By: Jeannie D
There’s a famous saying that if you’re tired of London, you’re tired of life and I couldn’t agree more. Simply put, after years of commuting between my home in Cape Town and various press junkets in London, I still think it this the capital of the world for immersive art, culture, food, design, history, and fun.
I’ve listed my top-rated recommendations for the most #jeannieous places to Stay, Eat, Do and Shop in London below, so you can spend less time planning, and more time enjoying, your trip.
Whenever I travel, I use my Shyft Global card to transact in the currency of the country I’m travelling in, at the cheapest forex rates. Even better, it works like a debit card so I never spend more than my budgeted amount. Now that’s what I call a #jeannieous solution. Get yours by downloading the app today.
STAY: London is full of fantastic hotels so for the sake of brevity, I’ve only included my three favourites:
The Langham: Believe it or not, I lived in this grand dame of a hotel for almost a month after COVID, and when I visited in April, some of the staff still remembered me! Truly incredible service. Their new restaurant, Mimosa, is a haven of pink deliciousness. I spent a cold afternoon cosily cocooned in a both doing Jeannieous business meetings and it was absolute heaven.
The Hoxton, Shoreditch All the Hoxton hotels are good but this is the original, located in the heart of gritty, graffitied East London, close to the vintage markets of Brick Lane, the food market and boutiques at Spitalfields, and, of course, some of the funnest brunch and late-night party spots. Get work done in the hotel’s trendy lounge space before meeting up with friends and enjoying a cocktail, or many, in the stylish hotel bar.
Melia White House: I booked in over the London Marathon weekend (no, I wasn’t running, don’t be mad) and was so pleased with its location as it’s situated on the corner of beautiful Regent’s Park and a short walk from the boutiques in Marylebone and restaurants in Fitzrovia. Thanks to a recent renovation, the hotel has been restored to its original art deco beauty, and is elegant and classy, just the way I like it.
EAT: These culinary hotspots are my top-rated favourites but a word of warning: book well in advance to avoid disappointment.
Afternoon Tea at Ivy Asia: Always a treat, as much thanks to the delicious Asian teatime treats, like sushi, spring rolls and candy-floss lollypops, served on a three-tiered cake stand, as the theatrical decor, which includes a back-lit, green gemstone floor, indoor cherry blossoms and mirror-panelled walls. If you’re brave enough, take a peek in at the Men’s Loo to catch a glimpse of the life-sized samurai statue posing at the urinals, tee hee 🙂
Amazónico: The cuisine and decor of this Mayfair restaurant is inspired by, you guessed it, the Amazon region, and exudes tropical Latin American splendour. When you’ve finished eating the out-of-this-world tapas, sing along to the live entertainment, then head to the secret bar downstairs to see what lies beneath the waters of the Amazon…
Circolo Popolare: When you walk past this lively Sicilian trattoria in the heart of Fitzrovia, the smell of truffle engulfs you and always makes me weak at the knees. It’s very difficult to get a booking so make sure to book well in advance, then let your senses feast upon all the authentic Italian deliciousness.
Dishoom: There are seven Dishooms in London, and all pay homage to the old Irani cafés that were popular in Bombay in the 1960s, but I love the Carnaby Street one for its brunch-time bustle. Must-orders include the chilli cheese toast, the ruby chicken, paneer tikka, lamb samosas and black daal. All ridiculously good!
DO: It’s impossible to list every single thing I love to do in London but here are a few that cannot be missed.
My perfect day in London looks something like this: stopping to smell the flowers (black tulips!) in Regent’s Park on my way to Barry’s Bootcamp for a workout, then enjoying an eggroll or spicy tuna sandwich (don’t knock it till you’ve tried it) at Joe & The Juice. I’ll get my art and culture fix at the V&A (a recent highlight was the excellent architectural exhibition on Tropical Modernism) or have my mind blown at an immersive experience like Van Gogh. End the day with a theatre show: both Les Miserables and Hamilton had me in tears, and mesmerised for days afterwards!
DRINK: London must be one of the funnest cities in the world. Try these three bars for a great night out.
Ladder Shed Bar at the Chiltern Firehouse: Housed in a gothic Victorian fire station in Marylebone and refurbished into a truly magnificent boutique hotel, the Chiltern Firehouse is a favourite of many a celeb for its cosy atmosphere, cool interiors, and beautiful sprawling patio. My friend and I adored the oysters and bubbles, and finished off the evening with superb whiskey sours.
Nightjar: This speakeasy in Shoreditch serves decadent cocktails and conjures up mischievous vibes straight out of the Roaring Twenties. Find the subtly marked door, get past the suited bouncer, and walk into what could turn out to be one of the funnest nights of your life. Try the tequila-based Cantarito cocktail, which comes served in a beautiful el Día de los Muertos-themed ceramic vessel.
Brooklands Bar at the Peninsula: Truly unique, this sleek bar has a classic British aviation, motorsport, and fine craftsmanship theme, and rates its a Signature cocktails according to a Mach 1, 2 or 3 strength rating. I went with two friends and the margaritas were so good, we had far too many!
SHOP: It’s always eye-wateringly expensive to shop in Pounds when your budget is Rand-based, but even more difficult to ignore the plethora of great designs that make London an iconic shopping destination. So go on, treat yourself and invest in a little something special. For my birthday this year I splurged on a stunning pair of heels from Dior.
Essentiel Antwerp: I discovered this quirky Belgian brand in Sloane Square on my last trip to London and am obsessed! I literally wanted every piece of the Summer ’24 collection – a riotous clash of happy colours and prints. So delicious! Even better, the stores are painted deliciously pink and the service is super friendly.
For swoon-worthy designer vintage, look no further than Liberty, where I often spend hours oohing and aahing at the insane Chanel accessories and delectable designer treasures on display. Then follow your nose to the Lower Ground Floor and get a whiff of the heady scents in the Fragrance Lounge. Talk about sensory overload; if your credit card hasn’t start panicking yet, it will right about now.
Feeling the £££ pinch? Here’s a sweet little secret… Jump on the fast train from Marylebone station to Bicester village: an open-air outlet centre showcasing leading fashion brands at up to 40% off… Did I hear you say ‘Yaaas!’? 😍 For Burberry fans staying city-side that don’t have the time to get to Bicester Village, pop past the outlet store at 29-31 Chatham Place in Hackney E9 6LP.