Awesome quintessentially British things in London

[wheresmymojo]

We're having a 'girl's women's day out' in London in the summer.

Inspired by watching The Crown and all the pomp and ceremony around the changing of monarchs a few of us have decided to book a tour around Buckingham Palace.

We'll also be watching the changing of the guards.

We're only in Surrey/Hampshire so can stay all day and into the evening (though not late).

What other quintessentially British things can we do that aren't extortionately overpriced?

We thought of afternoon tea but all the recommended ones are £65pp and having done the Ritz before I don't honestly think it's worth the money.

Any thoughts on what you'd recommend instead?

I'm feeling a mooch around Liberty's might be something we'd all like so adding that to the list...

There’s a ‘secret’ tea room above a pub in soho. 1940’s themed. Coach and Horses Greek Street.

I'm not sure that 'quintessentially British' exists, especially not on the tourist trail. Aren't these things just comodities created by myths of 'Britishness' in shows like the Crown and flogged to international tourists?

Picnic with Pimms?

There’s a very cute tea shop called The English Rose cafe really close to Buckingham Palace. They sell amazing scones!
You could also visit either Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral or Kensington palace.

Does it belong to the pub? It's not in the website. I'd love to go there!

Go to a service at St Paul's - Evensong is either 4 or 5 I think. It's FREE and there's usually a choir.

Saves paying £17 and you can look round afterwards

The cafe under St Paul's is not expensive

Westminster Abbey and Kensington Palace. Took American friends there and they loved the experience. So did I as they were not places that choose to go to. Plan on going to the Tower of London next time, Crown Jewels , ravens , etc.

🙄

the globe theatre?

Double decker bus over tower bridge!

Get a red London bus (sadly no longer a routemaster) number 9 is probably most useful. Only £1.55

tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/visiting-london/experience-london/bus-leisure-routes?intcmp=53128#on-this-page-0

Victoria and Albert Museum

There are lots of places that do fun afternoon teas. Ds and I had a dinosaur tea at the ampersand hotel. They do space teas too. Well worth the price tag.

What about the attendant? Coffee shop in a victorian loo.

Selfies at nr 10 Adam St. Looks a lot like 10 Downing Street.

Have a look at secret London. The have loads of fun ideas.

Salt beef bagel in brick Lane or the Wallace collection.

If you really fancy afternoon tea then The Wolseley does a really good one which is cheaper.
Just had a look and it has gone up in price but is still under £40.
It’s a really lovely treat, but not as £££ as the Ritz, Savoy or Dorchester etc!

Definitely a mooch around Fortnum & Mason!

Gordon's wine bar by embankment.

Ride on a double decker. Or front carriage of DLR (they're driverless so you can pretend you're driving.)

Walk along south bank and people watch at Southbank centre/Hayward gallery.

Borough market.

Natural history museum. Horniman museum.

Wilton's music hall.

Proper east end pub somewhere like bethnal green or further out.

Crystal palace dinosaurs.

Cafe in the crypt at Trafalgar Square.

Most stuff in zone 1 is going to be wanky rip off tourist stuff really. If you're a big noisy group that might be more what you're after!

There used to be some pubs on boats not too far from trafalgar square, have a look

Fortnum & Mason for a coffee & some chocolate, not self-service, traditional glass casements, etc.

I enjoyed the Crown Jewels at the Tower much more than I expected to.

Agree with PP that The Wolseley is lovely for afternoon tea, but if you don't want to spend quite as much, they do a straight cream tea for under £20, or you could have normal cakes or ice cream in the tea slot.

The afternoon tea at The Swan, part of the Globe Theatre, isn't too expensive and is Shakespeare themed.

There is a Wetherspoons above a Morrisons in Shepherd's Bush.

What could be more British than that?

Oh wow - great ideas on here!

This is exactly the kind of thing I was looking for and will definitely check out Secret London...

Followed by a mooch around a Tesco Express for fags and then a donner kebab on the way home?