London

Updated on 18 April, 2008

All the favorite places to see, things to do, and food to eat in London. Here are our picks from the world's most metropolitan city.

London entertainment

Aint Nothin But… The Blues Bar: Ain’t Nothin’ But, better known as The Blues Bar, has been going since 1993. The venue is probably the only one outside of the United States providing genuine blues every night of the week.

Ice skating in London: London's gifted with a number of great ice rinks during the winter. I really enjoy skating, and here's where you can join me on a pair of blades. The season is pretty short though, mostly lasting from late November to mid-January. For year-round skating go to the Streatham Ice Arena.

Free experiences in London: London is one of the world's most expensive cities and a traveler's budget can seem pitifully small. Here are 7 great things to do for free on a weekend visit.

Prince Charles Cinema, London: For London film buffs on a budget, there's only one choice: the excellent Prince Charles Cinema just off Leicester Square. With famously low prices starting from as little as GBP 1.50 it shows a rotating program of cult, arthouse, and classic films alongside the best of recent hollywood releases.

London sights

Borough Market: One of my favourite London places is under terrible threat. Borough Market, London’s historical and contemporary market for great food seems slated to be gutted by the Thameslink rail development.

Tate Modern: The Tate Modern is a must see activity for any visitor to London. Housed in the old Bankside Power Station, the building itself is the star of this gallery, often outshining the art inside.

London restaurants & bars

Piccolo Diavolo, Italian food in London's Soho: The 'Little Devil' is an appropriate name for a central Soho restaurant, and one of our favorites too. They always serve up great Italian food at decent prices and a pleasant athmosphere.

Cafe Frevd, London: A great place for a cocktail or coffee. Chilled out, stylishly decorated and a little hobo chic, it's somewhere to bring someone for anafter work drink.

Caffe Vergnano 1882, London: A coffee lover’s paradise, this proper Italian coffee shop at 62 Charing Cross Road serves some of the best espresso and cappuccino anywhere.

Canela, Portuguese and Brazilian Cafe, London: This friendly Portuguese and Brazilian café on Earlham Street, just off Covent Garden’s Neal Street, has a simple and straightforward vibe.

Don Quixote Sandwich Bar, Kingsway, London: This little sandwich bar on the corner of Great Queen Street and Kingsway is a bargain lunch and post-pub food joint.

The Farmhouse Table, Covent Garden, London: Saturday saw us in Covent Garden and at The Farmhouse Table, a restaurant I've been curious about for a while. It turns out to be a good choice at a reasonable price in central London.

London's classic cafes: If you're visiting London, a stop at a classic greasy spoon cafe is a must for a genuine experience.

Patisserie Valerie, Soho, London: Deservedly famous for fantastic, and diet-busting, cakes, Pâtisserie Valerie is a time travel machine to the 1950s. Formica tables, an old-fashioned pastry counter and, more to the point, a selection of classic French pâtisserie, such as éclairs, babas and mousse cakes.

Tate Modern Espresso Bar, London: Surrounded by art and with a great London view, this is a great coffee and photo spot.

Waxy O'Connor's, Soho, London: In the heart of the West End, Waxy O'Connor's is like no other bar. The fantastic features cathedral like timber carvings, stained glass windows, beautifully tiled floors and the trunk and branches of a giant preserved beech tree.

London events

Chinese New Year in London: London's Chinese New Year celebrations are a great, free, day out for visitors and Londoners alike. It's also one of the most child-friendly events: With a great parade, art and gymnastics performances, fireworks, and individuals performing for the crowds all over Chinatown, Soho, and Leicester Square.

The 2007 Thames Festival: The London Mayor's 10th free Thames River Festival. If you brave the crowds, this is what you'll be able to see.

London tips & resources

Exposing restaurant rip-off tricks: Restaurants often use underhanded tricks to rip off their patrons by inflating their bills. Here I go through some common ones in London.

Find out what's on in London: Living in London? Going to London? Here are 6 sites that hook you up with the inside knowledge.

Platial - Find London sights: Platial is "The People's Atlas" and users enter the sights and destinations they like. Worth a trawl around here as it keeps getting added to.

London transportation

London Airports

London is served by 5 airports: London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London City Airport, Luton Airport, and Stansted Airport.

Get Oyster-ed for cheaper London travel: London travel is often slow, crowded and awfully hot. It can also be extremely pricey. Here's how to save some of that travel budget.