I come, post-semester & post-goodbye (ish) blog, with another list! I have a few friends (and I'm sure more people I know from various walks of life) heading off to London for the semester. And while I'm inexplicably jealous and if I had the chance to rip them off the planes and go again myself I would take it without any shame, I have a gift!
One of my favorite humans, Sarah, asked me a little while back if I would compile a little list of places I personally loved in London to help get her started before she ventures off and finds her own heart-spots. Naturally, being the person I am, this means I created a word document broken down in to categories and subcategories. So, without further ado I present the list I created for her:
Erin’s Oh-God-Don’t-Make-Me-Leave-London List
Favorite Places (Ever!)
1.) The Tate Modern (River Thames): My favorite museum that I’ve been too! They always have ticketed exhibitions on, but also do a lot of free rotating exhibits that are always great. You don’t even have to be a huge fan of modern art to go wander around (it’s huge!): there’s photography & anything else you could possibly ask for. And there’s a huge lawn/it’s right on the river so in the spring it should be absolutely lovely. I took myself on a solo date to go to the Robert Mapplethorpe exhibit which I highly recommend; if it's moved on by spring.
2.) Columbia Road Flower Market (East London): This place is so special to me. This market (and the shops surrounding it) are only open on Sundays until about 4 PM, but it was like being transported into my own head. Vendors shut down the whole of Columbia Road to sell flowers from all over the world, there are independent shops selling art and books and coffee that you literally get out of a window. There are musicians and lovely, jovial people everywhere…this place just owns my heart.
3.) Benito’s Hat (Go to the Goodge Street location-It’s bigger and the manager is great): My favorite Mexican food in the city (that I’ve found!). Plus every day they do 2 for 1 happy hour from 5-7 (and all day Monday) and their Pomegranate margaritas are to die for/are slightly deadly.
4.) Russell Square Café (Bloomsbury): This is the park at the end of my street, Bedford Place! It has nice coffee, nicer outdoor seating, and cute dogs running everywhere (I made a friend in a chubby black lab named Morris). This square is one of my very favorites in all of London.
Coffee (and tea! And juice!)
The Golden Rule I was told upon arrival: Don’t go to Starbucks unless you REALLY want a treat/are hungover/have been working until 4 AM. They don’t pay taxes here & that kind of sucks for the British economy, considering there are 8 million of them. Also, do yourself a favor and skip Pret’s coffee. Just trust me.
Costa: Your new Starbucks. It’s cheaper, and rivals it in taste. Plus, their holiday cups are cuter.
Freestate Coffee (Holborn): My favorite local! Their iced lattes are delicious, as are their bagels with fresh salmon and chive cream cheese. The baristas/staff are great & the vibe in there is awesome: they have mismatched furniture, and it looks like the ideal loft apartment kitchen.
Kaffeine (Great Titchfield Street): A treat: overpriced for a dinky cup, but they make a damn good latte and their hot chocolate is made with real cocoa (and it’s dark). Very tiny, but good reading material, so sometimes you hate to take-away!
Yumchaa (Soho): If you love the chai, go here. If you don’t, try it again.
Joe & The Juice (Regent Street): A new addiction of mine, which is slightly cringey. I didn’t need to get addicted to slightly expensive juice, but here I am. My favorite is Joe’s AMG, which is apple, mint & ginger and also delicious. The guys who work there are also super nice & really funny, which was especially welcome at 2 PM on a long school day.
Or, my go to if I have some time: wander in Soho. There are a million cafes over there and I wish I had time to try them all, so just pick one!
Nomz
London is full of kickass food, and I have yet to even eat even the smallest portion of it, but here’s what I liked a whooooole bunch.
The Breakfast Club (D’arblay Street, Soho): You WILL have to wait. I don’t care if it’s a weekday (you should try to go on a weekday) or a weekend, there will be a line. TBC is a London staple: the Soho one is the original, but they have locations all over the city. If you do go to this one, try to find the note I left in one of the tables. And eat the chorizo!
