London

1. Top views of London

  • Horizon 22 is London’s highest observation deck (58th floor). Book free tickets long in advance.
  • The Lookout next door is equally good. Book free tickets long in advance.
  • Sky Garden is lower, so the views are less impressive, but the outdoor terrace is nice (if it is open). Book free tickets in advance.
  • The Garden at 120 is a rooftop on the 15th floor. Free, no need to book.
  • There is really no need to pay for The View from The Shard or London Eye.

2. Street art

  • Explore the Shoreditch area - Brick lane, Grey Eagle Graffiti wall, Whitecross street, etc.
  • The Graffiti Tunnel on Leake Street.
  • Around Hackney Wick station. It’s a fun area to explore in the evening, especially if it is warm and sunny.
  • Around Brixton station.
  • Around Camden Market, though it is very touristy.
  • Look out for works by Dan Kitchener and Stik.

3. Cemeteries

  • Abney Park Cemetery Trust - a large collection of magnificent gravestones in many different styles. The setting is atmospheric, and pleasantly cool on a hot summer day. Free.
  • Richmond Cemetery and East Sheen Cemetery - some amazing gravestones scattered around an ordinary looking cemetery. Free.
  • Highgate Cemetery (West side and East side) - graves of famous people are probably the main reason to visit. Not free.

4. Markets:

  • Columbia Road Flower Market on Sundays. For the full experience, visit Hackney City Farm nearby. Knees Up have seriously good coffee.
  • New Covent Garden Market - wholesale fruit, vegetable and flower market. See opening hours to decide if it’ll be a late night visit or an early morning one.
  • Maltby Street Market and Spa Terminus on Saturdays.
  • Broadway Market and Netil Market on weekends. Devour your shopping in London Fields park.
  • London Farmers Markets - various places on various days. Parliament Hill market on Saturdays is particularly nice, as you can devour your shopping sitting on the grass of Parliament Hill Viewpoint.
  • Chiswick Cheese Market - every third Sunday.
  • The Truman Brewery Markets on weekends, and Spitalfields Market nearby.
  • Smithfield Market - wholesale meat market open from midnight until 7:00 on workdays. If you still need dinner and it is already 5am, around here there is a lot of 24 hour activity, people having their morning coffee at midnight and dining at 7am. The market is architecturally interesting even when it is closed (you can walk through it any time).
  • Exmouth Market - not a market, but this street is a wonderful place for hanging out on a warm sunny evening.
  • Borough Market, Camden Market and Portobello Road Market are very touristy.

Notes:

  • Public transport (tube and buses) works with contactless payments, no need to buy any physical tickets. This also includes all trains, as long as you don’t travel beyond London’s “pay as you go contactless area”. This includes Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and London City airports, but not Luton or Southend airport. See “pay as you go with contactless map” linked on this website. Oyster cards are being phased out; the contactless payment area is now bigger than the area covered by Oyster cards.
  • Best place to stay: In my biased opinion, anywhere north, east or north-east of Farringdon Station is great. See London tube map to get an idea of where would be most convenient given your particular plans. Elizabeth Line and Victoria Line are the fastest way to zoom through London. Sometimes a train (not shown on a tube map) is the fastest way to get where you are going, but they are less frequent. Night buses are great for zooming through empty streets when there is no rail-based transport.
  • If a restaurant asks “still or sparkling?”, it is always ok to answer “tap water, please”. All establishments that serve alcohol are legally required to give customers free tap water according to the Licensing Act 2003.
  • My favourite cocktail bars from long time ago (I don’t drink anymore) were: Lounge Bohemia, Looking Glass Cocktail Club (the cool bar is behind the mirror), The Natural Philosopher, The Last Tuesday Society & Absinthe Parlour, Happiness Forgets, Nightjar, City of London Distillery & Bar (gin-centric cocktails), The Gobpsy, Bar Termini (negronis), Little Bat. Places I’ve heard are good: The Umbrella Workshop (The Umbrella Project), Bandra Bhai (cocktails with an Indian twist), Ogam Tapas Bar (cocktails with a Korean twist), Good Measure Cocktail Bar Tooting (cocktails with a Taiwanese twist), Brilliant Corners (cocktails with a Japanese twist), Funkidory, Waltz, Leyton Calling, Three Sheets Dalston, Hacha Dalston, Equal Parts, Tabac Bar on Fortess Road, Tayēr (the secret bar, not Elementary), Ladies & gents bar, Knowhere Special, Discount Suit Company. The Nudge has a great list of cocktail places in London.