London, you are a beauty.
So elegant, grand and diverse. A city I want to go back to again and again.
I have been wanting to go to London for over 10 years, and we finally made it happen this Summer. My husband and I allocated a full week to exploring the gorgeous city of London. Below you’ll find helpful pre-travel tips, as well as where we stayed, what we did and where we ate. I hope you find this guide useful for your future London adventure.
HELPFUL LONDON TRAVEL TIPS
Do your research ahead of time and learn as much as you can about the city prior to going. I recommend visiting you city’s book stores and libraries, or searching online for helpful books and articles that can shed some insight as to the culture, currency, history, famous sights, etc.
What I personally did for this particular trip:
- Read Rick Steve’s London book before going. I highlighted the places I wanted to visit the most to make it easy for me to quickly identify these key areas when opening the book in London. And yes, we brought the book with us on our trip, as I love having an easy access reference guide when touring around.
- Followed various travel bloggers, who had recently visited London, for unique insight and traveling pointers. This tactic gave me ideas of cool things to do, that I wouldn’t have found in travel books. I went to their blogs to read about their experiences, and checked them out on social media. These influencers probably did their research prior to going on their vacay, so reading about what they did acted like a curated travel-guide summary for me.
You can find bloggers and influencers by doing a quick Google or Pinterest search, or by looking up London-related hashtags on Instagram.
Something important to mention about the UK: power.
The plugs are definitely different and you’ll need an adapter. I brought this travel adapter from Amazon and it worked just fine.
Electrical grids in the U.K. deliver higher voltage and frequency than in the U.S.. The standard voltage in the U.S. is 120 V, and the frequency is 60 Hz, whereas in London, the sockets deliver 230 V and the frequency is 50Hz. Because the voltage in London is higher, you will need a converter to use appliances safely and avoid electrical hazards. I plugged a steamer and it fried my steamer; learn from my mistake and bring a power converter if you’re going to use devices rated below 220V.
HOTEL
We stayed at the loveliest hotel in the Belgravia neighborhood: The Hari London.
The room was modern and had great amenities: designer toiletries, slippers, cozy bath robes, free snacks, free beer and free soft drinks. The bed was super comfortable and had a deliciously fluffy comforter. Also, the room had great blackout shades, which is crucial.
The gym was wonderful. It had cardio machines, a Peloton (which I used for the HIIT portion of my workouts), free weights, a cable machine and a bench. It got a bit hot in the gym though; the A.C. was not the strongest.
The bar area was great as well. It was cozy, yet elegant, and the staff was ready to make your drink dreams come true.
My favorite part? The front desk staff! Specifically, the front desk manager. He was amazing. He made sure we were taken care of at all times, made both of our birthdays super special, and was there to answer any questions and give any recommendation. We really loved the service we got at The Hari London. One of the best hotel experiences we’ve had in a while.
SIGHTS
Even though London could never be fully explored in a week, we took full advantage of each day to do some fun activities. Below you’ll find what we did.
1. Buckingham Palace + City Walking Tour
We went for this AirBNB experience, and we were so glad we did. Having a true Londoner take us around the city, show us the landmarks and give us history could not be beat. I loved that our guide was able to answer all of our questions, provide us with insightful information and anecdotes no city book could ever give us, and share tips and recommendations on things to do on the rest of our trip. We took this tour on the second day of our trip, because we wanted that professional insight of the city to set the tone. Our experience came with tickets to go inside the Buckingham palace, and I absolutely adored this part. I got giddy while looking around all the gorgeous architecture and opulent art. I highly recommend this tour.
2. Notting Hill
We went to Notting Hill on our very last day, and we were so glad we didn’t skip it. It’s a cute neighborhood with a lot of shops and very walkable. It’s a London classic made famous by the Julia Roberts movie called by the same name. Do you recognize the book store where Anna Scott (Julia Roberts) met Will Thacker (Hugh Grant) in the movie? I had to go in and take a picture. It felt just like I imagined it would. Cozy and inviting.
My husband found a delicious donut shop and cookie shop in Notting Hill where he had to go in and get some goodies. I found myself the cutest wine bar with the best server that became a friend and entertained us while we enjoyed a delicious bottle he recommended. Find details on this wine bar under the “Eats” section below.
3. Covent Garden
Convent Garden is a shopper’s dream! We went there for my birthday during the day, and it was the perfect way to start a London birthday.
We visited Peloton studios (I am a huge Peloton fan) and my husband took me shopping for a few birthday gifts. I absolutely adored the vibe and loved the high end shops and restaurants around it. It’s a very walkable neighborhood, in which you can spend a whole morning or afternoon. Go for lunch, shopping and afternoon coffee.
4. Broadway
The night of my birthday, we went to see Phantom of the Opera. An incredible show we knew we had to see while in London. Such a classic. We got tickets through the official website before heading to London, because we wanted to snag great seats for my birthday. It was epic. From the stage decor to the singing and acting, everything was perfection. The main female character, Christine, was phenomenal. I was mesmerized with her singing and performance the entire night.
The next day, we decided to go to another show. We weren’t planning on it, but it was such a crazy fun experience, that we went for it. We got tickets at one of those “get tickets tonight” type of places, and we couldn’t believe how much cheaper it was. Also, our seats were fantastic. Maybe even better than the ones for Phantom. We were recommended &Juliet as the show to watch, and it’s become my favorite show to date. We laughed and singed and danced. It was so fun. I highly recommend this show to anyone who wants to see something creative and new, and wants to have a fun night out.
