Frolicking City Guide – London, England
Frolicking City Guides is brought to you by some of the industry’s leading travel bloggers. This space gives them an opportunity to talk to you about their hometowns. These guides are intended to inspire travelers to explore a destination beyond what Lonely Planet says.
What makes London unique:
- My city is best described by these five words buzzing, multicultural, historic, chaotic and rainy.
- My city should be featured on Frolicking City Guides because — come on! — it’s London.
- The best way to explore my city is by tube and foot.
- A good walking tour is a stroll along the Grand Union Canal.
- The most random thing about my city is the weather.
- The most famous thing about my city is the iconic landmarks on the Thames: Big Ben, the London Eye. And, I guess, the Royal Family…
- Lots of people from my city say “innit?”
- You can spot a local by their fast, head-down walk.
- The famous person David Beckham was born in my city.
Foodie Adventures:
- The best breakfast is a Full English. And be sure to get it from a local cafe rather than a posh hotel.
- The best local food is rare roast beef and Yorkshire pudding with veggies. Rules is a classic place to try old-school British dishes; HIX Soho is a good place to check out updated modern British with local ingredients.
- For a romantic dinner on a budget, go to LMNT in Dalston, and book one of the tables that are elevated above the floor. For upscale, check out L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon.
- For a sweet treat, I always go to Patisserie Valerie. It’s a Soho institution.
- For 24 hour eats, check out the Brick Lane Bagel Bake and order a smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel. It’s an East London institution.
Going Out:
- My favorite cocktail is a Negroni, or anything they make at 69 Colebrooke Row.
- My city’s best local beer is anything brewed by Greenwich Meantime.
- The best movie theater is the Prince Charles on Leicester Square because it shows old, cult movies.
- For a live show, go to a fringe theatre or cabaret.
- Don’t do the West End musical thing unless you really love musicals. They’re hugely overpriced.
- For a live show, go to Mississippi Studios. For dancing, go to Someday Lounge.
Shopping:
- The best place to shop is Conduit Street for high end and Ridley Road market for a slice of authentic London life. But Selfridges is the best store for a classic London experience that’s updated for the 21st century.
- My favorite place to shop is Ridley Road Market.
Off The Tourist Trail:
- The best way to get outside is to go riding in Richmond Park.
- The best park is Hampstead Heath: a great place for a walk, with some lovely historic pubs like Spaniards Inn.
- Locals always skip anything to do with the Royal Family.
- My favorite weekend escape is Norfolk, where my family live.
- The most interesting neighborhood to explore on foot is probably still Soho.
Eye for Photography:
- The most iconic structure in my city is either Big Ben or the London Eye. Though I’d love to catch a picture of Tower Bridge when it’s rising.
- Be sure to get your picture taken with that classic Thames backdrop.
Ladies Only:
- The best place to take girls under 10 is Hamleys, because it’s a legendary toy store, and a piece of theatre in its own right.
- However, teen girls still love to go to TopShop.
- Ladies 21 and up should go to Dalston because it’s hipster central, and not what you associate with London at all.
- For a fun girls getaway, hop on the train to Paris.
- If you want to get pampered go to an urban spa like the one at The Sanderson.
- For a cut and color go to Radio London on Redchurch Street.
Fine Print:
- The best season to visit my city is summer because the parks are full of people. When it’s hot out, I like to go swimming at one of London’s lidos. But on a rainy day galleries and bars are good.
- Our best festival is the Notting Hill Carnival and happens in August.
- The best museum is the British Museum which is located on Russell Square.
- But for hands on crafts try brass-rubbing at St Martin’s in the Field
- For a fun and FREE activity check out any of a million and one museums and galleries.
- The best book about my city is London, A Biography, by Peter Ackroyd.
- To get info on events and activities, read Time Out: it is for tourists, but it’s still a good guide.
About The Author:
- My name is Theodora and my home city is London.
- The furthest place I’ve traveled was to Lelei, a hard to reach island in East Indonesia.
- My favorite trip was to Everest Base Camp because we walked up Gokyo Valley, one of the most beautiful valleys on this earth.
- My least favorite trip was to The Gambia because it’s package tourism gone mad.
- Antarctica is my dream trip because I love extreme landscapes and I’d love to visit all seven continents.
- I always pack vaseline, moisturiser, and mascara no matter where I travel.
- My favorite book is Cloud Atlas, movie is Zombieland and song is (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.
- If I had to give one piece of advice for women travelers it would be: JUST DO IT!
Remember the three Cs? Cool, calm and collected? I am Theodora, and I am none of those things. And I’ve been traveling the world with my son for over three years.
Darn you, Theodora. For making me homesick. Now looking forward to my May return even more.
Matthew Hirtes recently frolicked at…Presa de Chira
Nice tips Theodora! As Matthew said, I am now thinking wistfully of my former home – how I would love to wander round Borough Market or go out boozing in Soho, Brixton, Islington, [+a million other neighbourhoods].
Still, Rio’s OK I suppose…
Tom Le Mesurier recently frolicked at…Toz and The Seller of Happiness
I plan to go to London this summer, so your guide comes in handy … thank you.
Laura @Travelocafe recently frolicked at…Go Solo: An Argument for Travelling Alone