London, England - A Travel Guide
Last Updated: May 3, 2026
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Off to See the Queen
London. The jewel in the United Kingdom's crown.
Home to some of the most iconic landmarks within the British Isles, London is the 37th largest city in the world, and by far the largest in the UK, with over 9,300,000 rain-beaten inhabitants calling it home.
The city is divided into north and south by the River Thames. The north bank holds the rich business hustle-and-bustle, with icons such as Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament and attached Big Ben, and most of the iconic skyscrapers that are proudly waved around in the opening shots of The Apprentice.
Meanwhile, the south bank is undeniably poorer and is traditionally where 'normal' people could afford to live. It's permanently in a state of being up-and-coming in some area and has several icons itself, such as the London Eye and the Shard - both brand new, by London's standards. We had a talk trying to define the differences between north and south bank, and its a case of restaurants vs markets, flashiness vs 'real', and history vs modernism. That's the best we can sum it up.
The city has been around since Roman times and has more history crammed into its boundaries than nigh on any other, and not all of it has been pretty. There isn’t a lot the city hasn’t seen over its 2000+ years: it has survived plagues, fires, battles, crusades, endless pioneering new torture and execution methods, gangsters, bombings, incessant rain, plots to blow up parliament, and more modern terror attacks. The city and its people have never thrown in the towel and have always picked themselves up, always moving forward fighting against anything thrown at them, culminating in 'the empire on which the sun never sets', with 23% of the world's population being governed, for better or worse, from this little city in the north-east Atlantic.
This contact with cultures from all corners of the planet means London has become one of the most diverse and multi-cultural cities anywhere on the globe, with folks from far and wide calling the city home. Whilst the empire brought with it some of these countries' darkest moments and the most appalling treatment of fellow man, it has also undeniably instrumental in making London what it is today. The multi-cultural aspect of London is due in part to the empire, and how the explorers of the times were able to bring back to the capital the tastes, the skills, the styles and the craftsmanship of faraway lands.
This, in turn, has also given many people from all over the world the right to call London their home, and that is special. It strikes as a happy ending when people learn from the past and use the bad experiences to move forward, developing and creating a safer, better, kinder environment where everyone is welcome, living happily side by side. In our opinion, London is at the forefront of this way of thinking.
This is demonstrated regularly by the most famous of all London's residents: the Queen. Residing at Buckingham Palace, she and the rest of the royal family set the national example when it comes to offering a warm welcome to all, with countless political, religious and cultural leaders offered the Royal Welcome. These examples bleed through the culture and can be felt in the London of today.
Our Capital Times
Being the capital of our, let's admit it, relatively small country, it's not a long way from home for us and our only excuse for not going more is the extortionate train prices from Bristol to London. We've been here for work, family, sporting and music events visiting friends, or just to be a tourist and do all the cheesy stuff that involves!
It's hard to summarise so many visits, but some memories that stand out for Greg are of London during the summer of 2012, when the Olympics came to town. I took over my sisters flat in Islington for a couple of weeks, attending 10 different sporting events, from swimming and water polo to handball and athletics, plus of course the football at Wembley Stadium. The hustle and bustle of London is not something I generally enjoy but the atmosphere during these few weeks was spectacular. It will always be a fond memory for me, and I managed to meet a few of the sporting greats too, as well as the bumbling, fluffy Boris Johnson.
Our May 2019 visit was our first trip to the capital as Far Out, and we had an absolutely exhausting, epic time, as our sightseeing descended into a heavy night out in Shoreditch, our grand plans reduced to rolling around drunkenly in a ball pit at 3am. Comedy gold. We ended back at the Point A hotel on Liverpool Street with a 20-foot chicken kebab each. The carnage is on our Instagram highlights. All we can say is thank God for the breakfast the next day.
These became some new favourite memories of London for Charlie, joining the chaos of my first Comic-Con, marching around the Excel arena with 100,000 other sweaty nerds and queuing to meet obscure video-game voice actors. The same trip involved eating dinner in the tallest building in London mid-lightning storm, looking down at the show from above. Being swept around in the mosh pits at Wembley and the London Stadium to the likes of AC/DC and Muse was also a highlight. And Coldplay. And Taylor Swift.
Sorry.
Not sorry.
So yeah, over the years we've crisscrossed the city covering as much as we can. We have been to most of the major sights, rode the underground, the black cabs and the big red buses, as well as taken boats up the Thames and sampled several of the watering holes and eateries. Really, the only thing left for us to do in the capital is to pop into the palace and enjoy a good old English tea with the Queen. Ma’am, if you're by some miracle reading this, just let us know the time.
So Should I go there?
London's sparkling history, polished modernism and the royal family are in part responsible for the city being one of the most visited in the world, and maybe that answers the question by itself. Whilst London can be travelled around fairly easily when ticking your dreams from the bucket list, and there will be plenty here to tick. There are a lot of pros about the city, there are, however, also a lot of cons to bear in mind. But obviously, the answer to the question is ultimately going to be yes.
Having spoken with travellers around the world and informing them we're from England, everyone asks, “From London?” or “Do you know the Queen?”. The answer to both is no, although again, Ma’am, if you're reading, your new best mates are waiting for our invite. We have mad connects and can hook you up with serious travel knowledge. Like don't let Philip drive. You can have that one for free.
