Social energy runs out fast when you're hitting borough market and tate modern in one day. These are my go-to spots when I need to decompress between tourist activities.

V&A members room on cromwell road is free to join and has comfortable chairs away from the sculpture galleries crowds. British library reading rooms at st pancras let you sit quietly even if you're not researching. Much better than costa coffee at king's cross.

Lincoln's inn fields garden has benches tucked behind plane trees where most tourists walk straight through toward sir john soane's museum without noticing the quiet corners.