London, oh London. Without a doubt one of my all-time favorite cities and if given the opportunity, we would easily move there tomorrow. It’s one of those places that just makes you feel alive and inspired. We took the chunnel from Paris Wednesday morning and highly recommend it. Our three days in London had a good balance of visiting the sites (it was both of our first times) and taking time to explore the area on our own. Everyone we met was incredibly friendly, the meals were amazing and the tradition and history packed in that city continued to blow us away. Can we please have royals in the USA?? Here are a few of my favorite London travel tips: 
London Travel Tips
to do:
+ Stroll or rent bikes and ride through Hyde Park. Don’t miss Kensington Palace! If it’s a nice day, pack a picnic and enjoy it in the park.
+ Borough Market: See more below, but don’t miss this outdoor market! Grab lunch here or shop for fresh groceries while enjoying a pimms cup.
+ The Churchill War Rooms was such a neat experience. If you’re with a guy, he’ll be all about this. See the bunkers where Winston Churchill plotted Britain’s WWII victory. I’m not normally an audio guide person, but it was incredibly interesting for this exhibit.
+ Afternoon Tea at the Corinthia Hotel: Such a quintessential London experience. The hotel is stunning and the variety of teas they offer will have something for everyone. We opted for the champagne afternoon tea and it was a fun way to relax after exploring all day. Don’t eat much beforehand because their finger sandwiches and desserts are far too delicious to pass up.
+ The Tower of London: You can’t go to the city and not see the Crown Jewels. While I was all about the gemstones, Brian loved the White Tower that houses all the Royal Armouries.
to eat:
+ Borough Market: obsessed with this market! Grab cash before you go and make sure you’re hungry. There are tons of vendors to choose from and you can even shop for cheese, desserts, fruits/veggies while you’re there. Enjoy your lunch outside in the sunshine!
+ The Ivy Cafe: a delicious and cozy dinner spot. Order the chicken milanese and split the chocolate bombe for dessert. SO good!
+ Iberica Marylebone: This was both of our favorite meals of the trip. The restaurant’s interiors are incredibly chic, the chairs you sink into and the staff really goes above and beyond. The spanish style tapas were good portions and reasonably priced. Our favorites – start with the toasted bread with tomato and the half and half meat and cheese plate. The asparagus toast is not to be missed (want to re-create this at home. Stay tuned for that recipe!) and their popular croquettes are sinfully good.
+ Hakkasan Mayfair: Your trendy, see and be seen spot. The service left something to be desired, but the food was absolutely delicious. Start with the grilled Shanghai dumplings and follow it up with the spicy prawn or rib-eye beef with merlot. It’s a great spot for sharing dishes and trying a variety!
stay:
+ We stayed at The Mandeville Hotel and couldn’t have picked a better location. The London Underground was only two blocks south and we were minutes from everything. Plus, it’s surrounded by all the great shopping on Oxford Street and just south of Regent Park!
tips:
+ Purchase an Oyster card from the airport/train station if you plan on taking the London Underground. Unlike Paris, London is spread out and walking everywhere would take you quite a while. I downloaded the Tube Map app and it was a lifesaver! Type in the nearest metro station to you, where you want to go and it quickly pulls up the easiest train route to take. Return the Oyster card when you’re done and you’ll receive any remaining balance!
+ This is an obvious one, but pack an umbrella and shoes that can handle a rainy day.
+ There are tons of great attractions, but it can get pricey if you try to do them all. Seek out the free attractions (i.e.: parks, changing of the guards) so you don’t feel like you’re blowing through money at warp speed. Although, in London it’s hard not to!
Feel free to reach out with any travel questions and I’d be more than happy to chat further! I’m going to be sharing my packing list for both cities next, stay tuned!
xx
London was crazy expensive but between the parks and all the tickets we purchased before hand it was amazing like you said!! The tip about an umbrella is so true – it rained practically every morning we were there, but was sunny and warm by the afternoon!! Love where you stayed! xo, Biana –BlovedBoston
i got to work in London for 10 days a few years ago and it was an amazing experience. The city is truly remarkable and there is so much to do. I was surprised on how many Indian restaurants there were. I guess I just never thought about it, but they were SO good! Sounds like you had a lovely time and I will be pinning this for my next adventure across the pond!
Xoxo,
Whitney & Blaire
Peaches In A Pod
The last time I was in London was August and I lucked out with the most beautiful weather! Such an amazing trip and totally agree with everyone being so friendly! Loved reading this recap/travel guide!
Ahhh, this looks like so much fun! My brother lived in London for several years, so I got some amazing trip in. The city is seriously one of my favorite places. It looks like y’all packed a ton into only a few days! ~xoxo, Hannah (www.HannahAtHomeBlog.com)
I have never been to London but it’s #1 on my list! Steven was thinking about doing his post-doc there for a while and I was ALL about it! Loved this post!
http://www.rosyoutlookblog.com
I’ve been to London four times and I could definitely live there too!! The last time that we were there was for my sister’s wedding. 🙂 I need to go back though now and go to these places on your list! You are so right about the train from the airport, I have done that it is so easy. Thank you so much for sharing and I am glad that you had a nice trip. 🙂
Saving this! And may possibly send your blog link to hubs for a wink wink that I’m dying to travel to London!! Xo
ugh london is so high on my list of places to visit! great recommendations for things to do and especially – where to eat and stay! that hotel looks amazing!
xoxo cheshire kat
London is by far my favorite city! I’ve been multiple times now and every time I go back I love it even more. Last time I was there we took the train to Paris too and it was so much fun! Borough Market is my favorite, they have the best food and I love the upside down umbrellas. Your hotel was gorgeous! <3, Pamela Sequins & Sea Breezes
London is my dream city to visit – I think I want to go there most of any place in Europe. Saving this for later!
London is definitely one of my favorite places to visit. Great tips!
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
I love London so much! Kensington Palace is probably my favorite spot of all, and now I need to plan a trip back asap!
This is making my itch to go to London via the chunnel from Paris even more! Afternoon tea is definitely a must do, but afternoon champagne tea is winning on all levels! Sounds like such a fabulous trip <3
Green Fashionista
Can’t wait to save this, I’ve been dreaming of planning a trip to Europe and London is on the top of my list! Xo, Stephanie
I’m taking a bank holiday trip to London on Sunday – So excited. I’ve been through it and around it but never actually stayed in London.
Having dinner at Galvin At Window and staying at The Mondrian hotel in Southbank. Hopefully have some good reviews to share!
Thanks for the tips, they will come in handy, so much to do! Glad you enjoyed your trip to England. If your visiting again, I could suggest some other wonderful places to visit! xx
I love your tips about what to eat at your favorite restaurants. Also, great tips about transportation! xo, Champagne&Suburbs