Senor Ceviche (Kingly Court): Holy mother of god. This is a tapas Peruvian barbecue, and is some of the most delicious food I’ve eaten since I’ve gotten here. I recommend the super chicken, and any of their cocktails (if you go during happy hour, they’re ALL 5 pounds. Amazing!)
Riding House Café (Great Titchfield Street or technically Riding House Street): Their setup is so cool! It used to be old stables, and is now an "uber hip" spot where I once saw a famous comedian I couldn't place through the window. Don’t miss breakfast (their lunch is overpriced & if you get “small plates” they really are so tiny) & try the peanut butter and jelly smoothie… it’s bizarre in a really, really good way.
The Real Greek (Old Spitalfield’s Market): Another sharing place (at least their lunch special!) with delicious Greek food. My favorite was the falafel & tzatziki.
Muriel’s Kitchen: This one comes on recommendation from my roommates! Super cute, a few locations, and apparently delicious!
Café Teo (Goodge Street): Eat your full English here! It’s super cheap & authentic, which is all I really ask of anywhere. They charge 50p for credit/debit cards so bring your pounds and prepare to roll out of there when you're done eating.
Quick Nomz
Annnd when you’re on the go (or on a lunch break) here are my top for takeaway
Eat (literally everywhere): It’s like Pret, but better with nicer options. Their sandwiches are less boring (and their salt & vinegar popcorn is yuuum)
Leon (chain; Regent & Carnaby Street): I pass by this place all the time on my commute and finally went in the other day! They have really nice salads and stuff that’s a little healthier than a lot of the sandwiches you’ll find people taking back to work.
Nando’s (also everywhere, closest to you is Goodge!): Another UK staple, it’s all chicken and all yummy. Make a big deal about losing your Nando’s v-card, get peri peri AND halloumi.
Mortimer’s Café (Mortimer Street): My Wednesday-before-class go to. Family owned, and they make the freshest sandwiches! My favorite is the scallopina or the mozzato. (If you want to know what kind of guys run this place, here’s what happened to me today: their card machine was broken and they gave me my sandwich anyway. I want to hug them all).
Pubs/Bars/Clubs
It’s no secret that you’re legal in London, which is new and fun! Even if you’re not big into the going out scene (clubs are definitely NOT my favorite place ever).
The Holborn Whippet (Sicilian Avenue): Where I had my first legal drink! Not my favorite pub, but it’s always packed with 20-somethings, and they make a good gin and tonic. They also serve pizza, which isn't typical pub fare (obviously) but I appreciated it all the same.
Ye Old Chesire Cheese (Fleet Street): Very historical and very cool! There are little nooks and crannies to sit in all over the place, where the likes of Dickens used to write. It’s cave like, and you often have to duck your head to get around, but it’s cozy.
Princess Louise Pub: Another nook & cranny pub made out of shiny wood and a lot of gold. There are tons of little doors and screened in sitting areas at the bar, which makes it almost feel like a 20s speakeasy.
Adventure Bar (Central): Our favorite! They have amazing-slightly pricey- cocktails (I love the Junebug), but the best part is the music: they play the most fun songs. On a night out one time I got to see a room full of grown British men singing What Makes You Beautiful. Doesn’t get any better.
Strongroom (Shoreditch): Much fun, not chock full of creepy guys. It’s so different from going out in central: much more chill, and the people are so much cooler. You can actually talk to people while you’re there. I met a guy who looks like Zayn Malik here, if you catch my drift.
The Roxy: I have had some of the funniest nights of my life here. They play fantastic music (Swifty AND Beyonce!), and sell pitchers of drinks which are magic for sharing. This is usually our Thursday go to.
Markets
Camden: Food is all delicious, and the vendors are all so fun to look at. My favorites are the crepe place, the mac and cheese stand, and the Mexican restaurant on the side that sells spiced hot chocolate. Num. They also sell everything from jewelry made out of recycled computer bits to candles that look like wine bottles. You can spend hours here. Also, the people in Camden are the coolest. Leather on leather.
Borough: Another food market! Great curry. Great juice. Also the BEST desserts.
