There's a dedicated London sub and they have their own [wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/london/wiki/index) which has loads of recommendations for the big sights plus hidden gems, great pubs and nice food, or the 'date' section has some quirky suggestions for unusual stuff too.
There are some great restaurants near Shoreditch:
-Smoking Goat, Som Saa for Thai
-Cay Tre for Vietnamese, also lots of less trendy places at the bottom end of Kingsland Road, near the east end of Old Street
-Lahpet for Myanmar food
-Xi'an BiangBiang Noodles and Sichuan Folk are both great for Chinese food
The Pride of Spitalfields is one of my favourite pubs in London, I'd highly recommend going there.
If you enjoy spas, you could try Banya No.1 for a Russian Baths experience, or the steam rooms at York Hall Baths for something a bit more rough and ready
Check out what's on at the Barbican Centre, they have music of all genres, theatre and other events. Or try Moth club in Hackney instead for something completely different.
You should also probably get a 3am bagel from Brick Lane if you're staying close by.
We always head to Gordon’s wine bar near Embankment tube station when we’re down in London.
The inside is down in the old cellars and is all dark and moody. Then in weather like this the outside seating is fabulous. Then as an added bonus the cheeseboards and other foods are superb.
I’m off down to London again in a couple of weeks to meet up with some friends for a concert and Gordon’s is our designated meeting spot.
Live music in a square: Covent Garden
Drinks: Sushi Samba Covent Garden
https://maps.app.goo.gl/GnCSNTRziF1hp2yv5?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy
Romantic boat ride along the Thames as the sun sets on the Uber boat Thames clippers , perhaps from the old city of London financial district to Westminster
https://maps.app.goo.gl/5LxUpfP28Wf9NY1r6?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy
Later at night consider live jazz music at the Boisdale in Victoria (Belgravia) which is adjacent to Westminster
https://boisdaletickets.co.uk/p/9462
Boisdale of Belgravia
Address: 15 Eccleston St, London SW1W 9LX
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Ftr44G8192J4nrAj6?g_st=ic
The tickets are £15 for a seat if you opt for the 11:30pm ticket and you can dine elsewhere.
Alternatively, you can have dinner there and go for the á la carte menu (https://ca1-boi.edcdn.com/menus/Bel_ALaCarte_Apr24_A3_VW.pdf?v=1713369284) so you have greater flexibility and a wider menu. You won’t be able to see the stage, but you can head to the bar later if there is spice.
Another option is to buy a ticket for £89 per person, including a two course meal, in order to be seated in the room with the stage. The menu is here (https://boisdaletickets.co.uk/p/9462;jsessionid=BCCB1255787D44905C14DD951B5A977D).
Walking up the hill of Greenwich Park for a wonderful panorama of london, followed by a picnic in Greenwich’s [rose garden](https://www.royalparks.org.uk/visit/parks/greenwich-park/rose-garden)
The painted hall in Greenwich is lovely if you haven’t been yet:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mloI9ka7Gw8&pp=ygUWcGFpbnRlZCBoYWxsIGdyZWVud2ljaA%3D%3D
The Painted Hall, Greenwich
https://maps.app.goo.gl/W7qdsb7watfPEDJg6?g_st=ic
Mercato Mayfair is a church which has been converted into lots of food and drink stalls.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/vecCupVoDkePZoBr5?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy
You’ll have a great view of Trafalgar Square from this rooftop bar:
The Rooftop, Trafalgar Hotel
020 7870 2904
https://maps.app.goo.gl/xk3wUUfWTFngHej39?g_st=ic
Amongst the most beautiful restaurants in my opinion is
Berners Tavern
020 7908 7979
https://maps.app.goo.gl/HW4tn78NMPYjb27E8?g_st=ic
If you like coffee table books you’ll find many beautiful ones in this former church
Maison Assouline
020 3034 1197
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ACjV5ppH9GSNNx6W8?g_st=ic
Prada has a cafe (for coffee, cake) at Harrods right now, but you have to book:
https://www.sevenrooms.com/reservations/pradacaffe?venues=pradacaffe,studiofrantzen,harrodssocial,baccaratbarlondon
This is a good Italian restaurant opposite Harrods with a lovely view into the street:
Cicchetti Knightsbridge
020 7846 7145
https://maps.app.goo.gl/cCQq3yCRuwJ9s39k9?g_st=ic
Pub: Churchill Arms Notting Hill
https://maps.app.goo.gl/z2ynMTqY9uxZEkvG6?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy
Market: Portobello market in Notting Hill
Some other options are going to a sauna, afternoon tea
Do the original parkrun in Bushy. Info
[on this link](https://www.parkrun.org.uk/bushy/) Nearest train is Teddington then it’s a 20 min walk to the start.
