London or lesser known London ideas..

Okay, here's a list of inexpensive asian spots in and around London: Vietnamese sandwiches: Banh Mi Bay Vietnamese Pho: Song Que Japanese: For Udon, Koya Malaysian: Rasa Sayang Korean: Koba Chinese: Tai Ka Lok
Chinese Dim Sum: Yum Cha Lastly, checking who's serving what street food here is great fun! http://www.eat.st/kings-cross/

What are your interests? What kind of food and what price-range? On my last visit, I went to the Churchill War Rooms and was fascinated. Then I took a day trip to Bletchley Park and loved it. I also took a tour of Spencer House (yes, Princess Di's Spencers, but rather long ago) that was very interesting. Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese - great pub for lunch, dates back about 500 years. Borough Market for a raclette - the best grilled cheese sandwich ever at Kappacasein. On my upcoming trip, I'm planning to take several London Walks, which I have never done. From what I've heard and read, they go to many lesser known places.

Far too many to account for but if I must here are some favorites: Little Angel Theatre in Ilsington, tour of Lord's, the Roof Gardens on Kensington High Street, a meal at Gay Hussar, the Village Underground in Shoreditch, Brixton's Art Market, the Sir John C. Ritblatt gallery at the British Library, Museum of London, watching a debate in Parliament from the galleries, check out the canal boat houses near Victoria park, visit the Backyard Market in E. London, spend a day at West London's Richmond Park, see what's on at Wilton's Music Hall, visit the Crossbones Graveyard, find the Jim Henson bench in the Hampstead Heath, partake in evensong at St. Bride's Fleet Street Church, visit London's oldest church St. Bartholomew-The-Great in Clerkenwell and see if you can participate in a "mudlarkling" Foreshore Walk along the Thames. As far as food try Little Bay on Farrington Road, The Oxford Pub near the Kentish Town Tube Station, Bosphorus Kebabs near the Nat'l History Museum, dine in the crypt at St.Martin's of the Fields, lunch at Borough's Market, have a meal at MotherMash, fish and chips at the Golden Union Fish Bar in SoHo, and lastly have a burger at MEATmarket in Covent Garden. Other than that do what I do, take the tube or a bus to a neighborhood, get out and explore. Best way to discover hidden-gems-off-the-beathen-path-local-favorites.

Cheerio! We never tire going to the fascinating John Soane Museum at Lincoln's Inn Field. Be sure to see the Hogarth"s paintings of "The Rake's Progress". http://www.soane.org/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_John_Soane's_Museum Duke of Wellington House: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/apsley-house/ In October, we plan to visit The Wallace Collection and Dulwich Picture Gallery. Have not been there yet. http://www.wallacecollection.org/ http://www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk/ Pubs: "Old Doctor Butler's Head" in the heart of the City. (c1610) http://www.olddoctorbutlershead.co.uk/ "The Grenadier", Wilton Mews, Belgravia.
We have not seen the ghost. :) http://www.haunted-london.com/the-grenadier-pub.html London Walks are great. We took the "Old Hampstead Village" tour last visit. http://www.walks.com/ Check Out GastroPubs for a pint and good food! http://www.visitlondon.com/attractions/pubs_bars/gastro-pubs

Oh wow thanks guys. Well I love art & history.. Big into dinosaurs & pre-historic life. As for food love all types of asian foods. I will be writing down these idead in my travel book & bookmarking the sites. Thanks so much you guys.

Thames River Barrier (prevents flooding from the sea during storms). Neither art nor history, but very cool to see. There is a nice little visitor's center.

My two recommendations slightly off the beaten path: Museum of London, Docklands. (A great museum that doesn't seem to get its due. Perhaps it's too new or just too far from other sites?) Highgate Cemetery. (I recommend booking the tour in advance. It's worth it.)

I would suggest going to James Smith & Sons Umbrellas store, they make umbrellas, walking stick. They family started it in 1830 and it's still run by the family. They are located at 53 New Oxford Street.

Another vote for the John Soames Museum, Museum of London, and Churchill War Rooms. Also, if you're a fan, the Sherlock Holmes Museum on Baker Street (not to be confused with the S.H. Pub near Charing Cross).

It may be considered a highlight, but I waited to see the Natural History Museum til my second visit and wished I hadn't. I could have spent much more time there. Also, I think the plasticated animal specimen exhibit will be there, soon, which I think is the dogs bollocks!

Hello Terry. Two places in London, not mentioned in any of the travel guide books on London, are : 1) Tour of some rooms in the British Government's old Foreign Ministry offices building at Whitehall Street. Unique and grand old wood furniture can be seen there.
2) A few rooms in the Traveler's Club (a private club for British gentlemen, started in the 1800s). Old luxurious furniture, an old big globe of the Earth (in the Library), etc. Located near Saint James Park. Visitors are welcomed. Not every day. If interested, inquire about visits to those places, at a Tourist Information office in London.

which I think is the dogs bollocks You do know to what you are referring, Clare? Not a phrase often used in polite mixed society.

Chani, You made my morning with Bletchley Park. My husband and one daughter are code freaks and the other daughter is a WWII buff and a fan Connie Willis' Blackout and All Clear novels. The reviews on Trip Adviser are great and it couldn't be a better suggestion for our family. I have bouncing girls to prove it. I didn't realize that there was anything to see there now and I'm so glad you posted. I think we'll be there in about five days.

Clare, That's funny! I've never seen that phrase, the one to which Nigel is refering, any where outside of Punch or the t-shirt I bought at the Bruickladdich Distillery. Even the t-shirt has it in Gaelich so as not to disturb folks unduly.

Given some of the things you mention you like, I would suggest: The Grant Museum of Zoology at UCL. Also at UCL that may be of some interest to you is The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archeology. The Hunterian Museum at the Royal College of Surgeons is very cool - they have some great examples of plastination that pre-date anything you will pay big bucks to see at museum exhibits like Body Worlds. Admission to all three museums is free. The Natural History Museum is definitely not a lesser known site in London and is often crowded, but it was a really great museum and had some terrific dinosaur stuff on display. Agree with other poster that it's the kind of museum that you could easily visit more than once if you really enjoy that kind of stuff. If you like art, the Courtauld Gallery is a nice small museum off The Strand by Somerset House (not sure if the fountains are still on in the courtyard during October).

Interesting question - Lets see: you might try a backstage theater tour at the Old Vic. Take a tour of the Cutty Sark. Head over to the Royal Observatory. Explore Hamstead Heath. To eat? If you like Thai, there is a great little Thai restaurant in the back of the Churchill Arms in Notting Hill. A little more upscale Thai is just off Trafalgar Square, at Thai Village. If you get a craving for pizza, try the UK chain Pizza Express.

Agree about the Sherlock Holmes Museum, if you like the books. Also the British Library.

Sorry if I offended. I'd heard the phrase in London a lot, in mixed company, and was told it was similar to saying "the cat's meow". I guess its more like saying, "its the sh*t". My pardons, just trying to be silly.