Your guide in visiting London, England
What to see in London?
How to get to London?
Where to stay in London?
Where to shop in London?
Where to eat in London?
WHAT TO SEE IN LONDON
Like any major city, everyone will have their own favorite thing to do and London is no different. Spending time in the British Museum, the Tate Modern, the Victoria & Albert Museum or the Churchill War Rooms maybe the main reason why some want to visit London. The sights of Trafalgar Square, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Palace of Westminster (The Parliament), the Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London will draw many visitors to London year after year. Maybe some will look for less popular sights such as St. Bride’s Church where actually the idea of the tiered wedding cake came from.
Every time I visit London I wonder how London will look like today without the bombing by Nazi Germany during the Second World War (The Blitz). Although, I am amazed that many sights today like St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower Bridge escaped The Blitz unharmed. There is a story of how the London firefighters at that time acted as heros to save the likes of St. Paul’s Cathedral and preventing it to be engulfed in flames.
London is a great walking city. Walking around the neighborhood of Notting Hill, Portobello Market, Camden Market and Covent Garden will be a fantastic way to spend a day. Hyde Park and Regent Park will be an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Christmas is also a great time to visit the city as major streets are decorated with Christmas lighting. Also not to be missed is Christmas outdoor ice skating at the Somerset House.
HOW TO GET TO LONDON
Heathrow Airport is one of the busiest in the world. Gatwick Airport is also another option with a big Easyjet presence. Flight to/from Gatwick Airport is usually cheaper because airport tax at Gatwick Airport is cheaper than Heathrow Airport. Although Gatwick Airport is a bit further from Central London at almost 50KM south of the city. Getting to Central London from the airports can get quite expensive. Both Heathrow Express and Gatwick Express train services is one of the most expensive airport train services in the world. Heathrow Express do have advanced booking discounts for booking upwards to 90 days in advance. Although, you could take the tube (subway) from Heathrow Airport to Central London but that would take you close to an hour. Despite the cost, traffic in Central London can get quite congested so do take that into consideration if you decide to take a bus or a private hired car. Many people arriving into London airports would consider using a hired car service which are basically private companies providing chauffeured service from the Airport to any destination in the city. They are a very good deal if you are traveling in a bigger group or even only as a couple. I use Just Airports services often and they do provide a very good service at a very reasonable price.
WHERE TO STAY IN LONDON
Belgraves London – A Thompson Hotel
If you want to stay near Knightsbridge, then this is the hotel for you. Belgraves is a lovely quiet neighborhood and a walk to Knightsbridge tube station is only 10 minutes away. Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Hyde Park is also a stone’s throw away.
Located beside the River Thames on South Bank, Mondrian London is a hotel designed by the British designer Tom Dixon. Located right on the River Thames, the back door open right on to the South Bank Walk that leads to all the way to the Palace of Westminster to the west and the Tower Bridge to the east. Less than 15 minutes walk to Waterloo Station or across the Thames to Temple Station. A walk to Covent Garden will take no more than 30 minutes across the Waterloo Bridge. The hotel is beautifully designed with an award winning bar and roof top bar to go along with its well appointed rooms.
If you are staying in London for a longer period of time, an apartment rental maybe an option for some. Although with all apartment rentals, there are no services like a hotel where you need to clean everything up yourself in the apartment before returning it. Check-in and check-out times are also quite strict too where you need to get the keys and return the keys at specific times. However, it maybe a great option if you do not need hotel services and can be a great deal too if you have a large family. Uber London Apartment have great locations across London and will be a great choice if you decide to stay in an apartment rather than a hotel.
WHERE TO SHOP IN LONDON
Well we all would love to do a bit of shopping in London. Below is a list of some popular department stores and shopping street in London.
Harrods, Knightsbridge – The historic London department store that everyone flocks to. The food hall is very popular and of course its on souvenir shop as well.
Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge – Another well known department store in London. The Fifth Floor Cafe is a nice place to have lunch or tea.
Selfridges, Oxford Street – A department store more catered to the younger crowd, the Selfridges on Oxford street is their flagship store and is the second largest department store in the UK after Harrods.
Liberty, Great Marlborough Street / Regent Street – Another historic London department store focusing mainly on luxury good and also famous for its own prints and fabrics. It is also housed in a historical Tudor revival building that was built in 1924
Fortnum & Mason, Piccadilly – Fortnum’s is founded as a grocery store three centuries ago and later turned into a full department store. People still flock there because of their food hall which sells their own biscuits, teas, confectionery and sweets. Their Tea Salon is quite popular too for afternoon teas.
THE STREETS
Oxford Street – The great shopping street in London where you can find all the high street shops. Starting from Marble Arch, you will walk past Selfridges and then towards Oxford Circus station. The intersection of Oxford street and Regent Street is where the Topshop/Topman flagship shop is.
Regent Street – From Oxford Street, you will continue your shopping spree down Regent Street past Liberty Department store and towards Piccadilly Circus or make a detour to Carnaby Street first.
Carnaby Street – A pedestrian shopping street parallel to Regent street behind Liberty.
