Place to read and talk all afternoon in London
October 14, 2013 3:53 PM Subscribe
Where can my girlfriend and I sit down, relax, read, and talk for a long while during our visit to London? When weather is good, we love parks. When it's raining, we're at a loss. Are there any especially good libraries or other places for this kind of thing? Thanks!
Big second to the warren of spaces on the South Bank-- Festival Hall, National Theater, and National Film Theater all have tons of couches and snacks and random stuff to look at, as well as occasional live music.
A bookstore crawl around Soho would take in Foyles, assorted 2nd hand shops along Charing Cross, the flagship Waterstones, and Hatchards - not a huge amount of seating but good for wiling away a rainy day. Foyles has a great cafe.
posted by Erasmouse at 4:10 PM on October 14, 2013 [3 favorites]
A bookstore crawl around Soho would take in Foyles, assorted 2nd hand shops along Charing Cross, the flagship Waterstones, and Hatchards - not a huge amount of seating but good for wiling away a rainy day. Foyles has a great cafe.
posted by Erasmouse at 4:10 PM on October 14, 2013 [3 favorites]
Best answer: I like the Barbican for quiet sitting and coffee drinking. I like to go there on my lunch break with a book. It always has good movies and exhibitions on, and the cafes serve good cake.
As a bonus, it's within walking distance of St Paul's Cathedral, Bunhill Fields Burial Ground where William Blake and John Bunyan are buried, and the wonderful Postman's Park.
posted by Ziggy500 at 4:25 PM on October 14, 2013 [2 favorites]
As a bonus, it's within walking distance of St Paul's Cathedral, Bunhill Fields Burial Ground where William Blake and John Bunyan are buried, and the wonderful Postman's Park.
posted by Ziggy500 at 4:25 PM on October 14, 2013 [2 favorites]
Isn't this what pubs are for?
posted by Ideefixe at 4:53 PM on October 14, 2013 [8 favorites]
posted by Ideefixe at 4:53 PM on October 14, 2013 [8 favorites]
If we're including cafes and pubs, there are tons and tons. Most museums and galleries have some kind of space that you can happily nest down in. The British Library has the large central space wher you can sit and chat. But yeah, mostly cafes. London's overflowing with them.
posted by Magnakai at 5:03 PM on October 14, 2013
posted by Magnakai at 5:03 PM on October 14, 2013
nthing Barbican and Southbank Centre (RFH/NT/etc) from personal experience. Both are large enough that if the corner you're in gets loud or busy, you can explore and find another spot.
Pubs work in mid-afternoon, when business is lighter, and you don't feel like you're renting the seat with regular orders. Perhaps somewhere like The George on Borough High Street? Some of the Sam Smiths pubs have quiet little nooks or upstairs sofas, but they also get packed out towards the end of business hours.
posted by holgate at 5:31 PM on October 14, 2013 [1 favorite]
Pubs work in mid-afternoon, when business is lighter, and you don't feel like you're renting the seat with regular orders. Perhaps somewhere like The George on Borough High Street? Some of the Sam Smiths pubs have quiet little nooks or upstairs sofas, but they also get packed out towards the end of business hours.
posted by holgate at 5:31 PM on October 14, 2013 [1 favorite]
The Victoria and Albert Museum has a lovely dining area/tea room designed by William Morris. Perfect for tea, scones, lunch.
posted by Quaversalis at 5:58 PM on October 14, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Quaversalis at 5:58 PM on October 14, 2013 [1 favorite]
Are there any especially good libraries
You'd consider a library... a library, a good place to talk?
posted by Mister Bijou at 6:30 PM on October 14, 2013 [6 favorites]
You'd consider a library... a library, a good place to talk?
posted by Mister Bijou at 6:30 PM on October 14, 2013 [6 favorites]
Oh, okay, there are the nice cafés and tea rooms...
posted by Mister Bijou at 6:32 PM on October 14, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Mister Bijou at 6:32 PM on October 14, 2013 [1 favorite]
I nth the Royal Festival Hall and the Barbican. The Wellcome Collection at Euston also has a very nice café, museum, and bookshop.
posted by snoogles at 11:38 PM on October 14, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by snoogles at 11:38 PM on October 14, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: London's full of arts and cultural spaces with brilliant cafes. The ICA has a great little cafe. The Southbank is full of them, some of which have great views. The cafe in Waterstones on Piccadilly is a lovely space. There is a good cafe at the Natural History museum and also at the British Museum, both of which are free to get into. The Royal Institution's cafe is little known but super quiet, almost always. The Garden Museum, next to Lambeth Palace, has a lovely little cafe and is never that busy. The Soane Museum is an absolute gem, and also has a good cafe. Note: many of the big museum cafes mentioned above are run by Benugo, who do a pretty decent job.
Or, avoid the big London hotels and go for coffee at the Stafford, Goring or one of the Firmdale Hotels or the Cavendish.
For two and sixpence you can have a fantastic proper old British meal in the bar at St Johns, where they do good coffee also. When the market isn't in full swing, Monmouth Coffee at Borough Market is a great place for a drink.
If you like parks, Hyde Park, Regents Park and Green Park all have nice cafes. Off the beaten track, Brockwell Lido's cafe is worth a visit in its own right. Even further off the beaten track, the Horniman Museum has a great little cafe set in lovely gardens. The museum is atop a hill and offers one of the best views of London from the south you can get.
posted by MuffinMan at 2:01 AM on October 15, 2013 [8 favorites]
Or, avoid the big London hotels and go for coffee at the Stafford, Goring or one of the Firmdale Hotels or the Cavendish.
For two and sixpence you can have a fantastic proper old British meal in the bar at St Johns, where they do good coffee also. When the market isn't in full swing, Monmouth Coffee at Borough Market is a great place for a drink.
If you like parks, Hyde Park, Regents Park and Green Park all have nice cafes. Off the beaten track, Brockwell Lido's cafe is worth a visit in its own right. Even further off the beaten track, the Horniman Museum has a great little cafe set in lovely gardens. The museum is atop a hill and offers one of the best views of London from the south you can get.
posted by MuffinMan at 2:01 AM on October 15, 2013 [8 favorites]
I also vote for a pub. Tell us what part of London and I'm sure we'll come up with suggestions.
posted by like_neon at 2:48 AM on October 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by like_neon at 2:48 AM on October 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: These are all great answers. Thanks everyone, especially merocet, muffin man, ziggy500! Mister Bijou, you will no doubt be disappointed to know that the Cambridge public library has working / discussion spaces, a set of cinema watching carrolls, and even a café. Shocking, I know ;-)
posted by honest knave at 2:06 PM on October 15, 2013
posted by honest knave at 2:06 PM on October 15, 2013
Response by poster: We went to the Royal Festival Hall. Despite the small number of power sockets, we had a lovely time relaxing, reading, and chatting. Thanks everyone!
posted by honest knave at 12:56 AM on October 22, 2013
posted by honest knave at 12:56 AM on October 22, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by merocet at 4:02 PM on October 14, 2013 [3 favorites]