After wandering around this magical, giant city for the past three months, here is my curated quick list of 10 must-do’s in London.
Disclaimer: the majority of these must do’s involve eating great food and drinking great drinks. It’s what we do.
1. Take in the views on Parliament Hill in Hampstead Heath
In one of my favorite hilly boroughs, Hampstead, there sits a stunning park called Hampstead Heath. Within this park is where you will find Parliament Hill. The walk is pleasant, the dogs are cute and the views at the top are panoramic. Bring a blanket and grab some wine, charcuterie and cheese at Hampstead Butcher beforehand if you want to have a *proper* picnic.
2. Brunch and window shop in Notting Hill
Notting Hill, my other favorite borough, is covered in pastel houses and tiny posh boutiques. Come here in the morning for brunch at Granger & Co. They serve incredible Australian coffee, provide fresh, local ingredients, and create the fluffiest eggs I’ve ever seen. Ignore your self-control and get the ricotta pancakes, please.
Walk off the ricotta pancakes and stroll lazily around town through the pastel homes and tiny boutiques. There are countless shops from vintage to high-end designers.
Gain back your energy with a coffee at Farm Girl Cafe, hidden behind wisteria vines, or continue indulging with a homemade dessert from Ottolenghi. Or both.
3. Sundays are for street food at Victoria Park Market
Every Sunday, Victoria Park in London’s east end hosts the Victoria Park Market. Half of the market is dedicated to fresh produce, meats and cheeses, and the other half is a plethora of street food stands. Do a walk-through, decide what you want and enjoy it in the shade with a cold one.
4. Sunset walk + picnic at the Tower Bridge
On a sunny summer evening pack the picnic basket (or bag?) and head over to the Tower Bridge. Walk over the bridge to the side opposite of the Tower of London castle. The walk itself is stunning, especially at golden hour.
On this side, you’ll find large steps along the river walkway, right next to the bridge. Plenty of people will be sitting here picnicking too. It’s an incredible (and free) way to watch the sunset over the River Thames.
5. Lunch on the lawn at St. Paul’s Cathedral
Live like the locals do and have lunch on the lawn in front of the stunning St. Paul’s Cathedral in the Financial District. Even in suits and dresses, London locals will take off their work shoes to be barefoot in the grass and enjoy their mid-day break from the rat race.
Grab a salt-beef brisket sandwich beforehand at Porterford Butchers. It’s worth the wait.
6. Indulge in high tea at sketch
All the bloggers do it. Snag a spot at sketch, London’s quirkiest and classiest ‘new French’ restaurant for tea time. The venue is filled with local art, live orchestra music, caviar and champagne and countless Instagram-able moments.
Just being there is an experience. The interior designer, Martin Creed, says the inspiration for the bathrooms came from one of his nightmares. I will leave you with that. Check it out.
7. Have a beer at Pub on the Park
Okay, there are literally thousands of pubs in London. Going to a pub (or seven) is a must-do when you’re here. I’ve had my fair share of dive bars that smell like old beer and bad decisions, and unfortunately, that’s what a lot of the pubs smell like here. Not for me.
A couple months in to our trip, we found this outdoor pub sitting on the edge of London Fields in Hackney, Pub on the Park. Their outdoor patio smells like sunshine and wood, not old beer and bad decisions. Good enough for me. There’s plenty of televisions for sports, tons of beer and alternative drink options to choose from, and live music to enjoy. My kind of pub experience.
8. Eat art and eat food at Tate Modern + Borough Market
In the morning, go to Tate Modern, London’s gorgeous modern art museum, to walk around and view some pieces. If the Picasso 1932 – Love, Fame, Tragedy exhibit is still there, it’s a must see. I’m not a huge art connoisseur by any means, but his creations moved me and inspired me in a way I have never experienced before.
After your morning fill of art, walk over to Borough Market for lunch, a large weekday food market serving everything from truffle risotto to soup dumplings to steamed mussels. The free samples are more glorious than Costco.
9. Picnic at Kensington Palace
Kensington Gardens is the name of the public park where Kensington Palace is located. This is the castle reserved for the new royals, AKA Harry and Meghan. Swoon. Their sunken roof garden and their [giant] front yard and pond are all part of the park and open to the public.
Grab picnic supplies at the Whole Foods next to the palace and plop down in the front yard for a few hours. This green space is one of my favorites in London.
Check out the sunken rose garden too. Live like a royal.
10. Sign up for a street art tour in Shoreditch
I could write a novel about Shoreditch, the trendy east end neighborhood we live in. I’ll definitely write some posts about it. There are countless hidden gems here; it’s almost too easy to stumble upon the magic of this place.
From Banksy to Invader to Jonesy, there is famous street art everywhere. It’s fascinating. Book the Alternative London 2-Hour Street Art Walking Tour to learn more about this incredible counter-culture literally hidden right in front our faces. It’s a very local, intimate tour that left me itching to learn more about street art.
Do yourself a favor and come to London. Do all, some or none of these must do’s. But please, come to London.