A Local's Guide to: LONDON

London is one of the most magical places to visit. Why you may ask? There are so many places to see and things to do. I've been three times and each time there is something exciting and new to explore! I love finding places that are off the beaten path. Places that locals flock to after work. Places that give you the feeling of living in London. There are always many must-dos whenever I go to London and the list keeps getting longer every time I visit. These are things I wouldn't want to pass up. Here is a list of what I love to do and hope it will inspire people to explore this magical city and live like a local Londoner!!

where to stay:

K+K HOTEL GEORGE - KENSINGTON

This is luxury at an affordable price! The hotel is beautifully decorated and has comfortable rooms. I felt right at home and had the most amazing view from my window. The K+K George Hotel is in a neighborhood so you don't feel like you are a tourist.

I've stayed in Kensington multiple times and have become so familiar with the location. I love staying in the Royal Borough of Kensington. It is centrally located and there are so many things to do within the borough. The K+K George Hotel is located less than 5 minutes to the Earl Court Underground Station that provides the Piccadilly and District lines. These connect you to Covent Gardens, Green Park, South Kensington (V+A Museum), High Street Kensington (shopping), Knightsbridge (Harrods and shopping), Monument, and even Heathrow Airport. Super convenient to have a tube station within minutes of where you are staying. It makes exploring London that much easier!

Location:

1-15, Templeton Pl, Earls Court, London SW5 9NB

+44 20 7598 8700

https://www.kkhotels.com/en/london/hotel-george

DOUBLE TREE BY HILTON HOTEL LONDON - WESTMINSTER

I stayed in Westminster with my mom at the DoubleTree. It was a nice hotel with a beautiful view of the city. Though it was centrally located, it was in the business district of Westminster. It took a bit to walk to the tube station, but that allowed us to explore the surrounding area. We found beautiful parks and buildings. It's a fun place to stay if you are looking to be more in the city.

Location:

30 John Islip St, Westminster, London SW1P 4DD

+44 20 7630 1000

places to eat:

THE MUFFIN MAN

This is the place to go if you want traditional scones and tea. I always have to go here one, two, or three times on my trip to London.

I stumbled upon this with my study abroad friends and have been hooked on it ever since. I always get the Devon Cream Tea Set which comes with a pot of tea (get the Gingerbread Orange Rooibos Tea...worth the extra charge for sure) and two scones with jam and devon cream. SO GOOD!! It's making me hungry right now. The Muffin Man has a cute atmosphere with teal table cloths...however it does get busy with locals around lunch time and they only take cash so be prepared for that. If you are limited on the time you have in London, make sure to set aside an hour to enjoy this delicious food!

Location:

12 Wrights Ln, Kensington, London W8 6TA

+44 20 7937 6652

http://www.themuffinmanteashop.co.uk/

THE NED

The Ned is a hotel but offers 8 different restaurants and bars with live music in the most elegant setting. The decor is gorgeous...with Mid-century Modern and Victorian furniture, it feels like you've stepped back in time. The open layout concept makes the environment feel large and allows the live music to spread throughout the space.

I went to Millie's Lounge which is a British Restaurant and Bar with a cozy atmosphere. There's lots of seating for large groups and a bar. It was fun to sit at the bar and interact with the bartender. He made us these special red Christmas cocktails that he created himself. They were so delicious!! It became busy in the evening because of it being the end of the work day. Yet, it's a place that Londoners come to after work with their friends and coworkers to enjoy time together. I definitely have The Ned on my list when I come back to London. It's a place that you could go to so often and never get tired of it.

at Millie's with the bartender making his special Christmas Cocktail

Location:

27 POULTRY, EC2R 8AJ + 44 (0)20 3828 2000

https://www.thened.com/

SUSHISAMBA

An amazing view overlooking London! This is a perfect place to get a drink with friends after work. There is an outdoor patio with a large tree and bar area that would be perfect on a summer's day. The eating area has a beautiful view and amazing decor. Unfortunately when I went it was cold and rainy, so I just explored the restaurant with my friend who wanted to show me. It gets popular after work and on weekends so think about making a reservation before going. When I come back to London I want to go here!

Location:

110 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AY

+44 20 3640 7330

https://sushisamba.com/london/

THE BATH BUN

Want to get out of the city and explore a quaint English town? Head over to Bath, England to find a medieval city full of rich history. The Bath Bun is a must for traditional English high tea! It is off the beaten path, but does tend to get busy. Located in Abbey Green, the location is nice to get away from tourists around the Roman Baths. The Classic High Tea consisted of your choice of tea, scones, bread, chocolate, clotted cream, strawberry jam, and sandwiches. This is probably one of the most English experiences I've ever had.

Location:

2 Abbey Green, Bath, BA1 1NW

01225 463928

http://www.thebathbun.com/index.html

things to explore:

NOTTING HILL

Such a cute and colorful borough of London! This is a must do to see beautiful buildings and amazing little shops. So many houses are painted in beautiful and vibrant colors. The flower shops are no different either. I would love to live here just to buy bouquets of flowers every week. The Portobello Market is a fun street market to explore with vendors selling a variety of merchandise.

There are many cute tea shops to explore. My mom and I stumbled upon the Biscuit Boutique which had fun shaped cookies and tea. Of course there is the famous Notting Hill Bookshop...the one from the movie Notting Hill with Julia Roberts. The shops are unique and eclectic. Last summer, I found a liquidation sale of BCBG and was amazed by the variety of clothing they provided at an extremely discounted price. Of course I left buying a few items!

EXMOUTH MARKET

My friend wanted to show me this street she found on her walks to school with lights and when we got there, I was amazed! The Exmouth Market is a cute street located in Islington. I'm not sure if the lights are just because of it being Christmas time or if they are up year round, but it makes the street so magical. The shops were amazing as well. There is a plant shop, called Botanique Workshop, that made me want to buy every plant. There were cute stationary shops as well as clothing shops and bakeries. Just by walking on the street, I instantly wanted to spend more time here, especially at the various coffee shops and restaurants!!

Information:

http://exmouth.london/

SKY GARDEN

What's better than a garden on the top of a building with a 360 degree view of London? It being FREE!!

This is London's highest public garden (and no reservation needed to go up!) This was such a fun place to explore, even on a cold and rainy November day. There are a few restaurants and bars that you can enjoy, but it's also just as fun to walk around the garden and look at the view of the city.

The Sky Garden is such a unique place to explore and an amazing place for a photoshoot! It would be amazing to watch the sunset at the Sky Garden on a clear summer night. Another place I will have to come back and visit.

Location:

20 Fenchurch St, London EC3M 8AF

+44 20 7337 2344

https://skygarden.london/

LEADENHALL MARKET

We found this market on our walk from the Sky Garden to SUSHISAMBA. It's this street that is covered and has restaurants lining both sides in the heart of the City of London. It was beautifully decorated for Christmas and had an old London feel.

The Leadenhall Market was established in 1321. Yes read that again...1321!! So old with so much history. As we were walking by, there were amazing looking restaurants and shops to explore. This is a place we would've never found if we took the tube. I find it so fun to explore and stop at places that catch my eye. I enjoy this type of traveling because I'm able to find these gems that I would've never found otherwise!

Location:

Gracechurch St London EC3V 1LT

+44 20 7332 1523

https://www.leadenhallmarket.co.uk/

Hope this small list of some of my favorite places inspires you to explore more of London and find unique places you love!!

xx - Kylee