London City Guide

The people

I have had mixed experiences with the British. My first time in London, I was with a school group and the locals couldn't have been more accommodating. Consequently, I went home and convinced my mother that we had to go back to London together, just the two of us. When we finally made it back, the people treated us very poorly. I mean, really, really bad. I think my fondest memory of that holiday with my mother was of me chasing down a train conductor who insisted on avoiding me when he heard my American accent. The end result of that encounter was that we missed our train and were entirely lost for about an hour until we figured out the train system on our own.

However, this latest trip was fantastic! Everyone was very kind and welcoming. So I've decided that London is really an "every other time" kind of place. As in, you'll be greeted with hospitality every other time you visit. That's just been my experience - take it or leave it.

transportation

I've already written an article on the ins-and-outs of London's transportation system but I still think I should include in this post just how much I love the city's organization when it comes to getting around town. No one does it better, in my opinion. The sheer amount of thought and consideration that went into planning the underground tracks is immense. If only America was as up-to-date as the English are in that area.

fashion

London is just one of those places where everyone makes me feel underdressed. The men are decked out in bespoke suits while the women sport atelier dresses and tailored jackets. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of people wearing sneakers and jeans, but somehow even they make me feel like I could be doing better. The one thing you can count on is that no one is wearing sweatpants or leggings in public and, if they are, you’re just catching them going to/from the gym. If I could give one shred of advice for your trip to London, it’s this: wear pants, bring fashionable — but practical — shoes (like these, or these, or even these), accessorize. Basically, just try. I can now spot a foreigner from a mile away based on the way they’re dressed, which is usually in a perfunctory manner.

The city

London is one of the very few places that I've been to that perfectly blends history with modernity. The city manages to create new, stark structures that somehow compliment the classic architecture that has stood for hundreds (or thousands) of years. You walk right off the Tower Bridge and come in contact with the steel frames and glass panels of City Hall. It's spectacular. The perfect mix of old and new.

And if you don't feel like taking any city transportation, the nice thing is that you can get almost anywhere by foot. My first day in the city, I walked from Soho down to Westminster, and then back up through Kensington. Easily a few miles walk, but not difficult to do at all.

wifi

This might seem like an odd topic but it's important to note that wifi is a tad bit hard to find in Europe. London was the first place I'd visited abroad when I started travelling and it was so hard managing without internet. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of places to get wifi, but you either have to log in with a username and password, register an account, or pay for the connection. I rarely found a place that just had unrestricted wifi access. 

Just be careful not to go abroad thinking "It's fine, I'll book all of my tickets and look up addresses when I connect to wifi over there!" Odds are, that will be much more difficult than it sounds.

crime

I haven't had any really bad crime experiences in London besides one occasion where someone tried to pickpocket me. Little did he know that they were fake pockets! Unfortunately, though, pickpocketing can be very common in London and, as such, I would recommend preparing yourself for it. Every time I went out, I made sure that my bag was latched and that the latch was facing my body so that no one could just walk behind me, unhook my bag and reach in.

It's also wise to spread your money out across different parts of your body. For instance, keep a credit card secured in your jacket pocket, perhaps a few pounds in your pants pocket, and some more money in your wallet. That way, if you are pickpocketed, you're not totally deprived of all forms of payment.

The coins

It’s impossible not to accumulate quite the collection of coins while in London (or central Europe, for that matter). It seems like every time I spent a paper pound, I’d get fifteen coins back. My advice to you is to pack a coin purse. Yes, even men. Pack. A. Coin. Purse.

The time

There's a one hour difference between the UK and central Europe. So imagine my disappointment when I missed my train to the Netherlands because I'd forgotten to change my watch back! Rookie mistake - especially for someone who's been around the block a time or two. Just be wary of the time difference. As soon as you leave London, adjust your clocks.

Also on the topic of time, I've found that the golden standard for how long you need to stay in London to fully experience most of what it has to offer is about four to five days. I've started needing less and less time with every visit because I obviously don't need to see Big Ben ten times.

