London

High idea density. A perfect mix of energy, architecture, science, art and entrepreneurship; a mix of big city vibes, historic villages and expansive green spaces. Many things to see and do for free. I believe London is the best place in the world.

1. Events

  • Open House Festival in September - celebration of London’s housing, architecture and neighbourhoods. Best stuff requires booking and it gets very competitive; sign up for their newsletter to find out when the bookings open. But even if you have no bookings, it is always a fun weekend - visit architect offices (for example Allies & Morrison doesn’t require bookings), try to tag along for walking tours from King’s Cross visitor center, explore parts of London further away from the center where things are less busy.
  • London Gallery Weekend in May/June - a weekend when private art galleries open to the public, a great opportunity to visit many galleries with no expectation of buying anything. My favourites include Maddox Gallery, Gagosian (Grosvenor Hill), Waddington Custot, Thaddaeus Ropac, Gazelli Art House, Galerie Max Hetzler, White Cube Mason’s Yard and Bowman Sculpture. This weekend is also a great opportunity to visit Christie’s London (King Street) and Sotheby’s London (New Bond Street).
  • Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park - visit in late April/early May to catch rhododendrons in bloom (explore all 3 ponds). Also find the deer with huge antlers in Richmond Park.
  • The Canary Wharf Winter Lights Festival in January (evenings).
  • Pint of Science in mid-late May.
  • If you are in London on Saturday morning, join in for one of the many ParkRuns.

2. London neighbourhoods

I very roughly divided London into 25 parts and listed my favourite things to do, see and eat in each of them.

3. Museums, exhibitions and art (mostly free)

  • The British Museum and their Lates.
  • Sir John Soane’s Museum - the house of one of the greatest English architects, kept as it was at the time of his death in 1837. It displays his collection of antiquities, furniture, sculptures, architectural models and paintings. It is full of curiosities and surprises.
  • London Mithraeum - archeological remains of a Roman temple, 3rd century AD. Booking required.
  • Science Museum and their Lates. Book free tickets in advance both for day-time visits and Lates.
  • Churchill War Rooms (not free).
  • Royal Observatory Greenwich (not free).
  • Royal Air Force Museum London (not free).

4. Other stuff (free)

  • Horizon 22 - London’s highest observation deck (58th floor). Free, booking required. If there are no tickets available, try booking a table for breakfast at Sky Pod Bar.
  • Street art around Shoreditch. See guides by Caroline and Neil, Rose, Inspiring City and Wayfaring Views. Look out for works by Dan Kitchener and Stik.
  • Indian temples (especially worth seeing if you’ve not yet been to India): BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir London (marble and wood) and Shri Sanatan Hindu Mandir (limestone) in Wembley; London Sri Mahalakshmi Temple (South Indian) in East Ham.
  • National Theatre Archive - here you can watch recordings of all London theater productions that are no longer showing on stage, for free. Booking required for specific time and a specific production you want to see.

Architecture:

  • Westminster: Parliament Square Garden from which Big Ben, Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey can be observed; Westminster Cathedral; 55 Broadway.
  • Liverpool Street
  • King’s Cross: Gasholder Park, Coal Drops Yard, St Pancras Station, Keystone Crescent.
  • Battersea: Battersea Power Station, surrounding residential buildings.
  • Canary Wharf: modern architecture.
  • Greenwich: the area around North Greenwich Station (Design District Canteen, etc.).

5. Gardens and parks

  • Kew Gardens - one of the best botanical gardens in the world. Arrive at the opening time, as one day is not enough to see everything. Download a free map (or pick up a free paper copy at the entrance) to orient yourself. Check the schedule of free walking tours at the information desk inside the main gift shop; there is usually a tour at 12:30 showcasing the most exciting seasonal stuff. Art galleries - Marianne North Gallery (permanent exhibition) and Shirley Sherwood Gallery (temporary exhibitions) - are a must. If the area is not rented out for an event, check out the Cambridge Cottage and Duke’s Garden in front of it. Keep an eye out for events happening after 19:00 - spending time at Kew in the dark is truly magical.
  • Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park - visit in late April/early May to catch rhododendrons in bloom (explore all 3 ponds). Also find the deer with huge antlers in Richmond Park.
  • Regent’s Canal. From Angel station it goes East to Victoria Park. From there you can continue North to Olympic Park or South to Limehouse. From Olympic Park you can continue North along the River Lee or South to Royal Observatory Greenwich (crossing under the Thames via Greenwich Foot Tunnel). In the opposite direction, from King’s Cross, Regent’s Canal goes West past Wembley, and you can follow it all the way to Slough or Kew Bridge. Both directions (East from Angel and West from King’s Cross) are excellent for running and all-day walks.
  • Huge Hampstead Heath park, extending into Highgate Wood in the North and Golders Hill Park in the West.
  • Regent’s Park - Primrose Hill (a perfect spot for a picnic and/or sunset watching), Queen Mary’s Rose Gardens, etc.
  • Hyde park, The Green Park, St James’s Park.

