My ultimate guide to London
Recs for London on food, places, and shopping.
As a Native New Yorker, it’s slightly controversial to say that London is my favorite city to live in. I’ll eventually write a post on NYC vs London but the short answer is — it’s a regal city lush with greenery, history, grand architecture, delicious food, and tons of things to do. And unlike NYC, you don’t have to drop $100 to enjoy a day out.
I’ve spent a LOT of time in London. It’s the first country I traveled to as a kid (I’m Bangladeshi and the Bengalis basically run East London), I would go back and forth during college when I was long distance dating my now-husband (who grew up in the UK), and we’ve had multiple month+ long stints in London in the past 4 years. I’ve been to London so much that UK Immigration once flipped through my passport and outright asked how I can afford so many flights here (how rude??). It just so happens that I’m here right now, as it’s warming up.
With this context, it’s no wonder that my first post is going to be a list of recs for London. Definitely bookmark this because her royal highness is done gate keeping ;)
Neighborhoods
London is a lot like LA in that it’s a city of 100 cities. It’s much bigger than NYC (but same-ish population) so there are a lot more areas to check out than the usual suspects of NYC.
I usually live in Notting Hill (in the Victorian flat that my husband and I renovated — more on that later) and work in Shoreditch when I go into Stripe’s London office, so my recs are pretty scattered on the map.
That being said, West London and the neighborhoods surrounding Hyde Park (Notting Hill, Paddington, Kensington, Marylebone, Mayfair, Knightsbridge) are the areas I’m most familiar. They’re also some of the most expensive real estate in London, and when you think of the historic Victorian townhouses that are so quintessential to London (equivalent of NYC brownstones), this is where you’ll see them in every turn.
Here are my thoughts on some popular neighborhoods to visit/stay in:
Notting Hill - if Williamsburg and Soho (NYC) had a baby, it would be Notting Hill. Known for the Hugh Grant movie, the colorful pastel houses, and the Portobello Market, this is a very trendy and posh neighborhood. It wasn’t always posh, and used to be home to artists, the Portuguese, and Caribbeans (every year there is the Notting Hill Carnival, a nod to its Caribbean diaspora). I like that Notting Hill has a ton of food options that range from casual to fancy, and from different cultures. Queensway has amazing Chinese restaurants (Four Seasons, Royal China, Gold Mine), and Westbourne Grove has some solid Persian and Arab spots (Alounak, Sadafs) and there are a lot of Malaysian restaurants scattered around too (Normah’s, Med Sallah Kopitiam). I’m going to be biased and say this is my favorite neighborhood in London, so try to stay here if you can.
Marylebone - pronounced “Mar-lee-bone”, this is a bougie neighborhood where a lot of the rich Arabs live. The Edgeware Road part of Marlyebone is lined up with Arab restaurants and hookah bars. I would recommend spending a weekend summer evening on Edgeware Road. More on the west-central side so easy to get around.
Mayfair/Kensington/Knightsbridge - tbh I put these all in the same bucket. Super prime real estate, bougie shops (though High Street Kensington has a lot of mainstream shops), but not that exciting for food. Hotel prices will definitely reflect that.
Paddington - a major transport hub, access to the Elizabeth line which is the best tube line, lots of chain hotels and very commercial. Not exciting to walk around in but very accessible to all the neighborhoods you’d want to visit. Not a bad place to stay in while traveling.
Soho - prime, central London with an insane restaurant scene. A lot of my food recs will point you to Soho, and a lot of people tend to just link up in Soho because it’s in the middle and has a ton of options for everyone. Soho is very busy so it’s not my first choice to stay in.
Shoreditch - very trendy/artsy neighborhood in East London which had a ton of gentrification/real estate investment. With its amazing food, nightlife, and proximity to Spitalfields Market, a ton of vintage shops, and Brick Lane (Little Bangladesh), I would highly recommend staying here. It’s very young and fun. This is basically the Williamsburg of London.
Hackney - If Shoreditch is the Williamsburg of London, Hackney is the Bushwick. Next to Shoreditch, it has a great restaurant scene, hipster shops and breweries, but a little further East than I normally would like for housing.
Note: I don’t frequent North London as much (Angel, Islington, Kings Cross, Camden) but these are great neighborhoods to check out as well.
Food
Boy do I love to dine out in London. In fact I prefer London’s food scene to NYC because:
Pricing is reasonable, especially since tax is included and most places don’t charge tip. Some fancier ones apply a discretionary 12.5% service charge. In general, the Brits are much more financially sensible than Americans and there are fewer places that charge rip-off prices. You can go to a nice Italian restaurant like Padella and pay £12 all-in for amazing pasta. This is common and not the exception, unlike NYC.
