Off the beaten path in London

You might check out Spencer House. It's only open on Sundays though but it was one of my mother in-law's favorite places we visited. It's one of the few city homes still left and the docents were fantastic. I had been to London several times and never even heard of it until I asked another question on TA. Speaker's Corner is nearby too so you could combine them and hit a pub for a Sunday roast. Also look at Sir John Soane's house and maybe Dennis Sever's House. I still haven't made it to Dennis Sever's but I am making a point of it next visit. Have a good time!

What kind of stuff do you like doing? Sounds like you want non touristy things. London does this fantastically.
S

Margaret Have a look at this site. I was born in London, and still live only 60 miles away, but still find loads of stuff on it I don't know. http://www.tiredoflondontiredoflife.com/ The Docklands Mueum probably qualifies as off the beaten track. We were there at the weekend and found it fascinating. An excellent exhibition on the slave trade plus a reconstruction of an 18th Century street. http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/Docklands/ A farmer's market makes a nice focus to a walk, and there are various listed here. http://www.lfm.org.uk/markets-home/ If you don't mind getting your feet muddy then mudlarking is also interesting http://www.thames-explorer.org.uk/adult/foreshore-walks Cheers Alan

Sigmund Freud's house in Hampstead? A walk on Hampstead Heath? A walk from church to church on the Sunday, listening to the bells? A visit to the Furniture Museum in Shoreditch? A bluebell walk or daffodil walk (depending on how warm March has been)? The Welcome Trust Museum opposite Euston Station?

A visit to the London Silver Vaults in Chancery Lane. http://www.thesilvervaults.com/ And while you are in Chancery Lane take a look at one of the Inns of Court ie Lincolns Inn. http://www.lincolnsinn.org.uk/ Or the nearby Temple Courts just off Fleet street. http://www.venables.co.uk/barinns.htm Edit - this site has info on public access to some of the buildings and grounds. http://www.spendtimeinlondon.com/inns-of-court.html1.html Lincolns Inn Fields are a good place for a lunchtime picnic. Twenty years ago you would have seen me taking my lunch break there!

Attend a Parliament debate, wander the Kensington Roof Gardens, visit the Cartoon, Anaesthesia, Geffrye, or the Royal Philatelic Society of London museums, get tickets to Jazz in St. Martin's of the Fields Crypt or attend one of their free lunchtime concerts, walk along the canals of Little Venice, The BADA Antiques and Fine Art Fair is 21-27 of March, visit some of London's secret galleries:
http://www.timeout.com/london/feature/928/londons-secret-galleries, stroll through Hyde Park, Regent's Park, climb Primrose Hill, find the Jim Henson Bench in Hampsted Heath, watch a neighborhood soccer or rugby match, tour Lords Cricket grounds, see Patrick Stewart in Bingo at the Young Vic. Grab a Timeout Magazine when you land. Always a wonderful resource for finding unique things to do. Enjoy.

Thanks, everyone, for all of the great suggestions. I have started doing some research on your unique ideas and we will have fun visiting many of the places you have suggested. Thanks again!

After many trips to London we finally made it to the Borough Market-loved it, plus nearby is the old operating theater that RS mentions in his London book. The Wallace Collection, Charles Dickens home, Temple Church, Silver Vaults, antique stores on Kings Road, Royal Mews, St Bartholomew the Great Church(tea room there and lots of movies filmed in St Bart}-so much to see in so little time. Have a great trip!

The gas light area off Green Park is charming and interesting for its narrow streets and architecture. I recall a plaque on one building marking the home of Sir Francis Chichester. The American Bar at the Stafford Hotel and the bar at Dukes Hotel are good spots to get off one's feet for awhile.

Sunday lunch strand-on-the-green area, followed by a walk round kew gardens. Check-out Richmond, chiswick, etc for restaurants. Think a trip to areas like Whitechapel (history tour) would be interesting. Go to a big supermarket and see how it's different - pick a tesco, waitrose or sainbury's. Geffrey museum.
There are specialist museums too - eg I'm a doctor and welcome museum of history of medicine is spectacular - but to enjoy these places you need to know a bit to get the most out of them. S (london's great - I lived there for 13 years) - it's good to see extremes too.

We liked Kensal Green cemetary (so picturesque), the Knights Templar Church and the operating museum.

Southwark Cathedral. And while you're on the south side of the River Thames, visit the Bramah Tea Museum to see an awesome display of teacups and teapots, and to learn about the history of tea. They also will serve you a cup of tea. Next door is the excellent Design Museum.

As Susan (from Georgia) said earlier, Borough Market is fantastic - try the goat's milk ice cream! Twinings at 216 Strand is a fun stop, and you can have a cup of tea in the back of the shop. Also, if you make it down to Greenwich, the Fan Museum is very nice

Wow, What a lot of great suggestions. Add any of the Magnificent 7 ( Cemeteries) my favourite is Highgate the old part (you'll need a reservation) and tea at a taxi stand. I don't know if it's exactly off the beaten path but a lot of people forget about the Tower Bridge Experience. Have you climbed to the top of The Monument?

I have to second the suggesstion of Kew Gardens. They are lovely and you can a lot or a little time in any of the sections. There are several greenhouses (some older, some new), rose gardens, a "tree" garden with tall redwoods and a "walk in the trees"- quite a high catwalk thing- but great views. and the shop there is about my favorite! Wonderful, unique, and affordable souvenirs. The town/neighborhood of Kew is also very pretty with some small restaurants and interesting shops.

As suggested above- Strand-On-The-Green is a great little thames side "village" with some great pubs; over the bridge to kew gardens (Nice tea shops in Kew village0 and back to london by boat leaving from Kew gardens landing

London Walks! Go online to see what walks they are offering during your stay. I am an expat and have been here for a year. I never tire of London Walks and still take them on a regular basis. All of the above suggestions are wonderful, as well! There is SO much to do here!

Margaret, I'm in the same boat and my last trip I went off the beaten path to Dulwich for lunch and a visit to the Dulwich Picture Gallery. It's the oldest museum in London. It's small but you can get really close to the paintings. There's a small village with several restaurants and little shops. I've eaten at the pub and an Italian restaurant called Rocco's. Both were really nice. There's lots of green space so you could plan a nice walk from the train station depending from where you come from. CM

Greenwhich ?? may be off the mainstream for you. several nice sights.