London, oh London my love.
My London is all about coffee - so I can’t really help there. However - I strongly recommend Primrose Hill (nearest tube - Chalk Farm) for an incredible view of the city. It also has a cute row of cafes and shops along Regent’s Park Road. The British Museum has an Edvard Munch exhibition on - I’ve not been but want to. The Wellcome Collection often does cool things. Walking along the south bank of the Thames, and crossing Waterloo Bridge, especially at sunset is incredible. It’s very touristy but for a reason. You get all old London to the west, and new London (Canary Wharf) is at a distance where it’s beautiful, and not a hell hole. DO NOT GO TO CANARY WHARF.
The Old Compton Street Patisserie Valerie is not there, but honestly it had become so not-good relative to the smaller chain cafes/non-chain ones, it’s not much of a loss. It served scones with WHIPPED CREAM for crying out loud. (Clotted cream is the correct form.)
Around that area, Gelupo, on Archer Street, does the best Gelato I’ve ever had. So that’s a must.
Now, for Fallen London London… Sir John’s Soane’s museum: https://www.soane.org/
And: you HAVE to visit the inns of court. I am biased, as I lived for 9 months in Lincoln’s Inn - but they are open to public at certain times, and incredibly beautiful if you like old buildings and older buildings. Temple also has the church that Dan Brown used in one of his books. https://www.lincolnsinn.org.uk/ https://www.innertemple.org.uk/
Hmm. What else? I mean the thing I love about London is having all the stuff around me and never doing it, but watching all the people it brings. If you like classical music: Wigmore Hall is an interesting, fairly intimate concert hall in central London. Regent’s Park has a zoo - but I’ve not been in years so don’t know if it’s a nice zoo or a bad zoo.
Spitalfield’s Market is a thing, as is Brick Lane - I’d walk around and admire, but not buy anything as I’m tight. But a lot of the street art near Brick Lane is excellent.
HIGHGATE CEMETERY - sorry, caps because I almost forgot. It’s peaceful and relaxing and beautiful and incredibly moving. If you can get a tour, do.
Coffee shop in a Victorian toilet: https://the-attendant.com/locations/fitzrovia/ - never been, but do let me know if it’s good coffee. (My snob coffee level is this: Costa and Pret a Manger serve undrinkable shit, Cafe Nero is bearable. My small-chain favourite is Gail’s. Monmouth is actually a little burnt tasting, to me.)
more stuff here, though I’ve not checked for 'actually good’ness: https://theculturetrip.com/europe/united-kingdom/england/london/articles/17-unusual-things-you-should-do-in-london/
AVOID OXFORD STREET. It is a living hell and I formally declare it NOT LONDON.
The Shard is insanely overpriced, but if you go up to the bar in it, you do get a lovely view of the city.
Pollocks Toy Museum is a thing. Not been, but could be interesting. If you like to see old London, there are various Roman remains - I’d check some of those out. Crystal Palace Park is a pain to get to, but lovely. Alexandra Palace ditto.
I’d also read a bunch of books based in London. I have a particular love for trashy fantasy set in London, so I can line up the demon with the teeth with the actual real life places. Rivers of London is a series like that. A Madness of Angels is another. You’ve also got Neverwhere and Unlondon.
edited by babelfishwars on 5/7/2019
edited by babelfishwars on 5/7/2019