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London is a foodie’s paradise with a host of fantastic restaurants, cafés and pubs – so make sure you bring a healthy appetite.
Only here for the weekend? Fear not! Here are some ideas for a memorable short break. Culture Club
Culture vultures assemble! This capital offers the perfect mix of galleries, museums, exhibitions and festivals.
The night-time economy is thriving, packed with clubs, pubs, bars and music venues.
Although London has more than enough to keep you busy, a journey further afield can make for an exciting new adventure.
A final look at this beautiful city – The London Eye.
As the largest independent theatre in the West End, the Shaftesbury prides itself on its inclusive and welcoming environment for all patrons. With a history of over 100 years of distinctive productions, they are currently the home of the hit comedy musical Mrs. Doubtfire
If you’re planning a trip to the West End to see Mrs. Doubtfire, the Shaftesbury offers a range of hospitality packages in their modern VIP suites, which can be tailored to your occasion. Enjoy exclusive offerings and avoid queues at the interval with their VIP experiences in the Taffer Suite or host your party of up to sixteen in the Ray Cooney Room, fitted with a private bar and dedicated host.
This wonderful city draws visitors back like a magnet year after year
Welcome, visitor!
You’re in London, arguably the most open, dynamic and vibrant city in the world. It’s steeped in history and heritage yet is always cutting edge.
Nowhere else in the world can you experience as much in a day as you can in London; from standing at the place where time begins, to riding the world’s biggest observation wheel, taking in a blockbuster exhibition and indulging yourself at Europe’s longest Champagne bar.
Whether you are here to take in a little of London’s culture, theatre, shopping, sporting and music venues, or here on business, there is something for everyone right across the city.
The UK’s leading visitor attractions are all here, including some of the world’s most famous museums and galleries, frequently putting on blockbuster exhibitions, many of which are free to visit. London is also the world’s biggest city for theatre, with more than 240 venues across the city, as well as a myriad
of successful festivals, open-air theatre spaces and pop-up venues.
Away from the big attractions you can find world-class family attractions, quirky hidden gems and historic landmarks all connected by the city’s excellent transport network. And with more green space than any other major city in the world, including eight Royal Parks, there’s also the chance to experience some peace and tranquillity.
If it’s retail therapy you need, then why not explore London’s famous shopping areas such as Oxford Street, Regent Street or Carnaby Street and iconic department stores including Liberty, Harrods and Selfridges which offer more well-known brands than anywhere else?
And when it comes to refuelling, there’s no shortage of vibrant bars, restaurants and pubs – from rustic street food to high-end cocktail bars so you’ll be spoiled for choice. Whether you’re here for a day, a week or longer, you’ll never tire of London. ■
Tower Bridge; an 1894 masterpiece of engineering
Whether you’re looking for a romantic weekend away, a family holiday or a long overdue catch up with friends, a lodge break at Roydon Marina Village provides the ideal setting.
• Deluxe lodges for up to six people
• Private deck with hot tub
• Dog-friendly lodges available
• Waterside café bar
• Canal towpath walks
• Local cycle trails
• Explore the Lee Valley Regional Park
• Paddleboard at the Lee Valley White Water Centre, host of the London 2012 Olympics
• Go-kart at the Rye House Kart Raceway Roydon Marina Village Roydon, Essex CM19 5EJ reception@roydonmarinavillage.co.uk 01279 792777
We produce a wide range of award winning single estate wines, including some exquisite sparkling and still wine, such as Sparkling Rose, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir red. We offer a range of lovely experiences from tastings, vineyard tours and food boards, and our ever popular Sparkling afternoon tea, which in the summer can be taken on our terrace overlooking the stunning views. Come for the wine, stay for the wine.
TAKE OVER YOUR OWN HOTEL!
What would you do if you were handed the keys to your own hotel for a night? Invite your friends for a big dinner party, sip cocktails,
snoop around the rooms, have the spa to yourselves…but here’s the catch… you’ve got to find the keys first! You have one hour, and the clock is ticking. Work together to solve challenges, discover rooms and reveal hidden secrets to unlock your own hotel!
THE CLOCKWORK HOTEL in Burnham on Crouch, Essex is a boutique hotel with a twist! Just one hour by train from London Liverpool Street, this one-of-a-kind immersive experience is the perfect way to celebrate with a group of friends or bring colleagues together for a teambuilding away-day. With 11 stylish bedrooms, the hotel is available to book exclusively for up to 22 people.
Picture this… You are greeted in reception with a glass of bubbly before the action starts- think fun, escape-room style puzzle solving while
racing against the clock as a team. Afterward, enjoy a delicious 3-course meal and sip cocktails at your very own late-night bar. Spend the evening relaxing in the hot tub and sauna or ramp it up with a dance party. It’s all yours for the night!
DOES YOUR TEAM HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BEAT THE CLOCK?
The Clockwork Hotel, Burnham on Crouch, Essex CM08PJ
London offers an abundance of things to do with days out and top attractions for the whole family to enjoy
Great days out
London is full of iconic attractions so it’s difficult to know where to start. But whatever you do end up doing it’s bound to be a memorable day out!
If you’re short on time and the weather’s great, then an open-top double-decker bus is a brilliant way to take in the city’s landmarks. If you prefer to explore on foot, try a walking tour. From traditional itineraries to ghost walks you’ll get to hear some of the city’s lesser-known tales.
London’s past and traditions are the big draw for most tourists. It’s easy to get that heritage fix, whether you want to wander the royal palaces or dip into Parliamentary history. A good place to start on any visit to
While at Kensington Palace you will see the Queens’ State Apartments
London is a visit to Buckingham Palace. You can stand right outside the gates and watch the changing of the guard for free but if that isn’t enough then book a ticket to go inside and see The Queen’s Gallery, which features old master paintings, rare furniture, decorative arts and photographs from the vast Royal Collection. From March to October, you can also gain access to the Royal Mews and from July to September the State Rooms are open to visitors.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla currently live at Clarence House, their official residence of over 20 years, but will reportedly move into Buckingham Palace in 2027, once a £369 million renovation is completed.
Kensington Palace, former home of Princess Diana and one of London’s eleven Royal Palaces
If you’re in town in June you may get to see Trooping the Colour, which marks the official birthday of the British sovereign and takes place on Horse Guards Parade. This impressive display of pageantry is carried out by his personal troops, the Household Division, with the King himself attending and taking the salute. After the event, the Royal Family gathers on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch an RAF flypast.
Head west of Westminster and you can experience another of the royal residences. Kensington Palace might not have the cachet of Buckingham Palace, but it’s linked to some of the most loved princesses of modern times.
Princess Diana lived here from the day she married Prince Charles until her untimely death in 1997, when the palace’s iconic gold gates became the focus for thousands of tributes and flowers to the ‘queen of hearts’.
While at Kensington Palace, you’ll also get to see the Queens’ State Apartments from the time of William III and Mary II and explore the life and times of a young Princess Victoria. You can wander around the grounds for free including the Princess of Wales’ Memorial Playground. The more formal gardens (included in the main palace entry ticket) are also well worth meandering through, if you have time.
Just a short walk from Buckingham Palace is the Palace of Westminster – the place where the laws of the land are deliberated. Guided and audio tours of the Houses of Parliament uncover a unique combination of 1,000 years of history, modern-day politics and stunning art and architecture. Tours take around an hour and walk you through the House of Lords and House of Commons. A childfriendly version of the audio tour, aimed at youngsters between the ages of seven and 12, is also available.
Most of what you’ll see was built in the mid-19th century, following a devastating fire in 1834, but the route also incorporates the magnificent Westminster Hall, dating from 1097. Other highlights include the Queen’s Robing Room, Royal Gallery, Lords Chamber, Central Lobby and the Commons Chamber, where the lively debates take place.
You can’t visit Westminster and not marvel at the world’s most famous bell – Big Ben. Designed by architect Charles Barry as part of the Palace of Westminster, Elizabeth Tower (the clock tower which houses Big Ben) was completed in 1859.
The quarter bells chimed for the very first time on September 7th that same year. Following five years of renovations, the bells of the Elizabeth Tower started chiming again l
The iconic Palace of Westminster, designed by Charles Barry and opened in 1847
Once home to London’s largest brewery on the historic Brick Lane, the Truman Brewery has been regenerated into a hive of creative businesses as well as exclusively independent shops, galleries, markets, bars, restaurants and event spaces.
With seven diverse markets on one site, offering a variety of food, retail, and vintage items from independent creatives, you are bound to discover something perfect for you.
Open 7 Days a Week
• Brick Lane Vintage Market
• Upmarket - Brick Lane Food Hall
• Ely’s Yard Food Trucks
Open Weekends Only
• Backyard Market
• Weekend Upmarket • Tea Rooms
• Rinse Showrooms
in November 2022 and tours recommenced in summer 2023.
You’ll find many of England’s former changemakers laid to rest inside Westminster Abbey. A total of 30 kings and queens are buried here, along with dukes, countesses and famous characters from the past including Charles Darwin, Charles Dickens, Oliver Cromwell and Sir Lawrence Olivier.
Numerous royal weddings have taken place in this splendid Gothic building over the years, as well as every coronation since 1066, including that of King Charles III in May 2023. Daily tours last for approximately 90 minutes and include the Shrine of Saint Edward the Confessor, the Royal Tombs, Poets’ Corner, the Cloisters and the Nave.
Head east from Westminster and you’ll find the magnificent St Paul’s Cathedral. Designed by Christopher Wren after its predecessor burnt down during the Great Fire of London in 1666, the stunning domed building houses a mesmerising geometric staircase, which looks a little like a giant snail’s shell.
Venture down to the crypt to see the tombs of Admiral Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington and Sir Christopher Wren, and don’t forget to test your hearing in the Whispering Gallery. The circular walkway around the inside edge of the dome has such
amazing acoustics that you can be heard right across the other side of the walkway, even when you talk softly. Those with a head for heights (and a fair bit of stamina) can walk up to the Stone and Golden Galleries to see remarkable views over London.
