How to Do London Like a Local
- Peregryn travel writers
- 13 minutes ago
- 10 min read
Undoubtedly one of the world’s most spellbinding cities, London is an endless dialog between old and new, where historic monuments stand beside modern skyscrapers, storied streets intertwine with boutique-lined lanes, and the latest Michelin-starred sensations sit beside centuries-old pubs.
To see it all would take an age. Yet, beyond the typical tourist trail that takes in iconic spots such as the British Museum, the Tower Of London and Buckingham Palace, you’ll find surprises around every corner. If you know where to look, that is.
Our London travel guide helps you experience London like a Londoner. From soaking up the rich multiculturalism of one of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities to savoring the sheer variety of experiences on offer across London’s wonderfully distinct neighborhoods, you’ll discover the best way to see the ‘Old Smoke’. Whether strolling the streets in awe of the grandeur of it all, or ‘touching-in and touching-out', travelling with ease around the city on buses and the Tube (subway), here’s what to see in London, and how to see it in style.
What to Do in London: A Guide to Neighborhoods
City of London
Otherwise known as The Square Mile, expect regal office buildings and famous landmarks such as the Tower of London and St Paul’s Cathedral. A very well-connected area that’s more of a business district than a residential one.
The West End, Soho & Covent Garden
The place to be for world-class shows and jaw-dropping entertainment. Situated in the heart of the city, this location takes in the city’s most iconic spots, including Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, and the British Museum.
South Bank
An excellent location for families looking for fun things to do in London, the South Bank stretches along the Thames between Westminster Bridge and Tower Bridge, renowned for family entertainment such as the London Dungeon, the London Eye and the Sea Life London Aquarium.
West London & Notting Hill
If wandering around picturesque streets is top of your London to-do list, this is the place to be. Love Actually, Paddington and Notting Hill (well, obviously) were filmed here. Venture a little further out to Zone 4 to visit Richmond, the setting and film location for Ted Lasso.
Kensington & Hyde Park
Sprawling green parks together with great dining and retail options make this exquisite area one of London’s best neighborhoods. And with the Victoria & Albert Museum, Natural History Museum and Science Museum all in this district, it’s the place to be for museum lovers.
Hit the Markets
London’s markets are simply sensational. Lively, vibrant and full of fantastic food, they perfectly capture the city's unique charm. Once an undiscovered gem, Borough Market is now a little too touristy, yet there are plenty of other treasures to discover.
For foodies wondering what to do in London, the South Bank’s Mercato Metropolitano is a fantastic choice. It has a selection of more than 40 vendors offering everything from Italian and Argentinian to Japanese and Vietnamese food. In the buzzing northeast Hackney district, Broadway Market has been a local favorite since Victorian times, while North London favorite Camden Market offers everything from delicious nibbles to vintage fashion and antique curios. For a melting pot of flavors, from Ethiopia to South Korea and beyond, East London’s Brick Lane Market is hard to beat, blending cultural flair with a sensational atmosphere come the weekend.
Adding a sprinkling of magic to the market experience, Central London’s Old Spitalfields and Leadenhall are both legendary. Old Spitalfields has been operating since the 1600s and offers everything from vintage clothes and antiques to handmade art and delicious street food; while Leadenhall Market, located right in the heart of the Square Mile, which was built in the 1300s, is famed for its ornate roof and cobblestone floors, selling the likes of designer clothes, cured cheese and vintage port.
Walk this Way
For Londoners, the best way to get around the city is by bus, by Tube or on your own two feet. And whether you’re strolling along the banks of the River Thames, weaving through iconic city center streets or seeking out the city’s vibrant districts, there are lots of great walking tours that immerse you in the history and magic of London.
For a glimpse of the music, food and art that shaped the city, head to Brixton for The Great Brixton History & Culture Experience. From the famous David Bowie mural to Electric Avenue and the Black Cultural Archive, you’ll take in an array of rich cultural influences from one of London’s most diverse neighborhoods.
If you’re a fan of the Royal Family and you’re looking for an unforgettable experience, a Changing of the Guard tour is for you. You’ll make your way to the royal residence through immaculate royal parks, regaled with expert insights from your local guide along the way. After soaking up the pomp and ceremony of it all, why not indulge in a tour of the classic British boozer? With the Historic Pubs of Central London Walking Tour, you’ll visit some of London's most historic pubs, from Victorian-era gin palaces to famous literary watering holes, including those favored by Charles Dickens.
