London is such a great city to explore. I have had the pleasure of visiting a few times now and each time, I just love it more and more. There are so many incredible parks, it’s walkable and has great public transportation (yes take the bus!) and has good shopping and some of the best Indian food you’ll ever have. There’s so much history in this city and it’s really cool to see it still present with the monarchy.
This is also such a good city to explore as a solo female traveler. Safe, walkable and absolutely so much to do. I think if I had to live in a new city, it would be London. I loved the NYC meets DC feeling vibe that it has. The row homes are all colorful and cute, the accents, and the adorable little cabs. My one and only complaint about London is that the majority of the meals I had were fairly bland. As in, I had an everything bagel with cream cheese and didn’t taste like onion and garlic for the rest of the day. I know they get a bit of hate for their bland food, but I just had to poke fun for a second! My best meal was Dishoom which was incredible Indian food. There’s a ton of wonderful Indian food in the city so be sure to explore it for many meals!
My Favorite Things To Do In London
Best Hotels In London
Cafe Royal
I stayed here for the first two nights. It was right on Regent St in Piccadilly Circus. Great location, gorgeous hotel (as in ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS) and super spacious. Hard to come by in Europe. It’s definitely pricey and clearly, a place where the stars stay, we had a Gigi Hadid sighting in the lobby! This location is great though as you are right in the middle of it all and can easily walk to quite a bit.
The Westbourne Hyde Park
Since I stayed a few extra days, I had to switch hotels (this girl can’t afford the Cafe Royal!). So I headed to Kensington and really loved this neighborhood. It wasn’t super touristy at all and it was walking distance to Kensington Palace and Kensington Gardens as well as Notting Hill. I took the tube to Notting Hill each day to explore, just made my day a little easier without all the walking and wind. The rooms were small, but modern and clean. I’d for sure stay again! This also gave me two totally different neighborhoods to explore which I really liked.
The Hoxton
Any location is great as they have four scattered throughout the city. This hotel group is just adorable and I love the aesthetic and amenities. Simple little things like complimentary drinks, a tea kettle in every room, and incredible food. The lobby in any Hoxton is like a co-work space and you’ll find young creatives working on their Macbooks with a latte in hand. They’re my people!
Recommended by a friend, this little breakfast spot is right in Notting Hill. It was delicious and adorable! I ordered the Mexican scramble, which seemed strange since we were so far from Mexico, but it was super yummy. I sat in a little table facing the street so I could see passer-biers. It’s one of my favorite things about traveling solo.
Where To Eat In London
Sketch (Piccadilly Circus)
The famous pink restaurant. It’s so gorgeous I wish I could take it all home with me. I thought it would be super tacky when we walked in, but it was just the opposite. The food was okay, nothing amazing, but the cocktails were great. Definitely, a must-visit just for the ambiance.
Farm Girl (Notting Hill)
My friend Marissa of Style Cusp sent me a long list of recommendations and this was one of them (along with the next one). It was so good I went two days in a row. They serve chai lattes with a sprinkle of cinnamon on top shaped like a French Bulldog. I died over them. One day I did the avocado toast, the next was the Turkish eggs. They were so delicious that I ate them so fast I burned the entire roof of my mouth. A common problem of mine. I also ordered their rose latte which is one of their signature items, and I learned I don’t like rose flavor! It sure was pretty though.
Eggbreak (Notting Hill)
Another great breakfast spot in Notting Hill. I had their Mexican omelette which was delicious. This spot is in a super cute part of town surrounded by colorful row homes. Wish I had more time there, I would’ve gone back for more of their delicious items.
Kricket
A delicious Indian restaurant serving up classic dishes. I did takeaway so couldn’t order the Naan (I think they know this just doesn’t travel well) but I have heard it is life changing.
The Mayfair Chippy
Can’t go to London without getting classic fish & chips. Really any pub will have this, but I headed to The Mayfair Chippy and it was delicious. The fried cod and giant chips comes with three epic dipping sauces.
Byron Hamburgers (Westminster, but several locations)
Jess and I headed here after we shot some looks on day one. We were STARVING and literally just jumped into the first restaurant we saw. It was a standard burger joint with great burgers and chicken sandwiches. Plus their fries were amazing.
