Ah, London. My favorite city in the world! After living in London for six months as a student, I cherish every opportunity to come back. So, when my friend Maria and I started planning a European holiday, London seemed like the perfect first destination.
Looking to visit London in the future? Here are my recommendations on what to see/do, where to eat and where to stay.
What To See & Do
Take A Stroll In Regent’s Park While everyone knows about Hyde Park, I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Regent’s Park is even more beautiful. From the Queen’s rose garden, to stunning hedges and a pond where you can rent paddle boats, definitely spend a few hours exploring!
Eat Your Way Through Borough Market Make your way over to Borough Market for some epicurean delights. With a little something for everyone, you won’t go hungry. Fair warning though – Borough Market has become so popular that it’s especially jammed on the weekends. Two of my favorites? A fresh watermelon juice and a classic British pie (preferable Steak & Ale). Just not at the same time :).
Oh, and if you turn the corner outside of Borough Market, you’ll find this gem of an area for a photo opp.
Walk Along The South Bank To Tower Bridge If you happen upon a nice day – which – for the record – is 100% possible in London, wear comfortable shoes and walk along the South Bank to Tower Bridge. With nice views of the River Thames, there are plenty of restaurants, bars, coffee shops and other attractions to take in.
Where To Eat & Drink
Enjoy A Gastro Pub Lunch At Coco Momo With locations around London, Coco Momo is a charming Gastro Pub. We went to the Marylebone location where I enjoyed a fantastic roasted chicken salad with mango, sprouts and pine nuts. Positively delicious.
Taste Fantastic Cocktails At The Marylebone With a 2 for 1 menu and an extensive array of infusions blended in-house, The Marylebone is a gem. Just down the road from Coco Momo, The Marylebone only serves drinks – but you can order takeout if you’re feeling peckish (aka hungry). We tried a chili infused sweet and savory cocktail and a gigantic Pimms cup!
Celebrate A Warm Day With Pimms At The Waterway Head up to Maida Vale if you catch a warm day for a refreshing Pimms cup along the canal at The Waterway. Somewhat a bit off the tourist beaten path, The Waterway has both indoor and outdoor seating options and is popular with locals.
Take In London From The Shard With multiple bars and restaurants, The Shard is a fun place to take in impressive views of London.
Splurge On British Classics At Posh Berners Tavern Berners Tavern is divine. With a glam interior, upscale clientele and delicious food, it’s exactly the type of dinner experience I look for while on vacation. Like many restaurants in London, make sure to book ahead. You can also come in just for drinks and the hotel its in – The Edition Hotel – also has a fun lobby bar.
For our meal, we feasted on steak tartare, chopped salads and much to our delight, received a free fruit bowl with dessert.
Feast on Sunday Roast at The Pig & Butcher Sunday roast is kind of a big deal in London – and not all Sunday roasts are created equal. As recommended by my friends, I ventured to The Pig & Butcher in Islington. It was incredible! While my friends opted for the traditional roast, the shaved duck salad caught my eye and I decided to do a three course meal with an egg and mushroom starter and some sticky toffee pudding. Let’s just say that I was in pure foodie heaven. Just make sure to book in advance – like all good restaurants in London, this one books up fast too.
Where To Stay On this trip, we decided to stay at The Meliá White House Hotel, which is adjacent to Regent’s Park and the Great Portland Street underground. The hotel came at a great price and we were able to get a room with two twin beds. The hotel also has free wi-fi, a gym and a bar with decent food.