https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 13 May 2026 11:14:22 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/london-favorites#post-2448124 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 17:12:26 +0000 MrsKoala 2448124@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always recommend Brick Lane and the Spitalfields area for restaurants and to walk around. The area has gotten pretty trendy over the years! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/london-favorites#post-2447731 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 13:26:28 +0000 lamariniere 2447731@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ree723: oh, we definitely do a lot of aimless wandering! But it's also nice to have a list of known places for when we are ready to eat! I've almost lived in or near London twice, but then other things came up and plans were canceled. We were supposed to move just outside of London three weeks before we moved here, I even have an unused 5 year UK visa in my passport (it's still valid)! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/london-favorites#post-2447425 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 10:07:56 +0000 Ree723 2447425@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How fun! London is my favourite city in the world and whilst we only live 45 min to an hour outside it now, I rarely get in and I miss it! I don't have much in the way of specific recommendations, but some areas I really enjoy wandering around that are off the beaten path a bit are:</p> <p>Little Venice (Warwick Venue/Maida Vale - I used to live there and loved it!) - strolling along the canal on a nice day and then having a wander through Regent's Park is a good way to enjoy a sunny afternoon!</p> <p>Chelsea - wandering down King's Road, finding a little gastro pub or boutiquey restaurant tucked off the main road is always fun too. I used to work in Fulham and loved wandering around in the Fulham and Chelsea area as it's just pretty and great for window shopping.</p> <p>Further out areas I really love include Richmond and Wimbledon.</p> <p>As for food - Brick Lane in East London has amazing Indian, can't go wrong there! There's a pub in Warwick Avenue, called the Waterway, that has lovely food and is in a great location right on the canal (disclaimer, I haven't been there since 2007 though so it may have changed, but it was always super popular with amazing food!). </p> <p>Hmm, I'm struggling to come up with more specific recommendations for you - I always just loved wandering aimlessly with no particular destination in mind and seeing where I ended up! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/london-favorites#post-2447410 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 09:57:00 +0000 Andrea 2447410@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lamariniere: Cool! Feel free to hit me up for other, more localized suggestions once you have your hotel booked, but it's so easy to get around on public transport anyway. :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/london-favorites#post-2447397 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 09:52:00 +0000 lamariniere 2447397@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Andrea: goldmine! Thanks! We haven't booked a hotel yet, but we've stayed in Kensington in the past. And good ideas about art. We are both big art connoisseurs, so we'll definitely take in an exhibit or two. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/london-favorites#post-2447385 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 09:47:53 +0000 Andrea 2447385@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>OOoooooh lucky! I would love to do that! </p> <p>I used to live in Kensington and local favorites were:<br /> -The Churchill Arms, very pretty pub and serves nice Thai food<br /> -Geales, fish and chips<br /> -Four Seasons, amazing Peking duck. I still dream about it.<br /> -Royal China, dim sum</p> <p>Other favorite restaurants:<br /> -Roast, classic British cooking and they'll tell you when they shot your food, LOL (at Borough Market!)<br /> -St. John's Bread and Wine, offal<br /> -Tendido Cero, tapas<br /> -Claridge's afternoon tea, of course!</p> <p>I would also go somewhere south of the river to eat/drink so that you can see views of London, like the Oxo Tower Restaurant.</p> <p>I like contemporary art so I love the Saatchi Gallery and the Tate Modern. </p> <p>Regent's Park and Primrose Hill, more off the beaten path than Hyde Park. </p> <p>So much to do ... that's what I have off the top of my head. I'll come back if I think of more. :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/london-favorites#post-2447381 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 09:46:18 +0000 lamariniere 2447381@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nana87: holy wow! I will definitely be on the lookout for that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/london-favorites#post-2447378 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 09:44:51 +0000 nana87 2447378@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lamariniere: this is the grilled cheese stand: <a href="http://boroughmarket.org.uk/kappacasein-2" rel="nofollow">http://boroughmarket.org.uk/kappacasein-2</a> I'm salivating just thinking about it ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/london-favorites#post-2447372 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 09:42:28 +0000 lamariniere 2447372@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nana87: yum! Thanks! I'm really excited about Borough Market, I've heard of it but never been and I definitely want to go this time.