Hi. May I ask where I could find listings of indoor and outdoor events, celebrations, etc? I will be in London in mid September for a couple of days and in early October for a couple of days. I subscribed to the TimeOut newsletter. I looked at the Londonist. One thing I liked coming up this weekend is an embroidery workshop at the Somerset House. Recently, I read a book where the author took a dance lesson in a major museum. I haven't been to London since the days of paper maps, but I prefer off-beat things to the usual tourist attractions. Are there any zumba or exercise lessons in the parks? I found a meeting of pug lovers in London on meetup.com. On air b and b experiences, I found a man who leads a flash mob/silent disco tour , along with someone offering stand up paddle board rentals on Regent Canal. How does a person find out about joining a flash mob? Trapeze lessons in the park, dance lessons in a museum, dance lessons like jazz, swing, ballroom or hustle that a person can drop into for one day or night? I took ceroc dance lessons the last time I was in London. Thanks in advance!
Posted by
Land of La
9261 posts
Gotta say use Google.
Type in something like “are their trapeze lessons in London parks?”
Or “unusual quirky meet ups in London neighborhoods.”
https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/lifestyle/travel/g38846279/things-to-do-london/
ALSO once you are in London check church bulletin boards. They often have “ boot sales, potlucks, bingo nights, dance contests, etc. “
On one December excursion enjoyed an art sale on Eel Pie Island. The flyer was posted on a church bulletin board. Also enjoyed listening to a young choral group’s rehearsal in a church hall on another trip.
Posted by
Southern California
443 posts
Gorilla Circus does trapeze lessons in the park (Regents Park and Kensington Gardens this summer), but it looks like they close down on September 15. We saw them in Hyde Park last summer. We also saw volleyball games one evening a week. I can see at least one Meetup for Saturday evenings, but it only lists games through the end of August. As Claudia said--Google is your friend.
Posted by
northern CA
2815 posts
Look at the event calendars on the LSE and UCL websites, follow them to some organizations within the campus community, and see what they have going on
Posted by
Freedonia
16408 posts
Check out:
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33991 posts
Ian Visits does a weekly newsletter of all sorts of unusual things happening in the Metrop.
Subscribe at https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/about/newsletter-subscription.php
There is a webpage, but everything is on the newsletter - and more. Excellent resource.
The webpage is https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/ but I find the newsletter much easier.
Posted by
OP
44 posts
These are excellent. I noted futuristic bingo, kayaking on the Thames, swimming in the ponds, and workshops at the Photographer's Gallery. A website says that the ponds are chilly, muddy, have ducks, and are glorious. Have u seen people actually doing this? There are tips for habituating to cold water. I have never habituated to cold in all my years living in Chicago. Great finds!
Posted by
Vancouver, BC
299 posts
There is pickleball at St. Paul's Cathedral. They book the court in 45 minute increments and provide paddles and balls. You have to provide the players.
Posted by
Land of La
9261 posts
OP,
In answer to your query regarding people swimming in the ponds…. Won’t happen on your dates but does happen on Christmas Day; Peter Pan Cup Race at the Lido and in the Serpentine of Hyde Park. I’ve enjoyed watching it more than once.
And yes people do swim in the Serpentine all year.
https://www.royalparks.org.uk/visit/parks/hyde-park/serpentine-lido
Adding to the list of “ quirky and unusual “ Crossness Pumping Station
Repton Park Indoor Swimming Pool
Have a coffee in a former public urinal; Attendant
Coffee Roasters
Climb the O2
Take the lift in the Battersea Station
Visit the Silver Vaults
Are you a Dr Who fan? If yes take the tube to Earl’s Court. Hopefully, a Tardis is still outside the station.
Posted by
Bellingham, WA
463 posts
I don’t know how out of the ordinary this is, but I saw a video of a bus tour that served tea. I ended up not going to London but I found a similar thing in Dublin (excellent) and in Edinburgh (meh) that used vintage Routemaster buses. Much better than the HOHO bus.
Posted by
Western Canada
3513 posts
You can swim at Hampstead Heath, too.
Your holiday sounds like it’s going to be fun, so I hope you’ll let us know what activities you did in the end!
Posted by
OP
44 posts
Hi. As for swimming in the parks, are we talking freeze your *#$ss off cold? There are a bunch of lunatics who do that at some ungodly early hour in Chicago on the lakefront every Friday when it's cold, then get together to have coffee and date each other. I am simply not tough enough for that.
A bus tour that serves tea and treats- sounds terrific. Ok, the pics make the food look divine!
https://www.hoponhopoffplus.com/london/afternoon-tea-bus-with-panoramic-tour-of-london?msclkid=dd355c36128216fb6c253a98b50e338d&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=London%20Afternoon%20Tea%20(Inbound)&utm_term=afternoon%20tea%20bus%20tour%20london&utm_content=Afternoon%20Tea%20Bus%20Tour%20London%20(P)
That pool at Repton Park looks amazing. A distance to get there- I will be near the Euston Train Station, but possibly worth it.
I see the urinal coffee bar is listed on Atlas Obscura. Someone mentioned to me that it's a good place to find odd things.
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-attendant-fitzrovia
Climb the O2 is definitely something I will do!!!!
Is this the best place to buy tickets?
https://tickets.aegeurope.com/upattheo2/climbs.html
View looks looks amazing after lift at Battersea Station
I need time to review all the other ideas. I am getting very excited!!!! Thanks everyone!!!
Posted by
OP
44 posts
I forgot to mention that I have stayed near the Earl's Court station many times, but didn't know a thing about Dr. Who until I just asked my husband. Also, didn't know what a tardis is. Ha!
Posted by
Chicago
662 posts
If Parliament is in session while you're there, sitting in on a session of
the House of Commons or the House of Lords is free and you're not
bound to sit there for any fixed length of time.
Posted by
London
1306 posts
Your post made me think of the circus school in Hoxton that I've seen. The National Centre for Circus Arts.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/UKhjgtEMGyFTy6S79
They have some courses running while you're in town -
https://www.nationalcircus.org.uk/courses/?participant=adults&page=1 [edit: these are evening classes for a term. They also have some "experience days" on Saturdays]
If you like outdoor swimming, there's also London Fields Lido.
https://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/london/hackney/london-fields-lido
Posted by
Freedonia
16408 posts
Yes, the Tardis is still at Earls Court Station.
Another bit of Earls Court history....there is a Nando's one block north of the station. It was the second Nando's opened in the UK.
Also near Earls Court is one of the most unusual bars/speakeasys you'll ever visit. It's called the Evans and Peel Detective Agency. Pre--booking is required.
Posted by
Land of La
9261 posts
Frank II thank you.
OP I’ve been a Dr Who fan since my college days.
Campy, odd, enjoyable entertainment when I first saw it broadcast on PBS.
It disappeared for a while but returned with new Cybermen, stellar talent, locations and plot lines.
Not a Whovian but readily admit throughly enjoyed watching, Matt Smith, David Tennant, Peter Capaldi and Jodi Whitaker playing the Doctor. Have only seen the new Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa ) once because it’s now broadcast on the Disney Channel which I don’t subscribe to.
Posted by
Massachusetts
1102 posts
The VisitLondon website has a list of unusual things to do.
https://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/experiences/activity-bars
https://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/sightseeing/sightseeing-tours/unusual-tours-in-london
https://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/sightseeing/secret-london