That London

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Off to London to celebrate a 'big' birthday soon. Staying in the Kings Cross area.

Any lovely ideas for things dp and I could do, that we might not have done before? Money isn't really an object, but we don't like 'posh' or 'wanky' stuff, and dp will almost certainly be in jeans.

We like:
Mooching in nice areas with a 'village' feel
Hampstead Heath
Museums, but have done most of them so it would need to be a quirky one or an exhibition we haven't seen
Food and drink
Book shops
The theatre
Walks eg in parks, graveyards (done Highgate), by water
Sitting in coffee shops/bars for a chat or even to read

Need to have a plan for if the weather is awful and therefore walks/mooching not so pleasant, too.

Would really appreciate your suggestions.

There was a brilliant thread on here from a local who wanted to explore their city. I’ll try to find it....

That would be great, if you can track it down.

Hopeful bump!

If we like Hampstead, what other 'village' areas might be nice?

Any nice bars/pubs in the Kings Cross area?

Pop down to the local for two pints of lager and a packet of crisps?

We were at the German Gymnasium And Vinoteca in kings cross/coal drop yard area recently - both were great for drinks. We also had lunch at GG and it was excellent German fare

There’s a nice walk along the canal from Kings Cross to Camden Lock. It starts from Granary Square which is behind KX station, there are some nice places to eat drink there too and the House of Illustration which often has interesting exhibitions.

Walk along the canal to little Venice, Gordon’s wine bar, the bar in the royal opera house (when everyone has gone in!).

Not particularly close to kings cross area (as in other side of London lol) but the hornimann museum is ace!

Thank you.

Would be very happy with 2 pints of lager and a packet of crisps, if anybody knows a nice pub!

Have done the KC to Camden walk a few times already and also Primrose Hill to Camden. Have also been to Gordons.

Will check out the GG menu.

Not quite sure where Little Venice is. Will google.

Thanks, Jumping. I

Don't need everything to be near Kings Cross but would be nice to have a few pub recs around there. I like the one at the top of St P station.

Villages:

Depends how far out you're willing to go.

Greenwich is one of my favourites if you dare to go south of the river.

And nearby Blackheath is also lovely (great views in places too)

Quirky museum - John Soane in Holborn. Wacky and amazing.
Troy exhibition at the British Museum is great too.

Go on a guided walk? This company have tonnes of interesting ones, both the usual tourist stuff but then loads of other themed ones, eg Jewish history of London, crime and punishment in London etc etc.

Have you been to this Roman temple in The City?!

Sir John Soane museum is a great, slightly off-the-usual-track one. Or Wellcome Collection (very close to Kings Cross). Also Horniman museum (south London).

Wimbledon/Wimbledon common for mooching.

Is Borough Market too obvious if you like food/drink?

Wigmore Hall on a Sunday morning -cheap top class concerts.

Have you been to the House of Illustration next to UAL: CSM Granary Square?

I like the cafe at the Qakers Friends House 173 Euston Road.

Wellcome Trust on Euston Road.

Eat fantastic cheap Italian food at the cafe on Hampstead Heath, Parliament Hill.

If it rains I’d go to the pub! Is that too boring? I guess you could do that anywhere!

Re theatre, tbh I think anything at the National is probably going to be good. Or go for one of the smaller theatres, eg Royal Court, Donmar Warehouse.

Ah, also Wilton’s Music Hall is a fab performing arts venue! (Not just music).

Go to the King Tut show - it's the last time it will be here before it returns permanently to Egypt. The Blake show is also stunning.

Love Greenwich and have spent a lot of time there. We usually stay there when we visit London. Blackheath a nice walk from Greenwich but not as nice in its own right imo.

Love the Wellcome and John S. Not been to the Horniman yet. Was also wondering about Dulwich Picture House.

Not a big fan of Borough market tbh.

We're there midweek.

Dennis Severs house, combined with Spitalfields/Shoreditch for dinner & pub.

Boat to Greenwich
National Maritime museum (their exhibitions on Nelson and the polar explorers are great)
Lunch in Greenwich - Bianco 43 for great pizzas and pasta, or sticks and sushi for Japanese food. Walk up through Greenwich park, across the heath and have dinner in Blackheath. Train back to central London from Blackheath station.

I’m a Londoner and I only discovered today about this www.postalmuseum.org/discover/attractions/mail-rail-ride/

I obviously haven’t been but I’m going band it might be a quirky thing to have up your sleeve if the weather is against you??

Ooh yes to Blake.

I've heard that Tut is so horribly crowded that it's hardly worth it. A shame as I'd love it. My parents went when it was in London before in 60s/70s (forget which!).

Greenwich not an option. Love it but been there hundreds of times and hoping for something different.

Also if you’re thinking of the theatre Come From Away is just amazing!! (Wear waterproof mascara if you’re going out after - I cried, both sad and laughing!)

Anybody seen Endgame at the Old Vic? My favourite Beckett.
Or Touching the Void?