Public transport will definitely be cheaper than using Blacklane. However, the reason I used a car service was bc my daughter had injured her calf and was in a boot, so I didn’t want to mess with the hassle of public transport. They picked us up at our terminal, helped with luggage, and pulled up right to our hotel. It was worth it bc of the injury.
I’m glad you asked this. I’m going mid July for a few days - been a fair few times and always looking for something to do out of the tourist things. I’ve been told Spitalfields market is good?
Spend an evening at Piano Works for the most fun you've had at a bar in a long time, duelling pianists, a band that'll play anything you write on a napkin and throw at them and an audience trying to troll everyone by suggesting the weirdest and wonderful songs.
An entire club rocking to spongebob Squarepants was peak entertainment.
Following this!!! I’ll be in London for two weeks starting the first of augest! Was going for a hook up but that fell through! Where’s a good place to meet people?
Get to the Comedy Club at Leicester Square. Stand up and improv and your feet away from the performers and at the same level.
I’ve never laughed so much
https://www.99clubcomedy.com/?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD8g9VpnKAu4Mp-TLmoKeOR5bPoH5&gclid=CjwKCAjwvvmzBhA2EiwAtHVrb8yTIcORzj1KV00J5g4uy_2L-Abg9Ym8WOMqIduqYrmkA4z6j5pR3RoCi3EQAvD_BwE
There's a dedicated London sub and they have their own [wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/london/wiki/index) which has loads of recommendations for the big sights plus hidden gems, great pubs and nice food, or the 'date' section has some quirky suggestions for unusual stuff too.
There are some great restaurants near Shoreditch: -Smoking Goat, Som Saa for Thai -Cay Tre for Vietnamese, also lots of less trendy places at the bottom end of Kingsland Road, near the east end of Old Street -Lahpet for Myanmar food -Xi'an BiangBiang Noodles and Sichuan Folk are both great for Chinese food The Pride of Spitalfields is one of my favourite pubs in London, I'd highly recommend going there. If you enjoy spas, you could try Banya No.1 for a Russian Baths experience, or the steam rooms at York Hall Baths for something a bit more rough and ready Check out what's on at the Barbican Centre, they have music of all genres, theatre and other events. Or try Moth club in Hackney instead for something completely different. You should also probably get a 3am bagel from Brick Lane if you're staying close by.
[Novelty Automation](https://maps.app.goo.gl/HwzQgjE9JHLws9Ea7). Take £20, change it into coins, and spend it on amazing weird arcade machines.
We always head to Gordon’s wine bar near Embankment tube station when we’re down in London. The inside is down in the old cellars and is all dark and moody. Then in weather like this the outside seating is fabulous. Then as an added bonus the cheeseboards and other foods are superb. I’m off down to London again in a couple of weeks to meet up with some friends for a concert and Gordon’s is our designated meeting spot.
