Destination
London England
London
Introduction
I absolutely love this city. It’s huge, but it’s totally manageable to me for some reason. There are a ton of things to do, and like other destinations, this can be really overwhelming, so I’ll just share some of the things that we’ve done that should be on anyone’s to-do list when they visit.
Places to Stay
This is a VERY short list, so if you want more of a variety of choices, head to TripAdvisor.
Hotel Montana
When we go to London we always stay here. It’s sort of a family tradition. David’s parents decided to stay at this hotel years ago and proceeded to always stay there whenever they went to London.
This is a modest, 3-star hotel on Gloucester Road in South Kensington. In fact they have turned down the offer to be promoted to a 4-star more than once as they would prefer to be the best 3-star in London. Most rooms have private bathrooms, and the rooms are various sizes and prices. The staff is as accommodating as they can be.
Perks
- Breakfast is included, and it’s a decent breakfast (cereals, toast, fruit, yogurt, cheese, and a few more things that make it more than a simple continental breakfast) and since going out to eat is not cheap in London, the included breakfast frees up our money to spend on other things. The breakfast area converts to an Indian restaurant in the evenings, which has amazing Indian food. The restaurant and the hotel are owned by the same family.
- The location is hard to beat. Gloucester Road is in South Kensington, which is a district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London. I’ll get to that in a bit.
- The security. You have to get past the front desk to enter the stairs that lead to the rooms, and your room key is always with the front desk when you leave the building. The neighborhood is quiet and safe. You can also leave your luggage in the lobby if your cab drops you off and the room isn’t ready. The lobby is cozy and your luggage will be safe.
About Gloucester Road/South Kensington
There’s more than one decent hotel in this area, of course. This is why I love staying in this district, particularly on Gloucester Road:
- It’s in the smallest borough in London, which makes it manageable for us because it’s not insanely huge and intimidating.
- It’s a nice area. The whole borough is lovely and includes affluent (and, thanks to movies, kind of familiar) areas such as Notting Hill, Chelsea, and Knightsbridge.
- It’s convenient. The Gloucester Road Tube Station is less than a block from our hotel,, which connects to 2 lines: the District Line and the Circle Line (both of these lines go to many of the places I’ll mention in the Things to Do section; it’s a very good station). The station itself is next to a Boots pharmacy (one of my favorite drugstores ever), a nice grocery store, an outdoor florist, and a restaurant called Garfunkel’s that we like. You can also stop by a grab-and-go place to get a sandwich or a drink as you walk in the station..The area is pedestrian-friendly (just be sure to LOOK RIGHT before you cross a typical street or a car that’s turning left at a red light could smack you)
Shops and stops along Gloucester Road
Here are a few places we love that are literally steps away from our hotel:
- Tesco mini grocery (there are several self-serve checkouts but the staff is helpful if you have trouble). They have fresh bread, bottled water, to-go food items, and other things that make this a step up from the average American convenience store.
- Pret A Manger – a great little ready-made fresh sandwich shop that also has breakfast items, salads, coffee, and bottled drinks. Grab what you want and pay at the counter. Everything is freshly made and they have vegetarian options. There are Prets throughout the city.
- Starbucks – this is right across the street from the Tube station. They have a slightly different menu (you won’t likely find the sugar-free options that you see at American Starbucks, and the food options are a little more British) but we like Starbucks in the UK just fine. Plus you can get a Starbucks card with Union Jack flags and stuff and have it activated there so you can have a fun souvenir that you can use when you get home.
- Da Mario Italian restaurant – This is a top-rated Italian restaurant a couple of blocks from the Gloucester Road Tube station. They can accommodate large parties. The food is very, very good. Online reviewers love the place too.
- Bliss Pharmacy – This is a little pharmacy that not only has a pharmacy and the obligatory medicines and the like, it has a very good assortment of hair and skin care products that are hard to find in the States. You can find brands like Caudalie and Givenchy makeup and Bliss is honestly a little paradise for people like me who love French and UK brands. One thing though: it’s a bit pricey.
- PAUL Bakery – This is a great bakery franchise that you can find here and there in London
- Hereford Arms – Great little comfy pub and restaurant on Gloucester. Everything I’ve had here is awesome. Don’t let what you’ve heard about British food scare you off. The Hereford Arms is a great neighborhood place, and you’ll often see people gathered here after work, enjoying a beer and each others’ company. Reservations are allowed and encouraged.
