Jonathan’s guidebook
Where to Eat
This is a great brunch spot for Mediterranean / middle-eastern food and decent coffee.
11 locals recommend
Amber London
21 Piazza WalkThis is a great brunch spot for Mediterranean / middle-eastern food and decent coffee.
Fantastic brunch spot a lovely walk across Tower Bridge from home.
61 locals recommend
The Yellow House
126 Lower RoadFantastic brunch spot a lovely walk across Tower Bridge from home.
Wapping Docklands Market is off the beaten track and hosts a large variety of fresh produce, street food and crafts. Combine it with a walk along the north bank of the river, east of Tower Bridge. ONLY ON A SATURDAY 10AM- 4PM
8 locals recommend
Wapping Market
Glamis RoadWapping Docklands Market is off the beaten track and hosts a large variety of fresh produce, street food and crafts. Combine it with a walk along the north bank of the river, east of Tower Bridge. ONLY ON A SATURDAY 10AM- 4PM
This is the best Indian restaurant in London for my taste. It's a Bombay style cafe that also offers delicious cocktails. The Ruby Chicken is to die for and they also do yummy breakfasts. At peak times, you do need to be prepared to queue (or arrive early).
475 locals recommend
Dishoom Shoreditch
7 Boundary StThis is the best Indian restaurant in London for my taste. It's a Bombay style cafe that also offers delicious cocktails. The Ruby Chicken is to die for and they also do yummy breakfasts. At peak times, you do need to be prepared to queue (or arrive early).
One of the best Japanese restaurants I know in London, and right on our doorstep! From Katsu to Hot Pot to sushi, they've got your back.
38 locals recommend
Sushinoen
2 White Church LnOne of the best Japanese restaurants I know in London, and right on our doorstep! From Katsu to Hot Pot to sushi, they've got your back.
Amazing food and experience. Booking in advance necessary. West End.
112 locals recommend
The Wolseley
160 PiccadillyAmazing food and experience. Booking in advance necessary. West End.
Old stalwart of British cuisine in the West End. Reserve in advance. West End.
42 locals recommend
The Ivy
1-5 West StOld stalwart of British cuisine in the West End. Reserve in advance. West End.
Hawksmoor Spitalfields
157A Commercial StGreat for steak and a Sunday roast. Fairly local.
Quo Vadis
26-29 Dean StModern British dining done right. Soho, West End.
Benares
12a Berkeley SquareReputedly the best Indian restaurant in London. Mayfair.
Cinnamon Bazaar
28 Maiden LnWell-rated Indian food in Covent Garden, West End.
Great local curry house. Low key and not fancy at all, but delicious food. Go for the tandoori chicken masala or the karai gosht (lamb).
6 locals recommend
Halal
2 Saint Mark StreetGreat local curry house. Low key and not fancy at all, but delicious food. Go for the tandoori chicken masala or the karai gosht (lamb).
A local favourite for Turkish kebabs, grills, pide and lahmacun.
53 locals recommend
Efes Turkish Restaurant
1 Whitechapel RdA local favourite for Turkish kebabs, grills, pide and lahmacun.
Where to Shop
Spitalfields has a range of shops from well-known brands and luxury to independent traders selling crafts, art, fashion at market stalls. There is also a food court with many stalls and lots of restaurants around here. It's also a short walk from Brick Lane, which is an interesting shopping experience too.
117 locals recommend
Spitalfields Market
65 Brushfield StSpitalfields has a range of shops from well-known brands and luxury to independent traders selling crafts, art, fashion at market stalls. There is also a food court with many stalls and lots of restaurants around here. It's also a short walk from Brick Lane, which is an interesting shopping experience too.
Borough Market is one of the largest and oldest food markets in London, with a market on the site from at least the 12th century. The market today mainly sells specialty foods and has restaurants too.