5. Harrods
It’s a must stop on your first London visit. It’s one of the most famous and largest department stores in the world. It sells everything, from designer handbags, to Andy Warhol’s paintings to Hermès dinnerware. I loved to see it and experience it. We visited it as soon as we landed in London; we looked around and found an amazing Champagne Bar, which we decided to come back to the next day to kickstart my birthday in style. More on that below.
6. Moet & Chandon Champagne Bar
This was such an unexpected find! And we were so happy to stumble upon it while visiting Harrods on our first day in London. We decided to come back the next day, on my birthday, to have a glass and kickstart my birthday celebration. We dressed up, took a cute black London taxi, and walked in straight to the bar without a reservation (we got lucky). Even though champagne is currently not my drink of choice, I loved the cold glass of brut we both ordered. The space was gorgeous and it made for a fun experience that didn’t eat up a big chunk of our day.
7. High Tea at Claridge’s
This is a must. It’s what English people do, and all of us non-English people have to jump in on the tea-drinking-bandwagon when visiting London. Make sure you go to it hungry, because, believe it or not, you’ll get a lot of food. From the optional champagne glass, to the sandwiches, scones, pastries and chocolates…so much goodness. And everything is paired up with your choice of tea. It was over the top, and so much fun. There are a ton of places that serve high tea, but after doing my research, I landed on Claridge’s; their high tea experience had amazing reviews, their sandwich and pastry selection looked great, and their salon looked gorgeous. And sure enough, it was lovely.
8. London Pubs
This experience was selected by my husband for his birthday. He wanted a guided tour experience, and one that included booze. He loves it when he can mindlessly follow a knowledgable guide in a new city, and loves it when the tour includes other travelers as he loves making friends. He also wanted to explore spaces that were not very touristy or well known. And boy, did he found the perfect experience on AirBNB. This Hidden Pubs of London experience was so much fun! Our guide provided awesome history of London as we walked through the city from one bar to the next, and took us to the coolest pubs. This is another activity we highly recommend.
9. Belgravia
Our hotel was situated in the lovely neighborhood of Belgravia, so of course we explored it extensively. We purposefully chose our hotel because of it’s location, as we wanted to be in a quiet, elegant neighborhood, not in the middle of the hustle and bustle with a ton of tourists around. Belgravia is full of beautiful stucco townhouses and a bunch of embassies. There are cute parks, chic stores, trendy restaurants, galleries and fashion boutiques all around. Some of our favorite meals in London were enjoyed here, especially breakfasts. We loved how walkable and safe it felt. If I had to chose a neighborhood to live in London, this would be it.
EATS
1. Greenspeares (Breakfast)
Our favorite breakfast spot of all of London. Quiet, friendly, healthy.
2. Granger & Co Restaurant (Breakfast)
We loved seating on the patio at this breakfast restaurant. Quiet, inviting, charming and family friendly.
3. The Buttery (Breakfast)
Great interior design, great coffee, great breakfast selection.
4. Il Pampero Restaurant (Breakfast)
This was our hotel’s restaurant and we tried it once during the weekend. There was live jazz music playing (they do that on weekends), and it was absolutely lovely. Super convenient if staying at The Hari London.
5. Sketch (Modern European)
This spot was recommended to me by my cousin who lived in London, and man, it was such a neat experience. Sketch has like 5 spaces (restaurants/bars to chose from) to chose from inside, so we went to The Parlour for a drink and then to The Gallery for dinner. At The Gallery, the sommelier recommended amazing wine and the food was just fantastic. The gorgeous interior design did not hurt either. Oh, and be sure to check out their bathrooms.
6. The Palomar (Middle Eastern)
Incredible dips and bread. Also, really delicious grilled fish. If you like spicy, just ask your waiter and they will put you through a whole experience.
7. Ave Mario (Italian)
Another great recommendation by my sweet cousin. It’s a very cute, Instragrammable place. We went there for my husband’s birthday and the pizza blew our minds. So yum.
8. ABD El Wahab (Lebanese Cuisine)
This was next to our hotel and the concierge highly recommended it. We loved it so much we went twice.
9. Nopi (Mediterranean)
Chose this place for my birthday lunch. It blew my mind. Their eggplant was fantastic, as were the other two vegetarian dishes we tried. Also, how cute they gifted me some watermelon gelato for my birthday? It’s one of Ottolenghi’s restaurants, and I have been a big fan of him for years. A must try.
10. Sushi Samba (Sushi)
Great view of the city. Go there for a drink. Sushi was just okay.
11. Lina Stores (Italian)
Amazing Italian. Probably my favorite meal of the trip. Try their burrata, salads and homemade pasta. Delizioso.
12. Bocca di Lupo (Italian)
Amazing pasta that hits the spot.
13. Franklin’s Wine (Wine Shop)
One of my favorite finds in London. Stumbled upon this gem while walking around Notting Hill. The wine and the service were both phenomenal.
14. Brumus Bar and Restaurant (Drinks)
Cute bar inside the Haymarket Hotel. It’s right across the street from Her Majesty’s Theater, where Phantom of the Opera plays. Perfect spot to grab a pre or post show drink. Also, they have orange wine, and it was my first time trying it.
15. The Library at NoMad London Hotel (Coffee & Chill)
A great spot to go chill and re-charge after walking and shopping in Covent Garden. Loved the decor, ambiance and coffee.
15. The Churchill Arms (Drinks)
Built in 1750, the Churchill Arms is London’s most famous bar. We went there for a beer, and to snag a photo of its cool outside plant decor.
Hope you found this guide insightful, and that you’re able to use some of these tips for when you’re planning your own trip.
London is such an electric city, full of elegance and charm. There is always something to do. If you’ve never been or are on the fence, definitely make the leap and go visit it. You will not regret it. If you do go, leave a comment below telling me what did and what your favorite London stops were.
