Guidebook for Greater London
Food Scene
Konditor
22 Cornwall RdHands down the best brownies and cakes in central London.
Fantastic food and great ambiance, one of the highest rated restaurants on Tripadvisor in London for a good reason! The owner Jon is a delight too. On the more expensive side.
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The Laughing Gravy
154 Blackfriars RdFantastic food and great ambiance, one of the highest rated restaurants on Tripadvisor in London for a good reason! The owner Jon is a delight too. On the more expensive side.
Mexican streetfood of great quality. This restaurant is only open from 8am to 3pm weekdays and 10am to 4pm on Saturdays, which is a shame as I’d love to eat there in the evening! Great place for breakfast or brunch on a Saturday. Very reasonably priced.
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El Vergel, Latin American Caterers
132 Webber StMexican streetfood of great quality. This restaurant is only open from 8am to 3pm weekdays and 10am to 4pm on Saturdays, which is a shame as I’d love to eat there in the evening! Great place for breakfast or brunch on a Saturday. Very reasonably priced.
A pub (the best in London as far as I’m concerned), but has a great and cheap Thai restaurant in the back where you can have a meal for less than
£10. They don’t take reservations, but you can wait for your table while having a pint. They also do a delicious Sunday Roast. The street the pub is in is an absolutely charming perfectly preserved Dickensian street, which has been used as a location in many films and TV productions.
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The Kings Arms
251 Tooley StA pub (the best in London as far as I’m concerned), but has a great and cheap Thai restaurant in the back where you can have a meal for less than
£10. They don’t take reservations, but you can wait for your table while having a pint. They also do a delicious Sunday Roast. The street the pub is in is an absolutely charming perfectly preserved Dickensian street, which has been used as a location in many films and TV productions.
This is an absolutely essential place to visit for anyone coming to London. It has been at the same site for more than 1000 years, and is a haven for foodies, the food and drink sold at the stalls is amazing. Closed Sundays.
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Borough Market
Borough High StreetThis is an absolutely essential place to visit for anyone coming to London. It has been at the same site for more than 1000 years, and is a haven for foodies, the food and drink sold at the stalls is amazing. Closed Sundays.
Considered by most Londoners as a ‘Hipster’ area (though they have now mostly moved onto Dalston). Lots of quirky shops, street art (bring a camera if that is your thing, it really is amazing) and really nice bars, Indian/Bengal restaurants and coffee places to visit while you’re shopping.
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Brick Lane
Brick LaneConsidered by most Londoners as a ‘Hipster’ area (though they have now mostly moved onto Dalston). Lots of quirky shops, street art (bring a camera if that is your thing, it really is amazing) and really nice bars, Indian/Bengal restaurants and coffee places to visit while you’re shopping.
Drinks & Nightlife
Cubana
48 Lower MarshCuban bar that does great cocktails and lovely food as well.
Quirky pub, has occasional live music and TVs to watch the footie or rugby. Also has a lovely heated roof terrace. Great for drinks before or after seeing a play at the Old or Young Vic theatres, hence the name.
The Stage Door
28-30 Webber StreetQuirky pub, has occasional live music and TVs to watch the footie or rugby. Also has a lovely heated roof terrace. Great for drinks before or after seeing a play at the Old or Young Vic theatres, hence the name.
Lovely and cosy local pub. The locals are always up for a chat!
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Lord Clyde
27 Clennam StreetLovely and cosy local pub. The locals are always up for a chat!
My personal favourite cocktail bar. Built into a former public men’s toilets it is where Oscar Wilde himself was once arrested. Now it is a cosy cocktail bar with different entertainment every night from burlesque to magic. I recommend visiting the toilets, in this former toilet, as they have a special glass worth seeing.
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CellarDoor
Wellington StreetMy personal favourite cocktail bar. Built into a former public men’s toilets it is where Oscar Wilde himself was once arrested. Now it is a cosy cocktail bar with different entertainment every night from burlesque to magic. I recommend visiting the toilets, in this former toilet, as they have a special glass worth seeing.
London’s only remaining original galleried pub. Charles Dickens used to write in there, and the pub is mentioned in his books.
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George
Borough High StreetLondon’s only remaining original galleried pub. Charles Dickens used to write in there, and the pub is mentioned in his books.
Arts & Culture
Museum of art covering the 20th and 21st century, in a huge old power station. Great fun and mostly free, apart from special exhibitions.
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Tate Modern
BanksideMuseum of art covering the 20th and 21st century, in a huge old power station. Great fun and mostly free, apart from special exhibitions.
A replica of Shakespeare’s theatre that was on the same site until 1644. Comprises of a museum and two theatres, one open air. If you’re a Shakespeare buff this is a must-visit.
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Shakespeares Globe Theatre
21 New Globe WalkA replica of Shakespeare’s theatre that was on the same site until 1644. Comprises of a museum and two theatres, one open air. If you’re a Shakespeare buff this is a must-visit.