</p> <p>@Bubbles: oooh, I will bookmark that site and keep an eye out as the date gets closer.</p> <p>@T.H.O.U.: @BandDmommy: :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/london-favorites#post-2447369 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 09:38:04 +0000 Bubbles 2447369@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lamariniere: we went there for dessert recently on our anniversary and it was SO good! I also really like this website for things to do that are a little more unusual - I don't think they have details beyond the following weekend but I have found some good stuff here in the past... <a href="http://londonist.com/2016/02/things-to-do-in-london-this-weekend-6-7-february-2016" rel="nofollow">http://londonist.com/2016/02/things-to-do-in-london-this-weekend-6-7-february-2016</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/london-favorites#post-2447366 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 09:36:25 +0000 BandDmommy 2447366@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh I'm so jealous!!! Take lots of pics so I can live vicariously through you. Have fun!!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/london-favorites#post-2447346 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 09:26:44 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2447346@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So much fun! Great indian food there! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/london-favorites#post-2447304 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 09:05:19 +0000 nana87 2447304@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>ahhhh I just wrote a long response and it got eaten! Here's a shorter version:</p> <p>Food: Boca di Lupa, Dishoom, St. John's Bread and Wine.</p> <p>See: Borough Market (best grilled cheese everrrrr at one of the stands), V&amp;A, Sir John Soane's House, Hampton Court Palace, Hyde Park, St. James' Park, Fortnum and Mason, Museum of London </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/london-favorites#post-2447297 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 09:00:47 +0000 lamariniere 2447297@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bubbles: I looked up the menu for Rabot 1745, sounds delicious!<br /> @regberadaisy: I've always enjoyed London, I wish I knew it better though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/london-favorites#post-2447291 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 08:57:07 +0000 regberadaisy 2447291@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I loved London so much! The city was SO clean and people so nice. Totally not what we were expecting. :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/london-favorites#post-2447288 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 08:55:53 +0000 regberadaisy 2447288@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lamariniere: just looked through my FB album. It's called Fish &amp; Chips The Dining Plate.</p> <p>Also, go shopping at Top Shop! :)</p> <p>And we're dorks and went looking for the house in Notting Hill. 😂 But regardless that was a fun neighborhood to walk around in. Reminded me a lot of Greenwich Village. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/london-favorites#post-2447287 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 08:55:40 +0000 Bubbles 2447287@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For food I love MeatLiquor (awesome cocktails) and Bodeans in Soho. They are both very American themed though, not sure if that is what you are looking for!<br /> There is also a restaurant in Borough Market called Rabot 1745 that has lush food, it is chocolate themed but not excessively so! They have a terrace that overlooks the market with heat lamps and cosy blankets etc. where you can choose to eat.<br /> Have fun! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/london-favorites#post-2447285 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 08:52:53 +0000 lamariniere 2447285@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: yes! I love a good fish n chips! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/london-favorites#post-2447284 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 08:52:06 +0000 regberadaisy 2447284@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lamariniere: love London! We went to this tiny, hole in the wall restaurant in Soho called The Stockpot. I thought it was really good!<br /> It's like 5 minutes from Chinatown - bonus. 👍</p> <p>We also got fish n chips from this tiny place...can't remember the neighborhood. Will dig through my archives if you're interested? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/london-favorites#post-2447276 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 08:46:32 +0000 lamariniere 2447276@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are going to London for a few kid-free nights next month. :happy: I'm looking for recommendations for things to see/do/eat that are somewhat off the beaten path. We've both been numerous times so we aren't really looking into the touristy stuff. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-london-in-november#post-1142675 Thu, 10 Oct 2013 13:17:15 +0000 fussygal 1142675@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sea_bass: Oh yay! I miiiight be solo one day and if I am I'll let you know and we could meet up! