Day out with mum

[Deleted User]

Dimey wrote: »

Afternoon tea at The Ritz or Claridges in London was always our favourite. (Edit - but they didn't used to let you in wearing jeans)

We also liked to go to a local garden centre for lunch and buy each other a plant. Oh and to Wisley (not sure about spelling) the research gardens.

If you have a local RSPB sanctuary, that can be nice. They rent you binoculars and you take a stroll from hide to hide in beautiful countryside and stop for a picnic. I'm not a bird watcher but I enjoyed that.

Is there a local fete or County show on? Great innocent fun. You come away feeling the real Britain is surviving under the surface.

^^ What I was going to suggest me & my Mum once had posh afternoon tea in a 5* hotel just off Leicester Square (get some money off with rail tickets!) and watched the snowflakes falling outside whilst we were very cosy. We then went on to watch a chick flick together!

Wisley is lovely as is Kew Gardens - and in London.

Have you ever been to the museum of childhood at Bethnal Green? wonderful experience and maybe a nice spot if you wanted to tell her she's to become a Grandma

maman

I'd recommend Fortnums too. There are lots of choices including their retro ice cream parlour. The problem with afternoon tea is that it can fill you up if you had planned a meal later.

I'd choose the V&A over St Pauls and just do a few galleries or you'll both be worn out. Another preference would be to go to Tate Britain and search out pre-Raphaelites. I also like the Wallace Collection as that's easy to get to from Marylebone High Street or Oxford Street.

You could start the day with a visit to the ticket place at Leicester Square and see what you can get for a show later.

Although I love the riverboats and Greenwich, another way to rest is to travel around by bus. That way you get to see everything and sit down!

Have a lovely day.:)

catkins

I think just about all of the nice hotels in London do afternoon tea and I don't think all of them need booking ages in advance.

I lived in London most of my life and miss it like mad. Still go there a lot just for a day or a weekend.

Some of the places I like are:-

London Eye
Kew Gardens
V&A Museum
Tate Gallery
Shakespeare's Globe - you can do a tour and/or watch a performance
National Gallery
British Museum
London Zoo
River trip to Greenwich - Greenwich is lovely with the park, some nice shops, a good market and some good restaurants
River trip to Hampton Court
Kensington Palace
Borough Market
Spitalfields Market
Covent Garden - nice shops, restaurants, bars, a small market with some unusual items and street entertainers to watch

You could go and see a show (doesn't have to be evening, some days there are matinees) - the ticket bureau in Leicester Square has some cheap tickets for some of the top shows. I would recommend Matilda, 39 Steps and One Man Two Governors from all the shows I have seen

Kynthia

Thanks all. I actually live on the edge of London and work there so I do know it fairly well but was struggling to think of some specific places and new ideas that my mum would like. I'm loving the Fortnum & Masons idea and really liked the look of their ice cream parlour and tea room. The museum of childhood sounds interesting.

Catkins - I live in Greenwich borough and love spending the day in the market, seeing the Cutty Sark and then having a drink in the Old Royal Naval College by the river. I've also seen Matilda and highly recommend The Book of Mormon if you get back to London.

catkins

Kynthia wrote: »

Thanks all. I actually live on the edge of London and work there so I do know it fairly well but was struggling to think of some specific places and new ideas that my mum would like. I'm loving the Fortnum & Masons idea and really liked the look of their ice cream parlour and tea room. The museum of childhood sounds interesting.

Catkins - I live in Greenwich borough and love spending the day in the market, seeing the Cutty Sark and then having a drink in the Old Royal Naval College by the river. I've also seen Matilda and highly recommend The Book of Mormon if you get back to London.

I used to live in Eltham (OH was born in Greenwich) so we both know Greenwich well. It's lovely there isn't it? Wish we could afford to live there now - just hoping for a lottery win!

Thanks for the suggestion of Book of Mormon. I have wondered about it. We both loved Matilda - OH was not looking forward to it.

We live in Essex now but come back to London regularly - on average once a month even if only for the day. In fact we are spending next weekend in London so will try and get tickets for Book of Mormon. Also going to the Bowie exhibition at the V&A and the Anniversary Games at the Olympic Park

Neither of us ever get bored in London - there is so much to see and do and it doesn't have to be expensive does it? The lovely parks are free as are most of the museums.

Dimey

Kynthia wrote: »

Exactly. Has anyone done the oxo tower restaurant and would recommend it, or is there a roof top place somewhere? Thanks for your help.

I've done the Oxo Tower and yes it's great food, great service and great views, pricey and we had to book well in advance too.

Less formal and nice food is the Globe Theatre restaurant. You could also book onto a guided tour of The Globe and its right on the river so can walk along the river.

zaksmum

jetplane wrote: »

Each to their own and while everyone else had to wait 12 weeks I would have been gutted if my daughter had made me wait that long :rotfl:

I also think that if OP went to a spa and avoided sauna, hot jacuzzi, alcohol or any of her usual indulgences then mother might guess?

My daughter has just told me that she's pregnant - at 12 weeks - and I'm far from gutted.

I'm delighted!:j

Kynthia

catkins wrote: »

I used to live in Eltham (OH was born in Greenwich) so we both know Greenwich well. It's lovely there isn't it? Wish we could afford to live there now - just hoping for a lottery win!

Thanks for the suggestion of Book of Mormon. I have wondered about it. We both loved Matilda - OH was not looking forward to it.

We live in Essex now but come back to London regularly - on average once a month even if only for the day. In fact we are spending next weekend in London so will try and get tickets for Book of Mormon. Also going to the Bowie exhibition at the V&A and the Anniversary Games at the Olympic Park

Neither of us ever get bored in London - there is so much to see and do and it doesn't have to be expensive does it? The lovely parks are free as are most of the museums.

I'm from Essex, the Greater London side. We currently live the Kent side of the borough as my OH is from here. We probably don't do as much in London as we should as after commuting up there all week means I don't relish the thought of getting the train there again at the weekend. However when I do I always enjoy it so much. I love the walk along the river between London Bridge and the South Bank as you just see so much!

My daughter has just told me that she's pregnant - at 12 weeks - and I'm far
from gutted.

I'm delighted!:j

Congratulations zaksmum.

jetplane

zaksmum wrote: »

My daughter has just told me that she's pregnant - at 12 weeks - and I'm far from gutted.

I'm delighted!:j

Congratulations :T oh I was delighted too, my grandson is 9 months now and I'm besotted with him.

zaksmum

Thanks Kynthia and jetplane. This will be a much wanted second baby for my daughter and a fourth grandchild for me. All boys so far but not remotely bothered whether this one's a boy or girl - I just pray for mum and baby to be ok.

I'm so excited now and can't wait for my new little angel to arrive!

Sorry to hijack, OP!