“Scars can come in handy. I have one myself above my left knee that is a perfect map of the London Underground.”― Albus Dumbledore
London is so cosmopolitan and filled with fabulous things to observe, eat, climb, read, tour, photograph, float upon, learn about, shop for, and feed to your inner anglophile monster (wait that’s me though). This is my running list, but it’s always growing. I am purposely not including the major tourist stops here because this post would be like 100 pages long, and don’t you have a guide book honey?
CENTRAL LONDON
- Covent Garden – Spend time just walking around the historic market and the massive number of shops and restaurants all around the neighborhood.
- Seven Dials for the charming streets, the amazing food market, Neal’s Yard Dairy (British cheese yes please!), and Neal’s Yard itself lined with sweet little restaurants, wine bars and Neal’s Yard Remedies (and spa!). And if you’re on a scavenger hunt, look about for the plaque marking the former HQ of Monty Python studios.
- Handel Hendrix House – Yes both of these musical monoliths lived in the same place centuries apart.
- Liberty of London – Liberty prints are famous for their beautiful microfloral designs, but even if pricey paisley is not your style, it is totally worth it to walk through this beautiful Tudor revival building with crave-worthy housewares, eclectic designers, sophisticated giftables, and a sweet cafe.
- Poetry Pharmacy – “Offering walk-in prescriptions, literary gifts, and books to address your every emotional ailment.”
- Stanfords – My favorite travel bookstore with tons of maps, travel literature and guides, plus a sweet little coffee spot on an art-forward courtyard.
- Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery – I just really really like the artists she represents. Always worth it to pop in and see what’s on. Would you like to buy me a present? How about this one by Phil Shaw representing all the London Tube Stations… Londonensi Subterraneis
- The Sherlock Holmes Museum – Full confession – I am a colossal Sherlock Holmes nerd. London reading list coming soon.
- Cecil Street between Charing Cross and St. Martin Lane for several lovely bookstores and Storey’s for antique maps and prints.
- 180 Studios – Art center with very cool temporary exhibitions. Worth seeing what is on when you’re visiting.
- AIRE Ancient Baths – Extensive hammam-style spa in the historic home where J.M. Barrie lived and wrote Peter Pan.
- Outernet London – Huge outdoor public immersive video exhibition space. Definitely try to walk through this area. It’s hypnotic.
SOUTH OF THE RIVER
- Borough Market – This market has been here for literally 1,000 years. These days it can get unpleasantly jammed, but if you can time it right it is still so very worth it to visit all the delectable food stalls. Highlights for me – Turkish Delight, chocolate dipped strawberries, the spice market, and oysters.
- The Shard – Being the tallest building in the UK, this Renzo Piano designed skyscraper is aptly named and pretty much unrivaled for views. You can wait in a long line and pay to go to the viewing deck, or book into one of the many restaurants and bars throughout the upper stories for luxury treats with a view. We love the modern high tea at Ting in the Shangri-La hotel. Make sure to reserve a table by the window.
- Walk along the river past the Globe Theater (or do that tour if you must) and pop into the Tate Modern. It’s worth visiting just for the river views from the cafe, but it’s also FREE to see the impressive modern/contemporary permanent collection so get in there and stretch your brain a little!
- If you visit the London Eye Ferris wheel (get advance tix for sure), don’t miss the nearby Leake Street tunnel which runs under Waterloo Station for awesome street art and graffiti workshops.
SOUTH KENSINGTON
- Harrods – Of course! Even if you’re not in the market for luxury fashion, at least take a walk through the famous food hall.
- Victoria and Albert Museum – With probably the world’s largest and coolest collection of decorative arts and design, this is a great museum to meander. For instance, how about catching the upcoming Cartier exhibition in 2025!! Please make time to have lunch or tea in the incredibly beautiful café.
- Natural History Museum and the Science Museum – I miss the days when I could use kids as an excuse to spend the day wowed by fossilized critters, interactive brain-bending exhibits and groundbreaking discoveries. Like, wouldn’t it be fun to do this without a stroller in tow? I officially give you permission.
EAST LONDON
- Alternative London Street Art Tour – This was the gateway tour that got me hooked on exploring
- street art everywhere I go now. This part of the city is a fascinating and ever-changing canvas for the likes of Banksy and Invader, but for many many up and coming creatives as well. You can even try your hand at some spray painting art in their studio afterward.
- Shoreditch – You’ll want to backtrack after your street art tour to check out great local clothing designers, vintage stores, skate shops, artisan coffee shops and the general edgy coolness of this neighborhood.
