A local's guides to London 🇬🇧🤍💂🏼
A local's guides to London 🇬🇧🤍💂🏼
Lauren Alboini
Available for hire
Someone once said when you're tired of London, you're tired of life, and I couldn't agree more.
After nearly 9 years of living here, I still think it's the best city in the world. I'm constantly finding new corners to explore, places to see, restaurants to try, experiences to have...London really has everything and more 🤍
So I've started compiling this London guide so you can also see and experience the best that this amazing city has to offer.
WHAT'S INCLUDED:
🗓️ 8 days of London
🛎️ Hotel recommendations
🍰 My favourite places for afternoon tea
🍽️ Brilliant spots for a Sunday roast
🕯️ The best dinner restaurants in East London
🌇 Restaurants & bars with a view
🍷 The wine bars I go to over and over again
🍾 5 ways to celebrate a special occasion
📸 Self-guided photo walks
☔ My rainy guide: museums and nearby pubs
You can count on this being updated quite consistently, so make sure to save it and check back for more!
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✨ ITINERARY
An extensive 8-day trip - or 8 different days you can pick and choose to spend in London 🎉
✨ IMPORTANT - this is also suitable for trips lasting less than 8 days. i.e., you can purchase this option to choose from 8 planned days 🎉
This is a great itinerary if you:
🇬🇧 Want a tried-and-tested trip made and done by a local
🇬🇧 Are interested in seeing a mix of classic & lesser-known parts
🇬🇧 Are keen for lots of long walks
🇬🇧 Visit anytime of year - but especially in the spring or summer
🇬🇧 Want to see lots of green / parks
🇬🇧 Aren't too bothered about going into museums (unless it rains)
🇬🇧 Bring your appetite 😋
This includes:
🤍 A day-by-day breakdown
🤍 40 spots to eat - from restaurants to cafés and grab & go bites
🤍 36+ points of interest
🤍 12 local-specific tips to enhance your time in London
🤍 11 bars and cocktails
🤍 5 suggested apps to download
🤍 4 custom-made walking routes
🤍 Links to various booking pages
This all accounts for:
⌛ Hours and hours of research and curation
⭐ High customer ratings: at least a 4 out of 5 on Google Reviews
➕ Extra options so you can still customise this to your liking
☔ Rainy day recommendations
Want a sneak peek of what this trip looked like for my friend and I?
📽️ IG Reel I: https://rb.gy/mzkvsp
📽️ IG Reel II: https://rb.gy/nyzdk6
Still not convinced?
💸 Total value as a custom order: $320
💸 What you'll get it for instead: $30 (hugeeee savings!)
Couples • Groups • Female Solo • Boutique • Architecture • Wine • Photography • Outdoors • History
$30.00
5.0
(1)
Looking for a CUSTOM London itinerary or feedback on one you already have? I can help! More at the bottom of this guide👇
✨ WHERE TO STAY
London is full of amazing options that will undoubtedly add to your time and experience here. From bustling central, to the beautiful west side and cool and trendy east side, there are so many interesting places to stay depending on the kind of trip you want to have. These are the kind of places I'd stay if I were visiting London 🛎️
I've included a mix of...
✨ ACCOMMODATION TYPES: modern & Victorian boutiques, residential pub hotels, splurge-worthy gems
✨ LOCATIONS: in the hustle and bustle or quieter areas
✨ PRICE POINTS: moderate to splurge
And because London is so well connected thanks to a brilliant public transport system, each of the listed spots are either close to bus and tube lines - and/or are walking distance to amazing sites and scenes.
At the time of writing, all of these recommendations have at least a 4 out of 5 rating on Google and at least an 8 out of 10 rating on Booking.com. And that benchmark hasn't led me astray yet 😊
50+ • Business • Car-free • Couples • Family • Groups • Female Solo • Architecture • Art • Boutique • Foodie • Luxury • People & Culture • Photography • Relaxation • Romantic • Shopping
Private
Click "Check Prices" to visit each hotel's page in Booking.com and book a stay. I earn a small commission when you book through Thatch, at no extra cost to you, which helps support my work 🙏
✨ WHERE TO EAT & DRINK
Expect this section to grow overtime! I have sooooo many recommendations 😂
This lovely activity is an absolute must when you're in town - and these are all my tried-and-tested favourite spots. The list is short because I keep going back to them over and over again!
