London parks, markets and museums
 

Hi, we'll have 2.5 days in London and I'm looking for feedback. We are a family of four, but teens will probably split off on their own so it will be me and DH for most of the time. We've already been to London and have done the things you'd expect: the Eye, the Globe, Big Ben, British Museum, Tower of London, etc. For this trip, we'd like to focus more on London's parks and markets, with a museum or two thrown in, and at a pretty relaxed pace. We're not into shopping, gourmet dining or guided tours -- would rather explore on our own.

With that info, what are your thoughts on this schedule?

Day 1: arrive early afternoon (after arriving in the UK a few days earlier, so no jet lag)
- London Wall by the Tower
- Churchill's War Rooms, St. James Park, National Gallery
- Abbey Road Studios (yes, I know it's the St. James Wood station)
- canal boat ride from Little Venice to Regents Park
- is this too much for ~7 hours?

Day 2
- Borough Market for breakfast
- Covent Garden
- maybe a pint at The Lamb and Flag?
- Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens
- maybe Buckingham Palace?

Day 3
- Victoria & Albert
- Natural History Museum
- a good indie coffee house
- what else?

Thanks for your feedback!

Not sure what you mean by london wall by the tower...that would take about 30 second to see...literally a piece of wall by Tower Hill station.

Right, we get that, but it isn't very often you get to see a section of a Roman wall that dates back to 200 AD. (We're a little nerdy)

Day 1 makes no sense. It goes from east London (I'm w/ jamikins - not sure if you actually mean the bits of wall near the Tower), to the Whithall area in the middle of town to the NW in St John's Wood and then to Little Venice. Plus you don't arrive in town til early afternoon

What day of the week is day 2? That determines if Borough Market works.

Buckingham Palace is just a 'walk by' and is quite close to St James's Park and the War Rooms so IF you want to see it, that is where it fits.

we were posting at the same time . . . IF you do want to see that bit of wall -- do it in the morning before walking across the river (or take the RV1 bus) to Borough market (if the day of the week works)

This is what I was looking for -- thanks, I'll rework things. We'll be in London starting on Wednesday, so I think it will work for Borough Market (lunch market only on Mondays and Tuesdays, right?).

Yes -- Wed/Thurs it is a full market

For seeing more of the wall, you could go to the Museum of London rather than one of the others--I would keep the V&A for sure, though.

Switch Hyde Park/Kensington to day 3, substitute Museum of London, with its chunk of wall and lots of fascinating things to breeze through, on day 2? I'm a fan of evensong at St. Paul's, if you're in that part of town then.

There will be indie coffee houses up by the V&A, too, or you can refresh yourself at the V&A's lovely cafe.

There is more of the wall at the Museum of London, as carolyn notes above, plus many other things to see there.

Not to add more things to your list, but have you seen the (don't get overly excited now!) VERY limited remains of the London ampitheatre underneath the Guildhall Art Gallery?

The V&A is fantastic and I'd just have tea and scones in the beautiful, gorgeous cafe, but to each their own. At least walk through it while you're there.

Ooohhh, I'm intrigued!

https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/thin...hitheatre.aspx

- Abbey Road Studios (yes, I know it's the St. James Wood station

It's St John's Wood.

Agree with looking at the wall by the museum of London...there is an actual walk down several streets with info boards explaining what you are seeing. Much more interesting than the bit by the tower.

And the bit by the museum of London is just a few blocks from guildhall.

If you visit the V&A around lunch time and don.t hit one of their cafes, there is a terrific café across the st/ Orsini,s.Mrs Orsini does all the baking and it is very very good.Excellent food too ! Open for breakfast lunch and dinner

Hi, Kandace.

WHITECROSS STREET MARKET (near London Wall)
On your day near the Museum of London/London Wall, I believe it was Jamikins (a Londoner) who recommended to me the Whitecross Street Market for a weekday lunch, and it was fantastic for me.

However, this is a place to pick up lunch and go sit in a park to eat, or I believe the Two Brewers Pub on Fortune Street will allow you to eat there if you buy drinks there. I took my lunch to Fortune Street Park and sat down to eat as the weather was nice that day.

The street market was extremely popular with the office workers at lunchtime. I had a hard time choosing, but decided on Indian food as that particular vendor had a really long line.

http://www.islington.gov.uk/services...et-market.aspx

BOROUGH MARKET & OLD OPERATING THEATER
On the day, you're near the Borough Market, if interested in 18-19th-early 20th century medicine, the Old Operating Theater is nearby. I found the museum fascinating, but there is a LOT to take in there. Really only recommend if very interested in history/medicine, as there's a great deal of reading to be done.

http://www.thegarret.org.uk

Have fun!

It seems quite a tiring itinerary to me.

ChgoGal - so glad you liked Whitecross Market! Great place for lunch!

you might like https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guildhall,_London and google "gog magog"

Another vote for the V&A cafe and the V&A itself

I didn't realize Whitecross Market was so close to Smithfield. Will have to visit. Glad for reminder.