Guidebook for London
Food Scene
These are all places we like:
Mandarin Kitchen
14-16 QueenswayGreat for lobster, salt and pepper asparagus, and Peking Duck.
A bit expensive but delicious fresh French cafe food and excellent coffee.
6 locals recommend
Laurents
39 Craven RdA bit expensive but delicious fresh French cafe food and excellent coffee.
Very traditional French restaurant, rich food, formal but romantic atmosphere, good wine list, expensive.
14 locals recommend
Angelus Restaurant
4 Bathurst StVery traditional French restaurant, rich food, formal but romantic atmosphere, good wine list, expensive.
good coffee, friendly staff, pleasant atmosphere, a refuge from the business that is Praed Street
Java U
153 Praed Stgood coffee, friendly staff, pleasant atmosphere, a refuge from the business that is Praed Street
The location in the park is lovely, overlooking the Italian Fountains. Inside and outside seating.
7 locals recommend
The Italian Gardens Cafe
Kensington GardensThe location in the park is lovely, overlooking the Italian Fountains. Inside and outside seating.
The best cafe in Hyde Park or Kensington Gardens, lovely views across the water, the best thing is the breakfast so get here early (I think before 11am). Indoor and outdoor seating (you can watch the swimmers braving the cold water in the lake 365 days a year).
Lido Cafe
South Carriage DriveThe best cafe in Hyde Park or Kensington Gardens, lovely views across the water, the best thing is the breakfast so get here early (I think before 11am). Indoor and outdoor seating (you can watch the swimmers braving the cold water in the lake 365 days a year).
London's first and hence oldest French restaurant. A classic staple, consistently good, lovely staff, excellent food, and useful to know they are very reliable with their pre-theatre timings (not rushed, but equally you feel confident they will be punctual and timely). Not expensive, certainly for this area. Great for conversation over dinner.
8 locals recommend
Mon Plaisir - French Restaurant Covent Garden
19-21 Monmouth StreetLondon's first and hence oldest French restaurant. A classic staple, consistently good, lovely staff, excellent food, and useful to know they are very reliable with their pre-theatre timings (not rushed, but equally you feel confident they will be punctual and timely). Not expensive, certainly for this area. Great for conversation over dinner.
Good for pre- and post-theatre dinner. Smartly decorated, good food, lovely staff, not expensive for this area.
Brumus Bar & Restaurant
1 Suffolk PlGood for pre- and post-theatre dinner. Smartly decorated, good food, lovely staff, not expensive for this area.
Les Filles
97 Heath StCosy and friendly, with a fresh and tasty menu
Drinks & Nightlife
Traditional London pub. food is OK too, they have comedy and cabaret in the cocktail bar downstairs and a real fire in the pub area upstairs. Lots of tourists, but locals too.
43 locals recommend
Mitre Lancaster Gate
24 Lancaster GateTraditional London pub. food is OK too, they have comedy and cabaret in the cocktail bar downstairs and a real fire in the pub area upstairs. Lots of tourists, but locals too.
It's really a gastro pub and the food is very good, lots of craft beers, nice atmosphere but be prepared for it being very noisy.
27 locals recommend
The Mall Tavern, Notting Hill
71 Palace Gardens TerraceIt's really a gastro pub and the food is very good, lots of craft beers, nice atmosphere but be prepared for it being very noisy.
Sightseeing
Kensington Palace
Kensington GardensPalace, gardens, royals.
Great views of St Pauls and the city from the roof terrace (free to access). Take the glass elevators and you'll feel like you are flying up the side of St Paul's cathedral. A good place to take a sandwich and have lunch, avoid the peak hours (12-2pm) though as this is a popular destination for the local office workers to take their lunch too.
86 locals recommend
One New Change
New ChangeGreat views of St Pauls and the city from the roof terrace (free to access). Take the glass elevators and you'll feel like you are flying up the side of St Paul's cathedral. A good place to take a sandwich and have lunch, avoid the peak hours (12-2pm) though as this is a popular destination for the local office workers to take their lunch too.
Stunning views, even if you've seen the London skyline before you'll love this. If you go at dusk you see the city in daylight and then darkness. Definitely book in advance, it's free, but you're unlikely to be able to just walk up and get in.
300 locals recommend
Sky Garden
Stunning views, even if you've seen the London skyline before you'll love this. If you go at dusk you see the city in daylight and then darkness. Definitely book in advance, it's free, but you're unlikely to be able to just walk up and get in.
Entertainment & Activities
Best cinema in central London, good choice of more interesting as well as popular films, plus a very good restaurant that's often not as busy as you might expect in this location. Nice enough cafe downstairs also.
20 locals recommend
Picturehouse Central
Piccadilly CircusBest cinema in central London, good choice of more interesting as well as popular films, plus a very good restaurant that's often not as busy as you might expect in this location. Nice enough cafe downstairs also.
Parks & Nature
Lovely place for a walk or a run, and full of things to see (Peter Pan statue, The Italian Fountains, the Serpentine Gallery, Kensington Palace, Henry Moore sculpture)
664 locals recommend
Kensington Gardens
Lovely place for a walk or a run, and full of things to see (Peter Pan statue, The Italian Fountains, the Serpentine Gallery, Kensington Palace, Henry Moore sculpture)
Great for a walk or a run. Lot's to see, including the Diana Memorial Fountain and The Serpentine. Open til after midnight. Concerts in the summer months.
3079 locals recommend
Hyde Park
Great for a walk or a run. Lot's to see, including the Diana Memorial Fountain and The Serpentine. Open til after midnight. Concerts in the summer months.