Unusual London - Help please!

[NigellaEllaElla]

Hi,

In January I am going to London for the weekend with a small group of friends to celebrate my birthday. I wondered if anyone had any ideas of things we could spend our time there doing that are a bit different?

I was considering a River Cruise with dinner for the evening but thinking it will be freezing.

There will only be about 8 of us but I just fancy doing stuff that's a bit different so am totally open to suggestions.

Thanks

Sir John Soane museum
Treasure Trail like this
Number One London
Roller skate in Hyde Park
eat at Lalibela Tufnell Park for Ethiopian food
London photography mystery tour

No idea what any of these are like but I've wanted to do them all, trouble is by the time I've paid to get to London I'm usually skint!

In fact no, I have eaten at Lalibela, it was FANTASTIC especially the flatbread. Years ago though.

Some friends of mine did a code breaking thing where they were literally locked in a room and had to work out how to get out, they LOVED It. I have no idea what it was called though and no idea what you'd need to google to find it! Was definitely in London though.

These look fun: www.southbanklondon.com/treasure-hunts-code-breakers-and-tailored-tours

Including Code-breaking thing mentioned above.

Columbia rd flower market & Brick Lane bagels on Sunday morning.

BYOC

Roller Disco in Vauxhall

Walk over the top of the O2?

Vinopolis or a gin tour or I have looked at afternoon tea on a vintage bus

Fab suggestions. Looking at them all now so keep them coming please.

My friend did the walk over the O2 this weekend and loved it. The code breaking thing is intriguing but not sure what the rest of the party will think!

Get boris bikes and cycle around the Southbank. Borough market for food, cool old pubs in Bermondsey, night out at The Oxo Tower or Skylon. Good Premier Inns in Southwark.

Or night out in Shoreditch or Hoxton, cocktail making club in the afternoon and then amazing night at Trois Garçons.

I started a thread for me and my fellow Londoners to share their favourite off the beaten track things to do. Got loads of replies! Hang on a sec, I'll see if I can find it.

My latest personal favourite has been to go to the Sky Garden at 20 Fenchurch Street. There is a reasonably priced brasserie up there. You get the best view I have ever seen (much higher than the London Eye) for free in the capital.

lots of unusual ideas here

Ahh thanks so much Mintyy!

Mintyy I was searching for that thread the other week and was really disappointed when I couldn't find it. Thank you

I second the Sir John Soanes museum - on a similar vein, Geffreye Museum near Hoxton, and the Wellcome collection in Euston which usually has quite quirky exhibitions.

There's always some lovely street food market, both in central (KX, Oxford Circus etc) and a little further out. They can be a little pricey but are quite trendy at the mo and the food is usually good and diverse. I know it's popular but I quite like Time Out London for finding new things to do in London.

Oh also! Try the Skygarden. When I went with DP, it was free, but may not be now. Much cheaper than the shard and lovely inside.

I see I've xposted with Mintyyy RE Skygarden! It's definitely worth the visit.

Ice Bar? www.icebarlondon.com

Up at the O2
www.theo2.co.uk/do-more-at-the-o2/up-at-the-o2