London but Not the usual tourist things?

[Nickbrapp]

Planning a couple of days in London, but trying to avoid the usual tourist things

So far, we have go for lunch at middle temple (we are members), and visit battersea power station

We only late 20s so trying to avoid all the museums, as we’ve done the ones we were most interested in.

Any ideas ?

[Puggit]

Something I've always wanted to do: https://skygarden.london/

[vixen1700]

I know you said you wanted to avoid all the museums, but the V&A in South Kensington have this on at the moment which looks quite interesting:

https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/cars

Was going to go at the weekend, but got lumbered into going to the pub.

Spitalfields and Brick Lane are worth taking in especially if you've got Sunday morning to kill, worth combining with a visit to Columbia Road flower market.

The City would be empty on Sunday for viewing/taking pictures of the everchanging building landscape.

Also what sort of music do you like, as there are countless venues playing all sorts of stuff every night of the week.

Whatever you do, enjoy!

Edited by vixen1700 on Tuesday 25th February 14:52

[chip*]

If you don't want museums, what about some sporty options to relive the 2012 Olympic memories?

- Stratford velodrome including MTB trail too.
- Lea Valley white water rafting (ok, just outside London!)

Edit to add links.
https://www.queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk/the-pa...

https://www.gowhitewater.co.uk/

Edited by chip* on Tuesday 25th February 21:04

[j4r4lly]

We like to walk along the south bank from London Bridge by Borough Market and then just keep going. Lots of historic sights, pubs and people watching. Cross over and go to St Paul's. Don't know if you've ever been in the crypt but there is a nice little coffee bar and it's also like a who's who of dead people - Nelson and Wellington are buried there. The London Transport Museum is also very interesting, not just for the trains and buses, but the social history and pictures of London over the past 100 years or so. Covent Garden is interesting and we discovered Waxy O'Connors https://www.waxyoconnors.co.uk/london recently which is worth a stop off for a Guinness. Lots of churches to look at. This one just off Leicester Sq and is a small oasis in such a noisy bustling area. https://www.ndfchurch.org/

[Cyder]

j4r4lly said:

We like to walk along the south bank from London Bridge by Borough Market and then just keep going. Lots of historic sights, pubs and people watching. Cross over and go to St Paul's. Don't know if you've ever been in the crypt but there is a nice little coffee bar and it's also like a who's who of dead people - Nelson and Wellington are buried there. The London Transport Museum is also very interesting, not just for the trains and buses, but the social history and pictures of London over the past 100 years or so. Covent Garden is interesting and we discovered Waxy O'Connors https://www.waxyoconnors.co.uk/london recently which is worth a stop off for a Guinness. Lots of churches to look at. This one just off Leicester Sq and is a small oasis in such a noisy bustling area. https://www.ndfchurch.org/

Before we had kids we'd often get the train into London, have a few drinks in Covent Garden then take a walk across the bridge from St Pauls and then work along the South Bank towards Tower Bridge stopping for a drink in all the pubs.
Great way to while away a Sunday afternoon.

[nyt]

j4r4lly said:

We like to walk along the south bank from London Bridge by Borough Market and then just keep going. Lots of historic sights, pubs and people watching. Cross over and go to St Paul's. Don't know if you've ever been in the crypt but there is a nice little coffee bar and it's also like a who's who of dead people - Nelson and Wellington are buried there. The London Transport Museum is also very interesting, not just for the trains and buses, but the social history and pictures of London over the past 100 years or so. Covent Garden is interesting and we discovered Waxy O'Connors https://www.waxyoconnors.co.uk/london recently which is worth a stop off for a Guinness. Lots of churches to look at. This one just off Leicester Sq and is a small oasis in such a noisy bustling area. https://www.ndfchurch.org/

That's a nice walk.
You can also do thames walk from canary wharf to tower bridge.
Lots of famous pubs to call in - The Grapes, Gordon Ramsay's place, prospect of whitby, captain kidd.

If you are there at the weekend the Brick Lane market and the surrounded area is bustling.
Columbia Row flower market on sunday.

Do a search for sunday roasts in london - if that's your thing.
Google 'Tayyabs' if you like curry (and queueing)

There's a car 'show' on lower marsh near waterloo one saturday each month.

Go for a late night in Shoreditch and catch the night tube home at 4am.

Take a riverbus from putney to greenwich.

I know that some are a little touristy but they are things that people who live here actually do.

[silverfoxcc]

If you are going to Spitalfields DO NOT miss Denis Severs house

Thar is all

Like the Freemasons initiation , you can get a lot of info beforehand ,but the less you know the better the experience

[TCEvo]

Few thoughts...

I was at Alexandra Palace for a gig last friday - years since I've been there - it has a cracking view right across the city from outside the main building. Cheapest place for that in London.

Marx's grave in Highgate Cemetary.

Foot tunnel under the Thames from Island Gardens to Greenwich (although Cutty Sark's been spoiled now & the tunnel's a bit bright).

There's a T34 tank somewhere in Sth London that I've never got round to seeing.

Borough Market for some grub, a few boozers and some Lock Stock.

[gazapc]

Puggit said:

Something I've always wanted to do: https://skygarden.london/

Been there and found it a bit st to be honest. Went with another friend to the Duck and Waffle a few months prior, I found that a much better view/experience (although avoid peak times).


If you've been to most museums, try the London Mithraeum - the remains of a roman temple in the heart of the city. A very worthwhile hour or so.