SashaZ

I'm planning my trip to London with the idea that it is going to rain everyday (I've had bad luck in Paris). It's not a problem since I love museums and luckily London has lots of them. Spending hours at museums and the theatre in the evening will make me very happy. However, if I do have a nice, bright, sunny day, what would be a nice outdoorsy way to spend it? Maybe a stroll in a park or a neighborhood, lunch at an outdoor cafe, open air bus ride? What is YOUR favorite thing to do?<BR><BR>Regarding outdoor cafes.. has anyone been to the ones at Somerset House (someone mentioned them on a earlier post). I'll be in London early April and since I will be alone, eating at outdoor cafes would be great for people watching. In Paris and Rome we were able to eat outside because of those heated lamps (or whatever you call them).. is that true of London also? <BR><BR>thanks so much for your help...

Jacqui

I really like walking along the South Bank of the Thames - you can do it most of the way between Tower Bridge &amp; The London Eye at the Embankment (slight detour close to London Bridge). If the weather takes a turn for the worse, you can always pop into the Tate Modern for a while en route.<BR><BR>On a nice day, one of my favourite places to go is St Katherine's Dock. It is a very pretty Marina, close to Tower Bridge &amp; The Tower of London. Alas, particularly at weekends, it can get quite crowded - but even so when I am there I forget that I am in the middle of London.<BR><BR>For real people watching opportunities, visit St Christopher's Place just off Oxford Street close to Selfridges. IMHO it has a real mediterranean feel to it.<BR><BR>Good luck with the weather and I hope you enjoy your visit.

obxgirl

How about Kew Gardens or Richmond Park?<BR>

PatrickLondon

Greenwich? Lovely park to walk in, museums and shops, arts and crafts market on Sunday, plus a combination trip of boat one way and DLR train via Canary Wharf the other - plenty of things to do for both rainy and sunny weather.<BR><BR>Hampstead Heath.<BR><BR>You can walk for several miles through the Royal Parks, with museums attached (Kensington Palace, Serpentine Art Gallery if it's open then, Cabinet War Rooms), plus everything else in the way of shops round the edges.

Syrin

I'll second the vote for Kew Gardens, even if it's a bit rainy. The conservatories are gorgeous--architectually interesting as well as being filled with plants from all over the world. <BR><BR>cheers,<BR>syrin

SashaZ

I haven't read much about Kew Gardens or Richmond Park so I don't know if its a short tube ride or long walk from where I'm staying (Bloomsbury). But I'll certainly open my guidebooks again and will do a little research. <BR><BR>Oh and I never heard of St. Christopher's Place - thank you!<BR><BR>Thanks both of you for your

SashaZ

oops mean't to say thank you all for your suggestions!<BR><BR>Now I have to hope for a nice day...last three times in Paris - rain every day.<BR><BR>

tammylouky

Here's another vote for taking a stroll through London parks. A visit to London just isn't the same if I don't take a walk through the parks.

JudyC

How about walking in the City? The Square Mile has thousand years history: old churches and architecture, some medieval allys,old pubs,pretty little squares. The are stories about almost every street,every buildings.

GreenDragon

A picnic lunch in Hyde Park or along the Thames would be great. People watching at its very best! There is also horseback riding in Hyde Park, I believe. A lunch cruise on the Thames is nice... I took one that brought me to Windsor castle, a very nice afternoon!<BR><BR><BR><BR>

Merseyheart

Since you like the museums and theatre, I hope you plan to see the Theatre Museum. It's at Covent Garden. St. James Park is my favorite park (right in the middle of things), and Regents' park is nice as well. If you want a nice view of the city, try Parliament Hill on Hampstead Heath. Take the tube to Belsize Park, and ask for directions to the east heath.

janis

Big vote for Hampstead Heath or Greenwich. Both are reachable by tube.<BR><BR>Other good places to eat and people watch are:<BR><BR>The Great Court of the British Museum. Two cafes and a restaurant in this AMAZING space (the largest covered piazza in Europe)<BR><BR>Any place in Covent Garden - MANY to choose from.<BR><BR>The restaurant in the Sainsbury Wing of the National Gallery - it is up one flight of stairs and has good views of Trafalgar Square.<BR><BR>

nigel

I vote for Hyde Park if it is a nice day, or Kew Gardens if it is a nice day or even if it is dull/drizzly. You have to pay to get in the latter, but it is worth it. Near to the Tube station is a piazza of shops, cafes which is nice to visit after a visit to the gardens. Hampstead Heath is good too. <BR>Why not try Dulwich Picture Gallery? Take the 176 to Dulwich Library and walk through the park. The 12 goes to the Library too. It's a lovely park about 6 miles out of the city centre, with a very good gallery nearby. It's not something a lot of tourists do, so if you like art and open spaces, and it's a nice day, go for it!

andy

SashaZ--<BR><BR>When we were in London, ( in a Sept visit)--the oudoor cafes DID use those outdoor space heaters that you are talking about....This was a couple of years ago, and I had never seen them before---<BR><BR>Now, they are all over the USA--<BR><BR>SO , go, enjoy the outdoor scene and have a cup of tea for me!

pakitty

Walk in any of the London parks. Kew Gardens is a train ride away but definitely worth it. There are lots of outdoor cafes for a snack, meal or drink...I remember one on the edge of a lake in Hyde Park. <BR>It can be windy in London and my umbrella kept blowing inside out. My friend had one designed for wind and didn't have a problem.

SashaZ

Thank you all for your great suggestions. I think that maybe now I need two nice sunny days... I like the idea of exploring the city. Old churches, pretty square, medieval alleys. That sounds just perfect. Does anyone know what streets not to miss in the city- especially the old alleys? <BR><BR>I also like the idea of walking in a park - London has so many - how to choose?!! But Kensington Gardens sounds like the one, maybe a stop at the Orangery and a walk through Nottingham. On my map (I believe its the Middlemarch one)it looks like a doable walk. Again, any favorite streets I shouldn't miss?<BR><BR>Again thank you all for great information. The Great Court of the British Museum with 2 cafes and a restaurant! who knew!

kaudrey

I'd vote for a Beefeater tour at the Tower of London. It was a lot of fun and very informative, and they only do the tours when it is not raining.

uhoh_busted

We had some stunningly gorgeous weather in London last April. We also had a book of &quot;Literary Walks of London&quot; and used it for a wonderful walk through Chelsea one morning. Another day we took a bus to the far end of Hyde Park and walked all the way through...past the Serpintine, stopping at various spots to sit in the sun and watch people enjoying the sunny afternoon.

DiAblo

I'll throw my t'pence in for Hampton Court Palace, 30 min. or less by train from Central London (out of Waterloo Station, I think...doesn't matter any one can tell you, any guidbook as well.) I was there on a rainy day and it was beautiful. Afterwards walked up to the Prince of Wales pub for great cod almighty and a very nice pint (I got directions from a warder).

JudyC

For churches in the City,check: Cityoflondonchurches.com,the site offers map and histories of each church.<BR><BR>For self-guided off beaten path walks, Mr Haines has several interesting walks on:www.indiana.edu/~victoria/haineswalks.html/.<BR><BR>Some of the old alleys in the City :North of Fleet Street-Bell yard,Carey Street(where Thomas More status stands, Seven Stars Pub,1602),the alleys around Gough Square,Johnson's house located. South of Fleet Street: All the courts around Temple,including Middle Temple Garden. The alleys south of Carter Lane-Apothlary,Friars Lane,Carter Court.<BR>North of Ludgate: Amen Court,Stationer's Hall Court,including the Garden.