Something different in London

[BelligerentGhoul]

Going to London next week with 15 year old dd and as well as our usual drinking of coffee, drinking of cake and visiting of the chapels of the V&A, the National and Portrait Galleries and the shining temple of Liberty, I'd like to do something else.

Has anybody been to Sir John Soanes' House?

Anywhere nice and central for lunch that we may not have thought of before?

Any lovely shops that we may not be aware of?

We like zooming around by tube and also don't mind walking a lot if needed.

Thanks. :)

EATING of cake, even.

You must go to Sir John Soanes House.

Whilst in the vicinty, you could walk through Lincolns Inn Fields, along Lambs Conduit Street, even pop to Leather Lane market - which is very near the diamond buying/selling district Hatton Garden. All of these are within a 30-40 minute walk of each other. These are all atmospheric and non-touristy but yet still historic and interesting areas of London.

Also nearby (Doughty Street) is the Dickens House museum. If that sort of thing interests you. Am not sure its open every day, but it is a gorgeous house on a lovely street in Bloomsbury.

If you are in the Bloomsbury area you could go to the Wellcome collection on Euston Road, it usually has a cool exhibition (often medical related if that interests you) and has a nice coffee shop. Very handy if you come via Euston.

For lunch- lots of nice places around Charlotte Street (parallel to Tottenham Court Road) where there are also some nice shops including upmarket charity shops.

If you want to go a bit further afield, teh Highgate cemetery tour is really interesting and Highgate itself is a nice villagey area.

Soane Museum - definitely. It is not like any other house you will ever have seen! Get there early though as queues start forming.

If you like Liberty a trip to Anthropologie on Regent Street should be on your list.

Not sure if this is central enough, but Inn the Park in St James' Park is a good lunch spot if the weather is good, you can eat looking out over the lake.

If you are in London for long enough, another interesting place to go is Leighton House in South Kensington. It has an amazing moorish hall. Holland Park is nearby too.

Soanes House is lovely, although if you like the VandA I wonder if you would also like the Geffrye museum?

If you are around the edge of the city then Haz is fabulous and great for veggies.

ooh, and re the cake:
if you are around the Leaather Lane area this is the best place ever for coffee and cake. £££ but worth it - none of yer cupcake nonsense, just proper patisserie.

Thank you all so much.

I love the Wellcome Collection. :)

And thanks for the heads-up re: Soanes house.

Googling the other stuff now...

Any more?

The Geffrye Museum looks lovely - not sure if we'll be able to fit it in this time but will deffo store for future inspiration.

There's a lovely Vietnamese restaurant next to the Geffrye Museum, it does fabulous banh cuon (rolled rice noodley things).

yy to sir John Soanes

Try Sketch off Regent's street for afternoon tea. Worth it for the toilets alone

Can't afford Sketch, I'm afraid.

I see that Soanes House is closed on Mondays - may need to re-think my week!

Restaurants around Covent Garden/Regent Street-ish area would be good, or any near the V&A.

Andrew Edmunds is a lovely place between Regent Street and Covent Garden. No website, but they'll fax you a menu if you want a look. You do need to book though as it's tiny.

Sarastro is fun...

Thanks Tethers - we're only there for the day though, sadly.

Ah, sorry thought you were there a few days... will have a think.

Is john soane's off the cards then?

Think we'll go on Tuesday instead, so that we can go to John Soanes.

Have been racking my brains and realise that everywhere I know is a pub. Not good.

Have you thought about going to the ICA? It's just near Trafalgar square on The Mall and has an arty cafe.

Ooh is that the art college? DD v interested in art and fashion design, so anything to do with that would be brill.

tate modern is fab lovely caff too

ICA is Institute of Contemporary Art. Are you thinking of the Royal College of Art, which is near the Albert Hall?

Nope - am just being a plonker and getting the name wrong!

Saturday morning bump.

Okay - Saturday evening bump!

Pretty please?

Has anybody eaten at Wahaca or World Food Cafe?

Which moisturiser should I buy from Neals Yard? Which lovely new clothes should I look out for?