London Tips: Hotels, Restaurants, and Experiences

London is always a good idea. At least for me. The city is big, loud and sometimes a little chaotic. But London is also exciting, cosmopolitan, colourful, creative and incredibly diverse. A true world city with impressive architecture, cool neighbourhoods, beautiful parks and seemingly endless ways to spend your time. You certainly won’t get bored here.
Of course, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Tower Bridge and the usual suspects are part of any trip to London too. Especially if it’s your first visit, I’d definitely tick off the classics. But honestly, you don’t need me for that. They’re in every guidebook anyway.

That’s why this London guide focuses on the things I especially enjoyed during my travels: beautiful hotels, unique accommodations, restaurants, cafés, and a few experiences off the beaten path.

Unique Accommodations in London

Staying on a Real Narrowboat by Victoria Park

To kick things off, I have something special in store for you. Of course, London has countless beautiful hotels. From cool boutique hotels and stylish design hotels to some pretty luxurious spots, there’s really something for everyone. But how about doing things a little differently and staying on a traditional English narrowboat?

Here, you can stay on a traditional canal boat right in the heart of London while still enjoying a surprisingly peaceful side of the city. The narrowboat is moored in Hackney in East London, right on the Regent’s Canal, directly by Victoria Park.

Inside, it’s incredibly cosy and, above all, wonderfully unique. Lots of wood and a skylight that lets in plenty of natural light create a really lovely atmosphere. Despite the unusual accommodation, you won’t have to sacrifice much in terms of comfort. The narrowboat has a bedroom, a tiny private bathroom, a kitchenette and a cosy living area. So it’s perfect not just for one night, but also for a longer stay.

East London right on your doorstep

The location by Victoria Park is really beautiful, and surprisingly convenient too. At weekends, the food market is just a few steps away, and right in the park, by the pond, you’ll find a lovely café with its own bakery. Perfect for coffee and fresh pastries in the morning.
If you fancy a bit of exercise first, there’s also an outdoor fitness trail just a few minutes away. Or simply go for a walk through the park or along the canals. And within a few minutes’ walk, you’ll find plenty of nice restaurants and pubs too.

You can book your stay on the canal boat here.

The Hoxton Southwark

The The Hoxton Southwark* is exactly the kind of hotel I like in London. Casual, modern, and with plenty of character. The hotel is located just a few minutes from the Thames. You can easily explore many of London’s highlights on foot from here. And the neighborhood itself is exciting if you want to experience London a bit off the beaten path of the classic city center.

I especially love Seabird, the hotel’s restaurant and rooftop bar. On the large terrace, modern London meets laid-back boho style, and you get a pretty amazing view of the city. Especially when the weather is nice, I’d definitely grab a table outside here.

Canopy by Hilton London City

The Canopy by Hilton London City* is located in the City of London, right by Aldgate, making it a pretty convenient base if you like exploring London on foot. Tower Bridge, the Tower of London and Sky Garden are all within easy reach.
The design is modern but still cosy, without feeling as cold and impersonal as some city hotels can. And after a long day of exploring London, that’s definitely not something to underestimate

The hotel also excels when it comes to breakfast. In addition, there’s Florattica, a rooftop bar on the 11th floor, which showcases a whole different side of the hotel with its floral design and views of the London skyline.

Treehouse Hotel London

The Treehouse Hotel* caught my attention just because of its name. And the hotel really does live up to it. Lots of wood, plants, natural materials and a pretty cool boho style create a really lovely atmosphere. The rooms are cosy too and fit perfectly with the hotel’s concept.
The Treehouse is located in Marylebone, pretty centrally and just a few minutes from Oxford Street and Regent’s Park.

The Nest, the hotel’s rooftop bar and restaurant, is especially lovely. As a hotel guest, you can have breakfast here in the morning while enjoying a great view of London. For me, that alone is a pretty good reason to stay here. Starting at noon, The Nest becomes a bar and restaurant and is also open to non-hotel guests. I find the view especially beautiful during the day.

AMANO Covent Garden

The AMANO Hotel* is located in the heart of Covent Garden and puts you in one of the most exciting parts of London. Around the hotel, you’ll find plenty of cool cafés, restaurants and bars, as well as, of course, the many West End theatres. West End Theater. It’s definitely never boring here. The hotel itself is modern and stylish, but also the The Bar and the Restaurant We really liked it. The breakfast was fantastic, and it was the perfect way to start our day during our visit. And a lovely Rooftop Bar is located on the top floor. From here, you have a beautiful view of London, and in the evening you can even see the illuminated London Eye.