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-london-in-november#post-1140306 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 11:36:58 +0000 MsLipGloss 1140306@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@fussygal: In addition to all of the landmarks already mentioned (like the Tower - soooo worth it - and a changing of the guards at Buckingham!) I just wanted to second @Mrsbells:'s suggestion of Harrods! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-london-in-november#post-1139590 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 08:29:42 +0000 illumina 1139590@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I lived in Cambridge, I often went to London to visit friends for the day/evening and then once or twice a year, once always end of November/beginning of December, Dh and I would go and make a long weekend of it. I love the city, there's so much to explore! </p> <p>Firstly, where to stay. If money is no object, I would probably stay as close to where you want to visit as possible. I personally like the Covent Garden area, or Bloomsbury which is a little quieter. Sometimes I'll stay there or other times I prefer to stay as close to my arrival train station as possible, so Paddington has a lot of good hotels and is good for getting to Heathrow, or the Liverpool St. area- the hotel @lawbee11 suggested is a good one, we stayed there last year. If we are driving, we stay further afield... last summer for the Olympics we stayed in Chiswick, not far from the end of the motorway and maybe a 30min tube ride into the centre. It worked out much cheaper at that time when hotel prices were crazy!!</p> <p>Things I like doing recently; going to a musical in the West End, going to one of the free museums (Natural History, Science Museum, I think the V&amp;A museum is free too), wandering around the markets (Borough, Spitalfields). From the end of November there will be a Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park with stalls, rides etc. Last year there was a nice xmas market along the Southbank near the Eye... there are lots of places to go ice skating outdoors, Somerset House being one of them (though tickets sell out quickly). </p> <p>Then if you haven't been before, there are the main tourist sites; Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, St. Paul's, Westminster etc. which are worth seeing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-london-in-november#post-1139414 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 06:27:06 +0000 lawbee11 1139414@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Tower of London and Westminster Abbey were my faves. You should also have afternoon tea somewhere! DH and I had afternoon tea at The Orangery at Kensington Palace--it was really fun :)</p> <p>ETA: We stayed at the Apex City of London hotel and it was really nice. It's very close to Tower of London and only a few blocks from a tube station. </p> <p><a href="http://www.apexhotels.co.uk/en/hotels/london/apex-city-of-london-hotel/" rel="nofollow">http://www.apexhotels.co.uk/en/hotels/london/apex-city-of-london-hotel/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-london-in-november#post-1139412 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 06:19:24 +0000 looch 1139412@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Am I the only one that thought the change of the guards was a complete waste of time? I have the most ridiculous photos from that hour or so that we were there...</p> <p>I really liked the Tower of London, but I adore Royal History. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-london-in-november#post-1139379 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 03:28:00 +0000 sea_bass 1139379@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@fussygal: I live in London! If you'd like some company ill join you for some walking activities. I live in kensington :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-london-in-november#post-1139340 Tue, 08 Oct 2013 23:15:19 +0000 illumina 1139340@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Subscribing so I remember to reply tomorrow when I'm not on my phone! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-london-in-november#post-1139313 Tue, 08 Oct 2013 22:45:35 +0000 fussygal 1139313@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee: @locavore_mama: I would loooove to go to Paris! If only I had a few more days! DH doesn't fly so work trips are my only chance to explore far away locations! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-london-in-november#post-1139311 Tue, 08 Oct 2013 22:43:20 +0000 fussygal 1139311@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>These are all awesome suggestions! I'm going to have to create an outline itinerary and get back to some of you all with questions!! </p> <p>I'm going to get some good (cheap) waterproof shoes since I' basically live in flats! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-london-in-november#post-1138518 Tue, 08 Oct 2013 15:00:24 +0000 wheres_c 1138518@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also recommended Kensington or Leicester square. Kensington is more low key, Leicester square has more nightlife and is better at night.</p> <p>Greenwich is cool too... You can stand on the prime meridian. I also love the museums...especially the natural history museum and the science museum. They are free.</p> <p>Changing of the guard is a must. Also covent garden is nice. </p>