I only have a handful of happy places in the world, and Notting Hill is one of them. Granted, I know full well I could never afford to live in this affluent corner of the city—but I make a point of visiting every time I’m in London, phone in hand (anything for the ‘gram), no itinerary in sight. I let the moment take over, letting these idyllic streets lead me, secretly hoping I never find my way out.

A walking itinerary for Notting Hill & Holland Park colourful houses

I’ve walked these streets a thousand times, so when I say they’re all photogenic and full of character, I mean it. This itinerary brings together the most colourful streets, the quaintest alleys, and the prettiest façades in the neighbourhood—it’s essentially a greatest-hits tour of Notting Hill.

The 5-kilometre loop could take you anywhere from one to six hours, depending on your pace—and how often you stop to say, “Wait, I need to Instagram this,” or ask your Instagram husband to move the rubbish bin. ;-)

Photos of Notting Hill

Notting Hill – a bit of history

Although it’s now one of London’s most affluent neighbourhoods—where townhouses typically sell for a modest £4–6 million—Notting Hill wasn’t always so polished. In fact, up until the late 1800s, it was a slum, home to piggeries, smoke-belching pottery kilns, and grim living conditions.

The area was largely populated by white, working-class locals of low social standing, where violence and unemployment were part of daily life. So when a wave of Caribbean immigrants arrived after World War II, tensions flared almost immediately.

Racial disparities and cultural differences gave rise to deep divisions. Discrimination was rampant: landlords often refused to rent to Black tenants—or charged them extortionate rates—and many pubs simply banned them outright. In May 1958, tensions boiled over into a violent three-day riot, during which Black residents were brutally attacked.

This is the context in which the now-iconic Notting Hill Carnival was born.

The event was launched as a celebration of Afro-Caribbean culture, designed to uplift the community and ease tensions, if only temporarily. Though Black locals were still excluded from many public spaces, that didn’t stop them from creating their own: a vibrant network of underground venues emerged, serving not just their community, but curious outsiders as well. Members of the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton, for example, found themselves drawn to this gritty-yet-creative enclave.

By the mid-1980s, the violence had subsided, and new residents—attracted by the (then) low rents and roomy flats—began moving in around Portobello Road. But affordability didn’t last. Today, Notting Hill is a playground for the well-heeled, filled with designer boutiques, elegant cafés, and—of course—those beloved pastel façades we just can’t get enough of. ;-)

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The issue I have with afternoon tea is that the vast majority of hotels and restaurants offer a variation of it; one really doesn’t have to go above and beyond to find one. However, the sad reality is that a very lucky few are something to write home about – tasteless scones, lukewarm tea, and unnecessarily heavy clotted cream are unfortunately a common fixture in a city where most tourists won’t even notice the difference between day-old and fresh-out-of-the-oven pâtisseries.

But not at sketch. You truly haven’t had a proper afternoon tea in London until you’ve sat down in sketch’s legendary monochromatic blush-coloured Gallery.

Afternoon tea in London

The historic building in which sketch is housed was built in 1779 as the Royal Institute of British Architects; it later on became the London Atelier of famed haute-couture brand Christian Dior. With that in mind, it only seems fitting that sketch would not only celebrate but pursue the experimental, artsy heritage with its incredibly forward-thinking restaurants.

Well before my taste buds got excited by the sweet smorgasbord ahead of me, my camera and my hands got a life of their own and snapped every corner of this spectacular David Shrigley-designed room, which is complemented by the adjoining toilet pods (yes, I swear you read that right) and the exotic Glade room.

The attention to details – where the devil truly hides as far as interior design is concerned – is astounding. Everything, from the muted pink hue to the antiquey-looking champagne glasses, and from the cheeky works of art adorning the walls to Shrigley’s witty tableware, is impeccably assorted.

Was I impressed? Absolutely. It’s been just over a month since my visit and I am *still* talking about those finger sandwiches. I speak from experience when I say this: when cucumber sandwiches – one of the blandest possible dish ever imagined – are memorably fresh, crispy, and savoury, you know it’s bound to be a legendary afternoon tea.

What followed was an explosion of flavours complemented by my and my friend Julie‘s entire lexical field of the word “yummy”. Hands up if you’ve got a sweet tooth that can handle more than the top button of your jeans ever will allow. I know I do!

sketch afternoon tea menu

• Assorted finger sandwiches: corn-fed coronation chicken, smoked salmon and Jacob’s tarragon cream, green asparagus and cucumber ricotta, mozzarella and pesto panini, as well as mayonnaise, egg, quail egg and caviar
• Sultana scones with fig & strawberry jam
• The two-bites pastries: guariguette strawberry tartlet, Battenberg cake, opera, rhubarb cheesecake, Malabar marshmallow, Kalamansi meringue, as well as violet and raspberry choux
• And, to conclude, a full-sized sketch pastry: salted caramel chocolate fondant or caramelised scented cardamom pears and Tahiti vanilla dome

Yeah. I wasn’t lying. YUM.

Is afternoon tea at sketch worth the price?

At £75 per head, this afternoon of festivities doesn’t come cheap. Indeed, sketch is one of the priciest afternoon teas in London, especially if you #treatyoself to champagne (£89). But if you couldn’t already tell by my dithyrambic review of the menu and space, I think the experience is entirely worth it – because that’s exactly what it is: an experience.

This afternoon tea isn’t just about scones and herbal beverages. It’s about being immersed in a completely cohesive ensemble, from the über-feminine decor to the quirky tableware, from the out-of-this-world pastries to the impossibly photogenic displays. Even the washrooms are worth the detour.

I’m certain afternoon tea at Claridge’s or the Lanesborough’s is really quite enjoyable in a quintessentially English sort of way. However I would wholeheartedly recommend going at sketch for a truly unforgettable, distinguished, one-of-a-kind experience for all senses.

Tips for afternoon tea at sketch

• There is no official dress code for afternoon tea but you definitely want to put your most fashionable dress on. Although the staff was oh so kind to me, I was impossibly underdressed with my street-London-friendly-but-not-afternoon-tea-ready denim on denim outfit.
• sketch has four other rooms, each with a distinctive menu, dress code, atmosphere, and decor.
• If you want to get the best possible photos of the Gallery, book your afternoon tea right at the opening. Be there a tad early while the room is virtually empty; it gets quite full by 1pm.
• Afternoon tea is available every day of the week 12:30pm – 4:30pm.

