Researching the best of London can feel like an endless task. At London Grid, we have done the work for you, curating a collection of experiences that are guaranteed to surprise and delight. We wish you an extraordinary time in our city.
Ceramica Blue was founded by a lady who grew up on a remote farm in New Zealand, twenty miles from the nearest shop, moved to London, and spent nearly four decades hunting down the most beautiful, unusual tableware and homeware she could find from every corner of the world. Contemporary Portuguese dinnerware alongside elaborately enamelled Pakistani water jugs. Hand painted Sicilian terracotta platters next to Indonesian cookware. French stemware from glassmakers with roots in the fifteenth century. Swedish linens, Egyptian candleholders, Colombian ceramic cookware. Every single piece chosen by hand, every single day, by someone with an eye for colour that nobody else in this city quite matches. One of London's great independent shops, three minutes from the market, almost entirely undiscovered by the people who walk past it every Saturday.
London just got a new proper pub! The Wild Swan has opened on Fetter Lane in Holborn and it is everything we love. Thornbridge Brewery, born deep in the Peak District back in 2005 and now boasting well over 500 awards worldwide, has finally made its London debut. Rotating cask ales, serious craft pours, Milanese style pizza made fresh every morning using Jaipur IPA in the dough, and a bespoke stained glass window made exclusively for this room. It is also the only pub in the entire country to hold BREEAM Excellence status, the world's leading sustainability certification. And the name? A quiet nod to the much loved White Swan that stood nearby until it was demolished in 2021, woven together with one of Thornbridge's earliest and most celebrated pale ales. History, beer, and pizza. On Fetter Lane. Go.
Omar Shah has quietly built one of the most interesting restaurant empires on a single stretch of road in London, and Belly is his boldest chapter yet. Anchor your order around the Tempura Cod Pandesal and the Scallops Bicol Express, which arrive swimming in coconut cream. Make sure to wash it down with the smoky Tita's Spiked Atchara. The Michelin inspectors have already taken notice. The locals, as ever, got there first.
Moored along Regent's Canal at Granary Square, Word on the Water is London's only floating bookshop — a 1920s Dutch barge called Dianti that has survived near-sinkings, forced fortnightly migrations, and the indignity of losing a permanent mooring to a coffee shop before finally dropping anchor for good in 2015. Every inch of its century-old hull is packed with new and second-hand books, and on warmer evenings its rooftop stage hosts jazz, poetry slams, and open-mic nights above the water. Equal parts library, literary salon, and stubborn act of faith in the independent bookshop.
Widely regarded as the hardest pub in London to find, Ye Olde Mitre is tucked down a near-invisible alleyway off Hatton Garden and has been there in some form since 1546, when it was built for the servants of the Bishops of Ely. The dark panelled rooms are tiny, the only food is toasties and pork pies, and there is a preserved cherry tree trunk in the entrance that Queen Elizabeth I is said to have danced around with Sir Christopher Hatton. Seek it out, order a real ale and you will feel very pleased with yourself.
A Holland Park institution since 1850, Lidgate is one of London's finest butchers and a rare example of a family business now in its fifth generation, with Danny Lidgate personally selecting organic and grass-fed beef, lamb and pork from free-range farms and estates including Highgrove. The meat is exceptional, the homemade pies and sausage rolls are legendary, and a visit to the shop on a Saturday morning feels like a step back into the way food shopping used to be done.
A Grade I listed galleried coaching inn on Borough High Street dating back to the 17th century, the George Inn is the last surviving example of its kind in London and the only pub owned by the National Trust. Its cobbled courtyard, wooden galleries and low beamed interior feel genuinely unchanged by the centuries, and Charles Dickens was a regular who even mentioned it in Little Dorrit. A pint in the courtyard on a summer evening is one of those simple London pleasures that is absolutely worth seeking out.
Inspired by the army mess bars of India, Brigadiers at Bloomberg Arcade in the City is a sprawling, gloriously loud Indian barbecue restaurant spread across several rooms of red leather booths, polished mahogany and gold detail. The live fire cooking is excellent, with tandoori lamb chops and beef shin biryani among the standouts, and the whole place doubles as one of London's best sports bars, with pool tables, whisky vending machines and cocktails on tap making it as much a destination for a big night out as a serious dinner.
A Portobello Road institution since 1974, Honest Jon's is one of London's most revered independent record shops, stocking an exceptionally curated selection of jazz, soul, funk, reggae, African music and electronic across both vinyl and CD. It has its own record label too, releasing music that reflects the same eclectic, deeply knowledgeable taste that has made the shop a destination for serious music lovers for over fifty years.