Finger sandwiches, warm scones and cute desserts with a pot of tea (and maybe a glass of champagne!) - what's not to love? This city is very good at pulling out all the stops for this wonderful British tradition.
Book in advance and prepare to spend around £50+ per person, but what a treat it will be! 🍰
Couples • Groups • Family • Foodie • Luxury • Romantic
Private
There are few traditions more quintessentially British than the classic Sunday roast.
This meal is a must if you're in London on a Sunday - whether you're in a cute garden in the summer or bundled up in the winter.
And these are my favourites. The list is short because I keep going to them over and over 😊
Car-free • Couples • Digital Nomads • Family • Groups • Pets • Female Solo • Foodie • Slow Travel • Romantic • People & Culture
Private
I have held firm for years - and still do - that East London has the best food and restaurants in the city! The dishes are inventive, the decor and atmosphere is always on point, and the value for money is quite a bit better compared to west and central London.
I've lived in East London for nearly 3 years and I've been to these spots once or many times. I love them and hope you do too 😊 All arranged by cuisine 🍽️
Couples • Groups • Car-free • Digital Nomads • Family • Female Solo • Foodie • Wine • Romantic • People & Culture
Private
This city has an absolutely thriving wine bar scene - particularly in East London. It’s one of my favourite kinds of places to go out with friends and has led to some of my favourite afternoons and evenings in this wonderful city in the last few years.
These are the spots that I’d recommend over and over again! All tried and tested 🤍
Female Solo • Groups • Couples • Wine • Romantic • Relaxation • People & Culture • Foodie
Private
Looking to have a really lovely and memorable night out in London - specifically to go somewhere fun for drinks and then somewhere special and nearby for dinner? 🇬🇧
Perhaps you have a birthday, anniversary, milestone achievement or another special occasion coming up - and want a local enthusiast to do all the thinking and curating for you? 🥂
Then you're in the right place because this is for you 🤍
This includes:
✨ 5 high-quality restaurant and bar combinations in varying parts of London - and all with different vibes and atmospheres to cater to the kind of evening you're looking for.
✨ From 1920s-inspired with jazz and blues performances to an underground retro champagne parlour and sky-high 360-degree views with a colourful fusion menu - this list will give you a brilliant taste (literally!) of how special London can be.
✨ The walking distance between each pairing ranges from a few steps (honestly, one staircase!) to 8 minutes.
✨ You'll also get key information like the websites, menus, booking links and phone numbers for each destination.
This all accounts for:
⌛ Hours of research and curation
🏆 High customer ratings: at least a 4 out of 5 on Google Reviews
Still not convinced?
💸 Total value as a custom order: $30
💸 What you'll get it for instead: $6.50 (hugeeee savings!)
Couples • Car-free • Groups • Family • Romantic • Wine • Foodie • Luxury • Boutique
$6.50
✨ WHERE TO EXPLORE
Something that is truly amazing about London is how each neighbourhood has its own personality, vibe and style. There is SO much more to the city than the touristy areas - from the classically beautiful Marylebone to the ultra cool Hackney.
Every once in awhile I embark on different walks around the city, and these are just a few of the ones I've done. They are all self-guided and include links to interactive routes in Google Maps that I've created especially for you 😊
♥️ Angel & Islington
This area is full of fantastic restaurants, cafés, pubs and shops, as well as charming side streets, secret passageways, gardens, markets and some of the most beautiful homes in the city.
It's one of my favourite neighbourhoods in London - and this tried and tested self-guided walk of mine will give you a great flavour of the area.
