indy_dad

We need to renew some passports while in London with grandparents in tow. One option is to let them sleep in and fetch them later. More efficiently, we could bring them along and leave them in a coffee shop / cafe while we attend to business (8:15 appointment on Tuesday) and then hit the ground running.

Any suggestions for places near the embassy?

Note: having them independently meet us somewhere later really isn't an option.

Thanks.

flanneruk

Grosvenor Square is close to a strip of more or less interchangeable (and interchangeably OK, but remember it's Mayfair, and that don't come cheap) cafes along North Audley St, just to its north.

We occasionally use Truc Vert as an off-Oxford St refuge. That's just us, though it has good reviews in places you'd trust, like The Times and Time Out. Google Map its postcode (W1K 6ZR), switch to streetview, then electronically stroll north up the W side of the street towards Oxford St. From memory, they all open between 7 and 8.

The strip includes a Starbucks. There's an almost complete dearth of suitable places S, W or E of Grosvenor Square.

29FEB

If they're interested in history, they may like stopping at the Pine Bar for tea or coffee,
just a stone's throw from U.S. Embassy.
http://www.millenniumhotels.co.uk/mi.../pine-bar.html

Many will remember this is where ex-Russian agent Alexander Litvinenko was poisoned with polonium in 2006.

ron

There is a Richoux Tea Room at 41a South Audley (corner of Adam's Row), just south of the embassy. Opens at 07:30.

Surfergirl

Ah, I remember doing the same thing years ago. There's a couple places nearby, but perhaps not open at the hour you will be there. Allans Pattiserie at 75 Duke street will be open and it's close by. Decent breakfast and coffee or tea.

indy_dad

Thanks all. I'll check out the recommendations. It may prove difficult to herd everyone over to that side of town at that hour, but we'll see how we feel.

lincasanova

I find hotel cafés and lobby sofas more comfortable for longer waits/stays.

indy_dad

In the end, I decided that they could use a sleep-in and we could take care of business more easily on our own.

Thanks for the suggestions though. The route we took from the Bond Street Tube station seemed to be void of anything in particular but it was good to know that there were some options if taking a slightly different path.

For anyone getting passports renewed, it wasn't that painful if you follow the directions about the forms and no electronics. We showed up about 15 minutes early. Once inside you are eventually called to submit your paperwork and then called back again after they have reviewed it. (I didn't realize they would take 2 calls). Took 75 minutes or so altogether.