Though it is a long tube ride from Soho, Portobello Market is one of my favorite markets because of how large it is. Lined along Portobello Rd, the market feels like it practically goes on forever. Though I lived in London for almost four months, I never made it through the complete market.
Between antiques, food, and clothes, Portobello is a great place to visit if you’re looking for a souvenir or gift for someone back home. I bought almost all of my gifts for family here, mainly because of the variety of items the vendors offer. It’s also a great place to hang out for the day, between the duck confit sandwiches you can order and the funky music blasting from the records salesmen, I highly recommend you check out this market.
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If you’re looking for a nice place to take your parents or a date, put on something fancy and head to this unique Italian restaurant. Take note of the high-quality meat that’s showcased, often served alone or with simple seat salt and olive oil. The menu also includes some interesting items, such as beef heart, tongue salad, and a bone marrow appetizer. What I found the most fun was that once you order, the chef comes out and chops the meat in front of you before taking it back to the kitchen to cook, giving this place a Butcher shop with tables kind of vibe.
If you find yourself near Brick Lane, try venturing over to this whimsical Alice In Wonderland themed cat café! With over 20 cats to play and cuddle with, this café also offers an afternoon tea service with great food and drinks. Though reservations are required for all entries, you don’t have order the full tea service to enjoy this fun atmosphere, which can help cut down admission price if you’re short on cash. The great thing about this café is all of the cats are up for adoption, and the waitresses love to share each furry creature’s background story.
Do you consider yourself a foodie? Do you have a love for fresh and obscure ingredients? Are you just looking to find a tasty lunch spot? Borough Market is a food lovers paradise. From fresh meats and cheese, to funky mushrooms and produce, this market has it all. Anthony Bourdain even made this place a stop on his London recommendations.
If you hate crowds and you’re heading to Borough for lunch, avoid Saturday afternoons as that’s full market day and it gets pretty crazy. Most of the stalls will still be open during business days, so don’t worry about missing out on all of the fun. Check out my favorite, The Black Pig for their Parmesan Truffle Ciabatta with delicious shredded pork shoulder and homemade apple slaw. The hipper equivalent of Barnes & Noble, Waterstones provides a haven for book lovers craving a place to find and read books. Though this coffee shop is a chain, I recommend going to the one on Tottenham Court Rd because it’s usually a lot quieter downstairs in the café, which makes it a great place to do work or read a book! They also play good music. The café also offers a student discount and punch card for a free coffee! My only qualm with this place is the café has chairs that squeak when you move them, so remember to lift them up when you get up to leave.
Do you miss the Dollar Generals, the Dollar Trees, the Five Belows of home? If so, Flying Tiger will be your new favorite Dollar Store. This fun chain offers a home away from home for those who love a bargain. I love this store because they have so many different things for cheap, sectioning off parts of the store for office supplies, arts and crafts, toiletries, party décor and seasonal items. Anyone is bound to find something here.
Across the street from Buckingham Palace sits a lively park full of wildlife and obscure plants. Upon entering the park, you’ll be overwhelmed by the different kinds of birds and flora that bloom along the large pond at its center. And if you visit during The Changing of the Guard, you can hear bagpipes and drums from The Palace in the distance.
Though the signs say not to feed the birds, many tourists ignore them and do it anyway, including myself. I found that the parakeets love cashews and apples, and the other birds like stale bread crusts and crackers. You decide if you want to follow the rules. If you decide to visit here, look for a large brass lock with the “E+O” carved into it at the base of the bridge that crosses the pond. My boyfriend and I put it there in homage to the Love Lock bridge in Paris. Roll out of bed and wipe the mascara from under your eyes. If you’re hungover and looking for a quiet restaurant to get brunch, this is your place. They offer £13 brunch platters that include a soft-boiled egg and a freshly baked pastry, along with pressed organic juice. They also have a variety of vegan options, if you’re into that.
Be warned: This café is Femme Friendly Only. For some unknown reason, every time I brought a male companion to this place, the service lacked severely. If you’re looking for something fun and free to do on a rainy afternoon, check out this quirky little place. Here you can find oddities such as a preserved jar of moles, a human brain and even dodo bones. As cool as some of their artifacts may be, this museum is not for the queasy, as some of the collection could be described as “pretty gnarly” according to one of my Gower Gang ’22 associates.
Something else I enjoy about this museum is that it's relatively small, which means you can get through it's entirety in under an hour! It's a perfect thing to do if you don't want to spend an entire afternoon in a museum. London is home to one of the world’s most famous Indian restaurants: Punjab. This historic restaurant is nestled in Covent Garden, and serves tasty, authentic cuisine. If this seems up your alley, I suggest making reservations, especially on the weekend, as it can be pretty packed. Order the Chicken Tikka Special, which is served flaming at your table if you need a video of something fun for Instagram. And if you’re in the mood for something sweet after you eat, order a mango lassi drink!
Punjab is also a popular restaurant to order from on Uber Eats, so if you're not wanting to leave the house, their food makes great take away! |