London Travel Guide
London
Arriving in London after days in smaller cities and the countryside was admittedly overwhelming. Kilometer after kilometer on the motorway (as they call freeways in the UK), the green pastures make way for buildings and bridges welcoming you into the bustling capital that is London. So yes, while it was overwhelming, it soon turned to excitement and a bit of disbelief at finally being in London.
For big cities like these (like Paris), I usually plan a day per neighborhood, and if possible, have an extra day or two for last minute shopping or going back to places.
Based on my trip, these are the following neighborhoods I’ll be talking about:
and Where we ate
Yes, I am aware that I have missed other neighborhoods and especially the free museums, and etc, but London is h u g e. I hope to one day return and continue exploring.
When we went
We went mid-April, and got lucky with the weather being amazing! We’ve read and seen how UK weather can be grey and rainy, and although we had some days/mornings like that, most of the time it was sunny blue skies.
Getting around
Bus / Trains / Trams
You can pay as you go with most overseas credit cards or through apps like Apple/Google Pay. You can also use a top-pable Oyster card (one card per person - similar to Japan’s Suica/Pasmo and HK’s Octopus cards). More details and conditions can be found here.
Tours / Walking Tours
A time saving and a bit more thorough way if you want to see all or most sights in London is through a group tour. Aside from not having to worry about commuting and getting lost, there’s also the advantage of getting historical details and updated local tips with a guide, and someone who can take your photos!
Things to know
For highly rated restaurants, it’s best to book a table ahead. Check their Google Map pin for the link to their reservations system.
Majority of the establishments are cashless, although it’s still a good idea to bring some cash for places like markets, or in case there’s a connectivity issue.
Hotel Recommendations
Royal Lancaster London - a modern hotel located right across Hyde Park. Yes, right across. It’s a pretty quiet area, has a bus stop right in front of it, and about a 10 minute walk to Paddington Station.
They have a pretty good breakfast buffet + a la carte menu, and if you’re lucky (or if you don’t mind waiting), you can snag a spot right by the windows with a view of the park, and afterwards take a walk in the park. As someone who lives in a city with little outdoor third spaces, the park was a must visit.
Lastly, if you’re craving for Thai food or just do not want to head out again after a long day, they have a wonderful Thai restaurant in-house.
Other hotels with triple rooms and elevators we considered are:
The Resident Soho London
London Marriott Hotel Regents Park and
Hilton London Metropole
#1: Westminister
Home to a few of London’s most popular sights. If you’re not on a rush, are comfortable with long walks and weather permitting, I think sightseeing by walking can be done (with rest and photos in between of course). Otherwise, going on a guided tour or a diy hop-on-hop-off bus tour can save time and energy, too!
The route is:
→ start from the opposite side of Westminister Bridge by St. Thomas’ Hospital for pics
→ Cross Westminster Bridge for Big Ben, the Parliament and Westminister Abbey
→ continue along St. James’ Park towards Buckingham Palace
→ walk The Mall to Trafalgar Square (from here, it’s a few blocks away from SoHo, West End, Chinatown and Covent Garden)
→ optional to walk a bit further towards the Victoria Embankment to see the London Eye from its opposite side and if you walk down the embankment, you’ll be back at Big Ben/Westminister Bridge.
Sights
-
The famous clock next to Westminister (Parliament building). It was sunny and windy so we took a nice stroll across Westminister Bridge.
Photo spots: 1) walk the bridge to the opposite side of Big Ben and take the stairs down on the right for a photo op (see first pic above). 2) the famous red phone booths are pinned here - we saw the line and decided: nope! not today xD
-
Walk past Big Ben and behind the Parliament and you’ll come across the Abbey (where the now Duke & Duchess of Cambridge got married!)
-
In between Big Ben/Westminister Abbey and Hyde Park towards the East is Buckingham Palace.
I will say it does look bigger on TV.
-
If you walk from Buckingham Palace via The Mall - which is a long stretch of a road beside St. James’ Park - you will reach Trafalgar Square.
I will admit that we did just past by the huge square with the fountains and lions and although it looked like plenty of people enjoyed the park-like space, we didn’t feel the need to make a proper stop, sorry.
From here, it’s a few blocks away from SoHo and Covent Garden.
-
For a photo op of the London Eye!
#2: City of London - Borough Market
-
Description text goes here
-
Free views of London from above ~ just make sure to book your time slot ahead.
-
A bit further down from Horizon 22 is Leadenhall Market, a Victorian covered market with beautiful architecture, and if you’re a Potter fan, the now coffee shop used to be the front of the Leaky Cauldron in the films.
-
Although we didn’t cross it, it was still nice to see the bridge that is so featured in London-set films. You can definitely cross it from St. Paul’s to reach Borough Market on the other side.
-
More like a castle-fort in modern days vs. a tower, really. Tbh, it didn’t have a welcoming vibe. I later read on its history, and sort of glad we opted to walk across the Tower Bridge instead of going in :)
-
The iconic blue bridge that opens up for tall ships to pass. We saw it open up while up at Horizon 22, and it took quite a while - imagine being stuck in traffic while waiting for the ship to pass.
