Local favorites around London
Sightseeing
This is one of my favorite parks in London. It was damaged during WWII and then turned into a lovely garden that provides a quiet oasis right in the heart of the City.
33 locals recommend
St Dunstan in the East Church Garden
Saint Dunstan's HillThis is one of my favorite parks in London. It was damaged during WWII and then turned into a lovely garden that provides a quiet oasis right in the heart of the City.
Kew has gorgeous grounds and lovely glasshouses where you can see beautiful plants from all over the world. I'm a member and you are welcome to borrow my membership card for free entrance (up to two adults) while you're staying here.
637 locals recommend
Royal Botanic Gardens Car Park
Kew has gorgeous grounds and lovely glasshouses where you can see beautiful plants from all over the world. I'm a member and you are welcome to borrow my membership card for free entrance (up to two adults) while you're staying here.
This is an amazing place to watch sunrise and sunset. It's also the most scenic route through the City to Tate Modern, London's prime modern art museum.
129 locals recommend
Millennium Bridge
This is an amazing place to watch sunrise and sunset. It's also the most scenic route through the City to Tate Modern, London's prime modern art museum.
A lot of travelers mistake this for London Bridge, but London Bridge isn't actually all that exciting. Nope, this is the one you want to see.
1577 locals recommend
Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge RoadA lot of travelers mistake this for London Bridge, but London Bridge isn't actually all that exciting. Nope, this is the one you want to see.
Classic London! Gorgeous all the time, especially during fall. A great place to wander around.
250 locals recommend
St. James's Park
Classic London! Gorgeous all the time, especially during fall. A great place to wander around.
Book well in advance for free day visits or evening entry to the bar or restaurant. This is a rooftop garden with spectacular 360-degree views of London. Well worth a visit, and especially romantic at sunset.
300 locals recommend
Sky Garden
Book well in advance for free day visits or evening entry to the bar or restaurant. This is a rooftop garden with spectacular 360-degree views of London. Well worth a visit, and especially romantic at sunset.
Food scene
This is a phenomenal Indian restaurant and one of the best places to eat in London. Make sure you try the chai! It's bottomless.
475 locals recommend
Dishoom Shoreditch
7 Boundary StThis is a phenomenal Indian restaurant and one of the best places to eat in London. Make sure you try the chai! It's bottomless.
Watch House has fantastic coffee and chai lattes and a great atmosphere to sit with a book or a journal. It's in the same building as the flat—just go out the front door, turn right, and you'll be there in a few steps.
Watch House Spitalfields
139 Commercial StWatch House has fantastic coffee and chai lattes and a great atmosphere to sit with a book or a journal. It's in the same building as the flat—just go out the front door, turn right, and you'll be there in a few steps.
Boxpark is a super fun place to grab a drink or a bite to eat with friends. There are tons of options inside, from snackable cookie dough to tacos and burgers.
377 locals recommend
BOXPARK Shoreditch
2-10 Bethnal Green RdBoxpark is a super fun place to grab a drink or a bite to eat with friends. There are tons of options inside, from snackable cookie dough to tacos and burgers.
Great mom-and-pop food stalls here and handmade clothing and artwork from local creators. You can find anything here—vintage cameras, records, inexpensive essentials from Flying Tiger and top-of-the-line fashion, fragrances, and bike gear.
117 locals recommend
Spitalfields Market
65 Brushfield StGreat mom-and-pop food stalls here and handmade clothing and artwork from local creators. You can find anything here—vintage cameras, records, inexpensive essentials from Flying Tiger and top-of-the-line fashion, fragrances, and bike gear.
Andina Shoreditch
60-62 Commercial StAmazing Peruvian food five minutes from the flat.
Jolene Redchurch Street
67 Redchurch St*Such* great pastries here.
This Japanese cafe is tucked away down a side street in Covent Garden, a great neighborhood to walk around. They have the most amazing pastries.
WA Cafe (Covent Garden)
5 New RowThis Japanese cafe is tucked away down a side street in Covent Garden, a great neighborhood to walk around. They have the most amazing pastries.
