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!

[ThisIsNotARealAvo]

I live in London but this is what I do when I have people to stay or some time to myself

Walk or cycle along the canal from Mile End to angel, stopping at Broadway Market for lunch.

See a movie at the Ritzy in Brixton and wander round the two covered markets. These also have a lot of food choices.

For shopping, the Kings Road is quite nice, or Westfield if you get there early.

Museum in Docklands is good and I also love the Transport museum (but I am a bit of a tube geek).

[DayKay]

V&A
National gallery
Kensington gardens
South bank
Walk around Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square to watch some street entertainment
Theatre
Ghost walk

[Imtryingveryhard]

I'm reading this from my hotel room at the Premier Inn County Hall! It's a fabulous location and we are having a lovely few days here. No child free suggestions as I'm here with my 6 and 4 yo but we did have a nice lunch at Cetu on Bute Street near the V and A and then wandered aimlessly around the side roads which was nice. Saw lots of beautiful homes and parks.

[sashh]

I used to love wandering around Hampstead on a Sunday. I'd definitely see a show or a play and maybe find a pub with open mike comedy in the evening.

[OdileDeCaray]

Champagne + Fromage in Covent Garden.

Breakfast at the Blighty Cafe. (North London).

Shopping at a Liberty, Dover Street Market etc. Connaught Village has lots of lovely shops.

Diana: Her Fashion Story at Kensington Palace.

The Design Museum.

[ProseccoPoppy]

Potter round the stalls and shops on Portobello Road? Used to love doing that as a (slightly weird vintage obsessed) teenager, and while you are there get coffee and lovely cake at the Hummingbird bakery.

[sonjadog]

I love the national portrait gallery. If you are interested in history, it is a great place to lose half a day. If you get the audio-guide, it tells you about the people you are looking at.

[Davros]

I reiterate kings X and St Pancras, inc champagne bar and King's Place.
Definitely Liberty, take a lift to the top floor and wend your way down. You can pop into the Photographers Gallery which is opposite Liberty. Then pop out the back to Carnaby Street, go to Kingly Court for lunch. Walk through Broadwick street to Soho inc Old Compton Street, go to Camisa for authentic Italian deli experience and coffee in Bar Italia

[slug]

Baltic is near your hotel and fantastic for vodka cocktails
Lupins is wonderful. Sit at the bar and have the bread and caramalised butter. Bar Duro, around the corner is also fab. The Menier is in the same area for a play.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

If it's still there, Sacred Cafe is near Carnaby Street and does a good pot of Earl Grey/flat white AND plays The Smiths, if you're really lucky.

[ajandjjmum]

Hidden City treasure hunt? DS and I did one and it was brilliant. I think I would enjoy it on my own as well.

[Titsywoo]

Digging up this thread as I'm off in a week and thought I'd bump to see if anyone has more ideas :)

[FinallyHere]

I have been to some wonderful lectures/workshops, in the national gallery/V&A/British

A class at the Pineapple dance centre and samba classes with a live band (and earplugs) in Brixton,

There is something for any specific interest you can name, somewhere in London, you just need to find it

I would plan the weekend around one special interest item, then include walk/run along the southbank, quick visit to the singing lift in the Southbank Centre, across the (new since my time) hungerford bridge, covent garden. I would probably eat at lunch time then have a cocktail at the Savoy and walk back across waterloo bridge (waterloo sunset..) a d have an early night. Tour followed by a production at the globe..

Envious.

[Titsywoo]

Thanks for the ideas finallyhere - singing lift? Never heard of that!

[derxa]

I'm so jealous.

[Shampaincharly]

The Wallace Collection

[Shampooeeee]

An icing class at Biscuiteers.

Look up if there are any decent sample sales happening.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

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

[ConstantCraving]

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

[Plainandfancy]

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

[MajorBumsore]

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

[MajorBumsore]

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

[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 :)

[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

[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.