- Brick Lane Vintage Market – Pop by the incredible food stalls at street level to fuel up on bites from literally all over the world (and excellent iced chai tea!), then head downstairs to get happily lost in a vast labyrinth of vintage heaven.
- Brick Lane – This famous shopping street is always fun to walk, but try to come on the weekend when there are lots of additional craft markets, street foods, music and more.
- Spitalfields – God how much shopping can you do? Well if you’re not tired yet please do not miss the historic and bustling Spitalfields Market for fashion, food, crafts and a bit of everything.
THE THAMES
- Thames River Cruise – There are more than several tours offered on the Thames that include tea, or dinner, or a ride on the London Eye, or a speedboat, etc. You can also get a hop-on-hop-off ticket on City Cruises that takes you to different piers on either side of the river which allows you to go more at your own pace. No bad choice. It’s fun to get out on the river!!
A LITTLE FARTHER
- Greenwich – Take the river cruise down the Thames to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Greenwich, birthplace of Queen Elizabeth I, and HQ for historical nautical British everything. Meander up the hill to the Royal Observatory and stand on the Prime Meridian (yes THAT Greenwich Mean Time!). Board the Cutty Sark, the last of the original British clipper ships and yes the one pictured on the scotch. Don’t miss the incredible collection of nautical figureheads. Climb the famous tulip stairs at Inigo Jones’ elegant Queen’s House. Pop into the Greenwich Market for antiques, crafts, snacks, and tea of course!
- Camden Market – Eclectic destination market with over 1,000 unique stalls selling fashion and accessories, music, street food and much more.
- Portobello Road Market – Huge huge street market with over 1,000 dealers selling every kind of antique and collectible, now open every day but extra super busy on weekends. The market extends out onto side streets, permanent shops, antique arcades, and on and on. Wear comfy walking shoes, and definitely check out the Notting Hill Bookshop and Books for Cooks while you’re in the neighborhood.
- Harry Potter Studios – This is NOT Universal Studios. It is NOT an amusement park. It’s the actual sets and props from all the HP movies and some from the Fantastic Beasts series as well. HP fan heaven. I do NOT recommend a guided tour of the studios. There is so much to see and you’re going to want to goggle at your own pace.
PLAYS AND SHOWS
- FIRST GO SEE: The Mousetrap – This excellent locked-room Agatha Christie murder mystery is the longest running play in the world (over 30,000 performances), but still gets a standing ovation every night. It’s good.
- NEXT GO SEE: The Play That Goes Wrong – Now you’ll extra enjoy this hilarious spoof of The Mousetrap which also gets standing ovations every night! Super entertaining!!
- Harry Potter and The Cursed Child – Harry Potter the next generation. Perhaps I am a kinda big HP nerd, but the play is legitimately very entertaining.
- BFI IMAX – Largest screen in the UK shows all kinds of different movies, music documentaries and other cool stuff. Check website for schedule to see if anything you want to see!
- Royal Albert Hall – Another beautiful venue for classical and contemporary music. Definitely see what’s on while you’re in town.
MY WISH LIST FOR NEXT TIME:
- Sky Garden – Rooftop garden, bar and restaurant in the Walkie Talkie building in the City with great views of London.
- Sir John Soane’s Museum – Famed architect’s home filled with historic architectural designs and models.
- Churchill War Room – Where the fate of the free world was determined.
- O2 Arena – Climbing on the roof. Is this really a good idea?
- Evensong at Westminster Abbey
- Regent’s Canal cruise through the historic waterways of Little Venice (who knew there were canals in London?)
OTHER AMUSEMENTS – OK maybe cheesy, themed, goofy tours are not your thing and they’re not always mine either, but sometimes it’s fun to be a little less serious and linear about your sightseeing. (Full disclosure, I have taken NONE of these yet but they sound fun):
- The Ultimate James Bond – Tour by taxi to Bond sites all over London.
- Bond and Beyond – OMG check this out – how much do you think this costs?
- Ghost Bus Tour – Haunted history landmarks tour.
- Sensas – Multi-sensory immersive galleries for ages 7 and up.
- Jack the Ripper Tour – I mean, it’s not really my thing, but the legend lives on.
- B Bakery Bus Tour – High tea and a tour of London on a traditional double-decker bus.
- Beatles – Private tour of everything the fab four got up to all around town.
HUNGRY YET? Visit the EAT! LONDON post for a list of recommended restaurants and food markets
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