Local produce is fresher and better quality. UK poultry, dairy, eggs > USA. I’ll eventually write a post on why, but trust me on this.
The standard for aesthetics/vibes is generally higher. In general, even casual places will have a nice “vibe” and be enjoyable to sit in. Oh, and no rats. I can sit in a London patio in peace.
Comparable, if not better in international cuisine. London is in the epicenter in the world, so it’s no surprise that I can find great Uzbek, French, and Ethiopian food in the same block. They’re also superior in Indian food…to the point that I don’t even bother eating Indian food in NYC (once you go London, you can’t go back).
Now with the negatives: IMO, NYC has better Mexican/Latin food and sushi (at least mid-range sushi). I wouldn’t really bother with these cuisines in London.
All this being said, here are my top recommendations for food (excl markets):
Indian and the likes
Dishoom - this needs no intro and is hyped for good reason. Vibiest locations are Carnaby and Shoreditch.
Hoppers - Sri Lankan
Graam Bangla - if you’re in Brick Lane and overwhelmed with the bangla food options. Great duck curry.
Kolapata - solid Bangladeshi food near Brick Lane
Tayaab’s - classic Pakistani fare in East London as well.
Fatt Pundit - fusion Indochinese food
Tavah - OK this is a little north from London (in St. Albans), but it’s a literal hole in the wall that serves the best Pakistani food that my husband (Pakistani) and I have had. Go here if you have a car and are on your way to Cambridge.
Ambala Sweets - chain that does excellent mithai/mishti (desi sweets).
East Asian
BAO - amazing non-traditional baos (e.g. fried chicken bao, ice cream bao)
Som saa and Smoking Goat - both in Shoreditch, both amazing Thai food.
Rosa’s - casual and reliable Thai chain.
Four Seasons (Baywater) - Chinese restaurant known for its roast duck and rice. This is the dish that I literally crave when I’m back home in NYC and is one of the first dishes I get when I’m back in London. It’s that good.
Royal China - dim sum
Normah’s - hands down the best Malaysian food I’ve had, cooked by grandma Normah herself in a hole in the wall.
Ivy Asia in St Pauls - tbh food is average (but good) here, but come for the insane interior design and for the lunch set menu which is pretty affordable. Nice place to go to dress up and take pics without breaking the bank.
Mediterranean
Alounak - amazing Persian restaurant with a traditional stone oven for fresh bread.
Berber & Q - located by the canal side in Hagerston, solid spot.
Honey & Smoke
The Barbary
Brunch/bakeries
Buns from Home - incredible morning buns that you can smell a block away.
Beam - vibey mediterranean brunch spot with dishes like turkish eggs.
Darcie May & Green - aussie brunch on a boat in Paddington canal.
Grangers - popular and vibey aussie brunch spot in Notting Hill.
Berner’s Tavern - tbh eat a light breakfast here but come for the insane Victorian architecture and 20+ foot ceilings. Very uniquely British.
Linnaen - beauty salon and cafe hybrid in Vauxhall (south London). Very Scandinavian aesthetic.
Friends of Ours
British/European
Padella - homemade pastas at an affordable price point.
Gloria’s / Circulo Poppalare - these spots and their sister restaurants are very ornate Italian restaurants with decent and reasonably priced Italian food. Feels fancier than it is.
Patty & bun - solid fast casual burger chain
Flatiron - solid fast casual steak chain and they give you free ice cream at the end
Poppy’s or Hobson’s - both are great spots for fish and chips. Poppy’s is a bigger chain.
Sessions Arts Club - food is good (but not amazing) but come for the beautiful interior and go for the weekday lunch special.
Latin
Arepa & Co - also in Hagerston by the canal.
Pachamama East - Peruvian in Shoreditch.
Things to do/see
Markets
Similar to Spain, London has a thriving market scene. I love to use a weekend day to go market/stall hopping and graze on food rather than having sit-down meals. It’s also a great place to pick up small gifts. Here are some of my faves:
Camden Market - correction: this is a village, not a market. It’s the biggest market I’ve been to in London and has the best food options IMO (lots of solid Asian spots), along with some cool clothing shops.
Portabello Market - slightly biased since it is in Notting Hill and I frequent this the most. This outdoor market spans over Portabello Road (famously littered with antique and fur shops) and has vendors selling trendy Notting Hill tote bags, the cutest cat-lover pillow cases, fruits & veggies, vintage/thrift clothes, etc.
Spitalfields Market - in the heart of Shoreditch, this market has some solid food trucks but is mostly goods/clothing rather than food. However the neighborhood itself has a ton of solid food spots.
Borough Market - food-lover’s market and easy to get to after a visit to the touristy sites (Big Ben, etc). Outside of the immediate market there are also some solid restaurants like Padella and BAO.
