Big cities are often choose-your-own-adventure cities, but London, to me, has always been an eat, drink, and wander city.
I hit all the tourist sights that I cared about ten years ago, and that gives me time to just… enjoy being there. (Which I can only justify because I stay in a Kindred for a fraction of the cost.)
I think it’s easy for a certain type of traveler to write off London as overrated and touristy, or ‘too easy’ because it’s English-speaking and not all that different from other Western countries. But London always hits for me.
Sure, they have good museums (because they’ve stolen art and artifacts from nearly everyone), but it’s also just what I want a city to be. Big, diverse, full of cultural enclaves that give you a different vibe at every other train stop. A never-ending list of places to explore.
And then there’s the food.
London has one of the most diverse food scenes in the world. In my first week alone, I had Indian, Uzbek, Nepalese, Thai, New York-style bagels, fish & chips… and a hell of a lot of cocktails.
London is the cocktail capital of Europe—and unarguably where all the trends and spirits hit first before moving east.
I remember a Czech woman once said to me about Europe, something along the lines of, “The further you get from Germany, the more lax people are about time,” and it’s stuck with me all these years later because it’s so true. (Prague? On time. Spain? See you when I see you.)
This is also how I think of Europe’s bar scene. London has the best spirits, the best talent, and the best execution. The further away you get from the city, the harder it is to find a good drink or bar that’s not just a one-off.
And for all these reasons, I’ll continue to pay a lot of money to eat, drink, and wander around in London.
I made a Where to Drink in London list after last year’s trip, and have updated it to reflect some new favorites.
London is a sprawling city where it takes 45 minutes to get just about anywhere, so it’s broken up by area: central, east, west, and south London. There are favorite bars for each neighborhood. Plus, some pro tips and links to my Google Maps.
If you’ve got any friends planning a London trip, send it their way!
Up next: A winding journey around Scotland to visit its best distilleries.
I’ve already started the trip, and am actually writing this from a little island off the coast. Specifically, an empty pub on said tiny island.
It was the only place within walking distance that was open for breakfast, and, when I finished, I asked if I could pull out my laptop and stay for a bit. He said, “Sure, stay as long as you like. I’m just gonna close up around ya.”
And that, my friends, is how I ended up sitting in an unlocked pub with my laptop and a French press.
