Em’s London List
Anyone who knows me a little bit knows that I LOVE London. Something about London just makes me feel at home. I’m not sure if it’s the architecture, the history, the accents, or what, but it’s my favorite city and for years it’s been a goal of mine to move there. I spent four months studying in London and then I dated a Brit for a few years. I was lucky to experience the city with him, his friends, and family who taught me so much more about the culture and how to really experience London and broader England. I have so much to write about this place, experiences I’ve been wanting to share, but since I am just getting started with this blog I figured I’d start simple, by sharing “Em’s London List,” which is usually an email of recommendations I send to friends that are visiting London for the first time.
Restaurants & Pubs
Madison Rooftop (the City) – Bar that overlooks St. Paul’s Cathedral
Carnaby Street & Kingly Court (Soho) – Sooo many good restaurants
Cahoots is a very cool 1940’s tube-themed speakeasy cocktail bar – a must-go
Dirty Bones - fun cocktails and comfort food
Dishoom - trendy Indian restaurants across London, each have a slightly different vibe. Solid food and good for sharing plates
Churchill Arms Pub (Notting Hill) – Picturesque pub, overflowing with flowers
Lamb & Flag Pub (Covent Garden) – One of the oldest pubs in London, tucked into a small alleyway in Covent Garden
The Anchor Bankside Pub (London Bridge) – My fave pub, on the Thames. See if you can get a seat upstairs on the chesterfield sofas or outside on the terrace
Dalloway Terrace (Fitzrovia) – Terrace bar/restaurant at the Bloomsbury Hotel. Very cute outside seating for winter or warmer months. The Coral Room inside is also cute, fun cocktails
Duck and Waffle (located at Heron tower) for late night drinks and dessert ..or sunrise! Open 24 hours
The Ivy – Super cute restaurant and bar, perfect if you feel like treating yourself to champagne at the bar solo mid-day. There are so many locations around the city
Mahiki – Classic club in Mayfair that has been around forever. It’s always just a fun night out (or at least was when I was 20-24 years old). Apparently I walked right by Henry Cavill when I was in there once. If you’re with a group get the Treasure chest, or book the No-Tell Motel Room. Also, #MahikiMondays are a great thing
The Ned – Once was a bank and most of the old features are restored/used in the revamp. There are so many bars in the place, and live music on the weekends. You could have a whole night of just barhopping in the Ned. There is also a cool bar in the basement, “The Vault.” I think you have to be a member or hotel guest to go to the Vault, but it’s really cool and the walls are lined with more than 3,000 original safe deposit boxes. The Ned is sometimes on Hotel Tonight
Wagamama – Japanese/Ramen (ramen bowls, curry, noddles, etc.), all over the city. Always a solid choice and super budget-friendly
Mr. Fogg’s Tavern – There are a few locations around the city. I’ve only been to the Winter Wonderland pop-up, but all of the bars have Victorian era decor
Check out a Speakeasy
Evan’s & Peel Detective Agency (Earl’s Court) - Detective Agency
Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town (Spitalfields) - Enter through the fridge at the Breakfast Club
Raffles (Chelsea) – A night out in the heart of Chelsea
Neighborhoods & Other Activities
Markets (some are only on the weekends)
Covent Garden – Not really a market anymore and has recently become a big tourist spot, but it’s definitely a place to check out any day, day or night. Lots of fun restaurants/bars in the area
Borough Market – London’s oldest food market. Grab a bite and go sit along the Thames
See the hanging umbrellas – Google to see where they are hidden, I think they are still there
Portobello Road Market & Notting Hill – Antique and food market. See the pastel painted houses along Portobello Road on your way in
Old Spitalfields Market – A mix of food, clothing, art, etc. in the heart of Explore East London. Lots of cute streets to walk and plenty of restaurants/shops to explore inside and outside of the market
Camden Market – Large market along Camden Lock in northern London
If you are staying near Maida Vale/Little Venice, take the Regent’s Canal Waterbus
Columbia Road Flower Market – I stopped by here once because I was staying up in Shoreditch. Cute flower/plant market if you live in London or are staying long enough to take something home
Walk the Millennium Bridge – at the foot of St. Paul's. Day or night, great view if you walk from the South Bank at night when it is lit up
Walk the SouthBank/along the Thames – Start at Big Ben you’ll go by London Eye, Millenium Bridge, the Globe, Tower of London, etc., stop by Borough Market, end at Tower Bridge
Explore Shoreditch – I think of this neighborhood as the Brooklyn of London – tons of quirky bars/restaurants, lots of Vegan spots
The BOXPARK is pretty cool – it’s essentially a food market and shops inside of a compound of shipping containers
If you’re Vegan, I went on an intense hunt for a good gluten free, vegan burger: Mooshies, Honest Burgers,The Vurger Co, Dirty Burger, Genesis, Vegan Nights
Go to the Theater – Classic London , if you have time, there are so many great plays to see
To Fordham study abroad students: If you are going to study abroad in London, take Richard Digby Day’s Theatre class. It will be annoying at first when you have to go to a play every single Monday night for the entire semester, but wow was it cool looking back. I probably went to the theatre 15 times and even saw Rupert Grint and Jude Law
Parks in Central London
Regent’s Park – Definitely hop in a rowing boat, or exit the park to explore Primrose Hill or Marylebone
St. James Park – There is a bridge in the middle that has a view of the London Eye (Google tells me it’s called the “blue bridge”)
Hyde Park – One of the largest parks in London and a good cut through if you are walking or biking from one part of the city to another
If you are visiting around December you should check out Winter Wonderland
Greenwich – See the Clock, Prime Meridian, Cutty Sark, etc.
