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

Hello fellow Londoners! Just found this thread and hoping for a little help.

I've got 7 mum friends coming into London for a baby lunch - all babies less than 6 months so in prams and hopefully asleep. i can dream!

Id like to show them my lovely city but looking for any advice on a restaurant, cafe, venue, anything in the kings cross area that might take us? Would be on a Tuesday lunchtime. Are there markets there these days that might be suitable?? Even a hotel for afternoon tea.

Any ideas would be great! :)

Kings Cross is changing daily and new venues popping up all the time! But I would recommend Corum's Fields, a little park with swings and slides, some small animals, goats, birds and bunnies and a paddling pool in the summer. There is a small cafe there. The Foundling museum is close by and lovely little side roads that take you back to Dickens' times!

Where to eat with 7 buggies in tow is going to be a challenge, not sure where!

Near Coram's Field is the Brunswick Centre. Lots of Options for lunch including Giraffe, Carluccios and Strada. All of whom are good with babies. Especially if you warn them in advance given there are seven!

Alternatively there are some new places round the back of Kings Cross which might be good in the new development.

This site is very good for ideas what to do in London:
www.ianvisits.co.uk/

Great thread and I've added lots to my London 'to-do' list. I've lived here 20 years and I've seen lots on this thread, but still lots too see - London is the city that keeps on giving.

we really need a spreadsheet!!

Coram's field looks lovely. Might even be able to do a little tummy time class and then eat afterwards when the real people are back at work! Thanks

Bump

Check out this hotel St Pancras

time2deal The station is beautiful and loads of shops and cafe's but this hotel is stunning and should be able to cater for you and all the beautiful babies.....I would hope!!

There is a list of local eateries listed on their page which is decent of them.

I seem to recall that adults aren't actually allowed in Coram's Fields without an accompanying child - ie under 16. So fine for you and friends, tine2deal!

Get off at cutty sark for Greenwich dlr, see the big boat, walk along the river, back past the navel college, over the park and up the hill to the observatory. Have a photo with one foot either side of the Greenwich meridian line.

Continue along towards blackheath. Marvel at how villagey it is. Have a wonder around and a pub roast.

Lovely stuff

Have a photo with one foot either side of the Greenwich meridian line

Aww! Just got a flashback to me at about 8 having that photo taken

Wow, great thread! Marking my place!

Moved not too long ago and need something to keep us going while we're in that in betweeny awkward stage without a big group of friends

marking place for a possible visit soon.....

I visited Goodwin's Court on the way to work the other day, it would be a brilliant Diagon Alley!

Today I did most of one of MrsMcColl's walks in reverse, walked from Tower Bridge along the Thames to Docklands, crossed to Greenwich via the tunnel, had gnocchi at Bianco 43 and caught a clipper boat back to Embankment.

It was fantastic. Beaches, atmospheric cobbled streets, beautiful buildings and interesting sculptures on the way. On the way back it was just getting dark, the Thames was all lit up, and I sat outside, at the very back of the boat, with the wind in my hair and fabulous views. Only £4.50 for an adult with a travelcard! Brilliant day. This is one of the best threads EVER.

On another thread, a MNer recommended this pub in Greenwich - The Cutty Sark (pub - not the big boat!) www.cuttysarkse10.co.uk/. I think I'm going to give it a try the next time I'm there - it looks nice!

Get a ticket to one of the outdoor concerts at kenwood house this summer with a friend. It's a fab venue, at hampstead Heath.

If you wander around camden, walk down the canal to kings cross on one of the days eat street is up (street food vans) and sit in the sunshine watching kids get soaked in those crazy fountains while munching something good. You can then head to st pancras station champagne bar.

I love marylebone high st for all the little clothes and good shops. I think they even do a foodie tour of it (rococo chocolate, la Fromagerie)

Victoria park is amazing. Also visit holland park, regents park, hampstead Heath (the latter is home to kenwood house). Catch a cheap comedy show at union chapel islington. Or a pre Edinburgh one at the hen and chickens....I'll be back!

Marking my place.

It has probable been mentioned but I wanted to throw in a shout out for Battersea Park. A great place to spend a morning. Access from Queenstown Rd or Battersea Park main lines, or a short walk from Sloane Sq tube. As well as having a good long walk through the park, be sure to find the Peace Pagoda, the Walled garden, the pumphouse gallery, and take out a pedalo on the lake. I feel so lucky to live nearby.

Chislehurst caves is fab, take the overground train from Charing Cross to Chislehurst & the caves are a short bus /taxi ride away. They used to put on a tour during Halloween, I don't know if they still do. It's nice to wander around Chislehurst, the village part and then have tea on the high street.

www.chislehurst-caves.co.uk/

Catch the bus directly outside chislehurst station & ask the driver to drop you near Scadbury park nature reserve. The reserve is lovely and peaceful and very popular with the locals.

www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g1637599-d6556523-Reviews-Scadbury_Park-Chislehurst_Kent_England.html

Finally for round to printing this thread out and going through it with a highlighter pen. Great ideas - thanks. Here are my contributions.

• marylebone road for a mosy. Am a lifelong Londoner but never went there until a couple of years ago. Lovely chi chi shops and at the birth end a nice garden to eat your sandwiches in

• Westminster Cathedral if you like bling (it's the Catholic cathedral at the Victoria station end of Victoria st)

• Greenwich market with a full wallet and empty stomach

• pubs in wapping where you can sit in the gardens and watch the river

• I love thames barrier park (get there by dlr and sit at the front and pretend to drive). Great views of the Thames barrier, nice playground and good cafe.

• wander round the grounds of the Woolwich arsenal flats then get the boat up to the London eye

• Columbia road flower market

• with kids, the princess Diana memorial fountain is good and the memorial playground is brilliant

I know this is a zombie thread but I'm resurrecting it anyway because THIS. A chart showing the lesser-known museums & galleries in London. Next time I have nothing planned, I'm going to close my eyes and stab with a pencil.

Love it - thanks!

www.buzzfeed.com/americanexpressuk/21-amazing-secret-places-to-find-in-london?utm_term=.stvo9apBY2

Thank you!!

Ooooh! Thank you, will return to this!