Mercato Mayfair - this is a food market but TBH it’s not the best for food. I just really like the interior since it’s in a former church. It’s also one of the more affordable food options if you’re in Mayfair.
Coal Drops Yard - recently developed open air shopping area/market in Kings Cross. Very clean and modern, with some niche shops and decent food options.
Mare St. Market - small market in Hackney with a really fun vibe and good Italian restaurant inside.
Afternoon/cream tea
Do locals do *bougie* afternoon tea? Of course not. But I do recommend it at least once as a tourist since this is so uniquely UK. I personally haven’t been to many afternoon tea spots since once you visit one, you get the jist of it, and it is quite pricey for what it is.
If you’re doing afternoon tea, here are my tips:
Come hungry, and stay for the full time. Afternoon tea in the fancy hotels/restaurants is expensive (typically ranges from £75 - £95 pp). You’ll be presented an assortment of sandwiches, scones, and small desserts. Each sitting is 2-3 hrs and some of these places do unlimited sandwiches and teas (like the Landmark or Sketch). So try to get the best ROI. If you’re doing afternoon tea, you probably want to skip breakfast and have a light dinner.
Dress cute and check the dress code. Part of the afternoon tea XP is the photo opp, so make sure you dress for it. Some of these places have strict dress codes. I’ve had friends get denied at the Ritz for wearing sneakers. Even Sam Altman didn’t get special treatment.
Tell them of dietary restrictions ahead of time. You best believe the top spots will accommodate to dietary restrictions. For my Muslim readers, many of them will serve Halal as well.
In London I’ve been to The Landmark and Sketch for afternoon tea. I really enjoyed my experience at The Landmark. Sketch — not as much. Quality of food was inferior to Landmark and service was not as great (it’s a much bigger dining area and more popular because of Sketch’s whimsical interior).
Setting afternoon tea aside, what I would strongly recommend as a hack/better alternative is cream tea. Cream tea is casual-a-la-carte afternoon tea. Most places that do afternoon tea also just serve tea and desserts/scone in a regular menu. This is much more affordable/accessible and honestly better for your body. Here’s where I recommend for cream tea:
Sketch - yes, skip the afternoon tea at Sketch because what really matters is you just having a seat in the Sketch, so you can explore the building and its famous bathroom. They do cream tea daily from 4:30 - 6:30 and they do walk-ins/reservations for cream tea (I recommend reserving). You’ll probably pay £15 vs £75 for the same access.
Candella Tea Room - very cute tea room in Kensington that gives grandma’s house vibes. They’re so popular that you’ll need to reserve weeks ahead.
Petersham’s Nursery - a bit further west in Richmond is a gorgeous nursery/greenhouse that has a tea house and a restaurant. It’s about an hr commute but highly recommend.
Clifton’s Nursery - if you can’t get to Peterhsam’s, Clifton’s is another nursery alternative that is in Maida Vale (West London) and has a cute cafe that does cream tea.
The Orangery in Hampton Court Palace - further west in London but a very beautiful setting (see more below).
Palaces, parks, gardens
Basically a list of “pretty places to walk around in”.
Sky Garden - free observatory deck in the city center. It’s a little reminiscent of Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay Cloud Dome, but not as lush. Go here and be kinder to your wallet instead of booking a dining table at the Shard. You’ll need to make a reservation at least a few weeks in advance since tickets get booked fast. Walk-ins are available but don’t expect to walk in during busy hours.
Hyde Park / Regents Park - both gorgeous, significantly better than Central Park, and central-ish in London. Rent a Santander city bike and bike around, kayak, or picnic (sandwiches from Tesco’s will do just fine). If you visit Hyde Park, I recommend walking through Princess Diana Memorial Garden (by Kensington Palace), which is very pretty, and Billionaires Row, which is the street behind Hyde Park that has national embassies and privately owned mansions.
Hampton Court Palace - this is harder to get to by train since it’s pretty west, but it’s a gorgeous palace grounds abundant with gardens and has a nice cafe (The Oranger) for lunch or cream tea.
Richmond Park - if you’re going all the way west to HCP, then I recommend also visiting Richmond Park. This is a huge park with wild deer roaming around. Not as abundant like Nara, but still very cool to walk around in. For any equestrian lovers, there are some companies like Stag Lodge Stables that do horse rides through Richmond Park.
St. Dunstan’s Church - enchanting church grounds in the city center, nearby Sky Garden.
National Trust sites - if you’re looking for more parks/palaces/gardens, I recommend checking the National Trust website for a list of places in/around London that are maintained by this entity.
Museums
Most museums in London are free so definitely take advantage of that. South Kensington is home to some of the top museums. Natural History, V&A, and Design Museum are my personal faves.
