How to entertain oneself in London?

March 9, 2006 5:01 AM

I'll be spending an evening alone in London. Where should I go?

I'm attending a training course in London on 15th March, and again on 20th April, both of which will involve an overnight stay in a hotel near Victoria Station. The course ends at 5pm. Where should I go for the evening? What should I eat?

Food and a travelcard for the Underground will be claimable as job expenses, but any entertainment comes out of my own pocket. I don't have a whole lot of money, so going to see any West End shows is probably not feasible, although I've been wanting to see Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera for a very long time. Any suggestions?

posted by talitha_kumi to Society & Culture (19 answers total)

Tell us a bit more about what your tastes are - food, music, interests, etc. London's a big place with lots to offer.
posted by essexjan at 5:09 AM on March 9, 2006

A meetup?
posted by veedubya at 5:22 AM on March 9, 2006

Lots of free museums and culture to see.
I second essexjan's suggestion. Tell us more about what you're interested in. London's a big place with venues for anything you might be interested in...

Victoria's a tubestop away from the V&A, Natural History Musem and Science Musem (not to mention Harrods). (On review, looks like the museum's are gonna be nearly closed by the time you get out...)

You can't beat the pubs in England for food and drink, Camden's great for music venues and general ambience (and drugs). Victoria is in a great location for pretty much anywhere in London, central, or otherwise.
posted by slimepuppy at 5:43 AM on March 9, 2006

I tend to get drunk in the Crobar while listening to Black Sabbath and reading the comics plastered on the wall over and over and over again. So you'll probably want to steer clear of that.

How about a movie? The Prince Charles is dirt cheap and you can watch a double bill of wererabbits and giant apes on the 15th.
posted by sizemore at 6:16 AM on March 9, 2006

Eat Chinese!

Warren Zevon, Werwolves of London:

I saw a werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand
walkin through the streets of Soho in the rain.
He was lookin for the place called Lee Ho Fooks, gonna get a big dish of beef chow mein.

Chorus:
Aaahoo, werewolves of London
Aaahoo(2x)

Ya hear him howlin around your kitchen door, ya better not let him in.
Little old lady got mutilated late last night, werewolves of London again.

Chorus 2x

He's the hairy, hairy gent, who ran amok in Kent.
Lately he's been overheard in Mayfair.
You better stay away from him, he'll rip your lungs out Jim.
Huh, I'd like to meet his tailor.

Chorus 2x

Well, I saw Lon Chaney walkin with the queen, doing the werewolves of London.
I saw Lon Chaney Jr. walkin with the queen, doin the werewolves of London
I saw a werewolf drinkin a pina colada at Trader Vic's
And his hair was perfect.

ahhhooooo, werewolves of London
Draw blood

http://www.london-eating.co.uk/5175.htm
posted by ollsen at 6:26 AM on March 9, 2006

British Chinese is absolutely disgusting. But the best Indian restaurants in London are the best in the Western world. If you got an expense account, spend 50 pounds at Cafe Spice Namaste.
posted by commander_cool at 6:35 AM on March 9, 2006

Response by poster: Hmm, what do I like? I'm a bit shy of rowdy crowds, so clubbing is possibly out. Especially since I need to be bright eyed and bushy tailed at 8am the following morning for the second day of the course which means I need to ideally be in bed by midnight. I thought about going to see a play, but I only know of the big west end ones that I can't afford. I've enjoyed seeing various shakespeare plays at the Globe in the past, but I don't suppose there'll be any on during the evening because it's an open arena. When I was in school we had a class trip to see the Woman in Black in some tiny theatre in London. It was a ghost story, and I enjoyed it very much. Opera I can take or leave unless it's one where I already know the music, which isn't many of them.

I loved going to the National Gallery on a daytrip last year, and I enjoy poking round little museums filled with surprising stuff. I used to play bassoon in an orchestra, and I love pretty much all music except gangsta rap and jazz. Films I've enjoyed recently include Batman Begins, Lord of War, Just Like Heaven and Walk the Line. I'm not particularly adventurous when it comes to eating out. We generally go to a chinese buffet, Frankie and Benny's, Bella Italia or our local pub for a plate of curry and chips. So something a little different might be nice, although I'd prefer to be able to read the menu and order in English.
posted by talitha_kumi at 6:44 AM on March 9, 2006

I believe the National Gallery is open late on Wednesdays. Relatively close to Victoria too. Check out Time Out for ideas on events and places to eat. Maybe there's a play you can afford that's not a really big deal. If I have a Travelcard and time to kill late night in London I sometimes head out to Canary Wharf and gape at the large buildings and Tube stations.

