Less-known museums (and cool S. indian or other cafes) in London?

[Sadik]

DP & I are going for a few days next week. Plan is one day for all the Greenwich museums/Cutty Sark, and another day for Kew. That leaves us two half days, ideally not too far from Paddington station. Alone I'd do art galleries & bookshops, but neither really DP's cup of tea. Any great recommendations very much welcomed!

Also, we both love food from different cultures, & don't get a lot of variations where we live, but probably more towards the cafe / low key end of the spectrum rather than more upmarket. So again, any recommendations either for specific cafes/restaurants or areas very welcome.

I’m astonished by the number of Drummond Street recommendations. I’m Indian so maybe my tastes are different to lots of people on here, but every restaurant I tried on that street was distinctly average.(And I lived a 10/15 minute walk from Drummond Street for 5 years so I did try!) Where exactly are those recommending OP go there suggesting? I’m genuinely intrigued.

OP, the best South Indian food is in Wembley or Tooting. Not ideal if you are trying to visit museums, I’m afraid! Lots of other great restaurants in central London, of course!

I echo the Roti King suggestion by pp if you are going to be near Euston though. It’s not Indian of course, but the roti and daal is so, so, good.

Over by st Thomas' hospital - the old operating theatre

oldoperatingtheatre.com

If you like pickled body parts and old medical instruments. Huntarian museum in the college of surgeons in Lincolns Inn Fields hunterianmuseum.org

No as Sciencey Denis Servers house

www.dennissevershouse.co.uk

This is not near Paddington, but if you are at the Cutty Sark it's just four stops on the DLR to Lewisham and a 5-minute walk: Everest Curry King (authentic Sri Lankan food in a formica-table cafe setting).

Seconding the Freud Museum, it's wonderful.

Brixton is a lot closer than Kew or Greenwich! It's also quicker than Hoxton from Paddington as it's on the tube (about 20-25 minutes). Paddington is actually generally annoying to get to.

Obviously there are also lots of central places too, but it definitely fits into the cheap eats/cafe category. Near Paddington itself there are loads of middle eastern places on edgeware road; not sure where is best at the moment but you can get some epic mezze.

Or you could do a street food tour of Chinatown, Chinese Tapas House for crispy pancakes, Korean matcha ice cream in a fish cone for afters.

Brixton is a lot closer than Kew or Greenwich!

But the OP isn't just visiting those places for lunch...

The Postal Museum is surprisingly fascinating.

Painted Hall is well worth seeing in Greenwich - 5 min walk from Cutty sark. If you go before 11.00 weekday you will often find you are the only person there, and can lie on the benches staring at the painted ceiling (the audio they give you is a great explanation of the painting/history)
maritime museum can be fun as well.
then there’s Greenwich market for something to eat, or if cold quite a few good cafes

In central london - Holborn - the no brainer free options are the:

• sir John soan museum
• Hunterian

both Lincoln’s inn fields. Walkable from Paddington

then for incredible but reasonable Sri Lankan food, Hoppers in Soho - walkable. Relaxed vibe, easy to share dishes

The Tamil prince is delicious and a bit different south Asian food, or loads of places in Tooting (but maybe not for museums)

Grant museum of zoology - perfectly placed bn Wellcome and Foundling. SO weird and fascinating and beautiful and small. 20 mins could be fine but so could 2 hours…

Well Brixton was in context of it being near the Imperial War Museum, which I had suggested- 10 minutes on the bus; but let's not split hairs. I'd say it's pretty good for delicious food anyway, as is Tooting which has also been suggested and is pretty much devoid of any other attraction unless they are really into cold water swimming and want to check out a historic lido....

The grant museum of zoology is brilliant! It's also near one of my favourite restaurants, Honey & Co, but that's definitely more in the mid price category.

How about the Paradox Museum on Brompton Road?

I went there recently. The food is good, but the service was sullen bordering on stroppy.

This is a great map of wholesome things to do in London that I found a few years ago

https://maps.app.goo.gl/HMpFYRqcumcJkPVB7?g_st=i

I think for your half days it would be a good idea to choose an area that’s easy to get to/from Paddington and that will give you something to do and something to eat.

I haven’t checked transport but:
Euston/KingsCross would give you:
British Library/Wellcome Collection//St Pancras churchyard/little nature reserve/coffee at the wonderful Quaker building/Hoppers for Sri Lankan if desperate, but personally I didn’t rate it much - there’s a Bao at Kings Cross and they often do a lunch offer/other places but mostly chains

The gardens around the horniman museum have fantastic views of central London, although you’d need a clear day to get the best of them.

Definitely Dennis Severs house

When you're in Greenwich make sure you go to the (now free as it's finishing soon) the astronomy photographer of the year

Plus definitely the Queens House right next door, not necessarily to see the current exhibition if it's not your thing but the normal (free) art work and building is lovely

Also when in Greenwich eat at the stalls in the market, my favourites are the brioche with pulled beef airstream trailer and the guy who does wraps with spicy Indian cheese.

Cheap, high quality. Get a doughnut from crosstown in the market as well, also good quality.

Yes to the docklands museum on the Isle of Dogs, it's good. Plus the little parks are nice and there's usually an outdoor exhibition in the parks you can follow around.

I live in Greenwich so go over fairly frequently. If the weathers shit the shopping centre underground is good if you need anything. It's warm, spacious with a good selection of shops.

Now I know you didn't ask about this (and I've not been) but there's going to be a light show at Battersea power station so if you've not been there it may be good to just stop by.

Winter lights at Battersea Power Station, Canary Wharf, Southbank Centre and Westfield Shepherds Bush listed here.

Four free Winter Lights festivals to enjoy across London

The Queens House in Greenwich is free and next to the museum.

Dennis severs house (unique experience) and museum of the home - spitalfields
Museum of transport - covent garden (can sit in old tube carriages and victorian buses)
Leighton house and Design museum (tim Burton exhib) - Holland park
Novelty automation - Holborn. Really fun satirical arcade games!

Oh that's sad. My aged relatives used to love it.

I was going to suggest the Wallace Collection. I loved it there.

i was going to say, the Wellcome, the British library then carrot cake at the Camly street park thing (and then there is Coal Drops yard to look round and the lovely houseboats)