From exploring the colourful streets of Notting Hill, to the latest immersive food experiences, and street art in Shoreditch, find out the best places to travel to in my London travel blogs and travel guides.
It’s 11am on Sunday 4th March and I’m sat here under a blanket watching Sunday Brunch on TV. I can’t remember the last time I did… virtually nothing!
It’s been a month of utter madness, exhaustion and highs and lows. I’m not talking about the #beastfromtheeast, I’m talking about a few changes in my little life. Yes, this is a personal post, no travel tips below, and no inspiration for jet-setting, unless you fancy a trip to Ikea or West London?
Just after Christmas, Macca and I started the big London flat hunt… Again. We’d been in our previous place for almost six months, but it was always a temporary option. We were sharing with two others and gradually decided that we were ready to fly the nest and have our own space.
THE SEARCH
We started the hunt for the dream one-bed flat with all the mod cons. We wanted somewhere that we were excited to base ourselves in and return to after our travels. Somewhere with good transport links (hello airports!) and a bit of café culture, for those freelance cabin fever days.
Flavoursome salami from Sussex and Wales, English sparkling wines that compete with the best champagnes, and traditional pies filled with indulgent fillings – this London food tour is a reminder that British cuisine shouldn’t be overlooked!
First things first, we can’t ignore the elephant in the room. Yes, England may be mocked internationally for its cuisine, with people assuming it’s all about greasy fry ups, meals soaked in gravy and overcooked meat… but right now there’s a food revolution going on.
As we pay more attention to where our food comes from and what’s in it, our relationship towards eating has changed. If we had all the money in the world, no doubt we’d buy free-range, organic everything and be on first name terms with our local butchers and fishmongers. We’d have gardens and grow plenty of our own ingredients too. Yet, this is becoming harder and harder as huge supermarkets are our main providers of our daily food.
However, this is not the case in Borough Market. Under one historic roof you’ll find freshly baked focaccia, ethically sourced meat, the most colourful (and organic) fruit and veg, sustainable seafood, stinky Swiss cheese, Indian dosas, Spanish chorizo and adorable macaroons. It’s a feast for the senses: a place where India mingles with China, Ethiopia, Argentina, France and England. It’s foodie heaven, and without a doubt one of my favourite places in London.
It’s also the starting point for the Best Of British Food Tour– something I was excited to experience on assignment with Viator and Lonely Planet. Over four hours I’d be taken on a tour of Borough Market, then on to a few foodie hotspots who were flying the flag for British cuisine. I couldn’t wait!
Reading up on Borough Market in my Lonely Planet London Guide
Forget the tennis, there’s another BIG reason to take a trip to SW19 – for a relaxing getaway at Hotel Du Vin Wimbledon!
When it comes to mini-breaks, London might not be your first choice, but that’s where a hotel like this is just perfect! It has the feeling of being in the countryside, set in beautiful parkland and close to upmarket Wimbledon Village, yet you’re just a short tube ride to the bright lights of the city. It really does offer the best of both worlds.
I visited in October, enjoying the Eat.Love.Stay package, which included a three course dinner, a glass of wine per person, an overnight stay and a full breakfast the next morning. So, time to find out more… what’s the hotel like? Where is it? Who’s it suitable for? And most importantly – is the food any good?!
Hotel Du Vin has a collection of smart hotels around the UK, many in unique and historic buildings. I was familiar with the brand after eyeing up their gorgeous hotel in Brighton many times! Cannizaro House, their Wimbledon outpost, is a large 19th Century house overlooking Cannizaro Park – a sprawling collection of parkland and gardens that was looking particularly pretty as Autumn rolled in. There was a sense of grandeur as we entered, peeking through to the bar, lounge and the floor to ceiling glass of The Orangerie. After reading about the history, it felt appropriate to hear the house had hosted the likes of Lord Tennyson and Oscar Wilde! It was quintessentially British in character.
The beautiful lounge of Hotel Du Vin Wimbledon
Hotel Du Vin Wimbledon: Style and Décor
I loved the bar and lounge area of the hotel, which is both sophisticated and cosy! In the centre of the lounge there’s a striking circular banquette with seating around it. To the side, a fireplace with an ornate marble mantelpiece, topped with bottles of champagne. There are tall columns topped with gold, mirrors with thick gold frames and chandeliers. It definitely feels like somewhere you’d visit for a special occasion. Just beyond is The Orangerie, Hotel Du Vin’s restaurant where we enjoyed both dinner that evening, and breakfast the next morning. What a room! While it’s a lovely open space (with retractable roof and huge doors opening straight out into the park) it’s the view of Cannizaro Park which makes it extra special. The greenery is uninterrupted, with the autumnal colours of red, orange and brown making it especially pretty.