Fancy a bathtub with a view of London? Here you go. Our corner room actually had a golden bathtub right by the window, so we could look out over the streets of London while soaking in the tub. It doesn’t get much better than a bathtub with a view. And let’s be honest, that bathtub is pretty damn Instagram-worthy, too!

The Mandrake

The Mandrake* is definitely not a hotel I would classify as “practical and functional.” With its interior, plenty of greenery, unusual details, and a rather unique atmosphere, this boutique hotel is a real eye-catcher.

It almost feels like its own little world right in the middle of London. And that’s exactly why I think it fits so well on this list. If you’re looking for a place to stay where you value not only a comfortable bed but also design and atmosphere, you should definitely check out the Mandrake.

Gantry Hotel by Hilton

The Gantry Hotel* is located in Stratford, which feels to me almost like a small town within London. With the massive Westfield Stratford City shopping center, countless shops and restaurants, a movie theater, and the charming Stratford High Street, you really have everything right on your doorstep here. The Olympic Park, West Ham Stadium, and the ABBA Voyage show are also within easy reach. If you’re in the mood for a bit more of East London, you can also get to the Hackney Canals with their cool restaurants in no time.

The hotel itself is modern and stylish, with a good breakfast and a lovely terrace. There’s also a steakhouse up on the rooftop. For London, I think the value for money here is really good.
We’ve been staying in Stratford quite often lately, mainly because you can get into central London by Tube in around 20 minutes, while Stansted Airport is also easy to reach from here. So especially when flying from Stansted, Stratford is a really convenient alternative.

The Landmark London

The The Landmark London* is one of the city’s great five-star classics and is located in Marylebone, directly across from Marylebone Station and just a few minutes from Baker Street and Regent’s Park. Madame Tussauds, charming cafés, restaurants, and the quaint streets of Marylebone are also within easy walking distance.

The hotel is particularly known for its Winter Garden. Beneath a huge glass dome, towering palm trees surround a grand piano in the centre. The atmosphere alone is pretty impressive. You can have breakfast here or enjoy dinner with piano music playing in the background. Afternoon Tea is also served beneath the palms.

Breakfast at the Winter Garden is absolutely wonderful during a stay in London. First, enjoy a cosy breakfast beneath the palms and glass, then head straight out to explore London. It doesn’t get much more classically London than that.

Discover even more great hotels in London. The choice really is huge:

Restaurants & Cafés in London

In London, dining is just as much a part of the experience as sightseeing. And there’s truly more than enough of it. From small cafés and great pasta to chic restaurants with a view, there’s something here to suit every taste.

Here are a few spots that are especially well-suited for a break between two London adventures.

Bread Street Kitchen at 22 Bishopsgate

We discovered the restaurant at 22 Bishopsgate through a Netflix documentary featuring Gordon Ramsay, so we were really eager to try it out for ourselves. Bread Street Kitchen is part of Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant group and is located high up in the building. In addition to its modern design, there’s one thing that really stands out here: a truly amazing view of London.

At 278 meters, 22 Bishopsgate is one of London’s tallest skyscrapers and is located in the heart of the City of London, not far from Liverpool Street and Leadenhall Market. The view alone makes a visit there a special experience.

We’d already been to Bread Street Kitchen in Stratford and are big fans. Compared to the one at 22 Bishopsgate, we find it a little cosier, the menu is slightly bigger and the prices are a bit lower too. If you’re after something a little fancier and fancy some proper city vibes with a great view, then Bread Street Kitchen at 22 Bishopsgate is definitely worth a visit.

Honest Greens

If you’re looking for healthy, really good food while exploring London, HG in Soho is definitely worth checking out. The first London location is on St Anne’s Court, just a few steps from Carnaby Street. The brand originally comes from Spain, where it has numerous restaurants, particularly in cities like Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia and Alicante. London is its first location in the UK.

The menu features fresh, seasonal dishes, garden bowls, market plates, plant-based options, and a truly delicious breakfast. Much of it is freshly prepared on-site, without ultra-processed ingredients or preservatives.

And then there’s the restaurant itself: incredibly beautiful boho style, lots of attention to detail and handmade Portuguese ceramics. For me, Honest Greens fits Soho perfectly and is a great place to go when you want healthy food that looks and tastes anything but boring.