Instantly, what that shows is the draw London holds to travellers over the UK. Everyone seems to want to come to England, but only to see or say they have been to London. It's magnetic. That too should answer the question.
The city is a playground for the millions of excited souls that roam the cities streets, tearing around the cities streets like ants swarming the nest. There's something for everyone, whatever your interest, whatever your pleasure. The city will engulf you in its history, sports, cars, science, foods, architecture, and culture. The city also has golden spots for relaxing and enjoying the beautiful green parks, woodlands and rivers, making this a top travel destination.
Along with all the above praises there is an important caveat, as you will find within our other UK-based blogs, such as Cheddar or Padstow. We feel to understand and say you've visited England you should venture from the capital, as it is nothing like the rest of the country. We understand the need to go there, and we agree you should, as we do when travelling to countries. It’s nice to see the capital, but as travellers, we know the rest of the country offers experiences the capital cannot.
So this is going to sound strange. London is the British capital and holds so many quintessentially British artefacts, buildings and stories (and our number one fan the Queen), but it is its own world, straying so far from the rest of the country that we don’t recognise it. When we visit we find it hard to remember it’s the same country that we live, and that’s sad. So what we're saying is yes, enjoy the city - we certainly do - but please take the time to see the real United Kingdom as well. It'll be worth it.
Greg speaking now - whilst I see the appeal of London and everything it has to offer, it is not somewhere I enjoy. It is too busy and I find it frustrating. The underground can be cramped and smelly, the people are amongst the rudest in the country, and it is overpriced and pretentious (I mean a Mr Whippy for £5? No thanks mate, its 99p back home). I do enjoy parts of the city for sure, and it is nice to be able to leave your house and head straight into a bit of liveliness and fun, but overall it's just too much effort for me, and after a day I am ready to leave, exhausted and fed up.
As for Charlie? I fucking love London. It's one of the few cities I've been to that feels truly alive, like it has a beating heart at its core. There's an energy that I've only seen surpassed by New York. Having grown up in a lazy, somewhat backwards part of the West Country where everything closes at 10pm, there's a novelty that doesn't wear thin about being able to order any one of twenty different cuisines to my door at 3am, or stumble into a shisha bar at 5 in the morning and watch the sunrise. Not that I have actually done that, but I could, and that's exciting! Maybe this is just the ramblings of a country boy stepping foot in the big city, but I love it. I even love the tube - the fact I can be launched at my destination UNDER the city is amazing, and it's cheap! Cheaper than the bus back home! Reading this back it does just look like I'm just a rural bumpkin getting all excited by the flashing lights and noise, but I'm cool with that. Go to London. You'll find something to love.
What to do when Backpacking London
Wow, where do we begin here!
London is one of the greatest destinations the world has to offer. With its size and history, there's more to do than anywhere else in the UK, potentially Europe. We have therefore thrown together a list of our favourite locations and activities that we think will keep you busy in the city where the streets are paved with gold.
Buckingham Palace
The original grounds of Buckingham Palace date back to 1703 when it was built for the Duke of Buckingham, but only became the reigning monarch’s place of residence in London in 1837, when Queen Victoria quiet fancied the location as her new gaff.
Now this famous palace is the location adorned by thousands of royalists and fans, both local and from all corners of the world. The global news cameras still turn here during times of Royal celebrations or occasion.
As well as a place of residence for the monarch of the United Kingdom, Buckingham Palace is also one of the main focal points for all London tourists. One reason for this is the enchanting changing of the guard; the formal handing over of shifts from those who serve and protect the Queen, Buckingham Palace and St James Palace. Seems a bit of a faff to start your workday, but it does look good.
Between late July and late September, it is now possible to tour Buckingham Palace for £25 per person. Although you will not get to see all 775 rooms, you will get a pretty special view of the inside of the world's most famous palace. If you're a fan of ol' Queenie, what could be higher on your list of things to do than a trip around her London residence?
Tower Of London
The Tower of London is given its name from the small hill (Tower Hill) on which it stands, built after the Norman Conquest in 1066. Following this, William the Conqueror lays claim in 1078 to commissioning the fortress we now know as the Tower of London.
Over the years the Tower of London has been used as a prison, a palace, the royal mint, and now is home to the Crown Jewels. Some of the towers most famous prisoners include the Cray Twins, Queen Elizabeth 1st (prior to becoming queen) and Sir Walter Raleigh, among many unfortunate souls.
Nowadays the Tower of London is a major tourist attraction, and so it should be. It epitomizes everything a tourist attraction should have - a bloody and violent history, packed with stories of good and evil, treason, wealth and excitement. Not to mention it's damn impressive looking, and stands out even today as a spectacle in London's busy skyline.
Entry to the tower and the grounds will set you back £25 per person, making it a worthwhile event during your stay. Most famously you will get to see the Crown Jewels, but you also get to see where some of the most notorious names in British history were held, and often met their grim end.
Boating the Thames
The River Thames flows through the heart of London to its mouth in the North Sea, on England's east coast. The river passes a number of the cities iconic structures along the way, including Tower Bridge, the London Eye and the National Theatre.
There are a number of tourist boats that glide up and down the Thames, all with different routes and purposes. Different companies offer hour-long cruises from one destination to another, whilst others run a hop-on hop-off tour encompassing the main sights, and yet others provide lunch and/or evening meals on the Thames.
