Amy & Jamie’s London Fun- Do List

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Visit a Market

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Take a self guided tour through a market to learn about its history or just wander. Borough Market: take your taste buds on a delicious adventure through a maze of artisanal cheeses, gourmet street food, and heavenly pastries—just remember, calories don’t count when you’re on holiday, so grab those chocolate-covered strawberries and thank us later! Covent Garden Market: used to be a fruit, flower and vegetable market. Now you can sip coffee while watching street performers juggle or listen to singers (often professionals having fun) all amidst boutique shops and the charming Apple Market. This is also the home of the Royal Opera. Portobello Road Market: located in Notting Hill, colorful houses line the streets. This market is best known for its antiques and vintage items. It has a lively atmosphere, especially on Saturdays, (crowded!) when vendors sell everything from second-hand goods to fresh produce and unique fashion pieces. Old Spitalfields Market: this historic market features a mix of independent shops, street food vendors, and artisan stalls. It’s a great place to find unique clothing, handmade crafts, and delicious food.

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Walk through a Royal Park

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If you’re staying in the city these parks are all easily accessible. Hyde Park: One of the largest and most famous parks in London, known for its vast open spaces, the Serpentine Lake, and historical monuments. Regent's Park: Renowned for its beautiful gardens, including the Queen Mary’s Gardens, and home to the London Zoo. Kensington Gardens: Adjacent to Hyde Park, it features the Albert Memorial, Kensington Palace, and the beautiful Italian Gardens. St James's Park: The oldest Royal Park, located near Buckingham Palace, known for its picturesque lake and flower beds. St. James is a personal favorite with its swan and duck filled lake and its proximity to Buckingham Palace and smaller scale. But all the parks are fabulous and each has a unique personality.

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Visit a Museum

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The British Museum: Home to priceless artifacts, including the Rosetta Stone. The Natural History Museum: Get up close with dinosaurs and discover the wonders of our planet in a stunning building. The National Gallery: Marvel at masterpieces by famous artists like Van Gogh and Monet in this beautiful art collection. Tate Modern: If modern art’s your bag, head this way. The Tate is housed in a former power station. Winston Churchills War Rooms and Museum: This underground bunker is fascinating for anyone interested in WWII. Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A): Wander through a treasure trove of art and design, from fashion to furniture.

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Go for High Tea

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There are so many amazing places to enjoy this British insitution, which is actually a meal, make no mistake! If you don’t know about cream tea, you are in for a treat. Cream tea is usually part of any high tea. It has nothing to do with the tea you drink but rather refers to a heavenly, creamy, way better than butter spread that you put on a scone. And it is a sin to spread on only a thin layer, you pile the cream high then top it with strawberry jam then prepare to be transported! I will list a few favorite places but there are many! It’s a good idea to make a reservation as some of these places book out well in advance. Most have a smart casual dress code. Fortnum & Mason: This iconic department store offers a luxurious tea experience and a royal ambiance in the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon. The Goring: A heritage hotel known for its traditional afternoon tea, The Goring provides a charming setting with a royal connection and excellent service. Brown’s Hotel: Famous for its classic English afternoon tea, Brown’s features a lovely tearoom with live piano music. Rudyard Kipling wrote The Jungle Book here! Mariage Freres: Located in Covent Garden, this French tea shop offers a delightful tearoom with inventive food and an impressive selection of teas. One Aldwych: Known for its Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-themed afternoon tea, this venue provides a whimsical experience. The Savoy: A classic choice for afternoon tea, The Savoy offers a beautiful setting with a view of the Thames and live piano music. Sketch: This quirky venue combines art and tea, featuring a whimsical atmosphere and creative pastries in a stunning pink parlor. The Ritz: Renowned for its opulent surroundings, The Ritz serves a traditional afternoon tea. **Men must have a coat and tie for this one. Claridge’s: Known for its elegant decor, Claridge’s offers a sumptuous tea. The Corinthia: This five-star hotel features a bright and airy lounge for afternoon tea.

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Check out the West End Theater Scene

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Walk around Leicester Square and SoHo and catch a show! Book ahead or see what’s available at the last minute.

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Take a self guided (or guided) walking tour though one of London’s many beautiful neighborhoods. We recommend A Lady in London's free walking tours

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Belgravia: An upscale neighborhood characterized by elegant white stucco houses and lush garden squares, Belgravia is known for its luxury shops and quiet charm. **Peggy Porschen Bakery :) Chelsea: Famous for its stylish boutiques on the trendy King's Road and Sloan Square, Chelsea combines a rich history with a modern, fashionable vibe. Mayfair: One of London's most exclusive areas, Mayfair is known for its luxury shopping, fine dining, and historic architecture. St. James: Nestled between Green Park and St. James's Park, this exclusive area features elegant streets, royal connections, and high-end shops, embodying classic British sophistication. Soho: Known for its vibrant nightlife, Soho is packed with theaters, bars, and restaurants, making it a hub for entertainment. Covent Garden: Famous for its lively atmosphere, Covent Garden features street performers, boutique shops, the historic market and the Royal Opera. Notting Hill: known for its colorful houses and the iconic Portobello Road Market, Notting Hill offers a blend of trendy shops, antique stalls, and a lively arts scene. Kensington: Home to beautiful parks and major museums like the V&A and the Natural History Museum, Kensington combines cultural richness with an upscale residential vibe. Camden: Famous for its alternative culture, Camden Market is a treasure trove of vintage clothing, unique crafts, and diverse street food, attracting a lively crowd. And it’s the home of the Royal Veterinary College-established there in 1791 because back then it was the countryside of London! Greenwich: Known for its maritime history and stunning views of the Thames, Greenwich is home The Royal Naval College and the Royal Observatory (and the location of the prime meridian which is the reference point for Greenwich Mean Time GMT). You can straddle the line for a classic tourist photo op! You can also tour the the Cutty Sark, a famous clipper ship. Its was one of the fastest ships of its day.

