We stayed in an AirBnb duplex in West Hampstead. A 5 minute walk to the tube. It was really beautiful, brand new, very, very modern and on a quiet street. We did breakfast there each morning and made supper there a number of nights.
I'll leave it to others to cover the museums and other more well known spots. I know that the museums are world class but if you're interested in a few out of the way, less touristy type things, these were great fun. Some were expensive but I'm just including them if they were memorable.
1. Take a walk down Brick Lane. Lots of cool vintage shops.
2. Have fish and chips at Poppies:
Spitalfields
6-8 Hanbury Street
London
E1 6QR
Tel: 020 7247 0892
Also, stop at the Spitalfields market.
3. MUST SEE: Borough Market in Southwark(pronounced South-uck)
A fabulous bazaar of food stands. Try the Scotch egg....really good.
4. See the Sky Garden in the walkie talkie building at 20 Fenchurch Street.
Admission is free but you need to go online and reserve tickets. The view is breath taking...
https://skygarden.london5. Across from Big Ben on the other side of the Thames, is the St. Thomas hospital. Have lunch in the cafe in the old part of the hospital. Very cool as you can walk around a bit an see the vintage portions of the old hospital. Go outside and stand on the promenade and take in the view of Big Ben and the river....great vantage point.
6. Highgate cemetery. highgatecemetery.org
There is a resident fox who wanders around....tame as any house pet...it's funny when you see him.
7. I'm a rider so of course wanted to ride in Hyde Park with the Hyde Park stables group. It was truly a great experience. Rode an Irish Cob and had a great time. Also visited W & H Gidden to check out the riding apparel he had....lovely custom items:
16 Clifford Street,
off New Bond Street,
London W1S 3RG, England
8. Kensington Gardens: the Round Pond is filled with Her Majesty's swans. Lovely walk from there past Kensington Palace and on to the Albert memorial which is really something magnificent to see.
9. We did the Fortnum and Mason's Afternoon Tea in the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon. Tres bonc baby. It was very expensive and worth every pound.
10. Had dinner at the Duck and Waffle at 110 Bishopsgate. The view at night was also phenomenal. Food was fantastic. My DD is a food stylist and wanted to check this out. We went with some friends who live outside of London but work there. After we went to the Shoreditch House which is a private club....a whole other cool experience.
11. Spent a day down in Brighton Beach. It was great fun. The food on the promenade wasn't too bad. Got to see little sea food carts selling cockles and mussels. :) and of course ice cream cones with a chocolate flake in it.