Take the Clipper Boat into the city or walk under the river using the Greenwich Foot Tunnel
Leadenhall (the City) – They filmed some of Harry Potter here, Diagon Alley. The bars overflow with people in the warm/sunny afternoons ..on weekdays!
The Shard (London Bridge) – Visit the viewing platform at the top or have drinks at one of the restaurants. The restaurants are halfway up, so if you go and get a drink you are basically getting the view and a drink vs. just paying the cost to go up to the top which is pretty expensive (34GBP)
The Sky Garden (the City) – Pre-book online at least 3 days before, free admission to top. There are are a few restaurants/bars up there
At 20 Fenchurch Street or “the Walkie Talkie” (because the building looks like one)
If considering this or the Shard I would go up here because 1 - It’s free, and 2 - From the top, I think you would rather look at the Shard vs. looking at the Walkie Talkie
Neal’s Yard (Covent Garden) – Hidden courtyard in Covent Garden with cute cafes and shops
Take a Clipper Boat – See all of the sights from the Thames. Start at Greenwich and go all the way to Big Ben (Clipper boats are usually used by commuters)
Climb the O2 Arena (Greenwich) – Climb to the top and over
The O2 is an indoor arena with concerts and sports
London Eye (Westminster/Lambeth) – Tourist attraction, but good way to see the city from above
Emirates Air Line Cable Cars (Greenwich) – See London from above/across the Thames
Walk up to the top of St. Paul’s – Haven’t done this yet, but it’s on my list
Kew Gardens – London’s Botanical Gardens. Easy to get to if you take the District Line tube
High Tea – Traditional London to-do, so many places have high tea
Where to go: The Savoy, Claridges, The Ritz, The Corinthia, Sketch, Fortnum & Mason, The Ivy, 108 Brasserie
Day Trips
Coming soon: Day Trips from London
Places to Stay
Read more here:Where to Stay in London
Other Recommendations
Try Indian Food – I never thought I would like Indian food, but it’s always my first request when I land in London (I go for traditional Chicken Tikka Masala ..and Coconut Rice when I can find it). I still haven’t found a go-to authentic spot in the city - Royal Indian Cuisine in Chislehurst is my absolute favorite (but that may be due to memories and how many times I’ve been). Noorjahan II near Paddington was solid. Dishoom is a super unique atmosphere and they have a bunch of them around the city now. Brick Lane is an area filled with Indian restaurants where you can explore the East End.
Take the Tube. It’s so much faster (and cheaper) than a Taxi or Uber. The Tube is honestly dummy-proof and it is the local’s way of commuting/getting around for a reason - it is always reliable and the fastest route
Take the Bus. I haven’t experimented with this too much, but the few times I’ve had it’s been fun, easy, and great for seeing sights as you get from point A to B.
Have a Rekorderlig Cider. They are sweet, but my absolute fave. They are now importing them into the U.S. (thank goodness), but are served in bottles in the U.K. and are sooo good. Ordering a a Strawberry Lime Rekorderlig at the Anchor Pub is usually the first thing I do when I get to London.
Get Outside of London. There is so much to see in London but also a lot in the country. Plan to take a day trip if you have enough time. Read my list of London Country Day Trips here.
If you are traveling alone, go out to eat alone. Sit at the bar or get a table for one. I’ve met so many cool people this way. Once I was asked to join a group at their table when they learned I was waiting for my table of one. I made new friends and had a really fun night getting to know them. You never know who you are going to meet and what you may learn vs. ordering food into your hotel room.
Packing for London – London weather is much more mild all year around vs. the extremes we get in NYC. In the summer you’ll want to pack “jumpers” (sweaters) and shoes that keep your toes warm. People always complain about the rain in London, but I never pack rain boots anymore because the rain is usually light and doesn’t last too long.
Potentially Helpful London Phrases:
Underground = Subway
Oyster Card = Subway/Metro Card
Takeaway = Takeout
Queue = Line
Clothing: Jumper = Sweater, Trainers = Sneakers, Trousers = Pants, Pants = Underwear
Lift = Elevator
Bin = Trash Can
the Bill= the Check
Uni (University) = College
Crisps = Chips
Chips = Fries
Lou/Toilet/WC = Restroom
xx Em