Secret Museums and Experiences
As all Londoners know, beyond the big museums and monuments, some of the city’s best treasures can be found beneath your feet. Here are some of the best lesser-explored museums and experiences, beloved by locals yet unknown to most visitors.
Quirky, weird and wonderful
The London Transport Museum has created a selection of expert-led hidden tours of closed underground stations, offering you a subterranean glimpse of secret spots, from wartime shelters to disused stations. Step into the world of a master sleuth at 221B Baker Street, where you’ll find the Sherlock Holmes Museum, featuring gaslit corridors, Victorian curiosities, and objects from Sherlock’s most famous cases.
Take the tube to Tower Hill for a voyage through the weird and wonderful history of pharmacy and medicine in the UK at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Museum which features strange remedies from over the years. For those with a taste for the macabre, a visit to University of College London’s Grant Museum of Zoology is a must. Free-spirited travelers should embark on a trip to Eel Pie Island, a historic artists’ commune near Twickenham in the southwest of the city that hosted The Rolling Stones, The Who and Pink Floyd at gigs in the sixties.
Unforgettable experiences
Visit the ArcelorMittal Orbit in East London, an area regenerated as part of the Olympic Games in 2012. Take a death-defying ride on Helix, the world’s largest tunnel slide, and enjoy the best views of London from the stunning panoramic viewing deck, ArcelorMittal Orbit 360.
Once a Victorian waste pumping station, Walthamstow Pumphouse is now home to transportation landmarks such as original Victorian steam engines, vintage fire engines and iconic London ‘B’ type bus. You can even enjoy a unique dining experience hosted in a Victoria Line tube carriage – the Supper Club Tube.
Those with little ones in tow should take a trip down the Thames in a Moo Canoe. You’ll see the city from a different perspective as you paddle along in your black and white cow print vessel. For something a little more elegant, head to Clapham in South West London, a trendy area very popular with young urbanites for its great bars and restaurants. New space ‘WC’ – wine and charcuterie – is a must visit, the name a playful nod to the bar’s setting, a Victorian water closet that dates back to the late 19th Century.
Good Places to Eat in London
London is a true culinary cornucopia. Few cities on Earth serve up such a heady blend of cuisines, flavors and cooking styles, from Jamaican to Chinese, Brazilian to Scandinavian, Michelin-starred fine dining to salt-of-the-earth street food.
With so much to choose from, we thought we’d break it down for you a little. Here’s a sprinkling of just a few authentic eateries and good restaurants in central London to whet your appetite.
With no fewer than seven locations across London, Dishoom serves fresh Indian dishes in hip, vibrant settings, while Honey & Co whips up Middle Eastern marvels in a variety of locations across Fitzrovia and Bloomsbury. Sophisticated wine bar 40 Maltby Street pairs fresh, comforting dishes with a muted yet elegant ambience, and some of the best value premium wines in the city.
For fine dining in London’s most exclusive district, Mayfair, head to Scott's, a spot beloved by celebrities, for sensational fish, champagne and oysters. Another upscale Indian favorite, Gymkhana is inspired by exclusive private member clubs in India. The interiors are opulent and the food is out of this world. Don’t miss the restaurant’s fabulous cocktail bar, 42, for drinks after dinner.
Notting Hill’s legendary deli Ottolenghi serves sublime salads, delicious baked goods and tapas-style dishes. It’s so popular it now has eight further locations across London. Cantonese restaurant Hakkasan blends dramatic atmosphere with stunning flavors – come for the award-winning food; stay for the out-of-this-world cocktails. Head to Hoxton, North London, for a traditional British roast at William IV. This recently renovated 200-year-old Georgian pub serves an incredible Sunday lunch in its candlelit upstairs dining room, as well as the best pint of Guinness in the area.
Parks and Recreation
Aside from the huge historic buildings and soaring skyscrapers, London is teeming with sprawling green parks, offering plenty of much-needed respite from the hubbub of the city for locals, who love nothing more than a park picnic on a sunny summer day.
World-famous Hyde Park is right in the center of the city. You’ll find acres of green grass, a shimmering lake, a rose meadow and the famous Princess Diana Memorial Fountain. If you’re visiting the park on a Sunday morning, head to Speaker’s Corner, a traditional site for public speeches since the 19th century, to catch a lively public debate about the issues of today.