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It wasn’t easy to pick only a few, considering there are over 7000 pubs in London; I am well on my way to sampling them all but until I am finished, here are my favourite places to grab a drink with friends in various areas of the city.

Cheers, you guys!

George Inn

77 Borough High Street Southwark

Welcome to London’s oldest and last remaining galleried coaching inn! Said to be Shakespeare’s favourite watering hole on the south bank.

Holly Bush

22 Hollymount Hampstead

For over 200 years, this pub, nestled in one of Hampstead’s quiet cobbled streets, has been drawing locals in search of a good time and a good pint. Features a fireplace, a lived-in feel, and beautiful wooden floors—like all proper pubs should.

Lamb & Flag

33 Rose Street Covent Garden

What was once the watering hole of none other than Charles Dickens is definitely a staple of the London pub scene. After all, only a handful of pubs can boast having been opened for such a long time — 335 years, in this case — and served such famous clients. What The Lamb & Flag lacks in space — it is ridiculously tiny — it makes for in atmosphere and history. Frequently dubbed the best historical pub in London (it dates back from 1772), this Dickens favourite retains an irresistible old-world charm.

The Churchill Arms

119 Kensington Church Street

A pub that exclusively serves Thai food? Such a thing exists in London. The Churchill Arms, just a stone throw’s from Kensington Gardens, is one of the best pubs in London, for many reasons: its uncommon menu, its beautiful hanging flowers baskets that tumble out onto the street, its fantastic collection of Churchill memorabilia and the many modern day celebrities that frequently visit — this pub simply doesn’t disappoint. Once the local of Churchill’s grandparents, this quirky and leafy pub is filled with Copperknob (Winston’s nickname; he was a redhead) memorabilia. This is also London’s only pub to exclusively serve Thaï food. No chippies here!

The Nag’s Head

53 Kinnerton Street

This unassuming Belgravia boozer is located on a quiet and narrow mews, away from the hustle. With its numerous trinkets and uneven floors, I suspect it hasn’t changed much in the past 100 years; that’s precisely why I like it so much.

The Cricketers

The Green on Richmond

This is a perfectly maintained (it dates back from 1770) locals-only pub located on a tranquil street bordering a leafy park in upscale Richmond; in a way, it’s almost buccolic as you could blink and be transported to the English countryside. There are only a handful of seats and if you’re lucky, you’ll grab one outside.

Best pubs in London: additional suggestions

Best garden

• The Albion in Islington
• Edinboro Castle in Camden

Best waterfront pub

• The Dove in Hammersmith
• The Founders Arms in Southwark
• The Dickens Inn in Tower Hill
• Trafalgar Tavern in Greenwich

Best pub quiz in London

• The Old Queen’s Head in Islington

Best historic, old-timey feel

• The Counting House in Bank
• Ye Olde Cock Tavern in The City
• Ye Olde Mitre in Farringdon
• Cittie of Yorke in Holborn
• Viaduct Tavern in Farringdon

Best people-watching

• The Camden Eye in Camden
• The Warwick Castle in Maida Vale
• The Ladbroke Arms in Holland Park

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Are you indeed a first-timer to London? Here are the 33 places you’ve got to see and things you’ve got to do during your visit. Welcome to London!

Historical London pubs

Whether you’re on the prowl for a cask ale or an atmospheric pub, London has no shortage of watering holes; in fact, there are over 7000 pubs in the city! I am well on my way to sampling them all but for now, my two favourite historical London pubs are the Churchill Arms in Kensington (once the local of Churchill’s grandparents), the Holly Bush in Hampstead (200 years old, features a fireplace), and the Nag’s Head in Belgravia (quiet mews pub that tourists don’t know exist).

Buckingham Palace

It would be rude to not pop in to say hello to Lizzie! You’ve got two options: opt for a visit of the state rooms (limited openings throughout the year, plan accordingly) or simply catch the changing of the guard every other day at 11.

Houses of Parliament & Big Ben

A visit to London is not complete without a selfie with its very emblem! Make sure to visit on the hour, when the legendary bell chimes. History buffs should book a tour inside the Houses of Parliament to learn more about the world’s most famous bell.

Borough Market

London’s oldest market —a ripe 1000 years old— features dozens of foodie stalls. A great place to watch locals and purchase gourmet gifts. Note that the market is only open from Wednesday through Saturday.

London Eye

The view from the London Eye, especially of the Houses of Parliament and the River Thames, is simply unparalleled and is well worth the cost. The Ferris wheel was, at the time of construction, the world’s tallest at 394 feet.

Hampton Court Palace

The stern, Tudor-style royal palace is one of only two surviving palaces owned by King Henry VIII and features several exhibits about the life and death of this infamous womaniser. You can even book a bike tour of the grounds!

A themed London walking tour

Natural History Museum

Welcome to Darwin’s former playground—indeed, many specimens found inside this London landmark building were collected by the scientist himself. The total collection comprises 80 million items within five main collections: botany, entomology, mineralogy, palaeontology, and zoology. The NHM is famous for its award-winning dinosaur skeleton exhibit. Why not book a skip-the-line, private visit while you’re there?

Curry on Brick Lane

For the longest time I suspected that all of Brick Lane’s curryhouses shared the same underground kitchen; that is until I stepped in Aladins. Listed by the BBC as «one of the world’s best curryhouses», Aladin is a traditional Indian eatery with scrumptious and shareable dishes.

A Thames River cruise

Only Taylor Swift can afford to hire a luxury speedboat to cruise the River Thames; if, you too, are a mere ordinary mortal, cruising on the Thames is London’s most scenic mode of transportation, all the way from Putney to Greenwich.

Kew Gardens

UNESCO World Heritage Site home to the world’s largest and most diverse collection of living plants, as well as a stunning Victorian glasshouse. I could’ve spent a full day exploring the seemingly never-ending gardens! Plus, Richmond is an absolutely idyllic riverfront district with plenty of quaint pubs. More recently, this is also where Ted Lasso was filmed!

Harry Potter studio

Indulge your inner Potter fan at the studios where they filmed most of the scenes. Learn about the casting process, the special effects, and the clever tricks used throughout all eight films, drink butterbeer, and visit Diagon Alley and Godric’s Hollow.

