London Information

Some helpful information about London gathered from various sources

Arrival in London Lodging Things to Do Dining

These recommendations are from third parties. I do not have any personal information about these places. Take the recommendations but make allowance for the fact that tastes vary and you may find a different experience than what you read here.

This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

The London Pass

Go to the London Pass website to get The London Pass and get free entry to over 55 attractions and tours, and be able to skip the lines at various attractions as well as a guidebook with information about the attractions. And you can add a travel card option for unlimited travel on all public transport in London. There are additional special offers and discounts at many shops and restaurants.
You order the card onlne and choose the duration and, if desired, add the travel option. Then you can either have it sent to you or pick it up in London.
If you only visit the top ten attrations in London the London Pass will save you money even if you add the travel option. If you visit other sites, you will save even more.

Miscellaneous

Check out Britain's 50 best foodie addresses from The Telegraph, a London newspaper.

Arrival in London

There are three major airports that serve London: Heathrow, Stansted and Gatwick. In addition, there is London City Airport (closest airport to Central London) and London Luton Airport (a favourite with budget travellers.)

There is a variety of public and private transportation options available that you can use to get from the airport to your hotel.
You can go to the Visit London website to get information about the ways to go from the airports to your hotel.
Another great London resource is The Ultimate Travel Guide to London The Best Things To Do, See & Much More! from UpgradedPoints.com.

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Lodging

These recommendations are from third parties. I do not have any first hand information about these places. Take the recommendations but make allowance for the fact that tastes vary and you may find a different experience than what you read here.

Hotels

Or if you'd rather rent an apartment:

Unhotel

• One Fine Stay Live Like a Local
  Stay in someone's place while they are out of town. Live their life for a few days and nights. Act like you own the place. Because, for a few days, you do.
  Booking a stay is as easy as booking a hotel room. And there's service to match.

Camping

Yes, camping in or near London

• Caravan/Campsite
  Information from VisitLondon about campsites handy for central London.
• Camping in London
  A List of London Campsites from LoveCamping
• London Camp Sites and Caravan Sites
  Information from UKCampsite, the online destination for caravanners and campers.
• London Campsites
  Information from LondonNet about London campsites.

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Things to do

These recommendations are from third parties. I do not have any first hand information about these places. Take the recommendations but make allowance for the fact that tastes vary and you may find a different experience than what you read here.

