London Guide

Five days of recs and my Google Map with years of saved intel

An early-bird touchdown and morning traffic to the hotel means I get in a power nap. We usually try to carry on our bags at all costs. You’re out of the airport much faster and obviously won’t chance losing luggage. This trip mostly revolved around food, so you won’t find many tips for cultural offerings, but I’m sure you know where to look for those!

On previous trips, we’d visited the Tate Modern, seen the Changing of the Guard, been on The London Eye, etc. There was a Chanel exhibit I wanted to see at the V&A Museum, but the days flew by. Here’s a link to a Google Map of all my saved London spots; I’ve added to it for years. You can also check out my London Reel on Instagram.

DAY 1

We checked into the Ham Yard, stashed bags in the room and went out cruising for caffeine. The other hotels I looked into were Chiltern Firehouse and The Twenty Two and The Ned, but I couldn’t pass up a great rate on a hotel we knew we loved. Kit Kemp also has the Haymarket close by (which has a basement swimming pool) and several townhouses in the Soho area that would be great for families. Here’s the thing about Kit Kemp hotels: The people who work there are warm and friendly, I love a well-stocked library honor bar, and the bed linens are crisp and comfy. I miss the pillows from the hotel and want to source them for home.

Chiltern Firehouse for lunch. Great people watching and interiors. Cozy outdoor tables strewn with throws and pillows. We sat near a fireplace and there were outdoor heaters going, so don’t be afraid to sit outside in cool weather. Dogs and babies and Fashion Week and BAFTA types took up the tables. The food was fine, nothing special but good, but nearby there’s good strolling and boutique shopping and nerd-out coffee shops, so even if you’re not staying there, it’s worth a lunch.

Afternoon massage at the Ham Yard. My favorite way to recover from jet lag! Highly likely I was snoring on the table. There’s a co-ed steam room at the Ham Yard, but I forgot to pack a swimsuit and there was a 60-something Speedo-clad man in there doing toe touches, so I didn’t attempt a hot steam in my towel. 

Dinner at Noble Rot. Enjoyed this place. Convivial, tiny, dimly lit. Everything I want in a city restaurant. The wine list was amazing—my favorite glasses we had during the trip. My orders: a refined Retsina (I didn’t realize those two words went together) and a minerally Alto Adige winner. According to our waiter, the restaurant was started by the guy who “found” Coldplay, but I haven’t done a deep dive into what that means, exactly. This was my favorite dinner. The restaurant is a short 10-minute walk from the Ham Yard, so a perfect first-night jaunt.