"London is the city that has everything — and gives most of it away for free."
London is the world's most culturally diverse capital — a city of 300 languages, 170 nationalities, and an energy that is entirely its own. It has more Michelin-starred restaurants than Paris, the finest free museums in the world, a theatre scene that has no equal, and a luxury hotel tradition — Claridge's, The Connaught, The Savoy — that defines the art of hospitality. The city is best experienced by neighbourhood: Mayfair for luxury, Soho for dining and theatre, the South Bank for culture, Notting Hill for weekend markets, and the City for history.
London rewards the traveller who moves slowly and eats constantly. The neighbourhood restaurant scene — in Soho, Fitzrovia, Bermondsey, and Hackney — is the finest in Europe, and the city's food markets (Borough Market, Broadway Market, Maltby Street) are extraordinary. The Tube connects everything; the best journeys are on foot.
"Claridge's — the finest hotel in the world's finest hotel city. The Art Deco lobby alone is worth the journey."
TastesOf Editorial
At a Glance
What Not to Miss
The Free Museums
London's greatest gift to the world — the British Museum, the National Gallery, the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Tate Modern, and the Science Museum are all free, all world-class, and all within walking distance of each other. No other city on earth offers this concentration of free cultural institutions. The British Museum's Elgin Marbles, the V&A's fashion collection, and the Tate Modern's turbine hall are unmissable.
The West End Theatre
London's West End is the finest theatre district in the world — with more productions running simultaneously than Broadway, and a tradition of theatrical excellence that stretches back to Shakespeare. The National Theatre on the South Bank, the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, and the intimate theatres of the Almeida and the Donmar Warehouse are the highlights.
Mayfair and the Luxury Quarter
Mayfair is London's most exclusive neighbourhood — a grid of Georgian townhouses, private members' clubs, and the finest concentration of luxury hotels in the world. The Connaught, Claridge's, and The Dorchester are all here; so are the galleries of Cork Street, the tailors of Savile Row, and the restaurants of Mount Street.
Borough Market
London's oldest and finest food market — under the railway arches of London Bridge, with 100 traders selling the finest produce, artisan foods, and street food in the city. The Neal's Yard Dairy cheese counter, the Monmouth Coffee stall, and the Brindisa chorizo rolls are the highlights. Open Thursday through Saturday.
The Neighbourhood Restaurants
London's finest dining is not in the hotel restaurants or the Michelin-starred temples — it's in the neighbourhood restaurants of Soho, Fitzrovia, Bermondsey, and Hackney. Brat in Shoreditch, Kiln in Soho, and St. John in Clerkenwell are the restaurants that have shaped British cooking for a generation.
The Parks
London has more parkland per capita than almost any other major city — and the Royal Parks (Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, St James's Park, Regent's Park) are extraordinary. St James's Park in spring, with the pelicans on the lake and the view of Buckingham Palace, is one of the great urban landscapes in the world.
Where to Stay
Claridge's
Historic PalaceThe finest hotel in London — an Art Deco masterpiece in Mayfair, with impeccable service, extraordinary dining (the Fera restaurant is exceptional), and a tradition of hosting royalty and heads of state that stretches back to the 19th century. The most coveted address in London.
The Connaught
LuxuryA beautifully restored Edwardian hotel in Mayfair — with the finest bar in London (the Connaught Bar, consistently ranked among the world's best), a two-Michelin-starred restaurant, and a spa that is among the best in the city.
The Ned
Design HotelA former bank building in the City of London, converted into one of the most extraordinary hotel and members' club experiences in the world — with nine restaurants, a rooftop pool, a spa, and a banking hall that is one of the most beautiful rooms in London.
The Verdict
The world's greatest city for culture — stay at Claridge's, eat at St. John, and spend every morning in a free museum.