Old Spitalfields: This one is interesting! It changes depending what day you go. I’ve been to the vintage market, where they sell everything from clothes to spoons. You have to root around, but they have reeeally cool stuff there, just don’t take pictures! You will get yelled at (I did).
One of my favorite humans, Sarah, asked me a little while back if I would compile a little list of places I personally loved in London to help get her started before she ventures off and finds her own heart-spots. Naturally, being the person I am, this means I created a word document broken down in to categories and subcategories. So, without further ado I present the list I created for her:
Erin’s Oh-God-Don’t-Make-Me-Leave-London List
Favorite Places (Ever!)
1.) The Tate Modern (River Thames): My favorite museum that I’ve been too! They always have ticketed exhibitions on, but also do a lot of free rotating exhibits that are always great. You don’t even have to be a huge fan of modern art to go wander around (it’s huge!): there’s photography & anything else you could possibly ask for. And there’s a huge lawn/it’s right on the river so in the spring it should be absolutely lovely. I took myself on a solo date to go to the Robert Mapplethorpe exhibit which I highly recommend; if it's moved on by spring.
2.) Columbia Road Flower Market (East London): This place is so special to me. This market (and the shops surrounding it) are only open on Sundays until about 4 PM, but it was like being transported into my own head. Vendors shut down the whole of Columbia Road to sell flowers from all over the world, there are independent shops selling art and books and coffee that you literally get out of a window. There are musicians and lovely, jovial people everywhere…this place just owns my heart.
3.) Benito’s Hat (Go to the Goodge Street location-It’s bigger and the manager is great): My favorite Mexican food in the city (that I’ve found!). Plus every day they do 2 for 1 happy hour from 5-7 (and all day Monday) and their Pomegranate margaritas are to die for/are slightly deadly.
4.) Russell Square Café (Bloomsbury): This is the park at the end of my street, Bedford Place! It has nice coffee, nicer outdoor seating, and cute dogs running everywhere (I made a friend in a chubby black lab named Morris). This square is one of my very favorites in all of London.
Coffee (and tea! And juice!)
The Golden Rule I was told upon arrival: Don’t go to Starbucks unless you REALLY want a treat/are hungover/have been working until 4 AM. They don’t pay taxes here & that kind of sucks for the British economy, considering there are 8 million of them. Also, do yourself a favor and skip Pret’s coffee. Just trust me.
Costa: Your new Starbucks. It’s cheaper, and rivals it in taste. Plus, their holiday cups are cuter.
Freestate Coffee (Holborn): My favorite local! Their iced lattes are delicious, as are their bagels with fresh salmon and chive cream cheese. The baristas/staff are great & the vibe in there is awesome: they have mismatched furniture, and it looks like the ideal loft apartment kitchen.
Kaffeine (Great Titchfield Street): A treat: overpriced for a dinky cup, but they make a damn good latte and their hot chocolate is made with real cocoa (and it’s dark). Very tiny, but good reading material, so sometimes you hate to take-away!
Yumchaa (Soho): If you love the chai, go here. If you don’t, try it again.
Joe & The Juice (Regent Street): A new addiction of mine, which is slightly cringey. I didn’t need to get addicted to slightly expensive juice, but here I am. My favorite is Joe’s AMG, which is apple, mint & ginger and also delicious. The guys who work there are also super nice & really funny, which was especially welcome at 2 PM on a long school day.
Or, my go to if I have some time: wander in Soho. There are a million cafes over there and I wish I had time to try them all, so just pick one!
Nomz
London is full of kickass food, and I have yet to even eat even the smallest portion of it, but here’s what I liked a whooooole bunch.
The Breakfast Club (D’arblay Street, Soho): You WILL have to wait. I don’t care if it’s a weekday (you should try to go on a weekday) or a weekend, there will be a line. TBC is a London staple: the Soho one is the original, but they have locations all over the city. If you do go to this one, try to find the note I left in one of the tables. And eat the chorizo!
Senor Ceviche (Kingly Court): Holy mother of god. This is a tapas Peruvian barbecue, and is some of the most delicious food I’ve eaten since I’ve gotten here. I recommend the super chicken, and any of their cocktails (if you go during happy hour, they’re ALL 5 pounds. Amazing!)
