A Weekend in London, England 🇬🇧

Every museum in London is worth a visit, the key is knowing what to see, and that will vary from person to person! These are some (not all) of my favourite works to visit. What to see / major works: 'Self Portrait at the Age of 34' by Rembrandt (Room 22) 'Portrait of a Woman of the Hofer Family' by Swabian (Room 25) 'The Arnolfini Portrait' by Jan van Eyck (Room 28) 'Allegory with Venus and Time' by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Room 39) 'The Water-Lily Pond' by Claude Monet (Room 41) 'Sunflowers' by Vincent van Gogh (Room 43)

Sir John Soane's Museum is a bit of a hidden gem, not many tourists know about it but being particularly small in comparison with other museums, it makes for the perfect place to spend some time if you are looking to immerse yourself in some arts & culture but don't want to visit a bigger museum. "Sir John Soane, one of the greatest English architects, built and lived in it two centuries ago. The museum has been kept as it was at the time of his death in 1837, and displays his vast collection of antiquities, furniture, sculptures, architectural models and paintings." -- Sir John Soane's Museum

Columbia Road Flower Market is a popular destination for both tourists and locals, in essence, it's a flower market, the road is filled with traders selling hundreds of different varieties of flowers and plants. It's also home to beautiful independent shops where you can browse for vintage homewares, get drinks and snacks or sit for a relaxing lunch. It gets quite busy, but it's an enjoyable activity nonetheless.

With a 1000-year history, this market is THE market to visit. Steeped in history and filled to the absolute brim with produce and foods of all kinds. Don't leave without trying a few different stalls, there's truly something for everyone.

One of (if not the) best Italian restaurants in London. Affordable, high-quality, and incredibly tasty dishes. My favourite order: Start with a Negroni Sbagliato Follow with Tagliolini al Tartufo, 30-Egg Yolk Tagliolini, Black Truffle, Butter, Parmigiano Reggiano. Finish off with Tiramisù (obviously).

BAO started in 2013 as a stall in Netil Market (BAO Bar) in East London by Erchen Chang, Wai Ting & Shing Tat Chung. April 2015 saw the opening of their first permanent location in Soho. BAO has now expanded across the capital with locations in Fitzrovia and Borough Market, both of which take reservations and walk-ins. You’ll find that each restaurant has a slightly different menu, this is not usually the case with restaurants that have different locations, but it makes BAO that much more special. It’s not just about the food, it’s about the whole experience. My favourite thing about BAO’s buns is the different treatments the dough gets throughout the menu. Fried bao is a complete revelation to me, and what about stuffing it with ice cream? What I like to order: Prawn Shia Song Bao - A fried gua bao with a smidgen of sweetness (think mini fried hot dog bun) stuffed with King Prawns, carrot, celery, and water chestnut. Bao Oolong Lager - A soft amber lager (unlike its colour) with muted but still noticeable oolong notes. Drinks very easy and pairs very well with the food, brewed exclusively by Braybrooke Beer for Bao.

With 2 bars and 19 food stalls, Seven Dials Market is home to a few of my favourites... Club Mexicana The Cheesebar Easy to reach, right in the middle of Covent Garden, walk-ins and bookings are available. 💡Full step-free access, including a lift and wheelchair-accessible toilets.

My tried and true, my ride or ride, my all or nothing. Whatever the question, the answer is always GAIL's. Fast, affordable, high quality, dependable, find it all across the capital. They will not fail you. For breakfast, pastries, sandwiches, hot and cold drinks. My usual order: Ham & Cheese croissant or Chocolate Almond Croissant Decaf Flat White I get my weekly sourdough loaves from Gail's, which they lovingly slice for me!

I get one thing and one thing only from Fabrique and that is their cinnamon and/or cardamom buns.

Coffee as it should be. High quality and handcrafted. 💡Note they no longer offer to go disposable cups with their takeaway orders, if you'd like your drink to take away you need to purchase one of their reusable cups for £5 (or bring your own), if you return the reusable cup you get your £5 back.

Iconic London bookshop with beautiful interiors and equally as great selection of books.

One of London's most iconic department stores, still located at 181 Piccadilly, where it has been for 300 years. Spread across 6 floors, Fortnum's is the home of the iconic F&M gift hampers, specialty food and wine as well as classic homewares. The perfect place to pick up a souvenir.

"Established in 2000 in the heart of East London's market district, Labour and Wait offers a wide range of timeless, functional products for daily life." -- Labour & Wait Similar to Objects of Use if you've seen my Weekend in Oxford Guide.

Neals Yard Dairy find, select, mature and sell cheese; specialising and championing British and Irish territorials. "Our involvement with cheese goes far beyond just selling it. The displays you see in our shops and on this website are part of a long and involved process – one that demands of us a deep understanding of the art and science of cheesemaking." Neals Yard Dairy If you are staying in self-catering accommodation, I strongly suggest you have a cheeseboard night, pick up some British cheese and have a full tasting session with some wine and other nibbles. You won't regret it.