Just a few tips for London from a London Guide
Food
If you’re looking for good English food, head to Putney Pies. Just by the river near some great bars and pubs, Putney Pies is small and quaint, so please book in advance, but has some of the best meat pies around.
Porterhouse in Covent Garden is a great place to get a beer when you are in central. It’s got an enormous selection of beer, and it’s huge. I’d recommend you go in the week before 7pm as it does get busy, there are many nooks to steal yourself away from busy London, but it’s got a great vibe. Definitely try the banana bread beer.
The best hot chocolate in the world has to come from either Dark Sugars in Brick Lane or Rabot 1845 in borough market. You can find this on Brick Lane or Borough Market. Somehow they haven’t got world fame yet, but I’m sure it won’t be long. This hot chocolate will be on your mind for weeks after your first sip.
Walk around Brick Lane. Take in the street art, the fashion, the food and the atmosphere, especially on a Sunday. Check out the vintage market, the Boiler House Food Hall, the Backyard Market, and the Sunday Upmarket.
Book breakfast at the Wolseley, the food is outstanding, and the building is full of character. You will likely be surrounded by many folk in suits, but it’s well worth the early start.
Travelling
There is no point getting a travel card when travelling on public transport. Always get an oyster card or use a credit card with this symbol on it (it will act like an oyster card).
Your contactless payment or oyster card will cap you at £7 daily and at £35.10 weekly (mon-sun), so long as you a) travel after 9:30am, and b) stay in zones 1-2. Even if you head further out, zone 3 caps at £8.20, zone 4 at £10.10 and zone 6 at £12.80 so long as you don’t travel before 9:30am.
Any unspent money on your oyster card will be refunded when you give your card back and the £5 deposit will also be refunded. A paper travelcard starts at £13.10 for zone 1 travel.
Under 11 year olds travel for free with an adult or if they are 11-15 , speak to the station staff and they may be able to get your child a discounted oyster card.
On a budget
Get the bus number 88 from either Clapham Common or Vauxhall. If you do pick Clapham Common, if it’s a sunny day, Clapham Common has a big and beautiful park to walk around. Also start the day with a coffee and a cake from ‘Black Lab’ if you love your coffee and want to be impressed, it’s also good to take on the road with you. Clapham Common is where the bus begins so you may get the first pick of the top front seat and a great view of the sites. Fly over the city, for only £1.50.
On your journey you can see the many of the famous sites of London, from the luxury of the upper deck of a London bus while you enjoy your pastry and coffee in peace. I’ve listed just a few below, but if you have snapped these locations or any more more while doing this journey, comment below with your photo.
– The secret service building (MI6)
– Tate Britain
– Westminster Abbey
– Whitehall
– St Margaret’s Church
– Parliament and Big Ben
– Trafalgar Square and Nelson’s column
– Piccadilly Circus
– Regents Street
– Oxford Street
– Camden
At Camden, I would recommend exploring the vibrant marketplace at the lock, visiting the Jewish Museum, listening to some great live music and having a drink at Lockside.