A few of my favorite places in London
Confession: I’ve been to London six times, and I’ve never been to Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge or Westminster Cathedral. Other than my first time in London (a one-night jaunt from Paris with my mom when I was 19, where our main priority was a proper fish and chips!), my trips have all been to visit friends who live in the city. It’s been more about catching up over cocktails, strolling through their neighborhood markets and popping into the cutest boutiques.
I do try to experience something new each time I’m in town, whether that’s a museum, a neighborhood or a particularly photogenic café I’ve spotted on Instagram. But I mostly prioritize catching up with good friends, and lean on them to show me their favorite spots in their city. Luckily for me, they’re generally up for adventures as well! Although this is by no means a comprehensive guide to London—I’m sure many “tourist must-do’s” are missing—these are a few of the best things I’ve discovered, and the things I go back to do again and again.
What to Do
One of my favorite things about England is that most of the museums are free! It makes it a lot more appealing to pop in for a bit of culture, even if you don’t want to spend all day there. And in a city that’s often gray and drizzly, the museums can be a wonderful warm escape.
My personal favorite museum is the Tate Modern. Located on the Thames, it has an excellent permanent collection and a giant airy foyer that’s often host to incredible experiential exhibits. And it’s free! I like getting there right at 10am on a weekday and spending an hour wandering through before it gets crowded. Bonus: there’s a rooftop deck with a great view as well!
The V&A Museum is all about art and design, housed in a sprawling 19th-century Victorian building. Its collections are made up of more than 5,000 years of creativity and innovation in fashion, architecture, furniture, photography, sculpture, jewelry and more.
The British Museum is home to many treasures from around the world (aka the British colonial empire), like the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian sculptures and Athenian sculptures. To be honest, it’s not totally my cup of tea: I prefer modern art to artifacts, but it’s certainly one of the greatest array of cultures and collections on offer.
No matter the season, Hyde Park is a wonderful breath of fresh air in the middle of the city. Although it’s a gorgeous sprawling park with lakes and tree-lined paths and lots of dogs frolicking, the most interesting part is Speakers Corner, where just about anyone can literally hop up on their soapbox and engage passersby in discussion.
Tucked away behind Kensington Palace, the Sunken Garden are a gorgeous example of a proper English garden. Best to experience in spring and summer!
My deep and abiding love of Ferris wheels requires that I recommend the London Eye. The best view of Big Ben and the Thames!
And for an adrenaline rush with a view, ArcelorMittal Orbit is the tallest slide in the world! Located in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (about a 20-minute tube ride outside of the city), it features a skyline view of London in addition to a 40-second ride of vertical glee.
And of course, you must wander through all of the pastel facades of Notting Hill! Perhaps my favorite neighborhood in all of London.
Where to Eat & Drink
There are a few quintessentially British foods that are worth experiencing: namely, a fancy afternoon tea, fish and chips at a pub and a Scotch Egg. I also try to eat as much Indian food as possible whenever I’m in town!
One of the places that came most highly recommended—and which I always make a priority as one of my first meals in town—is Dishoom. It’s a trendy Indian-inspired restaurant with several locations throughout the city, and the ambiance is as warm and welcoming as the food is delicious.
Sketch is one of those spots that seems more designed for Instagram than for actual food and drink consumption, but it’s actually tastes quite good. It’s famous for its afternoon tea in the Gallery (make reservations in advance!), but all of the meals and all of the rooms are fantastic.
There are plenty of options for fancy afternoon tea, particularly at the nice hotels. I celebrated my birthday earlier this year with tea at the Ritz-Carlton, which was a delight! Although it’s not particularly cheap, I’m always surprised by how filling tea sandwiches, cakes, tea and champagne can be—and the surroundings are positively regal.
There’s no shortage of pubs in London, and they tend to be everything you dream they would be: decorated with flower pots during the summer, stocked with mulled wine and a roaring fireplace during the winter. Although it will be tough to go anywhere and not get a decent pint, pub food can range widely—from excellent gastronomic fare to things that are only edible because they are fried.
I especially love the Churchill Arms: the flower-drenched exterior is arguably the most photogenic in the city. Inside, it’s warm and cozy with plenty of ales on draft—and has a Thai restaurant tucked in the back.
Another excellent option is The Jugged Hare. There’s no shortage of taxidermy on the walls and standard but delicious gastro-pub fare, like steak-and-ale pies.
For decadent cakes and decorative lattes and the most delightful pink exterior, head to Peggy Porschen in Mayfair.
For an incredible selection of just about every international delight, Old Spitafelds Market is full of adorable food stands (as well as clothing, antique and vintage shops).
I also love the neighborhood markets that pop up all across the city on the weekends: they’re the best spots to discover local specialties and artisans. The Broadway Market is especially good: don’t miss the haggis sandwiches at Deeney’s (the vegetarian one is incredible), the colorful array of meringues at Meringue Girls or the Scotch eggs at Finest Fayre.
For colorful lattes (golden! rose! topped with edible glitter!), check out the café in the front of Aida boutique or the pink-and-plant vegetarian café Palm Vaults.
Where to Shop
Although it’s most famed for the Sunday flower market, Columbia Road is worth visiting on other days as well (and perhaps even more enjoyable when it’s not so crowded). It’s lined with adorable antique stores, home good boutiques and art galleries.
The travel-focused Daunt Books has several locations around the city, but the most beautiful one—with famed skylight and wooden details—is on Marylebone.
One of the things London does extremely well: department stores! Selfridges, Liberty, Harrods: they’re all epic temples of fashion and architecture. My personal favorite is Liberty, with its wooden exterior and several floors of home, fashion and beauty delights.
What are your favorite spots in London to see, eat, drink and shop?
