I spent my first year of university in London; in Richmond – a residential neighborhood along the river that felt worlds away from central London’s chaos. My college days were spent in West London nearby areas like Hammersmith and Wimbledon. My nights usually ended in Mayfair, Kensington or Edgeware road… Alors on Danse had just come out. What a time.
It was the first time I had ever left my home country. For years after, London was my favorite city in the world.
I’ve returned several times since, each visit exploring different neighborhoods, cafés, and markets. London is one of those cities that feels completely different depending on when — and how — you experience it.
Whether it’s your first trip or a return visit, here’s how I like to explore the city.
Jump to This London Guide
- Classic London Landmarks
- Neighborhoods That Give You a Feel for London
- Where to Stay
- Markets & Wandering – Brick Lane, Portobello, Broadway, Borough
- Museum & Cultural Stops –
- Food & Cafés I Actually Like – South Asian focus
- Nightlife & Drinks – Tramp, rooftops, quirky bars.
- Final Thoughts – Tips, and reflections.
The Classic London Landmarks
These are the classics worth seeing at least once.
- Buckingham Palace: The Queen’s official residence — great for the guards and classic photo ops.
- Big Ben & London Eye: Across the river from each other, and London’s most famous landmarks. Don’t need much time here unless the spirit compels you or you want ride the eye.
- Tower (London) Bridge & South Bank: The bridge everyone thinks is London Bridge. Classic skyline moment. Walk across the bridge for iconic city views. South Bank has street performers, restaurants, and a great riverside vibe. I’ve only ever been at night for some reason.
- Abbey Road: Where the Beatles crossed the road. There’s a 24/7 live webcam on YouTube which is cute.
- Harrods & Selfridges – Huge luxury department store with multiple restaurants. Iconic, and I love both. Even if you don’t shop, they’re worth walking through.
Neighborhoods That Give You a Feel for London
- Piccadilly Circus & King’s Road: Bright lights, shopping, and probably what you think of when you picture London streets.
- Soho – Lively and compact, full of restaurants and cocktail bars. A strong nightlife area, maybe overly polished depending who you talk to.
- Covent Garden – Easy to wander, with street performers, shops, and charming cafés. A great starting point for first-time visitors.
- Mayfair – Upscale and refined, known for luxury boutiques and high-end hotels. At night, it turns into a glamorous party spot.
- Edgware Road – Known for Middle Eastern restaurants and late-night shisha cafés. It has a distinct cultural feel and gets lively after dark.
- Notting Hill – perfect for strolling, window shopping, and pastel-colored houses.
Creative & East London Energy
- Camden – Creative, slightly chaotic, and rooted in London’s punk history. Camden Market is packed with vintage stalls, street food, and music culture. Great if you like alternative energy.
- Bethnal Green – Residential and local-feeling, but close to Shoreditch and Brick Lane.
- Brick Lane – street art, vintage stores, and famous bagels.
Classic Shopping Streets
- Oxford Street – London’s main retail corridor. Busy, energetic, and lined with flagship stores.
- Regent Street – More architectural charm and a slightly more elevated shopping atmosphere.
- King’s Road (Chelsea) – Chic boutiques, interior design shops. A little quieter than Oxford Street.
- Portobello Road – Famous for its colorful houses and Saturday market filled with antiques and independent vendors.
- Bond Street – Designer window-shopping.
Green & Residential London
- Hyde Park – Ideal for long walks, relaxing afternoons, or breaking up a busy sightseeing day.
- Notting Hill – Pastel houses, quiet residential streets, and weekend market. It’s one of the prettiest areas in London.
- Richmond – Leafy and riverside, with beautiful parkland and Thames views. Peaceful and scenic, though farther from central London — better for longer stays.
Where to Stay
The last three times I’ve stayed in London, I picked different neighborhoods depending on the vibe I wanted:
- King’s Cross / Camden / University College London area – Perfect for travelers looking for central London accommodations near museums, cafés, and creative spots. Camden adds that alternative, artsy energy with its famous market and music scene.
- Westminster – Right next to Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament, ideal for first-time visitors wanting iconic London landmarks and easy sightseeing access. Staying here puts you in the heart of London’s historic and political center.
- Bethnal Green – East London neighborhood with a local, authentic feel. Great for travelers seeking a quieter, residential experience while still being close to Brick Lane, Shoreditch, and trendy markets, street art, and cafés.
Markets & Weekend Wandering
Once you’ve seen the landmarks, I think London is best enjoyed walking around: coffee, markets, long walks, repeat.
- Broadway Market: Sunday-only market with international food, fresh produce, and local goods. Pair it with a walk along the canal for a sunny afternoon vibe.
- Spitalfields Market (East London) – Indoor market with fashion, homeware, and artisan food.