Tower Bridge & Tower of London

If you can handle crowds, stick around for a free guided tour led by the infinitely knowledgeable Beefeaters. The historic fortress and UNESCO World Heritage Site was built by William the Conqueror in 1078; this is where Elizabeth I was imprisoned and where Ann Boleyn was unfortunately beheaded for her poor taste in husbands; in fact, much of England and Britain’s history was played within these very walls. Also where the regal Crown Jewels of England are stored. All in all, a definite must-do!

Primrose Hill

The 213-feet high hill is set in one of London’s most affluent locales—Primrose is the place to stalk incognito celebrities—and offers great views of the London skyline; the perfect place munch on a picnic and indulge in peoplewatching. Visit the world’s oldest scientific zoo just south if you’ve got time!

A gourmet London walking tour

• Food tour: London Bridge & Borough Market
• The cheese tour
• Chocolate tasting tour of Soho
• Historical pub walking tour of London
• Traditional English food tasting walking tour

Regent’s Canal

The best way to explore London from Maida Vale to Hoxton, in my humble opinion, is to wander aimlessly along the bucolic Regent’s Canal, one of the city’s most underrated attractions: marvel at mansions, take a stroll in Regent’s Park, eat at Camden Market, embark on a cruise. You can even shop for second-hand books on the word on the water barge!

Camden Town

Browse the market’s eclectic stalls (leather goods, jewellery, clothing, vinyls, etc.), watch colourful barges being eased through the historic Regent’s Lock, grab a bite at the canalside market square, or catch a weekend showing of cult movies with a pint and a burger at Backyard Cinema.

Hyde Park and Kensington Palace Gardens

My absolute favourite park in central London. From the Italian fountains of Lancaster Gate to the lush expanses by Kensington Palace and the Serpentine’s swans and barges, everything here is idyllic.

Notting Hill

An Instagram lover’s paradise, this romantic neighbourhood is filled with records shops, vintage boutiques, and rainbow-coloured townhouses. I even put together a bespoke photography walking tour of Notting Hill, which will take you to the best-looking streets in the area. You’re welcome.

Rooftop Film Club

Rooftop Film Club is a unique outdoor cinema experience screening classic and cult films on London’s most scenic rooftops, with the iconic skyline as a backdrop. Also has a full bar service, blankets, and street food!

Shoreditch street art

London’s Shoreditch (and East End in general) is nothing short of a mecca when it comes to street art – not to mention hipsterism and curry houses, but that’s a story for another time. Having been graced by the works of Banksy, Stik and Invader to name a few, Shoreditch has become a must-do for anyone with a keen eye for art and, possibly, an Instagram account.

Wallace Collection

Arranged into 25 galleries, the Wallace Collection comprises a world-famous range of fine and decorative arts from the 15th-19th centuries established from the private collection mainly created by the Marquess of Hertford. Easily my favourite art collection in the city, if only for the quietness and colourful rooms of this lavish-townhouse-turned-museum.

Millenium Bridge

Flanked by the Tate Modern and the Globe theatre on one side and St. Paul’s Cathedral on the other, this footbridge was featured in Harry Potter’s sixth movie and offers A+ views of the River Thames.

Tea masterclass

Jump right in Britain’s love affair with tea in historic Twinings, England’s premier tea brand, whose shop has open since 1706. Embark on a geographical and gustatory odyssey led by a Twinings Master Blender. A veritable treat for tea lovers!

Columbia Road Flower Market

Bustling flower market flanked by over 60 independent, quirky Victorian shops. Give it a go, even if you don’t intend on buying flowers; the photos and the atmosphere are both well worth it. Open every Sunday from 8am to 3’ish.

Afternoon tea in London

While there are many options as far as London afternoon teas are concerned, I do have a personal favourite: the sketch pink experience. I couldn’t believe how stunning sketch looked; it felt like I had entered a parallel universe. And the food? Scrumptious and flawless.

Make your own gin at Ginstitute

Artisan gin in England is not difficult to find. For instance there is the Beefeater Gin Distillery, the City of London Distillery, the East London Liquor Company and Sipsmith, to name a few, each with their own on-site activities and personnality.

But what if I told you there is a way you can actually craft your own gin? That’s the promise at The Ginstitute. Enroll in a gin masterclass to learn the checkered history of this now ubiquitous spirit and to create your bespoke gin in the Blending Room, which is full of pure botanical distillates you can choose from with the insight of the Ginstructor. You’ll be drinking plenty of generously-infused gin and tonics (word of advice: eat a little something beforehand) along the way, and you’ll also be leaving the session with a bottle of your own personal blend to take home.

If you’d rather be more active and taste several different gins, there are also plenty of gin tours to choose from:

• Secret gin tours on the South Bank
• London gin bike tour
• Small-group history of gin guided tour in central London

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Situated on a quiet Victorian street — although one would rightfully argue that this market is anything but quiet — in London’s trendy yet diverse East End, this Sunday fair is indeed peculiar in the sense that I haven’t seen anything like it elsewhere in the world. It truly is a capsule of what authentic, genuine London is like.

Every Sunday from about 4am to 3pm, rain or shine, a host of vibrant flower traders set up shop alongside a row of 60 or so 19th-century independent shops with, quite fittingly if I do say so myself, rainbow-coloured facades. Perhaps an oblivious attempt to match the equally colourful blooms? These tranquil and compact boutiques — with anything from pottery to stationary and cupcakes to curated vintage goods — become silent sanctuaries whenever the street market gets too overwhelming, which will inevitably happen if you foolishly don’t get there before midday.

Connoisseurs know better than to indulge in a lazy Sunday, though, as the early birds will not only get to peacefully enjoy their morning coffee on one of the many outdoor terraces but also get the pick of the crop amongst bucketfuls of flowers, shrubs and herbs. Leafy banana trees, bedding plants, trendy succulents, cotton buds, blue roses and bountiful hydrangeas are all at home here.

Furthermore, it’s the ideal time to socialise with the characterful sellers, famous across Middlesex of their loud, mouthy banter marked by their sometimes undecipherable Cockney accent. Don’t let their cheery shouting and haggling keep you from striking up a conversation, as they are some of the nicest Londoners you can possibly meet; they truly are passionate about their trade and have more anecdotes to share than any tour guide. The majority actually follow in their family’s footsteps, some of which might even have been around since the very beginning of Columbia Road Flower Market in 1869.