• Miscellaneous
• The Official Website of the British Monarchy
• What To Do in London on a Rainy Day from New York Habitat
• East London city break guide from the travel section of The Telegraph.
• City of London guide from the travel section of The Telegraph.
• Free Things to Do with the Kids in London this Summer from New York Habitat
• 50 free things to do in London: part one — central from The Guardian
• 50 free things to do in London: part two — east and south from The Guardian
• 50 free things to do in London: part three — north from The Guardian
• City of London Corporation
• The Mayor's Thames Festival London's largest outdoor arts festival. Check the website to see if you will be in London during the festival.
• Take a walk on The Queen's Walk
  You can start near Big Ben, cross the Westminster Bridge, walk along the south bank of the River Thames, and then cross back on the Millennium footbridge and on to St. Paul's Cathedral. Or you can take the walk in the opposite direction.
  If you walk this path in a leisurely fashion, it should take about two hours to walk the few miles. However, there are many popular tourist and visitor attractions, as well as shops, cafes, bars and restaurants, along the way. So you could make a day of it.
  Click on the link to see the many things there are to see along this path, including: the London Eye; The Royal National Theatre; Tate Modern; Shakespeare's Globe Theatre reconstruction; and lots more.
• Brick Lane
  In an area once associated with slums and Jack the Ripper is Brick Lane with shops, cafes, restaurants, markets, etc.
• Speakers' Corner
  On the North East corner of Hyde Park is an area where people can lecture to the crowd on Sundays from 12:00pm to 7:30pm about any subject.
  Address: Cumberland Gate, Hyde Park, London
  Telephone:
  Email:
  Tube: The nearest underground station is Marble Arch on the Central line
• London Glassblowing Studio and Gallery
  Free admission helps offset the heat from the ovens melting the glass in the studio as you watch talented artists create wondrous works of art before your eyes.
  Address: 62-66 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3UD south of the Thames
  Telephone: +44 0207 403 2800
  Email: info@londonglassblowing.co.uk
  Tube: The nearest underground station is London Bridge on the Northern or Jubilee lines
• Entertainment
• Check out this information from A Luxury Travel Blog about the theatre in London: Top tips for the ultimate luxury theatre break in London
• Historical Attractions
• Brixton Windmill
  From the website:
  Brixton Windmill is a tangible reminder to all Londoners of the close links that the capital had with agriculture and food production.
  Address: Windmill Gardens, West end of Blenheim Gardens, Off Brixton Hill, London, SW2 5EU
  Telephone: +44 020 7926 6213
  Email: smaccoll@lambeth.gov.uk
• Buckingham Palace
  Today this is the administrative headquarters of the Queen, but has been the official London residence of the Monarch since 1837. If you want to see the changing of the guard, it occurs at 11:30 every morning. If you want to tour the palace, go to the Buckingham Palace page of the Royal Collections website.
  Address: Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA
  Telephone: +44 (0)20 7766 7300
  Email: bookinginfo@royalcollection.org.uk (This e-mail is only for enquiries about visiting the royal residences)
  Tube: The nearest underground stations are Victoria, Green Park and Hyde Park Corner
• Churchill War Rooms
  These are the actual rooms that Winston Churchill used as offices during World War II. Located under the Treasury building, you can explore the secret headquarters where Churchill and his staff changed the course of history.
  Address: Clive Steps, King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AQ, United Kingdom
  Telephone: +44 020 7930 6961
  Email: cwr@iwm.org.uk
  Tube: Use Westminster on the District, Jubilee and Circle lines or St. James Park on the District and Circle lines
• Monument to the Great Fire of London 1666
  This is a 60.6m doric column completed in 1677 and designed by Sir Christopher Wren and Dr Robert Hooke as a memorial to the Great Fire. You can climb the 331 steps to get great panoramic views of the city.
  Address: Fish Street Hill, The City EC3R 6DB, United Kingdom
  Telephone: +44 (0) 207 626 2717
  Email: enquiries@towerbridge.org.uk
  Tube: Use Monument on the District and Circle lines or London Bridge on the Northern and Jubilee lines
• Tower of London
  In the early 1080s, William the Conqueror began to build a massive stone tower at the centre of his London fortress. Nothing like it had ever been seen before. Through the centuries that followed, successive monarchs added to the fortifications.
  More than just a tower, the Tower of London is a castle with the "White Tower" in the middle. The building that houses the Crown Jewels is located here also.
  After buying a ticket, you wait near the entrance and a Yoeman Warder (Beefeater) will come along and be your guide.
  Address: The Tower of London, London, England EC3N 4AB
  Telephone: +44 (0)20 3166 6000
  Email: visitorservices_TOL@hrp.org.uk
• Churches
• St. Paul's Cathedral
  The current English Baroque cathedral was built between 1675 and 1710 by Sir Christopher Wren after the great fire which destroyed much of London in 1666.
  St Paul's is the cathedral of the Diocese of London. Here are some of the things you can do here: Climb the Dome; Go on a touchscreen multimedia tour; Discover the crypt (buried here are Sir Christopher Wren, Admiral Lord Nelson and the Duke of Wellington as well as other heroes of England); Travel back in time in an immersive film experience; Treat yourself to afternoon tea in The Restaurant at St Paul's.
  Address: St Paul's Churchyard, London, EC4M 8AD
  Telephone: +44 020 7246 8357
  Email: admissions@stpaulscathedral.org.uk
• Temple Church
  Built in the late 12th century, this church was built by the Knights Templar and contains effigies of crusading knights on the floor.
  This church was featured in The Davinci Code.
  Address: Temple, London EC4Y 7BB, United Kingdom
  Telephone: +44 020 7353 8559
  Email: catherine@templechurch.com
  Tube: The nearest underground stations are Temple and Blackfriars stations on the Circle and District lines
• Westminster Abbey
  The iconic, magnificent church where Kings have been crowned, royals have been married and some of the most famous kings, queens, statesmen, soldiers, poets, priests, heroes and villains are buried.
  Address: 20 Dean's Yard, London SW1P 3PA, United Kingdom
