"Welcome to our curated list of recommendations for traveling and dining in London. These suggestions have been gathered from our personal networks. While these recommendations are not personally vetted by us, they come highly recommended by those within our network. Please feel free to add your own favourite spots or share any updates in the comments section below. If you come across any information that may have changed, such as closures or updated details, we would greatly appreciate your feedback. Let's build a community-sourced guide to ensure that everyone can enjoy the best of what London has to offer." Marco van Embden, Cape Town
1. Events Company & Tour Operator Recommendations
- Banana Split
Contact: Julian Posner
E: julian@banana-split.com
T: +44 7831 120000 Diana Findlay
E: diana@dianafindlay.com
T: +44 7734 681428
“Diana is self employed and is very creative and has done lots of Fashion Shows etc. Banana Split is one of the top 10 London event organisers and will do a professional, high-end job. We were pleased with both events.”- Dr Lawrence Owens London Tours
Lawrence Owens - his assistant Lisa was very prompt and her responses - lisaj0030@yahoo.com
"Best kids tour guide. Please know he is politically incorrect, blunt (in a way kids love), talks about bodily movements etc but all the while teaching." Art & History Museum Tour Guide in London, UK
Glynnis – daughter of a YPOer
Email: glynnisstevenson@gmail.com
"If you are seeking a custom tour, with many entertaining moments for you or your children, you won't be disappointed. A tour with Glynnis will "spoil you" as you'll get history, politics, art provenance and more, all rolled into one. She can suggest museums based on your interest or meet you at your favorite locations. She requests 50 Pounds cash per hour, with a 2 hour minimum; advance reservations are strongly suggested. Numerous YPO client references are available upon request."- Driver Contact in the UK
Aleksandar Uk Driver
+44 7889 690338
Index
2. Dining Recommendations
- Amaya – “my wife and I had a fabulous meal there”
- Amaya on Motcomb for Indian
- Aqua Kyoto
- Balthazar in Covent Garden
- Barrafina Dean Street
- Berenjak Soho – Persian Cuisine
- Bibi, Mayfair - They got no.1 restaurant from Squaremeal last year. Also very kid-friendly as my kids age 9,7 can dine at the restaurant.
- Bocco di Lupo
- Burger and Lobster Soho
- Busaba
- Chiltern Firehouse
- Circus
- The Cocochine - Mayfair
- The Devonshire - Soho
- Dhamaka Restaurant, its a new restaurant by Chef Chitan Pandey.
- Dishoom Carnaby – Indian Restaurant
- The Dover - Mayfair
- Dukes Bar in the Dukes Hotel is the home of the Vesper Martini made famous by James Bond. Old School cocktail bar. The drinks are mixed tableside. Great atmosphere and experience.
- Goodman Restaurant Steaks
- Hakkasan Mayfair
- Hoppers London
- Child-Friendly Restaurants in London
- Ottolenghi
- Jealous Gallery
- Josephine - Chelsea
- Kulu Kulu Sushi on Brewer St
- L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon
- La Petite Maison
- SUSHISAMBA in herons gate tower nice views from rooftop bar – for drinks and light bites
- Mimosa - Maryleborne
- Mildreds – vegan Restaurant
- Min Jiang
- My go to lunch (dinner as well) spots are The Colbert Chelsea on Sloan square; Sexy Fish (although they now have an outpost in Miami.
- Kids Afternoon Tea
- Palomar Restaurant
- Park Chinois
- Patara
- Riding House Fitzrovia, 43-51 Great Titchfield St., London W1W 7PQ
- Sale e Pepe - Knightsbridge
- Scott’s Mayfair – “Another of my can’t miss or go wrong. Fresh Seafood, always a great crowd and vibe”
- Seven Dials Market
- Soho House 76 Dean Street
- Sticks 'n Sushi
- Suzy’s London List
- Tamarind
- The Big Mamma Group has lots of options
- The Ivy
- The Ledbury
- The MAINE Mayfair Restaurant & Bar
- The Wolsley – “for breakfast (lunch and dinner as well), it’s a sister to The Colbert.”