Our advice is to take one of them. Which one? We will leave that up to you based on how long you have in the city, what other commitments you have, and what else you want to see during the day. Greg's done the 1-hour river cruise, as well as the hop-on hop-off boat, and both were enjoyable and informative. The hop-on and hop-off boats are great if you have the time, as it tours a much larger number of destinations than the others at the cost of travelling slower, whereas the hour-long cruise was much quicker and more relaxing, especially if the weather is on your side.
There are a number of alternative routes and companies that run these tours, so again our best advice is to research and go on the trip that best suits your needs.
The London Eye
The London Eye is one of the instantly recognisable structures within London’s skyline, this in part is due to being the centrepiece of London's New Year firework displays. Since it opened in 2000, this 135-metre high passenger wheel has quickly become one of the most visited attractions in the city, and until the Shard's completion was the highest viewing point in the capital. Despite losing this position, it still attracts millions of visitors each year. The queues we saw certainly reflect this.
This grand rotating platform is located on the south bank of the Thames, towering over the city, with Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament standing at its foot on the north bank. This fantastic trip over London’s skyline costs £28 per adult and lasts roughly 30 minutes. It is best to book prior to arrival to avoid the previously mentioned expansive queues. It's a lot to pay for a ride on a glorified ferris wheel, but the views on a good day - give it a miss if the weather's rubbish - are unparalleled.
See a Show in the West End
Handing the microphone over to Greg for this one, as he's the one that's actually been.
Now, I’m not one for the shows, musicals, the opera, or anything too arty to be honest. Whilst I appreciate the talent, fitness and skills involved, I tend to not want to sit still for long - I'd rather be out in the world exploring. It really isn't me. So, being told I was going to see The Lion King didn't really fill me with enthusiasm, even if it is one of my favourite Disney films. I didn't argue too much but thought, 'Why not?'.
OMG. What a show! It was and is one of the most graceful, outstanding performances of any kind I have ever seen. The costumes were outrageous, and the acting was second to none. It was like I was at Pride Rock itself, amongst the lions, gazelles and elephants. We were immersed in the show and taken back by the singing. Nothing will ever beat this performance for me.
You have to go and see a show whilst in London, and why not this one? For me, it was the best - so good in fact I tried to get tickets to see it again when I was in Brisbane, Australia, but missed it by one day. I was gutted.
Museums
London is crammed with museums, holding nearly 200 in total. They encompass all aspects of life, including, but not limited to, history, war, art, sport, textile, culture, the weird and wonderful, and toys. You name it, London has a museum for it.
There isn’t really much more to say, we couldn't possibly go into detail on each museum as we would be writing this forever. Instead, we have listed a few of our favourites that you may enjoy or find interesting. Obviously, we haven’t made it to all of them, so if you guys find any you think should be on the list, put it in the comments!
The good news is that whilst London is famously expensive (again, someone tried to charge us £5 for an ice cream!), most of the museums are free, relying on donations instead. This includes our first suggestion:
The British Museum opens at 10am, is open 7 days a week and normally closes at 5:30pm, and is located between Tottenham Court Road and Russell Square Stations. The architectural spectacle of this wonderful building, built in the 1700s, makes for quite a sight upon your approach. Whilst the building houses millions of stunning relics from around the world, they mainly include British-made treasures or items which were brought back by British explorers (mainly during the British Empire). These artefacts are mainly dedicated to human life, with one of the most famous on display being the Rosetta Stone.
Our second recommendation is the Natural History Museum, just down the road from Kensington Gardens and the Royal Albert Hall. Again admission is free, which is a word we love - especially when it comes to museums - and admission is once again from 10am to 5:30pm. The museum details the natural world at its best, with millions of exhibits showcasing the likes of some of Charles Darwin’s magical finds, as well as the number of dinosaur skeletons for which the museum is most famous.
Our third option, located on the south of the river next to the elegantly-named Elephant and Castle station, is the Imperial War Museum. Containing artefacts from World War 1 through to present day wars and atrocities, it demonstrates some of the most powerful and disruptive traits of humankind. This is a very hard-hitting museum so it is not recommended for the faint-hearted, but it really is worth wandering around. Again, it is free admission and opens from 10am until 6pm.
Whilst we are mentioning the war, the Churchill War Rooms, to the north of the river and next to St James Park, is an interesting showcase of Churchill's 'lair' during wartime. You can walk the very rooms he used to plan the defeat of Hitler's Nazi army, should this be more your idea of interesting. However, this does cost £22 per person for an adult.
As we said, this is by no means a complete list, but the above would be a good start if you are interested in visiting a few museums in the city. Have a Google and research your options, as there are a lot of niche places across the city.
The O2 Arena
Jutting out of the south bank of the Thames, the O2 Arena sits pretty much on the old Greenwich line - the Prime Meridian - used to dictate the world's time zones. First starting life as the Millennium Dome in 1999 to provide an exhibition for the new millennium, it has since become a major events arena, housing incredible shows, sports and music gigs. Since 2008 the O2 has been the busiest venue in the world, with nearly 2 million attendees in 2018 alone. There's pretty much bound to be an event on during your trip - see what's available.