Plug type: Three-pronged plug, type "G"

Currency: Pound (£)

Language: English, natively

They drive on the... left side of the road

Primary means of transportation: Tube, bus, car, bike

Key phrases: Check out my post on translating American words into British terms! It’s practically a science.

Telephone code: +44

Emergency services number: I’d call 999. The 112 number is exclusive to those in the European Union and since Britain left the Union with Brexit, the number will likely not apply soon to those in Britain.

Credit card acceptance: Most cards are accepted, including Visa and Mastercard. However I have a Discover card and I noticed that very few places took it. Be sure to place a travel notice on your card so that it’s not denied!

Padella

Restaurant with a small menu comprised of signature homemade Italian meals.

Dress: casual

6 Southwark St, London SE1 1TQ, UK

OXO Tower Restaurant, Bar and Brasserie

Rooftop restaurant and bar overlooking the Thames. Go for the view if nothing else.

Dress: casual to business casual

OXO Tower Wharf, Barge House St, South Bank, London SE1 9PH, UK

Fish Bone

Hole-in-the-wall restaurant known for its fish and chips, but I always get the chicken burger (it's better than it sounds). You can take your food to go and eat in Fitzroy Square Garden or Regent's Park.

Dress: casual

82 Cleveland St, Fitzrovia, London W1T 6NF, UK

The King of Falafel

Very affordable (and tasty) falafel restaurant close to London Euston station. Great for takeaway or dining in.

Dress: casual

17 Hunter St, Kings Cross, London WC1N 1BN, UK

Dinerama

An outdoor food court that hosts multiple vendors and is quite the hotspot at the end of the day because of its location in the business district. You do need an ID to enter and security may check your bag.

Dress: casual

19 Great Eastern St, London EC2A 3EJ, UK

The Brown's Hotel

One of the oldest continuously running tearooms in London, the Brown’s Hotel is a great place to have a decadent high tea moment. The servers don't just recommend certain teas, they tell you about the notes of the different leaves so that you can make the most educated decision. A little pricey, but worth it. (Little tip: try the clotted cream and jam on a scone - OMG, heaven!).

Dress: semi-formal, business casual 

Albemarle St, Mayfair, London W1S 4BP, UK

The Drawing Room

A secluded bar that is only available through private hire. The bar itself is tucked away behind a secret wall within the BFI Southbank.

Dress: casual

Belvedere Rd, Lambeth, London SE1 8XT, UK

Sky Garden Darwin Brasserie

Located on the 36th floor of Sky Garden overlooking the London Skyline. The brasserie is surrounded by an interior arboretum that will take your breath away.

Dress: casual to business casual

Level 36, Sky Garden, 20 Philpot Lane, London EC3M 8AF, United Kingdom

Kappacasein

A stall within Borough Market that makes excellent grilled cheese sandwiches (known as "cheese toasties" in Britain).

Dress: casual

8 Southwark St, London SE1 1TL, UK

Peggy Porschen Cakes

A small corner cafe that serves delicious pastries and drinks. It's also a very Instagram-able spot.

Dress: casual

116 Ebury St, Belgravia, London SW1W 9QQ, UK

Sketch

Speaking of Instagrammable spots, Sketch is probably one of the most sought-after destinations in London for a photo. It feels more like an art installation than a watering hole.

Dress: casual to business casual

Conduit St, Mayfair, London W1S 2XG

Harrod's

While primarily a luxury department store, Harrod's is also home to a Godiva cafe that offers an amazing chocolate fondue.

Dress: casual to business casual

87-135 Brompton Rd, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7XL, UK

Gelupo

Gelateria in Soho that offers homemade Italian ice cream.

Dress: casual

7 Archer St, Soho, London W1D 7AU, UK

Cafe la Divina

An Italian restaurant near Angel Station that has a great take-away deal of £4.99 for certain menu items that are very generously portioned. If you’d like to sit in, they also have great lunch discounts.This has become a regular destination of mine for a quick bite on the go.

