Guidebook for London
Sightseeing
World famous food market and now major tourist destination. It’s 15 minutes walk away but gets absolutely packed on weekends. Friday morning is quieter.
1617 locals recommend
Borough Market
Borough High StreetWorld famous food market and now major tourist destination. It’s 15 minutes walk away but gets absolutely packed on weekends. Friday morning is quieter.
Very popular with tourists but for good reason, the Eye gives great views from its giant riverside ferris wheel.
2099 locals recommend
London Eye
Very popular with tourists but for good reason, the Eye gives great views from its giant riverside ferris wheel.
Food Scene
Do not miss this. If you want the quintessential (very) full English breakfast experience you won’t find better in London. It's a family business and the walls are covered in local family history.
26 locals recommend
Terry's cafe London
158 Great Suffolk StDo not miss this. If you want the quintessential (very) full English breakfast experience you won’t find better in London. It's a family business and the walls are covered in local family history.
Nando’s is a chain of grilled Peri Peri chicken restaurants. The food is good, as long as you like grilled chicken. There’s a branch just across the roundabout from the flat.
68 locals recommend
Nando's
58-60 Notting Hill GateNando’s is a chain of grilled Peri Peri chicken restaurants. The food is good, as long as you like grilled chicken. There’s a branch just across the roundabout from the flat.
This is a great French restaurant and is very reasonably priced. They also have live music upstairs 7 nights a week. It is run by the sons of the very upscale Lobster Pot next door.
88 locals recommend
Toulouse Lautrec
140 Newington ButtsThis is a great French restaurant and is very reasonably priced. They also have live music upstairs 7 nights a week. It is run by the sons of the very upscale Lobster Pot next door.
If you don’t mind a longer walk to the supermarket, there’s a lovely independent one on Lower Marsh, near Waterloo station. It’s a 10 minute walk and sells top quality groceries and even has a cafe.
47 locals recommend
Greensmiths
27 Lower MarshIf you don’t mind a longer walk to the supermarket, there’s a lovely independent one on Lower Marsh, near Waterloo station. It’s a 10 minute walk and sells top quality groceries and even has a cafe.
The enormous Mercato Metropolitano food market is 3 warehouses and 2 yards full of artisanal food and drink stalls. Its focus is Italian but you can find food from all over the world, as well as an incredibly upmarket mini supermarket there. It's busy from lunch until late at night and is 3 minutes walk from the block.
227 locals recommend
Mercato Metropolitano
42 Newington CausewayThe enormous Mercato Metropolitano food market is 3 warehouses and 2 yards full of artisanal food and drink stalls. Its focus is Italian but you can find food from all over the world, as well as an incredibly upmarket mini supermarket there. It's busy from lunch until late at night and is 3 minutes walk from the block.
Best pub for food close by. It's 2 mins away, the food is exceptional, the wine list very inventive, and the vibe is super chilled.
14 locals recommend
The Albert Arms
1 Gladstone StBest pub for food close by. It's 2 mins away, the food is exceptional, the wine list very inventive, and the vibe is super chilled.
Essentials
24 hour local shop serving basic food, alcohol and other bits and pieces.
8 locals recommend
Superway Supermarket
16 London Rd24 hour local shop serving basic food, alcohol and other bits and pieces.
Drinks & Nightlife
For craft beer lovers, the gem is hidden behind Borough Market, a fifteen minute walk away. It’s one of London’s smallest pubs but has probably the broadest selection of beers.
38 locals recommend
The Rake
14A Winchester WalkFor craft beer lovers, the gem is hidden behind Borough Market, a fifteen minute walk away. It’s one of London’s smallest pubs but has probably the broadest selection of beers.
Europe's tallest building is fifteens minutes walk away. This bar and restaurant on 35th floor has breathtaking views and pretty special cocktails.
124 locals recommend
Aqua Shard
31 St Thomas StEurope's tallest building is fifteens minutes walk away. This bar and restaurant on 35th floor has breathtaking views and pretty special cocktails.