The arena is now also an activities centre, giving you the opportunity to ascend over its outer canvas and stand atop the arena below, taking in breath-taking views across the London skyline. From the summit, you can see most of the city’s major landmarks. The climb can be done at different points of the day from sunrise to sunset. The cost differs depending on when you climb, but on average it’s about £30 per person. One very unique view of one of the world's most popular cities. Give it a go.
Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge is almost certainly the most famous of all the bridges that span the Thames and can be found one bridge to the east of London Bridge (which despite the name is completely unremarkable). Not surprisingly, given the name, Tower Bridge joins the northern bank of the Thames at the Tower of London, which itself sits on Tower Hill. The bridge itself took 8 years to build and was completed in 1894, which is amazingly fast for any job by British builders.
Today, however, not only is it another of London’s iconic landmarks, it is also a busy tourist attraction. For just under £10 you can scale the towers taking in the engine rooms that raise the bridge and walk the two footbridges that are suspended over the main road. Whilst this is worth doing, especially considering the price, we do however feel there are better things in London to do, especially if you have time restraints.
Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament
Whilst most people believe the famous clock tower itself to be called Big Ben, Big Ben is, in fact, the name of the largest of the 5 bells that chimes out over London. The tower itself is actually named the Elizabeth Tower, in commemoration of the Queen's Jubilee. The British, however, are stubborn and no-one calls it that. Ever.
The tower, no matter what you call it, is one of the most recognisable and loved buildings in the city of London, and a photo instantly tells people where you are within the world. Big Ben is located on the banks of the Thames and attaches to the Houses of Parliament, next to Westminster Bridge.
The Houses of Parliament plays home to British politics, and who could say how many poor decisions have been made in these majestic stone walls? The grand building was constructed in 1870 and is currently undergoing extensive renovation as well. It is again an iconic landmark, even if it is mostly known as 'that bit attached to Big Ben'.
Personally, we think the best place to take a photo of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament is from the other side of Westminster Bridge looking back, especially if you want to be in the photo. However, for the foreseeable future you'll be very disappointed, as the whole clocktower is clad in scaffolding and tarpaulin, rendering this London icon about as interesting and useful as the 'leaders' that sit under it.
Greenwich Park
Greenwich Park is a magnificent open space in south-east London and is a hit with Londoners and tourists alike. It provides a beautiful location during the summers for picnics, sport and sunbathing, all with a spectacular view of the London skyline. It has also played host to a number of sports events over the years, none more famous than the Olympics.
The main draw to this relaxing location is the Prime Meridian. As mentioned with the O2 Arena, this is the line that splits the east and western hemispheres, with the longitude line of 0° 0' 0" passing through the observatory in the park and by definition becoming Greenwich Mean Time (now known as UTC time). This line is etched in the ground to the south of the park.
At the park's heart, you will find the stunning Royal Observatory, home of British astronomy and again hosting breathtaking views across London's financial district and on to some of the main landmarks that grace the river.
At £13.50 entry, the home of time has to be on your to-do list. If you want to combine this with a few other activities nearby, they will probably try and sell you a combined ticket for other attractions, which isn’t always a bad option.
Oxford Street
Oxford Street seems to be a big tourist destination for the millions of London visitors each year, all with shopping in mind. Packing in many flagships amongst its 300 stores, it is not only the UK’s but Europe’s busiest shopping street. Every major fashion brand has a store on Oxford Street, and with over half a million people shopping here daily, who could blame them?
If you class yourself as a shopaholic or you enjoy browsing the windows of the big names, you'll be in paradise. If money is no object this could be a fun day out for you! Just remember one thing: London has a lot more to give when it comes to shopping than just one street. If this is your bag, then you'' be interested in the two cathedrals of capitalism that are Harrods or Harvey Nichols, both over in Knightsbridge.
If you are not a fan of crowded places or shopping this is probably one to avoid at all costs. The perfect stone facades mask the halogen-lit chaos within - those shoppers can get deadly when the sales are on. It’s like watching lions surround an injured antelope. That poor pair of shoes stood no chance.
The Shard
This is short and sweet. Now, you could go to 'The View from the Shard' and cast your eyes across London from atop its largest, shiniest skyscraper. The views would be amazing, we're sure. However, it's £32 for the privilege, and at that price they can shove their whole skyscraper where it hurts.
What we do suggest is instead booking in at one of the restaurants on the 32nd Floor. I appreciate this isn't at the top of the 95-storey tower, but neither is The View from the Shard - that's only the 69th. So yeah.
What the restaurant gets you is free entry to the building, and you can put that money towards some epic food instead of the Qatar government that own it, plus you get to go at night and see the illuminated London horizon, which is altogether better. Therefore, this is going to be talked about in the 'Where to Eat' section below.
Comic-Con
This one, probably unsurprisingly to our regular readers, is over to Charlie to recommend.
I fully appreciate some of you are reading this and thinking 'No. Fucking. Way am I going to that.' and that's fair enough. You'll know if this is something you're interested in.
Hosted in the Excel Centre in East London, every May and October 130,000 of us descend on the MCM Comic-Con to collectively geek out over new video game demos, voice actors and little figurines. The chaos is real, and I pretty much guarantee there will be something there for you.
If you're popping your 'Con Cherry' and not sure it's your thing, I'd suggest a day ticket on either the Saturday or Sunday to test the waters and see if it's for you. If you're one of the hardcore, it's three days of pure self-indulgence.