Dress: casual

134 Upper St, Islington, London N1 1QP

Beigel Bake

A true London keepsake, Beigel Bake serves up very affordable freshly baked Jewish goods and even sells some great corned beef sandwiches. If you’re jet lagged and up at midnight when everything else is closed, pay a visit to this 24-hour godsend. Just note that you might get haggled by a few vagabonds stationed out front.

Dress: casual

159 Brick Ln, London E1 6SB

Good Friend Chicken

I’ve frequented this place more than I care to admit. You can’t get better popcorn fried chicken for the value anywhere else.

Dress: casual

14 Little Newport St, London WC2H 7JJ

Dishoom

There are a few Dishooms spread throughout London and you won’t find one that isn’t completely packed. If you’re hankering for some genuine Indian fare, this is absolutely the place to be. I would recommend the vegetable samosas and black daal.

Dress: casual

Dishoom Carnaby (in the heart of Soho): 22 Kingly St, Soho, London W1B 5QB

Attendant Cafe

An underground public washroom turned cafe (not as gross as it sounds) located in Fitzrovia. The staff are incredibly friendly making this little coffee shop an absolute gem. Just keep in mind that they only take cards as payment.

Dress: casual

27A Foley St, Fitzrovia, London W1W 6DY

Zia Lucia

My go-to for all things pizza. So. Damn. Good.

Dress: casual

157 Holloway Rd, London N7 8LX

La Creperie de Hampstead

This little crepe cart is a Hampstead staple. It’s cash only, and utterly delicious. Bring a mirror when you go because you’ll invariably get chocolatey goodness all over your face.

Dress: casual

77 Hampstead High St, Hampstead, London NW3 1RE

The Kati Roll Company

A little hole-in-the-wall in Soho serving up Kolkata paratha rolls for an affordable price.

Dress: casual

24 Poland St, Soho, London W1F 8QL

Good & Proper Tea

For a laid-back tea experience, Good & Proper Tea is your best bet. Serving up 29 teas, this little cafe is situated smack dab in the heart of Leather Lane, which features a daily (with the exception of Saturday and Sunday) food market.

Dress: casual

96 Leather Ln, London EC1N 7TX

Flight Club

There are a few Flight Club locations but you get to drink, eat, and throw darts at all of them. What’s not to love?

Dress: casual (but don’t forget to pack your chain mail if, by chance, you stand in the way of someone’s dart)

Flight Club Shoreditch: 2A Worship St, London EC2A 2AH

Berenjak

For some authentic Persian cuisine, pay a visit to Berenjak. The decor transports you somewhere in the Middle East while you’re enjoying a meal in central Soho.

Dress: casual

27 Romilly St, Soho, London W1D 5AL

Ask for Janice

If you’re on the hunt for a good gin and tonic, look no further. With their extensive gin menu, your only struggle will be picking just one.

Dress: casual

50-52 Long Ln, London EC1A 9EJ

Passyunk Avenue

God forbid you should want a taste of home during your short tenure in London but, if that happens, head over to Passyunk Avenue for some authentic (as authentic as anywhere but Philly can get) cheesesteaks. Their cheese whiz is made in-house so I’d recommend sampling that for… scientific purposes.

Dress: casual

80 Cleveland St, Fitzrovia, London W1T 6NE

Bristol, England

There's an annual hot air balloon festival in Bristol that is a feast for the eyes.

Distance from London by train: 1 hour 40 minutes 

Canterbury, England

An adorable little hamlet featuring some of the most ethereal scenery I've ever seen.

Distance from London by train: 1 hour 25 minutes

Oxford, England

Incredible sites with Oxford University being its obvious mainstay.

Distance from London by train: 1 hour 8 minutes

Bath, England

One of the most beautifully built towns I've ever had the pleasure of visiting. The architecture and history alone are worth seeing.

Distance from London by train: 1 hour 26 minutes

Dover, England

The Cliffs of Dover are an absolute must-see. Just don't get too close to the edge!

Distance from London by train: 1 hour 44 minutes

Some may disagree with me, but I personally think that London is very much like some major cities in America, except that London is much cleaner, older, and the transportation system is unparalleled. The city-scape in general, though, is akin to those that can be found in the states. I think that's why I feel so comfortable in London - it's like being at home except everyone has these wonderful British accents.

