Mentioned by Elite Traveler
The 11 Best Restaurants in London
"If a trip up to the stunning viewing gallery of one of London’s tallest buildings sounds like a pocket drainer, think again. Situated inside a glass oasis at the top of the “Walkie Talkie”, Sky Garden is London’s highest public garden, filled with greenery and boasting panoramic views of the capital. It’s totally free to head up there, but you’ll need to book in advance, with post-lockdown visits starting up again from July 29."
"Day 1: Arrive in London, Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour, the London EyeDay 2: Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Whitehall, Covent GardenDay 3: Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Borough Market, Tate Modern, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Sky GardenDay 4: National Gallery, Greenwich, Prime Meridian, Up at the O2Day 5: British Museum, Portobello Road Market, Victoria and Albert Museum, Harrod’s"
"Set atop 20 Fenchurch Street (aka the Walkie Talkie building), Sky Garden is the highest public garden in London. Amidst a lush urban jungle, it offers stunning 360° panoramic views of the city. The unique setting and spectacular views easily make this one of the most Instagrammable places in London."
"What started as an ice cream store dedicated to liquid nitrogen creations, Chin Chin Labs has come a long way in delivering some of the best bites in town. Burnt butter caramel ice cream pies and loaded tiramisu sundaes join this mouthwatering brownie cookie ice cream sando (from £5.45) that can be customised with the likes of black sesame ice cream, molten chocolate, bee pollen honeycomb and whatever else takes your fancy. Now that's our kinda sandwich."
"Chin Chin pioneered the use of liquid nitrogen to make ice cream in a retail setting when it opened its first ice cream ‘lab’ in Camden Lock in 2010. Its founders were convinced that hand churning with liquid nitrogen was better than any other method, and they had stumbled on the future of ice cream. Nowadays, the company has grown to three locations and over 300 innovative flavours, from sweetcorn to wild blueberry to coffee and olive oil."
"Coffee ice cream, a dusting of cocoa powder and the fluffiest, softest cloud of whipped mascarpone cream, the base of this brilliant tiramisu mash-up is a thick, super rich, brownie-like cookie that is soaked in espresso for an extra gooey texture. The Chin Chin team have truly outdone themselves here. Address: 54 Greek St, London W1D 3DS or 49-50 Camden Lock Pl, London NW1 8AF"
"Nestled in the heart of Soho lives Cutter & Squidge, artisan cake makers who specialise in extravagance and wonder. Serving up slices of uniquely flavoured and decorated cakes along with their signature Biskie - a mix of cake, biscuit and cookie topped with marshmallow, buttercream and other goodies - it’s a one-of-a-kind shop in London. And it’s not just for the dairy eaters and gluten-friendly."
"From show stopping dripped cakes to the glossiest salted caramel we’ve ever seen, Cutter & Squidge is the bakery to go to if you’re in need of a special birthday treat or serious ‘I’m sorry’ gift. All products are made with 100% natural products and as little sugar as possible – don’t worry, they still taste devilishly sweet. Where:Various locationsWebsite:www.cutterandsquidge.com"
"A Biskie is a sandwiched dessert that’s essentially a cross between a cake and a cookie and is filled with cream or other ingredients. You can find Biskies only at Cutter and Squidge, a cute little bakery with locations in Soho and Bank. Their Salted Caramel Biskie is award winning and if you’re vegan or GF you’ll still find delicious options to choose from."
"Chocolate chip cookie with a centre of caramel – thick, with a sprinkling of salt on top – and roughly chopped peanuts, it’s warming and nutty, rich with a strong savoury kick. 40-41 Great Castle St, London W1W 8LU. Currently closed."
"Hampstead Heath is already a pretty objectively lovely place but the fact that Karma Bread also calls that area home makes it even lovelier. As one of the best bakeries in London, Karma Bread offers a wide array of baked goods that take inspiration from everything from traditional Jewish recipes and New York delis. Karma’s challah bread is the stuff of legend and their dark, dense and delicious New York rye is one of the few versions in the city that wouldn’t look out of place in Borough Park, Brooklyn."
"A modern reinterpretation of a British caff, Norman’s Cafe is a no-frills ode to everything we love about greasy spoons. Classic dishes like beans on toast, chicken escalope, and even the humble chip butty are given a quick glycolic scrub and elevated by chef Richie Hayes. But what about the coffee, you ask?"
"The Bethlem Museum of the Mind is a museum focused on the history of the Royal Bethlem Hospital. Inside the museum is an art gallery that was created in 1997 as a way to showcase the art of artists who are currently or were once patients of the hospital. Famed patients with work on display at the museum include William Kurelek, Richard Dadd and Louis Wain."
"This inventively redesigned museum vibrantly relates the history of the British Army, from the perspective of its servicemen and servicewomen. The museum reopened with a big bang in 2017, with five brand-new state-of-the-art galleries, including the Soldier Gallery, the Army Gallery, the Society Gallery (exploring society's relationship with the army), the Battle Gallery (the army at war) and the Insight Gallery (on the impact of the British Army through the world). Free talks, workshops and tours are also hosted: see the website for details."
"Alternatives: There are many other things to see in the area (mostly in Chelsea), including the Chelsea Physic Garden (fee*), Leighton House Museum (fee), Design Museum, Portobello Road Market, Chelsea Football Club Stadium Tour & Museum (fee*), and the recently renovated National Army Museum. London Itinerary Day 6 – Greenwich or Free Day"
"Calling upon punters from far and wide, the West End’s central point belongs to this celebrated casino. With doors open 24/7, the Leicester Square-placed casino boasts 20+ poker tables and an equally large number of roulette and baccarat seats. Additionally, there is more than enough room for modern slots and electronic versions of Craps and Sic Bo – all placed in high-ceiling halls with stunning décor."
"The Hippodrome is one of the more well known destinations on our list and is located in Leicester Square in the heart of London's west end. This casino has been open for over 100 years and is really impressive. You will be amazing by the size and entertainment available including a theatre, live music, burlesque, cabaret, 6 bars, restaurants and 3 floors of gambling."
"If you want a casino that is centrally located but doesn’t have quite to draw that the Casino at the Empire offers then you might want to consider the Hippodrome Casino. It’s also in Leicester Square and opened its doors for the first time in 2012. That means that it’s quire modern in style, as well as being one of the country’s biggest in terms of square footage."
"The Barbican is Europe’s largest performing arts centre, located right in the City of London. Its Brutalist styled architecture offers lots of opportunities to take some unique photos, like the one below by Chris Martin Scholl. Make sure to plan enough time to explore all the hidden corners of this fascinating landmark."
"The Barbican isn’t a single building: it’s an entire estate. It’s in the northern part of the City of London, which was devastated by bombing during World War II. It was eventually replaced by the Barbican Estate, a series of residential towers and courts built in finest British concrete between 1965 and 1976."
"Another of London’s brutalist structures, the Barbican Centre hosts regular film screenings, art exhibitions and other events. It is surrounded by the Barbican Housing Estate, making it tricky to navigate round its multiple entrances but giving it a unique architectural feel."