Notting Hill, London
London never gets old. The city’s charming neighborhoods, cobblestone streets, world-class museums, multicultural dynamism and electric culinary scene are just a few reasons to visit England’s capital. Below is our essential guide to London — your cheat sheet, if you will — broken down by neighborhood.
Ready to get away? Connect with me to make the most of your London vacation.
The quick and dirty:
Currency: £, British pound sterling (GBP)
Language: English
Transportation: the Tube, London’s equivalent of the subway, and hackney carriages (the famed black taxis)
Best time to visit: April, May & June — and if you don’t mind the cold, the holidays are particularly magical
Dress code: posh and preppy, and bring a raincoat
Central & West London
You’ll likely be spending most of your time in these London areas, where you’ll find the city’s most popular attractions, like Hyde Park, Piccadilly Circus and Big Ben. But Central and West London are also home to posh neighborhoods, each with their own distinctive feel. Unsurprisingly, you’ll also find many of the city’s best hotels here, where glamor (or rather, glamour) and luxury reign.
Bloomsbury
The vibe: quiet, residential, intellectual, museums galore
Eat / play / stay
Don’t miss the neighborhood’s impressive selection of world-class museums, including the British Museum, the Grant Museum of Zoology and the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology.
Soho
The vibe: local, fun, great nightlife
Eat / play / stay
Ham Yard: a bright, playful stay brimming with eclectic art and a leafy garden to boot
Fora Perks: welcome amenity, breakfast daily, upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible
Hoppers: Sri Lankan street food in a fun, casual space
NOPI: top-tier Mediterranean from Yotam Ottolenghi
Evelyn’s Table: a 12-seat hot spot where local produce gets treated to expert Scandinavian and Japanese techniques
Mayfair & Marylebone
The vibe: high-end, designer, luxe
Eat / play / stay
The Dorchester London: a veritable London landmark, newly renovated, with legendary afternoon tea
Fora Perks: £100 hotel / resort credit, breakfast daily, upgrade whenever possible
Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane: recently renovated sophistication just off of Hyde Park
Fora Perks: When you book Four Seasons with me, you'll enjoy exclusive Four Seasons Preferred Partner benefits. I'll be pleased to give you more details.
Brown's Hotel: discreet and exclusive, with playful decor, historical caché and unbeatable afternoon tea
Fora Perks: £100 food / beverage credit, breakfast daily, upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible, additional exclusive offers
Mandarin Oriental Mayfair (opening spring 2024): the brand brings its signature sleekness and butler-equipped service to Mayfair’s oldest square, Hanover
Fora Perks: When you book Mandarin Oriental with me, you'll enjoy exclusive Fan Club preferred partner amenities. I'll be pleased to give you more details.
Gymkhana: Michelin-Starred Indian in a handsome, intimate space
Benares: elevated Indian in dimly lit environs
Coya: fun, sexy Peruvian cuisine in a colorful, lively environment
Roka: contemporary Japanese with a touch of urban chic
Image courtesy of Brown's Hotel
Covent Garden
The vibe: touristy, lots of theaters
Eat / play / stay
L'oscar London: a fun boutique hotel with bold patterns and colors in a restored Baroque-style church
Fora Perks: £80 food / beverage credit, complimentary bottle of wine, upgrade & late check-out whenever possible
Explore Covent Garden’s famed open-air piazza lined with shops
The Barbary: well-sourced Middle Eastern food prepared using fire and clay ovens
Knightsbridge
The vibe: upscale, fashionable, prime real estate
Eat / play / stay
The Lanesborough: an exceptionally chic hotel housed in a luxurious mansion
Fora Perks: £100 hotel / resort credit, breakfast daily, priority access to courtesy car where applicable, upgrade whenever possible
The Berkeley: modern and contemporary, with a delectable gourmet pastry shop
Fora Perks: £100 hotel / resort credit, breakfast daily, upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible
Image courtesy of Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park: perfectly located, with a luxe spa and several restaurants, one of which boasts two Michelin Stars
Fora Perks: When you book Mandarin Oriental with me, you'll enjoy exclusive Fan Club preferred partner amenities. I'll be pleased to give you more details.
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal: Michelin-Starred elegance at the Mandarin Oriental
Belgravia
The vibe: luxe developments, grand homes, posh
Eat / play / stay
COMO The Halkin, London: a study in understated luxury, with soothing interiors and a Georgian-style brick façade
The Peninsula London: (newly renovated) glamor, style and prestige steps from Hyde Park and Kensington Palace
Fora Perks: £100 hotel / resort credit, breakfast daily, guaranteed upgrade at time of booking, check-in/out anytime (as early as 6am and as late as 10pm)
The Emory (opening spring 2024): design-forward, modern and cool, and every room is a suite
Fora Perks: £100 hotel / resort credit, breakfast daily, upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible
La Poule au Pot: a lovely French bistro with brick walls and wooden floors
The Grenadier: a must-visit pub beloved by locals
Westminster
The vibe: touristy, bustling, home to iconic landmarks
Eat / play / stay
Raffles London at The OWO: regal and traditional (and newly renovated), housed in London’s Old War Office building
Fora Perks: complimentary mini-bar soft drinks, complimentary one-way private airport transfer, breakfast daily, upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible
Check of London’s top tourist attractions, like Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and, of course, Westminster Abbey, where you’ll find the graves of distinguished Brits like Charles Darwin
The English Grill at Rubens at the Gardens: seasonal British fare in a posh, cozy setting
Notting Hill, Chelsea & Kensington
The vibe: trendy, chic, bohemian, upscale
Eat / play / stay
Bandol: A taste of the South of France in ultra-chic digs
Mazi: A+ Greek with a modern flair
East London
Image courtesy of 100 Shoreditch
London’s east end caters to a younger, artsier crowd. Expect plenty of galleries and hipster hangouts, with an approachably gritty edge.
