Getting to Viking experience, London

[Papergirl1968]

Need help from Londoners or people who know London well, please.
I’m thinking of coming down from the Midlands for the day to see the forthcoming Viking exhibition at Canada Water.
It’s been many years since I last visited London, and health problems have left me with fatigue so I do need to pace myself, and have knocked my confidence. But I need to start getting out more and building up the confidence to do things by myself.
So train would get in to Euston, and I was then thinking of getting the number 1 bus to Canada Water. I know tube would be quicker but it would mean changing lines and probably be more tiring (and stressful for someone who is not used to it) than bus.
Tue exhibition should take about 90 mins so what can I do to fill the day? Is there anything in the Canada Water area? A walk by the river if weather is good? Catch a bus to another part of central London? Head back to Euston and do something around there?
I’m not into art at all, and not really into shopping, but love history. I’d like to do the Tower on a different visit, and would also like to do the Sky Garden at some point, again maybe on a different trip. I’m not very familiar with the parks, land marks and other touristy things but a wander around seeing a few sights would be good. I can walk a couple of miles, a bit longer with breaks in between, I just need to build breaks in where I can sit with a drink and a snack,
Food wise I’m very unadventurous. A Maccies, Burger King or Greggs, would be fine (hangs head in shame). I can’t stay overnight this time so will probably be looking to head home at 6ish and could maybe pick up a meal deal to eat on the train back.

I’d get the tube and change lines OP - it’s really straightforward, just take your time!

From Canada Water I’d say either:

• a walk around Greenwich, curry dark etc. Nice place to potter about.
• you could get the jubilee line back to Waterloo (where you would change anyway) and walk along the southbank OR it’s less than an hours walk to Euston over the bridge via embankment, Covent Garden, past the British museum etc.
• You can also get the Thames clipper boat from Rotherhithe to Waterloo, lots to see from the water

Endless food options around - lots of alternative burger joints around you can try eg shakeshack or bleeker

No 1 bus will take you direct to the CW bus station which is 2 mins from the Vikings. Next door is a bar / restaurant which looks ok and there is a Tesco store in the shopping centre. Nice walks in the dock woodlands or by the river or in Southwark Park. Not the most exciting place to visit but well connected and you’ll find everything you need close to the exhibition x

And yes a bus or the Uber boat will get you to Greenwich in no time. Boat would be my tip, from Greenland dock a short walk from the exhibition

That will be a long grim bus journey. You’d be much better off getting the tube. You only have to change lines once (at Waterloo). You could always decide to break your tube journey where you change and get out at Waterloo (or Embankment) and have a coffee and a sit down / stroll by the Thames before getting back on the tube at Waterloo for the second tube leg to Canada Water.

There’s not much to do around Canada Water itself but if the weather’s pleasant you can stroll round the docks there and walk along the Thames (northwards) past Surrey Quays city farm (handy stop off point for a sit down / coffee / toilet break) and continue on until you’re opposite Canary Wharf and get the (very short) ferry over to Canary Wharf to explore / eat / relax. You might enjoy the London Museum Docklands there:

https://www.londonmuseum.org.uk/docklands/

Alternatively, if you’re interested in the Vikings, have you been to the British Museum where there’s a large section on the Vikings? You could stop there on your way back to Euston.

Thanks so much, all. I did have both Greenwich and the British Museum on my wish list so they’re both great suggestions. Maybe Greenwich if it’s dry, the museum if it’s not.
I’ll rethink the tube. I just remember last time I was in London with a friend, the two of us both reasonably intelligent women in our 30s, who had huge problems trying to work out which direction we needed to be travelling in and also buying tickets from a machine. I gather these days you can just tap your bank card which at least sorts that issue.
It’s been a few years of not doing very much and not going very far for several reasons - health, finances and caring responsibilities - so now I’m able to I want to spread my wings a little.

The exhibition looks great! I hope you enjoy it. I looked at it for my family but even with a Railcard the train tickets (weekend) came to £140 so we'll give it a miss. Even the coach to Victoria was £70 and takes over 2 hours. We live in E Kent.

It’s a pity exhibitions are unaffordable for families. I’m sad (but also glad from a cost point of view) that my young adult DDs are totally uninterested in history and anyway have young children so can’t tag along.
I can only afford to do this as my DM died last month. Money has been tight for so long, so I know she would say spend a bit on doing what I want to do.
My Facebook feed is filling up with other immersive exhibitions and adverts for the royal palaces and other historical locations though so there may be a few more trips to London for me.
I studied in Essex for a while so nipped into London frequently then but neurological condition has definitely impacted my confidence.

Sounds like a great time to enjoy a few days out @Papergirl1968! Why not? Life's for living and what a lovely way to remember your DM.

Ah have the best time! If you do get the bus, the 188 is a teeny bit quicker, also both go past Holborn tube so good for British Museum if you fancy it without tube stress. City farm is super cute but does close fairly check closing time x

The exhibition looks great and I hope you enjoy it. I am a great advocate of London buses and, as long as I'm not in a hurry, I am happy to sit on the upper deck and watch the world as I pass. I think I would enjoy the trip from Euston to Canada Water and will put it on my list!
You say that you are happy to walk a couple of miles. I would walk from Canada Water to London Bridge (& I'm not massively fit and not a great walker). I've just checked on Google which tells me it's 2.1 miles.
Cut up onto the river and then just walk west with the river on your right. You will pass two really interesting old pubs, the Mayflower and the Angel, the foundations of Edward III's summer palace, the Salter Statues, New Concordia Wharf and Shad Thames. With even a passing interest in history it's fascinating and you also get brilliant views of Tower Bridge. There are lots of places to stop and rest and from London Bridge there are buses back to Euston.

This worth a look? https://thames-explorer.org.uk/guided-tours/

Walking to Tower Bridge sounds like a plan if weather ok.
Mudlarking is something I’m also interested in. Might be too much for this trip but on a future trip.
Thank you. You’ve all been so helpful and kind.