London - Any Hidden Gems?

Stompa

patrick0 wrote: »

Have you been to Borough Food Market on a Saturday morning? Get there by 10am though as it gets very busy later. If you get the northern line then go to London Bridge and take the Borough High St exit from the tube station - watch the people and you'll see the entrance (there are about 10 different entrances). It's open on Thursday and Friday but there's not many stallholders on those days.

Yes, I visit there quite frequently, definitely to be recommended.

patrick0 wrote: »

Or the Sir John Soane museum - I've not been there but have heard quite a few people saying it's well worth visiting.

It's on my list. I almost went a few weeks back but got delayed at the nearby Hunterian Museum:

http://www.jchst.org/museums

(good if you like pickled body parts!) when I was asked if I wanted to attend a lecture:

http://www.jchst.org/museums/events/lecturerinterviews/event_interview.html

which whilst really intended for kids, was still great fun.

absfabs

The Wallace Collection, brlliant, free, and just behind Oxford Street.

Stompa

absfabs wrote: »

The Wallace Collection, brlliant, free, and just behind Oxford Street.

Thanks, I'd vaguely heard of that - but have now added to my list.

big_gay_kirk

What about the tunnel under the thames at greenwich.. I'm pretty sure they still do tours down there.... I went years ago, and it was great... also try the Houses of parliament... don't cost anything unless you have a guide... although if you go as a youth group, its worthwhile asking your local mp to arrange the trip.. then he'll get you a guide for about 20 quid, and possibly an audience in his chambers... we've done it with Scouts several times and its fantastic....

Stompa

big_gay_kirk wrote: »

What about the tunnel under the thames at greenwich.. I'm pretty sure they still do tours down there.... I went years ago, and it was great...

I have been through it, but it's just a normal pedestrian tunnel open to the public (with the odd drip of water from above) - not quite sure why they would run tours???

SueMaggie

There are few things around the Holborn area that you can do all together in a shortish space of time.

The Sir John Soane's Museum http://www.soane.org/ and Lincoln's Inn Flields more generally - nice gardens and some nooks and crannies to look round. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln's_Inn_Fields

Also the London Silver Vaults are in the area - http://www.thesilvervaults.com/

There's also, of course, the British Museum not too far away and the Dickens House Museum is about a 10 minute walk - http://www.dickensmuseum.com/

liz545

The Sunday upMarket at Brick Lane's definitely worth a look: http://www.sundayupmarket.co.uk/
How about a walk through little Venice, along the canal? http://www.offtolondon.com/littlevenice.html
And why not get the tube down to Brixton to explore the market? http://www.mybrixton.com/brixton/shops-brixton-market.htm you can even stop for what's supposed to be the best pizza in London! http://www.timeout.com/london/restaurants/reviews/12537.html

Stompa

liz545 wrote: »

The Sunday upMarket at Brick Lane's definitely worth a look: http://www.sundayupmarket.co.uk/

Thanks, Brick Lane I've been to, but probably not on a Sunday - I'll bear that one in mind.

liz545 wrote: »

How about a walk through little Venice, along the canal? http://www.offtolondon.com/littlevenice.html

I must say I wasn't terribly impressed by Little Venice, when they say 'Little' they certainly mean it!

liz545 wrote: »

And why not get the tube down to Brixton to explore the market? http://www.mybrixton.com/brixton/shops-brixton-market.htm you can even stop for what's supposed to be the best pizza in London! http://www.timeout.com/london/restaurants/reviews/12537.html

That's a thought, I've never been to Brixton.

Thanks

Bargain_Rzl

If you happen to be visiting the Wallace Collection on a Sunday, once you've had a look round you could take a wander up to central Marylebone (they have some lovely interesting little shops - the area's famous for having put measures in place to encourage independent retailers and discourage chains - plus a Sunday farmer's market) then on to Regent's Park...

ali1972

Bargain_Rzl wrote: »

If you happen to be visiting the Wallace Collection on a Sunday, once you've had a look round you could take a wander up to central Marylebone (they have some lovely interesting little shops - the area's famous for having put measures in place to encourage independent retailers and discourage chains - plus a Sunday farmer's market) then on to Regent's Park...

Ah yes, I think I'm keeping the Oxfam Book Shop there afloat... And there's also Daunt Books for a quirky book shop. And Terre D'Oc if only to sniff all the candles...