You've probably seen the photos of the cosplayers in their fantasy outfits, and that is an epic part of it. I found someone dressed as a character from my all-time-favourite game (Dragon Age: Origins if you're interested), and squealed like a child and ran over to plead for a photo. But Con is so diverse and so packed full of talent that it's hard to list just the best bits, but a few favourites are:
Meeting your favourite characters - There's often a handful of big names at Con, so if you want to meet an actor from the Avengers, or Dr Who, or whatever other even slightly nerdy series takes your fancy, then head over to the meet-and-greets. Please note - you will have to pay for the privilege and prices vary depending on fame!
My other big recommendation is the Comic Village. Now this is, unsurprisingly, full of stands selling comic books, but is also packed with some seriously talented artists selling their work and, more interestingly, taking commissions. You can describe pretty much anything you like, pay a few quid and a few hours later get a phone call with to tell you your own bespoke artwork is ready. I got three and I love them all.
A weekend ticket will set you back £69.50 and gets you into the arena. That's it. You'll need to factor in food and accommodation yourself.
Greg is glaring at me now as I got a bit carried away writing this and it's getting pretty long, so I'll leave it there!
Where to Stay Whilst Backpacking London
As we said in the intro, both of us have made regular jaunts into the capital and stayed in all kinds of places throughout the city. London, being London, has whatever your heart desires when it comes to accommodation, from the cheapest Couchsurfing, to spare rooms and up through to hotels, private villas, penthouses, and for the filthy rich, well, castles and palaces await. Whilst we can both talk to you about some of these, at no point has either of us managed to tick off the last few of these choices. Again, your Majesty, you scratch our back we'll scratch yours, you get us?
We will start off with the one place in London we both stayed at, the newly refurbished Point A Hotel, Liverpool Street. We were kindly offered a complimentary stay in return for a review with the folks at Point A. However, as you know we have, and always will give an honest review, for you, our readers. So here it is.
Point A is set up to suit modern life. Ever stayed at a hotel and there's no plug sockets by the beds? That's the sort of thing they've thought of - it's built to be convenient without breaking the bank. Our stay would've set us back around £80 a room per night, and for Central London, that's not bad.
It only took a few minutes walking from Liverpool Street underground before we were standing in the hotel lobby - useful in London's unpredictable weather. First impressions matter, and the warm welcome we received from the staff felt more like we were at a boutique hotel than a chain. We soon had our room keys and were in the lift upstairs.
First thing we noticed? The rooms aren't big. You get a bed, a desk, an en-suite, and that's most of the floor space gone. That said, it didn't feel cramped or claustrophobic, and whilst probably not ideal for a couple of visiting Sumos, we soon learnt it was more than enough for everyone else. It was clean, tidy and well equipped, with plenty of sockets and USB ports, which was good news for us as we both needed to charge up laptops, phones and camera batteries after a day in the city. The second thing we noticed was the absolutely massive flat-screen TV. This thing was seriously huge, and even had catch-up, tons of channels, and you could even stream videos to it from your phone.
We agreed to head out in half an hour, and both promptly fell onto our beds to take the weight off our aching feet. This was a bit of a revelation, and we were both comfy enough that the idea of getting up again suddenly felt like a chore. Between that and playing with the colour-changing lights, we ended up leaving later than planned. We decided to head into Shoreditch - which is less than five minutes walk away - for a drink and some photos.
Now, that evening got a bit out of hand. The plan was just to have 'one or two drinks', which somehow turned into 'rolling around in a ball pit in a club at 3am with pounding house music'. That kind of night. So we were truly grateful to not be far from the hotel when we finally crawled home, and to have a really comfy place to crash and watch TV whilst we waited for two 20-foot long kebabs to be delivered to the world's most patient night concierge downstairs.
We won't lie, the next morning was pretty rough, but we both made it downstairs to beg for caffeine from the very understanding staff. Normally, we're a bit disappointed when the words 'continental breakfast' are thrown around because we both love a good fry-up, but this was not your average continental - fruits, yoghurts, pastries, granola, eggs, toast - it had everything. It was seriously good. Critically, the orange juice was the proper stuff and was like a defibrillator after our heavy sesh, bringing us back to life.
Other observations? The pressure in the shower was the real deal, just like being at home. Having stayed in some hotels where the shower is like being dribbled on by a hungry dog, that's always a nice surprise. The pièce de résistance in the room, though, had to be the quiet and easy to use aircon unit. If Greg could work it out, you can. Also, the staff were faultless - from the point of check-in, through to pointing out the nearest open shop that evening, to the incredibly nice guy that let us stumble around the lobby waiting for our food at 3am, and offering to look after our bags for the day when we checked out - everything was done with a smile and with a real desire to improve your stay in not just Point A, but London as a whole.
The team at Point A Liverpool Street offer far more than a hotel, they offer an experience. Don't forget to check out their A-list offers and promotions, or ask at reception, these promotions include free, yes free use of the DW Fitness Gym just down the road, as well as food and drink vouchers for some of the local restaurants and bars. As you will sadly find out in the next couple of sections, we aren't on tour to hit the gym, so never made it. The food and drink, however, well that was fair game.
