Hidden gems of London?

[Going to Cali]

I'm spending the next four days in London with a friend. We're going for a gig on Tuesday but figured we'd spend some time there.

She's spent 10 days in London with her Mum before Christmas so did the major tourist sites and some tours of London. My knowledge of London isn't the best, I'd appreciate if anyone can recommend some things to do, places to see, where to eat and drink etc that aren't necessarily the usual tourist sites. We're staying near Victoria if that also helps.

I'm not in to bus tours btw, like to walk, history, galleries/art, architechture and parks would be good in the day. At night, restaurant, drinks and some live music would be awesome, we're mainly in to indie/rock that kind of thing.

Any suggestions really appreciated, thanks!!

 

[Womble]

St Christophers Place of Oxford Street (opens into a square at the back)

 

[Muban]

Sir John Soane's Museum oh and it's free too which is always a bonus.

 

[iamdjdz]

The toy museum's worth a visit and is free.

http://www.britainexpress.com/London/Bethnal_Green_Museum_of_Childhood.htm

 

[TheCenturion]

Go to Harrow!

 

[Going to Cali]

Sir John Soane's Museum oh and it's free too which is always a bonus.

Looks good, thanks

 

[Going to Cali]

Would Borough Market be a good place to grab lunch?

 

[TheCenturion]

If you can, I think that spittlefields market would be great for lunch, if you can make the trip there

 

[DB_SamX]

Camden Town.

 

[yak.h'cir]

Not so much hidden, but Covent Garden Comedy Club! I went last week and it was brilliant!

 

[Biohazard]

imperial war museum

i plan on stealing the battleship guns outside for garden ornaments one day.

or for re-commisioning

 

[semi-pro waster]

Would Borough Market be a good place to grab lunch?

It's got a few choices certainly, if you're in the area then you could do worse than taking a trip through and it should be nice and fresh. I work fairly close to Victoria and wouldn't have thought it was ideal in terms of nightlife close by, it's very much a commuter orientated sort of area as you're heading along Victoria Street but if you go a bit further towards the North East at least you're also fairly close to Covent Garden (some nice restaurants around there although it may be worth booking), Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus etc.

 

[Globul]

I never get bored of museums, The British Museum and Natural History Museum obvious I know but awesome

 

[yermum]

I don't know if you're interested in this sort of thing but I found this interesting

http://www.dickensmuseum.com/

It was Dickens' house and it's just in an ordinary row of houses so it makes it easy to imagine him living there.

Tate Modern is good too.

 

[Globul]

OMG and the Sherlock Holmes museum!!

 

[PapaLazaru]

Would Borough Market be a good place to grab lunch?

Yes. Plus you have to go to The Market Porter for a pint or two of beer. Great pub and you can marvel at Dog's hideout in Lock Stock which is next door.

And my favourite restaurants in the world - http://www.bestmangal.com/

 

[dante6491]

Temple Church off Fleet Street is good. It is where some of The Da Vinchi Code was filmed, there is also another church a bit further west which was the first one with a Spire in the country or something.