An 11th-century fortress, the Tower of London is one of the country’s finest historical attractions and you can easily spend a whole day here. Sign up for one of the tours led by the Yeoman Warders (popularly known as Beefeaters) and you’ll hear entertaining tales of intrigue, imprisonment, execution, torture and more. The tours begin every 30 minutes, and last approximately an hour.
Another big draw is the Royal Armouries’ exhibition in the White Tower, which displays swords, armour, morning stars (spiked maces) and other gruesome tools for separating human beings from their body parts.
Not just famous as a former place of execution, the Tower of London is also home to the Crown Jewels. The collection features more than 140 historic ceremonial objects, including St Edward’s Crown, used for the crowning of King Charles III at his coronation in May 2023. The Imperial State Crown is also part of the collection. It’s worn by the monarch at each State Opening of Parliament.
If budgets are tight but history is your l
The ancient Tower of London, built for William the Conqueror in 1078
thing, then head to the National Maritime Museum, where you can learn about England’s historic battles at sea including heroic tales of Admiral Lord Nelson and cheeky pirate escapades. Entry is free!
The National Maritime Museum lies at the heart of the Royal Museums Greenwich, which also includes the Queen’s House, the Royal Observatory and the Cutty Sark, a legendary 19th-century sailing ship. At the latter you can discover what life was like on board the world’s sole surviving tea clipper, which was the fastest ship of her time. If you have a head for heights, you can even don a harness and tackle the new Cutty Sark Rig Climb – not for the faint hearted!.
Promising tales of murder, torture and other foul deeds from London’s horrible past, the London Dungeon is sure to scare the jeepers out of you. But you’ll also get plenty of laughs along the way. Designed as a living museum, the dungeons feature a cast of actors, who lead visitors through a 90-minute tour of 18 different interactive shows, all telling stories of torture, murder and terror.
Boats & plots
You’ll get to take a boat ride to the Tower of London just as traitors did during Henry VIII’s reign, hear the inside story on the Gunpowder Plot from Guy Fawkes himself, and walk the streets stalked by Jack the Ripper. It’s not surprising that it’s not recommended for kids under 12.
You can go back in time to 17th-century London at The Gunpower Plot immersive experience. Taking place in a purposedesigned theatre space in the Tower of London Vaults, the experience throws you into the world of Guy Fawkes and the rest of the gunpower plotters, using a combination of live theatre and digital technology.
Over in Marylebone, you can meet some 300 stars from past and present at Madame Tussauds. The famous collection of waxworks includes movie stars from Brad Pitt and Benedict Cumberbatch to Audrey Hepburn and Charlie Chaplin, as well as members of the Royal Family.
You can even attend a royal garden party and have an audience with the King and Queen in the throne room! You’ll find Mo Farah, Muhammad Ali, Jessica Ennis-Hill and Usain Bolt among the immortalised sportspeople, while Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift can be found strutting their stuff in the music area.
Football fans should head north to Wembley Stadium, the venue where the Lionesses won UEFA’s Euro 2022 and the
men’s national team won the 1966 World Cup. Tours take visitors through the famous players’ tunnel and up the Trophy Winner’s steps, with video and audio thrown in so you can experience the atmosphere of a genuine, live match.
While there are plenty of attractions undercover to keep all ages entertained, when the sun is shining there’s nothing better than enjoying London in the outdoors.
London Zoo, set in Regents Park, has been entertaining and educating visitors of all ages since Victorian times. Originally opened as a centre of learning in the early 1800s, the 36-acre park is the world’s oldest scientific zoo and now works to support conservation and animal welfare.
From the nocturnal galleries of the Rainforest Life pavilion to the recreated South American coastline of Penguin Beach and the African setting of Gorilla Kingdom, each area has been carefully designed to show off animals at their best without disturbing their daily habits.
Daily events include talks and feeding times, but if you really want to get stuck in, you can try being a keeper for the day. If that’s not intense enough for you, you can now sleep here overnight, in lodges right next to the lion enclosure!
For a unique glimpse at what life is like for a honeybee, pay a visit to the 17-metre-tall Hive installation at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Visitors to the hive can stand, lie or sit within the massive lattice structure as thousands of LED lights flicker and an orchestral arrangement plays, triggered by the activity of bees in a nearby hive.
Kew has been named the most Instagrammable botanical garden in the country thanks to 300 acres of lush green wonderland next to the River Thames. If l
The Cutty Sark, a legendary 19thcentury sailing ship
The City of London Distillery –Home of Whitley Neill Gin
Step into the City of London Distillery, the home of Whitley Neill Gin, and immerse yourself in gin craftsmanship. Established in 2012 in the historic Square Mile, the distillery revived gin production in London after nearly 200 years.
The City of London Distillery offers a unique experience for visitors to explore the world of gin. Through immersive tours, gin-making classes, and a sophisticated cocktail bar, guests can enjoy their drinks while taking in a stunning view of the striking copper stills.
At the heart of this distillery is Whitley Neill Gin, created by Johnny Neill, a descendant of a long line of distillers. Among its exceptional variants is the a multi award-winning Distiller’s Cut London Dry Gin, which highlights Whitley Neill’s expertise in crafting remarkable London Dry Gins celebrated for their unique and compelling flavours.
The distillery blends industrial chic with historic charm, offering a welcoming atmosphere for gin experts and newcomers. With a range of events as well as bespoke tasting sessions and gin making experiences, it’s a place where tradition meets innovation in every sip.
Visit the City of London Distillery to discover the magic of Whitley Neill Gin and experience the finest in London’s gin craftsmanship. ■
you’re wielding a selfie stick or want to update your Insta story, go and get a bird’s eye view of Kew Gardens from the treetop walkway.
Other must-sees include the ornate Dragon Pagoda and Temperate House. The world’s largest Victorian glasshouse is home to 1,500 species of plants from Africa, Australia, New Zealand, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific Islands. The vast new Children’s Garden is a wonderful place for little ones to roam, play and get hands-on with nature.
There are plenty of ways to enjoy a great day out on the Thames, but for maximum thrill factor book the Thames RIB Experience, which will hurtle you about the river in a rigid inflatable boat at 30 knots.
There are several routes to choose from but the most popular travels from Westminster to Tower Bridge at a sedate pace, at which point the turbo engines kick in and the RIB skims across the open water, turning in terrifyingly tight figures of eight.
London may not have any theme parks but there are other ways to get that adrenaline fix! If you head to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, you’ll find the world’s tallest and longest tunnel slide, ArcelorMittal Orbit, which has been incorporated into The Orbit tower structure designed by Anish Kapoor for the London 2012 games.
Another heart-pumping London experience is Up at The O2. This is an unforgettable 90-minute adventure that takes you on a guided expedition across the roof of The O2 via a tensile fabric walkway suspended 53 m above ground level. At the summit, you can take in spectacular 360-degree views of the city from the viewing platform. On a clear day you can see landmarks up to 15 miles away in Kent and Surrey.
If you want to take in the sights from above without the adrenaline rush, book a ticket for the London Eye. At 135m tall, it’s the world’s largest cantilevered observation wheel and its famous glass pods give you sweeping views across the London skyline.
More dramatic views can be had at The Shard, the capital’s tallest tower at 310m. The View from The Shard attraction allows public access to floors 69-72 – on a clear day the views from the floor-to-ceiling windows are spectacular.
London is overflowing with fantastic things to do. History buffs can check out fascinating museums and palaces, nature lovers can visit zoos and botanical gardens and adrenaline junkies can race down the Thames or climb one of the city’s most iconic structures. There’s simply no chance of getting bored in this energetic city! ■
The London Eye, the one-time temporary attraction that’s now an institution
DON’T MISS
Our top things to see and do when visiting this picturesque region
1
See the Changing of the Guard
See Buckingham Palace’s guards, dressed in traditional red tunics and bearskin hats, take part in this traditional ceremony, which takes place daily at 11.30am and lasts about 45 minutes. You can also hear a full military band playing a wide selection of music as part of the ceremony too.
2
The National Gallery I
With more than 2,000 western European paintings from the middle ages to the 20th century, you can discover inspiring art by Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Gainsborough, Turner, Renoir and Raphael. For the biggest crowdpleasers visit the East Wing. Blockbuster attractions include one of Monet’s Water Lilies series and one of Van Gogh’s Sunflowers series. Best of all, it’s free!
3
The Royal Opera House
Gain a fascinating insight into the home of the Royal Opera and the Royal Ballet with a backstage tour –learn about the colourful history of the theatre, its architecture and the costumes, which play such a huge part in the productions that take to the stage.
4
The London Eye
Created to celebrate the Millennium, the London Eye is a ‘big wheel’ which rotates over the River Thames opposite the Houses of Parliament, and has since become one of the city’s most iconic attractions. At 135 metres high, the London Eye is the world’s tallest cantilevered observation wheel and offers breathtaking 360-degree views of the capital from each of its glass capsules.
5
Browse a market l From mouthwatering gourmet food at Borough Market, a mecca for food lovers, to literature at down by the river at South Bank Book Market and fascinating antiques on Notting Hill’s Portobello Road, you’re never far from a street market in London. Make sure not to miss out on a trip to the star of the show, the world-famous Camden Market, which attracts more than 100,000 visitors every weekend and is one of the city’s top attractions.
6
Watch a West End show
From Broadway transfers like The Book of Mormon and Kinky Boots, to homegrown hits such as Andrew Lloyd Webber’s epic The Phantom of the Opera and the hilarious Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical, London’s West End offers
something for everyone. Last-minute tickets from the Leicester Square ticket booth are usually your best bet for a bargain.
7
Take a trip up The Shard This 95-storey tower by London Bridge is western Europe’s tallest building. Described by architect Renzo Piano as “a vertical city”, the skyscraper is almost a third of a kilometre tall. The View from The Shard attraction allows public access to floors 69-72 and on a clear day the unobstructed views of London’s skyline from the floor-to-ceiling windows are spectacular.
8
See the Crown Jewels Despite the Tower of London’s grim reputation as a place of torture and death, within its expansive walls you will also discover
the priceless Crown Jewels, which were recently used in the Coronation ceremony of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla, and include some of the most extraordinary diamonds in the world. You can also get a guided tour by one of the iconic Beefeaters and learn the legend of the Tower’s ravens and the criminals who were executed there.