Events
Sofar Sounds - Sofar Sounds is an international “secret intimate concert” company that is live in dozens of cities. It’s one of my favorite things to do when I’m traveling and they happen to have multiple events in London per week.
Candlelight Concerts by Fever - similar concept to Sofar Sounds, but they do intimate instrumental performances in various venues in a candlelit setting. I went to one in London in Southwark Cathedral and it was awesome.
Top Secret Comedy Club - highly rated comedy show in Soho. I’ve been twice and think it’s hit or miss but tickets are cheap so low risk in trying.
Look out for concerts in the O2 Stadium, Koko (Camden), or some other music venue.
Other
Design District - based in Greenwich (southeast London), this is a recent development of architecturally “out there” buildings that are home to art galleries/shops, hipster studios, and the like. I bought a cute leather tote bag from a leather studio there for £60 (and they engraved it for free!). Even if you’re not shopping, I highly recommend for strolling around / pics.
Somerset House - historic public complex that is home to some art galleries and restaurants. Central and nice to stroll past. In the winter they open up an ice skating rink here.
Electric Cinema - catch a movie at this historical theatre in Notting Hill where you can lie-flat or sit comfortably in cushioned armchairs and order food from the Electric Diner.
Shopping
Bicester Village - an hr from London, near Oxford, is a bougie outdoor designer outlet and where I’ve gotten a lot of good deals from. You can either drive there or take a train from Marylebone (both take ~1 hr). Prob not worth going to unless you’re driving since the train tickets are ~£60 round trip (I don’t believe in spending that much to go to an outlet so you can “save” on designers). While there’s the typical Gucci & Prada there, I tend to shop at the All Saints (best ~affordableish~ leather jackets IMO), the White Company, and Burberry (I’ve seen significant markdown on jackets and bags).
Burberry outlet in Hackney - if you can’t make the trip to Bicester but want Burberry, go here. The outlet is large and you can easily take the DLR (train) to Hackney to get there.
The Box in Hackney - similar to 260Sample Sale in NYC, The Box is home to various sample sales and is right by the Burberry Outlet. Follow their IG to see what sales are going on.
APC Surplus - if you like APC, this is an outlet in Borough Market (easy to get to).
Thrift / Vintage shopping - I highly recommend London for thrifts/vintage. 80% of my own thrift finds are from London, and I think pricing is a lot more reasonable than the shops in NYC (and for higher quality stuff). Here are some of my favorites (pro tip: always haggle):
Brick Lane Vintage - a gigantic vintage market in the basement of a building in Brick Lane. You will be overwhelmed by all the choices here. I’ve thrifted some solid and reasonably price jackets/blazers here. A must go for any vintage lover.
ATIKA Shoreditch - nearby Brick Lane and also a massive selection. Prices were a little pricey for what they were selling TBH, but this is cool to walk around in even if you don’t end up buying.
GOOD thrift chain - this chain curates their own thrift selection and I like their style/choices/pricing. I’ve only visited the Kensington and Notting Hill locations but this is probably where I’ve shopped the most given proximity.
Royal Trinity Hospice - similar to GOOD, their Notting Hill and Kensington locations have a great curation and pricing is reasonable.
Boots - chain of drugstores which is where I buy most of my daily use makeup from TBH. High quality makeup, low quality prices…you know I love a good deal.
Waitrose - this is my favorite supermarket in London and the reason why Whole Foods didn’t win London. High quality food, affordable IMO (compared to Whole Foods NYC lol), and I love to shop their promos and try new things through deals. Go here for foods you want to bring back to the States, or if you’re cooking while traveling.
Desi clothes / jewelry - Green St and Ilford are the areas you want to go for desi girl shopping. Bee’s is great for fashion jewelry, and there are a lot of nice shops for clothing. I also like going to Khaadi for more casual desi attire.
Things to bring back to the US - TBH this is just my personal list of things I bring back, feel free to use for inspiration.
Heinz Baked Beans
Milkyway Magic Stars chocolate
Cadbury chocolate
Waitrose spices - they’re good quality, cheaper than NYC, and the packaging is cute. Don’t judge!
Boots face wax strips - this saves me so much $ from threading upper lip and are so safe to use and cheap.
Teas - Fortnum & Mason, other local brands, even brands from Waitrose are solid choices. If you’re into masala chai, I would highly recommend “Tea India Masala Chai” tea bags. It’s my hack to making masala chai that tastes like it was made from scratch.
Loreal TrueMatch foundation - this is my holy grail for foundation and very affordable. It’s the only foundation I use.
OK WOW you made it to the end! I hope this inspires you to go see London. Let me know in the comments if you “fancied” any of these recs or have suggestions for me to check out.
Life saving content. Cannot WAIT for my next trip to London equipped with these gems! ✨✨✨