The ‘other’ Tate, covering the eras Tate Modern doesn’t. Beautiful building too, worth a visit just for that. Free, apart from special exhibitions.
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Tate Britain
MillbankThe ‘other’ Tate, covering the eras Tate Modern doesn’t. Beautiful building too, worth a visit just for that. Free, apart from special exhibitions.
Sightseeing
The enormous Ferris wheel that can be seen for miles away. It takes half an hour to go around and the views are fantastic. The queue tends to be really big too though, so pre-booking is essential. Try and book a slot around sunset! On NYE the main fireworks display is there as well, though it gets terribly crowded, and you need to book tickets, so if you don’t have those, watch the fireworks from the roof terrace.
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London Eye
The enormous Ferris wheel that can be seen for miles away. It takes half an hour to go around and the views are fantastic. The queue tends to be really big too though, so pre-booking is essential. Try and book a slot around sunset! On NYE the main fireworks display is there as well, though it gets terribly crowded, and you need to book tickets, so if you don’t have those, watch the fireworks from the roof terrace.
The tallest building in Western Europe can be seen from all over London. You can pay to go to the top and see the views, which are pretty spectacular, but a better option is to visit one of the bars and restaurants and get the view for free! Pre- booking those is recommended however.
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The Shard
32 London Bridge StThe tallest building in Western Europe can be seen from all over London. You can pay to go to the top and see the views, which are pretty spectacular, but a better option is to visit one of the bars and restaurants and get the view for free! Pre- booking those is recommended however.
More than 1000 years old, steeped in history and also the site of the Crown Jewels, which you can visit. Expect big queues.
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Tower of London
More than 1000 years old, steeped in history and also the site of the Crown Jewels, which you can visit. Expect big queues.
Shopping
A must see, used to be London’s main food market, but now home to shops, restaurants, bars, a great market and it’s world famous for its street performers. Also houses the Royal Opera House. A great, vibrant place to be.
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Covent Garden
41 James StA must see, used to be London’s main food market, but now home to shops, restaurants, bars, a great market and it’s world famous for its street performers. Also houses the Royal Opera House. A great, vibrant place to be.
The famous and long shopping street in Central London. Houses high street shops and department stores like Selfridges, John Lewis, Debenhams, House of Fraser and Marks and Spencer among many, many others. Very, very busy.
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Oxford Street
Oxford StreetThe famous and long shopping street in Central London. Houses high street shops and department stores like Selfridges, John Lewis, Debenhams, House of Fraser and Marks and Spencer among many, many others. Very, very busy.
Just off Regent Street, the location of the swinging 60s, now home to quirky shops, Liberty department Store and Kingly Place shopping centre.
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Carnaby Street
Carnaby StreetJust off Regent Street, the location of the swinging 60s, now home to quirky shops, Liberty department Store and Kingly Place shopping centre.
Beautiful Victorian arcade with shops, bars and restaurants. Also where scenes from Harry Potter were filmed!
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Leadenhall Market
Gracechurch StreetBeautiful Victorian arcade with shops, bars and restaurants. Also where scenes from Harry Potter were filmed!
In Waterloo Train Station there are a large number of shops, the biggest one of which is a Marks & Spencer. Across the road from the station there is also a smaller M&S, as well as a Tesco’s and Sainsbury’s.
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Waterloo Cars
135 Mepham StIn Waterloo Train Station there are a large number of shops, the biggest one of which is a Marks & Spencer. Across the road from the station there is also a smaller M&S, as well as a Tesco’s and Sainsbury’s.
Essentials
On Blackfriars Road there is a Sainsbury’s which is open daily till 11pm. There is also newsagent on the corner (with the green awning), also open till 11pm.
Blackfriars Road
Blackfriars RoadOn Blackfriars Road there is a Sainsbury’s which is open daily till 11pm. There is also newsagent on the corner (with the green awning), also open till 11pm.
Southwark Bridge Road
Southwark Bridge RoadOn Southwark Bridge Road there is a Co-op, which is open till 11pm.
On Lower Marsh behind Waterloo Station there is a very nice all-organic store called Greensmiths. There is also a market there on Saturdays, and a food market most weekdays.
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Lower Marsh
Lower MarshOn Lower Marsh behind Waterloo Station there is a very nice all-organic store called Greensmiths. There is also a market there on Saturdays, and a food market most weekdays.
Getting Around
Southwark Station
68-70 Blackfriars RdJubilee Line – 5 min walk
Northern (City Branch) and Bakerloo Lines – 10 min walk
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Elephant And Castle Station
London RoadNorthern (City Branch) and Bakerloo Lines – 10 min walk
Lambeth North station
110 Westminster Bridge RdBakerloo Line – 10 min walk
Jubilee and Northern (City Branch) Lines – 15 min walk
Mainline trains out of London going south west and south. Serves Gatwick Airport regularly.
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London Bridge Station
Station Approach RoadJubilee and Northern (City Branch) Lines – 15 min walk
Mainline trains out of London going south west and south. Serves Gatwick Airport regularly.