2 days alone in London

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

I'm treating myself to a couple of days in London just before Christmas, whilst dp is still at work.

I'm booking an exhibition at the Royal Academy and will do Liberty/F&M Christmas decoration sections. Wondering about also doing the Hieroglyphs exhibition at the British Museum and a mooch around Bloomsbury too.

Any other ideas, please? Is there anywhere I could have afternoon tea, a lovely lunch or an early dinner alone, without feeling like a plonker?

Tofu vegan in Islington does amazing dumplings /dim sum and if you go the cloud mushroom spring rolls are particularly good.

Liberty afternoon tea looks ok but not as special as others. The restaurant/cafe is however lovely and a nice place to have lunch and rest for an hour.
The Corinthia does a lovely afternoon tea and I have never felt out of place eating there alone.

The Corinthia afternoon tea is £85 a head in December, which is just too much. I could have a Michelin star lunch for much less than that!

Looking up Tofu vegan now. Thanks!

Tofu vegan on Upper St for your Chinese fix! Terrible name but honestly the most delicious food. Giles Coren or someone like that wrote a rave review. Jay Rayner maybe?

@NoDairyNoProblem ha snap didn't read to the end before posting! Love Tofu Vegan

That’s £20 more than usual 🫣.

It’s definitely worth the detour!

www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2022/event/soheila-sokhanvari-rebel-rebel is an amazing exhibition on at the Barbican and it's free. Def worth checking it out

If you're based in KX you could do worse than just do the shops in Coal Drops Yard and round Granary Sq.

If you like movies there is a nice Everyman up there too.

Sorry, just seen a film is out. You wouldn't be the only lone watcher there though, if that the concern

The people watching up by Granary Sq is good too because the art school is based there.

Me and DH had a few days in London and stayed in KX. We chanced across this fabulous French bistro on Farringdon Road - would be perfect for and early tea.

www.lapetitefermelondon.com/

We loved the Sky Garden as the sun went down for fabulous views

Why not step out of your comfort zone? Something I need to start doing

Also second Cork and Bottle for wine and food. I used to always take visitors when I live there. I do miss my London life sometimes.

If you are staying in Kings Cross there is a small food market near the Waitrose by the canal.

Because I want to have a lovely time doing things I know I will enjoy doing alone. I want to be very nicely IN my comfort zone, thank you!

I don't find the KC shops very inspiring tbh, although I love the look of the Coal Drops Yard area and around there. Liberty and F&M are very much at the top of my must-shop list! And maybe Hatchards of Piccadilly and/or Daunt books in Marylebone. In fact, Marylebone might be a nice lunch/mooch area.

Another vote for Come From Away before it finishes

Try Hakkasan for veggie dim sum. They have a set menu if I recall correctly. Also Yauatcha has a similar menu so may be worth a look.

Done Hakassan a few times, although never alone. Their £39 set lunch menu is excellent value.

Will have a look at Yauatcha now.

Thanks for all of these.

juddbooks.com/wp/

Always worth a wander into on Marchmont Street. Nice cafes and coffee shops nearby too.

@soupmaker agh I love La Petite Ferme!

If we're going down the wine and cheese route then I think Gordon's Wine Bar needs a mention along with Le Beaujolais. Le Beaujolais is probably my favourite place in London.

Thanks for these.

I was a bit underwhelmed with Gordon's to be honest. The staff were really miserable!

Le Beaujolais looks lovely, but it doesn't look as if they like veggies very much!

I'd mooch around the V&A, starting in the jewellery exhibition.

Battersea power station has reopened with shops and restaurants. It's really impressive. You can get a boat there too

Wildlife photographer of the year is on at the natural history museum. I've not been this year but it used to be one of my favourite things to do in London. I second Yautcha for dim sum.