Lunch, a mooch and a museum

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

My ideal way of visiting London is to do it in half day ‘chunks’ by choosing an area, having a wander and having lunch, afternoon tea or coffee and cake (or a pint). Extra points for a museum, a beautiful church, a graveyard or anything literary, historical or geeky.

On our next trip, we’ll have 4 ‘chunks’ to fill.

I’ve booked Trishna in Marylebone for lunch on one of the days, so we can go to the Wallace Collection and the park and Daynt books. Has anyone been to Trishna? Anything else nearby that I might not know about?

Any ideas for other ‘chunks’ including restaurants, cafes or pubs much appreciated.

@Londonmummy66 Often pop to the Seed Cafe before catching the train home from Euston. The building is stunning.

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g Thank you. I think it's probably too far out, as we have a theatre booking and Trishna booked in, so might need to stay a little more central this time.

Oh, the Wellcome Collection is also really interesting, @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie if you haven't already been there?

Been there multiple times - the reading room upstairs is one of my favourite places. A pity they don’t do afternoon tea in the beautiful upstairs space anymore.

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie have you had your visit or still looking for ideas?

Always happy for more ideas. We’re going in a few weeks.

DP says he quite fancies afternoon tea (not on the same day as Trishna - he’s greedy but even he couldn’t manage that!). Any recs for the nicest ones?

So far, the only things set in stone are the theatre on the night we arrive; the Hunterian and the area around it plus Marylebone for a big chunk of a day; pubs in Greenwich on the evening we’re not at the theatre.

I haven't been in a while, but am generally a fan of Brown's Hotel tea. If you want something more casual, the restaurant in Liberty has a new incarnation and I think has afternoon tea. The Orangerie in Kensington Gardens?

What play are you seeing?

Browns has been on my shortlist for a while, so it’s good to have a’real life’ rec.

Any excuse to visit Liberty is also useful too!

We’ve managed to get tickets for the new Othello.

Ooh, we're seeing that next month. I hope you enjoy it. We just saw The Weir and thought it was great.

I'm trying to recall when I last had tea at Brown's and it was definitely pre-Covid, so my rec isn't hugely current.

And just an fyi - if you fancy a late night bite after the play, a friend was just raving about this https://www.noodleandbeer.com/restaurants/chinatown

Thank you.

As a bloody awkward vegetarian Chinese isn’t great for me, much to my dp’s disgust. I’ll check the menu out though.

If you end up in Straford this is a nice walk along river Lea: https://the-line.org/ although it gets a bit industrial in the section from river to Star Lane. The View Tube cafe near Pudding Mill Lane at beginning of walk does good coffee.

You asked about Woolwich Arsenal - I haven't been for years and don't like Woolwich town centre so am biased.
There's lots of historic building exteriors to look at and a nice bit of river front. Found this

if you want a taste, first 15ish minutes are the Arsenal then he goes up to town centre. Sadly the Woolwich Works free tours are on Sundays.

Agree with your Greenwich pub recommendations 👌

The best Chinese food for vegetarians in London is at Tofu Vegan - huge menu, loads of variety, and I have taken meat eaters there who have cone away very happy. There are several branches: Islington, Fitzrovia and I think somewhere round Kensington.

Edited to add: I just checked and they are also in Spitalfields and Golders Green.

Thanks both.

Yes, I’ve heard good things about Tofu Vegan, but I’m just not really a fan of Chinese food tbh.

Laduree in the Burlington Arcade does afternoon tea - as does Fortnum and Mason.

Nunhead cemetery is amazing, if you are ever doing a South London walk.

It’s firmly on my list, but not sure we will have time on this visit. Brompton also is on my list, which could be a possibility.

Done Fortnums a few times now. Must admit I can’t get so excited about the teeny tiny macaroon place. Is it really nice?

Brompton is lovely and was recently tarted up. I used to live very near, and every International Women's Day a friend and I would take buckets and brushes to clean up Emmeline Pankhurst, and plant some flowers for her.

I'm also fond of the Reverend John Bastard and Hiram Codd, inventor of Codd's Wallop. And the beautiful monument to the early aviator.

How lovely!

Hopefully that’s one we can do this time. I don’t suppose there’s an amazing afternoon tea anywhere near?!

Or a nice veggie lunch?

The Lanesborough isn't far by London standards, just a few stops on the Piccadilly line from Earl's Court to Hyde Park Corner.

(ETA I've had tea there a while back and it was pretty epic)

There's a fantastic Thai restaurant on Earl's Court Road called Addie's, and I've been there several times with veggie friends. It's not at all glamorous but the food is great and it's usually full of Thai customers.

There is a small but very nice hotel called Number Sixteen owned by Firmdale Hotels that should be about a 15 minute walk from Brompton Cemetery. We stayed there when we very first arrived in London before our house was ready and have stayed in some of their other hotels, which are very lovely, but have never had their afternoon tea.

Kensal Green Cemetery is also a cool wander. Harold Pinter, Isambard Kingdom Brunel... Lots of interesting people.

https://www.firmdalehotels.com/hotels/london/number-sixteen/afternoon-tea/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21422699647&gbraid=0AAAAACf3w4riaY0JZwmj13bsg_zg-teMF&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhNip5fyZkAMVbZNQBh1ZdQDcEAAYASAAEgIOnPD_BwE

Have you done the Courtald? Lots of big name hotels with fancy afternoon teas to choose from nearby…

Done Kensal Green. Coincidentally, I’ve also had afternoon tea at Number 16. It was the first’posh’ tea I ever did and my daughter and I didn’t need to eat again that day! It’s a lovely setting.

No! Good call. I’ll have a look what’s on there. DP would love it. My tolerance for art galleries is lower than his, these days! But I could maybe leave him there and zip to Liberty! 😂