Guidebook for London
Food Scene
Famous (not as fancy as it sounds!) and arguably the best Chinese food in London. Tourists are known to purchase whole roast ducks and taking it home with them. I've done this because you can't get boneless roast duck in California! Must try dishes: Roast duck, no bones; Prawns with salted egg yolk; Dry Beef Ho Fun Noodles; String Beans with Pork; Pea Shoots with Garlic; and of course, Egg Fried Rice to accompany it all.
41 locals recommend
Four Seasons
84 QueenswayFamous (not as fancy as it sounds!) and arguably the best Chinese food in London. Tourists are known to purchase whole roast ducks and taking it home with them. I've done this because you can't get boneless roast duck in California! Must try dishes: Roast duck, no bones; Prawns with salted egg yolk; Dry Beef Ho Fun Noodles; String Beans with Pork; Pea Shoots with Garlic; and of course, Egg Fried Rice to accompany it all.
We are close to Restaurant No. 14 on the Worlds 50 Best Restaurants List. It also has 2 Michelin stars. It's expensive and special. It would be a great experience if you could get a booking. The "Set Lunch" is probably the best value.
288 locals recommend
The Ledbury
127 Ledbury RdWe are close to Restaurant No. 14 on the Worlds 50 Best Restaurants List. It also has 2 Michelin stars. It's expensive and special. It would be a great experience if you could get a booking. The "Set Lunch" is probably the best value.
This is a very popular, long standing Persian restaurant and one of our go-to's. We love the Kabab Koobideh (grilled minced lamb) with rice or bread. Joojeh kebab (baby chicken) is also a tasty dish. Our favourite sides are the hummus, halim bademjan and taftoon bread. This places also allows you to bring your own beer.
67 locals recommend
Alounak Restaurant
44 Westbourne GroveThis is a very popular, long standing Persian restaurant and one of our go-to's. We love the Kabab Koobideh (grilled minced lamb) with rice or bread. Joojeh kebab (baby chicken) is also a tasty dish. Our favourite sides are the hummus, halim bademjan and taftoon bread. This places also allows you to bring your own beer.
(CLOSED FOR REFURBISHMENT) Good, tasty, Malaysian food. Everything is tasty but we tend to get these dishes over and over again: Singapore Laksa, Nasi Goreng Kampung Style, Beef Rendang, Wat Tan Ho, Char Kway Teow,
6 locals recommend
C&R Izakaya
52 Westbourne Grove(CLOSED FOR REFURBISHMENT) Good, tasty, Malaysian food. Everything is tasty but we tend to get these dishes over and over again: Singapore Laksa, Nasi Goreng Kampung Style, Beef Rendang, Wat Tan Ho, Char Kway Teow,
This is a chain you can find all over London. We like it for fast, fresh, easy and wholesome foods. They use organic milk in their coffees. They have good salads, sandwiches, wraps and soups and also delicious baked goods. It's more of a take away type place, great for when you're on the go. But there is seating as well.
34 locals recommend
Pret A Manger
127 QueenswayThis is a chain you can find all over London. We like it for fast, fresh, easy and wholesome foods. They use organic milk in their coffees. They have good salads, sandwiches, wraps and soups and also delicious baked goods. It's more of a take away type place, great for when you're on the go. But there is seating as well.
Great selection of street vendors as well as artisan products like cheese, baked goods (you must try donuts at the Bread Ahead stall, coffee and Monmouth and the chorizo roll at Brindisa).
1617 locals recommend
Borough Market
Borough High Street Great selection of street vendors as well as artisan products like cheese, baked goods (you must try donuts at the Bread Ahead stall, coffee and Monmouth and the chorizo roll at Brindisa).
Flat White
17 Berwick StExcellent coffee from down under.
Monmouth coffee
36 Maltby StFamous and excellent coffees.
Really good coffee if you don't want the chains - Starbucks, Nero, Costa. Across the street from the flat, in Whiteleys Shopping mall.
6 locals recommend
Sociale Cafe
1 Westbourne Grove TerraceReally good coffee if you don't want the chains - Starbucks, Nero, Costa. Across the street from the flat, in Whiteleys Shopping mall.
Drinks & Nightlife
This is a casual local pub with decent food across the street. Also a great place to work out of as it's not so busy and has WIFI.
41 locals recommend
The Porchester Pub
88 Bishop's Bridge RdThis is a casual local pub with decent food across the street. Also a great place to work out of as it's not so busy and has WIFI.
Kensington Roof Gardens
Parks & Nature
At the end of Queensway is Kensington Gardens, which also is the location of Kensington Palace (ticketed entry). Princess Diana used to live here, as did William and Kate, before they moved outside London when the paparazzi was too much for them and their children. Prince George used to play in the playground here (gated playground that you can only enter if you have a child with you).
664 locals recommend
Kensington Gardens
At the end of Queensway is Kensington Gardens, which also is the location of Kensington Palace (ticketed entry). Princess Diana used to live here, as did William and Kate, before they moved outside London when the paparazzi was too much for them and their children. Prince George used to play in the playground here (gated playground that you can only enter if you have a child with you).
Lovely park to take a stroll in, with ponds, museums, fountains and cafes.
3079 locals recommend
Hyde Park
Lovely park to take a stroll in, with ponds, museums, fountains and cafes.
Arts & Culture
Victoria and Albert Museum
Cromwell RoadScience Museum
Exhibition Road
Natural History Museum
Cromwell RoadMuseum of London
Museum of LondonSerpentine Galleries
Tate Modern
BanksideNational Portrait Gallery
Saint Martin's PlaceSightseeing
Buckingham Palace
London Eye
Big Ben
Shopping
Oxford Street
Oxford StreetHarrods
87-135 Brompton RdIconic department store with impressive food hall.
M&S Bayswater Simply Food
QueenswayOld, historic shopping mall with few shops still open. Noteworthy are these places if you need something in a hurry - H&M, Zara, Marks & Spender (sells clothes and well as food and household items), Gap baby and adults, Sports store, Toys R Us.
19 locals recommend
Whiteleys Centre
QueenswayOld, historic shopping mall with few shops still open. Noteworthy are these places if you need something in a hurry - H&M, Zara, Marks & Spender (sells clothes and well as food and household items), Gap baby and adults, Sports store, Toys R Us.
On Saturdays the antique market runs with food vendors. There are food vendors also on Weds to Sunday. It is a great iconic market in London to people watch.
860 locals recommend
Portobello Market
73a Lewisham High StOn Saturdays the antique market runs with food vendors. There are food vendors also on Weds to Sunday. It is a great iconic market in London to people watch.
Essentials
One stop shop grocery store, largest in our area. Exit flat to Inverness Terrace, go left and you can't miss it.
205 locals recommend
Waitrose & Partners
38 Porchester RdOne stop shop grocery store, largest in our area. Exit flat to Inverness Terrace, go left and you can't miss it.
TESCO Express
275-277 Battersea Park RdWhat American's call a "drugstore", we call a "chemist" here in the UK. Stocked with what you'd expect but includes high end make up and baby essentials.
230 locals recommend
Boots
127A Kensington High StWhat American's call a "drugstore", we call a "chemist" here in the UK. Stocked with what you'd expect but includes high end make up and baby essentials.