London for Londoners
If you have already been to London a couple of times and seen all the sights then this is the guide for you. When I travel back to London by myself or with friends these are the things that make me supremely happy and remind me of the many happy years spent in this amazing city.
- More about your Oliver Guide: Sterling Boyd
- Trip type: Adult, City
- Activity level: moderate
- Ideal length of trip: Let's just move to London
to & from
Fly into Heathrow airport and book a car to your destination. Booking a car in advance or using Uber is much more cost effective than taking a cab. Atlas and Addison Lee were the two companies I used the most.
Where to Stay
- The London EDITION - nestled right in the center of town next to Soho, Regent street, Oxford street and Regents park. The Edition is my go to hotel when I travel by myself to London. It is close to Soho for all the great restaurants, Regents Park for a walk through the gardens and is a central spot for busses/tube to get you anywhere you want to go. Make sure to go to Berners Tavern in the hotel for dinner or drinks.
- Ham Yard Hotel - Even if I don't stay in Ham Yard Hotel, I always make my way there for a drink. The hotel is beautiful and right in the center of Soho. The hotel was also awarded the 'Best Afternoon Tea'. Even if you don't stay here, it is worth a visit.
- Charlotte Street Hotel - I love this hotel. Check out the photos. If you end up staying here, have a cocktail downstairs and then head to ROKA for dinner. ROKA is an incredible Japanese restaurant with a super cool bar downstairs. Make sure to book in advance.
Where to Eat and Drink
- After perusing through the shops, have an early lunch at 202 Westbourne Grove. The goat cheese salad and peach ice tea are my personal favorites.
- For the foodies out there, book lunch at The Ledbury. It won't disappoint.
- After your lunch, stop by Ottolenghi for the most amazing desserts to eat while you walk.
- Start your morning or early afternoon off with breakfast or lunch at the Riding House Cafe.
- End up in Soho for late lunch or dinner. My absolute favorites are Barrafina (spanish tapas) and Bocco di Lupo (authentic italian). Barrafina doesn't take reservations so get there early!
- After your visit, go to Petersham Nurseries for a lunch like nowhere else. It is so English, so beautiful and so worth the trip. Petersham serves a tasting menu in a glasshouse nursery. Shop the antiques and gifts post lunch. Make sure to make reservations in advance.
What to Do
- If you are traveling from the US, then you will likely land in London in the morning. If you can manage it, get right off the plane, drop your bags at the hotel and head to Notting Hill for your first day in London. Take a black cab or tube to Notting Hill Gate and walk to the shops on Westbourne Grove between Ledbury Road and Colville road.
- Some of my favorite shops are Aime on Ledbury Road (boutique shopping for women), Nanos for kids on Westbourne Grove, Smythson for gorgeous leather goods (passport holders please), Diptyque for scents and perfumes and Wild at heart flower shop (instagram pics please!).
- From Notting Hill, walk through Hyde Park on your way back to your hotel. Hyde Park is beautiful in all seasons so don't miss it.
- There are many great shops in London, but there are only a few I make an effort to visit every time I am in London. Head to Liberty London on Regents street because it is beautiful and a British institution. The Liberty prints never go out of style.
- Then walk to Fortnum and Mason to buy gifts for all your loved ones back home. Fortnum and Mason tea and hampers are favorites in our household.
- Walk next door to Hatchards bookstore. If you have little ones at home, you can find the most amazing and unique children's books.
- Post shopping, walk through Green Park to Buckingham Palace and St. James Park.
- London is meant for the garden lover. There are so many beautiful parks and gardens that it is hard to know where to start.
- If you have already done all the traditional sightseeing spots (Hyde Park, Regents Park, St James) then make a point to head to Kew Garden in southwest London. Make sure to stop by the Botanical Art exhibit within the garden if you happen to be a watercolor or oil painting lover. Your heart will stop.
- On your way home, walk along the River Thames as you make your way back to Richmond train station which will take you directly back to London central.
Inside Scoop
- Get an Oyster card as soon as you get to London at any tube stop. You can use it for all busses and tubes.
- And do make sure to have an English breakfast.
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Other Favorites…
Marylebone
Walk the shops of Marlybone on Marlylebone High Street between Wigmore street and Devonshire Street. Visit the Wallace Collection and have a cheese and wine tasting at La Fromagerie. If it is a nice day, find a pub and sit outside. Order a Shandy and tuck in!
Bath
For those who have time to travel further afield, take an overnight trip to Bath. You can take a train direct from Paddington to Bath in under two hours. Stay at Babington House (part of the Soho house group). It is one of my absolute all time favorite hotels set in the beautiful Bath countryside. The spa is out of this world and sells Cowshed products (knackered cow) is my personal favorite. Travel into central Bath to see the natural Roman hot springs, don’t miss taking a walk in the countryside around the hotel and grab a bottle of rose while you play croquet on the lawn. You will fall in love instantly and never want to go home.