Whoa, another Cambridge user! We really need to do a meetup here!
posted by grouse at 6:51 AM on March 9, 2006

Ah, you mention as curry as a potential food item. Go to Brick Lane. Best Indian food I've ever had in my life. And very reasonably priced. So many to choose from... You can go to restaurants that specialise in food from specific regions of India.

Woman in Black is fantastic. Shame I haven't gone to see anything recently that I could recommend.

A few good films on at the NFT as well... I'll come back to this thread as I come up with stuff.
posted by slimepuppy at 6:59 AM on March 9, 2006

I lived in London in the early '90s, and I attended a play almost every night for less than £10. Pick up a copy of Time Out and see what's playing in the theatre-pubs and the alternative theatres. You won't find big musicals, but there's plenty of both classic and modern theatre to be had on the cheap. (The FAQ on the pub theatre site is worth noting, as well as the links to individual theatres.)

London also has a TKTS booth where you're likely to find better prices on the big-name shows. Les Miz and Phantom are currently about $66.
posted by hsoltz at 7:25 AM on March 9, 2006

Response by poster: Grouse, it's worse than that. I see from the email address in your profile that you're also a part of the university.
posted by talitha_kumi at 7:27 AM on March 9, 2006

I traveled solo to London on business twice. When I had an unexpected extra evening in London, I took the advice of a former colleague who told me that the best meal and welcoming atmosphere could be found at the Malaysian Student Hall, where they run a canteen that is open to all, Malay or no (I am a large white man). Best food and wonderful people. Afterward I went to a pub about two blocks from Victoria Station, had two pints and was in bed by 11 pm.

(Malaysian Students Department for the UK and EIRE
30 - 34, Queensborough Terrace
London W2 3ST
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail])
posted by beelzbubba at 7:46 AM on March 9, 2006

Not sure if you are interested in this kind of thing, but I thought I'd mention a couple of things you might not pick up from Time Out:

There's a public lecture at the Royal Society at 6.30 on Surfactants, Emulsions and Foams. Doesn't sound that great a topic to me, but some of the public talks are really good.

If your company will put you up the night before the course, you could go to the London Girl Geek Dinner and meet Cory Doctorow. You may equally consider you'd just as soon be at home.

One suggestion for food - Japanese. It's not all raw fish (although I personally love sushi), and there are some quite nice little places in London. I like Ten Ten Tei on Brewer Street.

sign me up for the Cambridge MeFi meetup btw
posted by crocomancer at 8:00 AM on March 9, 2006

Indian food in the UK is fantastic, but why not save it for india, especially if you're on an expense account.
Get some british food - the times loved this stuff.
posted by lalochezia at 8:23 AM on March 9, 2006

Go and see the shows you want to see. The recommendation above from hsoltz - the TKTS booth in Leicester Sq - is a very good one. The shows you want to see will probably be available for half price - go along on your lunch break and check it out.

For food - eating out on your own in London is a bit intimidating. I prefer 'upmarket' (ahem) fast food places when I'm on my own - like Hamburger Union in Covent Garden/Dean Street, or the Square Pie Company in Selfridges.
posted by ascullion at 8:24 AM on March 9, 2006

For heaven's sake, just go to the pub.
posted by unSane at 9:31 AM on March 9, 2006

Tate Modern: I did this two weeks ago, great restaurant on the 7th floor with a stunning view over the Thames to St. Paul's, great museum with an interesting collection that is very well displayed. Check opening times, but it was open 'til 10pm the eve I was there.
posted by johngumbo at 12:17 PM on March 9, 2006

johngumbo: It's open late on Fridays and Saturdays.
posted by grouse at 2:25 PM on March 9, 2006

Lastminute.com has theatre tickets, sometimes pretty cheap. Time Out magazine has some entertainment listings.

Victoria and Albert museum is open late on Wednesday: worth checking out the Hall of Replicas which has plaster casts of Michelangelo's David, Trajan's column and dozens of other things. Museums pretty much depend on late opening: Tate Modern, Tate Britain, British Museum, National Gallery are the other big ones (google for them).

Lots of the big shops are open late if shopping's your thing.
posted by TheophileEscargot at 5:35 AM on March 10, 2006