Kelly’s guide to London
Local grocery shops
Places to pick up groceries within a 5-10 minute walk
Waitrose is an upscale grocery chain - and this is a local (smaller) shop next Vauxhall Station. I like the quality over Tesco, and it’s great to stop and pick up a few things on your way back.
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Little Waitrose & Partners
3 BondwayWaitrose is an upscale grocery chain - and this is a local (smaller) shop next Vauxhall Station. I like the quality over Tesco, and it’s great to stop and pick up a few things on your way back.
快易行 Shop & Go (Vauxhall) is a well-stocked Asian foods grocery right at Vauxhall Station (on Bondway, across from the bus stops). They have bakery, tonnes of frozen pre-made foods, fresh veg, beverages, and so much more. They’re open 10 am to 10 pm daily.
快易行Shop&Go(Vauxhall)
61 Bondway
快易行 Shop & Go (Vauxhall) is a well-stocked Asian foods grocery right at Vauxhall Station (on Bondway, across from the bus stops). They have bakery, tonnes of frozen pre-made foods, fresh veg, beverages, and so much more. They’re open 10 am to 10 pm daily.
A very large grocery store with almost everything you need, within a 5 minute walk. Bring a reusable bag from the entry way and save yourself a few pence!
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Tesco Superstore
Kennington LaneA very large grocery store with almost everything you need, within a 5 minute walk. Bring a reusable bag from the entry way and save yourself a few pence!
Local Coffee Shops
This is definitely my favourite local cafe. It’s about a 5 minute walk from the house - they have a full range of coffees and teas, excellent baked goods, and healthy breakfast/brunch items. They also have a great shopping area, with unique gifts, cards, cookery books, candles and more.
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Vanilla Black Coffee & Books
308 Kennington RdThis is definitely my favourite local cafe. It’s about a 5 minute walk from the house - they have a full range of coffees and teas, excellent baked goods, and healthy breakfast/brunch items. They also have a great shopping area, with unique gifts, cards, cookery books, candles and more.
Cute coffee shop slash plant shop. Good selection of plant-based pastries the last time I visited too. Very helpful staff.
Urban Botanica
Cute coffee shop slash plant shop. Good selection of plant-based pastries the last time I visited too. Very helpful staff.
Local Wine & Cheese Shop
This is a lovely place around the corner to grab a bottle of wine and some delicious cheeses for a sophisticated night in. Grab one of their amazing baguettes to go along. They also have some fresh pasta dishes that look fabulous but I haven’t tried them yet!
Didi & Franc
This is a lovely place around the corner to grab a bottle of wine and some delicious cheeses for a sophisticated night in. Grab one of their amazing baguettes to go along. They also have some fresh pasta dishes that look fabulous but I haven’t tried them yet!
Parks
This is my favourite park in London. A bit understated compared to Hyde Park, but there’s a couple lovely cafes, a beautiful lake with ducks, geese, swans, and pelicans. The best part for me is the squirrels… don’t forget to bring nuts as they will eat right out of your hand!
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St. James Park
This is my favourite park in London. A bit understated compared to Hyde Park, but there’s a couple lovely cafes, a beautiful lake with ducks, geese, swans, and pelicans. The best part for me is the squirrels… don’t forget to bring nuts as they will eat right out of your hand!
Hyde Park is huge and gorgeous. I love walking/running around the Serpentine Lake, stopping at the cafes for tea or snacks, or just bringing a book and lounging in the green space.
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Hyde Park
Hyde Park is huge and gorgeous. I love walking/running around the Serpentine Lake, stopping at the cafes for tea or snacks, or just bringing a book and lounging in the green space.
This is a lovely gigantic park. It takes a bit of a trek from central London, but great to walk or cycle, plus you can see deer running and resting throughout the park.
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Richmond Park
This is a lovely gigantic park. It takes a bit of a trek from central London, but great to walk or cycle, plus you can see deer running and resting throughout the park.
Battersea Park has a good vibe - along the river, great place for relaxing with a picnic or grabbing a bite at their cafe on a small lake, and a pretty cool Thai pavilion. Right near the new Battersea Power Station redevelopment (also listed in the Guidebook!).