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Shopping Anyone?

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Here is a list of well known department stores. Many of the neighborhoods have boutique shopping. Take a walk down Regent Street and Oxford Street for some iconic London stores. Carnaby Street is a fun and funky little street to check out in that area too. Bond Street has the high-end fashion houses like Chanel, Hermes, Lous Vuitton… Harrods: Known as the world's most famous luxury department store, Harrods offers everything from designer fashion to gourmet food, all housed in a very cool Victorian building. Check out the Egyptian escalator if nothing else. Selfridges: This iconic department store is celebrated for its innovative retail experiences and selection of high-end fashion, beauty products, and gourmet food. Fortnum & Mason: Established in 1707, this historic store is renowned for its amazing food hall, luxurious hampers (picnic baskets), and traditional afternoon tea, making it a quintessentially British shopping destination. Periodically this store will be closed so the Monarch can fill up his pantry. Liberty London: Famous for its Tudor-style architecture, Liberty is a treasure trove of luxury goods, including unique fabrics “Liberty prints” for which they are famous, homewares, and designer fashion. The interior was built using the lumber from 2 ancient 3 decker battle ships. The old timbers are beautiful! John Lewis: A beloved British department store known for its wide range of quality products from home goods to fashion and its commitment to customer service. Marks & Spencer: A staple of British shopping, M&S is more moderately priced. It has clothing, home products, and delicious food items. The Apple Store, Regent Street: This flagship store is not only a hub for Apple enthusiasts but also an architectural marvel, known for its stunning glass design and innovative technology displays. This is here for Jamie :)

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Visit a Palace

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Buckingham Palace: The home of the Monarch. You can go inside and see the state rooms during the summer or watch the changing of the guard out front— it’s a classic London thing to see! Kensington Palace: This is where Prince William and Kate live when they are in London, and it’s very pretty. Take a stroll in the gardens, and they usually have some exhibitions about royal life. Tower of London: This place is packed with history! It's famous for the Crown Jewels and has served as a fortress, prison, and palace over the years—worth a visit if you love a good story. The Beefeaters give an excellent tour. Banqueting House: The only part left of the old Palace of Whitehall, the Banqueting House is known for its gorgeous ceiling painted by Rubens and is where King Charles I met his fate—they loped off his head in front of a crowd. Hampton Court Palace: This one’s a bit outside London. Once King Henry VIII's home, this stunning Tudor palace has amazing gardens (my favorite) and a hedge maze. As this palace is empty you can wander all over imagining what life used to be like. Jamie and I enjoyed the self-guided audio tour you can pick up at the ticket desk. One of the ways you can reach this place by a boat on the Thames.

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Food~ Where to Begin?!

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There are SO many wonderful restaurants to discover in this metropolitan city. Visit China town, get some curry in Bricklane, pretty much any type of food you are craving can be found here and done authentically. Google away…

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Other Ideas

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** Only one day in London? Take a ½ day walking tour of the famous sites then decide how you want to spend your afternoon and evening. Your guide may have a suggestion. There are a ton of choices as far as tours so you can pick what appeals to you. We have used both Viator (for less expensive group tours) or ToursByLocals for a private tour. They are both good ways to see the sights and learn about London. **Visit Westminster Abbey ~the Melvin family left a little bit of ourselves here for posterity. Ask Stuart about this. **Ride a double decker bus around the city **Take a Thames River Cruise. Enjoy the views of London from the water. This is a fun way to get to Greenwich or Hampton Court Palace. If you like lights take a ride at night and have a cocktail. **Check out the Shard for breathtaking views of the city. **Stroll along the South Bank of the Thames. Its lined with bars, restaurants, and cultural venues. **Take in a play at The Globe Theater. Set on the south bank of the Thames its circular design and open central yard allows audiences to experience Shakespeare's works as they were performed in the Elizabethan era. **Take a day trip to Windsor Castle. Tour the castle, wander down part of the Long Walk. Eaton is on the other side of Windsor bridge and a fun little stroll. You may see the students in the formal dress they wear to Eaton College. **Visit the Sky Garden. Enjoy a drink with a view in this vibrant public garden with 360 degree views of London’s skyline **Check out the London Eye. A classic attraction on the Thames for panoramic views. **Take a Harry Potter tour in London or visit the studios~ for fans of the wizarding world! (aka all the cool kids) **Enjoy a pub crawl. Experience traditional British pubs throughout the city.