9
A drink with a view K The view from the rooftop terrace at Madison, opposite
St Paul’s Cathedral, is so good it even has a separate viewing area so tourists can capture the perfect picture.
10
Cruise along the River Thames I
Capture an altogether different view of London’s landmarks from the river. There are a variety of tours and vessels available, from sightseeing trips with commentaries to themed cruises and dining experiences. ■
SHOPPING
Shopaholics will love London for its eclectic mix of boho-chic boutiques, high-street staples and quirky independents
London is one of those cities people visit just for the shopping. And with good reason! Whether you want to pick up designer gear at a posh boutique, bag a bargain at a vintage store or snap a selfie at the big-name shopping meccas of Oxford Street and Harrods, you’ll find London has it all.
If it’s mainstream brands, bustling department stores and mega malls you’re after you can’t go wrong in London. The shops could keep you entertained for days!
When it comes to shopping in London many people head straight for Oxford Street.
Camden Market attracts more than 100,000 visitors every weekend
But be warned – it’s not for the faint-hearted! Running 1.5 miles between Marble Arch and Tottenham Court Road, this is Europe’s longest high street, attracting over 200 million visitors a year.
Oxford Street is home to department stores including John Lewis but most famous is the legendary Selfridges. Spread over nine floors and offering 10 acres of shopping space, you’ll find everything from luxury watches to designer jeans to take home in one of the store’s iconic yellow bags.
If it’s major high street brands you’re after,
Oxford Street offers plenty of choice. There are two Primark stores and three branches of Zara as well as the four-floor NikeTown for that sports luxe attire – you can even design your own trainers there!
Heading south from Oxford Circus, Regent Street provides an elegant shopping experience thanks to its Grade 2-listed curved terrace of buildings designed by famed architect John Nash.
It’s also home to some of the city’s oldest stores. Housed in a magnificent mock-Tudor building Liberty is a London institution crammed full of innovative and eclectic design, from homeware to fashion.
Established in 1760, Hamleys is one of the largest toy shops in the world. Kids will go nuts exploring seven floors all brimming with the latest crazes, computer games and traditional teddies.
Make a beeline for Farringdon if you’re in the market for some stunning diamond jewellery. Why not book an appointment at Purely Diamonds, where expert jewellers design and create diamond engagement rings, wedding rings, eternity rings, gemstone rings and other jewellery at their in-house workshop. You won’t be disappointed.
High-street retailers
Next, head over to West London and you’ll find the shopping behemoth of Westfield London. This sprawling mall houses around 300 premium and high-street retailers from more than 15 different countries, alongside luxury designer boutiques. Offerings include a Next, Marks and Spencer, House of Fraser and a just-opened Sephora flagship store – a first for the brand in the UK.
The shops can keep you going for hours, but when you need a break head to the Southern Terrace, where a cluster of restaurants creates a pedestrianised dining street. Alternatively, there’s The Balcony, where you’ll find counters preparing fresh food to order, from Middle Eastern and Thai cuisine to burgers. Finish up your day with a film at the 14-screen state-ofthe-art cinema.
Westfield London’s younger – yet much larger – sister was built in 2011 as part of the regeneration of Stratford in East London. Offering almost two million square feet of retail space, Westfield Stratford City is one of the largest shopping malls in Europe.
As well as the shops and restaurants, it also has world-class leisure facilities including one of the largest all-digital cinemas in Europe and an All Star Lanes bowling alley.
While Canary Wharf, also in the east of the city, is known for its financial and business
credentials, the area is also a key shopping destination. There are over 200 shops, bars, cafés and restaurants found across its four shopping malls – Cabot Place, Jubilee Place, Churchill Place and Canada Place – with luxurious brands such as Jo Malone and Paul Smith sitting side-by-side with well known high street names such as COS, Hobbs and Hotel Chocolat.
If you’re looking to bag a bargain, head north to the London Designer Outlet. Set directly opposite Wembley Stadium this shopping giant is home to over 70 brands including Calvin Klein, Levi’s, The North Face and Nike, all selling at discounts of up to 70 per cent.
Want to fill your bags with unique swag? London has an incredible vintage clothing, vinyl and furniture scene and you’ll also find independent boutiques all over the city.
Vinyl record collectors have been scouring the shops of Berwick Street since the 1980s and it’s still home to London’s largest concentration of independent record shops. It’s also popular with fashion designers and film and TV costume makers, thanks to a host of fabric shops, such as Misan Retail and Borovik Fabrics.
Foodies should try out the world-famous Berwick Street Market, which was first established in 1778 and is now a thriving mixture of old-fashioned fruit and veg stalls and international street food vendors.
You’ll have to head east for some of the best vintage shopping London has to offer. Among the excellent picks in Shoreditch are Hunky Dory Vintage, a cavernous store stocking everything from 1960s dresses through to 90s sportwear; Nordic Poetry, where you’ll find carefully curated designer pieces; and Rokit for everything from Levi’s 501s to suede jackets to Nike trainers. l
L Westfield shopping centre j Camden Market
Shopping at Selfridges
First opening its doors to Londoners in 1909, Selfridges has always been a shopping destination where “everyone is welcome”, a phrase coined by the legendary Harry Gordon Selfridge himself. Today, the iconic building on Oxford Street still echoes this founding spirit, while offering an unrivalled selection of designer fashion, beauty, kids’, toys, fine jewellery, home, food and more.
From the one-of-a-kind Skate Bowl to exclusive brand collaborations at The Corner Shop and the latest films at The Cinema at Selfridges, there’s always something to explore, shop, and celebrate year-round. Dive into a calendar brimming with fashion and beauty pop-ups, indulge in immersive in-store experiences, and partake in one-of-a-kind events.
Across six floors, you’ll find more than 5,000 brands spanning emerging talent and established designer powerhouses including Louis Vuitton, Bottega Veneta and Loewe. Plus, you’ll have access to the new and noteworthy brands gaining a cult following, from SKIMS to Jacquemus and Fear of God ESSENTIALS. On the ground floor, find The Wonder Room; a sparkling wonderland home to an impressive collection of fine jewellery and luxury watches from Cartier, Bucherer, Chopard and more.
Beyond the brand new, discover pre-loved or secondhand designer pieces in the RESELFRIDGES destination in the Accessories Hall on G. Alternatively, mend the clothes you already
have in your wardrobe at SOJO: the clothing repairs and alterations service on 3 or repair, restore and resell your designer bags with The Handbag Clinic on G. For experiences and services, consult with the Experience Concierge to give any special occasion the finishing touch, the Beauty Concierge to book exclusiveto-Selfridges services and Personal Shopping for style advice and recommendations tailored to you. You can access our multilingual Personal Shopping team from anywhere in the world, via e-mail, WhatsApp or WeChat.
On G, discover the extraordinary Beauty Hall, home to the world’s leading brands and beloved niche labels, from Victoria Beckham Beauty to Dries Van Noten and REFY. Whether you’re looking for a signature scent, a go-to skincare saviour or a new lipstick, here you can find the very best of beauty. Plus, you also can book a make-up masterclass, a revitalising skincare session or a men’s grooming service.
Discover what’s happening now and what’s next at selfridges.com. ■
The world-famous Camden Market attracts more than 100,000 visitors every weekend and is one of the city’s top attractions. The market is actually a collection of six small markets within the same area.
There’s the Electric Ballroom Market, selling vintage gear; the Inverness Street Market, selling fruit and veg, bargain clothing and souvenirs; Buck Street Market, specialising in alternative clothing; the Camden Canal Market selling fashion accessories and gifts; Camden Lock Market, famous for its crafts; and the Camden Stables Market, where shopkeepers sell clothes and accessories.
For even more quirky market action try Portobello Market, on Notting Hill’s Portobello Road, though come early to escape the crowds.
Other fantastic choices include the historic Old Spitalfields Market, a vast covered space selling food and drink, antiques and vinyl, Petticoat Lane Market, which sells fashion and clothing and Borough Market, a mecca for food lovers.
If you’re in town in March check out the famous Chelsea Antiques Fair, held annually in the town hall on King’s Road. Established in 1950, the event sees specialist dealers in traditional art and antiques gather together
Savile Row is the place to go for a handmade suit
with some added 20th-century sparkle, offering a variety of exquisite objects for sale with prices going from £100 to about £10,000.
For more historic finds head to Grays Antique Market, close to Bond Street station. Here 200 of London’s finest antique and vintage dealers offer fine art, ceramics, jewellery and clothing.
The markets at Covent Garden are very much the area’s focal point (there are now three) and have dominated the square since the Middle Ages. The area’s has grown exponentially since then but the streets surrounding it, including Floral Street, Monmouth Street and St Martin’s Courtyard, are now filled with high-street outlets.
Just nearby, Neal’s Yard is a quaint and colourful courtyard that’s worth a gander, especially if you’re a fan of cheese or cosmetics! Neal’s Yard Dairy has a range of delicious British farm cheeses and the flagship Neal’s Yard Remedies dishes out organic skincare products and treatments.
A few streets away from Covent Garden you’ll come across Carnaby Street – the birthplace of the fashion and cultural revolution during the swinging 60s. Step under the iconic arch and you’ll find an intriguing mix of cutting-edge designer stores
as well as independent boutiques, heritage brands, restaurants and bars.
London’s shopping scene is constantly reinventing itself and new shopping districts pop up all the time. The most recent is in Battersea, just south of the River Thames, where a decommissioned power station has been transformed into an uber-stylish shopping, dining and leisure complex.
Opened in October 2022, Battersea Power Station has some 250 stores, including highstreet offerings Zara, Superdry, Nike and Sweaty Betty. At the luxury end of the scale, there’s Mulberry, Ralph Lauren, a Watches of Switzerland showroom and a Calvin Klein lifestyle store.
When you need to rest your feet, there is a wide range of restaurants and cafés to choose from. Grab a gourmet gelato at venchi, go for oysters at Wright Brothers or make it vegan at Clean Kitchen Club. Arcade Food Hall – a cavernous street food market – is a brand new addition to the scene for 2023.
