Travel Guide | London
I love London. It is my favorite place to stop over for a couple days anytime I fly through Europe. Maybe it’s the accents, my fascination with the royal family or the mix of old and new design and architecture. It’s also probably because there are endless things to see and do in this city, which fuels me! It is a lively and beautiful city, with so much history and culture. London is magical to me. We have been 4 or 5 times now and there is still so much more I have yet to discover in England. Here are my recommendations based on what I’ve seen and done:
London Checklist:
Try a scotch egg
Attend Afternoon Tea
Eat a meat pie at a local pub
Have fish & chips
Attend the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace
Visit The Natural History Museum
Explore The National Gallery
Ride the tube & mind the gap!
Take a picture in front of Big Ben
Snap a photo in a phonebooth
See Stonehenge
Watch Tower Bridge being raised
Stay:
My favorite areas of London to stay in include:
Covent Garden - pricy, but great central location, perfect for first time visitors
Soho - central, bustling, night life, many dining options
South Kensington - mellow, good for families, safest
London Bridge/South Bank - for tourists, near museums, Borough Market, artsy
There are far too many hotels to list, it really just depends on what area of the city you want to stay in and your budget. I recommend checking out this post by LondonxLondon or this post by Santorini Dave for a solid list of hotels in the best London areas.
I will also note that when we have an early flight or arrive late, we usually get a hotel next to the airport for a night. It’s much cheaper, and more convenient. It is about an hour from the airport to the city center, so it is more relaxing this way. Sofitel is the best option at both Gatwick and Heathrow Airport.
Eat:
Breakfast
Drury (Bloomsbury) - tiny and cozy coffee shop with incredible breakfast and lunch! Try the french toast! Huge drink menu with espresso, smoothies and cold pressed juice. You have to wait to snag a table, but it’s worth it. Hit up the British Museum after eating.
The Locals Chelsea - casual, rustic cafe perfect for brunch and healthy options. Matcha pancakes sold me. A huge variety of options for all day dining, including chicken sandwiches, turkish eggs and eggs benedict.
Breakfast Club (multiple) - enjoy a classic English breakfast or American comfort foods. Big selection, casual spot.
Fortitude Bakehouse (Bloomsbury)- for a cinnamon roll, donut or something savory like a berber omelette. Can’t go wrong here!
Lunch/Dinner
Nando’s (multiple) - A popular London chain. Heavenly chicken with peri-peri sauce. Easy, last minute meal, that is always good!
BAO (multiple) - Intimate restaurant with cozy Taiwanese food. Lots of types of bao buns and a variety of other unique dishes.
Circolo Popolare - Italian restaurant with the COOLEST & most photogenic interiors! Eat here just to see and experience this work of art! The food is also incredible- fresh pizza and pasta. Book EARLY.
Dishoom (multiple) - Bombay style, sit down restaurant with vintage and glamorous decor & the BEST Indian street food. I LOVE this place. Worth the long wait!
Brother Marcus (multiple) - Eastern Meditteranean cuisine. Toasted fluffy pita bread, halloumi with orange & thyme infused honey, tahini & date custard pancakes! I can’t get over the menu. They do a healthy & creative brunch, and a cozy, mouthwatering dinner. I would eat here daily!
Bancone (multiple) - Simple & impressive housemade pasta dishes in a small restaurant with bar counter seating. Casual.
Other
Borough Market - A food hall with a huge variety of British foods, produce, artisanal baked goods and more. Try traditional mince meat pies, scotch eggs, and fresh seafood.
Eat at a British Pub - Eat some classic British fish and chips, meat pies, and pints! Lots of options all over, but a couple suggestions are: The White Swan or The White Lion, The Porcupine, The Old Bank of England, The Admiralty, or Mr. Fogg’s Tavern.
Afternoon Tea - A few good options: Fortnum & Mason for a elegant and classy tea, Sketch for an artsy & modern tea (be sure to go to the bathroom here), Pret-a-Portea @ the Berkeley for fashion inspired desserts- think shoes and purse shaped treats, The Drawing Rooms @ the Ampersand Hotel for Science Afternoon Tea for bites inspired by the Natural History Museum - think jellies in petri dishes, chocolate spacemen and dinosaur biscuits. *Be sure to make reservations well in advance for all afternoon teas.
See & Do:
I suggest staying anywhere from 2-4 days in London. That is enough time to try some food, hit up the tourist spots, and see most of the city. After that, go somewhere quieter and more relaxing :)
Parliament Street - See the government buildings, take a tour of Westminster Abbey, hear the chimes from Big Ben and walk down to street to Trafalgar Square.
Tower Bridge & Tower of London - The iconic bridge over the Thames River that is a must see. Great views of the city. You can also go on the top of the bridge for better views. Next to the bridge is the Tower of London - a medieval castle and home to the crown jewels. I highly recommend paying for admission here, there is a lot to see!
Buckingham Palace - you can tour the palace, watch the changing of the guards, walk around St. James’ Park.
St. Paul’s Cathedral - An iconic London church, that is worth going inside. The ornate details are stunning - be sure to climb to the top of the dome!
London Museums - One thing I love about London is that the museums are FREE! I recommend seeing the Natural History Museum, The National Gallery, The Tate Modern, & The British Museum.
Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens - Relax and have a picnic at this large park in the middle of the city.
Piccadilly Circus - I love the hustle and bustle of this busy intersection where you can find shops, restaurants and night life. Think, NY’s Time’s Square.
Portobello Road - Shop the market, peruse the shops, and explore the neighborhood around it - its charming & colorful. So photogenic.
Covent Garden - a covered piazza with shops and restaurants. A fun area to walk through.
Sky Garden - Free admission (book reservation online, well in advance!) to the beautiful gardens, high above London. Best city views! There is also a restaurant and terrace at the top.
Skate @ Somerset House (winter only) - Book tickets in advance for this magical outdoor ice skating rink in the middle of London.
Shop At Harrods - or rather, window shop haha. This high end department store is worth popping into. The building itself is beautiful and I especially love the market with the highest quality foods and delicacies.
Day trip to Bath, England - Bath is such a charming small town. It is located an hour and a half by train from London. It is known for and named after it’s Roman baths. Go see the Roman Bath museum, and after go spend a couple hours soaking in modern pools, Thermae Bath & Spa. They have a rooftop pool, a cafe, multiple saunas and a huge roman bath on the bottom floor. It is the BEST way to get over jetlag and relax! The town is much quieter than London and great for shopping and exploring.
Day trip to the Cliffs of Dover - an hour by train from London, it’s pretty easy to get to. Explore the town of Dover: stop by the Dover Castle, then walk to the white cliffs of Dover. A great place to relax and enjoy the coastline.
Day trip to Stonehenge - in around 2 hours from London, you’ll be able to see this famous neolithic monument. Check it off your bucketlist!