Big Ben time lapse

Destination Guide

London

Come to the center of old charm, new culture and never-ending energy.

Destination Guide London

When In London, You Must

Know Before You Go

Street food is becoming a massive trend here throughout the city, so be sure to check out Street Food Union, one of my favorite markets steps away from W London.

london foodies

Grab a bite

Talk Like A Local

Learn the slang from the city.

Lit

/lit/ adj.
If something is lit or "going off," then you’re probably having the time of your life.
This party is lit, mate, get down here

Neighborhoods To Explore

London is made up of 33 different boroughs including the original City of London, otherwise known as the Square Mile. Get ready to sample four of my favourite neighbourhoods and lose yourself in the true diversity of our city.

1. Soho

Buzzing by day and neon at night, Soho has countless drinking dens, a worldwide combination of cuisine, and diverse entertainment.

2. Brixton

Situated smack bang in the centre of South London, Brixton has become a cultural mecca for foodies, clubbers, artists and rockers alike.

3. Shoreditch

Despite the spread of affluence, much of the area maintains its original gritty, urban edge; many of the walls and shop fronts are plastered with street art and still remain London’s original hipster haven.

4. Mayfair

Mayfair is a playground for the rich and powerful, boasting high-end designer stores, sumptuous hotels and clubs, and some of the finest dining in the country.

W London
10 Wardour St, Leicester Square, London W1D 6QF, UK
wlondon.co.uk

Ultimate Access To London

Live it up like a London local.

london bars

Disrepute

4 Kingly Court, Soho W1B 5PE

Discover this sleek vintage style members bar, with a sense of mischief and impropriety. Taking inspiration from its heritage as the former Pinstripe Club, this bar promises “luxury libations, high jinks & late night liaisons.”

Jamie Rowsell

Jamie Rowsell / Insider

Choose your cocktail by the story that inspired it, not by its ingredients.

london burlesque

Bunga Bunga Covent Garden

167 Drury Lane, London WC2B 5PG

Right in the heart of theatreland, this eccentric restaurant is an unforgettable experience once you step through the “butchers” door at the back of the building.

Jamie Rowsell

Jamie Rowsell / Insider

Reserve a table near to the stage if you don’t mind being in the spotlight.

london retail

OTHER Shop

3 Berwick Street, Soho W1F 0DR

Shining a light on graduate collections, this shop offers hard-to-find limited-edition pieces.

Jamie Rowsell

Jamie Rowsell / Insider

Get a 10% discount on your first order online if you can’t get there in person.

london music scene

Phonica

51 Poland Street, Soho W1F 7LZ

The staff are all DJs-about-town and always happy to help you dig out a hard-to-find disc.

Jamie Rowsell

Jamie Rowsell / Insider

Sign up for their online newsletter and check out their podcasts for all the latest releases.

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Murdock London

83 Brewer Street, Soho W1F 9ZN

Built on the mutual trust between a man and his barber, Murdock London is a haven for men to kick back, relax with a drink, and leave ready to conquer the world.

Jamie Rowsell

Jamie Rowsell / Insider

Let your W Insider book you in and see what's in store for you.

Either/Or

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DETOX

The Refinery

14 Collent St.

Take a break, refine and reconnect. This is a piece of heaven in Hackney.

london night clubs

RETOX

Tonteria

712 Sloane Square, Chelsea SW1W 8EG

A subterranean Mexican-themed club where your tequilas get delivered by a toy train.

Spotted in London

london cocktail bars

Experimental Cocktail Club

13A Gerrard St

A speakeasy bar behind an old battered black door in Chinatown gives a secret hideaway to some exceptional libations.

london piano bar

Nightjar

129 City Rd

Make sure you make reservations for this subterranean bar with live jazz and blues, cocktails and rare spirits.

london pubs

Mr. Foggs Tavern

58 St. Martin’s Ln

If you ever wondered what it would be like to drink in Victorian London, come to the lively establishment of Phileas J. Fogg for a jolly good time.

london jazz

Ronnie Scotts

47 Firth St

Come early and stay late, the jazz just keeps on playing!

london museums

National Portrait Gallery

30-40 Orange St

This beautifully historic museum has everything from oil paintings of the monarchy to photos of modern sports heroes and celebrities.

london foodies

Borough Market

1 Wardour St

Get a taste of history with London’s oldest gourmet food market, dating back to the thirteenth century.

Balans Soho Society

Balans Soho Society

60-62 Old Compton St

This bustling little café is open all day and night. And trust us, the infamous Balans Burger tastes just as good no matter if you’re eating it at 3pm or 3am.

Bento_Box

Chotto Matte

53 Firth St

Executive chef Jordan Sclare creates Japanese Peruvian “Nikkei” dishes that capture the bright colors and bold flavors of these two countries, making every dish look just as beautiful as it tastes.

Carnaby Street

Carnaby Street

43 Carnaby St

This pedestrianized shopping street was made famous in the swinging sixties and is still home to numerous fashion and lifestyle retailers, including a large number of independent fashion boutiques.

london book stores

Ray’s Jazz at Foyles

107 Charing Cross Rd

The predominantly CD-based stock contains a good selection of blues, avant-garde, gospel, folk and world, but modern jazz is the main theme here.

london fashion retail

& Other Stories

256-258 Regent St

Owned by H&M but designed and produced independently, & Other Stories is aimed at the fashion-savvy shopper.