What to do in London?
November 17, 2006 1:35 AM Subscribe
LondonFilter: I and a friend are going to this conference today, and will have free time tonight after 9, after 6 Saturday, and Sunday morning until noon. What to do in London for me and my travel-mate? Particularities inside.
We'll be busy with the conference most of Saturday as well. My friend S who is coming too is an observant Muslim so no boozin', but loves to have a good time too! We're incredibly goofy people up for anything: good food, historicality, oddnesses, what have you. I seem to have usefully forgotten my camera so photography is out, and I don't have eighty bazillion quid to spend. Stuff easy to get to is especially welcome. Oh, and we don't have particularly swanky clothes with us either.
We'll be busy with the conference most of Saturday as well. My friend S who is coming too is an observant Muslim so no boozin', but loves to have a good time too! We're incredibly goofy people up for anything: good food, historicality, oddnesses, what have you. I seem to have usefully forgotten my camera so photography is out, and I don't have eighty bazillion quid to spend. Stuff easy to get to is especially welcome. Oh, and we don't have particularly swanky clothes with us either.
I frequently (as a temporary Londoner who is always looking for fun/new/cheap things to try) use this website, because it's a list of the free things going on, today and for the rest of the week, in central London.
Some of it is really worth a look. Otherwise you could check out www.timeout.com/london which honestly is one of the best websites I've ever used. Extreme abundance of excitements.
posted by angryjellybean at 2:02 AM on November 17, 2006
Some of it is really worth a look. Otherwise you could check out www.timeout.com/london which honestly is one of the best websites I've ever used. Extreme abundance of excitements.
posted by angryjellybean at 2:02 AM on November 17, 2006
Uh, sorry, I forgot the http:// in that second link. Here.
posted by angryjellybean at 2:03 AM on November 17, 2006
posted by angryjellybean at 2:03 AM on November 17, 2006
You have have have to go on the slide at the Tate. It's scariest from level 4. And you really do need the protective gear.
The basement of the Science museum in South Ken is also great for the curious kid in you (free - there's no entrance fee to get into museums as of a few years ago).
The British Museum in Russell Square is fascinating - I often pop in at lunchtimes.
posted by Well that's a lie at 3:14 AM on November 17, 2006
The basement of the Science museum in South Ken is also great for the curious kid in you (free - there's no entrance fee to get into museums as of a few years ago).
The British Museum in Russell Square is fascinating - I often pop in at lunchtimes.
posted by Well that's a lie at 3:14 AM on November 17, 2006
Best answer: It would help to know where you are from, for an idea of what might strike you as interesting or different. Also for how the jet-lag will be getting to you. If you want to be at your best in the conference Saturday, I would suggest not doing too much Friday night, unless you have come in from a closely aligned time zone. Maybe go to Leicester Square as the centre of plenty of evening action and just tourist about a bit, walking to Covent Garden.
Saturday night you can presumably plan out for yourself with the help of other people at the conference and websites like angryjellybean's links.
I would get up as early as I could on Sunday morning (you can sleep on the trip home) and just walk until attractions open. Maybe start at Parliament Square, Westminster, walk through the bottom of St James Park (glimpse of Buckingham Palace) to Trafalgar Square, cross the river Thames and head East, recrossing towards St Paul's Cathedral to wander around the City of London (you know that is tiny, don't you?) Or hop a sightseeing bus when they start. Or plan a walk through the parks, with statues and monuments etc.
London's museums are world-class, and the main ones seem to open at 10 on Sundays (but check!) Hard to pick a favourite, but consider the Science Museum which is fascinating, and has an excellent shop for Christmas presents (and is close to another couple of amazing places if you are into speed-dating museums). Or the amazing castle, the Tower of London. For a list of your choices, try the London Tourist site or for details of even more Britain Express
If you can stay until after 12 on Sunday morning you need to decide on whether any of the world-famous shops are unmissable -- Harrods, Hamley's toyshop, Fortnum and Mason food, or for more boutiques and market-type stalls, Covent Garden, or you may like the second-hand (and new) books of Charing Cross Road (10p to £10,000).
Central London is small and most distances very walkable. The Tube makes navigation easy, but buses are more fun, and maps are online.
posted by Idcoytco at 4:10 AM on November 17, 2006
Saturday night you can presumably plan out for yourself with the help of other people at the conference and websites like angryjellybean's links.
I would get up as early as I could on Sunday morning (you can sleep on the trip home) and just walk until attractions open. Maybe start at Parliament Square, Westminster, walk through the bottom of St James Park (glimpse of Buckingham Palace) to Trafalgar Square, cross the river Thames and head East, recrossing towards St Paul's Cathedral to wander around the City of London (you know that is tiny, don't you?) Or hop a sightseeing bus when they start. Or plan a walk through the parks, with statues and monuments etc.
London's museums are world-class, and the main ones seem to open at 10 on Sundays (but check!) Hard to pick a favourite, but consider the Science Museum which is fascinating, and has an excellent shop for Christmas presents (and is close to another couple of amazing places if you are into speed-dating museums). Or the amazing castle, the Tower of London. For a list of your choices, try the London Tourist site or for details of even more Britain Express
If you can stay until after 12 on Sunday morning you need to decide on whether any of the world-famous shops are unmissable -- Harrods, Hamley's toyshop, Fortnum and Mason food, or for more boutiques and market-type stalls, Covent Garden, or you may like the second-hand (and new) books of Charing Cross Road (10p to £10,000).
Central London is small and most distances very walkable. The Tube makes navigation easy, but buses are more fun, and maps are online.
posted by Idcoytco at 4:10 AM on November 17, 2006
On Saturday night definitely take a walking tour with London Walks. I took three of these walking tours whilst in London this year, and they were so much fun. There were people of all walks of life and ages on the tours. I met 30-something pilots, 20-something soccer players, 50-something professors, etc. The guides are incredibly knowledgeable, witty, and entertaining. (You can't beat the price either.)
I took a couple pub walks and a walk called, Old West Minster by Gaslight. It's not necessary to drink on the Pub Walks. There is tons of history crammed into the walks--they usually last around 3 hours. Have fun in London.
posted by LoriFLA at 4:18 AM on November 17, 2006
I took a couple pub walks and a walk called, Old West Minster by Gaslight. It's not necessary to drink on the Pub Walks. There is tons of history crammed into the walks--they usually last around 3 hours. Have fun in London.
posted by LoriFLA at 4:18 AM on November 17, 2006
The British Museum (worth it just to see what they've done with the domed roof inside).
The National Portrait Gallery.
Mildred's is a really nice vegetarian eatery (map).
posted by xpermanentx at 4:27 AM on November 17, 2006
The National Portrait Gallery.
Mildred's is a really nice vegetarian eatery (map).
posted by xpermanentx at 4:27 AM on November 17, 2006
Speaker's Corner, in Hyde Park near Marble Arch, is well worth checking out on Sunday morning, if the weather's ok.
posted by Flashman at 5:19 AM on November 17, 2006
posted by Flashman at 5:19 AM on November 17, 2006
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posted by By The Grace of God at 1:41 AM on November 17, 2006