Monday is generally known as the worst day of the week. Not if you have a spare day to check out London it’s not! If you’re looking for things to do on a Monday in London then we’ve put together the perfect list of suggestions.
You will find Mondays in London are not as busy as they were a few years ago. Since the lockdown happened a lot of city workers now come into the office from Tuesday to Thursday so Mondays now allow for a little more breathing space when touring around London. Therefore you can get around without feeling like you’re shoulder to shoulder with too many people. Plus you get to shake off that gloomy feeling since there’s so much to see and do on a Monday in London.
Here are 9 things to do in London on Monday that will make you forget the blues.
1. Morning coffee at Covent Garden
Start your Monday on a caffeine high at Covent Garden. It’s a good place for a foodie too if you’re looking for some breakfast there are some great cafes around. It’s not just about the food either; it’s also home to some of the best coffee spots in London.
My advice would be to check out the back street cafes rather than the large chain ones like Costa, Caffe Concerto and the like. Get your lips around a good brew then walk through the market stalls, check out the market and the quirky little boutique shops. It might be early for some Covent Garden live performances at that time, but you could get lucky.
2. A Cultural visit to the British Museum
Escape the Monday monotony with a visit to the British Museum. This place has centuries of history packed into the huge rooms and the best thing is it’s free! Look upon the Rosetta Stone, and see a huge amount of treasures from around the globe, even if it seems crazy that one British Museum could own so many foreign artefacts.
3. Stroll along the Thames River
Take a leisurely walk along the Thames River and ideally try to get down to the Westminster area as you will see so many sights in a short distance such as Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, London Eye and the winding Thames River itself with a good skyline view.
There’s so much to see here, the bridge itself is often really busy so avoid walking across here if you want to steer clear of crowds as this is probably the busiest area in London. Otherwise, It’s a perfect way to ease into the week with a scenic backdrop.
4. Picnic in Hyde Park
If the weather is playing nice, it’s worth having a chilled picnic in Hyde Park. Grab some snacks, find a cosy spot by the Serpentine Lake, and soak up the greenery and fresh air. If it’s a bit cold or wet then there are also a few nice cafes surrounding the Serpentine so you can run in there for cover.
5. Take a trip up The Sky Garden or The Shard
Elevate your Monday with a stunning observation deck view of London. The thing with the Sky Garden is you need to hope a slot is available so you can go in. That’s not always the case. Though Monday offers a better opportunity than most days to get in. You can try a walk-in but there’s a chance you may not get access. The best thing about the Sky Garden is it’s free!
If you don’t secure a spot at the Sky Garden then you should pay for The Shard to see one of the big observation decks in London. This is smaller up top but is the highest viewpoint. It has a bar and 2 floors of observation deck so it is impressive but you can see more detail here when we compare both.
6. Chill at Camden Market
For a taste of London’s alternative scene, head to Camden Market. Have a little wander through the quirky stalls, grab some street food, and enjoy the busy atmosphere. If you need a little calm here then there are plenty of quiet pubs along the river to chill in.
7. Catch a West End Show
Turn Monday into a mini-weekend by catching a matinee or evening show in London’s glittering West End. From musicals to classic plays, there’s always something happening in London theatres on a Monday as a lot of the theatres are closed on a Sunday.
8. Comedy and cabaret on a Monday in London
If you’re looking for a laugh then there’s some good comedy options still alive and kicking on a Monday.
- The king of comedy venues is Soho Theatre and is also a busy bar so there’s always an act here to see.
- Soho Theatre’s a good shout for comedy on a Monday, which are as busy as most nights
- Jester Jesters in Farringdon’s Betsey Trotwood is on Monday’s and has a load of new comedians starting up.
- Happy Mondays at the Amersham Arms in New Cross every Monday is an option in the south
- Camden Comedy Club puts on stand up shows on some Mondays, which are at the Camden Head pub in Camden Town.
9. Live music on a Monday in London
Naturally a lot of music venues take a Monday night off, but there’s still a few gems to be found that are open.
- VICE’s pub the Old Blue Last is known for its Monday entertainment — sometimes they’re free too.
- Soho jazz joint Ronnie Scott’s usually has two Monday shows on each floor of its venue.
- There’s more Monday jazz to be had at Plaquemine Lock.
- Windmill Brixton put on a good set of music acts on a Monday.
- Toilet bar (yes it was a toilet) CellarDoor hosts the brilliant God Save the Queen cabaret night every Monday.
- No more Monday blues with Ain’t Nothin’ But – the Blues Bar every Monday and it’s free entry too.
There you have it, plenty of ideas for things to do in London on a Monday. Ease into the week with some chilled sightseeing, cultural wonders or just a bit of good old live entertainment to shake off the Monday blues. Enjoy!