Finally, the hotel has a garden. A proper, actual garden with flowers and a gazebo and space to walk around. In central London. There are billionaires in London who don't have a garden, and there's enough space there to build an apartment block, but instead, they made a garden for the guests. That's a minor miracle.
So would we stay again? You bet we would - in fact, we're planning to. Good value, location and staff, and a comfy room? Yes please. If you're in town and want your own private space and not to be top to tail in a dorm, we reckon you should too.
Other than that, we've mostly stayed with friends in the city, or in a couple of other hotels that we cant really recommend (in Heathrow, Shepherds Bush and Regents Park). It's worth staying closer to the centre if you can, instead of travelling in and out every day.
On that note, like all European capitals there's absolutely tons of Airbnb rooms and apartments around for pretty much any budget, so shop around.
And if you do manage to stay in a castle or palace, please give us an invite? Or just send us a gloating message on Instagram or the comments!
Where to Eat When Backpacking London
England isn’t exactly famed for its food, and we reckon that’s a bit unfair. You can’t go wrong with some good ol’ fish and chips with salt and vinegar or a proper Sunday roast dinner! We were both raised on food like that, and it’s close to our hearts.
London’s ten million inhabitants do need to eat, and they like to eat well, and English cuisine aside, you’ll find meals from all corners of the globe across the city. We’re massive fans of street food and markets, partly because you can eat without writing off an hour or two at a table, and partly because the diverse range of people that call London home means they’ve brought their country’s culinary expertise to our doorstep – and damn, they can
cook.
So here’s a few of our preferred places to eat:
Borough Market
This is the big daddy of food markets in London. Well located on the south bank just off of London Bridge, this is our absolute top recommendation for grabbing some lunch on your travels around central London – maybe tie it in with the Tower of London, Tower Bridge and the London Eye?
The whole market is under the railway bridges, and it’s massive. Heading down, it’s fifty-fifty whether the noise from the crowds or the heady, mouthwatering smells reach you first.
Walking in on a summer’s day is something special. Condensation forms on ice cold refreshing cups of freshly squeezed fruit juice, craft beers and ciders and Pimms. Pimms is just about the most refreshing drink on the planet, a fruity gin-based liqueur served with lemonade, ice and fresh fruit. Try it if you haven’t before. Elsewhere, cuisines from the world over compete for your custom: an aromatic Malaysian curry perhaps? Or fresh scallops? Maybe a luxurious, thick carbonara? Or a good, juicy burger – pork, beef, venison or boar?
You could do a ridiculously expensive daily shop here as well, visiting the various butchers, grocers, fishmongers and bakers like you’re back in Victorian Britain. If you wanted the very best ingredients to cook something flash in your Airbnb – this is where to get them.
It can be very busy so expect to mill slowly through the crowds. That’s not too much hardship – it does give you time to browse what’s around you. We had an incredible Malaysian curry (£6 a go) and ended up eating it in a quiet corner, but there is some seating outside the market if you go looking for it.
Victoria Food Hall
This gets a mention because it served one very critical purpose for us: it was near Victoria Station. We got to London via coach, and after nearly three hours bouncing around in cramped seats we wanted something a bit more than just a Maccas to take our mind off things and set us up for the day. Enter: Victoria Food Hall.
A few minutes walk from the station, this little hall has around 12 booths, each selling feature dishes like tacos or ramen. The different flavours float through the air and grab you around the throat as you attempt to pass by, and bring you in kicking and screaming. Our favourite when we walked in was Fanny’s Kebabs. We saw the name, thought of the Instagram opportunities and made a beeline for it.
We were about to place our order when the booth next to us produced a gigantic slab of smoked pastrami and started prepping it for sandwiches, and we knew that was the one. We ordered a big ol’ pastrami on rye each and waited for it to arrive. It was around £9 each, and that seemed fair.
The flavour was absolutely bang on. A not-too-dense rye wrapped around a thick old lump of smoked, salty, melt-in-the-mouth beef, with the obligatory whole pickle on the side. It took Charlie right back to Katz’ Deli in New York. I’ve dreamt about that sandwich since, and this was almost as good apart from one key thing: we were both disappointed by the size. It was about half the size of Katz’, and I know American portions are legendary, but it seemed quite expensive for the quantity. But as for the quality? We couldn’t fault it. The thing was demolished in no time.
All this to say, if you arrive in London via Victoria – make this your first stop.
Honest Burgers
What is there to say that the name doesn’t? This is an honest-to-God, damn good gourmet burger. We had a brief debate before going here as there was a Five Guys just over the road and that’s the benchmark for what a burger ought to be, but we settled on this, and are glad we did.
There’s a few chains of this around London, but the one we went to was in South Kensington, like two minutes away from the Natural History Museum.
First impressions were that the staff were great – we had a bit of a laugh with them about why we were carrying a ton of camera gear around, and we settled in. We skimmed the menu before both settling on the special – a double-decker beauty on a brioche bun, with rocket, garlic aioli, some sort of jam and a few other bits of deliciousness, and some absolutely incredible rosemary fries, plus a homemade mint lemonade each. Total damage £19 a head – pretty good for a sit-down restaurant in a posh bit of London.
Food-wise, this is up there with the best burgers we’ve had (and trust us, we’re experienced), and the fries in particular were epic. There’s really nothing to pick a hole in with any of it, other than we’d have liked more fries (but then we’re just greedy bastards really).
