Gardens/parks/uncrowded places?

[miss direct]

I'll be in London next week for the first time in ages for an event, and have two full days to spare.

I've been a zillion times in my life so don't need to do first time tourist stuff and I also really don't like crowds. I've been looking into what I can do and the things that appeal all require booking, and are already full (Barbican garden, Aga Khan tour, even the Sky Garden).

For reference, I like the Japanese garden in Holland Park, uncrowded quirky museums, walking for miles, vintage/50s clothes, old man pubs, charity shops, nice tea. I do not like Oxford Street (ironic as I'm staying nearby), nightclubs, and queueing.

I'd welcome any suggestions

 

[marty21]

If you want to walk for miles head up to Hampstead Heath , use Gospel Oak or Hampstead Heath stations rather than the tube. There is a cafe on the Heath fairly close to the entrance nr Gospel Oak.

Old Man pubs are disappearing , doubt you'd find any in the West End, I only know the ones in Hackney

 

[klang]

Hackney Marshes, walk along the Lea

 

[klang]

Walk along New River

 

[klang]

Walk Thames out West. From eg Hammersmith there are a few nice pubs along the way.

 

[yield]

Central Line to Loughton, then go for a walk in Epping Forest

 

[klang]

Walk along Regents Canal from Camden to Little Venice

 

[Brainaddict]

Walk Thames out West. From eg Hammersmith there are a few nice pubs along the way.

Same is true going East. You can walk along the south bank but then just keep going east. A few bits where you have to walk inland for a bit but not for too long. You can stop by the Angel, the Mayflower, the Ship and Whale, the Dog and Bell, the Trafalgar (bit touristy actually) and the Cutty Sark pubs, among others.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

For a chilled, quiet museum, the Tate Britain is great. Never gets too crowded, great building and great art. Avoid Tate Modern. It is always crowded.

Depending on what kind of art, if any, is your bag, the Wallace Collection is never too busy either.

Both are free.

 

[hash tag]

If you want to walk for miles head up to Hampstead Heath , use Gospel Oak or Hampstead Heath stations rather than the tube. There is a cafe on the Heath fairly close to the entrance nr Gospel Oak.

Old Man pubs are disappearing , doubt you'd find any in the West End, I only know the ones in Hackney

I'm here now, a real, authentic old pub, unchanged since WW2! ( cash only ).

 

[danny la rouge]

The Goldfinger House in Hampstead is interesting. It wasn’t busy when we visited, but you do need to book. You could combine it with a visit to the Heath.

2 Willow Road | London

Visitor information for 2 Willow Road, Ernő Goldfinger's 1930s Modernist home in Hampstead, London.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Or explore the story of Dido Belle at Kenwood House.

Dido Belle

A mixed-race woman, Dido Belle was raised as part of an aristocratic family in Georgian Britain at the height of the transatlantic slave trade.

www.english-heritage.org.uk

Said the man who has been to London less than once per decade of his life.

 

[hash tag]

Ps. It's busier than usual....we are the only 4 people here

 

[May Kasahara]

Pimlico is good for charity shops - could combine with a visit to Tate Britain and/or a river walk.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

More art: the Guildhall Art Gallery in the City, with bonus amphitheatre in the basement, is usually very quiet and also free. A few interesting pieces in there - there's a brilliant Grayson Perry piece.

Modern art: Whitechapel Art Gallery. Again free, doesn't get too crowded, could be combined with the Guildhall as it's walkable between the two.

Sorry, all art I'm thinking of atm. Most of the big museums - British, NHM, V&A, etc - are invariably very busy.

 

[hash tag]

We have left here, a beautiful oasis of peace and quiet Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park - Wikipedia
Not far is this The Viktor Wynd Museum Of Curiosities, Fine Art & Natural History
Or this

Young V&A

Sparking creativity now and for the future with a space to imagine, play and design

www.vam.ac.uk

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

Sorry, all art I'm thinking of atm. Most of the big museums - British, NHM, V&A, etc - are invariably very busy.

TBF I've always found the BM to be surprisingly quiet if you get away from the very crowded bits near the entrance/main plaza.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

TBF I've always found the BM to be surprisingly quiet if you get away from the very crowded bits near the entrance/main plaza.

Depends. If you want to look at Egyptian statues, you are mostly going to be in busy areas. Ironically, the British history rooms tend to be quieter. But yes, certain bits of the museum are much busier than others.

Up to last year, the BM and other museums/galleries were still quieter than usual post-covid (when they first reopened, they were blissfully quiet). I have noticed this summer that they're much busier than last year. I think this is because the Chinese and Japanese tourists are back.

 

[clicker]

Highgate has good charity shops and the cemetery is peaceful and very interesting for a good wander.

I always find the Tate emptyish.

 

[Red Cat]

I was recommended this a while back when I was looking for somewhere quiet to go and close to a park: Leighton House and Sambourne House | RBKC Museums

I was unable to go in the end unfortunately.

 

[hash tag]

Uncrowded spaces and charity shops?
Richmond Park and Upper Richmond Road West for charity shops. ( a good half dozen ).

 

[RubyToogood]

Pimlico is good for charity shops - could combine with a visit to Tate Britain and/or a river walk.

This could also be combined with a pot of tea at the Tea House Theatre a short walk across the river in Vauxhall. Also go to @work Gallery (arty jewellery shop) in Pimlico.

 

[TopCat]

Go to the rookery at st the top of Streatham Common.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

depending on where in london you are, and whether the old deep south is within your travel range, the horniman museum / gardens at forest hill (forest hill station on southern from london bridge, or the bit of overground that goes through whitechapel - new cross gate, then either a bit of an uphill walk or a couple of stops on the bus)

assorted collections including an overstuffed walrus

mostly free, but some bits charged for. probably fairly quiet midweek unless there's a big school group. gardens are quite big including a nature trail along a bit of closed railway line.

cafe is reputed to be quite good as well.

pub 'the capitol' (between station and museum) is a wetherspoons, but building is a late 1920s cinema - wetherspoons are trying to sell it but haven't yet (as far as i'm aware)

can't offer thoughts on the charity shops round there.