The London Guide

~Just touched down in Londontown~

‘Ello poppet!

I am in the thick of travel planning for ‘25 and heard you might be too? What’s on your hit list for this year?

This is an overdue guide to London, one of my favorite cities in the world! Be sure to check out Amsterdam HERE too.

A Little About London

London is an amazing blend of old and new. It’s a city filled with rich history & architecture, but simultaneously holds a significant place in modern culture & innovation.

The city is massive and I love that I can come back every few years and have an entirely different experience. This guide really only scratches the surface, but I’m hitting on the classics that are worth your time + some new age spots too.

Stay

As stated above, London is a massive city. However - as you may know, the London Underground, aka “The Tube” runs through every borough and makes getting around an absolute breeze. We LOVE the Tube!

I don’t have a specific area to recommend, as I think its highly dependent on your personality + what you’re planning to do. I suggest mapping a few of the things you want to see, and coordinating based on what you uncover.

I personally prefer AirBnBs when traveling abroad, as its nice to have more of a home-y space to spread out and unwind after long days of sightseeing vs a small hotel room.

Where I’ve stayed in the past in London -

• Southwark/South Bank - near the River Thames, Tate Modern and Shakespeare’s Globe - super central and walkable + easy to get to the tube

• Camden - a little further outside the city center so commute times were typically longer - but the trade was getting more of a neighborhood/suburb feel

Food/Drink

• Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

  • Borough Market - London is comprised of many food + shopping markets and they are all so so amazing. Truly one of my favorite parts of the city. Borough Market is my most favorite - incredible street foods and so fun to wander through! You truly can’t go wrong. Also a great place for souvenirs!

  • Dishoom - incredible Indian fusion food and there are tons of locations throughout the city. Dishoom is on everyone’s London list for a reason. It’s a must!

  • Rochelle Canteen - the dreamiest restaurant inside a former schoolhouse, complete with a lush garden. They have a seasonal menu and I always want to order every single dish. I recommend eating here any time of year, but most especially in the warmer months so you can enjoy the outdoor areas!

  • Sessions Arts Club - another beautiful restaurant set inside a historic building. Ugh it’s so stunning, everywhere you look. Seasonal tasting menu, book in advance!

  • Seven Dials Market - Gone are the days of getting even remotely excited about a food hall, I know… but Seven Dials hosts The Cheese Bar - a cheese conveyor belt restaurant !! It’s so so fun and the cheese pairings are wonderful, highly recommend.

  • Sunday Roast - If your trip falls over a Sunday, you simply must participate in a roast! A Sunday roast is a traditional British meal of roast meat, potatoes, vegetables, and gravy. It's often served with Yorkshire pudding and condiments like mint sauce or horseradish. And it is DELISH! Here are a few great pubs for roast -

    • The Marksman

    • The Bull & Last

    • Drapers Arms

    • Pig & Butcher

• Tea / Coffee / Drinks / Dessert

  • Sketch - Sketch had a really big moment a few years back & quickly became one of the most Instagrammable places in the world. However, I’m happy to report it’s worth the hype - their quirky High Tea is so fun. Don’t forget to visit ~the loo~ when you go!

  • Fortnum & Mason - best known for their teas, great for gifts!

  • Cahoots - a speakeasy sitting inside a former tube station. The drinks are delicious, great place to start or end a night! Reserve in advance.

  • Ben’s Cookies - delicious doughy cookies. There are tons scattered throughout the city and a lot of them are walk-up windows - great place to grab a quick sweet treat!

  • Monmouth Coffee Company - VERY good coffee

Points of Interest

• Museums - A great majority of museums in London are FREE and it’s a beautiful thing! Take advantage! Here are a few of my faves -

  • Tate Modern

  • Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A)

  • The British Museum

• Classics for a Reason

  • Buckingham Palace - Please note the Palace is only open during the summer when the Royals are on holiday, do your research & book far in advance! Otherwise - still a treat to stand outside and watch the changing of the guard - which takes place every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 10:45 AM and lasts around 45 minutes

  • Tower of London - If you have to do one cheesy tour while you’re in London… I do declare it’s the Beefeater tour at the Tower of London!! Great fun. Also - TOL is the home of the Crown Jewels!

  • Big Ben - the world’s most famous clock! Great for pics, classique

  • Westminster Abbey

• London In the Movies

  • Platform 9 3/4 @ King’s Cross Station

  • The Blue Door from “Notting Hill”

• Shopping

  • Harrod’s - Absolutely iconic and a must visit! A massive luxury department store filled with goodies. I personally adore the food hall & the children’s floor - sooo decadent and whimsical and fun!

  • Liberty London - high-end homewares & fabrics inside a beautiful historic building - a dream!

  • Worth the Weight - London has “kilo sales” - where you can shop vintage and pay by weight. I am fascinated by the concept!!

  • Shopping Areas

    • Covent Garden - a great place to browse and shop!

    • Shoreditch - a more hip, up-and-coming part of London. In recent years it’s become more “mainstream” but there are still a number of cool, unique boutique shops here

    • Portobello Road - Street of shops in Notting Hill

    • Oxford Street - a major shopping street in London, you could spend a whole day here

  • Markets

    • Columbia Road Flower Market - Sundays (get there early!)

    • Broadway Street Market - Saturdays

Aaaand now I want to go back to London ASAP! Feel free to reply directly to this email or drop a comment on Substack if you need any specific recs or guidance - here 4 u! See you soon xx