London Calling

[RosieH]

So I have a week, maybe two, off work between jobs and will be staycationing London-style for at least one of them.

There are a few things on my to-do list, but does anyone have any recommendations of things that I simply must see / do (or that they would see / do)?

I'm finally going to get round to the Maps exhibition at the British Library, and plan to work my way through at least part of Food Lover's London but that's not going to fill seven days.

Any ideas?

[Brendan]

Go see Rude Britannia at the Tait.

[Brendan]

Then go get snot flying drunk in Soho, just coz it's fun.

[Jah Lush]

Tate Modern

[karter]

there's the Brazilian festival on until 5th September so you could see Ernesto neto's work on at Hayward gallery.

[PeckhamRose]

Ohhhhhh RosieH get round here and I'll lend you my "1,000 things to do round London" book.

I enjoyed the Rude Britannia and Romantics exhibitions at Tate Britain.

But here's an offer: On one sunny afternoon would you like a ride round London on the back of my motorcycle?

I have spare helmet and gloves. It's a once in a lifetime offer. You can tell me where you would like to go but I do good allround tours to visiting relatives and friends, so love doing this!

[BeccaL]

Climb up Monument - the view's amazing!

[red devil]

Vivienne Westwood shoe exhibtion at Selfridges...killer heels, go on, you know you want to

[PeckhamRose]

Oh yes, and you can also go up the top of the Tower 42 (ex NatWest) if you book, there is a bar up there. But you don't HAVE to buy a drink unless you get another mortgage!

[Loz]

Jah Lush Wrote:

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> Tate Modern

Just had a look at the website: a Gauguin exhibition in September - brilliant!

Seems a switch for the gallery. Have they decided that current art is, indeed, a pile of doggie doo-doos (sometimes quite literally - or elephant at least) and have gone to the back catalogue?

[PeckhamRose]

Mudchute City Farm bottom end of Isle of Dogs - then lunch at the top end around Canary Wharf.

[reggie]

get a brolly and have a walk in the rain...now!

[Mick Mac]

Went to see War Horse last week - very good, if you fancy treating yourself to a theatre trip.

[ianr]

London Wetland Centre http://www.wwt.org.uk/london? Not sure if there's a best time of year to go. I've not been there yet.

[dubluke]

ianr Wrote:

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> London Wetland Centre

> http://www.wwt.org.uk/london? Not sure if there's

> a best time of year to go. I've not been there

> yet.

I'm quite curious to see what london wetlands centre is like, although I still associate bad memories with it after having to spend a stupidly hot sunday afternoon helping a friend deliver leaflets advertising it through various people's doors in wandsworth, nearly passed out from the heat and was walking solidly for about 7 hours!

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

DO NOT climb up The Monument if you have a hangover. Sheer masochism.

[Alec John Moore]

Went to WWT yesterday en famille and it was very pleasant. Stangely, I think it could be better in the weather we are having as I write - wet and windy. It would lend it a more rural quality, somehow. The cranes were the most interesting birds we saw apart from some cute ducklings.

[Marmora Man]

Mrs MM and I are also having a London Mini Break from home. Our idea is to mix stuff that "should be done" in London and we have either never done or not done for some while. Therefore our list may include what others normally do - for us they would be different Plans include:

Chelsea Physic Garden

Tower Bridge Museum

Victoria & Albert Museum

Visit of fringe theatre show

Visit comedy club

RHS Gardens at Wisley (out of London but close)

Take a guided walk thru' London London Walks

Drink champagne in a jazz club

Would also recommend Peckham Rose's bike tour. PR has spoken of this often and I think it's a brilliant idea.

[PeckhamRose]

Awwwwwww thanks.

The Physic Garden was great - we went there last month. Every month we try and do something "London" we've not done before. Also recommend Eltham Palace, Chiswick House and Gardens.... ohhhhhh there's so much!

[RosieH]

Ooh PR, that sounds rather thrilling. I've not been on the back of a bike for a few years, but I do so enjoy it - would love to.

reggie, have just been for a walk in the rain - sadly sans umbrella: walking doesn't get any wetter than this. Initially exhilarating, ultimately quite difficult to see.

I like the idea of doing things that I've always meant to do - Chelsea Physic Garden is one of them, and I do love an afternoon matinee at the theatre, it feels a bit like truanting somehow.

Jah, went to Tate Modern just a couple of weeks ago, saw some great stuff - there's a voyeurism exhibition you might enjoy (not calling you a peeping tom, but some of the raven-haired scantily clad beauties would be right up your street)

Yay, this is all good.

[Dorothy]

If you haven't been already, I am certain you would enjoy a visit to the Sir John Soane museum in Lincoln's Inn Fields. Amazing place.

[BeccaL]

The portrait exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery is excellent as well - there until 19 Sept

[Lee Scoresby]

Franks Campari Bar & Cafe on top of Peckham carpark - but wait till the sun pop out. And go before it folds next month.

Lee Scoresby.

[Hobbes]

Might be worth picking up a copy of Days out Guide from the station if you are traveling by train and more than 1 person going 2 for 1 entry to loads of places including Chelsea Physic garden, Eltham Palace, Kew Gardens. Days Out Guide - 2for1 London Most of the places dont accept oyster cards, need a rail ticket they can check.

and London open house is 18th and 19th September.

[LadyTaTa]

On a Friday or Saturday morning IF it's not raining...

- One waiter's Friend

- A slice of chicken, ham and apricot pie from borough market, plus some general food sampling as you go round

- Beer or Wine, as you fancy

- The (free) outdoor tables on the Thames side of Somerset House, or a train from London Bridge to Greenwich - stroll to the park, eat and walk it off with a nice view

Generally...

- If you can fit it in, I find the Hayward Gallery on South Bank always has a good exhibition in the summer months - they normally sound pretentious, but instead are incredibly good fun. Pyscho Buildings a few years back was amazing.

- The Barbican has an exhibition called Surreal House that's meant to be very good

- Tate Modern has a good photography exhibition (Exposed) - haven't seen it but heard good reviews

- Museum of London has had a refit on the lower levels - I was invited to the preview and only went to see the piece I worked on (I wasn't impressed with the museum before), but was suprised how brilliant the lower floor is now (I can comfortably recommend it)

- Saatchi's place in South Ken is free, fun and a good place for window shopping :))