Things to do at Columbia Road flower market

Columbia Road flower market – helpful tips

• The flower market is held every Sunday. I still recommend visiting the area any other day of the week as there are lovely shops all along Columbia Road, but the main flower event is on Sundays.
• Get there early to beat the crowds; as you can see in the last photo above, it gets quite packed after 10AMish. Alternatively, you could also get there at around 2PM when things start to wind down and where you can get sweet bargains. Whenever you go, though, bring cash!
• Even if you don’t plan on buying flowers (if you’re staying at a hotel, for example, and can’t get your hands on a vase) you should pop in nonetheless, as this is a quintessential London experience in my opinion.
• Fore more info, visit columbiaroad.info.

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As far as the view from the London Eye is concerned, I would say it is entirely worth it. Case in point below.

The view from the London Eye

This is the Royal Horseguard 5* hotel, a listed Victorian building presiding over the River Thames and once home to the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6); it was also taken over by the Ministry of Defence during both world wars. The building as such is referred to as Whitehall Court and was built in the mid-1880s.

Pictured here are Embankment station and the Golden Jubilee pedestrian bridges, which span the Thames between Charing Cross and the Southbank and were inaugurated in 2002 in honour of the fiftieth anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the throne. Commuters on this bridge get a magnificent view of the London Eye and the Houses of Parliament, just a few hundred metres west.

River Thames in all its glory. Did you know that there is a 7-metre difference between low and high tide at London Bridge? There are also 119 species of fish recorded living in the Thames. Oh, and two-thirds of London’s drinking water comes from the Thames.

Looking further east as majestic St. Pauls Cathedral enters the picture. It occupies a significant place in the British identity, as this is where Lady Diana and Prince Charles got married in 1981 and also where services were held for the funerals of the funerals of Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington, Sir Winston Churchill, and Margaret Thatcher.

The Cathedral was designed by famed Sir Christopher Wren who is one of the most highly acclaimed English architects in history; as such, he is also responsible for numerous London landmarks including the Royal Observatory, Kensington Palace and Hampton Court Palace. St Paul Cathedral, however, is regarded as his ultimate masterpiece.

Looking down at County Hall building, which now houses the London Aquarium and London Dungeon, as well as the London Eye 4D cinema and visitor centre.

A view of the eastern portion of London including iconic buildings like the Cheesegrater (122 Leadenhall Street) and the Walkie-Talkie (20 Fenchurch Street. Remember the building that melted cars as it was being built? That’s the one).

London Eye – did you know?

• The London Eye 135 meters tall, which allows its passengers to admire the city about 40 kilometres away. It is even said that Windsor Castle is visible in the distance on clear, sunny days.
• The wheel has a total of 32 sealed ovoidal passenger capsules —one for each of London’s 32  boroughs— and takes around 30 minutes to complete a full rotation, travelling at a relaxed pace of 26 centimetres per second. The wheel doesn’t stop for passengers to step in and out. Oddly enough, the pods are numbered 1 – 33; for superstitious reasons, number 13 has been left out.
• The London Eye is not technically a Ferris wheel because unlike them, it is only supported on one side. As such, it should be called a cantilevered observation wheel.
• Tickets for the London Eye are a bit costly, and queue time can be fairly long. I recommend getting the VIP tickets and fully enjoying the experience!

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The best parks and gardens in London

Royal Parks

• St James’s Park: Watch the pelicans, first introduced in 1664 as a gift from the Russian Ambassador, being fed every day at 2:30pm next to Duck Island Cottage at the oldest of the capital’s eight Royal Parks. Also present in St. James’s Park are woodpeckers, owls, blackbirds, foxes and bats.
• Richmond Park: Both a National Nature Reserve and London’s largest Site of Special Scientific Interest, bucolic Richmond Park is home to healthy and prolific herds of red and fallow deer; stags and bucks that have roamed freely here since 1637.
• Kensington Gardens: My absolute favourite park in central London. From the Italian fountains of Lancaster Gate to the lush expanses by Kensington Palace and the Serpentine’s swans and barges, everything here is idyllic.
• Primrose Hill: the 213-feet high hill is set in one of London’s most affluent locales —Primrose is the place to stalk incognito celebrities — and offers great views of the London skyline; the perfect place munch on a picnic and indulge in people watching. Visit the world’s oldest scientific zoo just south if you’ve got time!

Kyoto Japanese Garden in Holland Park

Concealed in the tranquil centre of the park’s 22.5 hectares, the Kyoto Japanese Gardens are arguably one of London’s best-kept secrets. They were donated by the Chamber of Commerce of Kyoto in 1991 and designed by a prominent Japanese garden expert, who included a small waterfall, a foot bridge, and of course, iconic koi carp.

Chiswick House Gardens

The highly underrated West London Neo-Palladian villa, completed in 1729 by the third Earl of Burlington who drew inspiration from his Grand Tours of Italy, is remarkable enough on its own; but the real star here are the grounds, which are home to the most primitive example of the now highly acclaimed English landscape gardens.

Postman’s Park

In the shadow of Museum of London stands a little-known oasis with a rather distinctive feature: the Memorial to Heroic Self Sacrifice, a series of memorial tablets dedicated to ordinary people who died while saving the lives of others and who might otherwise be forgotten.

Hampstead Heath

Sitting atop one of the highest points in London, Hampstead Heath is one of the largest — 320 hectares to be exact — and oldest public parks in the capital. It’s a popular place with locals for picnics on Parliament Hill, from which the view over London is protected by law, for a swim at the Lido, for an outing at the luxuriant and flowery pergola, for a visit of the stately Kenwood House or for a lengthy stroll along the rolling hills and woodlands.

Free museums & art galleries in London

Note that most museums and art galleries offer free guided tours, based on specific collections or simply their most popular highlights.

