July 2024
The United Kingdom’s capital and largest city. A global powerhouse with a strong world influence on all things including art, fashion, finance, media, science, and more.
Food
London is thought to be the only place in the world which has Indian food which compares to India. There are also specials that are worth having: fish & chips (hit or miss) and the famous English Breakfast (highly recommend going into a grungy diner one morning and having this, known for being a hangover meal but doesn’t necessarily need to be).
Dishoom Kensington
- One of the best (if not the best) Indian restaurants I’ve ever visited
- Most famous Indian food in London, there are a few locations
- Cookbook might be a nice gift, it was in 3 different houses of friends/family I visited unrelatedly
Gymkhana
- Two Michelin-starred Indian restaurant, so on the pricier side but the food is outstanding
- Tandoori Chicken was insane, as was the mango lassi
The Chancellors (Crisp Pizza)
- Famous pizza place, among the best pizza I’ve had
- Crazy lines and you have to be there at the time of opening or something because they have limited number of pies per day (worth looking more into, I just showed up as my friend set it up)
- Get the dipping sauce they offer and use it with the crust, it’s unreal
Supernova
- All-time smash burger, one of the best I’ve ever had
- Currently going viral (2024) so there might be lines
Chai Guys
- Must visit, top 3 bakery I’ve ever been to
- Kouign-Amann (which may have been a special) might be the best pastry I’ve ever had in my life
- Their chai is also great, the Kadak Chai is latte-esque
Harry’s Marlylebone
- Cozy Italian restaurant
- Harry’s Tagliolini (house special truffle pasta appetizer) is a must order
- Desserts were all excellent
Bardo St. James
- Upscale Italian spot with live music
- Felt old school but modern at the same time
Borough Market
- Largest food market I’ve ever been to, insanely crowded
- Everything I had was great, viral sensations include things like chocolate-covered strawberries, wild mushroom risotto, traditional sausage roll, paella, & more
The Seafood Bar
- Nice restaurant serving seafood in SoHo
Assa
- Korean restaurant
- Came for the Soju so only had a couple food items but they were both great
Arome Bakery
- Really great bakery
Artisan Eatery
- Nice little sandwich shop, loved their chicken burger
Storyline
- Good bakery
Ranoush Juice
- Solid Middle Eastern food
Red Dog Saloon
- Fun Texas BBQ style joint
Oka (Notting Hill)
- Decent sushi, seemed overpriced but it is London after all
Papa Ji
- Wings specialized in Indian flavors, Tikka Chicken Wings were awesome
Lime Cafe
- Decent little brunch spot
Crème
- Cookie shop with some of the best cookies
- Miso & White Chocolate Cookie is one of my favorite cookies I’ve ever had
Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecote
- I didn’t go here as we didn’t have time to wait in line (they don’t take reservations and there are decent wait times) but this seemed like a really great spot
- All they serve is Entrecot (steak)
Nightlife
There are many clubs & late night bars that can be found but I didn’t partake during my trip so you won’t find that here. There are also pubs on every corner, some are listed below but they’re all fairly similar. Unlike in America, you can kind of just hang out on the street with your drink at a pub.
The Twelve Pins
- Lively pub near Arsenal stadium
Wetherspoons (Spoons)
- “The People’s Pub of the UK” known for its affordable prices and has become an iconic and feisty location for cheap drinks
93 Feet East
- Hip bar and nightclub in a former brewery in Shoreditch, went here for Euro Cup Finals where England was playing
The Crown and Shuttle
- Pub / sports bar in Shoreditch
Salisbury Arms
- A bit further north from London
- Young crowd, reminded me a little of LA
Neighborhoods
Marylebone
Notting Hill
Kensington
SoHo
Shoreditch
Activities
Buckingham Palace / Big Ben / Westminster Abbey / London Eye
- Some of the must see points of attraction as a tourist and are within walking distance of one another
London Bridge
- Famous bridge to sightsee, about 40 minutes walking from the attractions mentioned above
Churchill War Rooms
- Possibly my favorite museum I’ve ever been to
- A must visit for any fans of history or museums
- Where Churchill conducted his WWII efforts, a display of the quarters & meeting rooms as well as a large museum dedicated to his life
Kyoto Gardens
- Nice Japanese gardens in Kensington
Kensington Palace
- Royal palace in Kensington, there is also a very nice sunken garden in memory of Princess Diana (Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Garden)
Greenwich Royal Observatory
- Observatory which played a major role in astronomy and navigation
- Passed through by the Prime Meridian, so the name “Greenwich Mean Time” came from here
Piccadilly Circus
- Famous road junction which just has some video displays / notable buildings around
- Like a way more toned down Times Square, not worth going out of your way for but cool to walk through if you’re in the area
British Museum
- Large museum dedicated to human history, art, and culture
- Most popular attraction in the UK and largest museum (by collection of works) in the world
- By far the largest museum I’ve ever been to
Bond Street
- Shopper’s paradise, one of the most expensive strips of real estate in the world
Other Tips / Notes
- Public transport is usually not too difficult to figure out, buses and the tube (subway) can be faster than taking an Uber
- There are plenty of goods from grocery stores which cannot be found in America that are worth bringing back home (Milka Choco Biscuits, Milka Cake & Choc, Jaffa Cakes, etc.)