Extravagant details in the lounge area at Hotel Du Vin WimbledonBar at Hotel Du Vin Wimbledon
Spending Autumn in London? Here are a few spots I’d recommend…
I’m home! Yes I’ve finally found a London base, for the time being at least. While travelling is a huge part of my life, I was feeling quite unsettled with no fixed address. But now, here I am typing in my new flat in London. I’ve joined a gym and found some cool locals spots – the local Asian supermarket being one of them!
It’s been lovely to explore the city again, go to events, see friends and generally live the London life! I felt very lucky to be invited to be part of Visit London’s first #LoveLondonWeekend. They invited top Bloggers and Instagrammers from around the world to explore London, with opportunities to visit some of the city’s most famous attractions, and uncover a few hidden gems too! You can check out some of the stunning photos over on Instagram here #LoveLondonWeekend.
Enjoying Autumn in Cannizaro Park, Wimbledon
So time to share a few of the places I’ve been enjoying in London as the leaves have turned red and crunchy!
I’ve only been up the Shard once before, and that time it was at night. This time I caught a bit of the magic just after sunset, as the twinkly lights started to sparkle. I’ll never get tired of views of London like these…
Incredible views of London from The View From The ShardIncredible views of London from The View From The Shard
From Borough and Brixton to Camden and Hampstead, there are food markets selling delicious street food ALL over London!
Time for a blog filled with foodie joy! Food markets are one of my favourite things on the planet. I try to visit them in every destination I visit. From bustling Barcelona, to small towns in Guatemala and the buzzing night markets of Indonesia – they’re all different but give you a truly local vibe.
London’s food market scene has been growing and growing. We don’t want to buy fresh produce to take home, we want creative cuisine from around the world… and on a budget.
We are so lucky to have food from pretty much every corner of the planet available too. These days it’s no surprise to see Chinese baos next to authentic Mexican tacos and Indian rotis. Infact, it’s pretty rare to see a standard hot dog or burger!
So, with the street food revolution in full swing, it’s time for a quick tour of London’s top street food markets. A trip to any of these makes a great day out in London. I’ll be sure to update as and when new places pop up too!
Over 100 stalls sit under Borough Market‘s open roofed structure just south of the river. Along with great produce – cheese, bread, cider, fresh fish and meat, your nose will be guided by delicious smells of venison burgers, Lebanese falafel, goat stew, Indian vegetarian street food and some of the most delicious scotch eggs around!
Opening Times: Borough Market’s main market is open Wednesday – Saturday although there are some stalls there on Monday and Tuesday. Address: Borough High Street, Borough, London, SE1 9DE. Nearest Tube: London Bridge
One of my favourite discoveries from the last year, Maltby Street is compact, away from the main tourist areas, and has more of a local vibe! There are cute restaurants and bars on each side of the street, then a whole range of stalls down the middle. There’s tonnes on offer, with Korean fried chicken, Canadian poutine, oozing cheese toasties, tasty gyozas and gourmet brownies oozing with salted caramel to name a few.
Opening Times: Saturday and Sunday only. Address: 41 Maltby Street, Ropewalk, Southwark, SE1 3PA. Nearest Tube: London Bridge
Hampstead Market showcases the very best in fresh produce and delicious foodie treats. From huge barrels of olives and gooey burrata cheese, to fresh ravioli, gigantic savoury tarts, waffles and some of London’s best macaroons, whatever you’re in the mood for, there’ll be something waiting for you!
Opening Times: Saturdays only from 10am – 3pm. Address: Hampstead Parochial School, Holly Bush Vale, NW3 6TX. Nearest Tube: Hampstead
This part of Hackney has quite a mix on offer, including cute shops, galleries, vintage stores and of course a top farmer’s market! The main market day is Saturday, when you’ll find the likes of Fin and Flounder (who serve lobster brioche creations), top burger stall Black Bear Burger, and Nonnas Gelato (where anything is possible when it comes to ice cream!)
Opening Times: Saturdays only, from 9am – 5pm. Address: 38-44 Broadway Market, London, E8 4QJ. Nearest Tube: London Fields or Cambridge Heath overground or a bit of a walk from Bethnal Green.
I found this place by chance one lunchtime, and was over the moon! Away from the touristy Covent Garden market, this one is run by Startisans – a company that puts together individuals who specialise in artisan foods. The food options are plentiful, and once inside it’s hard to resist the curries on offer. They smell so damn good! The quiches and tarts were also fab, but you can expect different people hosting stalls throughout the week, so it’s worth going back on different days.