Pubs, Pubs & More Pubs!
When someone asks me to share my favorite pubs in London, I end up writing a never ending list. I write about the pub that has the best ever English roast, the pub that has just the right table under the rose bushes, the pub on the green where people pour out of the front door buzzing on a warm evening, the pub where every person brings their dog and the pub dutifully puts a dog bowl and bone under every table, the pub where the river Thames rises to cover the outdoor tables at end of the evening and in almost all cases, you end up on an impromptu swim with whomever was sitting around you….
I can go on and on. The English pub is an institution that can’t be missed. Below are a few that are relatively central and will likely be in places you are staying. Bust most of all, just walk into one you like the look of, grab a drink and chill out. You never know what will happen!
- Go to the Phene in Chelsea for a drink if you want to surround yourself with the local Chelsea gang. This is a great pub for a boozy afternoon or pre dinner drink. Grab a table outside on the patio.
- Duke on the Green in Fulham was our group of friend’s local for 12 years. If you are in Fulham make sure to go. It is a young crowd and gets quite rowdy as the evening goes on. Have fun.
- The Pig’s Ear, Chelsea. Go shopping up and down Kings road from Sloane Square to Chelsea Manor street and then end at the Pigs Ear for a drink and early snack or dinner. Great little pub off the main road.
- For a great pub in Soho, go to Dean Street Townhouse. You can eat and stay at Dean Street, but mostly we would gather here for pre dinner drinks. It is a great spot for people watching and always fun.
- If you are looking for an old school proper pub experience, try Coal Hole in the Strand. There will be other tourists about, but I loved going to pubs like this when I lived in London. Dark wood, beers on tap, booths…you get the idea. Check out the Savoy and Somerset House around the corner.
- For more of a local experience, go to Admiral Codrington in Chelsea. Book yourself in for dinner and show up early to hang in the bar. Make sure to have the fish and chips.
- If you want to go for a gastropub experience, book Harwood Arms in Fulham. The food is fantastic and it is a great place to get a traditional English roast.
We have loads of London guides for pub crawlers, culture seekers, history buffs and royalty followers.
Find Alice Johnson’s guide here.
Find Kara Schwabauer’s guide here.
London, England
- More about your Oliver Guide: Alice Johnson
- Trip type: Adult, Family, Group getaway, Solo, City
- Activity level: easy
- Ideal length of trip: 3-5
to & from
You’re spoilt for choice with London airports. London City, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton and London Stansted all offer convenient access to the city. If you’re travelling from the continent, the Eurostar, Channel Tunnel and ferry are more characterful ways to travel.
- If you bring your car on one of the latter two options, park it cheaply with YourParkingSpace and take public transport during your London stay. Traffic’s notoriously bad.
Where to Stay
London’s hostels aren’t cheap, but standards and style exceed the average found in most major European cities.
- Budget: I recommend Generator at King’s Cross for a jazzy atmosphere and decent amounts of personal space.
- Mid-market: Airbnb is my first choice – many London homes have quaint or quirky personalities. Definitely the best way to experience the city like a local.
- Premium: the Town Hall Hotel is a 5-star masterpiece of British humour and flair. Surprisingly, the wine bar won’t break the bank, so it’s great for a posh evening out even if you don’t stay the night.
Where to Eat and Drink
London is full of amazing places to grab a bite, whether it’s for lunch or dinner!
- Borough Market – if you’re lucky, you can construct a full size brunch through diligent sampling
- The Regency Café in Pimlico is an art deco icon of Full English breakfast destinations, but there’s not much separating their menu from every other neighborhood café!
- Flat Iron Square – hipster street market vibe. Will entertain you well past dessert
- Chick ‘n Sours – festival of neon serving wings as big as yours
- Chinatown – Soho comes alive at night. Line your stomach with dumplings before cocktails at Opium (and don’t be intimidated by the doorman!)
What to Do
You know the saying: when a man is bored of London, he’s bored of life!
- Oxford Street – clichéd chain stores galore, but that’s the appeal
- Covent Garden – blissful commercial neighbourhood featuring small and fancy boutiques
- Tate Modern – art mecca
- West End – ultimate tourist destination. The Palace Theatre is a dominant landmark
- Natural History Museum – Say hi to Hope the blue whale and Dippy the Diplodocus. You’ll learn more than any history lesson in high school.