- Waitrose – This is actually called Little Waitrose because it’s not a huge grocery. It’s in the Gloucester Tube Station area (the “Arcade”) and is about the size of the average Fresh Market. It’s got the usual stuff you’d find at most supermarkets, as well as fresh bread and lots of to-go items. This is where we pick up scones, British candy and chips (“crisps”, actually – Walker’s is my favorite brand) and
perishables that we can keep in our hotel room’s fridge. One thing: bags are 15 pence each, so you might want to bring reusable bags with you to shop. Also, you bag your own groceries. No baggers. - Boots Pharmacy – I’m actually obsessed with Boots. They’re all over the place, actually, so you’ll see the throughout London. This one is in the Gloucester Arcade near the Waitrose. They have lots of great skin care and makeup items that aren’t easy to get in the US. Also, and I know this from experience, they have really good cold meds like cough syrup (kinds for “tickly coughs” and kinds for “chesty coughs”, which I find delightful), and some of their meds, like Mucinex and acetaminophen, are called guaifenesin and paracetamol. And bring your own Sudafed because it’s probably more strict in the UK than it is in the US.
- Garfunkel’s – Also in the Gloucester Arcade, Garfunkel’s is a great franchise, in my opinion. It’s got British classics, like shepherd’s pie and fish & chips, but it also has burgers and other familiar-to-Americans stuff. You can make reservations here as well.
- Pizza Express – This is located on Cromwell, literally just around the corner from the Montana Hotel. We went here when it was newly opened and it was great. Pizza Express is part of a chain. We really liked it. The prices weren’t crazy expensive either.
Things To Do
Like all big cities, there are so many things to do that it can be frustrating, because you can’t do everything. I’ll list some of the highlights from our London travels that we feel need to be added to most everyone’s to-do lists. My advice is this: if you plan on going to several museums or other attractions that usually take up a good bit of time, don’t do more than two a day. You’ll end up frustrated and will barely remember your visit.
Featured Activity - British Museum
If you can go to only one museum in London, go to the British Museum. As with the V&A, you need to plan on spending AT LEAST half a day here. This is where the Rosetta Stone is (there are always crowds of people around it but it’s not as bad as the Mona Lisa at The Louvre), and there are so many artifacts from Rome, ancient Egypt, Greece, Macedonia, and other places around the world, that it is astounding. There are several floors, and it’s very well-organized. If you are a museum lover, this is your place. Make this a priority during one of the days you are in London. It has a lovely, large food court with very good food, including pastries, salads, and tea/coffee. You can totally have a lovely lunch or tea here.
Featured Activity - London Eye
I’ve been on The London Eye at least four times. It’s worth the ticket price in our opinion. Book online in advance and save up to 15%. We always go around sunset so we can see the city as the sun is going down. Be sure to ask about their guaranteed entry with a time slot near sunset so you can enjoy the sunset during your experience. It’s a wonderful view. Next door is Madame Tussauds Wax Museum and if you’d like to do both, package rates are available. We haven’t been to the wax museum so you may want to read reviews if you’re not sure about going.
Buckingham Palace
Obviously. It’s not far away at all if you’re coming from the Gloucester Road tube station. Go online if you want to see if there are any events being held there or if you want to know when the changing of the guards is.
Green Park
Green Park is very close to Buckingham Palace and is one of the Royal Parks of London. In warmer weather there will be plenty of runners, people walking their dogs, people laying out in the sun or picnicking or reading. It’s a lovely place to relax and people watch. Note: there are a LOT of parks in London, so if you love parks, or being outdoors, hit up Google for some great ideas.
Virginia & Albert Museum (V&A)
The V&A, as it’s called, is HUGE. If you plan to go, plan on spending at least half a day here. I’ve been here several times when my group was in a hurry and I may as well not have gone because I was so frustrated at not being able to actually enjoy this museum. Admission is free, by the way.
Tate Modern
If you like art, particularly modern art, head over to the Tate Modern. It’s a nice walk across the Millennium Bridge to get there (unless it’s raining, and then you just have to suck it up). Admission is free. I like it but I’m artsy. If modern art is too much for your brain, head elsewhere.
Imperial War Museum
If you are a history buff, especially military history buff, or if you have kids who love looking at old tanks and bombers, this is your place to go. The Imperial War Museum website actually has several locations; we went to the one in London. Admission is free.
