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London Ideas??

Mom and I will have two free days in London next week. We have already seen the basic tourist sites. We have taken the boat to Greenwich and have been to Bath, Stonehenge, Hampton Court, Windsor, Stratford upon Avon, Oxford... I’ve been to the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum and would like to take mom to these. Other than that, is there anything else anyone recommends? We are not opposed to day trips by public transportation. We are not interested in the Churchhill war rooms or Harry Potter and have already done the art gallery. Open to any ideas or suggestions! I’m sure we will find something to fill the days- I know we could easily fill them with the 2 museums I mentioned, but just want to make sure we are not overlooking anything very interesting or unique! 😊

Posted by
847 posts

When I'm in a city where I have done most of what the guidebooks recommend as "must sees" I like to take "walks". Of course in London there is a company called "London Walks" and they have several to choose from. But I prefer to put my own together. In London my favorite is to walk along the south bank from Westminster Bridge to Tower Bridge - you are right on the water except for one very brief area where you have to go inland for a few blocks. Highlights along the route are Boroughs Market, Southwark Cathedral, Hays Galleria, etc. Another is to walk all the way across London from Hyde Park/Kensington Garden/St James Park - Trafalgar Square - Covent Gardent - along the Strand - Temple Inn - etc. to the Tower.

But shorter, more 'focused' walks abound. I'm going to London in March and have mapped out a walk around Kensington and Chelsea which looks promising. There's a website called "A lady in London" and she has several walks and ideas.

Posted by
6113 posts

I like the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden and the Wallace Collection in Marylebone. The London Postal Museum includes a ride on the underground mail train.

Canterbury is possible for a day trip by train.

Posted by
26829 posts

If the fabulous jewelry collection at the V&A is of interest, I highly recommend getting to the museum just before it opens and seeing the jewelry collection first. I have twice had the experience of a very nice, uncrowded visit to that part of the museum for the first 45 minutes or so, then the situation deteriorated rapidly and significantly. Even when it's crowded, you can still see the jewelry, but your progress through the collection will be a lot slower. That's the only part of the V&A that has ever seemed crowded to me, though I'm sure some special (extra-cost) exhibitions are a different story.

Posted by
4255 posts

Museum of London, see if any London Walks appeal to you

Posted by
2 posts

I loved a couple of hidden-gem museums in London, these are 'the Museum of Brands', 'Fans Museums' and Charles Dickens Museum, a quick search on google will show you details. Check them out and thank me later :)
There is one more called 'Cartoon Museum' but not sure how much that will be of interest to you and your mum.

Posted by
13803 posts

Vote #2 for the Wallace Collection!

Have you all been to the Queens Jubilee Gallery at Westminster Abbey?

https://www.westminster-abbey.org/visit-us/plan-your-visit/the-queens-diamond-jubilee-galleries

On my perpetual, never-ending To-Do list for London is the Jewel Tower -

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/jewel-tower/

I've enjoyed Apsley House (if you have an interest in the Duke of Wellington and/or the Battle of Waterloo)

It looks like the Queens Gallery is currently showing an exhibition of George IV if he is of interest. If you've not been there, this is a small gallery and whatever the exhibition is is what there is, lol. No other permanent collection to see.

Posted by
6384 posts

There are day trips to Canterbury or York. Both are worth visiting. Then of course are some lesser sights in the city; guildhall, Bank of England museum, Queens chapel, Cleopatra’s needle, little Ben, Chinatown, Abbey Road, Baker Street, Little Venice, Camden Lock, the old Whitechapel bell foundry building, Liberty London and Carnaby street, Fortnum & Mason, Selfridges, Kensington palace, and the original Twinings tea store (if you like tea). Most don’t take long to see and are more short stops to take a few photos.

Posted by
3777 posts

We’re heading to London late April. A few of the places on our list are: London Film Museum, it has a James Bond exhibition, husband is a big fan; Pollack Toy Museum; Dicken’s House Museum; Highgate Cemetery; to name just a few. I also read that the Postal Museum has some nice exhibits. There are so many small museums to visit it could take up all your time. Watch Joolz Guides you tube videos to get some ideas.

Posted by
1 posts

If the weather is good, I enjoy walking along the canals (see info in Rick Steves book) to look at the houseboats and the neighborhood.

In a few weeks, I am going to tour the Dennis Severs house (NOT in the Rick Steves books I think, but recommended to me by two Londoners). It is a 45-minute walk-through art installation of a 18th-century Huguenot silk weavers family house, set up to make you wonder "What just happened here?" After a candlelight tour in the early evening, we'll be off to eat at Ottolenghi Spitalfields, a 5-minute walk away.

Posted by
8566 posts

Kew Gardens, Spitafields Market and Brick Lane,
Alexander Fleming Museum, Mercado Mayfair, Evensong at St Brides, Dennis Sever House, are a few ideas.

Posted by
1315 posts

Walk from Little Venice along the canal to Zoo or Camden Market - whatever appeals most to you.

Posted by
33 posts

Barbara

My husband and I went to the London Film museum last September and loved it! Its a great choice for any Bond fan.

Posted by
6429 posts

Wallace Collection is a good choice. Also the Tate Britain and/or Tate Modern if you like art. I assume the "art gallery" you've been to is the National Gallery. The National Portrait Gallery, next door, is a good way to absorb some British history.

I enjoyed the Sky Garden at the top of the modern skyscraper known as the "Walkie Talkie." A wonderful view of the whole city, including the other newer buildings wonderfully known as the Gherkin, the Cheese Grater, and the Shard. Not to mention the Tower, St. Paul's, Westminster Palace, and all that other stuff.

Gee, I just looked at the date of your post. Hope you had a good time and did all the things everybody suggested! ;-)