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Things to do in London

Jump to a specific district

Battersea Brixton Camden Town City of London Covent Garden
Islington Kensington Notting Hill Shepherds Bush Shoreditch
Soho South Bank The West End Westminster

Battersea/Clapham (South London)

Known for parks, arts culture, pubs restaurants, antique shops, small boutique shops, and galleries.

Things to see

Things to eat & drink

Nightlife

Brixton (South London)

Used to be one of the rougher neighbourhoods, but is currently a hip, gentrified burrough. Known for markets, arts galleries, pop-up restaurants, and Victorian architecture.

Things to see

Things to eat & drink

  • The Clink - A restaurant in a functioning prison. Food is prepared by actual inmates as part of a rehab program. You have to go through a security clearance to dine here and there is no alcohol on the premises, but worth it?
  • The Duck Egg cafe - Brixtons brunch destination
  • Federation Coffee - In-house roasted beans and delicious sweet and savoury baked goods
  • Seven at Brixton - Brunch, lunch, coffee, tapas, and cocktails. An all day bite and sip. Beards recommended ;)
  • Three Eight Four - Small plates and cocktail bar and an awesome weekend brunch spot
  • Chicken Liqour - Wing and burger joint, open noon-night, with killer cocktails and milk
  • The Courtesan - Dimsum cocktail bar
  • Grand Union Brixton - Pub and cocktail bar with a cool, spacious beer garden
  • Cabana Brixton - Brazilian Bar and Grill
  • Craft Beer Co - Chain of London Brew Pubs
  • Barrio Brixton - Latin American fare with a mezcal and pisco bar

Nightlife

Camden Town (Northwest London)

Touristy but AWESOME. Known for Camden Lock, markets, alternative shops, colorful, street food, cafes clubs, tattoo shops, night-life, and the London Zoo.

Things to see

  • Camden Lock Market - The original arts and crafts market in Camden, Camden Lock Market showcases some of the finest artists and designers in London
  • Camden Market - Londons most famous market. Known for food stalls, vintage finds, and clever crafts
  • London Zoo - The worlds oldest scientific zoo. Located in Regents Park and contains nearly 17,000 animals
  • Regents Canal Boat tours - A fun way to see the city.

Things to eat & drink

Nightlife

  • Camden Assembly - Bar, eatery, live music venue, nightclub
  • Jazz Cafe - Iconic live music venue
  • Shaka Zulu - Considered one of Camdens best clubs, also a South African restaurant bar, and lounge

City of London (Central London)

Home to Londons business district. Known for sightseeing, Museum of London, Barbican Centre, Finance District, Old Spitalfields Market, Leadenhall Market, St. Pauls Cathedral, victorian modern architecture, rooftop bars restaurants.

Things to see

  • St. Pauls Cathedral - One of Londons most historic landmarks, you can climb stairs to the top for an incredible panoramic view of the city
  • Tower Bridge - Londons most iconic bridge, offers great views of the city from its high-level walkways and newly installed glass floors . You can also take in the history and learn about the engineering the bridge at the Tower Bridge Exhibition
  • The Tower of London - With its fascinating history of torture, the tower also houses the Crown Jewels and provides armoury and military history tours
  • City of London Distillery - Take a tour and find out all you can on distilling gin, or stop in at the bar for a craft cocktail
  • Modern Architecture - Many of Londons more modern architecture marvels are located in the City of London, and can be seen dotting the horizon in various parts of the city
  • Millennium Bridge - This modern pedestrian bridge connects St. Pauls cathedral to the Tate Modern, a link between the historic City of London and the cultural hub of South Bank.
  • The Hunterian Museum - Grisly history of surgery and medicine with gruesome instruments and preserved specimens
  • Secret City - A guide to some neat, lesser known attractions

Things to eat & drink

One of Londons more expensive areas to dine, this list has been filtered for more affordable options. For more recommendations check out this link.

Nightlife

Covent Garden (the West End)

Tourist zone, but super cool and lively. Great for wandering through. Known for street artists, shopping, market, Royal Opera House, Neals Yard.

Things to see

Things to eat & drink

  • Flesh Buns - Steamed buns and Japanese drinking food
  • The Lamb Flag - Historical pub, Charles Dickens used to be a regular patron. Great food and proper ale.
  • 26 Grains - Funky/chic breakfast cafe in Neals Yard

Islington (North London)

Mostly Residential, but a pretty trendy restaurant scene. Easy to access by transit, but easily a 30 minute walk from the city centre.

Things to see

Things to eat & drink

  • The Little Viet Kitchen - This place comes highly recommended by friends (and Jamie Oliver)
  • Ottolengi - The largest of Yotam Ottolengis famous restaurants. Known for flavour and imaginative ingredients
  • CoffeeWorks Project - Great cafe in the Angel area of Islington
  • The Proud Archivist - A café, bar, art gallery, library, and events space, known for great meals, breakfast-dinner
  • The Drapers Arms - Neighbourhood pub with great food
  • Bar with no name - Mysterious as it sounds, but a great place for late night drinks and small bites
  • The Sampler - A Wine store that has various self-serve stations that allow you to purchase tastings or glasses of their various vintages. You can even bring in your own snacks (cheese, crackers, tapas, etc.) and make a night out of it.
  • Ladybird Bar - Cocktail bar and live music venue
  • Four Sisters - Handcrafted cocktails, trendy setting
  • Hoxley and Porter - A 19th century theme bar with well-crafted cocktails

Kensington (West London)

High End London, known for Royal residences, the Cinema Museum, Design Museum, Gin Distillery, Royal Albert Hall, and parks.