- Tonkotsu Soho
- Yauatcha Soho
- Zaika of Kensington is my favourite one
- Zuma
Indian & Asian-fusion Restaurants:
- Annabelle
- Arts club
- Bacchanalia
- Benaras
- Bombay Brasserie
- Bombay Bustle on Maddox is very good (too)
- Breakfast at Aubaine
- Breakfast at Prada
- Cicchetti
- Cecconi's
- China Tang
- Cipriani
- Chutney Mary (in St James)
- Dishoom
- Fatt Pundit - Casual
- Gymkhana
- Roti Chai
- Ivy Asia
- Jamavar in Maddox Street in Mayfair
- Kahani - fine dining
- Kanishka in Maddox Street is excellent.
- Kutir
- Les portes Des Indes
- Masala Zone
- a new, casual Punjabi restaurant “Madhu’s” at Dilly Hotel on Piccadilly.
- Mint Leaf of london
- Novikov
- Punjab - They don't take reservations, and the wait is usually 10-15min
- Saravanaa Bhavan- Simple South Indian
- Sexy Fish
- Sketch
- Trishna has amazing food
- Veeraswamy at 99 Regent Street is fantastic. This is over 90 years old first Indian well appointed Restaurant in London.
3. Activities Recommendations
- iFly Experience at O2 – do the VR version Joanne Smollan
- Secret London Exhibitions
- Visit London – Things to Do
- Dopamine Land
- Crown to Couture
- Battersea Power Station
- The Shard for High Tea
- Kidzania
- Horse Riding in Hyde Park: Ross Nye Stables OR Hyde Park Stables
- Clip 'n Climb Chelsea, 19 Michael Rd, London SW6 2EJ
- Market Portobello Rd
- Karaoke
- The Royal Mews
- Vangogh Expo
- Tower of London City Tour
- Beyond the Streets of London Exhibition
- Saatchi Galler, Duke of York's HQ, King's Rd, London SW3 4RY
- Design museum if they have a good exhibit
- Harry Potter. 45-minute drive out.
- Portobello Road in Notting Hill – market on a Saturday.
- Westend Theatre Backstage Tours
- London Theatre – Eight backstage theatre tours
- Covent Garden - good shops for browsing and coffees etc
- Selfridges - a decent retail experience and YPO owned rooftop Italian restaurant Alto
- Notting Hill - regular boutiques, vintage and antiques - more me than her - but good if you’ve both seen the film.
- Globe theatre (Shakespeare) on the Southbank
- Southbank is good to wonder - street entertainers along the riverbank.
- Bike tour - they take you to B Palace/ Westminster/ near No10 etc.
- Speed boat tour - Adrenalin ride from Embankment, close by is the Savoy where you could have afternoon tea (or Fortnum and Mason or Claridges or The Ritz)
- Theatre: West End show. We haven’t seen Moulin Rouge yet but meant to be great.
Plays
- Akram Khan Company Jungle Book - London Theatre
- The Play that Goes Wrong – London Theatre
- Harry Potter
- Sadler Wells is great (also plays) – night at the Kavuki. Workshop theatre next to the primary theatre – can watch a work in progress. Off site stuff of Sadler Wells.
- Mamma Mia
- Frozen
- Abba experience (concert), And if you can get to Annabel’s (private club) is amazing
4. Accommodation Recommendations
- Grosverner House Suites
- Arlington House
- Metropolitan Apartments
- Ham Yard
- The Dorchester
- The Savoy London is beautiful and their service is excellent. Might want to do afternoon tea.
5. Casey's Recommendations with an 8-year-old in 2023
- Can use credit card for tubes, but need a credit card per person so for families it is better to get an oyster card
- Set up apple pay on your phone – so useful and everyone works this way
- Not a lot of people took cash
- Don’t do more than one museum a day
- Book as much as you can in advance and book fast track wherever possible
- Take an afternoon off if with kids and just go see a movie or go to a spa for a kids manicure (Browns Hotel takes young kids) Selfridges has a great movie theatre
- Plot what you want to do on Google maps so you can make sure you collect things together which are in the same area as this will mean you can fit more in a day with less travelling around.
