Yes, forgot to mention that Greenwich is great. All nerds should go to the observatory to see the Harrison watches featured in the book “Longitude” (also famous to connoisseurs of British TV for their inclusion in an episode of “Only Fools and Horses”).
The National Portrait Gallery is wonderful, very close to the National Gallery (in case you’re up for doing two art museums on the same day). Their cafe is a great spot to pick up an affordable, satisfying lunch.
Their restaurant is pricier, but you can get a nice tea for about 30 pounds, which is half what it can cost in a hotel. I like eating in museums ? .
I recommend doing the Portrait Gallery on this trip because it’s closing in June for three years (!) for extensive renovations: https://www.npg.org.uk/whatson/news2/inspiring-people
Not just to see the watches (Chronometers) but to take in a tour by enthusiastic and funny docents to hear the whole story.
Something fun (and different)… book an igloo for a meal!
https://www.coppaclub.co.uk/towerbridge/
We did it for breakfast and it was great! (it was the entire family, so not sure it makes sense for only 2 people, but it is very fun).
@lucyvanpelt the Igloo (and menu) look amazing - they’re unavailable again until February.
@justamom bummer.
a few other thoughts:
- she wants to get out of the city. What about a day trip to Oxford? Easy to get the train there. We did a private tour (about 1 1/2 or 2 hours?) and our tour guide was a graduate student. Not only did she give us city history, it was interesting to learn about how their educational system is structured. With her, we went into many quads that we would have never wandered into.
https://www.oxfordwalkingtours.com/
- If you are a reader, plan to hit up a bookstore! It is always fun to discover new books and authors that don't make it across the pond, Foyles is a great one. Plan to bring a few home!
- Try a Treasure Hunt at a Museum! We've done these and they are really fun! We divide our family into 2 groups and make it competitive - look and see if there are any "public hunt" days where there might be multiple teams? We've done them both at the British Museum and the V&A and they are both good places for it. https://thatmuse.com/va/
- like solving puzzles? feeling like you are on a game show? Do the Crystal Maze! We did it and it was really fun! https://the-crystal-maze.com/
- if the weather isn't awful, a great way to get your bearings and a sense of where things are is to take a bike tour. We did it when it was cold, and it included a stop in a cafe for hot tea/chocolate. Biking is mostly in parks and you get some history along the way. https://www.fattiretours.com/london
- Is she a Harry Potter fan? You could take a day trip to the Studios where it was filmed (but it is a hassle to take public transportation there). Why not a Muggles Walking Tour? https://www.tourformuggles.com/
- If you like walking tours, here are some great ones. Maybe plan one later in the day (since you won't have much daylight?) https://www.walks.com/
- Someone else mentioned the Houses of Parliament tour. It is really neat. Book in advance though . https://www.parliament.uk/visiting/visiting-and-tours/tours-of-parliament/
- What about the Cabinet War Rooms? They were the underground rooms that Churchill worked from during the war. They have been left almost the same as when they left when they moved back above ground. All underground, so good to do later in the day when it is already dark. https://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/churchill-war-rooms
I’m sure I’ve overwhelmed you now. I, too, am a trip planner extraordinaire. I love to find something unique and different for each trip to be a “aha” thing.