I headed to London in October of 2024 with my wife, Chelsea. We were in search of the best bites, iconic landmarks and everything else this magical city has to offer.
Here are my top recommendations for an unforgettable trip, and of course, what I ate along the way!
Travel
Air
We're fortunate to have two direct redeye flights from Denver to London, courtesy of United's nonstop 787 Dreamliners. I place a lot of value on comfort, so we upgraded to Premium Economy seating. It's not as comfortable as a Polaris class with the lay flat seats - however at $750 compared to $2K+ it was worth the splurge. You get a larger seat with a leg rest, like a nice recliner, a pillow, and more space than economy. This allows you to get a decent night's sleep and land in London the next morning, local time.
We tried Fount's "Flytkitt", a modern jet lag program to help you "hit the ground running." It was a regimen of supplements, protein-heavy small meals, blue light glasses, and sleep. I honestly believe it provided value, which was a welcome outcome compared to previous international flight without something like this.
Mind the Gap
Upon landing at Heathrow, we hopped on the Elizabeth line and rode the tube into town, headed towards St. Paul's Cathedral to our first stop.
Using Google Maps to navigate London's public transportation was incredibly simple. Plug in your destination, choose "transit", and it'll show you which bus or tube lines to take, and where to make transfers. We loved riding double decker buses and the tube around town.
London's public transportation is impeccable. It's widely used, clean, modern and uses Tap to Pay. We used Apple Pay, so instead of buying tickets, we just tapped our phones when entering and leaving the tube station (or just when entering a bus). Tap To Pay was prevalent throughout our trip and made us feel like locals.
Do not forget to take a famous Black Cab while in London! They're spacious for 4 riders and it's truly an experience while you zip through the city. They've recently been given a modern look from the traditional style, so you'll see both types driving around. I can't believe we don't have these in the states.
Hotels
SLH - Flemming Mayfair
This hotel is ultra posh and has everything you need. They're part of Hilton's SLH luxury collection. Mayfair is one of London's nicest areas, right by Buckingham Palace. This is one of my favorite hotels I've ever stayed at.
It boasts a Michelin star restaurant, full-service concierge, cozy cocktail bar, and afternoon tea. Rooms offer an elegant, modern, British appeal with comfortable accommodations throughout. You feel like a celebrity at this small, luxury hotel. You are located within striking distance of Buckingham Palace for the changing of the guard; directly in the heart of Mayfair's dining and shopping scene, as well as at a convenient location for riding the hop on, hop off tour, with a tour bus stop right across the street. Continental breakfast that comes with Hilton status is a must. It's a great way to start off your day with a European style, light meal. The hotel had some of our favorite pastries and coffee in all of London. The service is top notch as well (thank you, concierge, for the champagne and biscuits upon arrival for our anniversary!).
I cannot recommend this hotel enough!
Hilton's Lost Property in St. Paul's Cathedral
This modern, chic, curated hotel is located just steps away from the Millennium Bridge, Borough Market and Covent Garden and a hop skip and a jump to Shoreditch. We chose this location because it was seemingly further away from the main tourist area in our attempt to see more of London. This is definitely closer to the business district and there are less dining options outside your front door, but we were happy with the accommodations, cafe on site, and gym. The rooms were very small, but they've been recently renovated with recent modern finishes and a comfortable bed.
Food
I'd heard the rumors, "London has the worst food." While typical British food has a stigma (which is sometimes deserved, depending on the pub), London has a MASSIVE amount of wonderful global cuisines and options from all cultures. I did not find it hard to have top-notch cuisine. Especially the Indian food. We chose to check out two knock-out Indian restaurants while we were there - Dishoom and The Cinnamon Club.
Dishoom
Do not be fooled by Dishoom's mini-chain status (opening in New York in 2025). This multi-location, modern Indian restaurant boasts a full menu with vibrant flavors, gorgeous vibes and had a line out of the door and around the block when we left around 6:30pm on a Friday. Our meal featured really great cocktails, an opportunity to try grilled chicken thighs, spicy fried fish bites, and a chocolate chai to round out the night.