Flour & Grape

Pasta. That’s pretty much all you need to say.

Okay, maybe a little. Flour & Grape is located in Bermondsey, on Bermondsey Street, is a small pasta bar serving fresh pasta, Italian dishes, and a nice selection of wine. Especially good for London: The prices are really reasonable. Here you can get really good pasta for a relatively low price, and water is provided free of charge at the table. They don’t take reservations, so it can get pretty crowded, especially at weekends. In that case, you can ask to be put on the waiting list and head downstairs to the BCellarar for a drink while you wait. Cellar Bar for a drink while you wait. If you like pasta, you should definitely add Flour & Grape to your London itinerary.

Milk Beach

A little bit of Australia in the heart of Soho can be found at Milk Beach. The restaurant brings Australian cuisine, good coffee and a pretty relaxed atmosphere to London. The menu features modern dishes designed for sharing, seafood, grilled meats and plenty of fresh options that are easy to mix and match.

The restaurant itself is pretty impressive, too. Lots of wood, warm colours and a relaxed look create a laid-back boho style that feels like a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of Soho. There’s also a small courtyard where you can sit outside when the weather is nice.

By the way, Milk Beach isn’t just great for lunch or dinner, it’s also perfect for a leisurely breakfast. Especially on the weekend, it’s a great place to start the day in a relaxed way before heading back into the hustle and bustle of London.

Boconccino – Sunday Brunch

When Italian food is on the menu, I’m already interested. At Bocconcino in Mayfair, we booked the Sunday brunch and were pretty impressed. The buffet offers a great selection of fresh seafood, salads, hot dishes and a large dessert station. On top of that, there are dishes freshly prepared and served from the kitchen. A Sunday roast and truffle pasta are also included in the price of the brunch.

There’s also live music and a really lovely atmosphere. Combined with the food, it makes for a pretty special Sunday—and for us, definitely one of the best restaurant experiences we’ve had in London. We’d book this fantastic and unique brunch again in a heartbeat.

Inamo

At Inamo in Covent Garden , a little bit of technology is part of the dining experience. The tables are interactive: you order directly from the tabletop and can even draw or play games like air hockey or pool in between courses. Going out to eat and gaming on the side? Why not? The menu features Japanese, Chinese, and Thai dishes, mostly designed for sharing. Among other things, we had sushi and a Dragon Roll, which was actually plated to look like a little dragon. It looks cool and is just plain fun.

It’s a particularly good option with kids or teenagers, but we had just as much fun with it. Afterwards, you can wander around Covent Garden, stop for a drink or head over to the West End for a show. There’s certainly no shortage of things to do around here.

Circolo Popolare

The Circolo Popolare in Fitzrovia is part of the French Big Mamma Group, which now operates restaurants in several European countries. The group started in France, and its rather eye-catching restaurants can now be found in London and Germany, among other places.

And “eye-catching” is definitely the right word here. They certainly didn’t skimp on the interior design. Countless plants, huge mirrors, colorful tiles, lamps, and plenty of Italian kitsch make the Circolo Popolare a pretty Instagram-worthy restaurant. You don’t even know where to look first. But luckily, it’s not just about the looks. The Italian food is also really delicious, from pizza and pasta to generous desserts. So it’s a restaurant that keeps both your camera and your stomach busy.

Unique Experiences in London

London offers an incredible array of possibilities. From classic sights to shows and markets, and from art and scenic viewpoints to some pretty unusual experiences, you could probably spend weeks in the city and still have a long list of things left to do.

Sometimes it’s not that easy to decide. That’s why we’ve put together a list of a few things we’ve tried ourselves, really enjoyed, or would definitely do again on our next visit to London. And, of course, we couldn’t leave out a few classics.

Frameless

Frameless* is art, but not in the traditional sense. The immersive and partly interactive exhibition is located in Marble Arch, just a few minutes from Hyde Park and Oxford Street. Here, works of art are presented digitally and on a large scale in various rooms. The images move across walls and floors, music accompanies them, and suddenly you find yourself standing right in the middle of the artworks instead of just looking at them.

We had a lot of fun here and were surprised by how much the experience appealed to both kids and adults. We booked the first time slot of the day, and it was definitely worth it. There were only a few people there at that time, which made the rooms feel even more impressive. By the time we left, it was already noticeably busier. It was still great, of course, but if you have the choice, I’d definitely recommend going as early as possible.