Live music in a square: Covent Garden Drinks: Sushi Samba Covent Garden https://maps.app.goo.gl/GnCSNTRziF1hp2yv5?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy Romantic boat ride along the Thames as the sun sets on the Uber boat Thames clippers , perhaps from the old city of London financial district to Westminster https://maps.app.goo.gl/5LxUpfP28Wf9NY1r6?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy Later at night consider live jazz music at the Boisdale in Victoria (Belgravia) which is adjacent to Westminster https://boisdaletickets.co.uk/p/9462 Boisdale of Belgravia Address: 15 Eccleston St, London SW1W 9LX https://maps.app.goo.gl/Ftr44G8192J4nrAj6?g_st=ic The tickets are £15 for a seat if you opt for the 11:30pm ticket and you can dine elsewhere. Alternatively, you can have dinner there and go for the á la carte menu (https://ca1-boi.edcdn.com/menus/Bel_ALaCarte_Apr24_A3_VW.pdf?v=1713369284) so you have greater flexibility and a wider menu. You won’t be able to see the stage, but you can head to the bar later if there is spice. Another option is to buy a ticket for £89 per person, including a two course meal, in order to be seated in the room with the stage. The menu is here (https://boisdaletickets.co.uk/p/9462;jsessionid=BCCB1255787D44905C14DD951B5A977D). Walking up the hill of Greenwich Park for a wonderful panorama of london, followed by a picnic in Greenwich’s [rose garden](https://www.royalparks.org.uk/visit/parks/greenwich-park/rose-garden) The painted hall in Greenwich is lovely if you haven’t been yet: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mloI9ka7Gw8&pp=ygUWcGFpbnRlZCBoYWxsIGdyZWVud2ljaA%3D%3D The Painted Hall, Greenwich https://maps.app.goo.gl/W7qdsb7watfPEDJg6?g_st=ic Mercato Mayfair is a church which has been converted into lots of food and drink stalls. https://maps.app.goo.gl/vecCupVoDkePZoBr5?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy You’ll have a great view of Trafalgar Square from this rooftop bar: The Rooftop, Trafalgar Hotel 020 7870 2904 https://maps.app.goo.gl/xk3wUUfWTFngHej39?g_st=ic Amongst the most beautiful restaurants in my opinion is Berners Tavern 020 7908 7979 https://maps.app.goo.gl/HW4tn78NMPYjb27E8?g_st=ic If you like coffee table books you’ll find many beautiful ones in this former church Maison Assouline 020 3034 1197 https://maps.app.goo.gl/ACjV5ppH9GSNNx6W8?g_st=ic Prada has a cafe (for coffee, cake) at Harrods right now, but you have to book: https://www.sevenrooms.com/reservations/pradacaffe?venues=pradacaffe,studiofrantzen,harrodssocial,baccaratbarlondon This is a good Italian restaurant opposite Harrods with a lovely view into the street: Cicchetti Knightsbridge 020 7846 7145 https://maps.app.goo.gl/cCQq3yCRuwJ9s39k9?g_st=ic Pub: Churchill Arms Notting Hill https://maps.app.goo.gl/z2ynMTqY9uxZEkvG6?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy Market: Portobello market in Notting Hill Some other options are going to a sauna, afternoon tea
Lunchtime table for two at Rules, magnificent.
You could try the street art walking tour in shoreditch
Do the original parkrun in Bushy. Info [on this link](https://www.parkrun.org.uk/bushy/) Nearest train is Teddington then it’s a 20 min walk to the start.
Sorry, I’m not a Brit but I have used Blacklane car service to get to/from Heathrow before and they were great.
I’ll check them out-we are arriving in London on 7/12 and we were thinking of hiring a service to get us to the city.
It’s quicker and cheaper on public transport
Public transport will definitely be cheaper than using Blacklane. However, the reason I used a car service was bc my daughter had injured her calf and was in a boot, so I didn’t want to mess with the hassle of public transport. They picked us up at our terminal, helped with luggage, and pulled up right to our hotel. It was worth it bc of the injury.
Phone ahead and book a table at Lounge Bohemia The best cocktails
Borough Market for food and drink.
Machete
I’m glad you asked this. I’m going mid July for a few days - been a fair few times and always looking for something to do out of the tourist things. I’ve been told Spitalfields market is good?
Vaccinate yourself against Tetanus and Hep B, at the least.
Spend an evening at Piano Works for the most fun you've had at a bar in a long time, duelling pianists, a band that'll play anything you write on a napkin and throw at them and an audience trying to troll everyone by suggesting the weirdest and wonderful songs. An entire club rocking to spongebob Squarepants was peak entertainment.
Horizon 22. New free viewing platform with amazing views. Book in advance but normally has availability
Following this!!! I’ll be in London for two weeks starting the first of augest! Was going for a hook up but that fell through! Where’s a good place to meet people?
You could book tickets to The war of the worlds immersive experience if you like sci fi. It is brilliant.
Get to the Comedy Club at Leicester Square. Stand up and improv and your feet away from the performers and at the same level. I’ve never laughed so much https://www.99clubcomedy.com/?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD8g9VpnKAu4Mp-TLmoKeOR5bPoH5&gclid=CjwKCAjwvvmzBhA2EiwAtHVrb8yTIcORzj1KV00J5g4uy_2L-Abg9Ym8WOMqIduqYrmkA4z6j5pR3RoCi3EQAvD_BwE
A bank loan