🩰 how to spend 24 hours in london

Hello,

Especially to my many new subscribers!! Thankyou for joining me.

Sorry for being a little absent; I’ve been busy. But I guess that is the beauty of having your own blog – you don’t really have to be present 24/7.

I recently spent 24 hours in London and had a surprisingly delightful time. I had developed a rather negative view of the UK in general given it’s political, economic, and social situation. However, my short stint in London was a gem of reinvigorated optimism for the country.

Despite losing much of its grunge scene, the city offers a distinct yet diverse energy. It oscillates between dingey, yet cool industrial areas and the traditional British brick terrace and tea feel. As a visitor, London has a lot to offer. It’s pockets of bars, plethora of museums and everything in between will give you plenty of options. This article details my ideal day in London which falls somewhere between the full big-ben, London eye tourist experience and spending an entire day in the back of a pub down some lane in Brixton.

Transportation

First and foremost, we must consider the transportation options. London is notorious for its underground metro system aka ‘the tube’. I LOVE the tube. Not only is it extremely convenient but it is itself an encounter integral to the full Londoner experience. It is also relatively cheap depending on what time you travel and what ‘zones’ you’re travelling in. One can purchase an oyster card which operates on a top-up system or you can use a debit card.

Another quintessential London local experience is travelling on the double decker bus. This may take longer than the tube but is equally as authentic and you get to see more of the city. I love getting a seat up the front at the top.

Whilst these options are basically enshrined into the unwritten constitution of being a londoner, my absolute FAVOURITE way to get around is by the Santander bikes aka ‘Boris Bikes’. I am convinced this is the only good thing to have come out of the Bojo administration. They are available at docking stations freckled around the city and are cheap, fun, and convenient especially on warmer days.

Breakfast

On my last trip I was on a BUDGET. So, I had a very sad microwave porridge for breakfast. But I will list some places I’ve researched or that have been recommended to me below! I did however get a coffee from Attendant Coffee Roasters. It is a tiny coffee shop located in an old men’s bathroom in Fitzrovia.

Portobello Road Markets

One of my all-time favourite movies is Notting Hill. So, visiting the Portobello Road markets was an absolute must for me. It is a little touristy but has retained an authentic feel. I decided to hire a Boris bike and head over from waterloo. It was about a 40 minute ride. You could also take the tube, but biking ended up incredibly convenient as I took a route which passed Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, the London Eye and through Hyde Park. All of which were interesting, but I didn’t want to go out of my way to see.

I started with a coffee from Hermanos Colombian coffee roasters. I paid a premium for it, but given the dire coffee situation in the UK, it was worth it. The market itself is a mixture of kitschy Hugh Grant related souvenirs and unique vintage fashion and wares. I came across a shop owned by an Afghani man selling genuine Afghan coats. Whilst I’ve always wanted one to fulfil my penny-lane dreams I didn’t feel like trying them on in 35-degree heat. However, the shop was a testament to the character of the diverse stall owners on Portobello Road. Ironically, the man encouraged me to visit Afghanistan calling it a haven for hospitality whilst I sat in his shop as he brought me tea and cake.

I moved on and perused the arcades and plethora of vintage stalls. Eventually I ended up at a Paella stand and found a gutter to sit on and enjoy my brunch. Although the products are on the pricier side, it is the experience of Portobello where the true value shines. It feels like a small microcosm and is indicative of the vast diversity offered by London. Like Hugh Grant moves through seasons in that scene in Notting Hill, I felt like I travelled through space and time when walking down Portobello Road.

The Tate

The Tate Modern is possibly my favourite cultural institution EVER. So, it is an obvious choice for 24 hours in London. Located near Waterloo station, the building itself is an architectural marvel. Starting in 1995 the building, a former power station, was stripped of all machinery. From there, architects designed seven floors of gallery and office space.

I rode back to the Tate on a Boris bike as it was a nice day but you could also take the tube. Entering the building feels like walking into the belly of a beast. High ceilings and concrete are contrasted with the busyness accompanying such a profound space. There was an interactive Yayoi Kusama sculpture many children and adults alike were playing on. This brought a lightness to such a harshly brutalist space.

Onto the art itself. The Tate has some FAB exhibitions to say the least. I personally like modern art, so it really works for me, but if you’re more a ‘basket-of-fruit’ type person, the Tate modern probably isn’t for you! I went to ‘Capturing the Moment’ which explored the evolving relationship of photography and painting. Featuring works from Hockney, Warhol and Lange the collection effectively told this story of evolution. There are so many exhibitions just as great at the Tate which makes it a worthwhile visit. And of course no trip to a gallery would be complete without visiting the gift shop.

Hot tip: if you’re under 26 join the Tate Collective to get 5 pound tickets to all exhibitions.

Drinks in Shoreditch

After all that biking I was in the mood for a drink. Shoreditch is the birthplace of English theatre and is the epicentre of fashion and art in London. And with that, it has some of the coolest bars. I went to dream bags jaguar shoes which is a bar and art space named after bag and shoe wholesalers that once operated out of the building. Decorated in 80s deco style, it offers medium priced drinks (London standards) and gigs downstairs from time to time.

Dinner

Head a little bit up the road and you’ll find a slew of Vietnamese and Asian restaurants. I went to one along here for a much-anticipated Asian feed. Sông Quê Café was very busy and I didn’t want to wait but it has amazing reviews.

If you’re not in the mood for Asian there are lots of other options in this area.

Free Gig

It felt wrong to go to London without partaking in some sort of live performance. To fufill my London grunge dream I looked up free gigs happening in London that night. Luckily, there was one just a short bike ride away at the Sebright Arms hotel. I can’t remember the band name, but the atmosphere was exactly what you would expect: pints, banger and mash and sticky carpets. It was a great end to the day and felt like a very authentic London experience.

Whilst I managed to pack a lot into one day there are some places I would like to go when I come back next time! The following list details places I haven’t mentioned already that have been recommended to me or I have researched. (thanks to everyone who gave me suggestions).

peace and love xx

restaurants

⭑ session arts club

⭑sketch

⭑berenjak soho

⭑new young cheng

⭑ koshari street

⭑ hoppers

⭑ Mr Bao

⭑ franco manca

⭑ strakers

⭑ sonora Taqueiria

⭑ jacuzzi

bars and pubs

⭑ Oranj

⭑ Forza wine

⭑ The Norfolk arms

cafés

⭑ Prufrock coffee

⭑ Catalyst

⭑ Formative coffee

⭑ Milk London

⭑ From Bombay with Love (stella’s dad’s favourite just FYI)

places to go things to see

⭑ The barbican centre

⭑ The new portrait gallery

⭑ Camden market

⭑ Hackney flea market