The Cinnamon Club
This is a beautiful restaurant with major library vibes, because it used to be one. This former Westminster Library (read: Royal) still has thick volumes lining the walls, setting the tone for the night. Their sister restaurant, Cinnamon Bazaar, has a Michelin Star. But Cinnamon Club provides an approachable, fine, modern Indian menu in a casual, lively setting, which included a visit from the Gin Trolley the moment we took our seats.
And let me tell you, when a cart with 9 types of gins rolls up the moment you take your seat, you always say, "yes".
The server walked us through the best of the menu, and we ordered fried eggplant, baked scallop on the half shell, chicken tikka masala, shrimp curry special, a mix of chutneys and garlic naan. The meal was packed with flavor, spice and everything nice.
This restaurant kicks butt.
And it has to be mentioned: JK Rowling/Robert Gailbraith's fictional character Cormoran Strike dines here, which is how this place got on our radar in the first place.
Ave Mario
This is an incredibly trendy Italian restaurant in the heart of Covent Garden, which is one of the top neighborhoods to dine in. The main floor feels like a trendy mom-and-pop restaurant. The basement feels like you're dining in a nightclub that happens to have a chef's table. Mirrors on the ceiling, boob mug cocktails, is this a restaurant or a sex club? And the bathroom is a crazy trip all on it's own.
For starters, I recommend the Prosciutto paired with the Truffle burrata. The shaved fresh truffles make the cheese starter a major highlight. Their cocktail list was small, yet features takes on modern Italian classics like negronis and Aperol spritz's
A great meal, but definitely expect for it to be a scene. We arrived 10 minutes early for our reservations, which was good because there was a line to the hostess stand. We checked-in on time, yet they had us wait around 20 minutes for our table. We ended up going to the champagne bar across the street for some bubbly.
Poppy's Fish and Chips
Hands down, this is the best Fish & Chips in London. They have 3 locations, and we dined at their original shop in Camden. It's a simple, straightforward menu with vintage British decor lining the walls.
There was a huge line outside with a consistent wait list. We were lucky to be a small table of 2 and only waited about 10 minutes to be seated. They get people in and out because they are always busy, and for good reason.
Meimei Mayfair
Walking into this restaurant feels like you're walking into a Game of Thrones brothel, with a bouncer out front and silk lined walls lining the staircase up to the dining area. It feels sexy and trendy, with vibrant colors yet dim lighting. This Michelin guide restaurant was some of the best Chinese food I've ever eaten, and was definitely a top restaurant in London.
The flavors were bold, fresh and balanced. Highlights include wasabi prawns, caramelized crispy mandarin beef (AMAZING ALERT), crispy golden Langoustines with caviar, Xiao Long Bao Jewels, Peking duck Bao and clay pot black bean eggplant along side excellent cocktails.
Afternoon Tea
You can't miss out on the opportunity to get dressed up and indulge in a favorite British pastime of enjoying afternoon tea. There are plenty of options to select from- whether it's the hotel you are staying at, or the posh The Ritz or Claridges.
Plan ahead of time! You need to book this before you make your way to London to get the best spots. Remember to check dress codes! For example, the Ritz requires a tie to enjoy Tea.
We went to the Brown Hotel with the help of our concierge at the hotel. Make sure you go hungry, because with bottomless tea, relatively affordable champagne and endless sandwiches, cakes and sweets- High Tea is quite the fun event. Make sure to book a late dinner that night!
Bars
Harrods
Located in the basement of the iconic retail labrynth that is Harrods, this art-deco bar had some of the most interesting, delicious drinks I've ever had. The cocktail list was extensive and unique. We ordered some really great drinks. This place is welcoming for tired shoppers during the day, and I suspect there is a more exclusive crowd there later in the evening.
