AN INSIDER’S TIPS ON LONDON’S BEST
Shangri-La Hotel, at The Shard, London
When my friends are in town, I take them for a drink at… George (greeneking-pubs. co.uk) in Southwark, just a few minutes’ walk from our hotel. It’s one of London’s oldest pubs so it’s an excellent spot for a pint with a dash of history.
The restaurant that best shows off the city is… Tīng, located on the 35th floor of the Shangri-La Hotel (shangri-la.com). You can see everything from St Paul’s Cathedral to Tower Bridge. The food is amazing, too. The menu is full of SouthEast Asian dishes but all the ingredients are sourced locally – the honey comes from Bermondsey Street Bees, which is just a short walk away.
For a business meeting, book a table at… The Greenhouse (greenhouserestaurant. co.uk) in Mayfair. There’s a gorgeous private dining room but even if you don’t reserve that, the restaurant has discreet service, well-spaced tables and delicious modern British fare.
For the best breakfast, you can’t go past… Borough Market (boroughmarket.org.uk), which is, again, right next to the hotel. I recommend market restaurant Roast – it’s famous for its takeaway English breakfasts. For my caffeine fix, I go to… Monmouth Coffee Company (monmouthcoffee.co.uk) in Bermondsey. The beans come from all over the world but they’re blended at a local roastery. They also sell the beans, which make a great gift for coffee-lovers. For vintage shopping, head to… Brick Lane (visitbricklane.org). It’s a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Some of the best shops are Beyond Retro, Atika and the nearby Absolute Vintage. If you’ve got time, explore the nearby Spitalfields Market (spitalfields.co.uk) and Columbia Road flower market (columbiaroad.info).
If it’s raining, make your way to… The Postal Museum (postalmuseum.org). There’s no shortage of cultural institutions in London but this one is unique. Until 2003, parcels and letters were sent via an underground system called Mail Rail. Now it’s open to the public so you can follow the postal journey yourself. I don’t want to give too much away but be prepared for a few surprises along the way.