I am planning a trip to London and its surrounds for autumn of next year. I'm looking for off-beat and unique things to do and places to eat. Any recommendations are greatly appreciated.
Also, has anybody ever done a vacation rental in London? Any recommendations for these? I'll be staying for 10-14 days and would prefer a "home base" of sorts and would prefer one close to a tube stop.
Thanks!
Christina:
Your posting is a little unspecific for a very large city. You might get more and better answers if you were a little more detailed.
I suggest you get one of the really good travel books (like Rick Steves) and do research on a region before looking for accommodations and travel sights.
Many, many people on Rick Steves have traveled to London extensively. We usually stay in the Bayswater/Kensington area. It's a pretty yuppie area with great access to The Tube system and all popular tourists areas.
We never plan ahead on restaurants to eat in.
Mud Chute Farm, http://www.mudchute.org,
Wiltons Music Hall, http://www.mudchute.org,
Tour of Lord's Cricket Grounds, http://www.lords.org/lords/things-to-do/tours-of-lords/,
Canal Cafe Theatre, http://www.lords.org/lords/things-to-do/tours-of-lords/,
Highgate Cemetery Tour, http://highgatecemetery.org,
Petrie Museum, http://www.ucl.ac.uk/museums/petrie,
Wimbledon Windmill Museum, http://www.ucl.ac.uk/museums/petrie,
Walk Along the River Thames, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/uk/london/10315588/A-world-class-walk-along-the-enchanted-River-Thames.html
Leadenhall Market, http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/visiting-the-city/food-drink-and-shopping/leadenhall-market/Pages/default.aspx
If you go in October: http://friezelondon.com
If you go in September: http://www.londonopenhouse.org
As far as food places far too many to chose from but for a relatively inexpensive nosh by the National History Msuem,
Bospherous Kebabs. The pot pies served at the Besty Trotwood pub in Clerkenwell are wonderful.
Great city. Have fun.
Go Blue Plaque hunting.
See how many coal chute covers you can accumulate.
See how many ancient musical instruments you can find.
Take in a concert at Kenwood House.
Swim in a pond on Hampstead Heath.
Go on a short train ride to Berkhamsted and walk around a slighted castle's ruins and then walk the Grand Union Canal.
Autumn is a bit vague. If the equivalent of today's date, take in the uniquely London historical event of the Lord Mayor's Show.
Go to Brands Hatch or Silverstone for a track day, or take in a BTCC race day.
Take suitable precautions and check the tide tables then go mudlarking.
Go to Bethnal Green tube station and find the very sad memorial.
Go to Cable Street and discover what happened there a few decades ago.
Find World War II bomb damage - start on South Audley Street.
Find a (or more) pillbox awaiting nazi invasion.
Go on a Circle Line Pub Crawl.
I want to go to London with Claudia and Nigel! :-)
Sir John Soane's Museum is an offbeat sight, a very eclectic collection of a very unusual man. Not so offbeat, but often overlooked, is the Museum of London, especially for pre-Roman and Roman times. I see they have a Sherlock Holmes exhibit now, which reminds me of the Sherlock Holmes Museum at the nearest approximation of where he lived.
London Walks gives you a lot of options depending on your offbeat interests. You don't need to sign up ahead, just show up per the schedule.
We rented a flat for 12 nights several years ago in South Kensington, near the Gloucester Road tube station. I can't remember the agency's name, but old standbys like homeaway.com and vrbo.com, as well as newer standbys like airbnb.com, would give you a lot of choices. There's no ideal neighborhood, since London sights are pretty spread out, but the tube and buses make it easy to get around.
Although I think Rick's London guidebook is much better organized to help a first-time traveler plan her time, I also always feel inspired when reading top-10 lists on the Guardian Travel section online.
Christina:
Offbeat you say? How about driving a 55 ton tank near Winchester? Beginners welcome.
http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/georgelondon/2/1409931996/tpod.html
christina.guza,
there was an MSM presentation on "London Unseen" several days ago. you may want to see if you can still find it and go through the side show. For me and my tastes, there were some things that looked interesting.
happy trails.
Thanks everyone, these sound fantastic!
I'll be heading out sometime in late September to early October for at least 10 days. I'm an author of historical fiction and will be doing some research, so there are several things I must see such as certain museums, the Tower and such, maybe even a day trip to Bath.
But for fun I tend to gravitate towards the obscure and offbeat - driving a tank sure fits the list!
Hi Ray,
I'm not familiar with MSM. Is there a link or website?
Thanks.
Late 18th into 19th century, essentially late Georgian up to the Victorian periods.
@ christina.guza,
emma has the link.
Also, i ment to have MS"N", not MSM.
I browsed through the slide show and didnt realize that its not really a tour or you can see type of thing.
Happy trails.
Dennis Severs House sounds right up your alley... http://www.dennissevershouse.co.uk/
OMG, the Severs' House is exactly the sort of thing I'm looking at doing! Thanks so much for the tip, it is definitely on my short list.
I got my vacation schedule for work so I know I'll be travelling for 10-12 days leaving around October 2 and returning by October 15.
Thanks so much to everyone, I am always up for more ideas!
Camden Market/Camden Lock area. Hard to get more off-beat and funky than this.
When the tide is out, you'll want to go mudlarking along the Thames. There are places on the south bank where you can get access to the banks. I'm thinking of the vicinity of the restored Globe Theatre. You'll find lots of little potsherds and iron nails and pieces of tile, etc along the shore.
A place we enjoyed eating was in the crypt at St. Martin in the Fields at Trafalgar Square. It's a cafeteria so it's relatively inexpensive, and the food is just fine. The atmosphere is totally unique and authentic.
If you want to save lots of money, your idea of a vacation rental is a good one, especially if you can get a two-week stay for about $100 per night. The only cheaper lodgings in London will be the youth hostels. There are official ones (Hosteling International) all over town.
Have fun.
Have lunch in Borough Market. Lots of samples.
www.airbnb.com has lots of places to say at that can be cheaper than hotels or traditional BnBs. Just make sure to read all the info, such as minimum stry requirements, cleaning fees and reviews. I haven't used it personally in London, but I've used it in the US a couple times, and a friend of mine used it in Canada. We've both had really good experiences using AirBnB.
Dans le noir for dinner?
London.danslenoir.com
"One person's off-beat and unique is another persons cliche and boring." So very true…
For more tailored suggestions, it would really help if you could be a little more specific as to your preferences other than saying "off-beat and unique". Otherwise, search through some of the offerings for London on www.atlasobscura.com and see what appeals to you. When in London, I had a great time spending the morning in The Hunterian Museum at the Royal College of Surgeons (free admission) and having a picnic lunch in the park across the street.