If you’re wondering what to do in London with kids, our advice is to forget London Zoo – as good as it is – and make a beeline for St James Park, before heading to nearby Buckingham Palace. It’s a joyful place where you can get up close to pelicans during feeding time and watch semi-tame squirrels and parakeets interact with visitors. Regent’s Park offers incredible landscape gardens and the wonderful Open Air Theatre, ideal for a magical midsummer night.
To the west is Richmond Park, a veritable country retreat in the city. After you’re done exploring the streets of Ted Lasso’s fictitious FC Richmond, head to this spectacular open space that feels so much like the English countryside – you’ll even find wild deer, as well as ancient trees and wildflower meadows.
Shop ‘til You Drop
Oxford Street and the more upmarket Regent Street are the two main veins for shopping in London. You’ll find quirky boutiques and vintage gems in Carnaby Street, which came to fame as a fashion paradise in London’s swinging sixties, while Bond Street is the place to be for luxury fashion houses and elegant independent stores.
Local fashionistas tend to seek out luxury labels at places like six-story fashion store Dover Street Market in the St James’s neighborhood. Here, you’ll also find Jermyn Street, famous for its high-end men’s fashion houses, and the exquisite Fortnum & Mason, home to designer brands and luxury homewares.
Don’t forget London’s world-famous department store, Harrods. Visit in the evening for a truly magical experience. In the same Knightsbridge district you’ll also find another landmark department store, Harvey Nichols, as well as an array of elegant boutiques, while the Coal Drops Yard shopping mall in Kings Cross is great for designer threads and handmade mementos amid Victorian architecture.
You'll also find luxury goods and locals shopping on the King's Road, another sixties heritage spot, while Liberty London is one of the most beloved department stores, operating since Victorian time, and Connaught Village is a serene shopping spot for upscale clothing near Hyde Park.
Camden Market is legendary for vintage threads and thrifty finds, while markets like Old Spitalfields, Portobello and Brick Lane all offer the chance to nab a bargain memento from your visit to London, selling everything from ethical fashion to homemade jewelry and retro home goods. A historic Grade II listed building, Battersea Power Station was converted into a restaurant, bar, entertainment and retail space in 2022. Here, you’ll find designer, high street and boutique fashion outlets from British and international brands.
Where to stay in London, UK
There’s no shortage of gorgeous hotels in England’s capital. But to immerse yourself in the city’s culture, we’ve chosen some smaller, more unique spots. Here are some great boutique hotels in London that combine luxury with personalized charm:
A charming boutique hotel in the heart of Clerkenwell, just north of the center of London, Zetter Townhouse offers traditional interiors with a quirky twist, as well as warm, personalized service.
Muted gray and classic green interiors bring welcome serenity at this excellent hotel in the heart of London’s theater district, Covent Garden, while the hotel’s French restaurant, HENRI, serves up sumptuous cuisine with the ambience of an old fashioned Parisian bistro.
With a storied past, this historic building was central to Scotland Yard, London’s famous police headquarters. There are some lovely immersive nods to its pre-transformation history in the lobby, yet this Hyatt hotel is still forward-focused, with all the modern amenities you’d expect from a big hotel brand, together with elegant interiors and exceptional attentive service.
Set in one of London’s most exclusive districts, Fitzrovia, this is one of the best luxury boutique hotels in London. The Mandrake focuses on luxury wellbeing, with sumptuous health food, eclectic interiors and a diverse entertainment program ranging from art exhibitions to DJ sets.
A hidden gem in Soho, Hazlitt is one of London’s best boutique hotels. Stylish Georgian interiors are quintessentially English, while some rooms come with fireplaces. For pure home-from-home comfort and English elegance, it ticks every box.
London’s Calling
A vibrant, wondrous, world-class capital, London has a lifetime of experiences. From exhilarating history to dazzling futurism, buzzing street markets to exquisite fine dining, the variety of experiences on offer is boundless; so much so, that for many travelers, it can prove a little overwhelming.
Thankfully, our London vacation guide can help you decide on how best to invest your time when visiting the city. These recommendations go beyond the usual tourist spots to take you into the heart and soul of this glorious city. Armed with the insider info on what to do in London, you’re sure to enjoy this unique city like a true Londoner, savoring a vacation to remember.
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