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!

[spacecadet48]

How exciting!

• Borough Market
  
• Sky Bar for a cocktail
  
• Saatchi Museum
  
• Comedy store - Leicester Square
  
• Globe Theatre- £5 for standing tickets- good fun
  
• Boat trip to Greenwich and a wander round the market and maybe up to observatory
  
• Science Tea at Ampersands hotel- rather special and close to natural history and science museum and v & a
  
• Wander over the bridge to St Pauls Cathedral
  
• Kray Tour- (if your into that kind of thing)
  
• A few restaurants in More London with fantastic views of Tower Bridge- not too expensive too
  
  So much to do...have fun!

[mysteryfairy]

One of my London habits is to watch a case from the public gallery at the Old Bailey. It’s honestly a fascinating experience.

I love the Southbank on a quiet week day morning when you can just walk at your own pace. How lovely to be able to stroll from County Hall to Borough Market to buy breakfast.

If you’ve seen Darkest Hour maybe go to the Churchill War Rooms. They are fascinating regardless but really impressive how the set recreated them so accurately.

[feartyfeet]

Your hotel is great location for Westminster and anything south banky. Evensong service at Westminster abbey (I'm not religious so it was fascinating/beautiful). Spring restaurant in Somerset House does an interesting pre-theatre menu then theatre? If you run then across Westminster bridge up to Buckingham palace, around st James park and then back via another bridge and along south bank? Cafe in south bank centre and see what else is on there...Enjoy whatever you do!

[youokayhun]

Have a look if they have any plays on at the church in Covent Garden? I saw an Alice in wonderland adaption and it was such a different experience, they get the audience involved and you move around to different locations in the church yard etc throughout the play. Good fun and just a bit different!

[Davros]

Jack Straw's hasn't been a pub for some years and, apart from Kenwood House, I don't think hampstead heath is a good use of your time. Also please don't go to Camden market, its for teenage tourists.
The champagne bar in St Pancras is fun and there are excellent gigs, music and spoken word at Kings place nearby - if you're in that area. Otherwise you can't go wrong with the Southbank to Borough Market and you're well placed for Covent Garden

[AnnieAnoniMouser]

Sleep.

I like the markets, so I’d see what was on in that way (plus the permanent markets.).

A show, knowing I don’t have to race for the last train home, it’s just so much more relaxing.

A walk along the Southbank.

Lots of coffee & later cocktails watching the world go by...


...bliss

[GeekyWombat]

Borough Market
Last minute theatre deal
Duck and Waffle early in the morning when I inevitably wake up without DC cause lie-ins hate me
Mooching around the south bank book market

[IdblowJonSnow]

If you like peace and quiet and green spaces head to Greenwich. There is much to see and do there inc. museums, planetarium, market and a beautiful park with great views of London. You can get a boat there from tower bridge.

[Titsywoo]

Oh yes I've been to Camden lots with DD recently so won't be bothering with that this time. I've been to Greenwich with the DC recently too. I'm really looking for things that are a bit different or would be a pain with kids (especially moany ones like mine who hate walking!).

[ShesGoingToBe21]

Have you wandered around Kings Cross area? It has been transformed in the past few years. Loads of restaurants and shops, Granary Square with its fountains great for people watching. The House of Illustration is a wonderful little gallery. St Pancras is beautiful with some lovely shops, and you could then walk along the canal to Regents Park

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Have heard good things about Dishoom (there's one in KC) but haven't been there yet.

[spacecadet48]

Prince Charles Cinema in Leicester Square for sing a long sound of music. Brilliant fun, you can dress up too!

[Carouselfish]

Ronnie Scott's jazz club.
An afternoon in a really nice hairdressers because I absolutely love going somewhere good, telling them to do what they want and just relaxing while someone faffs with my hair.
Read a book in Queen Mary's Gardens - perfect time of year to go, tons of roses all out.

[Titsywoo]

I did look at the sing a longs but none on the dates I am going sadly! Never been to Kings Cross actually so will put that on the list :)

[Titsywoo]

I do like The Old Bailey idea too! Just had a look at what trials are there tomorrow to get an idea and they are mainly murder trials. Sounds quite interesting although DH says the majority of these things are pretty boring - might pop in and look though.

[spacecadet48]

You should see if there are any open air films on? They are dotted round London including at Westminster.

[TheCommoner]

Seconding the House of Illustration in KIngs Cross

[TresDesolee]

Have a mooch around the east end of the city - not so much the busy end of shoreditch, but coffee bars around Old St, Columbia Road is brilliant at the weekends (very busy flower and plant market on Sundays, less crazy on Saturdays), Broadway Market on Sunday, Brick Lane and Old Spitalfields market (bonus Hawksmoor church). The Barbican is fab if you’re in a brutalist/cultural mood but the south bank is heaving.

Bloomsbury is lovely for a wander too

[Titsywoo]

I'm going to be there Wednesday to Friday so hopefully not as heaving as normal

[TresDesolee]

Oh! None of my market ideas work then, ignore me 😬

[Laquila]

Oh my God this sounds like HEAVEN!! I would go for a gentle run first thing, as someone else suggested, then go back to my hotel for a shower and a smug post-run lie-in.

I think I’d just walk and walk wherever I fancied, without having to cater to the needs of small children or clock-watching. Then I could stop off whenever I felt like it for shopping, gallery-wandering or coffee. Sometimes it’s nice to try and approach London as a living city, rather than a tourist destination (with all the attendant pressures), IYSWIM.

[HasAnyoneGotAProblemWithThat]

I live the national portrait gallery restaurant for lunch. Great views. Also the Wallace. Shard is great also. Have fun - my ideal time.

[HasAnyoneGotAProblemWithThat]

Also the Langham or rosewood for afternoon tea.

[Basseting]

OH oh oh. I'm hopefully doing this later this year too.
THANKS OP!
Now how do I save this thread (they dont stay as long as they used to?)

[nancy75]

Have a look at the bars in sea containers ( Mondrian hotel) which is a few minutes walk from your hotel, I think the roof top one is called the rumpus room & was voted one of the best bars in London