Weekends in London

It might depend on the weather to some extent, but I rather think those locals who would be going on a cultural visit would be doing it on a Sunday rather than a Saturday, if anything, but that the difference isn't likely to be that discernible.

I don't think either place gets outrageously crowded anyway. Both are rather large, so even if there are lots of visitors, they spread out among the grounds (HCP) or the galleries (V&A).

I agree. I wouldn't worry much about it unless there's a special event going on at either place.

Your other thread was about Windsor - which is an entirely different matter. At Windsor, avoid weekends because one has to queue for the State rooms, for the Doll's House, etc. The queues can be quite long.

But Hampton Court can swallow up crowds. And the V&A - on a busy weekend the biggest problem is getting into one of the cafes.

So while a weekday will likely be less busy at both places, neither will be overwhelmed on a Saturday morning.

If you chose the V&A skip the cafes inside and cross the road to Orsini, a delightful Italisn place with excellent pastries, pastas and cheap vino!

One may not wish to eat at the V&A cafe, but please do stop by for a look - it is absolutely beautiful: 3 dining rooms designed by Morris, Gamble and Poynter. You can see the photo of one of them here: http://www.vam.ac.uk/futureplan/completed/cafe/index.html

Oh - I really like eating in the V&A. Either inside the cafes which as yk says, are beautiful and have good food. Or on nice days in the open air courtyard around the fountains.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful replies.

Janisj, yes it was the comment on Windsor that got me started to worry about the other venues as well for the weekend.

There is so much to do in London and so little time.

On a side note, how is Regent's Park on a weekend? I heard it is quite pretty in the summer with the roses. I also read that it is nice to do the V&A on a Friday night when it is open late but not all the galleries are open then--not that you could get to all of them in one day anyway--it looks huge.

"how is Regent's Park on a weekend?"

Any of the parks would be fine on a weekend. Regents Park is quite large. Queen Mary's Rose Garden is absolutely wonderful. The scents of those hundreds of roses can sweep you away. Maybe the zoo would be crowded - but I'd avoid the zoo anyway.

There is also an open air theatre in Regents Park - you can book ahead if Shakespeare in the Park sounds like something you'd enjoy.

If you are into gardens - also consider a visit to Kew Gardens. It is on the District tube line and an easy 1/2 day trip. Tube one way and boat back (you can also take a boat back into London from Hampton Court Palace)

The V&A is indeed huge, and it's just got bit huger, having re-opened some re-organised galleries and brought out a lot of stuff from storage:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2009/nov/30/victoria-and-albert-museum-galleries

http://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/periods_styles/medieval/new_med_ren_galleries/

For the V&A, I will have to select the galleries that I am most interested in and just focus on those. I heard the British galleries are exceptional.

Besides Orsini, are there other good restaurants for a dinner near the V&A?

How about a good lunch place near Regents Park?

How about good restaurants in general that people like to go to often?

Everyone has so much knowledge to share, it is great!

for the V&A, also check its website and see what docent-guided tours (free) are offered on the day of your visit and at what times. I took 2 tours on my visit and both were fantastic. Actually, I was only planning to take the AM "Highlights tour", it was really great, and I found out the docent was scheduled to give an afternoon "British galleries tour", so I stuck around for that as well.

The costume & theatre galleries have just opened up this past Spring - if you're into that.

Anyone have any suggestions for good restaurants whether it is Kensington or another part of town?