Day out in London > suggestions?

[Howardh]

Having a day off on Wednesday. Arrive 2pm-ish and return @ 8pm. Main part is to walk the Embankment and do some videos of the HoP and Big Ben for dad, and I want an hour in de Hems Dutch pub. That leaves 2 - 3 hrs to kill. I'm looking for something only the locals know about to do...I've done the sights, museums, galleries, looking for something a bit different. Maybe a rooftop bar?
is there a central London swimming pool? Open air (but heated, obvs)? Other ideas?
**heritage bus ride sounds appealing, but do they still run them? the interweb comes up with differing advice**

 

[bb21]

Heritage bus still runs on the 15 every 15 minutes.

See timetable here, towards the bottom.

 

[anti-pacer]

The Oasis Centre near Covent Garden has an open air pool. It's on Endell Street, WC2.

You could always walk by the Regents Canal along any of its length. Little Venice near Warwick Avenue tube is quite nice, as is the stretch at the top of Regents Park.

Other suggestions. If you fancy something different, Brixton Market is an experience. Full of exotic fare and definitely worth a look. Maybe a walk up Parliament Hill near Camden. It's not that big but offers fine, free views over London.

 

[sk688]

Camden Market's pretty fun

Kew Gardens and Hampstead Heath could be nice

Ripley's Believe it or Not near Piccadilly is pretty good , Ive heard

 

[NSE]

I'd always recommend a Sam Smiths pub. Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is my favourite. Sawdust on the floor, four or five bars, a fire in the winter, goes underground for miles. Cracking pub. It's just off Fleet Street and was last renovated after the Great Fire of London.
Another one is the Punch and Judy at Covent Garden. The balcony overlooks the street performers.

I also recommend Camden, and aimlessly wandering. I love doing that in London. Feel free to ask about pubs if you have any particular pub based interests you'd like to explore.

Actually, just remembered, Greenwich Hill. I love it. Get the train to Blackheath and walk up through the charming village and over the Heath to Greenwich park, then straight down the path to the hill at the observatory. Enjoy the view for as long as you like, then walk down and enjoy Greenwich. Market and Cutty Sark and river views etc.

 

[RichmondCommu]

You could always take the tube to Chalk Farm and then walk up onto Primrose Hill. The view is pretty good from the top and its nice and peaceful.

 

[RichmondCommu]

I'd always recommend a Sam Smiths pub. Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is my favourite. Sawdust on the floor, four or five bars, a fire in the winter, goes underground for miles. Cracking pub. It's just off Fleet Street and was last renovated after the Great Fire of London.
Another one is the Punch and Judy at Covent Garden. The balcony overlooks the street performers.

I concur that the pub is amazing but I have my reservations over the beer on offer.

 

[Howardh]

Great suggestions! Top of the list is the open-air pool, looked at the site and it's just over a fiver for non-members. Will contact them to see if they provide/hire out towels.
Thanks for the bus timetable, it's probably extremely "flexible" but I can stand and wait 15 mins!

 

[anti-pacer]

Great suggestions! Top of the list is the open-air pool, looked at the site and it's just over a fiver for non-members. Will contact them to see if they provide/hire out towels.
Thanks for the bus timetable, it's probably extremely "flexible" but I can stand and wait 15 mins!

Enjoy!

 

[Howardh]

Enjoy!

Thank you! Just seen the advanced weather and it looks horrible for London on Weds, so may take the indoor pool option and spend longer on the buses.

What happens r/e contactless if you reach the terminus and stay on to return - tap again? I think you only tap when boarding a bus, (help...!) so does that mean in theory you can stay on a bus all day and just pay a single - like a Travelcard?

*I will have touched in on the tube @ Euston and out again @ Embankment though*

 

[najaB]

What happens r/e contactless if you reach the terminus and stay on to return - tap again?

The one time I did it the driver made me get out as he wanted a smoke. So just tapped in again when I reboarded.

 

[najaB]

Two bus journeys that start within an hour of each other count as a single journey so, depending on where you board, it might not even get charged for the second tap-in.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Sir John Soames Museum is both superb - and free - ditto the Museum of London at Barbican.

A walk through the legal ghetto (Inns of Court) from Temple to Holborn is also worth doing - but really only on weekdays - and great in Winter when you have gas lighting in operation.

Finally walk Blackfriars to London Bridge / Bermondsey - south bank of the Thames via Tower Bridge.

 

[najaB]

If the weather is dreary, then it might be very 'touristic' but London has some excellent museums. I can easily 'lose' a day between the Natural History and Science museums.

 

[anti-pacer]

Actually, just remembered, Greenwich Hill. I love it. Get the train to Blackheath and walk up through the charming village and over the Heath to Greenwich park, then straight down the path to the hill at the observatory. Enjoy the view for as long as you like, then walk down and enjoy Greenwich. Market and Cutty Sark and river views etc.

Apart from the weather forecast to be bad when the OP is in London, this would be great. The description is similar to what I've done many times, except I get the DLR to Lewisham, bus up to Blackheath Village then as your suggestion. From Greenwich I'll get the Thames Clipper boat up to Embankment.

The views as you've mentioned from the top of Greenwich Park are amazing.

 

[Howardh]

Apart from the weather forecast to be bad when the OP is in London, this would be great. The description is similar to what I've done many times, except I get the DLR to Lewisham, bus up to Blackheath Village then as your suggestion. From Greenwich I'll get the Thames Clipper boat up to Embankment.

The views as you've mentioned from the top of Greenwich Park are amazing.

I did that just after the Olympics when all the stands were still up. Also did the Longitude "0" line - which I understand is actually in the wrong place and it should be outside the yard!

It is an amazing view, and I suggest anyone doing that should add the cable-car by the Dome onto their itinary.