- Trafalgar Square – magnificent and lively public space
- South Bank – edgy riverside cultural hub
- Islington High Street – unspoilt, upmarket passage for drinking, dining and antique shopping Brick Lane – bustling street market for food and alternative fashion. Brave the curry houses at your peril
- Lidos – Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park is ideal for cooling off in summer, or impressing your travel companions in winter
- Parks – all 8 of London’s Royal Parks are spectacularly landscaped. They’re perfect for picnicking and picturesque strolls
Inside Scoop
- ‘Boris’ bikes – nicknamed after former London Mayor Boris Johnson, the Santander-branded bicycles are available to hire at docking stations all across the city. A healthy way to take in London’s scenery, arguably less sweaty than the tube…
- Night tube – the Tube runs all hours from Friday to Sunday. And there’s Wifi underground. You’re welcome.
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We have loads of London guides for pub crawlers, culture seekers, history buffs and royalty followers.
Find Kara Schwabauer’s guide here.
Find Sterling Boyd’s (adults who like pubs!) guide here.
London, England (Kara Schwabauer)
We ended up buying my son a scooter on the first day in London and he used it everywhere... Many kids his age and older are on scooters, so we felt a little bit like a local.
- More about your Oliver Guide: Kara Schwabauer
- Trip type: Family, City
- Activity level: easy
- Ideal length of trip: 4-5 DAYS
to & from
- Red eye direct from Newark, United Airlines. We traveled with our little ones, 18 month old daughter and 3 1/2 year old son.
- While there, Uber or tube (my son loved the tube). Uber is so easy and inexpensive in Europe.
Where to Stay
We stayed with friends in Chiswick, darling city in west London.
Where to Eat and Drink
- The Ledbury in Notting Hill. World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2017. Superb! Very fun and attentive staff, felt like we had known them forever! 6 or 8 course set menu, presentation was everything and beyond! Food was amazing, the oyster(s) were the best of the best!
- Blue Boat in west London, riverside. Upscale pub food, perfect for kids, good craft beers. Great views of the river and fun to walk around after.
- Shack Shake-Covent Garden, because burgers and fries are always a good idea!
What to Do
- London Eye: Good way to see the city from above, you can get some great pictures. Buy tickets online, line is quick and efficient.
- Transport Museum of London (Covent Garden)-Best museum for little ones, especially those that love trains and buses. Very hands on, each child gets a map upon entering that they need to punch at various parts of the museum along the way.
- Diana Memorial Playground-huge pirate ship on sand with many nooks and crannies to explore inside. Very safe, only able to enter with a child, families everywhere, pack a picnic! Great slides and a water area on warmer days.
Inside Scoop
- We ended up buying my son a scooter on the first day in London and he used it everywhere, gave him a sense of freedom instead of being in a double stroller with his sister. Many kids his age and older are on scooters, so we felt a little bit like a local.
- When traveling with little kids plan one activity a day, otherwise it's too much pressure.
- Wander-we stopped at almost every playground we saw. Eat like a local-grab a cookie or croissant at the local bakeries.
More...
We have loads of London guides for pub crawlers, culture seekers, history buffs and royalty followers.
Find Alice Johnson’s guide here.
Find Sterling Boyd’s (adults who like pubs!) guide here.
London, England (Cynthia Pillsbury)
Read up on the monarchy to make your London trip more meaningful and memorable!
- More about your Oliver Guide: Cynthia Pillsbury
- Trip type: Family, City
- Activity level: moderate
- Ideal length of trip: 4-5 DAYS WITH KIDS
to & from
Any non-stop flights from US to London.
Where to Stay
There are many great hotels in London. Our family loved our time at the Langham Hotel on Regents Street in the West Side of London. It’s a central location that provides easy access via walking, buses or taxis to the major sites of London.
The Milestone, across the street from Hyde Park and Kensington Palace, is another great option.
London, England (Corre Larkin)
Spend the afternoon on a sunny day in the beer garden of a pub and take your kids!!! Kids are welcome in all pubs.
- More about your Oliver Guide: Corre Larkin
- Trip type: Adult, Family, City
- Activity level: easy
- Ideal length of trip: 7-10 DAYS (OR DO A 2 WEEK TRIP AND TACK ON PARIS TO THE END AND GO VIA EUROSTAR)
to & from
- LAX to Heathrow. Tons of direct flights every day. Air New Zealand is our personal favorite.
- Use London as a base and then take Easyjet or Ryanair for cheap flights to anywhere in Europe.
- Always take the Eurostar if going to Paris. So easy and while it may be a little more expensive than an Easyjet flight, it's worth it for the sake of ease.
Where to Stay
- Try and get an Airbnb in Chelsea -somewhere off the Kings Road. Or in South Kensington or Notting Hill. All great neighborhoods that would be a perfect base.
- If you want to be more central, then you can't go wrong with the Connaught or the Berkeley Hotel. Both are stunning hotels with impeccable service. However, London being London, they are quite pricey.
- If you are on a tighter budget, then try going with an Airbnb slightly outside Zone 1. Neighborhoods that are easy to get into central London would be Fulham, Kensal Green, Chalk Farm, Bethnal Green, Stepney, Lambeth/Vauxhall or Clapham.
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