Best Free Art Galleries In London

• National Portrait Gallery: Opened in 1856, it houses precious portraits of historically important and famous British people. Highlights include the most famous portrait of William Shakespeare, a painting of the Brontë sisters, a naive sketch of Jane Austen, the famous Ditchley portrait of Queen Elizabeth I and a moving life-size sculpture of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in medieval costume. One of my top personal favourite free things to do in London.
• Wallace Collection: Arranged into 25 small galleries, it comprises a world-famous range of fine and decorative arts from the 15th-19th centuries established from the private collection mainly created by the Marquess of Hertford.
• National Gallery: Sitting directly on the northern edge of Trafalgar Square, this classical museum is often said to have one of the greatest collections of paintings in the world with works by masters such as Van Gogh, Cézanne, Monet, Raphael and Rembrandt, to name a few.
• Tate Modern: Houses worthy collections of international modern art from 1900 to the present day in the iconic former Bankside Power Station in Southwark.
• Saatchi Gallery: One of the pillars of contemporary art in London with a history of actively seeking controversial, provocative exhibits and artworks.

Best Free Museums in London

• Natural History Museum: Welcome to Darwin’s former playground—indeed, many specimens found inside this London landmark building were collected by the scientist himself. The total collection comprises 80 million items within five main collections: botany, entomology, mineralogy, palaeontology, and zoology. The NHM is famous for its award-winning dinosaur skeleton exhibit.
• Sir John Soane’s Museum: Formerly the home of acclaimed architect Sir John Soane (responsible for the Bank of England building, notably) this intimate and at times bewildering museum has been untouched since Soane’s death 180 years ago, filled with curiosities and artworks he picked up while travelling in the 1800s.
• Museum of London: Documents the abundant — it houses more than six million objects — and dynamic history of London from prehistoric to modern times, focusing on various social aspects and the habits of Londoners through time.
• Victoria and Albert Museum: Founded in the 19th century by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, the V&A is now the world’s largest museum of decorative arts and design, spanning 5000 years of art through 145 galleries and over 4.5 million objects.
• National Maritime Museum: Welcome to the leading maritime museum of the United Kingdom! Part of Greenwich’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, the museum documents the history of the Royal Navy and the most evocative seaborne expeditions of British colonial history.
• British Museum: As one of the world’s most iconic museums, the British Museum some of the most significant artefacts pertaining to human history including the Rosetta Stone, the disputed Elgin marbles, a colossal bust of Ramesses II, mummies, and casing stones from the Great Pyramid of Giza.
• Geffrye Museum: Self-described as the ‘museum of the home’ and set in beautiful 18th-century listed almshouse, it recounts the history of English middle-class homes from 1600 to the present day through multiple perspectives.
• Science Museum: A highly interactive and innovative museum dedicated to science and technology. Highlights include an earthquake-simulation platform, Stephenson’s Rocket and Apollo 10 command capsule.
• Imperial War Museum: Not the most uplifting museum to visit but perhaps the most riveting one nonetheless, it explores stories and key moments from various wartime experiences of the British Empire.
• Wellcome Collection: Definitely London’s quirkiest museum! It displays an unusual blend of medical artefacts and innovative artworks exploring “ideas about the connections between medicine, life and art”. The café also serves a fun little afternoon tea.

Markets in London

Columbia Flower Road Market

Bustling flower market flanked by over 60 independent, quirky Victorian shops. Give it a go, even if you don’t intend on buying flowers; the photos and the atmosphere are both well worth it. Open every Sunday from 8am to 3’ish.

Borough Market

London’s oldest market —a ripe 1000 years old— features dozens of foodie stalls. A great place to watch locals and purchase gourmet gifts. Note that the market is only open from Wednesday through Saturday.

Portobello Road Market

Popular with both tourists and locals alike, Portobello Road Market is a bit of an institution in London. Although the market is open every day of the week aside from Sundays, the main event happens on Saturdays, rain or shine. The market has pretty much everything you can imagine, from vintage jewellery to not-so-vintage tea cups and saucers, as well as quirky royal memorabilia and cheesy London souvenirs. But what makes the market truly unique is the juxtaposition of these incredibly diverse trinkets next to the boldly coloured townhouses that Notting Hill is so famous for.

Free things to do in London

Greenwich Prime Meridian

Where east truly meets west! Greenwich is home to the prime meridian, which you may know as the GMT timezone or the 0° longitude — now marked by a stainless steel strip where tourists can take photos with one feet on each side of the world.

Choral Evensong at St Paul’s

Can’t afford the pay the rather hefty entry £18.00 fee for St. Pauls? Come and watch the acclaimed St. Pauls choir perform the choral evensong instead and enjoy the unparalleled acoustics of this historical cathedral. Be respectful of worshippers, though, and refrain from taking photographs.

Regent’s Canal

The best way to explore London from Maida Vale to Hoxton, in my humble opinion, is to wander aimlessly along the bucolic Regent’s Canal, one of the city’s most underrated attractions: marvel at mansions, take a stroll in Regent’s Park, eat at Camden Market, embark on a cruise. You can even shop for second-hand books on the word on the water barge!

Platform 9 ¾ at King’s Cross

If you’re a fellow Harry Potter fanatic but can’t afford to visit the studios in North London, make a bee line for King’s Cross and the purposefully-built Platform 9 ¾ where you can have your picture taken while grabbing the trolley and with a gold-and-burgundy scarf around your neck, à la Harry. Conveniently located next to a Harry-Potter-themed gift shop.

Changing the Guard

Clearly, you won’t be the only one in line for what is one of the most popular free things to do in London, but the ceremony is nonetheless a quintessentially British activity, famous for its protocol and pageantry. The ceremony lasts 45 minutes and takes place daily at 11:30 from April until the end of July and on alternate days for the rest of the year, weather permitting.

Tour Somerset House

Get better acquainted with the fascinating history of vastly under-appreciated Somerset House, the sprawling quadrangle Neoclassical Palace bordering the River Thames in Aldwych. Free tours are offered several times weekly.

Ceremony of the Keys

Perhaps one of the longest-lasting traditions in Britain — taking place each and every night at exactly 9.53pm, without fail, for at least 700 years — the ceremony of the keys at the Tower of London is essentially the traditional locking up of the main gates and securing the fortress by the tower’s symbolic Beefeaters. This is a free activity but due to the popularity of the ceremony, tickets need to be booked as far as possible in advance.

Crossing the famous Abbey Road

Local residents will hate me for suggesting this but I guess that’s the price to pay for choosing to live in such a musically-significant part of London. What used to be the main thoroughfare to get to nearby Lord’s Cricket Ground became a pilgrimage site of sorts in 1969 when the Beatles spontaneously shot their now-emblematic album cover right outside the studios where they had just finished recording it. Look on both sides of the road and stay safe! Definitely a must-do free things to do in London for music fanatics!

