Guidebook for London
Food Scene
Our favourite local restaurant. A great vibe and, more importantly, perhaps the best Italian pizzas in London (as verified by Erica & her sisters - all Italian born and bred, they should know!)
46 locals recommend
Le Cochonnet
Our favourite local restaurant. A great vibe and, more importantly, perhaps the best Italian pizzas in London (as verified by Erica & her sisters - all Italian born and bred, they should know!)
Another excellent local eatery, pizza's here vie for the title of 'Best Italian thin crust in London' with Le Cochonnet's
52 locals recommend
The Red Pepper
8 Formosa StAnother excellent local eatery, pizza's here vie for the title of 'Best Italian thin crust in London' with Le Cochonnet's
Great Thai food in a cool setting - good Thai friends of ours insist on a visit here whenever they come to stay!
51 locals recommend
Thai Rice
239 Elgin AveGreat Thai food in a cool setting - good Thai friends of ours insist on a visit here whenever they come to stay!
Banana Tree Maida Vale
166 Randolph AveTasty Aisan fusion for eat in or takeaway
Essentials
Tesco Esso Express
115 Maida ValeMore handy grocery shopping on the doorstep, open until 11pm
Open 24 hours, this branch of the major UK supermarket chain Tesco's, is ideal for food shopping
1336 locals recommend
Tesco Express
179 Shoreditch High StOpen 24 hours, this branch of the major UK supermarket chain Tesco's, is ideal for food shopping
Arts & Culture
Your local boutique cinema, complete with decadent bar and even more decadent 2-person sofas in the screens themselves, this is the cinema as an experience, on your doorstep
101 locals recommend
Everyman Maida Vale
215 Sutherland AveYour local boutique cinema, complete with decadent bar and even more decadent 2-person sofas in the screens themselves, this is the cinema as an experience, on your doorstep
Parks & Nature
Our nearest park, this a 2-minute walk from our front door. It's a beautiful green space which also has a free to use 400 metre running track & outdoor gym with assorted apparatus scattered around the park if you're feeling energetic. The cafe is average at best though - you are far better off going elsewhere for coffee, brunch, etc
145 locals recommend
Paddington Recreation Ground
Randolph AvenueOur nearest park, this a 2-minute walk from our front door. It's a beautiful green space which also has a free to use 400 metre running track & outdoor gym with assorted apparatus scattered around the park if you're feeling energetic. The cafe is average at best though - you are far better off going elsewhere for coffee, brunch, etc
London's biggest and busiest park is a beautiful spot to escape the city. For peace and quiet head to the centre for the Serpentine lake and the rose garden, there are great cafes by the lake too.
For runners, our favourite run here is a perimeter loop around the dirt horse track that runs all the way around the park.
To get here either take bus no 6 from outside our flat to Marble Arch (10 mins) which will drop you right next to the north side of the park, or walk/run from the flat by following the canal through Little Venice via Paddington, then cutting through the backstreets to reach Albion Street which will drop you right into the park.
3079 locals recommend
Hyde Park
London's biggest and busiest park is a beautiful spot to escape the city. For peace and quiet head to the centre for the Serpentine lake and the rose garden, there are great cafes by the lake too.
For runners, our favourite run here is a perimeter loop around the dirt horse track that runs all the way around the park.
To get here either take bus no 6 from outside our flat to Marble Arch (10 mins) which will drop you right next to the north side of the park, or walk/run from the flat by following the canal through Little Venice via Paddington, then cutting through the backstreets to reach Albion Street which will drop you right into the park.
London's second largest park is more peaceful than Hyde Park and more refined with it. The Rose Gardens here are beautiful, and a stroll through the park is always a rejuvenating experience. It is not as good for running as Hyde Park however, as you will more often be running next to busy roads and navigating an easy loop is harder due to the park's layout.
1607 locals recommend
The Regent's Park
London's second largest park is more peaceful than Hyde Park and more refined with it. The Rose Gardens here are beautiful, and a stroll through the park is always a rejuvenating experience. It is not as good for running as Hyde Park however, as you will more often be running next to busy roads and navigating an easy loop is harder due to the park's layout.
Entertainment & Activities
This is an incredible retro cinema and an experience in itself. You will need to book in advance however as it is incredibly popular, but this is easily done online. The Electric brasserie nextdoor is also a brilliant place for dinner, and if you are catching an evening movie they have a deal on food if you eat before 7pm during the week.
402 locals recommend
Electric Cinema
191 Portobello RdThis is an incredible retro cinema and an experience in itself. You will need to book in advance however as it is incredibly popular, but this is easily done online. The Electric brasserie nextdoor is also a brilliant place for dinner, and if you are catching an evening movie they have a deal on food if you eat before 7pm during the week.
Getting Around
Your nearest tube station, a 5-minute walk from the flat, straight down Elgin Avenue. Bakerloo line takes you to Oxford Street in 10 minutes, Embankment in 15
46 locals recommend
Taxi Maida Vale
Randolph AvenueYour nearest tube station, a 5-minute walk from the flat, straight down Elgin Avenue. Bakerloo line takes you to Oxford Street in 10 minutes, Embankment in 15
Your next nearest tube station, a 10-minute walk from the flat. Bakerloo line takes you to Oxford Street in 10 minutes, Embankment in 15.
41 locals recommend
Warwick Avenue Station
Warwick AvenueYour next nearest tube station, a 10-minute walk from the flat. Bakerloo line takes you to Oxford Street in 10 minutes, Embankment in 15.
Drinks & Nightlife
A great local pub, the Warrington is vast and its main bar a sight to behold - like the Prince Alfred, it needs experiencing. Just avoid the restaurant upstairs, it's overpriced and average.
80 locals recommend
The Warrington Hotel
93 Warrington CresA great local pub, the Warrington is vast and its main bar a sight to behold - like the Prince Alfred, it needs experiencing. Just avoid the restaurant upstairs, it's overpriced and average.
Not only is this place a brilliant pub well worth seeking out on its own for its drinks and food, it also has its own theatre upstairs too with London's longest running satirical comedy show on weekly
22 locals recommend
Canal Cafe Theatre
13 Westbourne Terrace RdNot only is this place a brilliant pub well worth seeking out on its own for its drinks and food, it also has its own theatre upstairs too with London's longest running satirical comedy show on weekly
A unique pub with an incredible Victorian interior. Excellent beer too (we recommend the Youngs bitter and Youngs Special), and a great restaurant in the dining room behind the bar
108 locals recommend
Prince Alfred
5A Formosa StA unique pub with an incredible Victorian interior. Excellent beer too (we recommend the Youngs bitter and Youngs Special), and a great restaurant in the dining room behind the bar