Why go?

One day here is enough to instill an undying love for the capital. It’s stacked with historical landmarks and awe-inspiring architecture. It’s the gateway to Europe. It’s the theatre, festival and food hub of Britain. People from every continent settle in London, and with them comes a multiculturalism to rival every major city across the globe. You’ll find traditional ballet, African theatre and Cambodian acrobats housed under the same roof at the Royal Festival Hall, and international cuisine works its way onto street market stalls and Michelin-starred menus alike. From Bengali curry houses lining Brick Lane, to Hoxton’s trove of Vietnamese restaurants and the Caribbean haunts in Brixton, the food-loving patrons in this city fuel a constantly evolving restaurant scene.

What to do

To root out the true havens in this packed place, you need to look beyond the usual string of attractions. In the East end there’s Hackney, where you can hear the chants of barrow boys echoing along Broadway market. Grab lunch at The Cat & Mutton (020 7254 4499, catandmutton.com) – they’ve been perfecting jellied eels here since the 1600s, and it’s a good spot to grab a pint, if not a slithery snack, as you watch the vendors at work. Hit Columbia Road’s flower market (columbiaroad.info), selling everything from English roses to ten-foot banana trees, or retreat to Tudor manor Sutton House (020 8986 2264, nationaltrust.org.uk) to explore its 16th-century rooms and grounds. Nearby, the Olympic Park is keeping the games alive with garden tours, 3D theatre and interactive art exhibits. The best way to get your bearings in this vast city is on a boat trip along the Thames, docking south of the river in Greenwich to explore the newly-restored Cutty Sark (rmg.co.uk). On the other side of town, Camden Passage is an antiques village full of stalls and vintage clothing boutiques you won’t find on tourist-trampled Oxford Street. At London’s epicentre, the Churchill war rooms in Westminster (020 7416 5320, iwm.org.uk) take you underground to the war hero’s secret bunkers, where MI5 officials plotted their way through the Blitz. Return to the surface and walk along the Serpentine lake in Hyde Park, hitting Knightsbridge for a lazy afternoon tea at the Lanesborough (020 7333 7254, lanesborough.com). The glass-domed roof, jacquard decor and muted jazz piano make for a spectacular setting in which to wade through an endless supply of sandwiches and cream cakes.

Where to stay

Mayfair’s 45 Park Lane has a gentlemen’s club feel. Attached is Cut by Wolfgang Puck; you’d be hard pushed to find a better steak in the capital (020 7493 4545, 45parklane.com). Zetter Townhouse in Farringdon (020 7324 4567, thezettertownhouse.com) is a hotchpotch of Victorian design and stark modernism, with a few 1950s relics thrown in for good measure. If you’re planning a late one, book into The Orange in Pimlico (020 7881 9844, theorange.co.uk), a gastro pub with four rooms above.

Where to eat and drink

From Michel Roux to Quilon chef Sriram Aylur, every big name in Britain will pass through London’s doors en route to gastronomic greatness. But for a post-work pick-meup, there are a few lesser-known spots. Koya (020 7434 4463, koya.co.uk) is Japanese at its best and serves Udon noodles every which way. Ditch any vegetarians in your party and dedicate a night to Pitt Cue Co (020 7287 5578, pittcue.co.uk), a barbecue joint serving trays of pulled pork and ‘slaw. Soho is crammed with eateries, but those in the know head to Vinoteca (020 3544 7411, vinoteca.co.uk), where the modern British menu is packed with strong flavours and the wine list features local producers. Nuno Mendes fuses Portuguese plates with seasonal English produce at Corner Room (020 7871 0460, townhallhotel.com) and come happy hour, Mark’s Bar in Westminster (020 7292 3518, marksbar.co.uk) is the place to sink a ‘Rabbie Burns hunting flask’…

Time running out?

Ether-filled or fringed with flames, Purl bar’s toxic cocktail concoctions will reboot your senses after a day’s sightseeing (020 7935 0835, purllondon.com).

Travel Information

Travel Information

Currency is the British pound (GBP).

Getting There

National Express (nationalexpress.com) offers train and coach fares to the capital from all over the UK from £4. Oyster cards for tube and bus can be ordered through Transport For London (tfl.gov.uk) or bought at any underground station for a £3 deposit (refunded when you return the card at the end of your trip).

Resources

Visit London (visitlondon.com) has excellent information on visiting the city, as well as special offers.