Coal Drops Yard opened in 2018 behind King’s Cross Station. The project – the final stage of a long-term plan to transform the King’s Cross – includes a mix of independent boutiques and trendy international shopping brands such as American Vintage, Space NK and Paul Smith.
Monthly markets
Monthly design, food and vinyl markets, regular exhibitions and Queer Britain, the UK’s first national LGBTQ+ museum round out an already dynamic space.
If you’re into your luxury goods, there are few better places to be than London. The capital city pulls in high spenders from across the globe who come to flex their spending power at high-end tailors, designer boutiques and fancy jewellers.
Dating back to 1664, Jermyn Street, which sits just off Regent Street, is renowned for its quintessentially British gentlemen’s fashion, especially bespoke shirts. Over the years Jermyn Street’s distinguished residents have included the likes of Sir William Stanley, Sir Isaac Newton, the poet Thomas Gray and W. M. Thackeray.
Also renowned worldwide for its tailoring, Savile Row is the place to go for a hand-made suit crafted the old-fashioned way – although you should prepare yourself for a hefty price tag. You can still visit the first ever Savile Row tailors at No. 15, where Henry Poole & Co –credited with inventing the tuxedo – is still cutting cloth.
Other big names, such as Huntsman & Sons and Ozwald Boateng also have their
headquarters here. The street even has its own association – The Savile Row Bespoke Association – and a colourful language all of its own.
Whether you’ve got money to burn or just love luxury window shopping, Bond Street is the place to be for some extravagant retail therapy. It boasts one of the biggest and best concentrations of designer shops in the world.
Names include Hermès, Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Chanel, Bulgari, Armani and Versace to name just a few. You’ll also find British designers Mulberry, Alexander McQueen and Burberry.
New Bond Street, meanwhile, is home to the new flagship store of Italian luxury brand Del Core as well as the first dedicated retail space for hip high-end shoe label Naked Wolfe. If bling is your thing, stick to New Bond Street for branches of Cartier, Tiffany & Co and Asprey, all within a short stroll of each other. If you’re in the market for some seriously expensive art or antiques, Sotheby’s – the world’s oldest auction house – also makes its home here.
For the most refined department store around, head towards Piccadilly and Fortnum & Mason. Founded in 1707, this beautiful store is renowned for its fine foods, hampers, teas and wine. It also has five restaurants, from an award-winning wine bar to the wonderful ice cream parlour.
Visitors from around the globe flock here to marvel at the illustrious stores and window displays of Knightsbridge, particularly those found at Harrods and Harvey Nichols.
A luxury shopping destination for more than 160 years, Harrods is renowned for exclusive collections and excellent service – 15 million people walk through its doors every year. The seven-floor, 4.5-acre store is dedicated to the finest products in food, l
The legendary Savile Row, home of the bespoke suit
The Noble Collection
The Noble Collection is a manufacturer, distributor, and retailer of licensed products from fanfavourite franchises and media properties. Internationally renowned for creating high quality licensed collectibles and replicas from the Wizarding World™ to Minecraft and Jurassic Park, we offer all kinds of treasures from screen-accurate prop replicas to finely sculpted chess sets, as well as collectible-toy creations (aka “Toyllectibles”), including soft plushes, premium puzzles and bendable collector figures. The Noble Collection is perhaps best known for being the first licensed partner to create replica wands from the world of Harry Potter. This year we’re celebrating the seventh year of our flagship London store — the only The Noble Collection store in the world. Across two floors we strive to combine the magic and fantasy of our licensed ranges with the unique aesthetic of our historic Covent Garden location.
As well as a huge range of merchandise for you to take home with you (we reckon there’s something for everyone), the shop also features an exclusive Vault section, showcasing some of The Noble Collection’s much sought-after discontinued products and collectibles, as well as our Signature Collection, an array of replicas and merchandise signed by cast and crew of properties from Lord of the Rings to E.T.
Whether you love to explore the fantasy worlds of Game of Thrones or the jungles of Jumanji, we pride ourselves on being any film, TV or gaming fan’s dream –we are proud to create finely crafted treasures for all types of fans. Situated close to Covent Garden Market, the Palace Theatre and lots of iconic West End locations, The Noble Collection store is the perfect fan stop to slot into your itinerary. See you soon! ■
The Noble Collection is 2 mins walk from Covent Garden London Underground station.
The Noble Collection 26-28 Neal Street, London WC2H 9PS noblecollection.co.uk
fashion, homeware and technology.
The luxury womenswear department has 17 boutiques dedicated to top international brands, including Valentino, Prada and Dior, while Salon du Parfums houses the finest fragrances, some exclusive to Harrods. There are also rooms dedicated to expensive watches and fine jewellery, and 20-plus restaurants including The Georgian for a spot of afternoon tea and The Champagne Bar, where you can sample a glass or two of exclusive Harrods’ fizz.
For an unforgettable experience, don’t forget to make a pit stop at the famous Harrods Food Halls – almost an entire floor dedicated to high-end foodstuffs from across the globe.
Walk further north up the Brompton Road and, on the corner of Knightsbridge and Sloane Street, you’ll find another famous high-end department store – Harvey Nichols. This flagship store opened in its present form in the 1880s and has eight floors of fashion, beauty and lifestyle collections with its fifth floor dedicated to food and restaurants.
‘Harvey Nics’, is more understated than its headline-grabbing cousin down the road but still offers all your favourite designer labels, such as ultra-hip Alexander McQueen and Versace. There’s also a selection of stylish bars
Don’t forget to make a pit stop at the famous Harrods Food Halls
and restaurants, in particular the Fifth Floor Café and Terrace, which has spectacular views across west London and is a good place for a bit of celeb spotting.
To continue the luxury shopping experience, wander down Sloane Street towards Sloane Square, where you’ll find over 50 luxury boutiques. The curved facade of Peter Jones department store (owned by John Lewis & Partners) marks the start of the King’s Road, where you’ll find an eclectic mix of trendy boutiques, unique labels, designer shops and high-street staples, alongside a vast array of cafés and restaurants.
From the world’s best-known fashion labels and exclusive covetable designer collaborations to cheap-as-chips thrift-shop buys and authentic antiques, you’ll find there’s a bit of something for everyone when it comes to shopping in London. ■
Borough Market, a food lover’s paradise
EATING OUT
London is a foodie’s paradise with a host of fantastic restaurants, cafés and pubs –so make sure you bring a healthy appetite
Whatever your taste and budget, there’s more than enough to choose from in the capital, from walletfriendly street food to budgetbusting, high-end cuisine. A lot of restaurants require bookings, particularly at the weekend, so if you have your heart (and belly) set on somewhere, make sure you call ahead to avoid disappointment.
If you want to dress up and dine out in serious style, London doesn’t
disappoint. It has some of the best restaurants in the world – including the most glamorous.
Want to really live the high life? Book a table at the top of a tower where the views are as good as the food. London’s highest restaurant is Duck & Waffle, which sits triumphantly on the 40th floor of the Heron Tower at 110 Bishopsgate.
Here, chefs cook up traditional
British dishes with a European slant, including the restaurant’s signature dish – duck leg and duck egg on a waffle with maple syrup. It’s open 24 hours a day so those dramatic vistas are always accessible.
If you don’t fancy the food at Duck & Waffle, don’t panic. Descend a floor in the same building and you’ll find yourself in Sushi Samba, a New York import that serves a
Visit Aqua Shard on St Thomas St for unforgettable views
fusion of sushi dishes, drawing on diverse influences from Japan, Brazil and Peru.
The dining room is seriously stylish and includes a speckled black-and-white floor, a ‘sky at night’ bamboo canopy containing 340 light bulbs, and not one but two outdoor terraces – one with a bar set around an orange tree.
For more sublime skyscraper dining make your way to The Shard, the tallest building in western Europe. Aqua Shard, located on level 31, serves innovative contemporary cuisine and has a three-storey-high atrium bar offering an extensive cocktail menu.
Head up a floor and you’ll find Oblix at The Shard, which offers a sophisticated yet relaxed dining experience and has a wood-fired oven, charcoal grill and spit roast.
If you fancy some Asian cuisine, then head up even further to Hutong. Here you can get stuck into fancy northern Chinese cooking as well as cocktails inspired by ingredients used in traditional Chinese medicine.
Haute cuisine
Few Michelin-starred restaurants have views to match that of Galvin at Windows, on the 28th floor of Hilton Park Lane. The modern French haute cuisine is as impressive as the plush 1930s-style décor and the views out towards iconic sites, including Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace.
You’ll feel as if you’re dining in the clouds at Fenchurch Restaurant, which sits atop the Walkie Talkie and has views across the city that can’t fail to dazzle. You might have come to gaze at the bright lights, but the food doesn’t disappoint. The fine dining menu is outstanding and has British and Caribbean influences – a nod to Chef Kerth Gumbs’ Anguillan roots.
Set on the first floor of the Royal Festival Hall, Skylon has fabulous views over the River Thames and the South Bank and makes for a special pre- or post-theatre date. Choose from the elegant restaurant or the more-laid back bar – either way, you’ll get to dine on modern
For more sublime skyscraper dining make your way to The Shard
European cuisine in style.
Love the finer things in life?
Rest assured that London’s finedining credentials are impeccable, including a host of Michelin-starred dining rooms.
There are currently five London restaurants with three Michelin stars – Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, Gordon Ramsay’s namesake restaurant in Chelsea, CORE by Clare Smyth in Notting Hill, colourful Sketch (The Lecture Room & Library) near Piccadilly and Hélène Darroze at The Connaught in Mayfair, which offers a quintessentially English finedining experience.
Heston Blumenthal’s famous flagship restaurant The Fat Duck, in Bray, may well be booked up months in advance but his two Michelin-starred London restaurant at the Mandarin Oriental in Knightsbridge, is a little more accessible.
Historic dishes
While the Fat Duck celebrates futuristic flamboyance, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal updates historic dishes with creative flair, ensuring that it’s one of London’s most sought-after destinations.
Super chef James Knappett shakes the pans at Kitchen Table – a tiny two Michelin-starred, 19-seat modern European restaurant in Fitzrovia. It offers a 12-course tasting menu of seasonal British produce, which changes daily. Diners can sit right around the kitchen so they can watch the chefs’ every move.