In the Royal Festival hall on the Southbank, Skylon is a cocktail bar and restaurant with a beautiful interior, lovely river views and amazing, and very British, cocktail menu - my favourite in London
40 locals recommend
Skylon
In the Royal Festival hall on the Southbank, Skylon is a cocktail bar and restaurant with a beautiful interior, lovely river views and amazing, and very British, cocktail menu - my favourite in London
This is directly opposite the block and open until 3 or 4am. Drinks are good and the basement floor is designed for dancing.
38 locals recommend
Elephant and Castle Pub
119 Newington CausewayThis is directly opposite the block and open until 3 or 4am. Drinks are good and the basement floor is designed for dancing.
Parks & Nature
My favourite place to go running or walking from the flat. You'll walk over Westminster bridge, past Big Ben, through a park that feels like it's out of a fairy tale, and casually passed Buckingham Palace at the end. If you want to shorten the walk by a mile, get a bus to just before Westminster Bridge.
268 locals recommend
St. James's Park Station
My favourite place to go running or walking from the flat. You'll walk over Westminster bridge, past Big Ben, through a park that feels like it's out of a fairy tale, and casually passed Buckingham Palace at the end. If you want to shorten the walk by a mile, get a bus to just before Westminster Bridge.
Getting Around
Bakerloo line and Northern line (bank branch).
From the station platforms always take signs for ‘Imperial War Museum’ exit and you’ll come out right opposite the flat. Otherwise you’ll come out next to the shopping centre on the opposite side of the roundabout.
You’re geographically very central so often buses or walking can be preferable to the tube. But it can be a quick way to get to Oxford Circus or to travel longer distances in London.
95 locals recommend
Elephant And Castle Station
London RoadBakerloo line and Northern line (bank branch).
From the station platforms always take signs for ‘Imperial War Museum’ exit and you’ll come out right opposite the flat. Otherwise you’ll come out next to the shopping centre on the opposite side of the roundabout.
You’re geographically very central so often buses or walking can be preferable to the tube. But it can be a quick way to get to Oxford Circus or to travel longer distances in London.
Buses:
A favourite game of visitors is to count the minimum number of buses visible on the roundabout at any one time. So far no one has ever counted less than 4. There are usually 20+.
The best way to navigate London transport is using the Citymapper app. Google Maps is also good.
London Road
London RoadBuses:
A favourite game of visitors is to count the minimum number of buses visible on the roundabout at any one time. So far no one has ever counted less than 4. There are usually 20+.
The best way to navigate London transport is using the Citymapper app. Google Maps is also good.
Walking:
By far the best way to get around central London. Walking over any of the bridges at night gives even the most hardened Londoner goosebumps. Waterloo Bridge gives the best view.
Walking times (at a Londoner’s march rather than a leisurely stroll!):
10 mins:
Borough Market, The Shard, Waterloo station
15 mins:
Big Ben and Parliament square
The Southbank with London Eye, Tate Modern and other galleries
20 mins:
Trafalgar Square with National Gallery, Portrait Gallery
Tower Bridge
St James’ Park and Buckingham Palace
30-40 mins:
Soho, Leicester Square and the rest of the West End.
Shoreditch, Brick lane and the East End
Perronet House
Walking:
By far the best way to get around central London. Walking over any of the bridges at night gives even the most hardened Londoner goosebumps. Waterloo Bridge gives the best view.
Walking times (at a Londoner’s march rather than a leisurely stroll!):
10 mins:
Borough Market, The Shard, Waterloo station
15 mins:
Big Ben and Parliament square
The Southbank with London Eye, Tate Modern and other galleries
20 mins:
Trafalgar Square with National Gallery, Portrait Gallery
Tower Bridge
St James’ Park and Buckingham Palace
30-40 mins:
Soho, Leicester Square and the rest of the West End.
Shoreditch, Brick lane and the East End
Taxi apps:
Use Uber to call Minicabs and MyTaxi to call Black Cabs. Set them to an address on Princess street rather than Perronet House.
Princess Street
Princess StreetTaxi apps:
Use Uber to call Minicabs and MyTaxi to call Black Cabs. Set them to an address on Princess street rather than Perronet House.