I've published a list of hotels and restaurants that I recommend, now let me give you ideas on how to spend your days in the city. I'm not going to write about the obvious attractions you must go to if you visit London for the first time, instead here are my favourite places slightly of the beaten track.
There's one walk I love if I want to avoid the busy streets of London and it takes you along the banks of Regent's Canal, you start off at the back of Kings Cross Station at Coal Drops Yard. This lovely walk will take you past Camden Market, Regent's Park and you'll end up in Little Venice next to Paddington Station. You could also call it the walk from platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross Station to the statue of Paddington bear at Paddington Station.
As you can see from the pictures I took, it has very different atmospheres along the walk and you will find plenty of cafés to stop along the way.
Another fun walk is Notting Hill, I know it's a classic but there is an atmosphere of local community that feel like you are in a village. To enjoy it, just get lost and soak up the colours.
Next are a few museums that I always enjoy going to when I'm in London.
This museum is next to Holland Park and its Kyoto garden, I recommend you add it to your list when you go the Design Museum. You can enjoy the permanent exhibits but also check out the current exhibition. The last one I saw was 'Weird Sensation Fells Good: The world of ASMR'; it was definitely weird but my sister and I got the giggles and we were told off by our kids...
This gallery is on the South Bank, close to Waterloo Station and the London Eye. Hayward Gallery is always hosting temporary exhibitions, for example Space shifters which was part of the 50th anniversary, was extraordinary with art from Anish Kapoor, Yayoi Kusama, Leonor Antunes and Larry Bell to name a few. In 2022, I also went to see an exhibition on Louise Bourgeois: The Woven Child.
The Saatchi gallery in Chelsea is also worth visiting, plus you get to walk along King's Road for a bit of window shopping or a bite to eat.
Then of course, there are the classic museums you must not miss, just to name a few.... The Tate Modern, The V&A, The British museum or the Courtauld institute.
Just make sure you book your tickets in advance!
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