Lori's London Guide, Part 1

In honor of my one-year anniversary of life abroad in London, I put together a London City Guide.

I hope you enjoy some of these if you plan to visit soon. I think one of the greatest love letters (other than a mix tape) is sharing your favorite places with people so that they can experience the bits of life that you love the most.

This guide is heavier on the two neighborhoods where I've spent the most time so far: Marylebone, where I lived for two months last summer, and Islington, my now home. I have a lot more ground to explore, infinite possibilities really, and I hope to release future guides, too.

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These suggestions are not necessarily your tourist spots (I am confident that you can find those on your own!) but rather my favorite places and spaces that I've come across that don't necessarily top the Trip Advisor lists.

I intentionally didn't say "off the beaten path suggestions" because all the paths in London feel very explored to me!! This is a city that bustles, I am constantly amazed at what life is like here. Never a dull moment, and if I lived here another 100 years, there would still be things left to do and see.

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Bakery: It would be impossible to settle on just one. So here are five: Dusty Knuckle, Pophams (get the cardamom bun), Quince (get their sourdough). Ottolenghi (meringues). Wa Cafe (all the matcha things, croissants pictured above). Has my carbohydrate intake increased significantly since moving here? Yes. 

Coffee: I am not a coffee snob, my usual morning cup is just instant Illy grounds (insert embarrassed emoji face here), but if I wanted to take a coffee-loving friend somewhere, it would be Batch Baby in Haggerston. They have multiple roasts to choose from, and it's interior has an artsy/vintage vibe that makes you feel like you're in a cosy living room. Also, I like that they bring your coffee on a bright orange tray.

Tea: Chai Guys is the best chai I’ve had yet here, and I’ve tried a lot. They have locations all over the city, but I like the stall in Old the Spitalfield Market. This chai tastes like the spices and isn't overly sweetened, which is key for me. If you're looking for a tea shop, Bird & Blend Tea Co. in Angel is a must. They have a wall with 100s of loose leaf teas to choose from and plenty of samples.

Wine Bar: Hector’s, tucked on a side street in De Beauvoir, a great selection of European wines, and the staff was sweet and helpful. They also have tiny plate options to order from, including chips (crisps) piled with serrano ham. Yum. Thank you to Brooke for inviting me here.

Street Art: Leake Street Arches, (pic above) beneath Waterloo Station. Ok, this is on a lot of London lists, but this makes mine because it's a whole mood, not to be missed. A great place to people watch, duck into the many shops nestled in the archways, and of course take photos of your favorite graffiti. Fans of board games should pop into Draughts, they have 1000s to choose from in a game library. 

Wander: Brick Lane, an East-end destination that will overload all your senses. Have a wander through the Sunday market and try some Bengali street food or curry. Or any of the food, you can't go wrong but you'll definitely have a hard time choosing. You'll find lots of vintage here too.

Culture: The best part of London is the mix of cultures that you come across here. Japan House is one of my favorite examples of this. Part exhibition, part shop, a cafe, library, and loads of events and workshops to choose from, there are 3 floors to explore. The shop portion almost feels like a museum, with highly curated pieces to purchase, and it's one of the rare  gift shops I've come across that held items that I've never seen before. Location: Kensington High Street. Shoutout to Alex for this rec.

Jewellery: Another category that I could list dozens, but I'll just share my top three. I came across this first shop by chance after dropping my kid at football camp near Clissold Park, and now I've got my eye on several pieces from Louise Wade Jewellery, especially the little geometric hoops and the signet rings... And if you find yourself in Primrose Hill, stop into Sweet Pea Jewellery for dainty fine jewellery and have a chat with Siobhan, she is lovely. Lastly, not a specific shop, but I recommend visiting Hatton Garden, the diamond, gold, and fine jewellery district. There are plenty of windows to be shopped, plus the Leather Lane food market stalls. 

Quiet Spot: Brown Hart Gardens (pic above) is just a block south of Oxford Street, so if you visit for shopping until you drop, and you need a moment of peace, find this raised garden, built over an electrical substation, where you can sit for a few. 

Bookstore: There are tonssss of bookshops around London. You'll want to visit the well-known ones for sure: Daunt, Hatchards, and Waterstones, but don't forget to pop into the little ones too!  Bookbar is my fave: an intimate little shop in Islington with coffee and wine, and it’s woman-owned.Their Shelf Medicate subscription is brilliant. And they ask you to sit to enjoy your drink, which I like, because it forces you to take your time.