Hackney & Shoreditch
The vibe: edgy, young, artistic
Eat / play / stay
100 Shoreditch: clean, contemporary and design-forward, with hipster vibes and a buzzy energy
Fora Perks: £50 hotel / resort credit, welcome amenity, upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible
South London
Tate Modern, London
There are not many hotels south of the Thames, but that’s part of its appeal: the area is one of London’s coolest locales. It’s infused with a fun, eclectic energy, and a confluence of different cultures makes it especially vibrant. Come here to feel like a local.
Bermondsey
The vibe: cool, hip, local
Southwark
The vibe: historic, trendy, bustling
Eat / play / stay
The Hoxton, Southwark: beautifully designed hipster hot spot near South London’s best galleries, restaurants and markets
Wander around the Borough Market, the city’s oldest fruit and vegetable market
Explore the Tate Modern, a fantastic modern art museum with beautiful views
Catch a shown at Shakespeare’s Globe theatre in Southwark’s entertainment district
Peckham
The vibe: cool, buzzy, local, foodie, fun
Eat / play / stay
Kudu: beautiful South African cooking in a beautiful space
Coal Rooms: coal-fired, locally sourced fare prepared in an open kitchen
Peckham Bazaar: ultra-casual and ultra-delicious wood-fired cooking
Brixton
The vibe: dynamic, multicultural (including a vibrant Caribbean population; the neighborhood is also known as Little Jamaica), prime nightlife, vintage, neighborhoody
Eat / play / stay
Sample African and West Indian food at Brixton’s many markets (the Brixton Village Market is a must)
Explore the excellent exhibitions of the community-focused Black Cultural Archives, a treasure trove of Black culture and history in the UK
Kricket: modern Indian paired with cool, breezy vibes
Fish, Wings & Tings: a community staple serving locally sourced, authentic Caribbean food
North London
Primrose Hill, London
North London is more residential: it’s quieter, with less tourists. But the area is definitely worth visiting. Meander the cobblestoned streets lined with beautiful homes; enjoy a picnic atop Primrose Hill, accompanied by some of the best views of the city. North London’s restaurant game is also solid, offering a varied combination of local haunts and elevated options.
Primrose Hill
The vibe: charming, colorful
Eat / play / stay
Take in the views (some of the best in London) from the top of the neighborhood’s eponymous park
Islington
The vibe: residential, multicultural (there are prominent African and Afro-Caribbean populations), great restaurants
Eat / play / stay
Marvel at the Victorian townhouses
King's Cross
The vibe: up-and-coming, modern, family-friendly, lots of outdoor spaces
Eat / play / stay
The Standard, London: cheeky, fun, vibrant stay with lots of personality
Fora Perks: £75 food / beverage credit, breakfast daily, upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible
Canopy Market: support local artisans, craftspeople and producers at this covered market within the historic 19th-century West Handyside Canopy
Camden
The vibe: punk, counter culture, edgy
Hampstead
The vibe: affluent, quiet, residential, green
London, but make it wellness
Image courtesy of The Lanesborough London
If you haven’t heard, wellness travel is all the rage, and London more than delivers. With boutique fitness studios, glamorous spas, nourishing cafés and markets galore, the city is brimming with options perfect for anyone on the wellness continuum, whether you’re merely curious or a full-blown devotee.
Fitness
Peloton Studios London: take a live cycling, running, yoga or strength class with the brand’s top instructors
Triyoga: get your yoga, Pilates and barre on, in different locations around the city
Blok: cross-disciplined training in sleek studios
Spas
The Lanesborough Club & Spa: an exclusive oasis with a well-equipped gym, a hydrotherapy pool, a steam room, a sauna and an expertly curated treatment menu
Bamford Wellness Spa Brompton Cross: a serene retreat with holistic treatments combining ancient and modern techniques
Cloud Twelve: a three-floor wellness clinic with its own kids’ club
Food
Farmacy London: organic, biodynamic, plant-based nourishment
Farm Girl: two Aussie-inspired cafés, one in Notting Hill and the other in South Kensington, serving the perfect combination of healthy and indulgent fare
Daylesford Organic: light-filled farmshop-cafés where everything is impeccably sourced (produce is delivered daily from their organic farm in the Cotswolds)
Markets
Islington Farmers’ Market: every Sunday, 10-2
Growing Communities (the UK’s only 100% organic farmers’ market): every Saturday, 10-2:30
Marylebone Farmers' Market: every Sunday, 10-2
Notting Hill Farmers' Market: every Saturday, 10-2
Parliament Hill Farmers' Market: every Saturday, 10-2
London is calling. What are you waiting for? Connect with me to make the most of your London vacation.