-
There was so much food and even more people. So much people that it was a bit hard to browse through the stalls so we didn’t really get a chance to go around the whole place. I’d definitely go back though.
We tried the paella with lobster which was good but not woahmazing and seemed pricey tbh. We also saw fast moving strawberry chocolate line. What I liked more was the fresh juice selection (same vendor).
#3: West End - Chinatown - Covent Garden
-
Although we didn’t watch a show, since we had caught one in Bath, it was still nice to see what was showing. Very similar to Broadway in NYC.
-
My parents wanted to visit London’s Chinatown and eat at a restaurant their friends recommended.
It was surprisingly smaller than we expected but definitely lined with lots of Chinese / Asian restaurants that transports you a bit away from London.
-
Another shopping area near Soho and Chinatown with a mix of outdoor street shops and covered halls.
#4: Notting Hill - North Hyde Park
-
I think it’s safe to say that like many around the world, I was introduced to Notting Hill from the film of the same name.
Portobello Road is the main commercial road of Notting Hill, with various side roads, all of which are lined with plenty of shops of known and local brands, vintage finds, cafes, restaurants and homes.
-
Made famous by the film, the Blue Door is where were Hugh Grant’s character lived, while the bookshop is a block away.
-
Since our hotel was right across it, how could we not visit and take walks in it?
We don’t have third spaces like these at home, so it felt like a must-go. So much space, surrounded by nature and free to enter is a luxury for us :’)
Also, as a former historical romance reader, seeing the famous Hyde Park and the Serpentine had me imagining Bridgerton.
-
She was known to love children, and it was no surprise especially with the water feature, to see that families with young kids gravitated to this particular spot in the park.
#5: Maybe a little out of the way
-
I’m not a Beatles fan (sorry!!!) But my parents wanted to see the spot.
Taking a photo was a challenge as it is a very active road for a photo spot, and will need a mix of patience, luck, and risk to get to the center of the road, not get run over, hope no one else crosses for a shot, all to take a photo. Kind of worth it though.
I feel for the drivers, truly.
-
A must for HP fans. Be warned that the line for photos did take an hour. They have scarves and photo directions ready for your journey through the wall.
Afterwards, head out and back to Coal Drops Yard and either chill by the river, shop or dine.
-
My friends brought me to this very nice, mid-century decorated former library turned hotel lounge for our post-dinner hangout.
-
A massive and iconic structure of an old power plant, now turned into a commercial and entertainment destination with residential developments surrounding it.
The building is now a mall with lots of known brands + a cinema. I did love the gift shop that housed local artists merch - great for souvenirs!
There is also an option to head up to the viewing area for views of the city for a fee.
-
The famous luxury department store with Egyptian themed interiors.
I loved going through the food hall.
Where we ate
SAVORY FOOD - I will say we mostly ate Asian food in London because at this point of the trip, we needed Asian food hahaha
Nipa Thai - you know how some days you just want some room service or to stay in the hotel or at the very least, super near it? Well, Royal Lancaster London has its very own highly rated Thai restaurant (the hotel is Thai-owned), and the food did not disappoint!
Wahaca - Was craving for Mexican food and this was a 10 minute walk from the hotel. We went to their Paddington Station location which was full, so definitely reserve ahead so you won’t need to wait like us. I was worried my parents wouldn’t like the spices but I was relieved they did.
Ozuki Sushi & Pan-Asian Cuisine - An small asian restaurant located in a quiet street close to the hotel. Nothing fancy but hit the spot for my Katsu curry craving.
Sumi - an upscale yet still casually welcoming Japanese restaurant near Notting Hill. The sashimi, beef and gohan were amazing!
Hoppers Kings Cross - met up with a friend here and it was my first time to try Sri Lankan food. Trust your server and the name of the place, and get a hopper. My friend and I weren’t expecting much but it was our favorite!
Dim Sum by China Tang - we were in Harrods and got hungry so we chose one of the dining options at Harrods’ dining hall. Higher pricing for sure but at least the food was good.
Four Seasons Gerrard Street China Town - recommended by my parent’s friends, very typical Chinese haha
COFFEE, MATCHA & PASTRY
Arome Bakery Mercer (Covent Garden) - definitely try the honey butter toast (I am salivating as I type). The custard and pesto tomato pastries were good too, but pass on the purple yam (ube!) pastry, sorry.
Jenki (Covent Garden location) - A matcha cafe with a funny and I guess efficient way of whisking their matchas - think massage gun whisk. Tried their sea salt vanilla oat matcha and liked it!
Chai Bake House Notting Hill - I do regret not getting a more classic chai as I went for the matcha chai (say that out loud 3x), but the fluffy cardamom bun is a must try! I also wish I had more space for a savory pastry. Lovely warm interiors!
Monmouth Coffee Borough Market - a busy coffee shop in Borough Market that also sells coffee beans by weight! Choose your beans and they’ll weigh and pack right in front of you.
Matchado Kings Cross - a small matcha cafe at Coals Drop Yard, a commercial complex behind Kings Cross Station. Went here after going through Platform 9 ¾.
Hope that helps! Thanks for reading!