Shopping Small: Storm Label, a little family-run boutique that was on the street we lived in Marylebone, Matt gifted me two really unique pieces from them for my birthday last year, and I've worn them both on repeat. Nom Living, if you love stoneware. Designed in London, made in Vietnam/Cambodia, this is the kind of little shop you walk into and sigh, because you want some of everything they have. It's located on Columbia Road, so you can go on a Sunday and visit the Flower Market too. Finally, STORE STORE in Hackney for the design-lovers out there. 

Favorite High Street: Exmouth Market in East London's Clerkenwell. I love the scale of this high street, it feels very intimate, and the fact that it's pedestrianized is nice too. Plenty of retail and cafes to choose from for a morning or early afternoon of brunch/lunch and shopping.

Vintage: Magpie Vintage in Camden Passage. Excellent curation, colorful, fun!

Picky Bits: De Beauvoir Deli, (pic of their glorious display above) I'm easily here twice a week. The best spot for artisan groceries and treats that you didn't know you needed. Grab some picnic items and go sit and enjoy in the De Beauvoir Square Rose Garden, and dream about living in the houses that front the square, just like I do. 

Cheese: If you need cheese: Pistachio & Pickle. This shop is located along the lovely Camden Passage, which is probably my other favorite car-free high street. Come on a weekend a find vintage markets here too.

Relax: Dalston Eastern Curve Garden, a community garden on an old railway line. Peaceful and hidden away, grab a coffee or a beer and sit in quiet among the shade. Great for kids, too.

Treat: Attention chocolate lovers: Cup + Lid is for you — the tiramisu espresso coffee drink is insanely indulgent. You need a spoon for the thick layer of cream on top of this drink. 

Pupusas: Quinta in South Kensington. Ok, I know most people don’t come to London to look for Salvadoran food, but as someone who spent a long time living in DC, which has a large Salvadoran population, I was seriously missing pupusas. These are some of the best I’ve ever had! Shoutout to Anna for bringing me here.

Garden: Crossrail Place Roof Garden (pictured above) This little gem is located in Canary Wharf, which is an oft-misaligned part of London, for reasons I don't understand. I love this quiet, rooftop, indoor garden for a quick wander and a quiet sit. When I was last there, at the entry area there was a free poetry machine: make a few simple choices on the input screen, get a receipt printout with a poem to sit and read on the many benches throughout this space.

Dinner: All Hail Sabertooth, a small Indian restaurant and cafe in Hoxton — the vibes were everything here, and the food was fresh and amazing. A cozy little spot that feels like eating in someone’s home. Get the Crouching Tiger Hidden Banana appetizer.

Pub: The Alpaca or The Duke Organic are my two favorite upscale gastropubs in Islington if you want the local, friendly, London pub experience.  

Grazing: Mercato Mayfair, (pic above) an old church turned food hall just south of Oxford Street. The stained glass sanctuary is where you can order a gin & tonic, then wander around a try some bites from several of the food stands. It's complete with a cute plant shop as your enter, and a vaulted wine cellar in the basement. 

Low-Key Cool: The Greenwich Foot Tunnel, a historic landmark and pedestrian walk under the River Thames. I love a tunnel, this one is cool. And you'd never know it's there, linking Greenwich to Island Gardens.

Rainy Day Lunch: I miss when I could see this place from my bedroom window! Always a line outside, and for a reason. Paul Rothe & Son is a lovely little deli, and perfect pitstop for soup on a rainy day.

With Kids: Adventure Playgrounds! This concept blew my mind when I first learned of them. There is nothing I know of that's like it in the States. These playgrounds are scattered all over the city, and they are free, staffed with adults, and made for kids (age 6+) to embrace "risky play." You can drop your kids for a bit and let them explore... in fact they encourage parents to leave. Brilliant.

Museum: Ok, the V&A is on every tourist’s list, but it's an enormous place and can be overwhelming because there is just so much there. My recommendation is to visit the jewellery collection. Over 3000 pieces, just absolutely jaw-dropping. If they could just offer some sort of try-on event, is this too much to ask??? I would die ;)

Museum: The Wallace Collection (pic above) is an old London townhouse turned museum. You'll find this on a lot of lists too, but if you want to know what it might have been like to live in the 18th and 19th centuries, this is worth a visit. My favorite is the collection of little of gold snuff and jewellery boxes. Exquisite.

Pssssst - If you'd like my saved Google Maps of all of these spots, including the newest things that I'm bookmarking every day, connect with me on social media, or send me an email. I'd be happy to share the link to the map with you.

I'm sure there are ones that you would add, leave me a comment below on your London favorites that I should be sure to check out.

Xx

Lori