Guidebook for London
Food Scene
Check out the home made food, bread and cakes in this funky and friendly cafe owned and run by a lovely Swedish lady called Sophia (say Airbnb Steve sent you). The coffee is great and there's a secret garden out the back. Cool soul and R&B is on the iPad.
21 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Alma's
35 Park ParadeCheck out the home made food, bread and cakes in this funky and friendly cafe owned and run by a lovely Swedish lady called Sophia (say Airbnb Steve sent you). The coffee is great and there's a secret garden out the back. Cool soul and R&B is on the iPad.
This is a warm, welcoming and atmospheric traditional pub (with upstairs beer garden) that has morphed into a great gastro-pub. The food is terrific and the service is friendly and efficient. Just remember to order at the bar. a 3 minute walk away.
25 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Royal Oak
86 St Anns RdThis is a warm, welcoming and atmospheric traditional pub (with upstairs beer garden) that has morphed into a great gastro-pub. The food is terrific and the service is friendly and efficient. Just remember to order at the bar. a 3 minute walk away.
This is large restaurant and bar with good, reasonably priced food. You can eat al-fresco and there's usually a DJ at weekends playing funky soul and R&B.
12 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Park Kitchen Restaurant
1 Manor Park RdThis is large restaurant and bar with good, reasonably priced food. You can eat al-fresco and there's usually a DJ at weekends playing funky soul and R&B.
This stylish cafe has a large, sunny terrace and is owned by two house music DJs, so you can guess what's playing on the sound system. Great for brunch - but not after 3pm, when it's just cakes and coffee (or a toasted sandwich if you're lucky). Open in the evening until 10.30 (good selection of wines and beers and artisan pizzas). Closed on Mondays.
35 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Rubio
43 Park ParadeThis stylish cafe has a large, sunny terrace and is owned by two house music DJs, so you can guess what's playing on the sound system. Great for brunch - but not after 3pm, when it's just cakes and coffee (or a toasted sandwich if you're lucky). Open in the evening until 10.30 (good selection of wines and beers and artisan pizzas). Closed on Mondays.
This is MY personal favourite. It's worth taking the Overground (towards Stratford) to West Hampstead for this wonderful, independent cafe/restaurant. The food, coffee and cakes are all superb and brunchy things are served until 4pm daily. How civilised! Check all the posh charity shops (there are five in row), the wonderful flower shop - and there's also a small Waitrose. They play a great selection of music too - but just in the background. Plenty of plugs by the window for your laptop or phone, and free Wifi, of course. It's also a great romantic, intimate, candlelit evening destination as well, where there are occasional live music performances.
80 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Wet Fish Cafe
242 West End LaneThis is MY personal favourite. It's worth taking the Overground (towards Stratford) to West Hampstead for this wonderful, independent cafe/restaurant. The food, coffee and cakes are all superb and brunchy things are served until 4pm daily. How civilised! Check all the posh charity shops (there are five in row), the wonderful flower shop - and there's also a small Waitrose. They play a great selection of music too - but just in the background. Plenty of plugs by the window for your laptop or phone, and free Wifi, of course. It's also a great romantic, intimate, candlelit evening destination as well, where there are occasional live music performances.
Arts & Culture
So much to see for free. Take the Bakerloo Line Southbound to Embankment. Walk across Hungerford Bridge (awesome views of The City) to the Royal Festival Hall (check for free performances in the lobby - this applies too all the performance spaces). Stay on the raised walkway and walk Eastwards taking in the sights, buskers, street food, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, The Oxo Tower artisan galleries, The Tate Modern Art Gallery (take the lift to the top of The Switch House for the FREE viewing gallery), The Golden Hynde, Borough Market (Foodie Heaven), City Hall, Tower Bridge and so much more.
436 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Southbank Centre
So much to see for free. Take the Bakerloo Line Southbound to Embankment. Walk across Hungerford Bridge (awesome views of The City) to the Royal Festival Hall (check for free performances in the lobby - this applies too all the performance spaces). Stay on the raised walkway and walk Eastwards taking in the sights, buskers, street food, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, The Oxo Tower artisan galleries, The Tate Modern Art Gallery (take the lift to the top of The Switch House for the FREE viewing gallery), The Golden Hynde, Borough Market (Foodie Heaven), City Hall, Tower Bridge and so much more.
A totally unique, wide-screen, immersive visual experience beneath Waterloo Station. Unmissable. And it's FREE.
6 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
El Túnel del Graffiti
Leake StreetA totally unique, wide-screen, immersive visual experience beneath Waterloo Station. Unmissable. And it's FREE.
Parks & Nature
The views of London are spectacular from this huge natural park known as 'The Lung Of London'. Make sure you visit Kenwood House as well, which is on the Eastern side of the Heath. From Willesden Junction Station, take the Overground towards Stratford to Hampstead Heath from Platform 4.
1215 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Hampstead Heath
The views of London are spectacular from this huge natural park known as 'The Lung Of London'. Make sure you visit Kenwood House as well, which is on the Eastern side of the Heath. From Willesden Junction Station, take the Overground towards Stratford to Hampstead Heath from Platform 4.
These historic botanical gardens are just amazing. Book online for discounts. You need a whole day to fully appreciate the delights that are in store for you. Plenty of quality food outlets for lunch options - or why not take a picnic? Just a few stops on the Overground towards Richmond from good ol' Willesden Junction station.