If you’re after exquisite dishes in sumptuous surroundings you can’t go wrong with Alex Dilling at Hotel Café Royal, a fine-dining powerhouse on Regent Street. The menu celebrates French classic cuisine, and the cooking is so impressive that the restaurant was awarded an impressive two Michelin stars in 2023.
Aromatic West African spices and organic British produce come together to create a two Michelinstarred triumph at Ikoyi, on the Strand. Surprise tasting menus leave the decisions up to the chef. l
Welcome to Sucre Fire Dining, nestled in the heart of London’s Soho. Here we embrace a Latin American ethos: life is for savouring, and every meal is an invitation to indulge in life’s pleasures.
Pane Cunzato brings the authentic flavors of Sicily and the Aeolian Islands to the heart of the city. Specializing in traditional Sicilian dishes, the restaurant offers delights like Pane Cunzato, a bread topped with tomatoes, anchovies, capers, and olive oil. Diners can also enjoy classic dishes such as pistachio pasto topped pizza and Fritto Misto, a unique Aeolian seafood dish with calamari, king prawns and cod with fried zucchini, reflecting the islands’ rich culinary heritage.
Our historic pub proudly stands as a living relic, still echoing the bones of its 1834 roots. Perfect for those visiting the area from afar and seasoned regulars alike, our ‘Great British Pub Experience’ gives you a taste of the best traditional British pub food in the heart of the Royal Borough of Chelsea & Kensington. We are home to the very best of British classic dishes that champion the seasonal ingredients from the abundant larder of the British Isles. Enjoy two or three courses from our seasonal menu while we give you insight into the unique history of our stunning pub. Elevate your British Pub Experience by adding on our British Beer flight package and we will take you through the tasting notes of each beer alongside some good-to-know brewery facts. So, join us for delicious food, Young’s Original ale and a glimpse into the history of Britannia Pub – we’re not just a pub; we’re a tale in a tankard.
Luca in Farringdon – another of London’s Michelin-starred restaurants
You just have to sit back and enjoy the delicious and inventive ride.
Michelin-starred Japanese restaurant Umu – whose name means ‘born of nature’ – opened in 2004 as the UK’s first Kyotostyle dining room. It specialises in the multi-course kaiseki menus that are a speciality of the former imperial capital. It’s best to save this swanky venue for a special occasion, unless you have a generous expense account – prices can be high!
Sticking with high-end Asian offerings, the Michelin-starred Amaya, in Belgravia, specialises in stylish pan-Indian tapas. Ask for a table by the kitchen for a view of the chefs working the clay tandoor, charcoal grill and griddle.
The longstanding Le Gavroche is a London institution, having trained the likes of Marco Pierre White and Gordon Ramsay. Opened in 1967 by brothers Michel and Albert Roux, the two Michelin-starred restaurant is now run by Michel Roux junior and offers a delicious French menu
complemented by an unpretentious atmosphere and a 60,000-strong wine list.
Luca in Farringdon, another fine dining gem, joined the ranks of London’s Michelin-starred restaurants in 2023. It specialises in understated Italian food made from the finest British ingredients in a dining room that’s warm and unpretentious.
Asian fusion
If you’re more concerned about who you’re dining with than who’s cooking the food, there are plenty of places to get celeb spotting. Artwork by Damien Hirst, Frank Gehry and Michael Roberts adorns the walls of Sexy Fish, an Asian fusion restaurant in Berkeley Square. There’s also a resident DJ seven nights a week and it’s open until 2am. Expect famous people, lots of famous people.
If you don’t manage to bag a booking at Sexy Fish, try Chiltern Firehouse – Andre Balazs’ luxury
hotel and restaurant in Marylebone. While the hype – and many of the celebs – have moved on, it’s still a swanky treat. Originally one of London’s first purpose-built fire stations, the Grade 2-listed Gothic Victorian building has been transformed into a wonderful New York-style brasserie.
Guests (who have included Kate Moss, Simon Cowell, Lindsay Lohan, David Beckham, Orlando Bloom and even former Prime Minister David Cameron) are greeted by attractive top-hatted doormen and escorted through a pretty, private garden courtyard to their tables.
Kitchen W8 is one of the most popular celeb haunts in town. The stylish Michelin-starred venue is nestled unassumingly in one of Kensington’s side streets but has steadily built up a reputation as being the number one choice for the rich and famous in the know.
Despite these new kids on the block, A-listers continue to dine l
Eating at Selfridges
Finding great dining destinations is key to a good day out in the capital. At Selfridges London, visitors can expect an unrivalled shopping experience, complete with excellent food at a myriad of different destinations, from Neapolitan pizza to authentic ramen bowls, an oyster bar and more.
The culinary journey at Selfridges London could begin at any time of day –even before the store’s official opening hours. Start your morning by grabbing a coffee and pastry from Instagram-favourite EL&N or by discovering the new weekend brunch menu at Jackson Boxer at The Corner, complete with treacle butter pancakes and avocado toast.
For lunch bites, pay a visit to HIVE on 3. Offering salads, light dishes and cheese and honey pairings, the organic and nourishing menu is inspired by one key ingredient – honey.
Alternatively, Harry Gordon’s Bar & Kitchen on LG serves Spanish tapas and wine, Dolly’s Café boasts the perfect place for afternoon tea, while Selfridges’ oldest restaurant (which opened in 1966), The Brass Rail on G, is famed for its salt-beef sandwiches.
Short on time? Head to the Foodhall on G and choose from Caribbean-inspired bowls and wraps from Sweet Dees Jerk, poke bowls from Honi Poke, fresh-out-theoven focaccia sandwiches from Bread and Truffle, or oysters and a glass (or two) of champagne from the Champagne & Oyster
Bar by Caviar House & Prunier. Here, you’ll also find Selfridges Selection, an impressive line of luxury food and drinks made by the finest artisans from around the world. Discover gourmet treats, premium ingredients for your pantry, luxury chocolates, champagne and more.
If you’re planning a special occasion, Brasserie of Light –adorned with Damien Hirst’s magnificent 24-foot crystal Pegasus sculpture – has the perfect Art Deco setting with a modern take on some of the most popular dishes from Europe, Asia and beyond. On the rooftop, discover a menu of seasonal Italian dishes, from the finest seafood and pasta to grilled specialities and seasonal salads at Alto by San Carlo. Or try our cosmopolitan restaurant Aubaine for superb classic French dishes, and an abundance of style too. Elsewhere, enjoy artful cocktails, champagne and wine at The Fount, a bar situated in the heart of the luxurious Accessories Hall.
Or, for a more relaxed affair, you’ll find Selfridges’ latenight dining venues including Pizza Pilgrims Pizzeria, Din Tai Fung and EL&N café on 4, plus The Cinema at Selfridges bar, all open after the store has closed.
Book a table at one of our restaurants at selfridges.com ■
at Nobu, the Park Lane sushi restaurant co-owned by Robert de Niro. And, while its crown has slipped slightly in recent years, The Ivy is still the place to be seen when in London’s West End.
China Tang at the Dorchester is another favourite with VIPs. The restaurant is owned by the flamboyant founder of the Shanghai Tang chain, David Tang, and his movie star friends are often found there sampling Chinese delicacies alongside supermodels and business tycoons. The signature dish of Peking duck is said to be one of the finest in the UK.
The grand old café-restaurant at The Wolseley, on London’s Piccadilly, has a spectacular Grade 2-listed interior and a sumptuous menu to match. Whether you go there for a traditional afternoon tea or the famous Wolseley breakfast, you’re likely to spot a famous face or two, such as Sarah Ferguson or supermodel Lily Cole.
The best thing about dining in London is its diversity. You’ll find traditional English classics as well as cuisine from around the globe. The city also has a nice line in quirky dining experiences!
It doesn’t get more quintessentially British than afternoon tea. This famous pastime, made popular by Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford in 1840, is a
The Wolseley, on Piccadilly is a grand old café-restaurant
staple of London’s social calendar. Tea at The Ritz is by far the best known, but most luxury hotels provide an afternoon tea menu, some more old-school than others. Traditionalists should head for Browns, Claridge’s and The Savoy, where cakes, crustless sandwiches and scones are all served on delicate china stands and are accompanied by a choice of fine teas and a crisp glass of Champagne.
For something a little different, try a themed tea. These include Prêt-à-portea, a fashion-inspired tea at The Berkeley Hotel; Alice in Wonderland-inspired treats at The Sanderson Hotel; and a dinosaurthemed Jurassic afternoon tea at the Ampersand Hotel, complete with chocolate fossils and an edible dinosaur egg basket. You can even treat yourself to this famous British pastime aboard a red double-decker ‘Routemaster’ bus!
For those who scoff at scones, The OXO Tower’s brasserie serves a ‘Not Afternoon Tea’. It features a selection of quirky cocktails and delicious sweet treats with not a sandwich or scone in sight.
Street food
Drawing on the cultural diversity of London’s population, street food is more popular than ever before. Try Borough Market, where you can easily spend half a day dining out on the free samples on offer, and Brick Lane, where there’s everything from curry to Korean to Ethiopian.
At the weekend head for the Southbank Centre Food Market, where stalls are open until 9pm, or Street Feast, which has venues across the city open from 5pm to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. The range of cuisines on offer is suitably varied. Think Venezuelan, Polish sausages and jerk chicken.
African food is enjoying a moment in London, with excellent choices at both the high-end, mid-range and budget ends of the market. Akoko in Fitzrovia fuses seasonal, British ingredients with West African spices to create inventive, fine-dining heaven.
Tatale at the newly-opened Africa Centre in Southwark is colourful, l
The Wolseley, London
fun and just the place to sample creative pan-African dishes – think groundnut soup or aubergine abom.
Another tasty foreign delicacy making its mark in the city is the Sri Lankan hopper (rice and coconut milk pancakes shaped like a bowl). Hoppers Soho has been so successful that two more branches have opened – one in Marylebone and one in King’s Cross.
You can find further Sri Lankan deliciousness at Paradise in Soho, which specialises in high-end small plates, Kolamba (also in Soho) where sharing plates are the USP, and at Rambutan in Borough Market, which celebrates hearty Tamil favourites.
