Unusual stuff to do in London

[dweezle]

DH and I have a week in London in March, child free. We haven't been to London for years and years. Both like walking, love history, and the list so far includes Geffrye Museum, Borough market, Kew, Kensington museums. Would like recommendations for slightly off beat stuff (i.e. NOT London Eye, Tussauds etc), and any good cheap cafes.

Walk along South Bank (of Thames) from Lambeth Bridge (or Westminster) to Tower Bridge, then if you have time return via North Bank via The City.....loads of interesting stuff including Borough Market. Also Columbia Road Flower Market on Sunday.

If you have a week(?) then properly include The City, Museum of London is good.

Leighton House and Holland Park make a nice day out.

Columbia road flower market on a sunday is lovely and you can walk from there to brick lane and spitalfields which has a lovely market

Bermondsey street has some nice bars and restaurants if you are in the london Bridge area at any point

There is a nice pizza place on the South Bank.

Hampstead Heath, Greenwich Park, foot tunnel under Thames,Thames Barrier the O2.

I quite like travelling round on the DLR.

A bit further out, Chislehurst Caves.

Highgate Cemetery, (one of London's 'Magnificent Seven' Victorian Cemeteries. Well worth a visit, particularly if you can get there for one of the guided tours of the West side (can't wander around that bit otherwise)

Cheap cafe with good food (albeit slightly limited menu) in Central London would be West End Kitchen just off Leicester Square.

Having just read Call The Midwife, I would loveto take a tour of the east end, ie isle of dogs, poplar and all the places she mentions. I'm sure the majority of buildings have been replaced but I bet it would still be fascinating.

What about a walking tour? There are less touristy ones.
Museum of London vg IIRC - and The City is lovely at the weekends...
Can't think of any cheap cafes.. it is London but moreover I left nearly 4 years ago so can't recommend anywhere cool anyway.

Have fun.

If you haven't been to the cabinet war rooms, they're worth a visit.

Is it too late to contact your MP to see if you can visit parliament? Does it still work that way?

I'm just trying to find the name of a completely surreal museum I went to recently - some weird Victorian collectors private house...

Aha. Sir John Soanes Museum. Definitely worth a visit but not with children. It's absolutely rammed with collectables and things that break in tiny rooms and corridors (not good if you get claustrophobic) but absolutely fascinating.

Ditto Columbia Road flower Market on a Sunday and then bagels and a wander to Spitalfields.

I've heard that Scotland Yard has a museum of crime. Is it generally open, or do you need an appointment? Has anyone been, and is it any good?

My suggestions are not off the beaten track I'm afraid but worth mentioning We had to be drag ourselves away from the Tower of London. It is sooo good. Definitely get the audio guide; such good value and invaluable. I got it, my DH didn't and we wondered around separately. I saw loads more than him because I had the guide. Then return about 10pm and see them doing the traditional locking .

We had a ghost tour - awful. it was so unexciting and the website reviews were brilliant.

Victoria and Albert is quite mind blowing. My DH went next door to the British museum (or Natural history maybe) cos he didn't fancy a 'design' museum. He joined us at V&A at 5 oclock and was blown away by it.

And see War Horse. Beautiful.

Have fish n chips and a pint of London Pride at a pub on the embankment

oh and the tate modern. Worth going just to see tastelessness being extolled. (although there is some great stuff there too amongst the drivel of the emperors new clothes....)

Loads of great suggestions on this thread!!

Edith Unfortunately Scotland Yard's Black Museum is closed to the public (I'd love to go)

Oh, don't go on a Ghost Bus Tour! It is perfect for 10 year old boys, and attracts hen parties.

MrsDmitri DAMN!

dr johnson's house
Imperial War Museum is off the main drag, so tends to get left out.
free concert??

We have just come back, Lord Ashford has just lent his collection of his VC's and GC's to the Imperial War Museum and it is a permanent exhibition, incredibly moving stories, the Holocaust room is also moving.

We also saw War Horse which was amazing.

And the exhibition of phots taken on Scott's last expedition to the pole and Shackleton's which was quite incredible.

Two cheap and cool cafes: The Stockpot on Old Compton Street (Soho) and Pellicci's on Bethnal Green Road. Pellicci's is an old Italian art deco cafe, very friendly and local and popular.

Both places you can get 2 courses for 2 people under £20.

Along from Pellicci's you can go to the Museum of Childhood which is fun and not just for kids.

Which is at the Queen's Gallery next to the Royal Mews.

See if you can get inside Lloyds of London. Fascinating. On a weekday (lunchtime) Leadenhall Market is bustling and atmospheric. There are some nice places to eat there. It's beautiful - used as Diagon Alley in Harry Potter.