A few months ago I finally returned to my favorite city in the world, London. I had not been back to the U.K. since spring of 2017 – oh, and if you were wondering if it’s still my favorite place in the ENTIRE WORLD? It’s safe to say that yes, it is still as amazing as i could remember. Someone I came across recently remarked to me, “Oh wow, You’ve been to 28 countries? Which one is your favorite?” When I responded “The U.K.” the man was disgusted. He tried to disregard my opinion and ask me further questions about my travels, along the lines of “Well, I bet you’ve never been to Australia!” I have. The city of London just holds a special place in my heart that no other city has quite been able to compete with. I have never felt more at home than I do in London. Even after 28 other countries. Even 8 years later after living there.
10 Reasons Why I Still Love London the Most.
- Enjoying a pint in a cozy pub while observing strangers, the sound of their accents discussing thoughts on Boris Johnson. (Kidding, but I love a British accent so much I could listen to them talk about basically anything.)
Some pubs we visited during my most recent visit include:
The World’s End: my favorite pub. always.
If you want a busier pub during the week some good recommendations are:
Horniman and The hydrant
Alice House: this place made great margaritas which I had a hard time finding in the U.K. so i recommend this place if you’re looking for cocktails.
Weatherspoons – these are pubs located all over London with food and pints, my favorite was the Met located near the Baker Street station.
Waxy O’ Connors
The Parks. Regent’s Park is possibly one of my favorite places in the entire world. It is so beautiful year-round. In the summer blossoming with color and in the winter it is so silent yet remains incredibly beautiful. Hyde Park, Green Park, St. James, Kensington Gardens, if you need I can keep naming. Compared to parks I have been to in other countries and the U.S., London just keeps the parks so clean and the grass truly seems greener.
Camden Town; okay, yes one is allowed to call me out on being bias because I DID work in Camden for a good chunk of the year 2014. My favorite pub The World’s End is located in Camden, Camden Market is one of the most interesting places some may ever visit, the club scene is great and some of the coolest celebrities have a history of frequenting this area. If I ever won the lottery I would have to rent an apartment in Camden for at least six months of my life to truly die happy.
Full English Breakfast after a night of too many pints. That’s all.
You can find so many great English breakfasts but my favorite and the most consistent for me since 2014 is found at Patisserie Valerie.
The tube – it is seriously the most incredible mode of transportation, and once you try to understand it, so easy to get around. When I first moved to London I walked or took the bus EVERYWHERE. As i grew older and visited London (the last 6? plus times) I grew to love the tube and rely upon it to get around, so much faster and more efficient.
Waking up to an overcast sky and grabbing a take away coffee and bacon butty to enjoy on a walk to the office before it starts to rain.
Buying rounds with your colleagues. Now this may not entirely be an English thing but it was the first place i experienced going out for drinks with my co-workers where we took turns buying the round of drinks for the group. I also love seeing the streets lined with “9-5-ers” doing after work pub sessions still in their business attire.
The architecture, the cobblestone roads, the bridges – basically just how OLD so much of the city looks in certain areas and how modern it is in others, it’s just a mix of everything. The museums are incredible even though my Greek heritage pushes me to be a little salty about things.
High Tea, whether it’s at Harrods, Kensington Palace, or a tiny unknown restaurant. I’m a sucker for some tea and scones.
My recent trip to London we visited Cafe Rouge to get out of the rain for a bit, where we enjoyed tea and scones. The cafe was adorable and scones, warm and delicious. Highly recommend.
Exploring – whether you’re walking around the city with someplace in mind, site-seeing, or dilly-dallying with no intended destination. No matter where you go in London you will come across one. Whether it’s Big Ben, The London Eye, some old famous pub or Sweeney Todd’s barber shop, there is so much history and places to explore in London.
Runaway Blond 