St Dunstan’s in the East

Built in 1100 (with extensive features added by illustrious Sir Christopher Wren in the 1700s), the Church of England parish church was largely destroyed in the 1941 London Blitz; only the tower, steeple, and north and south walls survived. The ruins now house a tranquil garden overgrown in ivy and climbing flowers, a well-kept secret among locals and a testament to London’s incredible resilience.

Search East London for the best street art

London’s Shoreditch (and East End in general) is nothing short of a mecca when it comes to street art – not to mention hipsterism and curry houses, but that’s a story for another time. Having been graced by the works of Banksy, Stik and Invader to name a few, Shoreditch has become a must-do for anyone with a keen eye for art and, possibly, an Instagram account.

Explore famous filming locations

London has been the set of hundreds of movies and TV shows over the decades, some of which are more evocative than others. Here are a few of my personal favourites:

• Harry Potter: Millennium Bridge, Reptile House at London Zoo, Piccadilly Circus, Westminster tube station
• Notting Hill: Notting Hill Bookshop, The Ritz, 280 Westbourne Park Road, 91 Lansdowne Road
• Sherlock: Speedy’s, St. Bart’s Hospital, Gerrard Street Chinatown, Hungerford Bridge
• Love Actually: St Luke’s Mews, Selfridge’s, Oxo Tower Wharf
• Bridget Jones: The Globe Pub Borough Market, Shad Thames, Royal Exchange Buildings, Royal Courts of Justice, Clink Wharf Apartments

Take in the free views of London

The Shard and the London Eye both offer sprawling views of the capital city town but neither of them comes cheap. Here are a few places when you can catch unusual but most importantly free views of London:

• Sky Garden: Entry to the observatory deck is free of charge but advance booking is mandatory, up to three weeks in advance.
• One New Change: There is a lovely rooftop terrace atop the shopping centre with the best views of St. Paul’s Cathedral.
• Royal Festival Hall: Take the singing lift (!) up to the fifth floor where a little-known balcony with views of the Thames awaits.
• Tate Modern: Enjoy views of London’s North Bank from one of the many terraces, restaurants and cafés on various floors of the Tate.
• OXO Tower: Admire the view from OXO Tower Brasserie without having to pay a dime! Simply exit the lift and take a sharp right before you get to the restaurant door; there’s a small terrace at the end of the hallway.

Tour the London mews

Arguably one of the most Instagram-friendly free things to do in London! These colourful cobblestone alleys were always meant for the most affluent nobility, as they were built as service streets behind the large terraced houses across London and served as a parking lot of sorts for carriages during the 17th and 18th centuries. The 433 surviving mews are no longer home to stables but instead to some of the most enviable, and therefore costly, properties in a city already infamous for its jaw-droppingly excessive housing costs.

The best mews in London? St. Lukes Mews, Warren Mews, Colville Mews, Queen’s Gate Mews, Kynance Mews, Holland Park Mews, Montagu Mews West, Eaton Mews, Atherstone Mews, Ladbroke Walk, Ennismore Gardens Mews, to name a few.

Highgate Cemetery

Come pay your respects to Karl Marx and George Eliot at Highgate Cemetery, one of the most significant burial grounds in London with its Victorian features, outstanding architecture and dense vegetation. Don’t miss the stunning Egyptian Avenue! Accessing the East Cemetery is free of charge and there is a free guided tour on the first Saturday of each month.

British Library

Welcome to the second largest library in the world, with approximately 14 million books and volumes within its walls. In addition to receiving a copy of every new publication produced in the UK and in Ireland, the British Library houses several invaluable, notable works such as the Diamond Sutra (the world’s earliest dated printed book), the Codex Arundel (one of Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks), two Gutenberg Bibles, Shakespeare’s First Folio, two 1215 copies of Magna Carta, Beatles lyrics handwritten by John Lennon, a manuscript of Alice’s Adventures Under Ground by Lewis Carroll and even the personal copy of Anne Boleyn’s New Testament translated in English by William Tyndale in 1534.

Find the best Blue Plaques

One of most underrated free things to do in London! The Blue Plaques, hemmed by English Heritage, these historical markers aim to link the people of the past with the buildings of the present by commemorating and honouring notable men and women that influenced the course of London’s history in some shape or form — including Charles Dickens, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Vincent Van Gogh, Captain James Cook, Samuel Johnson, Frederic Chopin, Ian Fleming, Benjamin Franklin, Jimi Hendrix, Vivien Leigh, John Lennon, Samuel Beckett, Dame Agatha Christie, Charles Darwin, Freddie Mercury and Sir Winston Churchill, to name a few.

Started in 1866, the Blue Plaque scheme is thought to be the oldest of its kind in the world. There’s a really cool app you can download and use as a guide through the memorable streets of London. For a full list of Blue Plaques in London, check out Wikipedia’s entry.

Angel Comedy

Discover you stand-up comedians at the Angel Comedy club every night of the week with their rigorously-vetted open-mic comics, from improv to solo acts — you might get lucky and catch a top comedian testing new material. It’s all technically free, but if you liked the show, a voluntary donation is always welcome.

Take a free walking tour of London

There are so many different companies offering free tours of London that it’s actually quite difficult to choose! Strawberry Tours, New Europe Tours, Free London Walking Tours all do a pretty decent job, from lavish Kensington to artsy Shoreditch. Tours are all free but if you had a nice time and learned something, it’s customary to leave a tip at the end.

The post 100+ fun & completely free things to do in London appeared first on To Europe And Beyond.

What is afternoon tea anyway?

For the uninitiated, afternoon tea is a light meal typically eaten between 4 and 6pm; the definition of “light”, however, varies wildly from one establishment to another, and although it is still eaten in the afternoon very few people will have the stomach for anything resembling dinner later on in the day.

The custom of afternoon tea is largely credited to Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford and BFF to Queen Victoria, as she simply could not wait until dinner was served at 8pm, which was the fashionable time for the evening meal in the 1840s. This was about 200 years tea became a popular beverage in Britain as well as immediately following the culinary experiments of the Earl of Sandwich with bread and butter, which we are well accustomed to today. The Duchess requested that a tray of bite-size sandwiches and cakes, as well as tea, was brought up to her room at around 4pm. 