Artsy and Vintage Things
If you like to shoot with film, stop here to pick up supplies or drop off your rolls to be developed. It's very affordable—just £4/roll for 35 mm color film, scanned and sent right to your email—and they can post your negatives back to you if needed. https://www.analoguefilms.co.uk/
Analogue Films
58 Hanbury StreetIf you like to shoot with film, stop here to pick up supplies or drop off your rolls to be developed. It's very affordable—just £4/roll for 35 mm color film, scanned and sent right to your email—and they can post your negatives back to you if needed. https://www.analoguefilms.co.uk/
If you like paper goods and stationery, this is a must-visit shop. Present & Correct has all sorts of funky office supplies and vintage paper goods for the snail mail lover.
6 locals recommend
Present & Correct
12 Arlington WayIf you like paper goods and stationery, this is a must-visit shop. Present & Correct has all sorts of funky office supplies and vintage paper goods for the snail mail lover.
If you like high-end paper and stationery, this is the store for you. You can look through binders and binders of specialty paper sourced from Japan, India, Thailand, and more, and you can also get free instructions here to bind your own book by hand.
Shepherds Bookbinders - Bindery
76 Rochester RowIf you like high-end paper and stationery, this is the store for you. You can look through binders and binders of specialty paper sourced from Japan, India, Thailand, and more, and you can also get free instructions here to bind your own book by hand.
Essentials
The closest grocery store for great produce, cheese, wine, beer, and all the other essentials you need.
39 locals recommend
Planet Organic - Spitalfields
132 Commercial StThe closest grocery store for great produce, cheese, wine, beer, and all the other essentials you need.
Libreria is a small but mighty local bookstore with fantastic staff recommendations. You will definitely walk out with a great new read (or two).
10 locals recommend
Libreria Bookshop
65 Hanbury StLibreria is a small but mighty local bookstore with fantastic staff recommendations. You will definitely walk out with a great new read (or two).
Tesco Express
116-118 Commercial StreetThe closest budget-friendly grocery store. You can buy SIM cards here for local data.
Second Home Spitalfields
68 Hanbury StSecond Home has a great cafe open to anyone to work from.
The Hoxton's lobby is a great place to work for a few hours or the whole day. It's super-cozy and they usually have fireplaces going in the wintertime.
55 locals recommend
The Hoxton Mix
86-90 Paul StThe Hoxton's lobby is a great place to work for a few hours or the whole day. It's super-cozy and they usually have fireplaces going in the wintertime.
If you're looking for high-end food souvenirs to bring home to friends and family, look no further. Fortnum & Mason is pricy but delicious, and the packaging makes it a perfect gift. Come here for tea and cookies in gorgeous tins, or just to wander around and marvel at the grandeur. Their Scotch eggs are to die for.
193 locals recommend
Fortnum & Mason
181 PiccadillyIf you're looking for high-end food souvenirs to bring home to friends and family, look no further. Fortnum & Mason is pricy but delicious, and the packaging makes it a perfect gift. Come here for tea and cookies in gorgeous tins, or just to wander around and marvel at the grandeur. Their Scotch eggs are to die for.
A classic and well-loved bookstore with a very Instagrammable perch among the top-floor shelves.
30 locals recommend
Daunt Books Marylebone
84 Marylebone High StA classic and well-loved bookstore with a very Instagrammable perch among the top-floor shelves.
Parks
Hampstead Heath is an incredible park in north London, with massive trees, swimming ponds and hiking trails. You won't believe you're still in the city, but you'll be a short walk away from fantastic restaurants and coffee shops, gorgeous neighborhoods, and easy public transit back home.
14 locals recommend
Hampstead Heath station
South Hill ParkHampstead Heath is an incredible park in north London, with massive trees, swimming ponds and hiking trails. You won't believe you're still in the city, but you'll be a short walk away from fantastic restaurants and coffee shops, gorgeous neighborhoods, and easy public transit back home.
A lovely little park right by the flat where you can have lunch from the Spitalfields Market on a sunny day.
Elder Gardens
Lamb StreetA lovely little park right by the flat where you can have lunch from the Spitalfields Market on a sunny day.
Victoria Embankment
Victoria EmbankmentA lovely park right by the Thames!
Neighborhoods
Redchurch Street, Brick Lane, and Bethnal Green Road have lots of great high-end brands as well as independent boutiques and vintage stores.
142 locals recommend
Redchurch Street
Redchurch StreetRedchurch Street, Brick Lane, and Bethnal Green Road have lots of great high-end brands as well as independent boutiques and vintage stores.
Exmouth Market
Exmouth MarketSo many great restaurants and boutiques here!