Dear Lazyweb...

[caddyman]

...I would crave your indulgence and ask your aid, if I may.

In a couple of weeks we will be visited over a period of three nights (a little like Scrooge's Christmas Ghost), by my Mum, sister and 14 year old niece. That's good and I am looking forward to seeing them and showing them around the Gin Palace.

That's ten minutes of the visit catered for, then.

I'm not too worried about my sister and niece; I am happy to trail them around town and show them things for some of the time and the rest they can manage on their own - I'll give them tips on how to get from A to B and back again, so that shouldn't be a problem (I hope). What I can't do is show them around and look after Mum at the same time. Equally, I can't -and don't want to - leave Mum at the Gin Palace to fend for herself while the rest of us march off to see the wonders of London. Mum is 83 and increasingly forgetful. She is also not as fast on her feet as once she was. If the weather is hot, I shall have to deal with that, too. She doesn't get on well with excessive heat.

Anyway, the indulgence I crave is this: does anyone have any suggestions on places of interest that can be reached in London with minimal amounts of walking from the nearest Tube station? Even better, a couple of interesting places reasonably close together.

Any and all suggestions gratefully received; this managing of the generations is not an easy thing to achieve.

Comments

[keresaspa.livejournal.com]

Covent Garden is nice and more or less beside the tube station. Go early and you might avoid the worst of the heat. Or Green Park station and show her the sights in Green Park, which would probably be a little quieter and less warm. Might even get to Buck House if she is feeling sprightly.

[failing-angel.livejournal.com]

As I recall you're on the Central Line, in which case there's the British Museum (an exhibition on Medieval Religious Items has just opened) - the BM is just round the corner from TCR so there shouldn't be problems with directions.

Alternatively, there's Kew - just over the bridge from the tube station - admittedly it's on the District Line, but Mile End makes the change easy.

[thalinoviel.livejournal.com]

Kew has also got wheelchair/ mobility scooter rental and a little land-train around the main attractions. I took my 89yo grandma round it fairly easily. Don't miss the amazing Marianne North gallery.

[keith-london.livejournal.com]

What are her interests? No use taking her to somewhere where she might be bored. One convenient way to see the sights might be to do one of those tourist buses that take you round all the London landmarks. Or cheaper, catch the Routemaster No 9 (or 11?). I for one would enjoy that! (NB Kew garden is actually a LONG way from the tube station. You could catch a cab from the tube station I suppose. I think they sometimes do a train ride around the grounds). Other suggestions - brass band concert in St James's Park (plus possibly own picnic), River Thames boat ride, London Eye and Southbank Royal Festival Hall area (where there's plenty to see, and cafes to refresh and rest), ride on the Docklands Light railway, London Wetlands ("a great day out, whatever the weather"), Parliament (can you get in on special pass?), IMAX cinema to watch a movie in 3D.

For the more agile, how about Gorilla Circus Flying Trapeze Classes? :-)

[w00hoo.livejournal.com]

I know a number of people who are well enough organised that they do a bus tour on day 1 when they get to a new city and then use that to decide where looks good for the following days (also gives you an idea of the size and shape of the touristy bit of a new city.)

Aside from what does she like, how mobile is she? No point suggesting somewhere close to a tube that's all walking anyway if walking is the problem...

[fractalgeek.livejournal.com]

We found the London Eye to be particularly good while my mother was wheelchair bound. They'd probably be good with "can't walk far" - CALL THE DESK IN ADVANCE.

[caffeine-fairy.livejournal.com]

No suggestions, but I can borrow a wheelchair for her if that will help.

[thalinoviel.livejournal.com]

Head to Trafalgar Square for touristy photos with the lions, do the National Gallery and/or National Portrait Gallery, early dinner at Cafe in the Crypt before an evening concert at St Martin in the Fields? I know there are gallery stools at ng and npg, I don't know if they have wheelchairs you can borrow or whether your mama would be amenable to one.