6. Cuisines of the world (most places require booking ahead)

African:

  • Tatale - contemporary Pan-African. Set menu with a vegan option.
  • Chuku’s (Nigerian Tapas) - loads of vegan options.
  • Akoko - contemporary West African, in Soho. Tasting menu with a vegan option.

Asian:

Chinese:

  • Tofu Vegan - vegan Chinese. Several locations.

Ethiopian:

  • Laza Eritrean Ethiopian Restaurant - daily homemade injera, wonderful owner. Loads of vegan options.
  • Merkato in King’s Cross. Loads of vegan options.
  • Andu Ethiopian in Dalston. Loads of vegan options.

European:

  • Casa Fofó - sourdough-themed tasting menu focussed on being seasonal and local.
  • Nest - tasting menu that celebrates British vegetables. The menu is vegetarian during their vegetable season (usually in the summer), during their other seasons (chicken, lamb, game) asking to arrange a vegetarian option is just being a pain for them. But things might change.
  • Silo London - zero-waste restaurant with a great tasting menu. They mill their own flour and make their own butter. They aim to eliminate food waste, so expect ice cream made from leftover sourdough bread.
  • EDIT in Hackney.
  • Gauthier - French tasting menu with steak, meat stews, cheesy pasta, etc. 100% vegan. Their 3D printed plant-protein steak is disturbingly animal-like.
  • NOPI - by Ottolenghi.
  • Ottolenghi (Islington) - by Ottolenghi.
  • Tendril - a naughty vegan restaurant (with a bit of cheese). Both tasting menu and à la carte.
  • Little Duck The Picklery in Dalston.
  • Towpath - awesome outdoor restaurant on the canal in Islington, perfect for lunch or a dinner on a warm summer evening.
  • Westerns Laundry - in Islington.
  • Naifs - a cozy vegan restaurant in Peckham.

Indian:

  • Rambutan - incredible Sri Lankan food.
  • Kricket Soho - contemporary North Indian.
  • Dishoom King’s Cross. I’m not sure why there is so much hype about this North Indian restaurant chain, but this specific location is truly special - a warehouse where goods and spices arrived from Bombay in the 1930s.
  • Masala Zone Piccadilly Circus - North Indian food in the breathtakingly beautiful dining room of the historic Criterion building in Piccadilly Circus.
  • Cafe Tiffin - North Indian in Islington.
  • Vasanta Bhavan Wembley - authentic South Indian in Wembley.
  • Dosa World - authentic South Indian food near Liverpool Street.
  • Chettinad Restaurant - ok South Indian food.

Italian:

  • Zia Lucia - great pizzas, including their famous charcoal crust. Several locations.
  • Plant Club - gluten free, vegan friendly Italian restaurant and pizzeria in Stoke Newington (I’ve not tried it myself).

Latin American:

  • supperclub.tube - Latin American inspired tasting menu. A unique experience of dining on a 1967 Victoria Line tube carriage.
  • Jam Delish - vegan Caribbean.

Middle-Eastern:

  • Bubala Spitalfields - one of the tastiest tasting menus. Vegan or vegetarian. I left feeling that I should have paid more given how much I loved it.
  • Persepolis - Persian vegetarian restaurant in Peckham. The Feast menu is packed with flavours.
  • Berber & Q Grill House - amazing restaurant run by a great team.
  • Berber & Q Shawarma Bar - same people as Berber & Q Grill House.

Pastries:

  • Hackney and around: The Dusty Knuckle Baker, Forno, Pophams (several locations), Pavilion Bakery (several locations), E5 Bakehouse, The Snapery East, Yeast Bakery.
  • Little Bread Pedlar - several locations. Café Pedlar near Waterloo station is nice.
  • Buns From Home - the McDonald’s of cinnamon rolls, they are good though.

Gelato:

  • Udderlicious in Angel and Soho.
  • La Gelatiera in Soho.
  • Romeo & Giulietta Artisan Gelateria in Clissold Park.

Cocktails:

  • Shoreditch: Lounge Bohemia, Nightjar, Happiness Forgets, Looking Glass Cocktail Club (the cool bar is behind the mirror).
  • Hackney: The Last Tuesday Society & Absinthe Parlour, The Natural Philosopher.
  • Islington: Little Bat.
  • Liverpool Street: The Gobpsy (Tue-Fri only; beneath a barber shop), City of London Distillery & Bar (gin-centric cocktails).
  • Soho: Bar Termini (a place to get a properly Italian negroni).
  • London Bridge: Lyaness

The Nudge has a great list of cocktail places in London.

7. Just outside London

  • Seven sisters hike from Seaford train station to Eastbourne train station along the coast. Next on my to-do list: Eastbourne to Port Hastings walk, about 27km.
  • Downslink Bridleway is a long-distance route (about 60km) following disused railway lines, perfect for running and cycling.
  • Free in-person tours of Amazon fulfilment centres. Available locations vary, they are not always near London.

Notes:

  • Contactless payments with a bank card on all public transport within London and to/from three of London’s airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, London City). You have to buy a separate ticket in advance to reach the other three airports (Luton, Stansted, Southend).