London is usually a city I always pop through- its easy and close from Chicago but its also a really common stopover for me when I'm going somewhere in Europe from Australia including for our honeymoon coming in October. Pair that with the many other...
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5
Where to Stay
What to do/See
Where to Eat/Drink
Tours + Day Trips
ETC
Where to Stay
Where we're staying on our Honeymoon! Budget friendly but still stylish. Personally I prefer to spend my money on restaurants and experiences then hotels but Ive also aged out of hostels- this fits the bill
Mama Shelter London - Shoreditch, London, UK
Incredibly close to Piccadilly Circus, Westminster and Parliament
41, London, UK
A tropical escape WITHIN London
The Landmark London, London, UK
Cozy, home-y and still luxe
The Academy - Small Luxury Hotels of the World, London, UK
Formerly the Ace Hotel where I've spent many drunken nights…
One Hundred Shoreditch, London, UK
Another Shoreditch option if you'd like to stay in the trendy area
The Hoxton, Shoreditch, London, UK
Pet friendly with a spa on site
The Ned, London, UK
If you'd like to stay in a more traditionally English type setting
Dukes London, London, UK
I've mentioned The Corinthia in my Budapest List. Heres the London version.. I mean..the view
Corinthia London, London, UK
Romantic and Stylish with a Michelin restaurant on site
The London EDITION, London, UK
What to do/See
Shoreditch is the “cool” area. Its filled with great street art if thats your thing
Street Art Tour and Spray Painting Workshop in London
The Go City pass if you want to knock out a bunch of stuff in one trip
Go City® | London Passes | Save up to 50%
Tickets for St. Pauls Cathedral
St. Paul's Cathedral Skip-the-Line Ticket in London - Klook
Food tour of the “cool” area. Fun fact, I dont have many tattoos but of the 2 I have- one of them was from a tattoo parlour in Shoreditch
Eating London: Brick Lane, Shoreditch & Spitalfields Food Tour
London Eye tickets with a great view of Big Ben
London Eye Tickets
Obviously check what shows are actually playing but if theatre if your thing- you're in the right place
See a Show at the West End
Another one for the Harry Potter fans. Check out the Warner Brothers studio
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London: The Making of Harry Potter - Klook
This includes Tower of London, which tbh is really touristy but I really enjoyed. I loved seeing the Crown Jewels and where Anne Boleyn was held. If you're not a history buff you probably can skip this
Best of Royal London Tour with Changing Of The Guard - Klook
Free Art Museum in London- Contemporary Art
Tate Modern
Another free museum in London. So many are free though! You're spoilt for choice
The National Gallery
Fun fact: Trafalgar is in the dead center of London
Trafalgar Square
If you'd like to actually go inside Buckingham
Buckingham Palace Tickets with Royal Walking Tour - Klook
Walking tour of Buckingham and Westminster. I don't believe this one actually goes inside Buckingham but I have added another one that does
Explore Nottinghill- plenty of cute and colorful houses to explore and admire. Plus this is near Portobello Market if thats ya thing
Notting Hill - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor
Tickets to go check out Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey Tickets
If you're a Harry Potter fan, check out Platform 9 ¾- free!
Platform 9¾ at King's Cross Station | Harry Potter
A farm! With animals! In the middle of London! and its free to visit!
Hackney City Farm London
Lots of delicious food and trinkets. Buy a bracelet and place it on the Amy Winehouse statue :)
Camden Market: Home
Winter only obviously. Ice skating at the Somerset House
Somerset House
Shopping at Harrods. Not something I would personally prioritize if you've only got a short time but if you want a shopping day its a great place to start
Harrods | The World's Leading Luxury Department Store
Tickets to go up to the top of the Shard
The View from The Shard Tickets
Used partly as inspo for Diagon Alley
Leadenhall Market
If its a nice day, why not hop on a boat on the River Thames?