Eating out is about to get more interesting! From floating restaurants that take you along the River Thames to dining rooms where you eat in the dark, Londoners have a wealth of offbeat and unusual dining experiences at their fingertips.
With futuristic décor courtesy of
British designer Tom Dixon, Circus restaurant and cocktail bar in the West End feels truly decadent. Dinner is punctuated by various surprise cabaret and circus acts, which parade around the tables as you eat.
Also in the West End, Sarastro puts on regular live music from Latin to opera. The restaurant is even decked out like a theatre –elevated boxes arranged around the restaurant are furnished in rococo, Gothic and Ottoman styles. The food is of the TurkishMediterranean variety.
Want a real dining adventure? There’s one restaurant in London which serves dinner in complete darkness. At Dans le Noir? in Clerkenwell, meals are served by blind waiters and challenge your sense of taste and smell in a bid to educate your palate.
You can even dine in a working prison by booking a table at The Clink restaurant at HMP Brixton. Charity-run, the restaurant sits
within the walls of the category C/D prison and allows a select number of visitors to dine on food prepared by inmates as part of a prisoner rehabilitation programme.
For that extra special lavish experience, head to Soho’s Bob Bob Ricard, which serves a luxury English and Russian menu to its eclectic clientele in London’s most glamorous all-booth dining room. Equipped with a ‘press for Champagne’ button at every table, it’s famous for pouring more bubbles than any other restaurant in the UK. If you’re staying in the east of the city, there’s a second branch in Liverpool Street.
From fabulous fine dining to succulent street food to traditional British afternoon tea, there’s something for everyone on the menu in London! Even better? All these foodie treats can be sampled in a variety of fantastic locations, from soaring skyscrapers to historic dining rooms and even boats on the River Thames. ■
Hoppers Soho has been so successful that two more branches have opened – one in Marylebone and one in King’s Cross
Only here for the weekend? Fear not! Here are some ideas for a memorable short break to London
WEEKENDER
DAY ONE
Fuel up for your jam-packed itinerary with a hearty breakfast at The Happenstance which you’ll find nestled in the shadow of St Paul’s Cathedral. With its stylish interiors and seasonal menus, you’ll find it hard to leave!
If you can tear yourself away from breakfast, make for the beautiful St Paul’s Cathedral. In the crypt you’ll find the tombs and memorials of some of the nation’s greatest heroes, and don’t forget to try out the acoustic quirks of the Whispering Gallery.
Cross the river via London Bridge and visit Borough Market for lunch. Set under the railway lines, this sprawling market runs seven days a week and has a host of stalls selling everything from artisan breads and cheeses to international street food.
Once you’re done, walk west along the riverside walkway and pop into the famous Tate Modern, which is free to enter, except for some special exhibitions. Then head to the Royal National Theatre, which holds backstage tours Monday to Saturday, or wander into the Royal Festival Hall, which sometimes has free entertainment in the ballroom. Back out on the riverside you’ll find a host of street entertainers as you meander along the promenade.
Catching a West End show is a London must-do. Visit the TKTS booth in Leicester Square for onthe-day performances or advancebook online.
DAY TWO
After the show, head for a slap-up meal at The Delaunay on the corner of historic Drury Lane, which offers French brasserie classics in a grand dining room.
Rise early and make your first stop the world-class Natural History Museum in Kensington. You can pick up a coffee and pastry from one of the boutique cafés in the streets opposite. Inside the museum, which is free to enter, you’ll find the iconic blue whale skeleton as well as exciting, interactive exhibits.
You’ll find a brunch menu on offer at eateries across the capital
and many offer a bottomless drink option, allowing you to wash down your meal with copious glasses of bloody Mary or mimosa!
After brunch, catch the tube to Covent Garden for a stroll. As well as the shops which line the 19thcentury square there are also three markets selling everything from British-made crafts to antiques.
Once you’ve picked up a souvenir or two, try a spot of afternoon tea. G traditional at The Dorchester or The Savoy, or head to the Wands & Wizard Exploratorium for a wizard’s
If you can tear yourself away from breakfast, make for the beautiful St Paul’s Cathedral
afternoon tea with a selection of cakes and “sand-witches”.
As evening approaches, head to The Shard. Get up to The View from The Shard before darkness descends, then watch the sun sink over the city’s skyscrapers.
If you’re still full of afternoon tea, wander towards Soho to check out one of its speakeasy bars. These underground drinking dens usually require a reservation, which you can make online. If you do fancy something to eat, try Duck & Waffle for seasonal European dishes. ■
St. Pauls Cathedral
Culture vultures assemble! London offers the perfect mix of galleries, museums, exhibitions and festivals
Culture Club
With more than 1,000 permanent exhibition spaces, around 200 museums and a plethora of theatres and concert venues Londoners don’t have to travel far to soak up some culture. It’s no wonder this vibrant city is often considered the cultural capital of the world.
Among the many things London does well are museums and galleries. In 2017 London was named the museum capital of the world – in joint place with Washington DC – with four of its museums among the most visited worldwide.
The British Museum in Great Russell Street is London’s most popular cultural hotspot but don’t let the crowds put you off. The grande dame of the UK’s museums opened in 1759 and is crammed full of fascinating artefacts from the length and breadth of the globe.
The most popular exhibits are undoubtedly the Egyptian mummies, the Rosetta Stone and the Anglo-Saxon ship burial from Sutton Hoo, Suffolk – one of the most spectacular and important discoveries in British archaeology.
For further museum action
head to South Kensington, where world-class offerings including the National History Museum – all lined up along the aptly named Exhibition Road.
The Natural History Museum’s dramatic Gothic exterior is impressive enough but it’s when you step inside that the real magic happens. The magnificent cast of a blue whale skeleton dominates the whole of the entrance hall and hints at what’s to come.
You’ll find animatronic dinosaurs, fossils large and small and life-size creatures from
The Natural History Museum, South Kensington
hippos to horses in the museum’s mammals gallery. Every winter the museum premieres the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, with the exhibition remaining open until July of the following year.
In 2023 the star of the show is Patagotitan mayorum, otherwise known as the Titanosaur – one of the largest known creatures to have ever walked our planet. The giant reconstructed skeleton will be on display until January 2024.
The Science Museum
Want to cram in some more learning? Then head down the road to the Science Museum. Featuring seven floors of educational and entertaining exhibits, this museum forms an enduring record of scientific, technological and medical achievements from across the globe.
Perhaps the most spectacular of its exhibitions is Exploring Space, which includes full-scale models of the Beagle 2 Mars Lander as well as the huge Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope,
which has flown on British space missions. There’s also the Apollo 10 command module and a flight simulator where you can perform your very own aerial acrobatics, just like the famous Red Arrows.
The museum’s in-house IMAX cinema shows scientific films in 3D, allowing visitors to be surrounded by space or submerged in the depths of the ocean.
Founded by Queen Victoria in 1853, the nearby V&A is the largest museum of decorative arts and design in the world. Some 150 grand galleries showcase over 5,000 years of human creativity including countless pieces of furniture, ceramics, sculpture, paintings, posters, jewellery, metalwork, glass and textiles.
Highlights include The Raphael Cartoons, seven full-scale tapestry designs painted by Raphael for the Sistine Chapel. The Ardabil Carpet, the world’s oldest floor covering, and the Luck of Edenhall, a 13thcentury glass beaker from Syria, are also impressive.
The fashion galleries run from 18th-century court dress right up to contemporary chiffon numbers, while the famous photography collection holds over 500,000 separate images.
Trainspotters and petrol heads should make for Covent Garden and the London Transport Museum, which gives the lowdown on the city’s transport systems. You’ll learn about the capital’s first licensed public transport, see the first underground engine (steampowered) and even climb aboard a genuine wooden Metropolitan Railway coach.
Tiny tots can go wild in the ‘All Aboard’ play zone for the under sevens, which includes a fleet of mini vehicles to play on and a selection of dress-up uniforms.
For something a little different, why not visit the Hampstead Heath home of Romantic poet, John Keats. He lived in Keats House between 1818 and 1820 and wrote some of his best-loved poetry there. The property, which opened as a l
The Victoria and Albert Museum, South Kensington
Dr Johnson’s House
Dr Johnson's House is a literary historic house museum, found in a charming 300-yearold townhouse in the historic City of London.
Samuel Johnson, the writer and wit, lived here in the 18th century, and compiled his great Dictionary of the English language on the top floor. Today we welcome visitors from all over the world.
museum in 1925, displays paintings, prints and relics belonging to Keats and his contemporaries, including his death mask and the engagement ring he gave to Fanny Brawne.
For a sombre look at 20thcentury warfare, visit the Imperial War Museum, near Elephant and Castle. The attention-grabbing central hall has terraced galleries featuring wartime vehicles such as a Snatch Land Rover from Iraq and an Argentine operating table from the Falklands, while guns, tanks and aircraft hang from the ceiling.
If you have young children in tow, you’ll have to miss The Holocaust Exhibition (not recommended for under 14s), which traces the history of European anti-Semitism and its nadir in the concentration camps. The Crimes Against Humanity section (unsuitable for under 16s) is a minimalist space with a film exploring contemporary genocide and ethnic violence.
More military history can be had at the National Maritime Museum
in Greenwich, a treasure trove of all things nautical. Just around the corner, you’ll find the celebrated 19th-century sailing ship the Cutty Sark, and the Royal Observatory, where you can stand on the worldfamous Prime Meridian Line.
Did you know that London had a secret tube line that was used exclusively by Royal Mail? Get down to The Postal Museum and you’ll find out how this ‘mail rail’ was used to transport post between city centre depots from the late 1920s until the early 2000s. The best bit is unquestionably the ride through the tunnels on the old mail rail trains.
Want to explore London’s seedy underbelly? Get all the details of the 19th century’s most scandalous crimes at The Jack the Ripper Museum. You’ll hear the story of his gruesome murders in the summer of 1888 and learn about the lives of some of his victims.
Fans of crime and mystery may also want to pay a visit to the Sherlock Holmes Museum.
Although not actually at Number 221b, this museum is indeed in a house on Baker Street and imagines what it would have looked like had the real Holmes and Watson lived there. Get there early to avoid the crowds – the place is quaint but extremely cosy!