However there are a few things that I've been caught doing in the UK that might be widely accepted in America but perhaps not as much in England.

Terminology

Most of my problems seem to stem from vocabulary differences. I even wrote a whole post about the translations between American and British terms.

For instance, American tourists can sometimes be caught wearing fanny packs while traveling but, in London, the word "fanny" actually refers to the female sex organ. So every time an American tourist says "Hey, hold my fanny pack real quick," any Brits in the area would likely be recoil in disgust.

Also in America, we wear pants - as in, pieces of clothing that cover our legs and fasten around our waists. In the UK, the word "pants" translates to "underwear." So if I were to say to my British friends, "I've been wearing the same pair of pants for days," first they’re going to gag, and then they’re going to unfriend me.

And there are, of course, those words that everyone is familiar with - "chips" means "fries," "loo" means "bathroom," "jumper" means "sweater," etc. But those words are usually used interchangeably so that you don't really have to worry about a Brit being confused when you say "Can I have a side of fries with that?" They know what you mean.

It’s funny to think that, although there is no direct language barrier between Americans and the British, I still sometimes feel like we're speaking two completely different languages.

Rules of Traffic

Besides the many, many differences in vocabulary, there are also more practical matters that the British hold as paramount that the average American is unaware of. Take the tube for example. When you are riding the escalators up and down in a tube station, you're supposed to stand on the right side of the escalator and walk on the left. So if you were planning on relaxing on your ride up the escalator, don't do so by standing on the left - you'll quickly be regarded as a tourist and receive quite a few contemptuous side glances.

Similarly, when walking on the sidewalk in London, I noticed that locals would walk on the left rather than the right, which makes sense considering which side of the road they drive on. But of course, I am used to driving on the left in America so I kept going against the flow of foot traffic until I finally started forcing myself to walk on the left as well. There were actually a few instances where I got caught in that awkward “Which way are you going?” moment with someone walking towards me that I ran into because I would curve right to avoid them and they would go left - collision ensued.

Also, when crossing the street, I am so used to looking right for cars and bikes that I’ve nearly been run down numerous times! London even has the words “Look Left” and "Look Right" plastered at most of its crosswalks to remind tourists, but still, it’s a hard habit to break!

Peace Signs

Another faux pas is throwing up the peace sign with your palm facing towards you. In the UK, giving the inward-facing peace sign is the equivalent of flipping the bird in America. It's all in the palm orientation. You can make the peace sign without offending anyone by making sure that your palm is facing outwards when you do it. Otherwise, you might be stuck with some confused "What the hell did I ever do to you?" looks from the locals.

Freud Museum

Maybe it's just because I got my undergrad degree in psychology, but I found Freud's London home to be fascinating. I practically squealed when I saw the one and only quintessential couch.

20 Maresfield Gardens, London NW3 5SX, UK

Shit-faced Shakespeare

Okay, this was hilarious. It's a Shakespearean play performed by a cast made up of hilarious hooligans - and one of them is drunk the entire play!

Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Pl, London WC2H 7BX, UK

Harrod's

Harrod's is ineffable. You could easily get lost just perusing the many different levels and store departments. You'll always find me in the couture section. 😍

87-135 Brompton Rd, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7XL, UK

Sky Garden

Sky Garden is a public garden that is located on the 36th floor of a skyscraper. It's really incredible to see, and the view from the balcony isn't bad either. But the best part? Tickets are free!

20 Fenchurch St, London EC3M 8AF, UK

Daunt Books

This one’s for the book lovers out there. To satiate all your literary desires, check out Daunt Books. And maybe on your way out, pick up one of their signature canvas bags. You’ll see them littered on people’s arms throughout the city so you may as well keep up with the times!

84 Marylebone High St, Marylebone, London W1U 4QW

The Garden at 120

This is London’s newly-opened (as of February 2019) largest public roof garden. It’s free to the public so get your butt over there for some exquisite aerial views.

120 Fenchurch St, London EC3M 5BA

For a full list of off-the-beaten-path activities, click here.