Mentioned by A Complete Guide of London | The Shaftesbury Hotels Collection Blog
Best Breweries of London
"See how top beers including Camden Hells Lager and Camden Pale Ale are brewed by joining a tour of the Camden Town Brewery in Kentish Town. Either drop in on a Saturday between 1 and 2 p.m. for a 30-minute informal tour or book a tour in advance on Thursday or Saturday for a more in-depth look at brewing techniques and the chance to taste several beers straight from the tank."
"The founder of Camden Town Brewery, Jasper Cuppaidge, started making beer for fun in the basement of his pub. As a pub owner, he decided to enter into the beer market producing a great and recognisable lager. Beers at Camden Town are made all year long, and sometimes you can find some limited editions."
"London’s popular Italian food halls—found in Mayfair and Elephant & Castle—are back with their brilliant street food offerings Wednesday through till Sunday, for takeaway and deliveries only. Meanwhile, MM Grocery will continue to stay open throughout the week. Hand sanitisers will be out in both venues and social-distancing measures will apply."
"Things to do Event spaces Elephant & Castle. A 45,000 square foot market space offering a mixture of Italian and London based artisan producers, including ‘the best pizza maker’ from Naples, supposedly."
"A hub of all things eating and drinking, Mercato Metropolitano is an epic food hall in Elephant & Castle. Not only does it have a wealth of vendors catering to all your cravings, but it also has a gorgeous and expansive selection of outdoor spots to choose from."
"Meantime was born & bred in a Greenwich flat over twenty years ago and they’re still crafting beer from alongside the River Thames but in a much swankier tap room. Their first brew, the Union Lager, hit the taps back in 2000 and us Londoners still can’t get enough of it. Since then they’ve introduced us to the likes of tropical IPAs; lively ales that fuse British and German malts; a modern lager straight from London’s back garden; and not forgetting the cheeky Chocolate Porter too, but you’ll always find us raising a bottle of the signature London Pale Ale."
"GreenwichOne of the capital’s largest craft breweries, Meantime is also blessed with a supremely stylish taproom – hexagonal floors and mid-century wooden furniture – that begs to be settled into for a tasting session. Because at this award-winning spot, it’s all about the beers: even the burgers come with sauces made from the core house brews (Anytime IPA Hot and Sweet, Yakima Red Ale BBQ, Easytime Lager Marinara). Top tip: take some of the Chocolate Porter home with you – it’s perfect for putting in puddings."
"It is known as the location of the prime meridian and gave its name to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and sits first on the meridian line. The observatory is now maintained as a museum and visitors can learn about the history and discoveries at the observatory, stand on the famous Meridian line, visit Flamsteed House, see a camera obscura, and see the great equatorial telescope. Admission includes an audioguide to make the most of your self-guided visit."
"A huge, horseshoe-shaped centrepiece dominates the revamped double-height taproom, with tables all around and a mezzanine level above. You can sit outdoors too, for industrial-estate vibes – it’s part of the Bermondsey Beer Mile. Team your brews (choose from Shapeshifter, Juicebox and the best-selling Basecamp) with something from resident street-food van Oh My Dog!"
"Completely unshowy and without any hint of pretention, Fourpure has been making top quality beer in the most seemingly simple of locations. It’s already gaining a wider audience and their taproom is well worth a visit. It’s also worth mentioning their excellent blog which is great reading for people who love beer and life in general."
"Another Bermondsey gem, this popular South London brewery has 16 taps to try, and an ever-changing collage f classics and new experiments to try. Again located under the railway arches of Bermondsey, the large taproom and bar give guests a chance to try some very unique flavours, ranging from the zesty to the chocolatey."
"An award-winning bottle shop and taproom on Brick Lane, Kill The Cat is a must for lovers of craft beer in London. Head to the East London location for the chance to sample sips from their extensive selection of brews, complete with snacks and slick interiors."
"Unlike younger cities, planned from the get-go, grand old London has always felt like an agglomeration of the smaller (often medieval) communities it grew out of. And in many parts of the city, you can still live something akin to village life. Islington is full of those pockets—Highbury, Barnsbury, Tufnell Park—where tree-lined streets and 19th-century townhouses are served by some of the best neighborhood cafés and restaurants in the world."
