
The Drapers Hall in Threadneedle St
There is since walk in North London along a disused railway line
Thames Clipper for the whole route. Get a drink at the bar, sit outside and watch london go by
The viewing platform at 1 New Change by St Paul's.

I love London!

Mintyy thank you for this thread - I've lived here for almost 12 years and have obviously only barely scratched the surface!

A picnic on top of Primrose Hill is my contribution. In fact if anyone is coming this way I'll meet you there

I'm getting DH to read this thread.

I would recommend starting one of your days at Abney Park cemetery in Stoke Newington - a nature reserve now and location for some of Amy Winehouse's Back to Black video. It's beautiful.

Then walk along Stoke Newington high St, into Clissold Park (the revamped house/cafe is very nice) and across from there to Finsbury Park (about a 15 minute walk) - or catch a bus from the high street to Finsbury Park.

In Finsbury Park you can access the start of the Parkland Walk, an old section of railway line (it still has a platform some way along it) that takes you to Highgate. It's also now a nature reserve. I used to live nearby and did this walk many times and am very fond of it.
www.parkland-walk.org.uk/parkland-walk-map.html

Cross posted with Herewood - we've obviously done some of the same walks!

If you like pubs another hidden gem is Cleaver Square in Kennington with the Prince of Wales pub. Go in the summer and play boules in the square with a drink

I'll have a picnic on Primrose Hill with you Hearts. In all my (40+?) years here, I don't think I've been to PH!

The Epping-Ongar steam railway is a great day out too. Take the central line to Epping, then a vintage routemaster picks you up and takes you to the steam train

Didn't know about this! On the list

Place marking, but will add some suggestions later.

What a fabulous idea, Mintyy. I wish I could come with you!

Think the Red House is in Bexleyheath actually. It's the William Morris House. You could team that with Eltham Palace already mentioned but it's more a car visit than public transport.

I recently did;
Parked at O2 (car park 3 pay by hour) and got cable car for £3.30. Travelled DLR Royal Vixtoria to Shadwell and then two stops North on London a underground to Shoreditch High St. Took in the Lego exhibition at Truman Gallery, had a curry on Brick Lane (still traditional and delicious I swear) and then went back to Greenwich via London Overground and Jubilee Line.
Was a perfect afternoon out.

Excellent thread! And Mintyy - yes yes to the view from Canonbie Road. I live very near!

My suggestions:

Regent's Canal towpath, beginning at Limehouse Basin and continuing to Little Venice (about 7 or 8 miles I think, and many interesting things along the way).

Or - also beginning at Limehouse Basin - take Limehouse Cut path up to the River Lea, then along Hertford Canal to Victoria Park.

Or in south London - take overground to Crystal Palace, then walk through CP Park, Dulwich Park, Peckham Rye Park and Nunhead Cemetery, ending up at Brockley station to rejoin the overground.

Or walk through Deptford and Greenwich (maybe begin at Deptford Bridge DLR station if you need a focal point), through Greenwich foot tunnel to Docklands, then around Isle of Dogs, following river, to Limehouse and Wapping and on to Tower Bridge via St Katherine's Docks. (That's quite a long one, but pretty great.)

Oh I could go on - I love London more with every year I live here and the more places I find. (Do you fancy a SE London walking companion? Let me know...)

Part of my job involves arranging visits to museums/interesting buildings a few times a month so I've been all over in and around London.

Whitechapel Bell Foundry is an extremely popular visit with work. It's only on Saturdays, and only on some Saturdays at that. www.whitechapelbellfoundry.co.uk/foundry.htm

I thought Strawberry Hill House was pretty insane
www.strawberryhillhouse.org.uk/

And these lovely ladies have undertaken to visit all the museums in London and write the up
londonbusesonebusatatime.blogspot.co.uk/

St pancras - admire the. Betjamin statue, morning coffee in the renaissance hotel. Check out British Museum for exhibitions. Down to st pancras church and st pancras gardens. You could detour to the nature reserve, canal museum or Kings Place. Or just join the regents canal town path. Anything could be happening here: fashion shoots, criminal arrests, Timothy West on his canal boat, waving at the cameras, drug deals. Complete lottery. Look out for the cormorants. Lunch at Camden food market (recommend the Marsala wraps or the falafel). Could detour and look for the Amy winehouse statue. Or buy something in neon rubber. Onwards to primrose hill. Swoon at the shops. Look out for Gwyneth Paltrow. On up parliament hill if you have the energy. We saw parrots on hampstead Heath last weekend. And a woman in 9 inch heels. Both delightfully out of place...

Has anyone mentioned the garden museum at Lambeth bridge? Sometimes you can also get a glimpse of Lambeth palace on the other side of the road if the gates are open.

Parrots seem to be becoming the London bird these days.

Great thread! I've lived in London all of my life (34 years)and have never even been to the Tower of London, quite shameful really! The thing is, if i got I visit anywhere else in the UK/world I am straight out exploring with guide books etc, I've just ignored what's on my doorstep for years!

Ottilia - We have had the pleasure of flock of Parakeets in Hyde park for a few years now, they are gorgeous (and loud!!) sadly, last summer there was talk of culling them for allegedly being pests?

Will keep a look out for some parrots though!

Thanks OP for starting this thread, I keep coming back to it and realise I haven't explore as much of London as I would have liked. I'm making a list Ias ideas for days out when I have time.

Not sure if anyone has mentioned Golders Hill Park, it has an amazing free smallish zoo, in a really peaceful spot.

I meant parakeets, sorry!

Last thing we need, some more noisy flying buggers.

Aww! Was planning on going parrot spotting with the girls this weekend! Wow those parakeets are getting about! I believe they started in a SW London park, then spread up to us in Hyde Park, now Hampstead Heath!