Greetings,

I will be in London, England for a week+. While searching for things to do, I have twice run across the suggestion to allow time for random wandering.

I rather like that idea, but thought I'd see if anyone had suggestions for areas to randomly wander in (so I guess that makes it slightly less random, but nevertheless...).

I've noticed in other posts that you like a bit of information about me to be able to better help.

I like eclectic, funky, old or used, new and innovative (in other words nothing too commercial), outdoorsy, and off-the-beaten-path, but still mostly safe (for a woman walking about on her own). The adjectives above describe the type of shopping and sight-seeing I like to do.

I like to eat (more than is good for me) and I'm interested in both good pubs and a place to try afternoon tea. My musical tastes lean towards rock n roll, blues and contemporary jazz.

There! Good enough?

I appreciate your suggestions!

ttt

I've been to London twice. The first time, I was young, and during the days, I was on my own. I took too many chances perhaps... traveled the metro all over the place. Now, of course, I know much wiser it is for a woman to limit the areas she is willing to "wander" into.
So how to have a little adventure without compromising your safety? Pick a busy, wonderful place you're already planning on going (i.e., Trafalgar Square, Picadilly Circus, it doesn't really matter where) and just plan on spending more time there than you normally would.
Say, if you'd normally go an hour, stay an afternoon; if you'd normally stay a half day, make it all day. Explore the area thoroughly, from the inside outward. Stop to notice everything. When you're finished doing the "tourist" thing, go only slightly outward of the main area, where it is still busy but not so touristy. Sit down at a local pub, really sit down, eat some chow, and talk to the people there. (Be careful though, not to imbide too much and already be planning your quick exit if necessary). But otherwise, really sit and get to know the people. Ask the waitress what she would eat. Strike up a conversation with anyone interesting, and sit and just really listen. That's always been my favorite part of any trip, anway... getting the local feel by mingling with the locals.

yuo might like Notting Hill and portobello Rd.

Camden Passgae would probably appeal - it's in Islington not Camden.

Some of the villages may appeal - Kew, Strand on the green Wimbledon Village etc.

Blimey Suzanne - it's London not Basra!

London is safe - apart from places you wouldn't have any interest in going to anyway.

Ah. Excellent ideas. Thank you very much
for the suggestions.

I do like talking to folks, so Suzanne's final suggestion really appeals. Of course, I would talk to people wherever anyway, as long as they don't look like they'd rather I fell face first into my shepherd's pie.

The last time I was in London I had a Frommer book of walking tours and enjoyed it a lot. Especially the one of Bloomsbury. I think it was called London Walking Tours or something like that. What was nice is that It mentioned things that were not readily apparent.

i can think of no better for the novice London tourist to ramble on is the South Bank Walk from Parliament area (opposite it) to the New Tate Modern art gallery - all along the Thames on a nice day or weekend lots of walkers, roller blades, skateboarders, plenty of benches for picnicking with a view that is ever changing. A market of sorts along the way.

Following PalenQ's advice and add a trip to the Coffee House Museum and maybe even jump on board a Thames riverboat and head down to Greenwich.

LJ - please enlighten me on the Coffee House Museum. I take this walk often when in London and am curious about the museum you mention. Thanks.

I was referring to the Bramah Coffee and Tea Museum (1 Maguire St.). It is quirky but very enlightening on the role that coffee houses played in London history (one for every guild/vocation). Housed in an old warehouse with some interesting silver and ceramics and a tea room open to all. Not a bad bunfest as I recall.

One thing I like to do is to pick a tube station I've never been to (maybe passed through but never exited). Get off and wander for several hours (with map in hand). I've had some of my best and most interesting walks that way.

You might enjoy this: The Perfect London Walk (Paperback) by Roger Ebert and Daniel Curley. We spent an entire day following the book - it was a great day - we left right after breakfast and were back in the hotel around 6. Here's a link to the tale of a fellow who managed to get lost while following it but we didn't. http://www.flickr.com/photos/andyi/sets/48630/

Another book of walks "Six Walks in the City of London" (1989) by Belinda Morse.

Audere, you've hit one of my buttons, so I must respond. The personal safety issue! Both TraLen and Suzanne mention the need for personal safety as a "woman alone". You reply: London is not Basra, relax and don't worry.

Yes, London is safe. Safer than many large cities. Hey, they roll up the sidewalks at 8 PM, and none of the bobbies carry guns (unlike America). But a woman alone is more vulnerable to danger, and that's a fact of life.

I've been to England many times, and most of the time, I've felt pretty safe. But I did get lost once on Hampstead Heath, and that was a little scary. Once, I got lost in Chester, trying to find my way back to the train station, and I didn't enjoy the attention I got from some of the drunken locals, out for their Saturday night bar-hopping.

I just had this conversation with a male friend of mine (discussing danger while wandering in Portland) who also refuses to see how women have to be concerned with their personal safety. (I'm not keen on wandering through the parks, alone, here, either!). So, your comment really struck a nerve.

When you're new to a place, it's hard to know if it's safe or not. Tourists have these concerns, and so do most women who are on their own. I've been both.

Wander and have fun - but do be cautious even in heavily populated areas! Don't forget you are in a large city (not sure if you live in one or not). A few years ago, I took my then teenaged sister to London for a couple of weeks, and we were near Picadilly Circus at around 2 am - a very large group of overly aggressive young men surrounded us and grabbing at us, and I don't like to think of what may have happened if we hadn't managed to jump in a cab while another group was emerging. Yes, it was brightly lit, and several other people not in the group were around, but it is a city - many many people will see something happen and just look the other way. We are from a fairly big city ourselves, and are used to exercising caution, but still managed to get way-laid...

Again, thank you all.

I like the walking tour book suggestions. That photographic tale of lostness was wonderful.

I do hope to be careful and appreciate the need for caution. It's just nice to know if certain areas are known for not being terribly friendly; (I would SO like not to be surrounded by a rowdy group of men, thank you very much).

I have decided to visit the London Zoo one day. I'm thinking that area won't be as bad as, say, trying to walk around the Miami Metro Zoo area, for instance. I notice there are a few things I can walk to from it (if I can still walk afterwards) that seem interesting.

You've all been so kind to take the time to answer with your suggestions. It seems that my biggest problem, now, is to decide how to limit my wanderings!

Look up the London Walks (www.walks.com). They offer a large number of options and are reasonably priced. Plus it's a safe way to see new areas and spend time with other people.

I like the area of Elystan Street/Cale Street (between King's Road and Fulham Road); it has a kind of 'village feel' to it, with small food shops and other shops and restaurants. Jane Asher's cake shop is there, a small children's shop and others.

But I did get lost once on Hampstead Heath, and that was a little scary>>>>

Believe me, for a woman there is probably no where as safe as Hampstead Heath. Well maybe Old Compton St.

If you are going to London Zoo, you could first go to Little Venice and walk along the canal.

You could also explore legal London
see http://www.fellwalk.co.uk/londonwalk1.htm#walk3