Riding House Café (Great Titchfield Street or technically Riding House Street): Their setup is so cool! It used to be old stables, and is now an "uber hip" spot where I once saw a famous comedian I couldn't place through the window. Don’t miss breakfast (their lunch is overpriced & if you get “small plates” they really are so tiny) & try the peanut butter and jelly smoothie… it’s bizarre in a really, really good way.
The Real Greek (Old Spitalfield’s Market): Another sharing place (at least their lunch special!) with delicious Greek food. My favorite was the falafel & tzatziki.
Muriel’s Kitchen: This one comes on recommendation from my roommates! Super cute, a few locations, and apparently delicious!
Café Teo (Goodge Street): Eat your full English here! It’s super cheap & authentic, which is all I really ask of anywhere. They charge 50p for credit/debit cards so bring your pounds and prepare to roll out of there when you're done eating.
Quick Nomz
Annnd when you’re on the go (or on a lunch break) here are my top for takeaway
Eat (literally everywhere): It’s like Pret, but better with nicer options. Their sandwiches are less boring (and their salt & vinegar popcorn is yuuum)
Leon (chain; Regent & Carnaby Street): I pass by this place all the time on my commute and finally went in the other day! They have really nice salads and stuff that’s a little healthier than a lot of the sandwiches you’ll find people taking back to work.
Nando’s (also everywhere, closest to you is Goodge!): Another UK staple, it’s all chicken and all yummy. Make a big deal about losing your Nando’s v-card, get peri peri AND halloumi.
Mortimer’s Café (Mortimer Street): My Wednesday-before-class go to. Family owned, and they make the freshest sandwiches! My favorite is the scallopina or the mozzato. (If you want to know what kind of guys run this place, here’s what happened to me today: their card machine was broken and they gave me my sandwich anyway. I want to hug them all).
Pubs/Bars/Clubs
It’s no secret that you’re legal in London, which is new and fun! Even if you’re not big into the going out scene (clubs are definitely NOT my favorite place ever).
The Holborn Whippet (Sicilian Avenue): Where I had my first legal drink! Not my favorite pub, but it’s always packed with 20-somethings, and they make a good gin and tonic. They also serve pizza, which isn't typical pub fare (obviously) but I appreciated it all the same.
Ye Old Chesire Cheese (Fleet Street): Very historical and very cool! There are little nooks and crannies to sit in all over the place, where the likes of Dickens used to write. It’s cave like, and you often have to duck your head to get around, but it’s cozy.
Princess Louise Pub: Another nook & cranny pub made out of shiny wood and a lot of gold. There are tons of little doors and screened in sitting areas at the bar, which makes it almost feel like a 20s speakeasy.
Adventure Bar (Central): Our favorite! They have amazing-slightly pricey- cocktails (I love the Junebug), but the best part is the music: they play the most fun songs. On a night out one time I got to see a room full of grown British men singing What Makes You Beautiful. Doesn’t get any better.
Strongroom (Shoreditch): Much fun, not chock full of creepy guys. It’s so different from going out in central: much more chill, and the people are so much cooler. You can actually talk to people while you’re there. I met a guy who looks like Zayn Malik here, if you catch my drift.
The Roxy: I have had some of the funniest nights of my life here. They play fantastic music (Swifty AND Beyonce!), and sell pitchers of drinks which are magic for sharing. This is usually our Thursday go to.
Markets
Camden: Food is all delicious, and the vendors are all so fun to look at. My favorites are the crepe place, the mac and cheese stand, and the Mexican restaurant on the side that sells spiced hot chocolate. Num. They also sell everything from jewelry made out of recycled computer bits to candles that look like wine bottles. You can spend hours here. Also, the people in Camden are the coolest. Leather on leather.
Borough: Another food market! Great curry. Great juice. Also the BEST desserts.
Old Spitalfields: This one is interesting! It changes depending what day you go. I’ve been to the vintage market, where they sell everything from clothes to spoons. You have to root around, but they have reeeally cool stuff there, just don’t take pictures! You will get yelled at (I did).