If you had 48 hours in London by yourself what would you do?

[Titsywoo]

I live near to London but rarely get time to get up there by myself and whenever I am there with the kids and DH we tend to do the same sort of things. In June I'm heading up there for a 2 day break by myself (I'm not the spa and country hotel type) and want to get the most out of it. Any ideas of different things to do and nice places to eat? I'm quite happy with my own company (I'm going away alone for a reason - I need some time to do my own thing!) and don't mind eating out alone so anything goes really!

[happyinherts]

wormery - Jack Straws was a nice pub. It's closed down and built in luxury flats.

Cross off list.

[Davros]

Sounds like you've had a brilliant time. If I'd seen this earlier I would have popped to Camden to join you for some cheese 🧀

[Titsywoo]

So I'm in London now. Got to Waterloo at just before 11am and spent the day walking everywhere. Borough Market and lots of the city and east end. Did a Jack the ripper tour then headed to China town for dinner. Had breakfast at the wolseley this morning then did some shopping on regent street. Then went to kings cross for champagne at searcys bar. Walked along the lock to Camden which is where I am now having lunch at the cheese bar. Will do some shopping next then am meeting a friend for a couple of drinks at Southbank before I go somewhere for dinner. No idea where yet! So much fun :)

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

[Oscha]

It’s mind bogglingly good. The Mac and cheese...OMG. All of it!

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Thank you. A friend was raving about 'Temple' recently too. :)

[Oscha]

^ Temple OF Seitan

[Oscha]

Yes, though I’m a bit ashamed to admit it because it’s pure junk food 😆 Temple is Seitan. I’m a northerner ok, every time I go to London I need my ‘chicken’ fix 🤣🤣🤣 also bloody love Mildred’s and Manna for more sophisticated meals out though.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Oscha - can you remember the name of the vegan restaurant?

[Oscha]

I did this for 24 hours a couple of months ago. I stayed in an awesome hotel, went to the theatre in the evening, walked through Hyde Park in the morning, went to the National History Museum and V&A on the basis that I’d actually be able to properly look without my kids with me 😆, ate Japanese for lunch (again on the basis that I don’t normally get to), went to loads of book shops, wandered to the Southbank, went to an amazing vegan restaurant for supper and then got the train home. It was utter bliss.

[PanPanPanPing]

Just thought of a few more things, if you go to Liberty (as suggested upthread) there's a nice restaurant/wine bar just down the road - Shampers www.shampers.net

And if you're going to Chelsea, the National Army Museum www.nam.ac.uk is just down the road from the Chelsea Physic Garden. And the Royal Hospital Chelsea www.chelsea-pensioners.co.uk (where the Chelsea Pensioners live) is also just down the road.

[PanPanPanPing]

If you like gardens, visit the Chelsea Physic Garden www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk. It does have a cafe, but there are a couple of nice pubs nearby tucked down side streets, so off the 'tourist track'! The Surprise www.thesurprisechelsea.co.uk and The Coopers Arms www.coopersarms.co.uk.

A PP mentioned the Geffrye Museum www.geffrye-museum.org.uk, but most of it is closed for refurbishment at the moment.

[Lifebeginner]

Borough market, Brick Lane, Spitalfield Market, the Tate Modern, and walking along Southbank. Loads of gelato and walking along the Thames and I'm in my happy place.

[Davros]

What about the new zip wire?
zip-now.co/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3cv796DU2wIVCd0bCh1muwxTEAAYASAAEgIuKvD_BwE
And Thames Rockets are great fun too

[MinaPaws]

I'd go for a long stroll round Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, and another long strll along SouthBank from Lambeth Palace to Borough Market. I'd see a show - proably a candlelit Shakespeare at the Wanamaker or whatever is on at The Almeida, look round the Tate Galleries and get the boat between them. Dennis Severs house is great fun, and there are loads of good places to eat around Spitalfields. Hours in Daunts or Foyles or the floating second hand bookshop docked at Kings Cross. Afternoon tea at the Wolseley - they are very friendly to women alone ime. Bliss.

[marmiteloversunite]

@woollyminded I went to the Dennis Severs' house last year. It was a most bizarre experience but I loved it, as did my friends. Definitely do that if you have the chance.

[didsomeonesaybunny]

• Rent a Santander bike and take an outdoor tour of the City
  
• Visit Borough market and Spitalfields
  
• Tate Modern (great Picasso exhibition)
  
• Cocktails at Netil 360, London fields (rooftop bar)
  
• Geffrye museum (Hackney)
  
• Afternoon tea at Hamyard hotel (soho)
  
• Shop/browse Liberty
  
• go running in Regents/Hyde park
  

Enjoy!

[MouseholeCat]

I'd make a list of street food places that I wanted to visit and walk from market to market eating.

I've always wanted to visit Benjamin Franklin's house but never got around to it.

I'd do one of those historical treasure hunt things in the City as there are so many interesting hidden things there.

Visit all the nice charity shops in Hampstead, Kensington or somewhere else rich.

In the past the universities have done free lunchtime lectures, so I'd probably see if I could attend one.

[pieceofpurplesky]

Glass of fizz/red/white or pink at the bar at the top of the national portrait gallery

The V and A museum

Daunt books

Tate modern and a boat up to the Tate

Potter up the Southbank and watch the world go by

[Titsywoo]

For some reason I've never been to the tower of London even though I spent a lot of my childhood weekends in town. It's on the list! Thanks for all the ideas they are great. I've asked for this to be moved to the London topic as it will disappear next month if not and I'm sure these ideas will be useful to others :)

[MajorBumsore]

Tower of London is also great. The Beefeater tour is very entertaining, although wildly inaccurate historically

[MajorBumsore]

Wander round Borough Market, then a visit to The Imperial War Museum. Breakfast in Aqua at The Shard

[Plainandfancy]

Just soaking up atmosphere around Trafalgar Square at night is lovely.

[ConstantCraving]

I'd be off to the Edward Bawden exhibition at the Dulwich Picture Gallery

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Daunt books - I could happily spend an hour in there.