London
Some of the best places to visit, best places to eat and some money saving tips.
Places to eat
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On The Bab
The most delicious Korean street food in London. Located just off Covent Garden I've never been to this place and not waited in line for at least a half hour, and for means that just proves the food is amazing. It is also very reasonably priced and perfect for sharing.
Balthazaar
Another Covent Garden find. This decadent French restaurant is luxurious and atmospheric but also has a early bird menu that won't break the bank. Perfect for special occasion.
Pizza Pilgrims
With numberous locations around London, this pizzeria is the perfect spot for a quick inexpensive lunch or dinner and they cater for vegans!
Young Cheng Restaurant
There are so many restaurants in Chinatown it can be tricky choosing the right one. I went to this one with my family on a trip to London when I was a child and without knowing, myself and Keith quickly made this place our favourite spot! Birthdays, Valentines day, you name it, this was where we went! Their set menu for 2 is more than enough food and so delicious!
Flat Iron
This is another highly reccomended chain. They're in great locations such as Soho and just off Covent Garden and serve only Flat Iron steak and a menu of sides. They also bring out popcorn as an appetizer! (I'm a big fan). This place has great ambiance and is very affordable.
Le Relais de Venise L'Entrecote
If you want to feel fancy, this is the place to go. They don't have a menu and only serve a salad appetizer, and steak frites for the main. They do have a small dessert menu and of course an extensive wine list. If you like steak, I highly reccomend this place, it feels like stepping into an old french film.
Eat by Chloe
This VEGAN restaurant chain has restaurants in NYC and LA and finally made it to London in 2018. It is UNBELIEVABLE. I can not explain how amazing the mac'n'cheese is nor the most delicious cupcakes I've ever had in my life. Even if your not vegan, this place is well worth the visit.
Le Pain Quotidien
Another chain, and yes maybe I really enjoy french restaurants okay, but this is the most beautiful brunch or coffee date place. The coffee in served in bowls (a win) and their poached eggs and avocado toast is the stuff of dreams. Not to mention they have vegan chocolate cake (which is obviously another win)
Things To Do
Westfield Shopping Centre
Westfield Shepards Bush was a safe haven for me. The first year I lived in London I was living with housemates I didn't get along with very well and I was working outrageous hours in a restaurant 6 days a week. On Sundays, I would wake up late, get ready and trek over to Shepards Bush and spend the day browsing all the shops I could dream of. Once my boyfriend moved over and we got our own place, Westfield became a trip for days out. I could go to Victoria's Secret while Keith went to Tesla and we were happy out.
Camden
The coolest part of London, that has now kind of become a tourist attraction. Camden is well known for being home to rock stars for generations and, don't get me wrong, I enjoy a trip to Camden as much as the next Hipster. But it has become quite commercial and a little bit seedy. I love the vintage market and the quirky little shops and especially love the food vans but there are certain places I wouldn't go near!
Oxford Street/Regent Street/Carnaby Street
Oxford street is the biggest shopping street in London. A place you want to avoid on a Saturday afternoon if you're not one for crowds, but early on a weekday morning, you can have your pick of Selfridges, The Disney Store, The Nike Store, H&M, you name it! Regent street is perpendicular to Oxford street and has more high-end shops and of course Hamleys- the famous toy shop. If you don't have a Hamleys bear have you even been to London. About halfway down Regent street is the famous Carnaby Street, home of Austin Powers, and in my opinion, the coolest place in London and home of my all-time favourite boutique The Great Frog.
Notting Hill/Kensington
Notting Hill is one of the most picturesque neighbourhoods in London, filled to the brim with cute instagramable cafes and streets and the BEST charity shops in the city. If you're up for a walk it's about a half an hour away from high street Kensington where lies the biggest and most amazing Whole Foods Market I have ever laid eyes upon. From there you could head to Hyde Park for a stroll and see the Peter Pan statue.
Take a stroll down Southbank
Southbank is one of my favourite spots in London. There are plenty of places to grab a bite or a coffee, interesting second-hand booksellers and street performers. Southbank Centre has a theatre, a cinema, a book shop and restaurants. If you walk down far enough you get to Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, The OXO buildings which are full of independent design shops and then eventually the Tate Modern, a free gallery where you can see some stunning art and some incredible views of London.
Covent Garden and Chinatown
A weekend in London is not complete without a stroll around Covent garden and dinner in Chinatown. Browsing the outrageously expensive shops and the market halls, grabbing a coffee and taking in the tourists, having a fancy cocktail in the Royal Opera House and watching the street performers were some of our favourite things to do on a Sunday in London. We would finish the evening with a wander through Chinatown before eating a mountain of food at our favourite restaurant Young Chen.
Bookshops and Coffee
Foyle's bookshop is probably the thing I miss most about London. five huge floors of book heaven topped with a bustling cafe at the top. Grabbing a coffee and wandering around Foyle's for hours was one of my favourite things to do. Not too far from here beside Leicester square tube station there are also a few antique and second-hand book shops well worth a look.
