Things To Do
Restaurants
Plan to make dinner reservations in advance, as London is a popular summer travel destination and many of our favourites book up quickly. Some of our favourite restaurants near our venue are: -Honey & Co.: Delicious Mediterranean plates -Colonel Saab, High Holborn: Top-notch Indian dishes -Noble Rot Lamb's Conduit: Excellent wine pairings -Victoria House Coffee & Food: Great breakfast -Blacklock Covent Garden: Classic British roast -Ave Mario: Extraordinarily fun Italian food -Seven Dials Market: Trendy, easy, delicious -Sushisamba: Aesthetic and delicious Japanese-Peruvian small plates -Flesh & Buns: Delicious bao, below Seven Dials Market -Brother Marcus Covent Garden: Another Mediterranean favourite -Coal Office Restaurant: After a delicious dinner, check out Ruby Violet for ice cream -Rosewood London: Impressive afternoon tea -Somerset House: Enjoy a cocktail on the River Terrace or a cappuccino at WatchHouse in this historic building with river views and rotating exhibitions.
Neighbourhoods to Explore
-Covent Garden and Seven Dials: Bustling area for shopping and restaurants, near our venue. -Islington: Our old haunt! Walk from Angel to Highbury and Islington for cute shops and trendy restaurants. Don't miss Ottolengthi's brownies. We swear the best cocktails in London are at The Bar With No Name. -Notting Hill: Stroll through for pastel homes and Portobello Market (best visited on Saturday). -Soho: Walk from Oxford Circus to Piccadilly Circus to see the best of London's shopping. We recommend Waterstones, Fortnum & Mason, and Carnaby Street. -Marylebone: Enjoy the neighbourhood's lovely architecture and stop by the excellent Daunt Books before visiting Regent's Park.
From Plays to Ballets
One of our favourite things to do in London is enjoy an evening at the theatre! There are numerous fantastic shows in the West End that are easily accessible from our hotel. As our wedding date approaches, we will add some recommendations here. While last minute tickets can often be purchased for mainstays, many of the best shows sell out. Plan to reserve in advance, if possible.
The British Museum
This is a must-see and is within walking distance of the hotel. The collection is vast, with some of the greatest treasures found in the antiquities galleries on the ground floor.
The British Library
Easily combined with a trip to the British Museum, this lovely library often has worthwhile rotating exhibits as well as interesting historical documents on view.
Tate Modern
This museum has a great permanent collection as well as an excellent slate of rotating exhibitions, for which tickets should be booked well in advance. After your visit, stroll along the South Bank for views of the London skyline until you reach Borough Market, which is bursting with food stalls selling delicious dishes, baking, cheeses, spices, and more.
The National Gallery
This is a must-see! Its collection holds a number of true masterpieces. It is adjacent to the smaller National Portrait Gallery, which is worth a visit if you haven't had your fill of art.
Victoria and Albert Museum
This wide-ranging collection makes up one of the best museums in London. Combine your visit to Kensington with a stroll through Hyde Park and Kensington Palace or head to Harrod's in Knightsbridge. (We can't resist the temptations of their chocolate hall, and neither should you.)
the Design Museum
This is the Maid of Honour's favourite museum, celebrating the history of design. Its joyful collections are worth exploring. From fashion to product design, this museum has it all.
Tower of London
The historic Tower of London (and nearby Tower Bridge) are mainstays of a London holiday. We recommend the audioguide, which can be booked in advance alongside your tickets, to get the full experience. Consider skipping the Crown Jewels, as the line can sometimes be quite long.
Buckingham Palace
Take a walk through the lovely St. James' gardens on your way to view this working palace. If you are determined to see the changing of the guard, arrive early for a spot with a view.
Regent's Park
This is one of London's two main parks. On a sunny day, it is hard to beat a walk through Regent's Park. We recommend Queen Mary's Rose Garden and the Japanese Garden.
Hyde Park
Stop by Hyde Park if you visit Kensington. The V&A and the Design Museum are fairly nearby and combine well with a walk through some beautiful nature in the midst of bustling London.
Spitalfields Market
This fun market has a variety of food stalls, shopping, and artists' stalls.
Further Afield
-Hampton Court Palace: This was the home of Henry VIII and the baroque palace of William III and Mary II. It can be reached by train and will take a half-day. Windsor is also nearby but, as a working royal residence, has less to offer tourists. -Oxford: Our new home of Oxford, with its tranquil canals and beautiful historical buildings, is 1.5 hours from Central London. (Take the tube to Paddington and then a GWR train to Oxford.) We will be in Oxford in the days preceding the wedding, so let us know if you'll be coming by and would like to have a pint! -Cambridge: We hate to promote the competition, but Cambridge is also a beauty. Accessible from King's Cross Station, it is easily visited as a day trip from London. -Seven Sisters' Cliffs: This fantastic hiking spot offers romantic coastline views and makes for a great day trip. -Brighton: For a warm day, consider lounging on the beach along the English coast. Brighton's winding streets are filled with cute shops and tasty stops.