  Telephone: +44 020 7222 5152
  Email: info@westminster-abbey.org
  Tube: The nearest underground stations are St James's Park on the District and Circle Lines or Westminster on the Jubilee, District & Circle Lines
• Parks & Gardens
• Chelsea Physic Garden
  From the website:
  An independent charity committed to the conservation and demonstration of plants used by mankind
  Address: 66 Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, London, SW3 4HS, United Kingdom
  Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7349 6458
  Email: enquiries@chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk
  Tube: The nearest tube station is Sloane Square on the District and Circle lines
• Hyde Park
  There are several facilities and attractions in the park (check the website) or it's a great place to just take a stroll, picnic or just relax.
  Address: Hyde Park, London W2 2UH, United Kingdom
  Telephone: +44 0300 061 2000
  Email:
  Tube: There are several stations around the park — check the tube maps to find the best one for you.
• Kew Royal Botanic Gardens
  From the website:
  The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew was founded in 1759, and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003. Alongside Kew Gardens in London, Kew has a second country garden based at Wakehurst which is the home of Kew's Millennium Seed Bank. As well as being one of London's top visitor attractions, Kew is also a world leader in plant science and conservation.
  Address: Kew Gardens Rd, Richmond. Surrey, Greater London, TW9 3AB, United Kingdom
  Telephone: +44 (0)20 8332 5000
  Email:
• Primrose Hill
  Primrose Hill is a park (with a hill) just north of Regent's Park and is also the name of the surrounding district of London. This is a good place to relax or bring a picnic lunch.
  Check the website for current events.
  Address: Primrose Hill, London, United Kingdom
  Telephone:
  Email: information@primrosehill.com
  Tube: The nearest tube station is Chalk Farm on the Northern line
• Museums
• Dennis Severs' House
  From the website:
  Find out how a family of Huguenot silk weavers lived in the early 18th century through a game where you work your way through 10 rooms lit by fire and candles, receiving stimulations to your senses,
  Address: 18 Folgate Street, Spitalfields, London E1 6BX
  Telephone: +44 020 7247 4013
  Email: info@dennissevershouse.co.uk
• Charles Dickens Museum
  From the website:
  Visitors entering the building will feel as if Dickens has just left the building and might return at any moment. The stories and customs relating to each room will be told by Dickens himself, using his words and descriptions of domestic life in the Victorian era.
  Address: 48 Doughty Street, London, WC1N 2LX
  Telephone: +44 020 7405 2127
  Email: info@dickensmuseum.com
  Tube: Russell Square (Piccadilly Line), Chancery Lane or Holborn
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• Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art
  Futurist masterpieces from Umberto Boccioni, Giacomo Balla, Carlo Carra and others can be found at the only gallery devoted to Italian Art in Britain
  Address: 39a Canonbury Square, London N1 2AN , United Kingdom
  Telephone: +44 (0)20 7704 9522
  Email: info@estorickcollection.com
  Tube: Highbury & Islington station on the Victoria Line
• Guildhall Art Gallery and London's Roman Amphitheatre
  From the website:
  Guildhall Art Gallery is home to the City of London's art collection. The original gallery opened in 1886 and was destroyed during a severe air raid in May 1941. In 1988, following the decision to rebuild the Gallery on its original site, Museum of London archaeologists discovered Roman London's Amphitheatre during routine archaeological investigations. The new building was redesigned to incorporate the ruins of the amphitheatre and officially opened in 1999.
  Address: Guildhall Yard, London, EC2V 5AE
  Telephone: 020 7332 3700
  Email: guildhall.artgallery@cityoflondon.gov.uk
• Horniman Museum and Gardens
  Good place to visit for adults and children as well.
  From the website:
  We've been open since Victorian times, when Frederick John Horniman first opened his house and extraordinary collection of objects to visitors. Since then, our collection has grown tenfold and includes internationally important collections of anthropology and musical instruments, as well as an acclaimed aquarium and natural history collection.
  Address: 100 London Road, Forest Hill, London, SE23 3PQ
  Telephone: +44 020 8699 1872
  Email: enquiry@horniman.ac.uk
• Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb Garret
  The oldest operating theatre in Europe, it is located in the Herb Garret (attic) of St. Thomas Church which was part of the old St. Thomas Hospital. This is a very unusual museum located in the roof space of the baroque St. Thomas Church.
  Address: 9a St. Thomas's St. London SE1 9RY
  Telephone: +44 0207 188 2679
  Email: curator@thegarret.org.uk
  Tube: The nearest underground station is London Bridge on the Northern or Jubilee lines
• Whitechapel Gallery
  From the website:
  For over a century the Whitechapel Gallery has premiered world-class artists from modern masters such as Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko and Frida Kahlo to contemporaries such as Sophie Calle, Lucian Freud, Gilbert & George and Mark Wallinger.
  Address: 77-82 Whitechapel High Street, London E1 7QX
  Telephone: +44 (0)20 7522 7888
  Email: info@whitechapelgallery.org
• Shopping
• Borough Market
  Borough Market is London's most renowned food market; a source of exceptional British and international produce. Since its renaissance as a retail market just over a decade ago, it has become a haven for anybody who cares about the quality and provenance of the food they eat — chefs, restaurateurs, passionate amateur cooks and people who just happen to love eating and drinking.
  Address: 8 Southwark St, London SE1 1TL United Kingdom
  Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7407 1002
  Email: info@boroughmarket.org.uk
  Tube: The nearest underground station is London Bridge on the Jubilee and Northern lines
• Harrods
  Encompassing seven floors of exquisite collections across 4.5 acres, Harrods welcomes over 15 million customers through their doors each year. An exciting place to visit, especially the food shops in the basement.
  Address: 87-135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7XL United Kingdom
  Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7730 1234
  Email:

