101 things to do before you leave London
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By Time Out editors
Updated: Wed Oct 1 2008 
Make a Royal Guard laugh 36 Discover the glorious Chelsea Physic Garden
A true secret garden in the city; public opening hours are restricted.
Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Rd, SW3 (0207376 3910/ www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk). Sloane Square tube.
37 Eat Vietnamese in Hackney
The long-standing Huong-Viet seems to get better and better with age.
Huong-Viet, An Viet House, 12-14 Englefield Rd, N1 (020 7249 0877/www.huongviet.co.uk) 67, 149, 236, 242, 243 bus.
38 Make your MP show you the Houses of Parliament
They have to say yes. Don’t miss Westminster Hall, one of Europe’s finest medieval buildings.
Houses of Parliament, Parliament Square, SW1 (0870 906 3773/www.parliament.uk). Westminster tube. Feature continuesAdvertisement39 Witness the drama of a big case at the Old Bailey
The public is welcome to visit; a notice by the front door gives details of forthcoming trials.
Central Criminal Court, Corner of Newgate St & Old Bailey, EC4 (020 7248 3277/www.oldbaileyonline.org). St Paul’s tube.
40 Indulge in Afternoon Tease
What could be better than a Saturday spent thrilling your senses with scones, clotted cream, cucumber sandwiches, aromatic infusions, pink bubbles and dollops of cabaret? Held fortnightly in the bewitching Volupte Lounge, this regular session has a faithful following.
Volupté , 9 Norwich St, EC4A 1EJ (020 7831 1677/www.volupte-lounge.com). Chancery Lane tube.
41 Go loco over a Portuguese football derby
In the bars around South Lambeth Road, things get a little noisy. Check upcoming fixtures on the BBC website.
Bar Estrela, 111-115 South Lambeth Rd, SW8 (020 7793 1051). Vauxhall tube/rail.
42 Play floodlit tennis
The mammoth riverside Battersea Park offers an impressive 19 floodlit courts attached to the Millennium Arena. They must be booked in person.
Battersea Park, Queenstown Rd, SW8 (020 8871 7532/www.batterseapark.org) Battersea Park rail.
43 Make a Royal Guard laugh
Find out what happened when Time Out donned a glasses-nose-'tache combo and tried to crack the Queen's guards!
44 Riff away on Denmark Street
Look out for unimpressed, snooty staff in the guitar shops – and make them pay with a fumbled rendition of ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’. Then adjourn to the 12 Bar Club and see how many rock wannabes you can spot propping up the bar.
12 Bar Club, 22-23 Denmark Place, off Denmark St, WC2H 8NL (020 7240 2120). Tottenham Court Rd tube.
45 Celebrate the Chinese New Year in Chinatown
Lion and dragon teams perform traditional dances and there are, of course, fireworks displays (at lunchtime and 5pm). It all takes place in late January/early February.
Gerrard St, W1. Leicester Square tube- Add your comment to this feature
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36 comments
i cant wait 2 come 2 london in the hoildays i am soooooooo excited ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !.....................
Have been away from london for long..too long really. Miss london more than any other place in the universe!!! So much, so much to do in london. London has every thing concievable!
I'm a Londoner who's lived abroad for 18 years, but come every summer with by boys. This list has given me some great ideas. Thanks.
No doubt in my mind that London Town is the best place on the earth...so much to do and see. Fantastic list, and how nice to see the obvious things are not on it! Im def planning on hitting the fish market at dome obsurd hour soon....
just moved out of london after four years and im missin it! oh how i love london......
Suprised that the Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes is not featured. Everyone should have at least one night at this place
Green Lanes kebab from Manor House to Turnpike Lane? Why not to the North Circular, just south of Palmers Green?
Cool list, and to ignorant person who left neg comment about gay bowling, maybe its for gay people who love bowling and want to meet other gay people and socialise....duhhhh! I think its a cool idea.
thenks for the imfo it really helped me on my report and its not like i wnated to do it in the first place:P
Wow! You hardly surprise a Roman but in this case you definitely did it!!! bravi!!!
Thanks for the suggestions
i'm doing a report on things to do in london this really helped thanks!
people rock!
London is awesome!
Great! I've lived in the UK for 5 years and will be leaving soon. I will definitely check out some of these things!
Time is getting short! :(
after reading this, suddenly i'm inspired about being in london!