London

[Soundog]

So sorry to clog the forum up with this enquiry, but I just can't think of a better place to ask.

For obvious reasons (to everyone that knows me) I'll be in London tomorrow. I'll be accompanied by my dear mother, who'll see AC/DC for the third time (hey, she's younger than Mr. Johnson) but London and a-plane-from-the-inside for the very first time. I'm seriously looking forward to this.

So far, our retardedly stereotypical list of thing to do is made up of:
- eating fish and chips
- having afternoon tea (ideally with scones, sandwiches, the whole shebang)

So - can anyone tell me where best to do this? I know that some 'classic' spots to do the latter are Harrod's and Fortnum & Mason as well as several upscale hotels (which probably are out of the question because I do not intend to bring a tie), but I also read that these teas could also be regarded as overpriced tourist traps. I'm torn between running straight into them and... errr... not. Depends on the alternatives.

Also, if anyone has any more (retardedly stereotypical) recommendations, I'm very open to them!

Thanks a lot!

[lob]

Pie and Mash at Manze's or a salt beef bagel down brick lane.

BUT as it is a Friday go to Borough Market, more good food and drink than you could cope with in a lifetime.

[vickyp]

I have a friend who was taken out for the whole 'high tea' thing in one of these posh hotels (I think it was the Dorchester or the Ritz or one of those). It sounded very very posh and also very very expensive. Unless your mum really wants to go somewhere with snooty waiters I'd save your money.

I would however recommend a trip to the British Museum. The main atrium bit inside is beautiful since they've re-done it and they do nice tea and cake. Plus it's free to get in and you can look at as little or as much museum stuff as you like. There's an informal cafe bit or a very posh restaurant bit up the stairs http://www.britishmuseum.org/visiting/eat.aspx
They even do a proper high tea with champers if that's what you're looking for.

National Portrait Gallery is really good too.

[Soundog]

Pie and Mash at Manze's or a salt beef bagel down brick lane.

BUT as it is a Friday go to Borough Market, more good food and drink than you could cope with in a lifetime.

Hi lob, thanks for the tips!

I forgot again how big London is and how time consuming to get around if you don't exactly knwo your way, so we only made it to the Beigel Bakery (tasty... though not exactly a postcard motif) and a Wetherspoons pub along the way for quite alright Fish&Chips, but I've got Borough Market down for my next London visit!

[Soundog]

Unless your mum really wants to go somewhere with snooty waiters I'd save your money.

Hey Vicky,
thanks! However, we had already decided the evening before that afternoon tea wouldn't really fit the bill on that day. Maybe another time, rip off or not. I'll make a note of the British Museum for the next time I'm over... just after Borough Market.