As it turned out, Duchess Anna wasn’t the only one to become hungry mid-afternoon and soon, her closest friends joined her for a bite, too. Fast-forward a few decades later and afternoon tea was all anyone could talk about, as it had become quite the event. In fact, 1880s high society women would change into extravagant outfits — including long gowns, feathery hats and long gloves — before they went into the drawing-room, where afternoon tea was hereafter served.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

Now, what are the great places for afternoon teas in London?

Beas of Bloomsbury

83 Watling Street, city of london / £26.50

Casual tea — also, one of the least expensive — with a side of cake extravaganza including uncommon brioche tea sandwiches. Finish off your experience with a visit to the building’s free rooftop terrace for unique views of St. Pauls and London. Reservations compulsory.

Brumus

1 Suffolk Place, Soho / £22

Refreshingly colourful afternoon tea in a bright conservatory filled with modern art that only feels super expensive, as it is really quite affordable in reality. Expect traditional fare like scones, sandwiches and decadent bite-size cakes as well as a vast range of speciality teas and infusions.

Claridge’s

Brook Street, Mayfair / £58

If it’s chic enough for Gwyneth Paltrow and her contemporaries, it’s chic enough for me. Admittedly, this is the highest priced and most iconic afternoon tea in London but I find that these kinds of experiences — which are characterised by unparalleled quality both in terms of food and service — are entirely worth the price for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

sketch

9 Conduit Street, Mayfair / £45

Is this real life? I couldn’t believe how stunning sketch looked; it felt like I had entered a parallel universe. And the food? Scrumptious and flawless. My absolute favourite afternoon tea; well worth the rather steep price. It’s been a few months since I was there and I simply haven’t gotten over it yet.

The Orangery

Kensington Palace, Kensington / £27.50

This is the closest you’ll get to Kate and the kids — who cares for William anymore, right? — at this surprisingly low price point! This is your chance to have tea with pinkie finger up on the grounds of the royal palace where Lady Diana, amongst others, lived for the longest time. Tea is served in a lovely 18th-century, light-filled room surrounded by the formal Kensington Gardens.

Shangri-La Hotel at The Shard

32 London Bridge Street, Southwark / £54

Expectedly, the 360-degree view from The Shard’s 35th floor — making it one of the highest afternoon teas in London — comes at a premium price but it’s all forgotten when the enticing, refined afternoon tea and its selection of 30+ teas are served. If this isn’t your first time having tea, opt for the Asian version, a classic of the Shangri-La brand.

B-bakery

£45 for bus tour / £85 for boat tour

For an original and active afternoon tea, why not book a bus or boat tour of London? Famed Brigit’s Bakery serves a mean French-inspired equivalent with macarons and mini-quiches while you zip through some of London’s most iconic sights. A truly unique experience!

The post Living the royal life: the 7 best afternoon teas in London appeared first on To Europe And Beyond.

Best Restaurants in London: My Top Picks

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155 bar & kitchen
Modern British
Clerkenwell
££

Showcases the best British ingredients and gastronomic expertise from coffee to cocktail hour in a lovely mid-century modern decor. Also includes a pop-up shop filled with locally-made goods, an urban spa, and a wine bar.[/right]

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Aladin
Indian
Brick Lane
£

Listed by the BBC as «one of the world’s best curryhouses», Aladin is a traditional Indian eatery with scrumptious and shareable dishes. Don’t walk in until the waiter outside has offered «20% off for you beautiful lady» – works every time.[/right]

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Albion
Modern British
Shoreditch
£

Trendy, laid-back, wood furnished cafe-bakery with homely organic fare and informal all-day dining. Their olive and sea salt focaccia is sinful.[/right]

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Beigel Bake
Jewish
Brick Lane
£

The East End has been called home by half a dozen communities over the last centuries, including the Jewish. And what could possibly be more Jewish than a good old bagel filled with melt-in-your-mouth salt beef, hot English mustard and a sweet gherkin?[/right]

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Biscuiteers
Bakery
Notting Hill
£

Hand-iced biscuits, chocolates, and cakes with an Insta-famous facade in the heart of Notting Hill. They offer a whimsical and inexpensive afternoon tea, too.[/right]

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Black Penny
British
Holborn
£

Surprisingly spacious café with healthy, expansive, and organic lunch fare, as well as gourmet coffee and talkative baristas (a rarity in London). The decor, with its black accents and geometric iron bookcases, is well worth a visit.[/right]

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Bob Bob Ricard

Modern British
Soho
£££

Russian meets British at this outlandish Art Deco celeb haunt famous for its «press for champagne» buzzers in every booth. Smart clothing and reservations are absolutely compulsory. Truly one of the best restaurants in London.[/right]

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Franco Manca
Pizzeria
Various locations
£

Truly tasty yet mind-bogglingly inexpensive sourdough pizza with classic toppings like homemade mozzarella or sustainably sourced meats. Even wines are affordable! A rarity in London.[/right]

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Gail’s
Bakery
Various locations
£

Inexpensive artisan bakery with savoury and sweet treats, ideal for a quick lunch or a mid-afternoon post-stroll break. The one in Notting Hill is particularly enjoyable for people-watching.[/right]

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Gelateria Danieli
Ice cream parlour
Richmond
£

Organic and authentic gelato located in a historic 18th-century lane. All in all, the finest artisan ice cream around. Pear and dulce de leche are personal favourites![/right]

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Holborn Dining Room
Modern British
Holborn
£££

Elegant, chandelier-decked British brasserie with red leather and tweed banquettes, part of the lavish Rosewood Hotel. Also home to London’s largest gin bar with over 14,035 possible gin and tonic pairings.[/right]

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Maître Choux
Bakery
South Kensington
£

Chic, all-white patisserie in the heart of South Kensington specialising in pimped-up couture eclairs and rainbow-coloured choux pastry. At £5 a piece, though, this is definitely an indulgence.[/right]

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Pieminister
British
Clerkenwell
£

Award-winning Bristol-made pies and mashed potatoes (this is England after all) using responsibly-sourced ingredients; if the Chicken of Aragon is on the menu, do yourself a favour and order it.[/right]

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Pizza East
Pizzeria
Shoreditch
££

Wood oven artisan pizzas served in a stunning industrial space that used to be a tea warehouse. They also have a range of antipasti and Italian dishes on the menu as well.[/right]

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Primrose Bakery
Bakery
Primrose
£

