lincasanova

i have been to london several times.. done the "major" sites , plus the War rooms, greenwich, shakespeare theater, the markets.. and am trying to think of something interesting off the beaten track...
any suggestions for a saturday ?
i am not very interested in going far away on a day trip way outside the city , but weather permitting.. i have heard about hampstead heath...any other alternatives?
and if it is raining, any good ideas besides a matinée?

flanneruk

Hampstead Heath is simply a large park 6 miles north of the centre, to the side of a villagey, but increasingly bland, suburb (that is, Hampstead Village looks OK but is being taken over by chain shops and restaurants) It has wide views over London, but London really looks pretty dull from a distance: virtually nowhere on the planet has as much going on, but hundreds of cities have more exciting skylines.

If you want just to look at the London skyline, walk along bits of the Thames path you've not been on before (look at the "Twickenham to the sea" link at www.thames-path.co.uk): our skylines's a LOT more exciting close up.

It's probably pointless steering you in any one other direction, as no-one can tell your likes and previous experience.

But for the best list of things many people haven't done, try http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...&start=150.

For listings of public talks and debates that day, try http://victorianresearch.org/lectures.html

And for full listings of all the day's walks, plays, special exhibitions, events and anything else, buy Time Out (available at most serious airports within a 3,000 mile radius, or buy it as soon as you get off the plane herer and read it on the way in)

m_kingdom2

I don't recommend shopping on Saturdays, weekdays are the only time to do shopping.

Hampstead Heath isn't anywhere near as impressive as Hyde Park.

What's so special about a Saturday? The City will be closed, so forget going there.

Go to a museum, or something like that if it rains. I'm struggling to recommend anything as you give no indication of your interests, London isn't just one street you know.

ben_haines_london

If you e mail me I can send you long notes I keep on disc of lesser known places in suburban and central London.

[email protected]

alice13

You don't say what time of year you will be there. But regardless, I believe you can now travel upstream by boat from central London - to Teddington, and maybe even Kingston upon Thames. There's Kew Gardens (if it's not midwinter) or Hampton Court. Of course you may already have visited these - it's difficult to know how inclusive "major" sites is.

It would take many, many v

alice13

You don't say what time of year you will be there. But regardless, I believe you can now travel upstream by boat from central London - to Teddington, and maybe even Kingston upon Thames. There's Kew Gardens (if it's not midwinter) or Hampton Court. Of course you may already have visited these - it's difficult to know how inclusive "major" sites is.

It would take many, many visits to see all that there is to see at the BM or the V&A.

Enjoy it whatever you decide!

flanneruk

MK2 sparks off what really is one of London's treats.

The City on Saturday is almost deserted. So walking through it, preferably with a decent walking handbook, (Secret London by Andrew Duncan is the easiest to get hold of) can be terrific. Its mixture of new buildings (one or two of which are outstanding), Roman street plan and the occasional medieval, and frequent Wren, church can be extraordinary. Combine it with the better known tourist things and eateries on the South Bank, just across the Millennium Bridge from St Paul's.

lincasanova

thanks so much.
the boat upstream sounds like relaxing fun, and i will try to get a copy of the book mentioned.

i will be in the city nov. 11-14 for a short convention, and will definitely consider some of the ideas thrown out for our only free day..saturday.

thank you all again.