London Calling
Yes, I was there, too
Public transport
Buy an Oyster card.
It cost around 5 GBP, and it is pay-as-you-go, but it stops charging when you reach the price of a day ticket.
Before leaving, you can return it and the left over charge will be refunded.
Where to sleep
I suggest the area around the British Museum.
Alternatively Kensington / West Kensington / Earls Court
Where to go
Plenty of things to do, and the normal guides will give you plenty of hints.
My preferred places:
Brixton Market: soundtrack: “The guns of Brixton” but the Jimmy Cliff’s version. A little of everything. I go for the food and for the melting pot. My place on Sundays, I use to stay in the area, at a friend’s house.
Brick lane/Spitafields Market: Good place to walk in on Saturday and Sunday. Good workld food in Spitafields, in Brick lane for an “Indian”. A lot of art’s student, midday disco bar and street bbq.
Marble Quay: in the center of London, but it looks like a Montecarlo’s Marina. Just behind Tower Bridge, try a beer and a snack at the Dickens Inn.
Camden Town: stuff for tourists, but worth once. The second time is already boring. Market with lot of “alternative” post punk stuff, and a good ethnic food market. If they are still there, I suggest arepas, a Colombian corn bum with meat and beans.
After 18, good music pubs. My preferred, the Dublin Castle for indie, and the Jazz Café
Portobello: Tourist place, just old stuff sold as vintage.
Covent Garden: Go there for a good pastry or for an afternoon beer on one of the pubs’ roof bar.
Food
Greasy spoon: a must of the English cousine. Hearty English breakfast, bad coffee, good tea.
Try:
- Andrew’s Cafe, 160 Grays Inn Rd, London WC1X 8ED https://goo.gl/maps/nLEmQ3jQcCF2
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Polo Bar 176 Bishopsgate (Liverpool Street Station), London EC2M 4NQ, UK https://goo.gl/maps/EqL5Tifxt5u
Fish’n’chips: pub food open all night, for the last snack before going to bed after a night at the pub.
Indian/Pakistan: “going for an Indian” is another must after pub for Londoners.
Sunday roast: one English classic. It is worth to try.
Suggestion: The English Restaurant (Spitafields Market) 52 Brushfield St, E1 6AG, https://goo.gl/maps/7M2RKjEVcTD2 usually full, better booking.
Pubs
My pubs:
Ye Olde Mitre 1 Ely Pl, EC1N 6SJ https://goo.gl/maps/NCiKFnV7SzC2
Gunmakers Arms 13 Eyre St Hill, Clerkenwell, EC1R 5ET, https://goo.gl/maps/az32RDBKpXJ2
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese 145 Fleet St, EC4A 2BU, https://goo.gl/maps/vKiPpA5a2Fp
The Dickens Inn Marble Quay, St Katharine’s Way, St Katharine’s & Wapping, E1W 1UH, https://goo.gl/maps/n88syb4hgeM2
The Dove 19 Upper Mall, Hammersmith, W6 9TA, https://goo.gl/maps/oeSNfGGahr12 far from the city
The Blue Anchor 13 Lower Mall, Hammersmith, W6 9DJ, https://goo.gl/maps/yCUCkRvphto small pub, it is in this list because it was my local one