- Make sure we have nice walking shoes
- Take an umbrella as it rains all the time
AREA 1:
Marylebone:
“This is where we stayed and it was great – central and lovely walks. We did always have about a 10 min walk to the tube”
- Madame Tussauds - Book in advance fast-track tickets
- Walk through Marylebone down to Oxford Street. Great shops in Marylebone. Caroline Gardner.
- Ortigia – nice gifts
- Charity store: Barnardo's, 7 George St, London W1U 3QH, United Kingdom
- Daunt Book Store. 84 Marylebone High St
- Monocle pop up shop and café for great coffee
Lunch options:
- Paul Rothe & Son: 35 Marylebone Lane
- The grazing Foat, 6 New Quebec St
- La Fromagerie French and elevated and divine – in Marylebone
- ROKA Mayfair, 30 N Audley St, London W1K 6ZF, United Kingdom
- Liberty and walk down Carnaby street. 3/4 down the road to your right you will see a square with loads of nice places to eat. Walk in - no need to book
Oxford Street:
- Shops: Paper chase stationary store, Nike town, Selfridges, Uniqlo, Disney Store…
- Twist Museum, 248 Oxford St, London W1C 1DH, United Kingdom
Dinner:
- Lina Stores Italian Restaurant & Deli Marylebone
- Time Out’s Best London Restaurants
- LondonXLondon’s Best Restaurants in Marylebone
AREA 2:
Covent Garden:
Hop on Hop off open roof bus:
- Do the central short route on a hop-on hop-off bus. It did get a bit boring and the northern part of London is very boring. Stick to around the river with the main sites.
- Stop to watch the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace. IDEAL: book a private guided tour – there are some great walking tours online
- Book tickets and fast track in advance for a tour of Tower of London – if kids are old enough, do the Gunpowder Plot Immersive experience
- If you do not do the Gun Powder Immersive experience, you can combine the above with Covent Garden area.
Restaurants:
- Ave Mario - Henrietta Street
- Seven Dials Market
- Galatorino for great gelato
Dinner:
- There are loads of options, but a great simple sushi restaurant: Kula kula on brewer st
- China Town is also a great place to go for dinner. There are loads of restaurants to choose from.
- Mamasons has amazing ice cream buns
Activities:
- The behind the scenes tour of the Royal Opera House was great. Very interesting and great guide. Could get a little boring at the beginning for young kids, but it is only an hour and a half.
The Royal Opera House does tours - Go to the theatre – Matilda, Lion King, Hamilton, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. There are so many!
Shops:
- Famous ballet store: BLOCH® Store London, 69-71 Monmouth St, London WC2H 9DG
- Covent Garden Market
Area 3:
Sky Garden
Lunch:
- Borough Market
- Eat at the stalls - Pasta, Tacos, Asian… so many options. It gets very busy on weekends so go early and maybe swop with the Tate.
Activities:
- Tate Modern – must book in advance for the Infinity Rooms exhibition, Korean Wave Pop Culture exhibition
- Walk along the Themes to the London Eye (book in advance)
AREA 4: South West London
Morning:
- Frameless Immersive Art Experience, 6, Marble Arch Place
- Walk or rent bikes through Hyde Park to Knightsbridge.
- Go past Harrods, can have lunch here.
Afternoon: Museum afternoon (suggest choose one):
- Natural history
- Science Museum – must get tickets for the top floor
- Victoria and Albert Museum - Book a hint hunt at the V&A with kids as it makes it a much more fun experience for them. Booking tbc
- That Muse
High Tea:
- Science Afternoon Tea at The Drawing Rooms. The Ampersand Hotel
- Kensington Palace Gardens for High Tea
Area 5:
- Camden Market
- Hansel & Grettle Unit 91, Camden Market (North Yard)
- Babylon Park London, 8 Castlehaven Rd, London NW1 8QU
- David Hockey Lightroom, 12, Lewis Cubitt Square, London N1C 4DY
- Lunch: Coal Office Restaurant, 2 Bagley Walk, London N1C 4PQ
- The Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9¾, London N1 9AP
For more information, feel free to contact Casey by email casey@tasafaris.com or Connect with Casey on LinkedIn