Your critical guide to arts, culture and going out in the capital

Search London

  • 101 things to do before you leave London

  • By Time Out editors


  • New_Eel Pie Island005.jpg
    Land on Eel Pie Island

    46 Play chess in a pub
    The London equivalent of an alfresco game in New York’s Central Park. The Harrison in King’s Cross has plenty of boards, and punters are welcome to organise their own games and leagues.
    The Harrison, 28 Harrison St, WC1 (020 7916 3113). King’s Cross tube/rail.

    47 Get up early for Billingsgate Market
    Buy cheap fish, or just enjoy the foul language. Open Tue-Sat 5-8.30am.
    Billingsgate Market, Trafalgar Way, E14 (020 7987 1118/ www.cityoflondon.gov.uk). Poplar DLR.

    48 Laugh at old toys in Pollock’s Toy Museum
    Take in tin toys, teddy bears and more.
    Pollock’s Toy Museum, 1 Scala St (entrance Whitfield St), W1 (020 7636 3452/www.pollockstoymuseum.com). Goodge St tube. Feature continues

    Advertisement

    49 Survive a royal gun salute
    This deafening British display of pageantry happens on a handful of dates every year, when the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery makes a mounted charge through Hyde Park, sets up guns and fires a 41-gun salute. It occurs at noon on Accession Day, the Queen’s two birthdays, Remembrance Sunday and other special days.

    50 Get sweaty over Indian food in Southall…
    …or Wembley, or Harrow.
    Dadima, 228 Ealing Rd, Wembley, Middx, HA0 4QL (020 8902 1072) Alperton tube.
    Madhu’s
    , 39 South Rd, Southall, Middx, UB1 1SW (020 8574 1897/www.madhusonline.com) Southall rail.

    Ram’s
    , 203 Kenton Rd, Harrow, Middx, HA3 0HD (020 8907 2022) Kenton Rd tube.


    51 Land on Eel Pie Island
    Or just ponder its place in rock history from a pleasant pub across the river.
    The White Swan, Riverside, Twickenham, Middx, TW1 3DX (020 8892 2166). Twickenham rail.

    52 Party on the beach
    When the tide goes out, revellers come in. ‘Reclaim the Beach’ parties take place at irregular intervals throughout summer in front of the Royal Festival Hall.
    www.swarming.org.uk or email beach@swarming.org.uk

    53 Tuck into pie and mash at M Manze’s
    Two pies, a mountain of mash and a lake of liquor for £3.45.
    M Manze’s, 87 Tower Bridge Rd, SE1 (020 7407 2985) 1, 42, 188 bus.

    54 Stand on the bridge in St James’s Park and gawp
    St James’s Park or Westminster tube.

    55 Drink all day, with a good excuse
    For example, what better justification could there be for a jaunt round Fitzrovia than following in the footsteps of the literary greats (George Orwell, Dylan Thomas, George Bernard Shaw, among others) who frequented these pubs? For further pub crawl details visit www.alpc.co.uk/pcrawl3.htm.
    Grafton Arms, 72 Grafton Way, W1 (020 7387 7923); King & Queen, 1 Foley St, W1 (020 7636 5619); The Hope, 15 Tottenham St, W1 (020 7637 0896); One Tun, 58-60 Goodge St, W1 (020 7209 4105); Northumberland Arms, 43 Goodge St, W1 (020 7637 3806); Fitzroy Tavern, 16 Charlotte St, W1 (020 7580 3714). All Goodge St/Tottenham Court Rd tube.

  • Add your comment to this feature
  • Page:
    | 1 |  ...  | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |  ...  | 10 |

36 comments

  1. Posted by A person on 04 Oct 2009 16:09

    cool im only der 4 the weekend as im a t a concert and BTW its footbal,l not soccer....

  2. Posted by veron kay on 16 Sep 2009 10:40

    fffffffaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnttttttttttttaaaaaaaaassssssssss tttttttttiiiiiiiiiicccccccc

  3. Posted by michaela on 07 Sep 2009 08:04

    this is awesome , i'm in london for 3 weeks and this list will be as completed as possible ... picadilly last night.. footie wednesday GO ENGLAND !!!! i can't wait ... thanks a bunch

  4. Posted by Jon B on 29 Jun 2009 09:21

    Yes, 62 Buy Japanese food in Brent
    Oriental City, 399 Edgware Rd, NW9 (020 8200 0009). Colindale tube.
    It's been closed for ages. Flats are going to be built on the site. (The owners charged too much rent and so Oriental City said, "see ya!" and now the recession hit and the site is dead as a....site with no building going on)

  5. Posted by Peter Tran on 22 May 2009 05:00

    Thank you Ryan for your recommendation:
    "Posted by Ryan on 11 Jan 2009 13:45"
    I would do the same when i be there

  6. Posted by Lisa on 14 May 2009 14:11

    Erm. Number 7 is a marathon, not a pleasant stroll around night-time London. It is a great event, i have participated twice, but tell it like it is.

  7. Posted by alfie on 08 Mar 2009 19:04

    i love my boots

  8. Posted by father jack hackett on 01 Mar 2009 20:18

    are those my feet?

  9. Posted by alfie on 01 Mar 2009 19:58

    take off them gloves

  10. Posted by seamus on 24 Feb 2009 16:09

    if you are ever in london you have go to clubbing in hevane nighclkub on monday night its the best thing if you are straight or gay.

  11. Posted by jake hoddy on 19 Feb 2009 11:12

    I'm a journalist, and this was extremely helpful. Thanks a bunch!!

  12. Posted by Ryan on 11 Jan 2009 13:45

    Here are some of my own:
    Star gazing at a movie premiere in Leceister square
    Tour the National gallery
    Eat in Chinatown
    Tour Buckingham palace
    Watch a game of tennis at Wimbledon
    Watch a game of rugby at twickenham
    Watch an event at wembley
    Watch a game of soccer
    Watch a game of cricket at lords
    Tour the tate britain
    Tour the tate modern
    Tour the british museum
    Sunbathe in Hyde Park
    Take photos of piccadilly circus
    Tour the london aquarium
    See a show at the theatre
    Buy tshirts and donuts from Camden markets
    Afternoon tea at the ritz
    Sherlock holmes museum
    Tour Westminster Abbey
    Check out spitalfield markets
    Take boat sightseeing tour
    Take bus sightseeing tour

  13. Posted by Julie on 17 Sep 2008 21:24

    Sir John Sloane Museum is an absolute must - compbined with sitting in Lincoln Inn Fields opposite and enjoying the island of peace in the middle of the city.

  14. Posted by Coachlydia on 11 Aug 2008 12:32

    Great tips and fun too! London is such a beautiful city and there is lots to do. Thanks.
    Lydia

  15. Posted by Remains Annominous on 01 Aug 2008 13:05

    I lived in london for 7 years, on the 11th im going back and i didnt know what to do there other than visit family=]. These tips we're a great help :)

Page:
| 1 | 2 | 3 |

Have your say