London
in England

Certified treasures can be found at this charity shop in Shoreditch. They also serve a mean coffee. And what makes it all better — it all goes towards a fantastic charity. 

Australian chef Skye Gyngell has always been ahead of her time when it comes to low-waste cooking. Alongside the a la carte, her scratch menu, served between 5.30pm and 6.15pm from Tuesday to Saturday at Spring in Somerset House, makes the most of leftovers from the night before, and might include charcuterie croquettes with lovage aïoli or lemon and ricotta pudding. It’s hard to differentiate this innovative offering from the à la carte, which is fabulous too.

The vast bay window of this gallery at the top of Dover Street stops passers-by in their tracks. Run by German duo Monika Sprüth and Philomene Magers, the space also displays arresting art. Exhibitions have included Barbara Kruger’s bold images emblazoned with text such as “Your body is a battleground” and Jenny Holzer’s granite bench and LED installations.

A garden designed to be fit for meditation and we totally see why. Come to this little peaceful retreat when you need an escape from London's bustling streets. 

Around the corner from Smithfield meat market, this former smokehouse is an institution of the British nose-to-tail movement. Opened in 1994 by Fergus Henderson (husband of Margot Henderson, chef patron of Rochelle Canteen), it serves simple plates such as mince on dripping toast and roast bone marrow salad. Some recipes have been on the menu for 30 years, and have inspired a generation of chefs by defining the term Modern British. If you visit just one restaurant in London, this should probably be it.

We can't get enough of St. JOHN - no matter the iteration. This wonderful bakery is naturally no different. They've got traditional loaves and insanely good doughnuts to take away or enjoy at one of their outdoor tables.

Around the corner from Smithfield meat market, the original St. John is an institution of the British nose-to-tail movement. There’s also a Marylebone outpost, but we love this less formal Spitalfields offshoot as well as the custard-filled doughnuts coming out of its bakeries in Bermondsey and Neal’s Yard. A must-visit contemporary classic.

Every culture vulture should visit this iconic landmark at least once. It's known for its stunning dome, rich history and for hosting one or the other royal weddings. If you like architecture you will LOVE St. Paul's Cathedral. 

Butcher by day, vinyl-spinning bar by night. The neighbourhood's hottest new speakeasy is hidden within Stella's, a hip and trendy butcher shop. They serve up delicious cocktails and incredible sandwiches, making sure you never forget that it's still the best butcher in town.

Our local go-to for fresh, high-quality produce and specialty items. Located in the heart of Stoke Newington, this charming grocer offers a wide selection of seasonal fruits, vegetables and organic products sourced from local farms & suppliers. 

The debut restaurant from chef Thomas Straker was an instant hit, possibly due to the hype surrounding him – he made his name flavouring butter for millions of fans on TikTok and now has his own brand, All Things Butter. Flatbreads are topped with a burnt chilli mussel butter, partridge is deep-fried and ibérico pork neck is perfectly scorched. A Golborne Road star that lives up to the buzz.

Horace Walpole's architectural masterpiece, Strawberry Hill House has quite literally gone down in history for its striking Georgian façade and gothic interiors. Only a short commute out into the suburbs of London, take a wander through the gardens before venturing inside the house. 

This go-to address sells the thickest linen tablecloths around, plus every kind of trinket and decoration imaginable for tablescaping.

We find that pizza beyond the borders of Naples (let alone outside Italy’s glorious boot) is rarely up to snuff, but Sweet Thursday is here to prove us wrong. This, er, sweet little spot churns out great Neapolitan pizzas from their charming outpost in De Beauvoir town. On your way out, you can grab a bottle of organic Italian wine to-go. 

This Victorian fish and oyster bar has been serving prawn cocktails and lobster bisques since 1889. And while restaurants all over the city are concocting brunch menus to entice more customers through the doors, Sweetings continues to open for just three and a half hours (11.30am-3pm), Monday to Friday. The homemade gravlax might come with sliced brown bread we’re pretty sure is straight out of a packet, but this is a charming microcosm of London’s financial district that feels like stepping back in time.

Tamarind holds a very high honour: it is one of the first Indian restaurants in the world to win a Michelin star (and to have held ever since!). This elegant traditional North Indian restaurant has a mix of  innovative dishes and Indian comfort classics.
  

This is exactly the sort of restaurant Peckham does well. There’s not really anything to say about the interiors, and ideally you wouldn’t visit the loos – because it turns into the neighbourhood’s in-the-know nightclub, The Carpet Shop, after dark. But arrive before then and join the queue for the tempura aubergine and spicy short rib tacos and you won’t be disappointed. Even better are the sweet corn esquites with chipotle and chilli nuts, alongside buttery bowls of refried beans.  

The Tate Britain on Millbank houses the world’s greatest collection of Turners – probably the UK’s best-loved artist. It’s also home to the annual Turner Prize. Prepare to spend a few hours gawking at all its treasures.

Tawana Oriental Supermarket stocks pretty much all you could ask for. Shelf upon shelf is lined with delicious ingredients, plus there's even a fabulous 'readymade' to go section. Call by and find yourself wandering the aisles for hours. 

Founded in 1972, this no-frills Punjabi restaurant in Whitechapel is much loved. For decades diners had to wait in line, but these days they can book– do, because it’s permanently packed. The service is brusque and it’s bring- your-own-booze, so don’t forget to pick up beers at the corner shop. Better still, stick with a mango lassi and settle in for the charred lamb chops, which have a cult status. Tayyabs may not be winning any design awards but it’s a more elevated version of strip-lit Lahore down the road.

A cuppa a day, no matter the time, the weather, or the occasion is key to English living. Top it off with bacon, fried egg bap or a chips and baked bean medley and you've got a brekky that tops it all. 

Austrian dealer Thaddaeus Ropac is probably the most charming man in the art world; number one on any party guestlist. He fended off a members’ club, a fashion label and multiple hedge-funders to bag Dover Street’s Grade-I listed Ely House – a former meeting spot for the suffragettes. And he convinced Julia Peyton-Jones to leave her post at the Serpentine to become the gallery’s global director, now delivering shows from artists such as Antony Gormley and Joseph Beuys.

We tend to lurk in Covent Garden most often when we're heading to the theatre. And when a show ends and we're craving a juicy glass or a tasty bite, we head straight for The 10 Cases.

Tucked between the Fulham and Gloucester roads is an old-fashioned pub – with Chesterfields and Victorian partitions – that has the propensity to feel like the Mediterranean. On any summer’s evening it’s buzzing, with people perched on the wall outside sipping Aperol Spritzes. The south- facing terrace is always fully booked on sunny weekends. And in the winter diners will find reliable British favourites such as beef Wellington on the menu. A classic London pub that isn’t sticky or stuck in a rut.