- Portobello Road Market: Colorful streets, antiques, and bustling Saturday vibes.
- Borough Market – Busy but fun for a snack stop.
- Brick Lane: Famous for bagels, vintage shops, and street art. I grabbed a matcha and a bagel here — and found a really good chocolate store while wandering the streets.
Quick Itinerary Snapshot
Once you’ve seen the major landmarks, London is best enjoyed slowly — market hopping, café stops, and long walks. Here’s how I structured my most recent long weekend:
- Saturday: Brunch in Bethal Green → Brick Lane vintage Shopping → Borough Market → Drink @ Satan’s Whiskers.
- Sunday: Coffee in Hackney → Broadway Market → Canal walk → Rooftop drinks at Netil360
- Monday: Portobello Road → Design Museum → Malaysian tea room
Museum & Cultural Stops
- British Museum: Could spend days in — packed with ancient artifacts like the Rosetta Stone and entire Egyptian temples. Notorious.
- Tate Modern: Massive contemporary art museum set inside an old power station, right on the Thames. Go for the art and views.
- Design Museum: A cool, modern space focused on fashion, architecture, and product design, even if you’re not a “design person,” it was fun. And free.
- Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A): Beautiful museum dedicated to art, fashion, and design, historic gowns, sculptures, etc.
Food & Cafes I Actually Like
London’s food scene is strong because of its diversity. I naturally gravitate toward Asian and Middle Eastern food here and really stick to the “lowkey” places. I encourage to search for Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Laotian, Malaysian, and other cuisines. London offers flavors and dishes that are hard to find outside of major hubs like New York City — from hidden noodle shops to family-run curry houses.
- Kolpata – Serving Bangladeshi food like Chotpoti, Fuska, Kacchi Biryani, Vuna Kichuri, Hilsha Fish and traditional Bangladeshi foods.
- Lao Café – Famous spot – Laotian cuisine, right in Covent Garden.
- Malaysian Tea Room (7th floor): Amazing Malaysian food in a compact authentic space.
- Dishoom: Everyone is going to tell you to go here, its a very well known Indian chain, and it is 100% good all the time, every time I go. Kind of touristy but also jus genuinely good.
- Duck & Waffle – a restaurant on the 40th floor, great views and good food.
- Beigel Bake & Beigel Shop – Two historic 24/7 bagel spots next to each other on Brick Lane. Beigel Bake (white sign) is the most famous with longer queues, while Beigel Shop (yellow sign) is the oldest, established in 1855. Get one from each and compare. It’s a fun activity.
- St John’s Church Café: Charming tiny cafe inside of a Church. I just loved it. Not a place to hang out but a cool thing to see IMO if you’re nearby.
- Hackney Café: gorgeous cafe thats also a wedding venue.
- Astro Café: Great brunch spot in Bethel Green with great service. Just a regular, family-run, immigrant-owned place.
- Netil360 – Rooftop views in East London.
- Satan’s Whiskers: Quirky bar (decorated with taxidermy), frequently listed as one of the city’s best. this is listed as #21 best bar in the world, but there are some other great bars on the list like Tayēr + Elementary (#5) and Connaught Bar (#6)
Nightlife & Drinks
London has something for every vibe. London nightlife is less about random walk-ins and more about the right night, right event. Check platforms like Shoobs, Resident Advisor, Fatsoma or E1 London for specific parties. (designmynight.com)
The last time I partied in London, we went to Tramp in Westminster with some locals — a classic night out. Not sure if it’s still the hotspot, but it was a good ol’ time.
For Afrobeats lovers, Cococure hosts a few weekend nights across London, always with great energy and packed dance floors. Tunnel Vision Club & Lounge looks like a fun place Afrobeats & Afrohouse.
Oyster Card Costs
- Card itself: £5 (refundable if you return the card).
- Pay-as-you-go: You can top up any amount, and fares are deducted per trip.
- Example Tube fare:
- Zone 1 single journey: ~£2.80–£3.30 with Oyster/contactless
- Zones 1–2: ~£3.40–£3.80
- Example Tube fare:
- Daily cap: There’s a maximum daily fare (~£8–£9 for Zones 1–2) — anything after that is free.
- Travelcards: If you plan multiple trips each day, a 7-day Travelcard for Zones 1–2 is ~£38, which can save money.
- Tip: Always use Oyster or a contactless card instead of single tickets — it’s way cheaper.
Final Thoughts
London is a very international city – a lot of south asian and caribbean culture here to explore, historic landmarks, trendy neighborhoods, international food, and nightlife. Every visit feels different.
Historic landmarks. Trendy neighborhoods. Global food. Parks when you need quiet. Markets when you want energy.
For first-timers: hit the classics.
For repeat visitors: pick a neighborhood and live in it for a few days.
And every time I go back, it feels a little different — which is exactly why I love it!