Incredible exhibitions
The Design Museum relocated to the striking former Commonwealth Institute building on High Street Kensington at the end of 2016. Come here to be inspired by incredible exhibitions on the worlds of fashion, architecture, furniture, and product design.
The National Gallery was founded in 1824 to display a collection of just 36 paintings. Today this Trafalgar Square institution is home to more than 2,000 works, with masterpieces from virtually every European school of art.
The modern Sainsbury Wing contains the gallery’s earliest l
Imperial War Museum, Vauxhall
works including Italian paintings by early masters like Giotto and Piero della Francesca, while the West Wing showcases Italian Renaissance masterpieces by Titian and Raphael.
For the biggest crowd-pleasers, though, the East Wing wins hands down. Blockbuster attractions include one of Monet’s Water Lilies series and one of Van Gogh’s Sunflowers series.
The National Portrait Gallery
Also in Trafalgar Square, The National Portrait Gallery is home to the world’s largest collection of portraits, from Tudor times to the present day. It also happens to have one of the best rooftop restaurants in London with views stretching from Nelson’s Column down Whitehall to the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and the London Eye. Closed since spring 2020, the gallery reopened in June 2023 after significant refurbishment including the creation of new public spaces and a state-of-the-art Learning Centre.
London is awash with fantastic modern art and the Tate Modern, set in an imposing former power station on Bankside is the best place to see it. Hailed as the world’s most popular contemporary art museum, it attracts millions of visitors a year.
In the main building, the
cavernous turbine hall is used to jaw-dropping effect as the home of large-scale, temporary installations, while the permanent collection has been expertly curated and draws from the Tate’s collections of modern art featuring the likes of Matisse, Rothko and Beuys.
June 2016 saw the opening of a massive new extension. Named Switch House, the twisted, off-kilter building with its jarring angles is a piece of artwork in itself.
Art and design lovers are wellserved at the Barbican. An icon of Brutalist architecture, it’s also home to two art galleries: Barbican Art Gallery and The Curve, both of which put on regularly changing exhibitions featuring the best modern and contemporary artists.
Another stellar contemporary gallery with a Brutalist exterior is the Hayward Gallery, on London’s South Bank. Come here to see exhibitions by the likes of legends such as Anish Kapoor, Bridget Riley and Diane Arbus.
World-famous musicals?
Check. International superstars? Absolutely. Opera, film festivals and comedy? Yes, yes and yes. When it comes to live events, London has you covered from every angle.
London has always pulled in amazing performers from across the globe but when The O2 arena opened in 2007, it really put
London on the map. In recent years, the 20,000-capacity stadium has been the first port of call for worldclass headline acts, such as Adele, Beyoncé, Lionel Richie and Céline Dion to name but a few.
There are more than 17,000 live music performances a year across London’s 300-plus venues from mammoth rock and pop concerts at The O2 or Wembley Arena to classical music performances at the Royal Opera House, the Royal Albert Hall and Wigmore Hall.
Wilton Music Hall – built in 1743 and the oldest surviving music hall in the world – is also worth a visit, while St Martin-in-the-Fields, an 18th-century church in Trafalgar Square, is a wonderful place to see classical concerts by candlelight.
ABBA fans can head east and relive the supergroup’s glory days at ABBA Voyage, a breathtaking digital concert in a purpose-built arena in Stratford.
The West End
It’s not just music making waves on the London stage. From classical ballet to contemporary, London is known around the world for its fantastic dance shows. Go to The Royal Opera House, The Royal Albert Hall or The London Coliseum for spectacular ballet productions by companies such as the English National Ballet.
Or enjoy electrifying contemporary dance shows at The Barbican Centre and Sadler’s Wells Theatre, which showcases the very best in tango, hip hop, flamenco, contemporary ballet and Bollywood on stage.
London’s stages host some of the world’s leading plays and musicals. The West End is where you’ll find most of the biggest shows. Famous long-standing productions include Les Misérables at The Sondheim Theatre and Mamma Mia! at The Novello Theatre, while newer kids on the block include Hamilton at The Victoria Palace Theatre, Back to the Future at the Adelphi Theatre and Six at the Vaudeville Theatre. Fans of The Bard should head to Shakespeare’s Globe beside the Thames in Bankside’s cultural
Shakespeare’s legendary Globe Theatre
quarter, where you can catch both traditional and experimental staging of his famous works, as well as take behind-the-scenes tours of the theatre.
London puts on more live comedy than any other city in the world. Wherever you visit you’re bound to find one or more bigname acts playing one of the city’s larger arenas. The Eventim Apollo and The O2 Academy, in Brixton, are good places to start as is The Comedy Store in Soho.
Since it opened in 1979, it’s been a breeding ground for the next generation of young stand-up comedians – Julian Clary, Jack Dee, Eddie Izzard, Steve Coogan and Kevin Bridges have all graced its stage at some point.
During London Fashion Week, you’ll see VIPs from the world of couture travel to London from every major fashion capital across the globe. Held in February and September each year (to showcase the spring/summer and autumn/
winter collections), London Fashion Week is a huge opportunity to promote British fashion – and its designers – on the world stage.
If you’re in town when it’s on, then watch out for the hordes of glamorously dressed fashion bods outside the various shows. You may well spot a celebrity or two as well.
Every October over 200 fiction and documentary films are screened at the BFI London film festival, including several world premieres. The event centres on Leicester Square but also branches out to local movie houses all over London. There are also heaps of Q&A sessions and masterclasses with filmmakers, as well as short films, talks and workshops.
If you’re not in town during festival week, never fear. You can still enjoy world premieres in Leicester Square, check out offbeat gems at specialist art-house cinemas and, in summer catch an outdoor screening near iconic buildings such as City Hall and Somerset House.
There’s even a floating cinema, as well as venues where you can take in a film from the comfort of a hot tub!
Around 250 festivals take place across the city every year including the London Literature festival at the Southbank Centre, the Wireless music festival in Finsbury Park and London’s annual celebration of the River Thames, the Totally Thames festival, which takes place on and around the river each September.
If you’re here during the last weekend in August head to the unmissable Notting Hill Carnival. This heady taste of all things Caribbean is Europe’s biggest street festival, attracting nearly one million revellers throughout the long weekend.
From the hundreds of different languages spoken on the streets to some of the world’s leading museums, galleries and theatres, not to mention a lively calendar of festivals and events, London is a true cultural powerhouse. Get out there and soak it all up! ■
Les Misérables at The Queens Theatre, Soho
After dark
The night-time economy is thriving, packed with clubs, pubs, bars and music venues
The famous arches that announce your entry to Chinatown
Whether you fancy dressing up for a classy cocktail in a rooftop bar, chilling out with a pint by the Thames or dancing until dawn in an underground club, planning a good night out in London is never difficult. The opportunities for fun are endless!
Most visitors head straight to the West End for a night out and it’s a great place to start. Some of the city’s top hotels, bars and members’ clubs including The Club at the Ivy and Soho House are found here so you’ll be guaranteed a night filled with high-end entertainment (if you can get on the guestlist that is)!
Step a few streets north of touristy Leicester Square and you’ll find yourself in Soho, where there’s an eclectic mix of hip cellar bars and age-old London institutions. It’s also the centre of London’s LGBTQ+ scene.
Speakeasies
Based on secret drinking dens from the days of post-war Britain, speakeasies are a big hit in London. The idea behind these ‘hidden’ bars is that no one is supposed to know they exist. Except they do, and in some cases it’s obvious, but it’s fun to play along so just go with it.
Chinatown’s Experimental Cocktail Club is perhaps the closest London has to a genuine hidden drinking den (you’ll most likely walk past its battered door on Gerrard Street without noticing).
The bar’s three floors are a tasteful blend of opulence and antiqueshop-chic with sensational cocktails thrown into the mix.
A few streets away in Poland Street sits another speakeasy with a non-descript entrance, apart from the blindfolded pig doorknocker! The Blind Pig features a coppertopped bar and a menu of cocktails with drinks based on children’s stories – Try Beyond the Wardrobe or The Lost Glass Slipper.
At Cahoots, just off Carnaby Street, you’ll need to ask to see the ‘Captain’ before you’re led down to a former bunker, which has been transformed into an underground station complete with trains and sandbags. Waitresses are decked
The idea behind these ‘hidden’ bars is that no one is supposed to know they exist
out in 1940s outfits and the vintageinspired cocktails are served in oversized milk bottles and tin cans.
Head East to City Road in Hoxton and you can have your Prohibition fun at Nightjar, a moody, subterranean den with another hard-to-find entrance (clue: look out for the Nightjar symbol). Live jazz and a menu of inventive cocktails divided by era will leave you longing for a lock-in.
Want a spot of healthy competition along with your drinks? Head to Farringdon and Bounce – a 12,000sq ft ping pong social club, 1950-style cocktail bar and restaurant.
Flight Clubs
Or if hitting the bullseye is your idea of a great night out try one of the city’s Flight Clubs (there are bars in Shoreditch and Bloomsbury, Victoria and Islington). You can order a pizza and a beer as you work your way around the state-of-theart dart boards.
Alternatively, head to the city, where a former underground World War II bunker near the Gherkin has been transformed into a crazy golf, street food and bar concept called Swingers.
London also has a bar dedicated to table football (the aptly-named Bar Kick in Shoreditch, which is also a top place to watch live sport), as well as Baranis, an underground cocktail bar on Chancery Lane which has its own gravelled indoor pétanque court.
Those for a real head for heights should make GŎNG Bar their first stop. Set in the Shangri-La Hotel l
on the 52nd floor of The Shard, it’s the highest hotel bar in Western Europe and offers incredible views across the city.
Set right at the top of the Aldgate’s new Canopy Hotel, Florattica allows you uninterrupted gawping at London’s top landmarks from its floral-themed bar, which comes complete with floor-toceiling windows and an outdoor terrace. Expect oysters, champagne and top-class cocktails.
