Last weekend I was in London for the fourth time and I still love this city. London is so varied and there is always something new to discover. I also have a number of favorite places that I return to every time I visit. Are you curious about where you have the best view of the city, where you really have to go as a food lover and where in London you can still find an oasis of peace? I love to share my favorite places in London with you.
Hyde Park and St James Park
What I love about London is that there are beautiful and cozy parks all over the city. My favorites are Hyde Park and St James Park. Hyde Park is London’s largest and most famous park, but despite that it is very relaxed. Regular performances are held here in the summer and in the winter it is transformed into Hyde Park Winter Wonderland. Even if there are no special activities, this is a lovely park. St James Park is a bit smaller than Hyde Park, but no less fun. It is close to Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament and in my opinion it is the most beautiful park in London. It is perfectly maintained and along the lake in the middle of the park are beautiful hiking trails. From the Blue Bridge over this lake you also have a beautiful view of the London Eye.
Queen’s Walk & South Bank
The Queen’s Walk is, in my opinion, a must if you are in London for the first time, but also if you have visited London before, this is a must. The Queen’s Walk is a promenade along the River Thames that starts at Lambeth Bridge and ends at Tower Bridge. This walking tour takes you past several of the city’s well-known landmarks, such as the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, the London Eye, Tate Modern, St Paul’s Cathedral and Tower Bridge. About half way you will come to South Bank. I found this to be the nicest part of the Queen’s Walk. You will find cozy terraces and food stalls everywhere here and you have a great view of the skyscrapers on the other side of the city. South Bank is also very cozy and atmospheric in the evening.
The Sky Garden
Last weekend I visited the Sky Garden for the first time and it is already one of my favorite places in London. The Sky Garden is a huge glass dome on the top floor of the 20 Fenchurch Street skyscraper. A large exotic garden has been built in this dome, which is located at a height of 155 meters. Here you have a great and unique 360 degree view of the city while being surrounded by the most beautiful flowers and plants. The entrance to the Sky Garden is also completely free. However, there are only a limited number of tickets available per day. You can order these tickets via the Sky Garden website from three weeks in advance. I had booked the tickets for the Sky Garden itself exactly three weeks before my visit and even then almost all the tickets had already gone. So make sure you book on time. Are there no more tickets available during the period in which you are in London? Then you can also make a reservation in one of the restaurants or bars of the Sky Garden. You can still enter for free, but you will have to order something to eat or drink.
St Katharine Docks
My aunt advised me to visit St Katharine Docks, a small harbor near Tower Bridge. She used to often take their boat to London and that is how she discovered this idyllic harbor. When you walk across Tower Bridge from South Bank, you will see the Tower of London on your left. However, if you walk to the right instead of the left, you will arrive at St Katharine Docks. If you’ve just visited the very busy Tower Bridge, it’s great to take a break here. It really is an oasis of calm compared to the hustle and bustle a few hundred meters away.
The Borough Market
I’ve been to London several times, but this was my first time visiting the Borough Market and I was instantly hooked. The Borough Market is a large semi-covered market filled with food stalls. You’ll find just about anything in terms of food here, such as Italian focaccias, freshly squeezed juices, the very best burgers, fresh pasta and delicious cheesecake. You can also buy various gifts for the home front, such as homemade fudge or exotic herbs to cook with at home. If, like me, you love good food, then you should definitely go here. In addition to the Borough Market, there are a lot of other food markets in the city.
Canary Wharf
On our last trip to London we stayed in the modern Canary Wharf area on the Isle of Docks peninsula. You can enjoy walking along the water along the wide boulevard and when you walk between the skyscrapers, it feels like you are in Dubai or New York. In summer, staying in this modern business center is also a lot cheaper because of the holiday season. Every effort has been made to create enough greenery between the skyscrapers. You will find the impressive Jubilee park on top of one of the metro stations. The Roof Garden at Crossrail Place is also recommended. This exotic park is nestled among the skyscrapers and atop Canary Wharf train station, which will open in 2018. It reminded me a lot of the High Line in New York. Especially around lunch time, the neighborhood really comes to life and you see people everywhere in suits enjoying their lunch in one of the many parks. You will find plenty of food trucks and cozy lunch spots here. Canary Wharf is also the right place for shopping. There are no fewer than four shopping malls here that are all connected to each other, ideal when it rains for a day. What’s extra nice about staying in Canary Wharf is that in the evening you can hop on the boat at Tower Bridge to sail back to your hotel, while enjoying great views of the London skyline.
Shoreditch
Shoreditch is an up-and-coming neighborhood in east London full of street art, eateries and lively markets. Especially on weekends, this neighborhood comes alive with streets full of stalls and buskers. Moreover, Shoreditch is a perfect neighborhood if, like me, you love food from all over the world. I highly recommend this area and will definitely return on my next visit to London.
