Just received the latest issue of The Loop, the news mailout from Transport for London. By pure coincidence they have a big article about “reclaiming your lunch” with lots of great suggestions on things to do on your lunch hour. You do take an hour lunch and get away from the computer, don’t you? Well, you should. At least now and then.

Since The Loop doesn’t really have a web presence other than a few placeholder pages on the TFL web site where you can sign up for the printed magazine and the newsletter (duh, you have the content, put it up online so geeks like me can link to it!) I will here take the liberty to republish some of their great tips. Since they are a public organization I am sure they won’t mind me spreading their great tips. Please don’t sue me for copyright infringement TFL, this information is too good to just sit in a printed magazine…

Little did I know there is so much fun stuff to do over lunch within comfortable walking/tubing distance from Waterloo. Hey, it is great to have an office in one of the London transport hubs. Of course you should use public transport to get there, after all, they put all these tips together. Check out the Journey Planner for good routes.

Some of the highlights:

Hang out with famous writers

Grab a book and trundle down to Foyles’ Charing Cross branch. It’s a perfect lunchtime escape and a great place to find writers doing book signings. Check the website to find out who will be signing books next.

113-119 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0EB. 020 7437 5660.

Escape to the theatre

Forget the dramas in the office and watch a play at the Lunchbox Theatre instead. For only £5 you can watch anything from old classics and comedy to brand new work. You can take your lunch or buy from their cafe. The theatre is just off Fleet Street and plays last around 45 minutes so you won’t get into trouble with the boss.

Bridewell Theatre, Bride Lane, EC4Y 8EQ. 020 7353 3331.

Go to a concert

You can’t beat music in beautiful surroundings, so check out a lunchtime recital in the recently revamped St. Martin-in-the-Fields church. The church is always keen to promote new talent, so you migh find yourself listening to cello or piano soloists or choirs and brass quintets. Each recital is about 45 minutes long and normally takes place on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Concerts are free, but there is a suggested donation of £3.50. Doors open at 12:30 for a 13:00 start.

St Martin-in-the-Fields church, Trafalgar Square, WC2N 4JJ. 020 7766 1100.

Grab some free grub

Get a lunchtime feed at Borough Market when stallholders tempt customers to buy with tasty free samples. Munch everything from traditional British cheeses, pies and cider to exotic highlights from around the world. If you are lucky there’ll be no need to shell out for lunch!

Borough Market, London Bridge, 8 Southwark Street, SE1 1TL. 020 7407 1002.

Sail across the river

And now for something completely different, why not catch a boat somewhere? It could be to historical Greenwich, the Tate Modern, the South Bank or as far as Hampton Court! There are even lunchtime cruises where you can tuck into a three-course meal before you head back to the office. Go to tfl.gov.uk/river for timetables and prices.

Feed your mind

If you fancy munching your BLT and simultaneously engaging your grey matter, then head to University College London for one of their free lunchtime lectures. Simply pick a lecture of interest, which could be anything from “Still no black in the Union Jack” to “The future of Brazil”, turn up at the Darwin Lecture Theatre in good time (admittance is first-come, first-served), then sit back and actually learn something. Lectures are 45 minutes long and start at 13:15.

UCL, Gower Street, WC1E 6BT. 020 7679 7675.