London for the unassuming traveler

April 13, 2025 11:24 AM

I'll be in London for a few days next week with my wife and my daughter, and I'd really like to keep it simple and enjoyable for us.

My daughter has already been to London last year and has seen some staples.
This time, I'm pretty sure she'd like to focus on shopping and seeing a different side of the city, get under the radar and enjoy a somehow more authentic, slightly less touristy experience. We don't want to cram as many things as possible in a day's time, but just to enjoy the feeling of being in such a great city.

I know how busy London is and that I'm going to contribute to it, but : could you tell me what you think are good, interesting places to visit , nice restaurants to go to in order to get the rest and the enjoyment we need between long walks ?
I'm really being prosaic here, I hope it's clear enough.

Thanks !

posted by nicolin to Travel & Transportation around London, England (14 answers total)

Best answer: We went last year and had two really enjoyable walking tours with Bowl of Chalk and Rebel Tours. Highly recommended.

For restaurants, you certainly can't go wrong with Dishoom or Ottolenghi, both of which have multiple locations in the city.
posted by BlahLaLa at 12:15 PM on April 13 [1 favorite]

Best answer: The John Soane's Museum is off the radar, but really remarkable.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 2:00 PM on April 13 [4 favorites]

Best answer: I usually stay way over on the east side of London in Hackney - fairly out of the fray but still accessible. Particularly there is a stretch called Broadway Market between Regent's Canal and London Fields which is full of small shops, great restaurants, a superb pub - The Dove - and lots of character. We generally walk a lot along the canal and this is a perfect spot to start or stop the day. Up on the other side of London Fields is the superb E5 Bakehouse. Other than all that the other place that comes to mind is the low-key Duke of Cambridge which is really a great place, over between Islington & the canal.
posted by niicholas at 2:26 PM on April 13 [1 favorite]

Best answer: The two Time Out books of London walks, here and here, are older now but still enjoyable reads, with lots of pointers to different aspects of London.
posted by paduasoy at 2:34 PM on April 13

Best answer: There is a YT channel called Eating with Tod wherein Tod tries a whole lot of tasty looking food all over Greater London. I recommend it for finding some ideas for street food, Sunday roasts and other restaurant experiences.
posted by biffa at 2:51 PM on April 13

Best answer: When I visit I usually stay in the Southwark area, which is IME relatively chill while still offering good access to the rest of the city.

The Tate Modern museum often has interesting special exhibits, and the building itself is well designed with some great views from the upper floors. Entry to the building and the permanent collection is free.

+1 to eating at Ottolenghi

Tea and scones at Gail's bakery. I like the branch near the Tate Modern.

Greenwich Park is pretty nice, plus the Maritime Museum and the walk along the Thames by the Cutty Sark.

Borough Market, and for something definitely off the tourist track try the Deptford Market area.

For shopping, I always enjoy a visit to Liberty for the unique ambience (but if you're looking to avoid crowded neighborhoods that is the wrong place to go).
posted by 4rtemis at 3:36 PM on April 13

Best answer: If you're after shopping and the West End doesn't appeal, Battersea Power Station is now a high-end shopping centre, but has preserved the structure and architecture that makes it one of the most striking buildings in London. And you can take the river bus ('Uber Boat') there, which is a fantastic way to experience the city. Not too crowded and not yet on the tourist trail.
posted by Hogshead at 4:57 PM on April 13

Best answer: Please, please, please do not miss Novelty Automation here. It is near the Holborn tube station and the John Soane Museum (also recommended). It is ”a collection of satirical home-made arcade machines” which you can play. There are around 20 of them, most of them made by national treasure and creative genius Tim Hunkin, an “ English engineer, cartoonist, writer, and artist”. Each machine takes 1 or 2 tokens to play. Tokens cost around $1 each when we were there recently. To play every machine your daughter will need 34 tokens and depending on how crowded it is, it will take about an hour and a half. Some of the machines work best with 2 players. It is unique, creative, and fun! My favorite place in London.
posted by LiverOdor at 10:58 PM on April 13 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I once spent a lovely afternoon just riding a ferry on Regents Canal, from Camden Market to Little Venice and back. Camden Market has a lot of shops and food options; Little Venice apparently also has some shops as well, but I didn't explore that area too much; I just stuck around the pier waiting for the return ferry. It stayed in port long enough for me to get tea from a cafe on the dock, though (and the barista gave me a free cupcake because she was getting ready to close up).

Some ferry lines let you also get a London Zoo package ticket, where you get off the ferry midway at the back end of London Zoo and use that back entrance. I just wanted to ride the ferry itself.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:14 AM on April 14

Best answer: https://www.reddit.com/r/uktravel/ has lots of really useful posters!
posted by low_horrible_immoral at 5:39 AM on April 14

Best answer: I’d stand by my past answer here

I still sometimes think about the Bach & Piazzolla (“Oblivion”!) concert I attended at St Martin in the Fields, and the affordable, hearty meal at the Café in the Crypt after, with apple crumble and warm custard sauce for dessert.

Feeding the parakeets in Hyde Park and visiting the Barbican were also highlights.
posted by eyeball at 1:00 AM on April 15

Response by poster: Thanks a lot, all your input is really appreciated. It's helped to create a map with a lot of interesting places that we'll do our best to navigate. Thanks again !
posted by nicolin at 1:01 AM on April 15

seconding southwark and southbank, unless your daughter managed to include it in her previous visit. the stretch from westminster bridge (across from parliament) to blackfriars will have lots of people, food and other stalls, and cultural options like the national theatre, royal festival hall, BFI, and the highly recommended Hayward Gallery. on the other side of blackfriar is the Tate Modern, Borough Market, Globe Theatre (well worth the admission for a play), and Southward Cathedral. plus you're just across the river from the cool stuff in the City, which might not have made your daughter's list on her previous visit; St. Dunstan in the East, the Mithraeum, the Guildhall with the outline where the amphitheater stood ...

if 'nice' restaurant means expensive, there's an Indian place unlike any you've ever gone to, in between Green Park and Harrod's, called Amaya. Sort of neauvelle Indian.
posted by troywestfield at 7:19 AM on April 17

Depending on the age of your daughter, I really really recommend the musical Six.

The lyrics are incredibly well written, the songs are catchy and fun, the costumes are fabulous and overall it gives a strong feminist message. We absolutely loved it and I can't recommend it enough.
posted by lioness at 10:28 PM on April 17