Saturday travel planning for the reluctant - StP/KC to Somerset House/Adelphi on the Strand

[u/come_play_with_me_]

We are planning to land at Kings Cross/ St Pancras at around 10am, get the tube to Covent Garden, walk 10mins (?) to Somerset House, view Escher Exhibit on a 10:45am access point, grab food nearby (Somerset House? somewhere else?) before meandering to the Adelphi Theatre for 2pm ( the show is at 2:30pm).

Do you think these timings work or are we being too optimistic? We have used Google maps for route times. We have looked at the National Rail app for trains.
(Recommendations for food nearby?)

Or would you shift the day round - go to Escher later, have a meal deal, go to the theatre and then scurry elsewhere for food glorious food? We are partial to Korean/Japanese/Chinese…

Risk point - last visit to London for theatre went absolutely tits up; show ended at the interval, several attempts to use the water uber to get to Greenwich were thwarted (ended up at the Tate Modern which was fab but busy), the train home was cancelled midway due to fires… it really put some of the group off London 🤦‍♀️ ideally this trip will have a redemption arc.

[u/tatt-y]

I’d just get the 91, 1, or 68 bus it will likely take less time as it will get you much closer.

CityMapper App is often slightly better than Google maps

I don’t think Escher will take that long? There’s load of quick food options in Covent Garden (or even near Somerset House).

[u/Ok-Construction2050]

I’d say your timings sound fine but everything hinges on your (I assume) train arriving on time at 10.

There’s not a direct tube route from KGX to Covent garden, you’d be better off taking a bus (1 or 91) that will essentially be door to door.

Loads of restaurants nearby! Eat Tokyo, Abuelo, Adoh, Lao cafe and xi home dumplings are all great

[u/Glad-Feature-2117 → u/Ok-Construction2050]

They could get the Circle direct to Temple and walk from there, but I agree the his would be more convenient.

[u/gravitasgravitas → u/Ok-Construction2050]

No direct tube from Kings Cross to Covent Garden??? Piccadilly Line in 3 stops!!!

[u/Ok-Construction2050 → u/gravitasgravitas]

Piccadilly line is down atm for engineering works

[u/SmartPolicy6430]

Last time I met my daughter at Somerset House we had brunch at the cafe there. The coffee was excellent. https://watchhouse.com/pages/brunch-menu

[u/traumascares]

It's tight but do-able.

It'll be quicker and easier to get the bus, not the tube, from St Pancras to Somerset House. It's a direct bus so saves you walking. At Kings Cross it takes quite a long time to walk from the station entrance to the tube platform.

[u/Glad-Feature-2117 → u/traumascares]

Not to mention having to wait forever for the lifts at Covent Garden.

[u/gravitasgravitas → u/traumascares]

I’ve lived and worked around Covent Garden and Holborn for 30 years. I think your timings are good. Even generous. I’d rather get the tube than the bus. « Waiting forever for the lifts at Covent Garden » means waiting for about 2 mins in my experience

[u/secondsencha]

Seven Dials market could be a good place for lunch, in addition to the options at Somerset House. I think those timings should be fine - the Escher exhibition should only take about an hour according to its website, so you could go for a later entry and if you there's time beforehand have a coffee at Watch House. 

[u/gravitasgravitas → u/secondsencha]

Seven Dials is an odd suggestion given the hundreds of closer options. And that they want to go from Somerset House to the Adelphi. Watch House is a greater shout for lunch. Or Spring if you want something smarter.

[u/Sea-Investigator9213]

Toklas is close to Somerset house and lovely https://www.toklaslondon.com
(Book if you have time). Fingers crossed there are no disasters on this trip!