Recommendations for mum’s 80th in London please!

[adelemd]

My mum is 80 on 15th June.
She is young for her age, very arty, does a lot of sculpture, loves nice places for coffee and cake!

We are staying in London as a family on 15th and 16th June. We are so far planning on going to Frameless, the V&A, and seeing Evita. Any recommendations for other things to do (have done Tower of London, London Eye, etc before). She did mention maybe Churchill’s War Rooms or Houses of Parliament?

Also, where to eat?
She prefers more traditional English food really, and doesn’t like posh expensive restaurants, but would be nice to go somewhere with the wow factor.

We are also looking for hotels that have an interconnecting room for my 15 year old daughter. We’re happy with one of the nicer Premier Inns, or something around that price bracket.

Has she been to places like Dennis Severs’ house, Sir John Soane’s Museum, the Museum of the Home or the Garden Museum? They are all pretty central and slightly different from the more mainstream museums. Possibly slightly less busy, too. I’ve only been to Sir John Soane’s Museum but the others are all on my list and I’ve been told the cafe at the Garden Museum
is good. Or you could look at the Wallace Collection, Courtauld Institute or Kenwood House if you think she’d prefer art.

I don’t know the logistics of getting into the Houses of Parliament but it’s well worth a visit if you can. She might like Westminster Abbey if she hasn’t been already.

Does she prefer English food or do you mean more mainstream European rather than Asian? For very traditional English food, the obvious place would be Rules in Covent Garden but I haven’t been there myself. But for traditional French food she might like somewhere like Brasserie Zedel - and I also really like the German Gymnasium at King’s Cross. You could also look at somewhere like the Wolseley, which I’ve heard is especially good for brunch.

Flowers exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery is amazing https://www.saatchigallery.com/exhibition/flowers-flora-in-contemporary-art-amp-culture-summer-season
I definitely recommend EL&N for coffee and cake.

Dalloway Terrace has the wow factor but isn’t posh or stuffy. The regular a la carte menu doesn’t much typically British food, but they do a superb Sunday roast.

MIL loves the Delauney in aldwych. Check out the menu. Not cheap but very good food and service. MIL has starter and pud.

The Wolseley is lovely for a special occasion

https://www.thewolseley.com

My first thought was also the Flowers exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery and was thinking about taking my Mum (a young 85)
The cafè at the Garden Museum would definitely have the 'wow' but would need to be booked now and I think is only open at lunchtime.
Pricier, but very unstuffy, is the Portrait restaurant high above the National Portrait Gallery - you get a great view of Nelson atop his column, so very memorable and my Mum loved it there.
My other tip for a good family meal location would be the Swan at the Globe. The restaurant has lovely views along the river, across to St Paul's and it's next door to the Globe. Lovely British food.
Premier Inn Bankside is close and there are a few other hotels nearby.

Thank you so much for your help so far! Had a pause in London research, but back on it today with your recommendations at hand! Any more happily received :)

How about a boat down the river Thames? You can get a lunch or dinner cruise if you want. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love Brasserie Zedel at Piccadilly Circus. You have to book but the architecture certainly has the wow factor. We take all our visitors there (any excuse). You are a day too early for the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy but their Victor Hugo exhibition is fascinating. Twist Museum at Oxford Circus is a fascinating place for people of all ages and above it (entrance round the corner) is Market Halls which is a fun place to eat.

Came here to say all the same things! Great recommendations 👏

Berners Tavern could also be a good option for special occasion but classic grub 🥧