1617 locals recommend
Borough Market
Borough High StreetBorough Market is one of the largest and oldest food markets in London, with a market on the site from at least the 12th century. The market today mainly sells specialty foods and has restaurants too.
Exmouth Market is now home to a large number of restaurants, cafes and bars, as well as independent book, record and gift shops, and a range of design and architecture companies.
219 locals recommend
Exmouth Market
Exmouth MarketExmouth Market is now home to a large number of restaurants, cafes and bars, as well as independent book, record and gift shops, and a range of design and architecture companies.
Museums & Galleries
The British Museum is a public museum with free entry dedicated to human history, art and culture located in the Bloomsbury area of London. Its permanent collection of eight million works is among the largest and most comprehensive in existence and documents the story of human culture from its beginnings to the present.
1546 locals recommend
British Museum
Great Russell StreetThe British Museum is a public museum with free entry dedicated to human history, art and culture located in the Bloomsbury area of London. Its permanent collection of eight million works is among the largest and most comprehensive in existence and documents the story of human culture from its beginnings to the present.
In an old power station, this is one of the best modern art museums in the country (world?).
2008 locals recommend
Tate Modern
BanksideIn an old power station, this is one of the best modern art museums in the country (world?).
Royal Academy of Arts
PiccadillyRegular Exhibitions across the spectrum.
Hayward Gallery
Belvedere RoadOne of London's leading contemporary art galleries.
All about contemporary art, with work by young artists or international artists rarely exhibited in the UK.
585 locals recommend
Saatchi Gallery
King's RdAll about contemporary art, with work by young artists or international artists rarely exhibited in the UK.
The Whitechapel Gallery (very local to here!) champions contemporary art. Founded in 1901 to bring art to the people of east London, it is now internationally acclaimed for its exhibitions, education and event programmes. In the past, the gallery premiered artists such as Frida Kahlo, Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko.
589 locals recommend
Whitechapel Gallery
77-82 Whitechapel High StThe Whitechapel Gallery (very local to here!) champions contemporary art. Founded in 1901 to bring art to the people of east London, it is now internationally acclaimed for its exhibitions, education and event programmes. In the past, the gallery premiered artists such as Frida Kahlo, Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko.
Designed by Turner Prize-winning architecture collective Assemble, this gallery in a grade II-listed former Victorian bathhouse seems hellbent on ignoring the usual art conventions and putting on whatever shows it bloody well wants. Which is a really, really good thing.
Goldsmiths Centre for Contemporary Art
Saint James'sDesigned by Turner Prize-winning architecture collective Assemble, this gallery in a grade II-listed former Victorian bathhouse seems hellbent on ignoring the usual art conventions and putting on whatever shows it bloody well wants. Which is a really, really good thing.
Ever wanted to know what’s in Damien Hirst’s house? Probably a lot of the stuff you’ll find at this gorgeous Vauxhall gallery, which was built specifically to put on shows of Hirst’s art collection. Jeff Koons and abstract maestro John Hoyland were among the first artists to get shown in this amazing vaulted space. Thanks, Damo.
62 locals recommend
Newport Street Gallery
9 Newport StEver wanted to know what’s in Damien Hirst’s house? Probably a lot of the stuff you’ll find at this gorgeous Vauxhall gallery, which was built specifically to put on shows of Hirst’s art collection. Jeff Koons and abstract maestro John Hoyland were among the first artists to get shown in this amazing vaulted space. Thanks, Damo.
Natural History Museum
Cromwell RoadThe best - think Darwin and fossils!
Coffee places
Association Coffee
10-12 Creechurch LnGreat coffee if you're heading into the old City of London. Only open weekdays
Exmouth Coffee Company
83 Algate EastThe best coffee shop locally!
Supermarkets and groceries
Waitrose & Partners
134-152 Balham High RoadLarge, upmarket supermarket. The best in the area.
Tian Tian Market
18 Piazza WalkMassive Asian supermarket, perhaps the best in London?