Underbelly Festival
Our next cheeky find can only be enjoyed for the 6 months of the year when the Underbelly Festival takes up residence under the careful gaze of the London Eye. This unique festival celebrates the arts, foods and drinks with a number of food huts, bars and vast crowds of excited and hungry festival goers. Much like the other markets there are sublime foods from around the world, with tastes and smells to blow your mind and your tastebuds.
Weary from our second day of 25,000 steps in the surprising heat of the English sun, we collapsed onto the floor with the rest of the sun-kissed evening crowd. The only thing that got Greg up on his feet was his stomach, so off he went in hunt of some fine foods. After settling on Mexican, it wasn't long before jumping into the queue. Three back, I didn't think much of the queue and was happily dreaming of my chicken burrito wrap, when I was struck by the fact that all three people in front ordered vegetarian or vegan. I didn't question it at all until, whilst waiting for the chicken to cook, the next three all ordered veggie and vegan as well and it suddenly struck me: we were in the minority as meat eaters. This shocked me, not that it was a bad thing, just surprising. I guess it speaks a lot about the way the world is going now, but it also shows the variation and talents of the chefs on offer here, not to mention the diversity of the city, it's foods and arts.
I have to admit, despite being the only meat eater I couldn't have been happier with my choice for the both of us, the thick chunks of chicken coated in a fresh salad wrap was just what was needed. You may have noticed, we are big foodies and have always believed markets hold the key to taste and outrageous flavour, and this festival did nothing to dent that thought. In fact, it only added to it.
The Shard
Now if you want to feel special, this is the place to come. This is the best dining view in London.
There are two restaurants in the Shard, and our pick is Oblix – in particular, Oblix East. Serving smart grill-style cuisine 32 floors above ground level, you can relax in the not-too-formal, bustling cocktail bar on sofas or at tables, soaking in the views over the Tower of London and Canary Wharf through the floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows.
Now all this sounds expensive, but it isn’t. You can bring in a two-course meal for £25-30 pretty easily, but in a place like this, the sky is the limit in every sense. £500 for a bottle-aged cocktail anyone?
The salt and pepper squid starter is amazing, and so was the wagyu beef burger. This place strikes the right balance between classy and relaxed, and that stretches from the food to the décor, and the attitudes of the staff. You’ll want to book ahead though, and I recommend finding out when sunset is and booking about 15 minutes before, so you can settle in and watch the city light up below you.
Other things to note are there is an airport-style security check on your way, in with metal detectors and x-ray machines, and the only way up is by lift. Also, if you’re in town and it just so happens there’s due to be a newsworthy lightning storm that evening, get on the phone and book a table! Charlie booked here on the Comic-Con trip, and by pure luck there was a biblical lightning storm going on outside as we ate, and it was absolutely mesmerising – as were the occasional flashes as lightning hit the building. There’s nothing like sitting over the city, watching nature throw it’s best whilst sipping wine with friends and listening to smooth jazz. It’s one of my absolute travel highlights.
Where to Drink and Party when Backpacking London
This is no easy task, naming the best waterholes in London would imply that we have covered them all. We haven't. All we can do is recommend the best of the places we have sampled, leaving out the dripping taps and filling you only with the finest, fresh overflow of an oak barrel. We're going to break you in gently and start with the quiet lunchtime pint, or, for the hardcore, somewhere to start your day session, you absolute kings and queens (no, not you Ma'am) of drinking!
Not too far from the glitz and glamour of Buckingham Palace (Ma'am, this is you. Call us.) in Covent Garden, you'll find the stylish and quintessentially British pub called The Salisbury. This charming victorian bar almost drags you back to the days of the Cray Twins, with its golden glistening chandeliers and soft lighting throughout, which in itself makes for a bold statement. There was a relaxed atmosphere that filled the air, along with the soft, heady smell of 100 years of booze. The interior is rolling with the past - the whole building is Grade II listed - yet feels tidy and clean. It does exactly what you want a pub to do, and that's serve alcohol and good pub grub. The staff were great, always on their feet looking for the next thirsty punter, and thirsty is something you could easily be exploring the grandest of cities. The choice of drinks was solid, with several local beers as well as the big names, and we can think of no better place to start than here.
Next on our list is a British institution, and for anyone visiting the country, it is - sadly - a must. It's Wetherspoons.
Wetherspoons is a national icon, and they have branches all over the place. They're also the only place other than an airport where it's normal to see someone drunk at 8am.
Now, we know many of you British folk are shouting 'Noooooooo!' at this. But hear us out. This is London. Prices are extortionate across the board, with the price of alcohol being higher than most. Wetherspoons cuts through the bullshit and sells a good drink at a good price. It's never let us down for food or drink, in fact. Yes, we agree with the critics, its never going to blow your mind or test your taste buds, but it's cheap, cheerful and consistent. It's reliably average. It's also probably the only place in London you can go to with £20 and come back full, drunk and have had a reasonable night out. They regularly have guest ales under £2 a pint, and in London that's the holy grail.
For those coming over from abroad, you probably won't eat anywhere more British. Pretty much everyone here will have been to a Wetherspoons somewhen. And for those fromBlighty, well, your wallet will thank you. 'Prinks' (that's pre-drinks for the uninitiated) at 'spoons will set you up for the night ahead. You can pretty much guarantee there's a 'spoons nearby in London.