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Dining

These recommendations are from third parties. I do not have any first hand information about these places. Take the recommendations but make allowance for the fact that tastes vary and you may find a different experience than what you read here.

Pubs.com Independent Guide to Traditional English Pubs. You can search for pubs in London or search by neighborhood, like Soho, Covent Garden, Westminster, etc.

• Afternoon Tea

• Afternoon Tea at the Dorchester Hotel
  If you are interested in taking afternoon tea, then this spot overlooking Hyde Park is a great choice. "Afternoon Tea" is not just sitting down to a cup of tea. There will be finger sandwiches (smoked salmon on granary bread, cucumber with cream cheese), scones with homemade jams and Cornish clotted cream and a plate of cakes and tartlets accompanied by live music. Check the website for various options.
  Address: Park Lane, Mayfair, London, W1K1QA England
  Telephone: +44 20 7629 8888
  Email: reservations.TDL@dorchestercollection.com
  Tube: The nearest underground stations: Hyde Park Corner on the Piccadilly line or Marble Arch on the Central line
• Afternoon Tea at the Wolseley
  Full Afternoon Tea from 3.00pm on weekdays and 3.30pm at weekends. It consists of assorted finger sandwiches, fruit scones, a selection of pastries and choice of teas every day. All of the scones and pastries are made on the premises, with an ever-changing selection of cakes, which might include a Battenberg or Sachertorte. Those wanting a lighter, or a more celebratory alternative, can choose The Wolseley Cream Tea or The Wolseley Champagne Tea.
  Address: 160 Piccadilly, London W1J 9EB United Kingdom
  Telephone: +44 020 7499 6996
  Email: info@thewolseley.com
  Tube: The nearest underground stations: Green Park on the Piccadilly, Jubilee or Victoria lines or Piccadilly Circus on the Bakerloo or Piccadilly lines

• Pubs

• The Ship Tavern
  London's Finest Watering Hole
  Ale House and dining room since 1549. Famous for quaffable ales, fine fayre and illustrious past. Proud to return to what British pubs do best; a warm welcome, a good honest pint with quality home-cooked food and exceptional real ales.
  Address: 12 Gate Street, Holborn, London, WC2A 3HP
  Telephone: +44 20 7405 1992
  Email: info@theshiptavern.co.uk
  Tube: The nearest underground station is Holburn on the Piccadilly and Central lines