Battersea Park
Battersea Park has a good vibe - along the river, great place for relaxing with a picnic or grabbing a bite at their cafe on a small lake, and a pretty cool Thai pavilion. Right near the new Battersea Power Station redevelopment (also listed in the Guidebook!).
Food scene
Absolutely phenomenal and high quality Thai food in Belgravia - would likely eat here every day if I could!
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Mango Tree
46 Grosvenor PlAbsolutely phenomenal and high quality Thai food in Belgravia - would likely eat here every day if I could!
This seems to be Indian fusion, and so wildly popular that you’ll usually have to wait in the queue for an hour or two. There is an elusive key that can help you win free food, but there are quite a few conditions (I can’t copy and paste here, but just search for ‘key at Dishoom’ and you can read about it).
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Dishoom
12 Upper St Martin's LnThis seems to be Indian fusion, and so wildly popular that you’ll usually have to wait in the queue for an hour or two. There is an elusive key that can help you win free food, but there are quite a few conditions (I can’t copy and paste here, but just search for ‘key at Dishoom’ and you can read about it).
Love this authentic sushi spot. If you can plan in advance, call ahead and book an omakase (basically a multi-course chef’s choice meal).
Cubé - Japanese tapas and sushi fine dining
4 Blenheim StLove this authentic sushi spot. If you can plan in advance, call ahead and book an omakase (basically a multi-course chef’s choice meal).
London isn’t generally known for its Mexican food, but this is a great taco spot right next to Borough Market.
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El Pastor
7A Stoney StLondon isn’t generally known for its Mexican food, but this is a great taco spot right next to Borough Market.
One of a few Ottolenghi restaurants around London, this is a casual, veg forward spot. Loved everything I tried, and the desserts are top notch.
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Nopi
21-22 Warwick StOne of a few Ottolenghi restaurants around London, this is a casual, veg forward spot. Loved everything I tried, and the desserts are top notch.
This Thai spot is consistently rated highly - I like the signature dish of Clay Pot Baked Glass Noodles.
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Kiln
58 Brewer StThis Thai spot is consistently rated highly - I like the signature dish of Clay Pot Baked Glass Noodles.
The nearby Padella is very popular, but honestly, I like this little stall in Borough Market wayyy better. There’s a stall for getting cooked pasta (love the black truffle tortellini) and a different spot for takeaway pasta and sauces.
La Tua Pasta
3 Rochester WalkThe nearby Padella is very popular, but honestly, I like this little stall in Borough Market wayyy better. There’s a stall for getting cooked pasta (love the black truffle tortellini) and a different spot for takeaway pasta and sauces.
This restaurant is amazing. High quality food, great flavours, and breathtaking views of the London skyline from inside the Shard (33rd floor).
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Hutong
31 St Thomas StThis restaurant is amazing. High quality food, great flavours, and breathtaking views of the London skyline from inside the Shard (33rd floor).
The Food Halls at Harrod’s are truly a thing of beauty. Part of the ground floor of the iconic department store is a devoted foodie paradise. You can go all out (caviar and designer cakes) or keep it in budget (salads). Also, great for gifts to take home!
The Deli - Harrods Food Hall
87-135 Brompton RdThe Food Halls at Harrod’s are truly a thing of beauty. Part of the ground floor of the iconic department store is a devoted foodie paradise. You can go all out (caviar and designer cakes) or keep it in budget (salads). Also, great for gifts to take home!
This was a phenomenal food experience. Not only is Neal’s Yard one of the cutest spots in London (Covent Garden/Seven Dials) but the food here is amazing. It’s categorised as North African - and Jerusalem Bagel with side dips and Chicken Shawarma is the stuff of dreams. It’s in a quirky little spot - which is effectively a U-shaped bar around the kitchen. Better for small groups (2-3 people).