London River Thames Cruise Tour
Quirky street with lots of shops. Sort of reminds me of Ted Lasso in a way
Neal's Yard Remedies
Everyone goes to Buckingham but did you know theres a lesser known Palace? And its Art Deco!
Whitechapel Gallery - For artists and audiences everywhere
Fun Quirky little shop. I mean why not?
Hoxton Street Monster Supplies
A walkable tunnel underneath the Thames. Its not really a toursit site but still good to know it exists!
Greenwich Foot Tunnel - CityDays
St Dunstens Church
St Dunstan in the East Church Garden - City of London
Swim during summer
Hampstead Heath
Where to Eat/Drink
London Food Tour. As much of a thing to do as it is a thing to eat
London Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours
Near shoreditch. The go to is salt beef
Beigel Bake Brick Lane Bakery
Brunch spot with a great view of the gherkin
Duck & Waffle
the inventor of the cronut. Just like the NYC version
Dominique Ansel Bakery London (@dominiqueansellondon)
London Cocktails made by star mixologists but in a cool English setting
Mr Fogg's Gin Parlour
You can't go to London and not go to a typical English pub
Go Pub Hopping in Covent Garden
Another cocktail option with some very inventive options. I go here every time Im in town!
The Alchemist | Creative Cocktail Bar and Restaurant
Eat Roast Chicken right under one of Damien Hirst's artwork
Tramshed
Before the famous recipe book- my first introduction to Ottolenghi- there was this
Ottolenghi Restaurants and Delis
Its sort of Insta-famous and you can probably see why
The Churchill Arms, Kensington
I'm a Swiftie. I can't help it. This one is more for me- Next Im going to go to The Black Dog
The Black Dog
Its a hotel you can stay at obviously but I recommend going for High Tea
The Ritz London
Another high tea option, but way way more modern
sketch
I seek out Portuguese egg tarts in every city I go to. Dont ask me why, I just do
Santa Nata
Eat inside a London train car
Basement Galley
A restaurant but the only way to get in is through a sex shop
La Bodega Negra
Quite literally dinner and a show
CIRCUS | Restaurant and Cocktail Bar in Covent Garden London
One of the best views in London
Shangri-La The Shard, London
High fashun High Tea
Luxury Tea Room in London | Art Afternoon Tea at Rosewood
Brunch spot in Chelsea
No 11 Pimlico Road
Market inside an old church
Mercato Mayfair
a reimagined ticketing office
Booking Office 1869
Tours + Day Trips
If you'd rather someone find the hidden gems for you
Stonehenge and Bath day trip from London
England In One Day - Stonehenge, Bath, Stratford & The Cotswolds Day Trip from London - Klook
If you want to see a bit more of the UK- going north to Edinburgh
Best of Britain
3 day Guided Tour of London
London Explorer
4 Days in London- over New Years Eve
London for New Year
I would NOT recommend doing a day trip to Paris if you can avoid it. Taking the Eurostar is really easy and you should go yourself for at least 2-3 days minimum! However if you really, really cant- this is a great option to at least see it briefly!
Day trip to Paris and River Cruise from London
Hop on Hop off Option for London
Big Bus Tour: London
Remember when Taylor Swift sang about “The Lakes”? These are those lakes
Lake District Rail Day Trip from London
Day trip to Brighton. Its kind of expensive though…if you're up for it I would recommend just taking the train down yourself!
Private London - Brighton Tour 8 Hours
When I think of England, THIS is what I think of
From London: Full-Day Cotswolds Small-Group Tour
ETC
Traveling Tips and Necessities
Another option in addition to the tube. Travel by boat on the Thames. I don't really love that Uber runs this but such is life and this is 2024 I guess.
Prices and Discounts - Uber Boat by Thames Clippers
If you'd like an esim for the UK
Clay Technology 5G eSIM for Singapore - Klook
Im a sl*t for good infrastructure. Thats probably a sentence you don't read every day. But I love a good public transport system and London does it well Heres the map. Use it! 😘
