London for the repeat visitor
May 2, 2008 3:05 PM Subscribe
What should I absolutely see/do in London at the end of next week?
I have a conference in London next week. I'm free from Thursday evening through Saturday morning. I've been to London a few times and have hit most of the travel book sites - Museums, London Eye, Tower, Soho, Highgate, Camden, Portobello, ... what should I do/see as an alternative? I like modern/contemporary art, live music (mostly of the snappy, indie rock variety), eating good food, architecture and design, that sort of thing. I'm not much of a theater person. I'd be interested in specific happenings or general things that a regular tourist might not know about.
I have a conference in London next week. I'm free from Thursday evening through Saturday morning. I've been to London a few times and have hit most of the travel book sites - Museums, London Eye, Tower, Soho, Highgate, Camden, Portobello, ... what should I do/see as an alternative? I like modern/contemporary art, live music (mostly of the snappy, indie rock variety), eating good food, architecture and design, that sort of thing. I'm not much of a theater person. I'd be interested in specific happenings or general things that a regular tourist might not know about.
Saturday morning - Borough (pronounced "buh-ruh", not "borrow") Market. Especially the cheeses and the chorizo sandwiches.
posted by randomstriker at 5:08 PM on May 2, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by randomstriker at 5:08 PM on May 2, 2008 [1 favorite]
get a Time Out and check their Around Town section. they tend to list things that even locals will participate in, including festivals, street fairs, etc.. personally, I would pick a never-visited neighborhood and explore with an A-Z.
otherwise, to be more specific, Kew Gardens is a sight that I love, but rarely get to. depends on how you feel about plants, though.
posted by dropkick queen at 5:15 PM on May 2, 2008
otherwise, to be more specific, Kew Gardens is a sight that I love, but rarely get to. depends on how you feel about plants, though.
posted by dropkick queen at 5:15 PM on May 2, 2008
You said you're not much of a theater person- do you mean the song and dance Phantom of the Opera kind of theater, or stage plays? If you've got nothing against the latter, Shakespeare's Globe (near the Tate Modern, which you should go to if you haven't yet) puts on his plays and you can stand with the crowd for 5 pounds. When I was last there, I saw The Merchant of Venice and at the end the crowd of (mostly young) people cheered and clapped like it was the end of a rock concert. This is FUN theater.
But then, if you're just not into this kind of theater at all, please ignore me.
posted by twirlypen at 5:27 PM on May 2, 2008 [1 favorite]
But then, if you're just not into this kind of theater at all, please ignore me.
posted by twirlypen at 5:27 PM on May 2, 2008 [1 favorite]
If you're into this sorta thing, head out to Golders Green and check out the Golders Green crematorium. Among the "residents" there are Peter Sellers (and family), Keith Moon and Marc Bolan.
It's also one of the most peaceful places I've ever encountered in London. Depending on when you go, you might be lucky enough to watch an ash scattering or two. :-)
posted by arishaun at 5:31 PM on May 2, 2008
It's also one of the most peaceful places I've ever encountered in London. Depending on when you go, you might be lucky enough to watch an ash scattering or two. :-)
posted by arishaun at 5:31 PM on May 2, 2008
Ladyfest? The Friday gig at the Underworld looks particularly good to me (but I'm going to be rocking out in Camber Sands instead).
posted by featherboa at 3:09 AM on May 3, 2008
posted by featherboa at 3:09 AM on May 3, 2008
head out to Golders Green
Hampstead Heath is nearby, with a great view of the city.
I love Kew Gardens. It takes time to get there, though.
Time Out music listings
posted by lukemeister at 8:38 AM on May 3, 2008
Hampstead Heath is nearby, with a great view of the city.
I love Kew Gardens. It takes time to get there, though.
Time Out music listings
posted by lukemeister at 8:38 AM on May 3, 2008
Take the Greenwich Foot Tunnel under the Thames to Greenwich and then walk up to the Royal Observatory.
posted by forallmankind at 10:51 AM on May 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by forallmankind at 10:51 AM on May 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
At the Royal Observatory, you can have someone take the obligatory picture of you with a foot in each hemisphere.
posted by lukemeister at 11:57 AM on May 3, 2008
posted by lukemeister at 11:57 AM on May 3, 2008
If you're coming next weekend then you could check out ladyfest.
posted by cincinnatus c at 7:04 PM on May 3, 2008
posted by cincinnatus c at 7:04 PM on May 3, 2008
A little off the beaten track, but how about The Horniman museum and (not too far from it) Dulwich Picture Gallery?
posted by Dub at 9:08 AM on May 4, 2008
posted by Dub at 9:08 AM on May 4, 2008
Wolfie,
I recently moved here from San Francisco. I've also done most of the touristy stuff before and have begun exploring the less-trafficked london. Still, the London Walks idea is a good one since you can pick and choose from it the types of things that interest you.
In terms of art and galleries, my wife and I recently did an East End Gallery tour. Mostly these are the galleries along Vyner street in Bethnal Green and some others in the area. You could also have lunch or dinner at Bistrotheque while you're there, so far one of my favorite restaurants in London.
There's an equivalent (sort of) West End gallery tour whose highlight included for me the gallery in Haunch of Venison Yard. There's also the two White Cube galleries, one in Hoxton square, interesting in itself, and the other near Picaddily. Very few tourists at either of these surprisingly.
If you want to see another part of London that is also artsy, after Hoxton square take a walk down brick lane. You can end with a drink at a beautiful bar - Beach Blanket Babylon.
Among the "regular" museums my favorite so far has been the Victoria and Albert. Have you been there? Or the Hunterian museum in Bloomsbury which is creepy cool and also off the tourist maps for some reason...
Anyways, lots and lots and lots to explore in London. Feel free to mefimail for any more details on the above.
posted by vacapinta at 11:12 AM on May 4, 2008
I recently moved here from San Francisco. I've also done most of the touristy stuff before and have begun exploring the less-trafficked london. Still, the London Walks idea is a good one since you can pick and choose from it the types of things that interest you.
In terms of art and galleries, my wife and I recently did an East End Gallery tour. Mostly these are the galleries along Vyner street in Bethnal Green and some others in the area. You could also have lunch or dinner at Bistrotheque while you're there, so far one of my favorite restaurants in London.
There's an equivalent (sort of) West End gallery tour whose highlight included for me the gallery in Haunch of Venison Yard. There's also the two White Cube galleries, one in Hoxton square, interesting in itself, and the other near Picaddily. Very few tourists at either of these surprisingly.
If you want to see another part of London that is also artsy, after Hoxton square take a walk down brick lane. You can end with a drink at a beautiful bar - Beach Blanket Babylon.
Among the "regular" museums my favorite so far has been the Victoria and Albert. Have you been there? Or the Hunterian museum in Bloomsbury which is creepy cool and also off the tourist maps for some reason...
Anyways, lots and lots and lots to explore in London. Feel free to mefimail for any more details on the above.
posted by vacapinta at 11:12 AM on May 4, 2008
I meant to add: also overlooked by tourists is the Barbican. Regardless of whats playing there I find the whole place impressive. The interiors are like walking into one of the sets of 2001.
posted by vacapinta at 2:55 PM on May 4, 2008
posted by vacapinta at 2:55 PM on May 4, 2008
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I've done the Jack the Ripper Walk - go on a night that Donald Rumbelow is guiding if you possibly can.
I've also done Ghosts of the Old City.
Loved them both. Highly recommended. You can check their website to see what's on the nights/days that you're free.
posted by johnvaljohn at 3:30 PM on May 2, 2008