Perched at the top of Hampstead Heath since the 16th century, the Spaniards Inn is one of London's most beloved historic pubs, its narrow toll road entrance, wood panelled interiors and sprawling garden giving it a charm that has drawn visitors for centuries. Bram Stoker supposedly drew inspiration from it for Dracula, Keats and Byron both drank here, and on a summer afternoon with a pint in the garden and the Heath stretching out beyond, it remains one of the finest places to spend a few hours in the whole city.
Museum dedicated to the history of London’s transport system and how it shaped the city. Displays include vintage Tube carriages, historic buses, and the evolution of the Underground network.
Must see: original early Underground trains you can walk through, alongside the iconic poster collection that defined London’s visual identity.
Luxury hotel set inside a former magistrates’ court and police station in Covent Garden. Centred around a dramatic glass roofed atrium restaurant that transforms the old courtyard. Interiors lean dark and cinematic, with layered textures, art, and a strong sense of narrative.
The building’s past still lingers, giving the experience a slightly mysterious edge beneath the polish.
Unexpectedly fascinating museum uncovering the hidden history of London’s postal system. Make sure to pre-book a ride on Mail Rail, a miniature underground train through old postal tunnels. Blends social history, engineering, and quirky stories from centuries of communication.
Feels immersive and slightly secretive, revealing a part of the city most people never get to see.
Part of the Greenwich Maritime World Heritage Site, exploring Britain’s relationship with the sea. Extensive collections covering naval history, exploration, trade, and navigation. Must see: Admiral Nelson’s Trafalgar coat, still bearing the fatal bullet hole from the Battle of Trafalgar. Galleries range from grand historical narratives to intricate details of life at sea.
A Grade I listed pub sitting right on the water's edge in Greenwich, the Trafalgar Tavern has been welcoming Londoners since 1837. Its Georgian bay windows frame sweeping views of the Thames, while inside, walls lined with naval paintings and maritime artefacts give the place an atmosphere that few London pubs can match. The menu leans into classic British cooking, and is especially delicious enjoyed outside on the cobbled terrace in the Summer.
This baroque masterpiece was completed in 1726 and is often called the “Sistine Chapel of the UK”. Designed by Sir James Thornhill, with vast ceiling and wall paintings celebrating British naval power.
Every surface is covered in detail, from mythological figures to real historical figures like King William III. Best experienced slowly, lying back or looking up, so you can take in the full scale and storytelling above you.
Victorian tea clipper launched in 1869, built for speed during the China tea trade. Now suspended above ground in Greenwich, with a glass canopy beneath its hull. You can walk both under and on board, exploring crew quarters, cargo spaces, and deck rigging. A rare chance to experience a historic ship from every angle, revealing both its engineering and daily life at sea.
A brilliant museum charting the story of the Royal Air Force from 1918 through to modern day operations. Houses over 100 real aircraft, from early flying machines to Cold War jets and beyond. At times quiet and reflective, at others dramatic and cinematic, it leaves you with a strong sense of both engineering ambition and human cost.
A sprawling outdoor play world, where imagination can run wild! Packed with climbable structures, hidden passages, and spaces to roam. Animals and open landscapes add to the sense of escape from the city. A less polished theme park - more chaotic, muddy, make believe adventure in the best way.
Hidden above a bustling café on Portobello Road, the Fat Badger is one of Notting Hill's best kept secrets. The dining room feels like a country farmhouse transported to West London, with wood panelling, candlelight and the warm scent of beeswax setting the mood for an intimate evening. Head chef George Williams, who honed his craft at the River Café, serves a seasonal British set menu that changes daily and is as unfussy as it is delicious.
Outdoor flying trapeze school, where you can practise your best circus skills in the middle of the park! Open to complete beginners with expert instructors guiding you through each step. Sessions build up to real mid air catches.
Hidden in the ground floor of an art deco block of flats in St John's Wood, Oslo Court is one of London's most joyfully eccentric dining institutions. Serving generous French classics in a room of pink tablecloths, silver service and old world charm that hasn't changed since 1982. Order the Crepes Suzette for dessert and watch as the waiter flambés them at your table, a theatrical flourish that sums up everything wonderful about this gloriously unapologetic place.
Former home of Sigmund Freud, where he spent the final year of his life after fleeing Vienna in 1938. Preserved almost exactly as he left it, including his study and the original psychoanalytic couch. Filled with his personal library and a vast collection of antiquities that shaped his thinking. Offers an intimate glimpse into both his daily life and the ideas that influenced modern psychology.
Specialist cookware shop offering beautifully crafted, chef quality tools. Curated selection of knives, cast iron, and design led kitchen essentials. Focus on performance, durability, and timeless culinary craftsmanship. A must visit for serious home cooks and lovers of elevated kitchen design.