"When it comes to sightseeing, South Bank and Bankside are excellent for access to big attractions – London Eye, Tate Modern, the Shard – and the City of London also has its share of popular sights, but both have few places to stay. South Kensington is great for museums and shopping. Hotels tend to be pricey."
"Restaurants Contemporary European Herne Hill. A brunch and pizza spot at the Brockwell Lido Café from the sourdough specialists. A waterside venue with a difference, this lovely alfresco space nudges up against the 1930s art deco splendour of the lido."
"The much-loved pizza pioneers 400 Rabbits have taken over the Lido café in Brockwell Park. Expect toasted banana bread, oat milk porridge and Portuguese eggs with sourdough. Wash it all down with a C-Bomb juice (orange, lemon and cherry) or a Bloody Mary."
"Restaurants Chinese Marylebone. ‘Family eating’ is second nature to the Chinese, so it’s no surprise that this palatial rendezvous, located just a stroll from Madame Tussauds, is good with the kids. Sit with your little’uns at one of the big circular tables and share the spoils from some superior dim sum – ideal finger food for youngsters who haven’t yet mastered the art of chopsticks."
"Restaurants Chinese Marylebone. Decked out in lavish Oriental style, Phoenix Palace is a favourite of international businessmen, but its easy-going bustle also suits local families who crowd round circular tables for the excellent weekend dim sum (reservations are a must unless you fancy queueing). Dinner is a blast during Chinese New Year."
"Restaurants Japanese Holborn. Just like everything else it does, Roka offers a slick and perfectly presented brunch offering, with a scarily tempting option to add unlimited wine. The Han Setto menu kicks off with ten sharing dishes (think chicken and sesame gyoza, prawn and vegetable tempura etc.) ahead of your chosen main (perhaps salmon teriyaki or glazed baby back ribs with cashews), while the finale is a stunning dessert platter."
"The Royal Observatory is located in Greenwich and is significant as this is where Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) gets measured from. The Prime Meridian runs through this landmark, and when the sun is at its highest point above the line, it is noon. Along with viewing the Prime Meridian line, there is a museum where you can learn more about the history of GMT and the observatory."
"Visit the Royal Museums Greenwich and immerse yourself in the fascinating history of this UNESCO World Heritage site. All a few minutes from each other, the group includes the National Maritime Museum, the Queen's House, the Royal Observatory (incorporating the Peter Harrison Planetarium) and the spectacular tea clipper Cutty Sark."
"When writing about romantic places in London, it would be a sin to leave the Royal Observatory in Greenwich off the list. It’s difficult to top star-gazing when it comes to romantic ideas. You can also watch and marvel at their planetarium shows if you’re looking to learn more about the universe we live in."
"If you’re wanting to take your sweetheart for a stroll amongst the flowers, Kew Gardens is one of the best places in London to do it. A botanical garden that hosts one of the “largest and most diverse” collections in the world, Kew is bound to have their favorite flowers somewhere. There are also a number of great attractions in Kew such as the Treetop Walkway, the Pagoda, Queen Charlotte’s Cottage, and Kew Palace."
"Visiting the Kew Garden is always a very good surprise, I have been in 2 times in the royal gardens at different times of the year. On my first visit, it was with a couple of dear friends that helped me a bum here in the land of the Queen when I arrived. We went in August 2014, so the trees were heavy with leaves, all very green and a very pleasant temperature."
"If you’re into floral photography, Kew Gardens houses one of the world’s largest and most diverse collections of living plants. This expansive botanical garden is absolutely magical. It contains numerous greenhouses, a tree-top walkway, an exotic rainforest, and so much more."
"Gardens emerge in the unlikeliest of places, including this tropical beauty atop a railway station. Crossrail hasn’t quite reached Canary Wharf yet, but this stunning spot is open for business—as is the adjacent street food hall!. COVID-19 UPDATE: Crossrail Place Roof Garden is open 8am-9pm daily."