Rooftop bars
One of the best views in London comes courtesy of Sky Garden at 20 Fenchurch Street, aka the ‘Walkie Talkie’. This magnificent threefloor space is dedicated to London’s highest landscaped public gardens, two of London’s most exclusive restaurants and a bar – the Sky Pod – with a monster list of cocktails. You’ll need to book in advance via their website to visit.
The luxurious Radio Rooftop Bar at ME London Hotel on The
Bussey Rooftop Bar sits offers 360˚ views from atop creative hub The Bussey Building
Strand boasts 360-degree skyline panoramas. The dress code is formal and so are the prices. You’ll need to make a reservation for this one – if your name’s not down, you definitely won’t be getting in.
Some of London’s coolest rooftop bars are only open during the summer, such as the uber-stylish Dalston Roof Park, nestled amongst Hackney’s Victorian buildings and Stratford’s Roof East, which offers mini-golf, batting cages and even an outdoor cinema screen alongside the burgers and craft beer.
Also popular with London’s hipster crowd is Frank’s in Peckham, which perches on top of a multistorey car park and has some of the best sunset views around. Nearby, Bussey Rooftop Bar sits atop creative hub The Bussey Building, and offers stunning 360-degree views, delectable sourdough pizza and friendly vibes.
If nothing but bubbles will do, London has more than its fair share of Champagne bars. One of the l
Bussey Rooftop Bar has sourdough pizza, friendly vibes and fantastic views
best is Searcys Champagne Bar at St Pancras International Station. Whether you’ve just arrived in London or are catching the Eurostar to Paris, make time for a glass of fizz at this gorgeous space, which has earned itself the title of the longest Champagne bar in Europe.
Enjoy a toast before a performance at the Grand Tier of the Royal Albert Hall, where you’ll find the elegant Laurent-Perrier Bar. As the name suggests, the champagne here is Laurent-Perrier, which you can order by the glass or by the bottle, alongside delicious small plates of pan-Asian food. Everyone knows that red wine and cheese make a good match but Champagne and cheese? “Why not?”, says chic French shop and bistro, Champagne + Fromage, near Covent Garden. This tiny little deli-style brasserie is famous for its rustic fare and fizz. It specialises in grower champagne, made by artisan producers in their own vineyards.
If wine is your tipple, then you might prefer Gordon’s Wine Bar on Villiers Street – thought to be the oldest wine bar in London. Take the rickety wood-panelled staircase down from just outside Victoria Embankment Garden and you’ll feel like you’ve gone back in time – centuries-old newspaper cuttings and dusty wine bottles line the walls, and none of the rickety furniture matches.
Late-night clubs
Still got energy to burn? London has plenty of late-night clubs where you can dance the night away. Occupying former theatres, railway arches and warehouses across town, major clubs cover all tastes from indie, rock, pop and world music to all-night raves.
Giants such as the Ministry of Sound at Elephant & Castle are crammed with youthful clubbers at the weekends so be prepared for it to get a little sweaty. Expect to pay up to £30 for entry, with VIP packages for £50 – but for that you’ll get to watch some of the world’s top headline DJs and party until dawn.
If you take things a little less seriously get down to Club de
In Frith Street you will find Ronnie Scott’s famous jazz bar
Fromage. London’s self-proclaimed biggest pop night takes place every Saturday at O2 Academy in Islington.
Retro tunes include bangers from the likes of Bon Jovi, Michael Jackson, Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys and Elton John, to name but a few. There’s usually a different theme each week and best of all –if you come in fancy dress, you also get to jump the queue.
London isn’t just about chic cocktail bars and swanky clubs. There are plenty of traditional boozers in which to while away your time. And after you’ve sunk a few pints, why not head out to experience the city’s unforgettable live music scene?
When the weather turns cold, a proper cosy pub with a crackling fire and comfy seats is a must for warming up in the evening. If you want really old, then you’ll need to head over to Fleet Street, where
the 16th-century Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, which has survived the reign of 15 monarchs, offers oldfashioned beer at reassuringly oldfashioned prices.
There’s more cosy 16th-century atmosphere on offer at Ye Olde Mitre in Holborn, a characterful hideaway where traditional food and ales pull in a loyal – and lively –post-work crowd.
Atmospheric drinking holes
Tucked away down its own little alley off Borough High Street, near London Bridge, The George is the last remaining galleried inn in the city. Parts of the building date back to the mid-16th century.
If you can’t get a seat inside this unsurprisingly popular pub, then perch yourself in the large courtyard area outside, which has plenty of heaters and old-fashioned lamps to huddle under.
You’ll find plenty of atmospheric drinking holes down by the Thames, but one of the best is The Grapes in Limehouse, which dates to 1583,
just so happens to be owned by Gandalf… Sir Ian McKellen, that is! He’s one of the proprietors of this traditional boozer. Whether you fancy a pie and a pint at the bar or a more formal experience in the dining room upstairs, get a seat by the window so you can watch the lights of Canary Wharf glitter on the water outside.
Riverside views
On the same side of the river, you’ll find one of the most picturesque venues in London, Bread Street Kitchen on the River. Expect top-notch food and drink from both the bar and restaurant at this Grade 2-listed building which has panoramic views over the Thames.
Offering a coveted vantage point for spectators of the annual Oxford versus Cambridge Boat Race, The Dove in Hammersmith has all the charm and atmosphere you’d want from a traditional English pub, plus great views of the river, day or night.
It’s on Frith Street in Soho that you’ll find Ronnie Scott’s famous l
Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club, Soho
jazz bar. The club has been the home of British jazz since 1959 and is one of the most respected jazz clubs in the world. Some of the greatest names in musical history have performed on its historic stage including Miles Davis, Buddy Rich and Ella Fitzgerald.
You need to book tickets in advance for the club, where the main shows take place, but you don’t need to book to sit at the bar – Upstairs @ Ronnie’s – which puts on a variety of events ranging from acoustic jazz to Cuban bands, jive nights and even poetry slams, every night of the week.
If you’re serious about your music, bohemian Camden Town is the place to go for more intimate live gigs. It has a smattering of great venues interspersed between its quirky pubs and bars.
The Jazz Café is a London icon where you can see everything from Afrobeat to soul to hip-hop and, of course, jazz. Plenty of bigname acts have graced the stage,
including Jocelyn Brown and the late Amy Winehouse.
Venues don’t come much more atmospheric the Union Chapel in Highbury and Islington. Built in the late 19th century, it was once a working Church but is now a popular music venue, attracting big stars from around the world who come to take advantage of the stunning acoustics. Adele, Björk, U2 and Elton John have all played here, amongst many others.
Musical theatre
If participation is your thing, then there’s nothing better than a good old karaoke night. There are pubs and bars across the city offering regular open mic nights but if you want a guaranteed sing-song (without the audience) then book in at Karaoke Box or Lucky Voice. You’ll be able to sing to your heart’s content in a private booth with just you and your friends.
The West End is the largest theatre district in the world, with
major international stars treading the boards night after night in everything from musicals to classical theatre.
If you love musical theatre, take your pick from long-running shows such as The Lion King and Wicked, crowd-pleasing favourites like Mamma Mia! or risqué musical comedy like The Book of Mormon You’re seriously spoilt for choice.
Short-run shows
There are also some spectacular short-run shows, such as the ubiquitous Cirque du Soleil’s annual residence at the Royal Albert Hall each January. If you’re planning to be in town at the right time of year, you’ll find that it’s well worth booking in advance.
With loads of great venues (both indoor and out), a world-class theatre and live music scene and plenty of pubs, bars and clubs to choose from, you’re bound to have a fantastic night in London when the sun goes down. ■
Wicked at Apollo Victoria
Although London has more than enough to keep you busy, a journey further afield can make for an exciting new adventure
Time to explore
If you want to escape fast-paced city life, there are plenty of fantastic places that are less than an hour from London by train or car.
To the west, London borders Berkshire, giving easy access to the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. Walk the Long Mile to Windsor Castle, then tour the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world.
Windsor is also home to Legoland – the second most visited theme park in the UK and a great day out for families with younger children. Just six miles away Ascot Racecourse hosts horse racing throughout the year.
Another picturesque stop is the market town of Henley-on-Thames. Each June/July swarms of dolled-up visitors descend on the town for the Henley Royal Regatta – one of the most famous in the world. Even if you’re not around at that time you can get a flavour for its history at the River & Rowing Museum.
Cross over Berkshire’s northern border and you’ll find yourself in Buckinghamshire. The county is known for its fancy country homes and manor estates. But you can also visit Great Missenden, the home of writer Roald Dahl, and take a trail through the countryside to see the sights that inspired him. Don’t miss a trip to The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre – it’s a fantastic place to take the kids.
Head east out of London you’ll get to Essex. For a whiff of the ocean, get down to coastal Leigh-on-Sea. The town’s a bit of a haven for Londoners priced out of the city and, with its plentiful bars and restaurants, there are plenty of cool kids to hang out with.
Known as the Garden of England, thanks to its abundance of orchards and hop gardens, Kent can be reached by train from London in less than 40 minutes. From the Victorian walled garden at Quex Park to the rose
k Camber Sands, East Sussex
I Windsor Castle and garden, Berkshire
gardens at Hever Castle, there’s a garden to uncover around every corner.
Heading south from London is Surrey. The Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty spans more than a quarter of the county and contains some of the south east’s most beautiful countryside and pictureperfect villages. Jane Austen spent holidays at Great Bookham with Box Hill providing the setting for the picnic scene in Emma.
London also makes a great base from which to explore the Sussex coast. The cosmopolitan city of Brighton & Hove, just an hour by train from London Victoria, shouldn’t be missed. Explore the quirky shops of North Laine or get a bird’s eye view of the city by taking a ride on the Brighton i360 – a glass pod that slowly glides up to 450ft.
While most beaches on the south edge of the British Isles are pebble, Camber Sands, in East Sussex, is known for its seven miles of dunes. Once you’re done sunbathing, stop at the nearby Medieval town of Rye and wonder at its charming, cobbled streets.
For a culture injection, take the train northeast from King’s Cross to Cambridge. It’s crammed with beautiful museums and art galleries and is dominated by its world-class university which dates to the 12th century. ■
Leigh Heritage Centre and Plumbs Cottage is a treasure trove of Leigh’s history with displays of artefacts and information for
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