166 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Kew Gardens station
Station ApproachThese historic botanical gardens are just amazing. Book online for discounts. You need a whole day to fully appreciate the delights that are in store for you. Plenty of quality food outlets for lunch options - or why not take a picnic? Just a few stops on the Overground towards Richmond from good ol' Willesden Junction station.
The view (and sunset) is incredible from this historic observatory - where the term 'Greenwich Meantime' originated from. To get there, take the scenic route! Take the Overground (toward Clapham Junction) from Willesden Junction to Shepherd's Bush. Check out the enormous Westfield Shopping centre (great for brunch - there's a huge choice of cafes and restaurants), before getting the Central Line Underground Eastbound to Bank. Take the DLR (Docklands Light Railway) towards Lewisham to Island Gardens.. It's best to go on a weekend so that you can bag a seat in the front (these are driverless trains) with your cameras. Walk through the historic Greenwich Foot Tunnel to Greenwich.
612 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Observatorio Real de Greenwich
Blackheath AvenueThe view (and sunset) is incredible from this historic observatory - where the term 'Greenwich Meantime' originated from. To get there, take the scenic route! Take the Overground (toward Clapham Junction) from Willesden Junction to Shepherd's Bush. Check out the enormous Westfield Shopping centre (great for brunch - there's a huge choice of cafes and restaurants), before getting the Central Line Underground Eastbound to Bank. Take the DLR (Docklands Light Railway) towards Lewisham to Island Gardens.. It's best to go on a weekend so that you can bag a seat in the front (these are driverless trains) with your cameras. Walk through the historic Greenwich Foot Tunnel to Greenwich.
Everything Else
This is a unique market. Golborne Road Market is the coolest part. The trashy touristy end is at the Notting Hill Gate end. It's very long! Take the Overground toward Clapham Junction to Shepherd's Bush (platform 5, I think, at Willesden Junction). Then cross the road (you might want to check out the HUGE Westfield Shopping Centre too) to the Underground station and take the Central Line Eastbound to Notting Hill Gate. Follow the sign or ask to go to Portobello Road and walk all the way down to Goldborne Road for great vintage finds, street food and Portuguese cafes. Then get the 18 bus back to Harlesden Jubilee Clock (just around the corner from NCY) from Harrow Road.
860 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Mercado de Portobello
73a Lewisham High StThis is a unique market. Golborne Road Market is the coolest part. The trashy touristy end is at the Notting Hill Gate end. It's very long! Take the Overground toward Clapham Junction to Shepherd's Bush (platform 5, I think, at Willesden Junction). Then cross the road (you might want to check out the HUGE Westfield Shopping Centre too) to the Underground station and take the Central Line Eastbound to Notting Hill Gate. Follow the sign or ask to go to Portobello Road and walk all the way down to Goldborne Road for great vintage finds, street food and Portuguese cafes. Then get the 18 bus back to Harlesden Jubilee Clock (just around the corner from NCY) from Harrow Road.
Essentials
Open until 11pm every night except Sunday, 5pm. Cheapest for booze.
405 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Tesco Metro
224-226 Portobello RdOpen until 11pm every night except Sunday, 5pm. Cheapest for booze.
Shopping
A huge international supermarket that is open 24/7. The fruit and veg section is particularly good, and there's a Polish bakery and a Portuguese deli.
11 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Way 2 Save
37-41 High St A huge international supermarket that is open 24/7. The fruit and veg section is particularly good, and there's a Polish bakery and a Portuguese deli.
This legendary market is a must-visit on so many levels. Shoes, clothes, antiques, streetfood, buskers, live music, hundreds of stalls, vintage, punk, vinyl, goth, psychedelia, history, culture, the canal, boat trips, restaurants, MTV headquarters... the list goes on and on. To get there is easy: take the Overground train towards Stratford to Camden Road (20 minutes) from Willesden Junction. Turn right out the station and right again down to the canal towpath by Costa Coffee. Keep walking until you reach the market!
1028 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Mercado de Camden
54-56 Camden Lock PlThis legendary market is a must-visit on so many levels. Shoes, clothes, antiques, streetfood, buskers, live music, hundreds of stalls, vintage, punk, vinyl, goth, psychedelia, history, culture, the canal, boat trips, restaurants, MTV headquarters... the list goes on and on. To get there is easy: take the Overground train towards Stratford to Camden Road (20 minutes) from Willesden Junction. Turn right out the station and right again down to the canal towpath by Costa Coffee. Keep walking until you reach the market!
Drinks & Nightlife
Go on Friday or Saturday, because you get a great selection of bars and clubs playing mostly black music - with free entry. Take the Overground to Camden Road (18 mins). Then it's a five-minute walk. Getting back? Hell, take an Uber.
Inverness Street Market
Inverness StreetGo on Friday or Saturday, because you get a great selection of bars and clubs playing mostly black music - with free entry. Take the Overground to Camden Road (18 mins). Then it's a five-minute walk. Getting back? Hell, take an Uber.
Head for Euston on the Overground (check online on tfl.gov.org as there only three trains an hour). Then take the Northern Line Underground Southbound via Bank to Old Street. Just wander around and follow the crowds to find your fun. A great Saturday Night Out. Check timeout.com for more info.
620 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Shoreditch
Head for Euston on the Overground (check online on tfl.gov.org as there only three trains an hour). Then take the Northern Line Underground Southbound via Bank to Old Street. Just wander around and follow the crowds to find your fun. A great Saturday Night Out. Check timeout.com for more info.