• Other Restaurants

• Bread Street Kitchen
  A lively and exciting restaurant and bar from the team at Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, Bread Street Kitchen is home to a relaxed dining experience set in a large warehouse style space drawing inspiration from the East London aesthetic that surrounds it.
  Address: 10 Bread Street, London EC4M 9AJ
  Telephone: +44 20 3030 4050
  Email: info@breadstkitchen.com
• Hawksmoor a British Steakhouse and Cocktail Bar
  A good place to get a classic English breakfast (or "fry-up") or later on go here for a great steak or seafood. And don't forget dessert!
  Three locations:
• Guildhall:
  10 Basinghall Street, London, EC2V 5BQ
  Telephone: +44 20 7397 8120
  Email: guildhall@thehawksmoor.com
  Tube: The nearest underground stations: Moorgate, Liverpool Street, Bank, St. Pauls
• Seven Dials:
  11 Langley Street, London WC2H 9JG
  Telephone: +44 20 7420 9390
  Email: sevendials@thehawksmoor.com
  Tube: The nearest underground station is Leicester Square on the Northern or Piccadilly lines
• Spitalfields:
  157 Commercial Street, London E1 6BJ
  Telephone: +44 20 7426 4850
  Email: spitalfields@thehawksmoor.com
  Tube: The nearest underground station is Shoreditch High Street on the London Overground
• Jamie's Italian
  Jamie Oliver's chain of Italian restaurants in the United Kingdom. First opened in Oxford in 2008, there are now Jamie's Italian restaurants all over the country with several in London:
• Canary Wharf: Unit 17, 2 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London E14 5RBTelephone: +44 020 3002 5252
• Covent Garden: 11 Upper St Martin's Lane, London WC2H 9FBTelephone: +44 0203 326 6390
• Islington: North Retail Angel Building, 403 St John Street, Islington, London EC1V 4ABTelephone: +44 02034 359915
• Kingston: 19-23 High Street, Kingston KT1 1LLTelephone: +44 0203 326 4300
• Shepherd's Bush Westfield: Unit 1078, Westfield Shopping Centre, Ariel Way, London W12 7GBTelephone: +44 02080 909070
• Stratford City Westfield: 147 The Street, Westfield, Stratford City, London E20 1ENTelephone: +44 0203 535 8063
• Threadneedle Street: Ground Floor, 38 Threadneedle Street, London EC2R 8AYTelephone: +44 0203 005 9445
• Kappacasein Dairy
  toasted cheese sandwiches and raclette
  Address: 1 Voyager Railway Arches, London SE16 4RP Also located at the Borough Market (see above)
  Telephone:
  Email: bill@kappacasein.com
  Tube: A 6 minute walk from Bermondsey tube station & Maltby Street
• Robin's Famous Pie & Mash
  A family company for five generations, since 1890. 100% Scotch beef. Robin's Famous Pie & Mash is currently a favourite in 6 areas of East London.
• Wanstead: 14 High Street Wanstead E11 2AJ (UK)Telephone: +44 (0)20 8989 1988
• Essex: 17 Chapel Road, Ilford, Essex IG1 2AF (UK)Telephone: +44 (0)20 8514 5336
• Essex: 9/11 Quadrant Arcade, Romford, Essex RM1 3ED (UK)Telephone: +44 (0)1708 752 552
• Essex: 65/67 Market Square, Basildon, Essex SS14 1DE (UK)Telephone: +44 (0)1268 271713
• Bethnal Green: 150 Roman Road, Bethnal Green, London E2 0RYTelephone: +44 (0)20 8983 2111
• East Ham: 105 High Street North, East Ham, London E6 1HZ (UK)Telephone: +44 (0)20 8472 1956
• St. John Bar and Restaurant
  The dining room menu in this former smokehouse changes every day between lunch and supper.
  Address: 26 St. John Street, London EC1M 4AY
  Telephone: +44 20 3301 8069
  Email: stephanie@stjohnrestaurant.com
  Tube: The nearest underground station is Barbican on the Circle, Hammersmith or Metropolitan lines
• The Wolseley
  The Wolseley is a café-restaurant in the grand European tradition located in St James' on London's most famous of boulevards, Piccadilly. An exciting restaurant with one of the best menus in London. Great for breakfast, tea or any other meal.
  Address: 160 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9EB
  Telephone: +44 20 7499 6996
  Email: info@thewolseley.com

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