London (is always) Calling
A quick trip on the horizon has me reflecting on favorites to share for your upcoming London travels
London is my travel hub or European gateway and also one of several favorite homes away from home. I love it and whenever I’m traveling to that part of the world, London calls me to visit.
It is hard to believe that I only first visited London in 2015. My son was going to be there for almost a month, lighting a show at the Peacock Theatre, while on a European tour. London had long been a dream destination for me and it’s wild for me to think that less than a decade later I will have gone multiple times, and now consider a favorite home away from home (with home being wherever I unpack these days).
Today any international travel includes several nights in London (when possible) so I can:
Get acclimated (if I go on my way over from the US)
Eat at my favorite places
Take epic walks
See a show (if I’m lucky)
Discover a new area or place to add to my growing list
Here, in January 2023, I am getting ready to leave Italy and London will be a quick but anticipated stop on my way to my exciting new destination (to be revealed soon). I was last there in October 2021, staying for a few days while traveling to Italy (where I would live for 3 months) and it was lovely, even though we were in the throes of the Delta Wave of Covid. I had the emptiest flight that I’ve ever had (and probably ever will) from the Pacific Northwest to London and enjoyed it immensely. Landing at Heathrow, after not traveling internationally for a good 18 months filled me with joy.
There is nowhere like London.
Even when I first visited in 2015, I felt like I had been there before, and found it easy to maneuver the tube and neighborhoods. I believe in past lives and feel pretty confident that I spent good time there in one of those past iterations. While walking through the city on that first visit, I could almost predict what was around the corner and was constantly delighted by a feeling of familiarity.
While I have traveled to London alone, and feel very comfortable there, I will caution you to always be as safe as possible as with any travel. So, if you decide to go, I recommend being alert and making a good plan for transportation and researching your areas of interest and accommodation thoroughly to feel the most comfortable in your own travels.
I’m delighted to share a few of my recommendations[below] for places to stay and to eat and drink in London, whether it is your first visit or one of many. I would love to hear what/where you love in London. Do hit me up with your list and/or any questions you may have.
I have stayed in different parts of the city and I am very fond of SoHo. SoHo is so vibrant and full of life and it is a great place to walk. You can easily get to other parts of the city via the tube, cab, or Uber. So, here are some SoHo recommends.
STAY: SoHo London area
This Airbnb is in SUCH a good location. Easy to walk to so many places and is down the street from the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child theatre: Palace Theatre (which is also haunted!) across the street from the best Lina Stores; a quick stroll to Chinatown and so much more. Location, location, location. I stayed here in the early summer and it is very comfortable but can be a bit loud in the warmer months as the streets are filled with people.
Hoxton Holborn - I love a Hoxton Hotel for its comfortable rooms, great cocktails and friendly staff. This one is a short walk from the British Museum; 7 Dials; Covent Garden
Rosewood London - Holborn - upscale, luxurious, and tucked away - in the center of it all but discreet.
DON’T MISS: SoHo addition
Dishoom - Dishoom is one of my favorite restaurants in the world. London has several locations and I truly enjoy them all. Kings Cross is my favorite but you really can’t go wrong with any particular one. The food is epic. Their cocktails are delicious. The CHAI is magic. Go for breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner.
Lina Stores - there are also several locations but I do enjoy the SoHo location the best. Excellent food, aperitivo, people. This is the real deal. The tucked-away basement tables are cozy and the space has a great vibe.
Champagne & Fromage - this is my “mother ship” (calling to me) and I have to go here every time I visit. Sometimes it is my first stop after unpacking, depending on time of day or a perfect post-theatre late-night snack. A charming little spot in the theatre district, it is exactly what the sign advertises. Order a charcuterie and cheese board, have the staff pick you an excellent bottle of bubbles, and dig in.
Neals Yard in 7 Dials - a charming area that is tucked away, there are several restaurants and wine bars. An excellent spot for photos as well. Don’t miss it.
Fabrique - you MUST go for the cardamom buns. That’s all. Several locations. One on Holborn and one across from the Palace Theatre if you’re in SoHo.
Monmouth Coffee - excellent cappuccino and flat whites. Last time I was at this location Michael Shannon handed me a sugar.
Ducksoup SoHo - one of my absolute favorite spots to cozy up on a blustery fall or winter eve. The food is delicious. The wine list is long and all natural wines (some can be funky - be warned!). Spinning vinyl and a cool vibe. Totally delivers.
Not exactly SoHo but if you want some fancy cocktails, people-watching and atmosphere I recommend hopping over the Ned (in the Financial District) which is a great hotel but also has a swanky lounge and restaurants.
Notting Hill is definitely worth a visit. Hopefully, you visit when it's not jammed packed with people so you can really take in the charm of the winding streets, stately homes, and leafy neighborhoods.
A couple of recommendations in Notting Hill: Ottolenghi Notting Hill (all of the Ottolenghi locations I highly recommend. If you don’t know Ottolenghi - get ready for mind blown yumminess) and Buvette Notting Hill (Buvette in New York City is one of my favorite spots ever and the newish Notting Hill location does not disappoint). But I also recommend just wandering about and popping into a local spot that calls to you. NH is very touristy but also charming, so a good spot to visit, especially if you have not been.
Kings Cross - is adjacent to Islington (borough) and I really love both of these areas immensely. My current flat of choice is right in between both areas and is housed in an old bookshop. From my flat, which is about a 20-minute walk from Kings Cross Station, I can easily walk to Granary Square, where Dishoom (my very favorite London restaurant - see my notes up top - this is one of several locations) is located along with the canal walk; Coal Drops Yard and many great shops. Islington is a lovely residential borough but also has excellent pubs, cafes, shops, and an Ottolenghi all within a nice 20-minute stroll in the opposite direction.
There are many, many wonderful parks and neighborhoods and historic sites to enjoy and explore in London but a final DO NOT MISS (for the moment):
Borough Market - the very best open market with amazing stalls and delicious foods. I absolutely adore Borough Market and the walk I normally take to get there which is along the Thames from Big Ben. You go past the eye and the Tate Modern and Shakespeare Globe Theatre and can cross the London Bridge or continue on to Tower Bridge. Or visit this beautiful spot. This is a great walk around and I highly recommend taking your time and just soaking up all the great history, working up an appetite and then tucking in at Borough Market (while taking some snacks back to your hotel or airbnb!).
Shoreditch and Old Spitalfields Market: this area has been a bit gentrified since I originally discovered it in 2017 but it is full of great restaurants and rooftop bars and an excellent outpost of Dishoom and Old Spitalfields Market where you can still get some yummy coffees and local artisan wares amongst the big market shops (don’t be scared off that this is just brand name shopping).
On my list for this next visit: Luca (for Italian because I’ve heard its epic and I’m never tired of epic italian); The Nook (Mediterranean-Turkish inspired); Brutto (also Italian and at the top of my list!)
I will let you know what I find and how I go.
Again, please let me know your thoughts, what you love in London, and any recommendations you have.
Cheers!