Things to see

  • Natural History Museum - Natural History Museum
  • The Design Museum - A space for celebrating and exploring the made and the visual, the magic of human invention, the objects that shape our lives, and the skills and forces that shape them (largely Western focus)
  • Holland Park - Considered one of Londons finest parks, notably for the Kyoto gardens
  • Royal Albert Hall - Architectural interest and event space for loads of music and comedy performances.
  • Royal Albert Hall - They also offer secret history tours.
  • Daunt Books - For the bibliophiles
  • Kensington Palace - Royal abode, with vast gardens that are open to the public

Things to eat & drink

  • The Muffin Man Tea Room - Considered home to the best scones in London
  • Churchill Arms - Part homey tavern, part Thai restaurant, this is an Irish pub, well known for its burstingly floral exterior
  • Tombo - Japanese cafe and matcha bar
  • The Britannia - Traditional british pub. Tuesday quiz nights

Notting Hill (West London)

Known for the famous Portobello Market and Hugh Grant, Notting Hill also boasts a bustling restaurant scene, cafes, vintage shops and nightlife.

Things to see

  • Portobello Market - Like jumping into a favourite childhood movie (Bedknobs and Broomsticks anyone?) this market will take you back in time. Portobello Market dates back to the 18th century and is filled with a little bit of everything
  • Museum of Brands - Spanning a 120 year period of consumerism, culture, and design
  • Bankrobber Gallery - Known for showcasing early Banksy work, among many other street artists, this independent gallery exhibits Londons edgy, young, and emerging talent

Things to eat & drink

Shepherds Bush (West London)

Huge shopping, but also home to many tasty and affordable must-eat restaurants in London

Things to eat & drink

  • Abu Zaad - Delicious and well priced Syrian cuisine
  • Defectors Weld - Casual pub fare with a DJ spinning Thursday-Sunday evenings
  • The Hummingbird Cafe - Different from the Notting Hill bakery, this tiny cafe slings great coffee, tasty breakfast, lunches and dinners, but fills up fast
  • Esarn Kheaw - Traditional Northeastern Thai food
  • Chop Chop Noodle Bar - Cheap and tasty curries, rice, and noodle dishes

Shoreditch (East London)

Londons creative hub, large arts and culture scene, cool cafes, bars and restaurants, neat markets and pop up shops. This and Southbank are my favourite areas of London.

Things to see

Things to eat & drink

  • Well and Bucket - Craft brew pub with a basement cocktail bar
  • The Fox - Craft beer house with a neat rooftop patio
  • Second Shot Coffee - Bringing people together and tackling homelessness, one espresso shot at a time
  • Make Coffee - Mobile coffee van outside Haggerston Station, delicious espresso
  • The Bridge Coffee House - Local haunt, known for good coffee, food, and cool vibe
  • The Bridge Coffee House
    • - Check out their Facebook page as well!
  • Bike Shed Motorcycle Club - Cafe, restaurant, gallery, and bike shop
  • Red Market - Londons late-night food market
  • El Pellicci - Considered a landmark as a classic East End greasy spoon
  • Tapas Revolution - Phenomenal tapas and paella
  • G Kelly - Few things get more British than classic pie and mash. G Kelly is considered one of the best spots pie spots in all of London
  • On the Bab - Korean foodie hotspot
  • Chic n sours - Fried chicken and cocktails
  • Hanoi Cafe - Homemade Vietnamese cuisine
  • La Cabina - A sevillian speakeasy. Dial 2-5-8-0 at the telephone box outside and cross your fingers for admittance

Nightlife

Soho (Central London)

A bustling hub of central London, endless entertainment options, home of Londons Chinatown, hip restaurants and bars, and centre of Londons LGBTQ scene

Things to see

Things to eat & drink

  • Soho Grind - Coffee house by day, cozy bar by night
  • Foxtcroft and Ginger - Laid back all day dining spot
  • Brasserie Zedel - French restaurant and basement cabaret
  • Barrafina - Catalan cuisine that people line up over an hour for on any given night
  • Balls and Company - Meatballs are the award winning chefs specialty (veggie ones too)
  • Yauatcha - Highly recommended Chinese tea house
  • Duck Rice - Chinese Gastropub
  • Palomar - Modern Jerusalem cuisine
  • Babji - Turkish dining
  • Le Bab - Gourmet kebabs (if you havent had a kebab in the middle of the night, then you havent really been to England).
  • Shackfuyu - Western Japanese food

Nightlife

South Bank/Southwark (South East London)

This combined touristy area is known for the London Eye, art exhibitions and events, skateparks, galleries, Shakespeares Globe, the Tate Modern, and Borough Market (foodie heaven)

Things to see

Things to eat & drink

  • Village East - Classically great food
  • Jose - Award winning tapas
  • Champor Champor - Thai Malay fusion
  • Chandni - Well loved Indian cuisine
  • The Understudy - Nestled right in the National Theatre building, this cafe bar offers a great view of the river and cozy fireside seating
  • OXO Bar - If the view from the eye wasnt enough for you, head to this top floor bar for well crafted cocktails
  • Studio 6 - A homey place to grab a brew and a bite, nestled in Gabriels Wharf

The West End (Central London)

The theatre district, connected to Soho and Covent Garden. For theatre-goers looking for the best deals, check out this link.

Things to see

  • SHOWS - West End Theatre shows
  • Trafalgar Square - Often a gathering centre for protests, Trafalgar square was once a great courtyard that hosts historical monuments and fountains and is surrounded by galleries, museums, cultural spaces, and shops
  • National Gallery - Boasting over 2,300 works of art, from medieval classics to world-famous pieces by the French Impressionists
  • Oxford Street - Shopping central

Things to eat & drink

Nightlife

Westminster (Central London)

Government central, home to the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and Westminster Abbey, as well as many other historical buildings

Westminster is more known for its history and political significance than its restaurant scene, which is either overpriced, or a massive chain.

Things to see

Things to eat & drink