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going to London again. Want a locals experience! Help

Rent a bike and cycle up and down the Thames,good pubs anywhere on the river outside central London. The Albert in Brixton is great for a laugh (usual warning about being careful with expensive items). Soho's great early mornings.
 
I've lived in London for 18 years... when I was a student I lived in Kings Cross for 4 years.

I like the burger, wagamama restaurants - but personally I'd try to stay away from these chains if I wanted to see a more interesting side to London.

Definitely go eat at Brick Lane, which is to the East of 'The City'. There are loads of cheap Bangladeshi/Indian restaurants (30+) which are good quality - the place has a really fun vibe, and the restaurant owners are out on the street offering deals to would-be customers. The area is interesting too - the old East End of London. If you're out late, go to the North end of Brick lane, where two 24x7 bakeries sell bagels with salt beef at all times.

Around the area to the North West of Brick Lane is Hoxten Square. This is an art / club / bar district, and it's the place to hang out in the evening. Just go from bar to bar and see what's happening. It's only about 10 minutes from King's cross by bus when you need to get home.

Go North West from Kings Cross and you get on to Islington High Street / Upper Street - this is a fantastic bar/restaurant district. Some great restaurants here - great Argentinian, Cuban restaurants. Go to the Bierodrome for a selection of hundreds of great Belgian and continental beers ( http://www.belgo-restaurants.co.uk/ )

Down to the South West of you is Tottenham Court road with it's electronic shops (prices aren't great)... the roads to the West of it are called 'Fitzrovia' - and this is a thriving bar/restaurant district, with lots of people out on the streets by the pub when the weather allows (lots of English pubs now have outdoor heaters so cold weather isn't a problem). Find Charlotte street on the map and start there.

I recommend Borough market ( http://www.boroughmarket.org.uk/ ), especially on Friday / Saturday. Lots of food for sale, and you can buy BBQ chorizo sandwiches, fresh roast pork, great fish, falafel, frankfurthers etc. Good for lunch. The George pub is great and it's very near ( http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/43/434/George/London_Bridge ).

Other fun places:
On Edgeware Road there's a big middle-eastern community. Some fantastic kebab restaurants, and you can sit out and smoke a 'hookah' pipe. (Walk North from Marble Arch station towards Edgeware Road station)
By Queensway tube is a great restaurant district (some good Japanese and Chinese food - I like 'The Magic Wok' - the guy running it is really friendly). The Whiteleys centre is there, which contains a good multiplex cinema.
Down in the centre of the West End is China Town. There's a small cafe down one of the back streets called 'The C and R Cafe' which sells brilliant cheap Singapore/Malaysian food. The Roti Canai is fantastic (flat breads with tasty gravy to dip). I also like the Nasai Lamak ( http://www.london-eating.co.uk/5970.htm )
South from Kings Cross down Judd Street is a great pub - the Lamb (probably 15 minutes walk) http://fancyapint.com/pubs/pub77.html
 
Belgo in Covent Garden is a really great, reasonably priced restaurant...and I would recommend you go to Camden Market on a Sunday if possible :)
 
I'll agree with everyone who's suggested Wagamamas and Gourmet Burger Kitchen - I ate at both while in London a few months ago, both were good and cheap (well by London standards anyway).

I personally wouldn't bother with the tourist buses...they're slow and the info wasn't all that interesting. You're much better off just walking around and catching the Tube.

We took a boat down the Thames to Greenwhich which was really nice, especially on the way back as the sun was setting. While there go for a walk to the observatory - the park is really nice.
 
For museums and galleries there's:
British Museum
Science Museum
Natural History
V&A
British Library
Tate Gallery & Tate Britain
National Portrait Gallery
National Gallery
Saatchi Gallery
Madame Tussauds
There also the London Aquarium and London Zoo.

Are all worthwhile visits. Probably couldn't do them all in 4 days (and you probably wouldn't want to spend all your time doing that) but there's something for everyone.

Also, The Science Museum, Natural History Museum and the V&A are all virtually right next to each other on Exhibition Road and can probably be visited in one day.

And The British Library is just by Kings Cross station.

Here's descptions/links/directon to many of those above.
http://www.london.gov.uk/london-life/sport-and-leisure/museums-and-galleries/museums.jsp
http://www.london.gov.uk/london-life/sport-and-leisure/museums-and-galleries/galleries.jsp
 
wow guys. you all are so helpful!

more advice than I expected. many thanks, my trip is far better off now.

woohoo to macrumors
 
You MUST take a ride on a double decker bus. You can't go to London and not ride on a double decker bus. Oh and get some kind of travel card because singles on the buses and tube is ridiculously expensive.

Oh and avoid the London Dungeons, its completely fake and boring. And unbelievably hot.

Edit: If you live in America, and you smoke, buy your cigarettes in America, unless you fancy paying 11 dollars a pack.

Other than that London rocks :)
 
nick9191 said:
You MUST take a ride on a double decker bus. You can't go to London and not ride on a double decker bus. Oh and get some kind of travel card because singles on the buses and tube is ridiculously expensive.
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I'll get in on this since I am going to London later this year. We'll be staying across from Marlborough House.

I thought I read somewhere that the red double deckers are going away and being replaced by more modern buses.

Any good restaurants to get British food? I can go down the street to get Thai, Indian, etc here in the States.
 
mac-er said:
I'll get in on this since I am going to London later this year. We'll be staying across from Marlborough House.

I thought I read somewhere that the red double deckers are going away and being replaced by more modern buses.
Click to expand...

Traditional Routemaster were removed from general service a couple of years ago. There is still a small fleet on "tourist" routes. We still have double decker busses: simply more modern, accessible ones (we also have bendy single deckers, a small fleet of hydrogen Mercedes busses and some diesel/electric hybrid single deckers). You probably want to try and get on a Routemaster one though: they are the true London bus that you can just jump off whilst it's still in motion.
 
mac-er said:
Any good restaurants to get British food? I can go down the street to get Thai, Indian, etc here in the States.
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British food? The most popular dish here is curry, and the curries here might be different from those over there. But saying that, if you crave English cooking in central London... http://www.porters.uk.com/

I have no idea what it's like, but heard some colleagues discussing it a few weeks ago.

There are also some good fish and chip shops in London if that's your thing.
http://www.timeout.com/london/restaurants/features/28.html
 
Brick Lane on a Sunday - This is a must. Bustling, hip, fun.

The Comedy Store in Picadilly Circus - Best live stand up in the world.

Turkish Food - There are many great places to go for this.

Hyde Park

British Museum - The English stole all the coolest things from around the world so how could you not want to check that out?

Apple Store on Regent Street

River Ride along the Thames

National Gallery

I could go on forever....
 
Spitalfields Market, near Liverpool Street and Brick Lane is good on a Sunday. Lots of clothes, and fancy house stuff there. And food.

Dont bother with tourist buses. Rip off. Transport for London still run a Routemasters on a couple of routes (number 15 i think). Jump on them.

The Clink Prison near Borough market is supposed to be good- far better then the London dungeon, and alot cheaper and is authentic.

Hampstead Heath is a nice Sunday activity- its a big... heath in the middle of London, with great views over London.

Brighton is a good place to go if you want to goto the beach- nice town as well, only an hour away by train. Theres also Cambridge, also an hour away by train.

Use the Transport for London site for a good guide to get about london- it'll be your friend.
 
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