Beaufort at Savoy Hotel
I've never stumbled into a more exclusive, fun party in my life. We had to wait 45 mins to get in, but it was worth It (tip: learn from my mistake! Make reservations!). Lush seating areas were spaced out far enough away from each other to feel intimate, but the DJ brought an energy that kept us out until 1am even though we were jet lagged.
The Beaufort is in the Savoy hotel, which houses it's own theatre. Mean Girls was playing, and the menu featured Mean Girls themed drinks (how fetch).
And it must be said: the Caviar Martini was one of the most ridiculous things I've ever ordered, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. It arrived in a block of ice, and people sitting at the bar were videoing me. You'll have to watch the video below to see the whole thing.
The World's End
This place is unapologetically a dark, dusty, ancient punk rock bar. This isn't gourmet, and please don't order the food. But if you're in Camden, you've got to pop in for a pint. It's huge, with a labyrinth of rooms and levels and heavy metal music playing 24/7 (their live music venue, The Underground, is located below). There's been a pub here for 400+ years, and it's been called The World's End since 1985. It's an establishment.
Mr Foggs
Located in the middle of Mayfair, this cocktail bar feels as if you're stepping into a historic mansion and joining an exclusive underground party. The walls are lined with curiosities and the cocktails are the most imaginative I've ever seen. One of my drinks included a toothbrush, coated in sugar, which I was instructed to use to stir. Another was served in a hot air balloon. Make sure to make a reservation on Opentable before showing up!
Cheese at Leadenhall
This is one of the coolest places I've ever stumbled into. This wine shop, Cheese, has seating outside in Leadenhall Market, which is outside but covered by domed, arched glass above. This place just feels magical. It's no wonder it's where Harry Potter's Diagon Alley was filmed, and what Timothee Chalamet's Wonka shop was inspired by, amongst many other major motion pictures.
Wish List:
Bank of London Bar: We stumbled into the bar late on Sunday trying to get the roast - but were sad to know they close the kitchen early and had to pivot. Next time!
Claridges for High Tea: this is supposed to be the best High Tea in London, even better than the Ritz. Next time I'd make resos in advance!
Markets
The Borough Market
This is London's top food market. It's bustling and busy, and for good reason. You can get just about any cuisine here, and every single bite is out of this world. We came here twice while we were staying near St. Paul's Cathedral and were happy that we did.
We enjoyed Brandisa Tapas for some Spanish white wine and really great food. Seats are hard to come by at Borough Market, but they have a nice bar counter to enjoy your food as they cook in front of you.
Black Pig's famous truffle parmesan pork sandwich was absolutely amazing and worth the wait!
Bread Ahead served up amazing doughnuts with long lines and creative flavors like Creme Brule and jelly stuffed options.
And of course we got some of the viral chocolate covered strawberries. They were delicious, but made sure to eat them quickly, while the chocolate is still hot.
Portobello Market
This market is in the heart of Notting Hill, and apparently is where my wife would live in the unlikely event we relocate to London and win the lottery.
The walk to the market from the tube takes you by quaint, pastel painted townhomes of the lucky residents. This place has everything: antiques, silver, jewelry, vintage jackets, scarfs, wool goods. This is exactly what I imagine when I think of an English market. In addition to the goods, there is an entire food market as well. Get there early, it gets shoulder-to-shoulder busy quickly.
Camden Market
This place was completely made over in 2015 and renamed Hawley Warf. Long gone are the standalone market stalls. This is now a permanent, 4 story building with 60+ vendors. The average patron was 20s, so we definitely felt old, but enjoyed walking around and pursuing the music inspired goods (with a focus on punk rock and modern artists like Taylor Swift and Harry Styles), leather stalls, knock off designer goods. It just keeps going and going. If you've got someone under 30 in tow, definitely stop by!
Please enjoy some extra photos from our fantastic trip to London!
