weekday london
June 3, 2018 12:32 PM Subscribe
What is best done in London on a weekday in July? I've lived here for a million years so this is NOT a tourist question. I've got a 2 week 'staycation' in our fair city and I want to know what you, a fellow Londoner, would do in the middle of the week which is more pleasant than done at the weekend.
For example, I'm going to go an swim in Parliament Hill lido, which will definitely be better in July (warm!) and the weekday (empty!). I will also be going to St Paul's, again because it will be empty/ier than at the weekend; and to a matinee at the theatre, because they are cheaper and I would never dream of taking a day off just to do it.
So, assuming that money is no more an issue than it usually is in London - what would YOU do with a free day in a city you see all the time?
(Generic answers which apply to all major metropolises are allowed - but London-centric preferred.)
For example, I'm going to go an swim in Parliament Hill lido, which will definitely be better in July (warm!) and the weekday (empty!). I will also be going to St Paul's, again because it will be empty/ier than at the weekend; and to a matinee at the theatre, because they are cheaper and I would never dream of taking a day off just to do it.
So, assuming that money is no more an issue than it usually is in London - what would YOU do with a free day in a city you see all the time?
(Generic answers which apply to all major metropolises are allowed - but London-centric preferred.)
Since it opened I have wanted to ride the mail train and this may well be something best done midweek (but I wonder if perhaps July might be over-warm?).
posted by Vortisaur at 1:03 PM on June 3, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by Vortisaur at 1:03 PM on June 3, 2018 [6 favorites]
Borough Market is much calmer Wednesday-Friday and you don't have to get there until 10am.
posted by elsietheeel at 1:48 PM on June 3, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by elsietheeel at 1:48 PM on June 3, 2018 [3 favorites]
Brunch is much much better on weekdays than weekends.
If you have any big-box shopping to do, like Ikea or Costco, weekdays are better, as well.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 1:54 PM on June 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
If you have any big-box shopping to do, like Ikea or Costco, weekdays are better, as well.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 1:54 PM on June 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
Some thoughts, based on what I would do:
—read in the parks in the mornings (Regent’s is my favourite)
—go to an early afternoon show at one of the Curzon theatres—empty movie theatres in general are a great weekday advantage, and the Curzons always have something odd or good on
—lunch at Dishoom (less likely to be a queue for a weekday lunch)
—spend a couple of hours revisiting the Wallace Collection
—go for a lot of rambling walks (eg along the South Bank, the garden tour)
posted by Aravis76 at 2:06 PM on June 3, 2018 [5 favorites]
—read in the parks in the mornings (Regent’s is my favourite)
—go to an early afternoon show at one of the Curzon theatres—empty movie theatres in general are a great weekday advantage, and the Curzons always have something odd or good on
—lunch at Dishoom (less likely to be a queue for a weekday lunch)
—spend a couple of hours revisiting the Wallace Collection
—go for a lot of rambling walks (eg along the South Bank, the garden tour)
posted by Aravis76 at 2:06 PM on June 3, 2018 [5 favorites]
If you're going swimming, head up to the Ladies' or Men's Pond rather than the lido - absolute heaven (Especially if you're a lady - the ladies' pond is one of my favourite places on earth. Take a book and lunch and spend an hour or two drying off in the meadow afterwards, in absolute seclusion).
posted by penguin pie at 3:12 PM on June 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by penguin pie at 3:12 PM on June 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
I would do Aravis76 thing and go to the cinema in the afternoon, so much choice!! But start by going through timeout in minute detail and picking out anything that sounds interesting, esoteric, etc.
Leisurely reading of the paper over coffee somewhere nice.
Consider tempting a friend into getting shitfaced on one afternoon.
posted by biffa at 3:29 PM on June 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
Leisurely reading of the paper over coffee somewhere nice.
Consider tempting a friend into getting shitfaced on one afternoon.
posted by biffa at 3:29 PM on June 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
If it’s early July, hop in the queue and get a grounds pass to Wimbledon. (Week 1 is better for this.)
posted by Huffy Puffy at 5:30 PM on June 3, 2018
posted by Huffy Puffy at 5:30 PM on June 3, 2018
Whichever exhibits you were planning to see will be far less crowded.
posted by brujita at 8:02 PM on June 3, 2018
posted by brujita at 8:02 PM on June 3, 2018
Love the idea of finding some nice quiet little cafe with good cakes and just whiling the morning away over a good book, or the paper. Mouse Tail at the John Harvard Library near Borough Market is rather lovely.
I recently saw the Picasso 1932 exhibition at the Tate Modern, quite early on a weekday morning. It was really nice and fairly quiet, so I didn't feel rushed or harried. I feel that morning on a weekday would be a good time to hit the very popular exhibitions like that. On a similar note you might try queuing for returns at the matinees of any plays/shows you've been meaning to catch.
Other than that, I like the way Aravis76 thinks. But I would recommend the Dishoom brunch which stops serving quite early, I think at 12 noon, over their main a la carte menu. So delicious!
These answers are making me want to take annual leave!
posted by Ziggy500 at 2:01 AM on June 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
I recently saw the Picasso 1932 exhibition at the Tate Modern, quite early on a weekday morning. It was really nice and fairly quiet, so I didn't feel rushed or harried. I feel that morning on a weekday would be a good time to hit the very popular exhibitions like that. On a similar note you might try queuing for returns at the matinees of any plays/shows you've been meaning to catch.
Other than that, I like the way Aravis76 thinks. But I would recommend the Dishoom brunch which stops serving quite early, I think at 12 noon, over their main a la carte menu. So delicious!
These answers are making me want to take annual leave!
posted by Ziggy500 at 2:01 AM on June 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
It may or may not be to your taste but I love the Porchester Spa - its a Turkish Spa that dates back to the 30s, has been relatively minimally refurbished (so a bit charmingly dilapidated) and is council run (entry <£30 which also includes use of the swimming pool).
posted by *becca* at 2:09 AM on June 4, 2018
posted by *becca* at 2:09 AM on June 4, 2018
I would go to no reservations restaurants at lunch time that would be otherwise impossible for dinners and weekends. For example:
Bao in Soho (although queue is getting better and their branch in Fitzrovia takes reservation)
Padella in London Bridge (although the queue is still pretty ridiculous — I once went there on a weekday at 5pm and the queue was already 30 strong).
As for Dishoom, eh ... they have two branches now, with the same menu, and the Shoreditch one takes reservations.
Also, sample sales!! I have been to Anya Hindmarch, Aspinal, House of Hackney, Grenson sales before and they are all awesome.
posted by moiraine at 8:24 AM on June 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
Bao in Soho (although queue is getting better and their branch in Fitzrovia takes reservation)
Padella in London Bridge (although the queue is still pretty ridiculous — I once went there on a weekday at 5pm and the queue was already 30 strong).
As for Dishoom, eh ... they have two branches now, with the same menu, and the Shoreditch one takes reservations.
Also, sample sales!! I have been to Anya Hindmarch, Aspinal, House of Hackney, Grenson sales before and they are all awesome.
posted by moiraine at 8:24 AM on June 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
Also, I asked a similar question here when I was on funemployment.
posted by moiraine at 8:30 AM on June 4, 2018
posted by moiraine at 8:30 AM on June 4, 2018
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by ananci at 12:52 PM on June 3, 2018 [4 favorites]