The Helix

It definitely takes a little courage to do this.The Helix* is the 178-meter-long tunnel slide at the ArcelorMittal Orbit in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford and it’s not just a viewing platform. In about 40 seconds, you’ll race through 12 curves, several tight turns, and a pretty spectacular corkscrew on your way back down. The slide reaches speeds of up to 24 km/h.

The Helix is considered the longest and tallest tunnel slide in the world and is definitely one of the more unusual things to do in London. You probably shouldn’t have made a fear of heights your personal hobby. The slide is open to visitors ages 8 and up who are at least 1.30 m tall. And since you’ll be in Stratford anyway, you can easily combine this with a visit to Westfield Stratford City, the Olympic Park, or lunch at Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen in Stratford. Afterward, you can say with a clear conscience that you’ve earned your meal.

F1 Arcade

For Formula 1 fans, there’s also a pretty cool experience in London. The F1 Arcade is now located right in the heart of the City of London, directly across from St. Paul’s Cathedral at One New Change. So the location is much more central than the former site in Stratford.

It’s not just about watching—it’s about getting behind the wheel yourself. In the full-motion racing simulators, you’ll compete against each other and can race against friends or family on the track. Add to that large screens, racing sounds, and live data, and the whole experience comes pretty close to the real thing. And don’t worry: You don’t have to be a Formula 1 pro to have fun. A little ambition doesn’t hurt, though.

London Dungeon

If you’re in the mood for London’s slightly darker side, the London Dungeon* is the place to go. The attraction is located right on the South Bank, just a few steps from the London Eye. Here, some of the city’s darkest stories are brought to life with actors, elaborate sets, special effects, and plenty of dark humor. The tales include Jack the Ripper, Sweeney Todd, and the Plague, and along the way, you’ll actually learn quite a bit about London’s less pleasant history.

You’ll need a bit of a strong stomach, though. It’s the combination of live acting, darkness, and the surprise effects that makes the whole experience pretty intense. For families with older children and teenagers, it’s an exciting alternative to traditional sightseeing. And the view in front of the dungeon is definitely worth the trip on its own.

Covent Garden, the West End, Soho, and the Movies

Covent Garden is really the perfect place for an evening out in London. Around the Covent Garden Market Halls, you’ll find plenty of shops, restaurants, bars, and cafés, and there’s always something to see in the piazza, too. Not far away are Seven Dials, Neal’s Yard, Soho, and Chinatown, so from here you can easily wander on through the narrow streets. Soho is the place to go for small concept stores, quirky cafés, great restaurants, and plenty of London hustle and bustle. Add to that street performers, the Royal Opera House, and, of course, plenty of theaters.

You can spend some time browsing the shops, grab something to eat or stop for a drink before heading to a West End show. And if you’re not in the mood for theatre, you can always head to the Odeon Luxe Cinema at Leicester Square instead. The seats in the main auditorium are so spacious and comfortable that after a long day of sightseeing, you can simply put your feet up and relax.

Day Trip from London

A Trip to the Seaside: Lymington & the Isle of Wight

After a few days in London, a little bit of sea air can be a welcome change. Lymington is a charming little coastal town on the edge of the New Forest and surprisingly easy to reach from London. Trains run from Waterloo to Lymington, usually with a change at Brockenhurst. It’s definitely doable as a day trip.

In Lymington itself, you can take a leisurely stroll through the pretty streets and along the harbor, sit in a café, grab a bite to eat, or simply soak up some coastal air for a few hours. If you have more time, you can, of course, stay for a few days. And if that doesn’t sound like enough of a vacation for you, you can take the ferry from Lymington Pier to Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight, it’s about a 40-minute ride. The crossing takes you through the Solent and is a pretty nice part of the trip in its own right.

A day trip is plenty of time to see Lymington. But if you’d like to visit the Isle of Wight as well, I’d recommend planning to stay at least one night. The island simply has too much to offer to head back right after arriving, taking the ferry, and doing a little sightseeing.

I spent a few days exploring the Isle of Wight myself and have put together a separate guide with my tips for the island .

My London Takeaways:

It’s actually impossible to see all of London. And you don’t have to. On your first visit, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and Tower Bridge are, of course, must-sees. After that, though, you can safely leave the classic sightseeing list in your bag.

After all, London has so much more to offer: unique hotels, small cafés, great food, art, houseboats, rooftop bars, and even a quick trip to the seaside. Throw in a little stroll through Soho or Covent Garden, and your next day in London is already packed.

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