THIS IS A GREAT WALK IF YOU WANT:
🇬🇧 To see a part of the city with little to no tourists
🇬🇧 A mix of scenes - canals, beautiful homes, shops
THIS INCLUDES:
🤍 Two custom-made interactive routes (short and long versions)
🤍 16-20 points of interest (depending on the length you choose)
🤍 8 recommendations for a coffee, drink or light bite on the way
🤍 Photos I’ve taken of all the stops and surrounding area to give you a clear idea of what you'll see on the way
SNEAK PEEK:
📽️ Want to see what this walk looks like? Watch my IG Reel: https://rb.gy/eckmvd
(it was one of the first ones I ever made so excuse the quality 😂)
Car-free • Couples • Digital Nomads • Groups • Female Solo • Outdoors • Photography
$8.50
5.0
(1)
♥️ Hampstead Village
If you're looking to explore a beautiful part of the city with little to no tourists, keen to see some of the biggest and most expensive homes that London has to offer, and/or are interested in soaking in some literary history than this self-guided walking tour is for you.
Hampstead Village is an absolutely lovely area in North London to leisurely explore - especially in the spring or summer when all the trees are in bloom.
Female Solo • Groups • Digital Nomads • Car-free • Couples • Architecture • History • Outdoors • People & Culture • Photography • Slow Travel
Free
✨ WHAT TO DO
Possible controversial opinion: London really doesn't rain as much as others think it does 😂 Grey and clouds are the go-to weather forecast, and this makes being outside and exploring the city by foot absolutely doable.
But when it does rain, exploring a museum or gallery is a great way to still capitalise on a day out. There are SO many all over London and most of them are FREE - an incredible offering that is pretty unique to this city. And there's not much more quintessentially local than to get cosy in a nearby pub afterwards 🤍
Check out this guide for a wide mix - from war museums to immersive art and photography exhibits!
50+ • Backpacker • Car-free • Couples • Digital Nomads • Family • Groups • Female Solo • Architecture • Art • History • People & Culture • Photography
Private
✨ ELEVATE YOUR TRIP
Interested in customised suggestions tailored to your travel style? Or want a detailed London itinerary made exclusively for you? I've got you covered👇
London is full of AMAZING places to go and things to see, so it can be challenging to figure out where to start and what to prioritise.
That’s why I’m here to help! 🤍
I’ve been living in London for 8+ years, know the city very well and have helped lots of people have an amazing time here - and I’d love to do the same for you 🇬🇧
Learn more about my two travel services below: custom itineraries and curated recommendations 🗺️
Car-free • Couples • Family • Groups • Female Solo • Wine • Romantic • Photography • People & Culture • Outdoors • History • Foodie • Coffee • Boutique • Architecture
Free
✨ ONE FINAL NOTE
Thank you SO much for stopping by!
I'm all about sharing helpful travel tips widely, which is why I've kept this guide and so many others free for you to access at anytime. However, these do take quite a bit of time to make, so I'd really appreciate a little love and support.
Ways you can help:
🤍 Add a tip below
🤍 Save this guide
🤍 Email me a review
Thank you again! 🙏
* * *
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lauren Alboini
Available for hire
Hi and welcome to my page! 👋🏼
I’m a London-based travel creator, originally from Toronto, and have been living in this fabulous city since 2015 🇬🇧
After 8+ years of curating and sharing travel recommendations for friends and family, I want to do the same for others (hopefully that includes you!). And that's what brought me to Thatch 🤍
🗺️ MY TRAVEL STYLE: I love...
• High quality but affordable places and experiences
• Having a plan but also flexibility to go with the flow
• Exploring a mix of classic and off-the-beaten-track gems
• Lively settings but also relaxing ones
• Being outside
If this sounds like you too, you’re in the right place ✔️
🗺️ WHY ME:
• I'm a program manager - planning and organising is what I do!
• I’ve been to nearly 50 countries and lived in four 🌍
• I’ve been using a tip in the last 3+ years that have made my trips SO much better - and will do the same for you
• I prioritise being helpful and providing value
🗺️ WHAT YOU CAN FIND HERE:
• Guides, DIY walking tours, interactive maps of London, UK, Europe and beyond - most are free and some are priced very competitively
• Custom itineraries and curated recommendations for London - to ensure you have an amazing personalised experience through my local lens 🇬🇧
THANK YOU for being here and I can't wait to connect 🙏
📸 Follow me on IG (@awaywithalbs) for more travel tips and recommendations, trip planning motivation, and travel stories with lessons learned.
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