Dorsaneo13

My husband is taking me to London for a few days in sept as part of my wedding and birthday present. He has given me the saturday to plan. Ive something planned for the night but have no idea what to do for the day.

I would ideally like to do something non touristy. we have done the touristy things a few years ago so if anyone has any suggestions it would be great.

Thanks

nytraveler

I'm not sure what you count as "touristy" or not - or what you saw several years ago. IMHO London has dozens of touristy things to do - and you may have done all of them - or may not consider them touristy.

Give us a clue what you like or don't.

Have you done a boat trip up or down the Thames to Greenwich or Hampton Court? Do you love gardens and have you seen Kew?

More info would help.

annhig

were your chosen day mon-friday, I'd have suggested a visit to the Temple area of london, just south of Fleet street, where many barristers have their chambers. There are beautiful gardens, a very traditional atmosphere, [gas, not electric lamps are used for outdoor lighting] and if you book in advance, it's possible to have lunch in Middle Temple Hall where Twelfth Night was performed for the first time.

it's not really the same on a Saturday, though, so instead of/as well as Kew, you might think about nearby Syon Park which has a lovely garden, but is little visited by tourists.

http://www.syonpark.co.uk/tour.asp

Christina

Go to the British Library and read a book.

adrienne

Anything that's of interest is something a tourist would do. Also something people who live locally would do. Non touristy things are what you normally do at home - cleaning, grocery shopping, errands.

Some sights where you might find fewer tourist and locals:

Highgate cemetery
Choose a neighborhood and just wander around
Soane Museum
Transport Museum
Bramah's Tea and Coffee Museum
Fan Museum
Little Venice Walk
Walk around trying to spot Blue Plaques
Take your favorite book set in London and stroll around looking for sights mentioned
Leighton House
Old Operating Theatre
Bletchley Park (although this might be popular now because of the TV series)

http://www.timeout.com/london/attrac...unsung-museums

http://www.walks.com/London_Walks_Ho...ult.aspx#12912

mr_go

Adrienne said it about right, I think. Anything that's interesting is something that a tourist would do (and is probably doing right now).

Go spend a few hours at a local pub. There are tons of them around that don't cater to the tourist trade, and it's a great way to soak up some local color. And local ale.

grrr

Non touristy activities for Saturday:
Grocery Shopping
Doing your laundry
Ironing
Cleaning the bathroom
Fill in tax forms
Visit in-Laws

Ackislander

Actually, I love to visit the different supermarket chains in the UK and in the past never missed a Woolworths.

If you have not been to Sir John Soane's house or the Wallace Collection, they are musts and as popular, ESP the latter, with locals as with tourists.

The Temple suggestion for a weekday is wonderful. We were once peeking in a solicitor's window and saw the tying up bundles of papers in genuine red tape!

immimi

Take a stroll on Hampstead Heath then wander through
Hampstead village and stop for a pub lunch.

PatrickLondon

Incidentally, the Bramah Tea and Coffee Museum closed some years ago with no sign of when it's reopening.

How about Greenwich, going one way by boat and the otber way with the DLR via Canary Wharf? That way you could see everything Greenwich has to offer, stop off at Mudchute City Farm for a bit of a walk, and maybe the Museum of Docklands (or in the reverse order).
http://www.visitgreenwich.org.uk/
http://www.mudchute.org/
http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/Docklands/

BigAleinstein

Non touristy activities for Saturday:
Grocery Shopping
Doing your laundry
Ironing
Cleaning the bathroom
Fill in tax forms
Visit in-Laws
_________
You are making a first timer's mistake and suggesting too many things to do. You must have priorities.

grrr

Underhill

Visit the London Silver Vaults.

Avalon2

Go to Borough MArket and have lunch with one of the vendirs booths. then walk oc=ve to Southbank and take the boat to Greenwich or Dockland there is a wonderful mariner s museum there

MmePerdu

Walk along the Thames to Greenwich and the Thames Barrier. 5 miles or 11 miles from Tower Bridge, depending on whether you choose the north bank or the south bank path.

http://walklondon.org.uk/section.asp?section=52

carolyn

Have afternoon tea.

We entered Hampstead Heath at the town side, walked to and through Kenwood House, exited at the other side of the Heath, and walked around the road to have a late lunch at the Spaniard's Inn. It was a lovely day.

annhig

We were once peeking in a solicitor's window and saw the tying up bundles of papers in genuine red tape!>>

would you like me to send you some, Ackislander? it seems to litter my house, getting into the most unusual places, a bit like confetti!

what do americans tie up their briefs with?

MmePerdu

Usually elastic around one's waist.

BigAleinstein

what do americans tie up their briefs with?

A staple?

I have not done one in a thousand years but briefs filed with the court used to be put in what was called a blue back. It was a thick piece of paper slightly larger than 8 1/2 x 10 sheet of paper with a lip at the top that folded over in which the legal paper was placed and stapled.

cathies

Grrr you read my mind. To the OP, you are a tourist in London, anything you do will be touristy, it's just a matter of degrees.