The best cupcakes in London are baked in this pastel bakery with a lovely retro-style decor. Also, the Primrose area has A+ celebrity-spotting opps![/right]

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Redemption
Vegan
Notting Hill
££

«Spoil yourself without spoiling yourself». Alcohol-free gastro bar with a stripped-back decor and surprising health-centric fare and mocktails in trendy Notting Hill. The chocolate chia pudding is yummy.[/right]

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The Athenian
Greek
Shoreditch
£

Small street food stall offering freshly-made souvlaki prepared in the healthiest, most authentic way using imported ingredients from Greece.[/right]

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The Chipping Forecast
British
Notting Hill
££

Serving the finest quality, sustainably caught, fresh Cornish fish and chips deliciously tripled cooked in traditional beef dripping in a refined setting with soft jazz music playing in the background. Arguably one of the best restaurants in London for iconic fish and chips.[/right]

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The Golden Hind
British
Soho
£

Fuss-free fish & chips prepared in the utmost tradition — crispy batter, minty mushy peas, thumb-sized chips, pickle-heavy tartar — in a quiet back street in bustling Marylebone.[/right]

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The Happenstance
Modern British
City
££

One of the very few decent, non-chain eateries around St. Pauls Cathedral! The industrial-chic setting is the perfect backdrop for a European all-day menu. For breakfast, the blueberry pancakes are particularly flavourful.[/right]

Best Restaurants in London: Additional Picks

[left]St John Bread Wine

José Tapas Bar

Maltby Street Market (Saturdays only)

Kingly Court

Chiltern Firehouse (if you can get a reservation)[/left]

[right]Bao

Dishoom (modern Indian)

Dinner by Heston

Duck & Waffle (for the view!)

B&H[/right]

The post The Best Restaurants in London: My Favourite Places to Eat appeared first on To Europe And Beyond.

While London isn’t the most walk-friendly city in the conventional sense (many will call me crazy for walking these entire routes), there’s something about exploring on foot that just feels right. Especially when you’re new to a place—walking lets you really see it.

And in London, there are plenty of reasons to swap the Tube for a pair of good shoes:

• Public transportation is expensive—and often unpredictable. Planned engineering works, anyone?
• The photo ops are spontaneous and endless. Mews, pub façades, floral doorways… let’s just say the inside of a Tube carriage doesn’t quite compare.
• You’ll probably eat your weight in cake, beer, and chips—walking is an excellent excuse to keep going.

Despite being 15 times bigger than Paris, it’s still possible to hit a good number of major sights on foot—with a little planning. And if you’re only in town for a short time, every minute counts.

So I’ve mapped out three walking itineraries, each covering a different area of the city. They’re all routes I’ve personally walked, carefully noted for the most beautiful streets and scenic turns. Technically, you could do all three in one day (challenge accepted?), provided you’re wearing the world’s comfiest shoes and are powered by a steady stream of Red Bull. But I recommend taking your time and soaking in the wonder that is London.

Walking in London – Notting Hill to Green Park

Kensington is often my first stop whenever I’m in London. Not just because of the movie, but because it’s absurdly pretty. It feels like a Disneyfied version of London: pastel townhouses, tree-lined streets, fashion-forward locals, coffee-sipping mums, and a parade of Instagrammers capturing it all.

• Marvel at the colourful homes and lavish mansions of Notting Hill.
• Throw in a coffee or cake stop—my picks:
  • Biscuiteers – 194 Kensington Park Rd
  • Coffee Plant – 180 Portobello Road
  • Hagen Espresso Bar – 63A Ledbury Rd
  • The Notting Hill Bookshop Café – 15B Blenheim Cres
• Wander through the serene Kyoto Garden in Holland Park.
• Continue to Kensington Palace and the vast Hyde Park.
• Admire Queen Victoria’s legacy at the Albert Memorial and Royal Albert Hall.
• Pop into the spectacular Natural History Museum (even if just for the entrance hall).
• Hop on the Tube from South Kensington to Piccadilly Circus.

Walking in London – Buckingham Palace to Houses of Parliament

This itinerary takes in some of London’s most iconic landmarks—and rightly so. What’s a visit to the UK without a proper dose of royalty? While the route isn’t the most direct, it’s undoubtedly the most regal (and photogenic).

• Start at Piccadilly Circus station and walk to Trafalgar Square. If time allows, pop into the National Portrait Gallery—a personal favourite.
• Cross Admiralty Arch and stroll down Pall Mall.
• Pause for a moment (or several) in front of Buckingham Palace.
• Wander through the picturesque St. James’s Park—be sure to follow the path along the lake for a picture-perfect view of the Palace framed by trees.
• Pass the discreet entrance to the Churchill War Rooms—and if time permits, it’s absolutely worth a visit.
• Admire the intricate Gothic details of Westminster Abbey.
• Snap that essential tourist shot with Big Ben in the background.
• Then hop aboard the Thames Clipper (RB1) at London Eye Pier and cruise to Tower Millennium Pier—a scenic, underrated way to see the city from the water.

Walking in London – St. Paul’s to Tower Bridge

After a peaceful (and photo-worthy) ride along the Thames, it’s time to explore one of London’s most historic corners: the City of London. Technically its own entity and not a borough, this compact district spans more than a thousand years of history—from the Tower of London, built in 1078, to the shimmering skyscrapers of the modern financial hub. Just across the river, the South Bank is equally rich in culture, especially with gems like Shakespeare’s Globe and Borough Market.

• Circle the Tower of London and imagine the dark, dramatic chapters etched into its stone walls.
• Cross Tower Bridge, pausing for that classic panoramic view.
• Gaze up at The Shard—and if budget permits, treat yourself to its observatory. It’s the tallest building in Western Europe, and the views are breathtaking.
• If it’s open (10 AM–5 PM, Wednesday to Saturday), indulge at Borough Market with gourmet sandwiches, fresh cheese, and any other delicacy you can justify.
• Stroll past Shakespeare’s Globe, a loving tribute to the Bard’s theatrical legacy.
• Cross Millennium Bridge, soaking in the stunning views of both riverbanks, with the Tate Modern rising behind you.
• End your route at the majestic St Paul’s Cathedral, a fitting finale to a walk through centuries of London history.

The post Walking in London – 3 itineraries from Notting Hill to Tower Bridge appeared first on To Europe And Beyond.