Piccadilly – From Piccadilly Circus you could walk east towards Covent Garden down Shaftsbury Avenue or west down Piccadilly where you will pass by a great fresh-dried fruits/nuts, chocolates coffee shop called Carpo Piccadilly. You will also pass by Fortnum & Mason department store and further down; the restaurant Wolseley.
Old Bond Street and New Bond Street РFrom Piccadilly you could turn back north on Old Bond and New Bond street and that area are where a lot of the luxury fashion brands are located. Dover Street is also a very fashionable street where you can find the retail concept store Dover Street Market created by Rei Kawakubo of Japanese fashion label Comme des Gar̤ons.
Covent Garden – Covent Garden and its surround streets (Floral Street, Long Acre, Neal Street etc.) is a great area for any shoppers. Floral street is where Paul Smith, the famous British fashion designer, all started and now Paul Smith have multiple shops on this street.
Knightsbridge/Sloan Street/Brompton Road – This area is usually synonymous with luxury fashion and where you can find Harrods and Harvey Nichols department stores.
WHERE TO EAT IN LONDON
In a city like London with so many restaurants, it maybe difficult to look for one that suit your taste. Below is a list of restaurant that will try to ease your decision making process.
Riding House Cafe – Comfort food and all-day brasserie classics in quirky, retro-inspired surrounds. Near Oxford Circus.
Sexy Fish – Swanky, art-filled setting for robata-grilled fish, raw-bar items & more, plus a variety of drinks. Between Hyde Part and Piccadilly Circus.
Aubaine – All-day French bistro fare with multiple branches. The branch near Piccadilly Circus have an outdoor terrace.
Hakkasan – The original Hakkasan at Hanway Place (Tottenham Court Road Station) where they serve one of the best Dim Sums in town. Modern Cantonese cuisine. There is another branch near Bond Street.
Wolseley – Modern European food, afternoon tea and grand art deco glamour. Piccadilly.
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal Mandarin Oriental – Henston Blumenthal, the celebrity chef’s outpost in the Mandarin Oriental holds two Michelin stars. Recipes from 13th century. Relaxed atmosphere by Hyde Park. Knightsbridge.
Carpo Piccadilly – Fresh-dried fruits,nuts,chocolates and coffee. Piccadilly.
Barrafina – Cosy, diner-style tapas bar with stools for Spanish small plates and cocktails. Charing Cross Station.
Terroirs – French, Spanish and Italian small plates, cured meats and mains, with natural and organic wines. Charing Cross Station.
NOPI – Middle Eastern and Asian-inspired sharing plates at Ottolenghi‘s all-day brasserie. Piccadilly Circus.
Yauatcha – Contemporary fusion Chinese dining with expertly-crafted dim-sum and handmade sweets. Between Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus.
Chilturn Firehouse – Chiltern Firehouse offers contemporary, ingredient-focused cooking, with an underlying American accent by Michelin-starred chef Nuno Mendes in an ex-firehouse turned designer hotel. Between Selfridges and Regent Park.
Monocle Cafe – Coffee-house serving sandwiches, snacks/meals and elegant patisserie by Monocle the lifestyle magazine. Between Selfridges and Regent Park across from Chilturn Firehouse.
Berners Tavern – Jason Atherton‘s upmarket Modern British restaurant in Ian Schrager’s London Edition Hotel. Beautiful dining room. Oxford Street between Oxford Circus and Tottenham Court Road.
Golden Union – Old fashion British Fish & Chips at its best. Oxford Street near Oxford Circus.
Ronnie Scott‘s – Jazz and blues bar with world’s top musicians. Between Leicester Square and Tottenham Court Road.
Quo Vadis – Modern British cuisine in beautiful dining rooms with stained-glass windows. Between Leicester Square and Tottenham Court Road.
Kopapa – All-day cafe for brunch and small-plate lunch and dinner menu. Covent Garden.
Flesh & Buns – Izakaya style venue serving steamed buns with meat or seafood fillings. Japanese fusion. Covent Garden.
Moti Mahal – Great Indian Food. Covent Garden.
Balthazar – French brasserie from New York. Covent Garden.
Duck & Waffle – 24 hours eatery serving British and European Cuisine on a 40th-floor space with floor-to-ceiling windows. Heron Tower, near the Gherkin. Liverpool Street.
New Street Grill – Sunday roast in an 18th-century warehouse with walled courtyard. Near the Gherkin. Liverpool Street.
Caravan King’s Cross – Industrial chic decor, an upbeat vibe and eclectic global cooking in an old granary building. King’s Cross.
OXO Restaurant & Bar – Great view of the River Thames on the top floor of OXO Tower. South Bank
Tate Modern Restaurant – Great view of London and St Paul’s on the top floor of Tate Modern. South Bank.
Mondrian Hotel Sea Containers / Den / DANDELYAN / Rumpus Room – In the chic Tom Dixon designed Mondrian Hotel. Sea Containers serve a great cheeseburger. Dandelyan is an award winning bar by Mr Lyan. Rumpus Room has a great view of St. Paul’s for a great night out. South Bank
