Our London Travel Guide: Best Food, Wine & Things to Do
Our London Travel Guide: Best Food, Wine & Things to Do
What we did, what we loved, and what’s worth your time if you go to London.
We have visited London on a few different trips, and every time we have experienced something new and cool! Here’s your guide to what we’ve loved + what we recommend in London.
London Field Notes
YOUR LONDON TO DO LIST
we’ve been to London several times. here’s what we recommend.
GET THE HOHO TOUR.
A Hop on Hop Off Tour of London is the best way to see the entire city in an entertaining way! Plus you can hop on and hop off at all the major landmarks on your list.
Note: There are several bus tours, we’ve found the Big Red Bus is the best because it has an app so you can track when the next bus will arrive, which is crucial when you’re trying to figure out your day.
DO THE BIG HISTORICAL THINGS.
And book guided tours so you know what you’re looking at + where to go! In order of don’t-miss-this:
- Tower of London (and the crown jewels exhibit)
- Westminster Abbey
- Churchill’s War Rooms
- British Museum
- V&A Museum
- London Eye (if you don’t have an extreme fear of heights)
SEE A SHAKESPEARE PLAY AT THE GLOBE THEATRE.
This was surprisingly one of our favorite experiences in all of our trips to London! We saw A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the afternoon and we laughed the whole time. Get tickets with seat cushions to be comfortable.
EAT SOMEWHERE WITH LOCAL PERSONALITY.
London has many cool pubs and restaurants, it’s tough to choose where to go! We loved
- Borough Market has so many choices, you can book a guided food tour
- The Garrison Public House is Michelin recommended!
- Steak & Company for a sizzle-at-the-table steak cooking experience
- The Arcade for an eclectic food experience while shopping around Carnaby Street
- Gillray’s for wine
BOOK A COOL DAY TRIP FROM LONDON.
We’ve done a few day trips that we loved – some we did when we stayed in Oxford and some from London.
- Downton Abbey Day Trip to Highclere Castle
- Salisbury Cathedral & the Magna Carta and Stonehenge
- Warwick Castle, Cotswolds, Stratford-Upon-Avon, and Oxford
- Bath
- Blenheim Palace
STAY IN A COMFORTABLE ROOM WITH TWO BEDS.
- Residence Inn London Bridge is about 10 minutes from Borough Market, and a quick uber ride to most places we wanted to go.
- Finding rooms that had two beds was TOUGH!! The Residence Inn offered a spacious suite with a bed and a sofa bed with kitchenette, making it the only place we could find that had separate beds.
- We wanted to stay at Marriott St. Ermin’s or Saint Pancras, which are beautiful and more historic, but the accommodations didn’t fit our group.
Planning Tips to London
- Create an itinerary: Start by outlining your desired activities and attractions in both cities. Research and prioritize the must-see landmarks, museums, parks, and other attractions. This will help you make the most of your time and avoid missing out on anything important.
- Book your landmark tickets in advance and book as many guided tours as possible: In London, we quickly realized that every place we wanted to visit was teeming with crowds and long lines. In order to have a smoother and more enjoyable experience in London on following trips, we decided to book everything we could in advance, preferably with the assistance of a knowledgeable tour guide. We found that using Get Your Guide (a trusted affiliate partner of the GTG) made the process even more convenient. if you’re looking to avoid the chaos and embrace a stress-free journey, we highly recommend booking with Get Your Guide.
- Book accommodations close to transportation: London is popular tourist destinations, with a million different options. I suggest finding a hotel close to a Hop On Hop Off tour, which make exploring each of the city’s major landmarks easy and entertaining. In London, we were a 3 minute walk from the bus stop. In Paris, it was a 20 minute walk and I wished we had been closer.
- Research entry requirements: And don’t get hosed by 3rd party like we did. We got our ETA on a 3rd party website which charged us $100 more than booking through the official English government app. Find the official one and use the app, you have to do this before going to England and it’s only about $20. And obviously you need a passport. It looks us about 6 weeks to get our expedited passports, but I’ve heard it can take much longer so start the process well in advance if you need a passport. To take a child out of the country, both parents need to be present at the passport office. Check the latest entry requirements and any travel advisories before your trip to avoid any last-minute surprises.
- Pack accordingly: Consider the weather and season when packing for your trip. London can have unpredictable weather, so it’s wise to pack layers and be prepared for both rain and sunshine. Don’t forget essential items such as comfortable walking shoes, adapters for electrical outlets, and a universal travel plug. We went in August. (here’s my favorite travel garment bag that zips into a duffel bag, fyi.)
- Carry a cross body bag: I carried my cameras, wallet, phone, and added a tracking Apple tag in a crossbody bag.
- Bring a good camera: the best camera is the one with you – so if that’s your iPhone, great! But the battery will die quickly because you’ll want to capture everything so bring a portable charger. Everyone has larger cameras so you won’t feel awkward. I love using the Fuji x100vi for photography and video clips, The Fuji xs20 is probably the best versatile travel content creator camera, so that’s the one I’d recommend if you’re looking for a new camera. DJI Osmo for vlogging / cinematic video shots, and the Insta360 x5 for cool 360 drone-like shots. ➡️ Here are some of my favorite portable travel cameras.
- Bring adapters I got a few adaptors from Amazon.
- Stay flexible and enjoy the journey: While planning is crucial, don’t forget to leave some room for spontaneity and relaxation. Embrace the unique charm of both cities, immerse yourself in their culture, and allow yourself to experience unexpected discoveries along the way.
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