Dishoom (Covent Garden, but several locations)
This was the best meal I had in London. It was insanely delicious, full of great flavor and spice. The restaurant was packed, so make sure to get there early or be prepared to stand outside in the queue to wait for a table. I ordered the calamari, and their chicken curry.
Thomas’ Cafe (Piccadilly Circus)
This is the cafe inside the Burberry store. We did high tea with the entire group after our makeup class. They served your usual suspects like tea sandwiches and scones, but my favorite was the crumpets. Ashley and I ordered a second round they were so delicious.
Benugo (Covent Garden)
A little cafe with sandwiches and sweets in Covent Garden. We grabbed a cardamom coconut milk tea from here and it was divine. While also in London I had a cardamom pastry from Selfridges that was so delicious. I think this may be one of my new favorite flavors.
Burrough Market
This is an incredible open air market with lots of different vendor stalls. From fresh produce, to cheese, and prepared foods. You can head here to grab breakfast, lunch or an early dinner. Take a big loop before making your decision because there is a lot to take in! Everyone swears by the raclette grilled cheese sandwiches. I had incredible cookies from one vendor, and paella from another. Can’t go wrong here!
Kensington Gardens & Their Cute Neighbors
Things To Do In London
Kensington Palace
I visited Kensington Palace twice. On the first day I learned that the Diana exhibit was opening the following day but I wasn’t 100% sure I’d have the time. Thankfully I did, so the following day I went back to see all of her gorgeous dresses. It was a beautiful exhibit that was really well done. The Diana exhibit showcased a collection of her outfits, sketches from designers and bits of history. It was incredible to see such beautiful pieces of couture and learn more about Princess Diana.
Notting Hill
Just walking around Notting Hill made me happy. Stumbling onto the pretty colorful row homes, the trees were starting to bloom and seeing all the cute dogs walk around the neighborhoods. Churchill Arms, a popular restaurant and landmark, is also in this area. I decided not to dine here because it smelled like a porter potty, but I’ve heard good things.
Oxford Street For Shopping
I headed to Oxford Street for some shopping to check our Selfridges. It’s a major department store with an impressive food market on the ground floor. It was delicious and made for the perfect afternoon pick me up to hold me over before dinner. If you’re a Topshop kinda person, definitely hit them up as the prices are SO much better.
The Parks!
There are so many gorgeous parks around London so grab your food for takeaway, or pick up a coffee and pastry and take a stroll through them. The Regent’s Park which has Queen Mary’s Rose Garden is beautiful and Hyde Park is stunning. Find one nearby and take a stroll!
See A Show
So many great theatre shows to see here. The theatre district is great so make some time to finally get to see a show while you’re visiting. I saw the musical, Six, and absolutely loved it. Great music and fun!
The Usual London Attractions To Visit
Westminster Abbey
The iconic church in London. You can walk through Westminster Abbey and you just feel like you’re taking in so much history.
Buckingham Palace
Obviously you have to visit Buckingham Palace. You can also watch the changing of the guards which is a whole experience. Walk through St James Park and pack a sandwich too if you like!
Tower of London And The Crown Jewels
A really cool musuem and experience. You can also see some of the Crown Jewels. This is a must visit attraction when you’re in London.
Big Ben
Walk past Big Ben which is at the very end of the Parliament building. The bridge is always packed so mind your bag and phone from pick-pocketters.
The London Eye
I’m usually not into attractions like this, but if you have the time, do it! It’s an incredible view of the city and it’s all within walking distance to the above attractions anyway.
Abbey Road
This iconic road made famous by The Beatles is a must visit. It’s just really cool to see this in person. And yes, everyone will be walking the crosswalk trying to get the iconic photo. Not far from here is a little area called St Johns Woods where there’s lots of restaurants and little shops to grab some food. From here you can walk to Queen Mary’s Rose Garden as well.
Things To Know When Visiting London
- Currency – Pounds
- Electricity – UK Converter – I don’t understand how the UK is different from the rest of Europe, but it is. So be sure you’re prepared.
- Getting Around – The Tube or walking. The traffic is INSANE here so avoid taxis if you can. Uber wasn’t great, but it’s available. The Tube allows you to also use Apple pay, just set this up in your payment settings.
- Yes, it rains – The weather is very mild and I don’t think you need to bring all your rain gear. Pack a packable umbrella that can fit in your purse, and throw in a light rain jacket that you can throw on over anything.