Over to North London now, and a couple of Greg's favourite bars are located along the busy streets of Islington. The first also does a cracking meal, and that's Wenlock and Essex. The wooden floors and the wooden beams that stand proud throughout the building make this feel almost like being on the underdeck of a pirate ship, and yet it manages to stay clean, classy and modern. It's beyond wonderful, with a faint sniff of pizza and other pub favourites filling the room as the friendly staff drift through the bar taking orders to tables. The lighting, whilst slightly dark and red, makes the bar a great location to sit back after a hard days work with a good old pint, and just relax. This is our top recommendation in North London. Give it a try.
Staying in Islington, and moving on from those lunchtime pints and early prinks to the early part of the night. There aren't many better places to head than the Ladybird Bar, which will fulfil all your cocktail needs. I've had some time to think about this, and still it's hard to describe its quirky style. It's certainly not modern, and whilst hints of the 60s shine through, it really can't be described as vintage or old either. It's just chic. I love it, and the crazy style is matched by the random music that just flares up from time to time. You have to see it to believe it, and my advice is to do just that.
Another couple of really nice pubs and bars in the area, including the Old Queens Head, The Winchester and the Barrio Angel. The Winchester has a fantastic wooden farmhouse feel, and I have to give a nod to the food here - whilst never eating in the bar, it smells delicious and looks Michelin star quality. The Old Queens Head is a wonderful, almost surreal location that has the feel of an old country estate, only fit for the rich with a double-barrel shotgun underarm and a pheasant feathered hat. Which (minus the gun) would fit it. Again, a top location with great food, and a fantastic place for a peaceful pint.
Then there is the Barrio Angel. It's different. With chipboard ceiling, colour all over and a sense of arty fun, you really cannot help but smile upon entering the Angel for the first time. Its got a real vibe to the place, and with me coming from Bristol, where there's Banksy's and murals everywhere, it was like being at home.
Now for the weekend party goers, we have a treat in store for you: Shoreditch. Shoreditch is famed for its swathes of quirky, different and downright epic clubs, and let's be honest, it's one hell of a night out.
We started at The Strongroom which was a stylish, almost hipster bar, and in some parts of Europe, they would almost call it a ruin bar. The inside immediately splits to the downstairs dance floors, or to the upper decks, which include the indoor seating (it's cosy, to say the least), and the bar. Whilst perfectly alright, the magic happens when you take a step outside. The courtyard - scattered with fairy lights, undercover seating and warming heaters - is a mosaic of noise, laughter and fun. For a relatively large outdoor area, it gets busy, so getting to know those around you is not optional - it's going to happen. They do have a bar outside as well, which is a little on the small size, but it doesn't matter. We loved everything about this place. That is, except for its price list. By now we were on the rum and cokes, so we were expecting to pay a little over the odds, but £18 for two rum and cokes in small plastic glasses? That's taking the piss.
Next on our guide to a night out in Shoreditch, missing out a couple of shockingly bad bars such as the Sunset Bar (up to £22 for two rum and cokes now; this is where we gave up and switched to beer so we wouldn't need to sell a kidney to keep travelling), we headed to Cirque. Cirque is small but fantastic. It was unique (there was a fake zebra head with a unicorn horn above the DJ), and we'd use the word 'flavoursome'. It's full of character. It also came with a free shot, which is enough said really.
The small area is complemented by its great personality, epic staff who really know their shit, and a top live DJ. We had planned on staying for one, but ended up 5 down and wondering if we should get another. The one disappointment we had at Cirque was the underground dance floor. It was small and the music was on the tame side, but it was more because no one ventured down. This did mean that we were all upstairs and dancing like looney tunes, and we were loving life. Even the bouncer had game, laughing and joking with us, and just generally radiating the overall feel that sweeps through the bar.
And now for something completely different.
Still in Shoreditch, and in fact only a 30-second boogie from The Strongroom, you will find the madness that is Ballie Ballerson. You won't miss this on the way past. Now, we are not guys for regular clubbing, where strangers vomit on your shoes and drunken idiots are ripping their shirts off and deciding the best way to end the night is fighting their way out of a police cordon. But fighting our way out of a ball pit? Game on.
We were way past sober, and probably didn't need another one, but there is something about a neon pink ball pit with a number of drowning 20-something-year-olds smashing the hell out of each other with said balls that we just couldn't ignore. We popped in, acting all sober, almost pretending we weren't interested in the ball pit, making our way to the bar. Having grabbed a couple more drinks, and now almost being held back by the ball pit supervisor (thanks to having bottles in our hands), it was obvious where we were going to end up. Chasing Charlie into the pit almost flattening anyone who got in our way just happened. We aren't even sorry.
The rest of the night speaks for itself. What do you expect when you take a kids party, get rid of anyone under 18, and add beer. It was just epic and we could not recommend it enough. It is one hell of a way to end the night and something we highly recommend. We also have to add that the prices of a beer were pretty reasonable for London, coming out at about £10 for 2.
What You'll Need to Blend In
In the words of the London legend Micky Flanagan - A double-busy-walk
'A face like a slapped ass' (translation: a pissed-off looking face)
An umbrella on standby
More money than you have
