London folk - Least busy time?

SideWinder · 5 Apr 2022 at 10:00

Efour said:
Tubes always quieter on weekends.
South Kensington.
As for the museum's..
I doubt they get packed out these days, at worst a slight queue to get in at natural history is worst I've ever had.

Eh?

They are busier at the weekends.

Also I was at the Natural History Museum a few weeks ago on a Saturday late morning and it was very busy. There was a ticketing system/time allocations and even then, around 25-30 people waiting outside slowly filtering in.

Best advice would be make it there as early as you can or go very late.

Efour · 5 Apr 2022 at 10:03

SideWinder said:
Eh?

They are busier at the weekends.

District line?? You joking? I might be way out of touch then but its nasty on weekdays even with the new walk through trains.
Central line might be nasty at a few places but surely its just tourists.

SideWinder · 5 Apr 2022 at 10:05

Efour said:
District line?? You joking? I might be way out of touch then but its nasty on weekdays even with the new walk through trains.
Central line might be nasty at a few places but surely its just tourists.

Oh come on you literally said 'tubes are quiet' and then suddenly go specific.

District line was actually not too bad however overall, the tube is busier at the weekend. Central line is always awful and hot.

People commute less in the week now and weekends get busier with people anxious to escape WFH and do more. Plus of course tourists.

Efour · 5 Apr 2022 at 10:09

ok fair enough. i was too specific.. lol just thinking of South Ken. Yeah its not something id look forward to using no matter what time of day.

SideWinder · 5 Apr 2022 at 11:24

Efour said:
ok fair enough. i was too specific.. lol just thinking of South Ken. Yeah its not something id look forward to using no matter what time of day.

Ok I get the hint...yes we can go together to a museum.

@NotAGolf - If you haven't already, have a look on google maps and filter by restaurants to see what is close by. There are quite a few family friendly chains places around within a short walking distance and would be a better option than eating at the museum.

Feek · 5 Apr 2022 at 11:30

SideWinder said:
would be a better option than eating at the museum.

There are loads of places! Go south on Exhibition Road (away from Hyde Park), cross Cromwell Road and you've got everything you could ever want just there.

SideWinder · 5 Apr 2022 at 11:37

Feek said:
There are loads of places! Go south on Exhibition Road (away from Hyde Park), cross Cromwell Road and you've got everything you could ever want just there.

I had to double check what I wrote as I thought you were disagreeing with me!

Yes yes as Feek says, loads around.

OCUK meet up. \o/

NotAGolf · 5 Apr 2022 at 11:39

Thanks all. Kids are only 2 and 5, but the eldest is into dinosaurs hence the trip to the history museum. A trip down the river is a good shout too. Finding things to do isn't the problem though, there's loads to do, I'm just trying to avoid the crowds.

Early morning on the weekend sounds like the best option, although it will take 1hr drive plus 45mins mostly on the northern line to get to South Kensington, so can't get there crazy early.

Feek · 5 Apr 2022 at 11:41

NotAGolf said:
Kids are only 2 and 5

Do not take them to the Science museum.
Do not take them to Greenwich.

NotAGolf said:
history museum

You'll last about twenty minutes there

Hope you have a great time

SideWinder · 5 Apr 2022 at 11:41

NotAGolf said:
Thanks all. Kids are only 2 and 5, but the eldest is into dinosaurs hence the trip to the history museum. A trip down the river is a good shout too. Finding things to do isn't the problem though, there's loads to do, I'm just trying to avoid the crowds.

Early morning on the weekend sounds like the best option, although it will take 1hr drive plus 45mins mostly on the northern line to get to South Kensington, so can't get there crazy early.

Look up the Uber boats. Can just use contactless and jump on and off.

Efour · 5 Apr 2022 at 12:14

SideWinder said:
Ok I get the hint...yes we can go together to a museum.

Scam · 5 Apr 2022 at 12:45

Efour said:
District line?? You joking? I might be way out of touch then but its nasty on weekdays even with the new walk through trains.
Central line might be nasty at a few places but surely its just tourists.

The tubes are always busier at the weekends, no doubt. And worse, it's full of tourists that think it's "fun" when it's busy and don't mind ramming into people and laughing and joking, and falling over when the train lurches. Gimme a break :rolleyes:

At least commuters know what they're doing..

Outside of 7-9am and 5-7pm ish the tubes are much quieter. I've been going in on the Piccadilly line for 1-2 days a week recently and if I get on (zone 3) after 9am I get a seat easily. Doesn't matter what time you get on at the weekend going into town, you'll never get a seat.

Also, Piccadilly line trains are not stopping at South Ken at the moment.

visibleman · 5 Apr 2022 at 12:59

With @Feek in that both the Science and History museums aren't what they use to be, so be prepared for them to get a little bored and it'll be busy. Always worth a trundle through Hyde Park though if you're there.
Double check the tube as it's only the Circle and District line at the moment but getting off one stop before/after and walking down isn't a terrible idea (Knightsbridge is a 15min walk to the History museum etc).

If you're heading out to Greenwich then i would say both the Royal Observatory and Planetarium are both pretty cool but might be a little too "old" for them, although the National Maritime Museum could possibly be worth a visit as they do now have a few kid orientated galleries.

The Postal (just for the ride) and Transport museums are also worth visiting if you're in the area although i would recommend staying away from the South Bank as it'll be horrendously busy during holidays.

Feek · 5 Apr 2022 at 13:04

visibleman said:
i would recommend staying away from the South Bank as it'll be horrendously busy during holidays.

Agree with this, which is a real shame. I love the walk along the South Bank from Tower Bridge all the way to Westminster.

BUDFORCE · 5 Apr 2022 at 14:05

Nearest Wetherspoons is Victoria Station, not been to that one, I'll usually go to the Montague Pike just up from Leicester Square.

Scam · 5 Apr 2022 at 16:58

I don't know how long the boat takes but getting to Greenwich from Knightsbridge does not sound fun. It's a 30min walk to the river from the NHM then whatever the boat is so you're talking at least 1.5hrs I'd say. Citymapper is telling me an 1hr direct on the tube. They are opposite sides of London afterall, I'm not sure why people are suggesting that :confused:

visibleman · 5 Apr 2022 at 20:45

Scam said:
I don't know how long the boat takes but getting to Greenwich from Knightsbridge does not sound fun. It's a 30min walk to the river from the NHM then whatever the boat is so you're talking at least 1.5hrs I'd say. Citymapper is telling me an 1hr direct on the tube. They are opposite sides of London afterall, I'm not sure why people are suggesting that

Can't say i've done it but i would imagine grabbing the Thames Clipper from Embankment would be marginally quicker but as you say, it's a bit of a trek however you get to Greenwich from South Kensington.