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The Barbary
16 Neal's YardThis was a phenomenal food experience. Not only is Neal’s Yard one of the cutest spots in London (Covent Garden/Seven Dials) but the food here is amazing. It’s categorised as North African - and Jerusalem Bagel with side dips and Chicken Shawarma is the stuff of dreams. It’s in a quirky little spot - which is effectively a U-shaped bar around the kitchen. Better for small groups (2-3 people).
I loved this spot in the food stalls of Borough Market, especially the Beef Rendang. The owner, Selena, is absolutely lovely and so passionate about food and cooking!
Joli
I loved this spot in the food stalls of Borough Market, especially the Beef Rendang. The owner, Selena, is absolutely lovely and so passionate about food and cooking!
Neighborhoods
Soho has a fabulous restaurant scene, and top notch gay bars. It’s right next to Chinatown which is a great place to explore food spots, especially the taiyaki (fish shaped filled doughnuts) at Chinatown Bakery.
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Soho
Soho has a fabulous restaurant scene, and top notch gay bars. It’s right next to Chinatown which is a great place to explore food spots, especially the taiyaki (fish shaped filled doughnuts) at Chinatown Bakery.
Covent Garden is just a cool spot to say you’ve been. There are mostly chain / designer stores in and around the market, and some nice restaurants on the surrounding streets too. I especially like the Apple Market (artisan crafts and antiques) on Tuesdays. If you’re looking for touristy gifts (e.g. London t-shirts, double-decker bus key chains) there is Jubilee Market - though I surprisingly much prefer the London Transport Museum’s gift shop for London-themed gifts.
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Covent Garden
41 James StCovent Garden is just a cool spot to say you’ve been. There are mostly chain / designer stores in and around the market, and some nice restaurants on the surrounding streets too. I especially like the Apple Market (artisan crafts and antiques) on Tuesdays. If you’re looking for touristy gifts (e.g. London t-shirts, double-decker bus key chains) there is Jubilee Market - though I surprisingly much prefer the London Transport Museum’s gift shop for London-themed gifts.
Okay - so this isn’t really a ‘neighbourhood’ per se, but it encompasses restaurants, shopping, entertainment venues - all in one space! This has been under development for years, and just opened October 2022. Here’s how it’s described: “The Grade II* listed Power Station is one of London's most famous landmarks and will house over 100 shops, restaurants, cafes, leisure and entertainment venues, a unique chimney lift experience offering 360-degree panoramic views of London’s skyline, new office space, 500,000 sq. ft of which will be home to Apple’s new London Campus and 254 new residential apartments. Circus West Village, the first chapter of the regeneration of Battersea Power Station, is already open and offers an eclectic mix of independent and design-led bars, restaurants, shops, fitness and wellbeing facilities, a cinema, theatre, VR arcade, crazy golf course and an ongoing events programme."
I haven’t been here yet, but I can’t wait to go!
Battersea Power Station
Okay - so this isn’t really a ‘neighbourhood’ per se, but it encompasses restaurants, shopping, entertainment venues - all in one space! This has been under development for years, and just opened October 2022. Here’s how it’s described: “The Grade II* listed Power Station is one of London's most famous landmarks and will house over 100 shops, restaurants, cafes, leisure and entertainment venues, a unique chimney lift experience offering 360-degree panoramic views of London’s skyline, new office space, 500,000 sq. ft of which will be home to Apple’s new London Campus and 254 new residential apartments. Circus West Village, the first chapter of the regeneration of Battersea Power Station, is already open and offers an eclectic mix of independent and design-led bars, restaurants, shops, fitness and wellbeing facilities, a cinema, theatre, VR arcade, crazy golf course and an ongoing events programme."
I haven’t been here yet, but I can’t wait to go!
Sightseeing
Sky Garden has an amazing view of London, especially the Shard. It’s completely free, but you need to book tickets in advance. There are tons of beautiful plants (I.e., garden) too. Tip: book for sunset and watch the sun go down behind the skyline.
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Sky Garden
Sky Garden has an amazing view of London, especially the Shard. It’s completely free, but you need to book tickets in advance. There are tons of beautiful plants (I.e., garden) too. Tip: book for sunset and watch the sun go down behind the skyline.