Before I overwhelm myself by trying to reinvent the wheel by making this giant list, I thought I’d provide a link from visitlondon.com to the top free museums in London. The city is flooded with free things to see, so take advantage.
West End shows
There is some AMAZING theatre in London’s West End (go here for a brief explanation of London’s West End as compared to NYC’s Broadway). Shows change regularly, so do your research ahead of time and order tickets in advance.
West End can be reached via Tube off Gloucester Road, if you’re staying in that area. Many shows are held in very old theatres, so the interiors themselves, with their grand auditoriums and velvet seats, are delightful.
They usually have 15-minute intermissions with ice cream available for purchase (at a premium, so bring cash). Bars and snacks are available in the theatres.
Restrooms are usually small and not abundant, so my advice is to not drink a lot of anything a couple of hours before a show, particularly alcohol. The last thing you want to do is to have to get up and try to squeeze in front of 12 people as you move from the middle row to the aisle to find a bathroom. One show to consider is the classic play Mousetrap. Boasted as the world’s longest-running show, it’s in a very small theatre, so book your spots early.
Harrods
Plan on spending some serious money if you want to shop at Harrods. It’s absolutely huge and has the top designer brands. If nothing else, go to the famous food hall and buy something there, at least a scone or other bakery item. There are plenty of souvenirs you can get at Harrods that won’t break the bank, like an umbrella or mug, so not everything costs hundreds of pounds. I bought some luxury socks there once and was happy just carrying around my Harrods bag for all to see.
Big Ben & Parliament
This is not far from the London Eye and is always a great photo op. We got tickets to tour the Houses of Parliament and it was interesting but not an absolute must-see for me.
Tower of London & Tower Bridge
This is definitely a must-see on my list. There are several ways to visit Tower of London and different price points depending on your budget and what you want to see. If you want to see the Crown Jewel collection, that’s a separate price than the general admission ticket. While you’re in the Tower of London area, Tower Bridge is right there so you may as well go. All we did was go on the bridge and take pictures, so I don’t have any info on booking tickets.
Camden Town
Camden Town, also called Camden, is a district of northwest London that is famous for its shopping market area. It’s super fun to visit and go shopping; there are vintage shops, cheap souvenir stands, food market areas, street food vendors, shops and restaurants in buildings, and an area called The Stables that has hundreds of shops and vendors (the link in my first sentence has more details). If you love clubs and festivals and neon everything, don’t miss Cyberdog. No pics allowed once you’re inside that shop. If you plan on going to Camden, plan on spending several hours here. By the way, keep an open mind if you’re on the conservative side. You’ll see lots of piercings and tattoos and other things that you might not be used to seeing.
Piccadilly Circus
Piccadilly Circus is an awesome area in London. Some of the major shopping districts are around the area, and events are often there. It’s basically the junction of 5 major London streets and is very popular with locals and tourists alike.
M&Ms World London
DO NOT MISS THIS IF YOU HAVE KIDS. They will hate you forever if you take your kids and then they find out years later that you didn’t take them to M&M’s World. It’s basically a big store in Leicester Square, not far from Piccadilly Circus. Keep in mind that you’ll have to leave with something you bought there or you may as well have not taken the kids there and their childhood might just be ruined. If nothing else, just buy some M&Ms from the rainbow-colored bulk bins lining the walls and take some selfies with the giant M&M figures.
The Lego Store
Again. DO NOT MISS THIS IF YOU HAVE KIDS. When it opened in 2016 it was the world’s biggest Lego store. There are buildings and people and a life size Tube train car made of Legos. When we went there was a classic red phone booth made of Legos. Just the photo ops are a reason to go. Unlike M&Ms World, we didn’t risk damaging our relationship with our kids when we walked out of there without having bought Legos. There are too many awesome distractions – including kid-sized stations where you can build things from Legos – to worry with purchasing Lego products if it’s not really in your budget. Even if you don’t have kids with you, it’s a fun place to stop by and look around.
Dole Plantation
If you can’t get enough of pineapples, this should go on your must-do list. The Dole Plantation is in Honolulu County, which is about 25 miles from Waikiki. It’s often on the itinerary on tours, but plenty of people go here on their own and take tours of the plantation (the train tour is fun for kids to do). You can find plenty of reviews online, so you can decide if it’s worth the trip.
Shopping
Shopping districts and malls
There are so many shopping options in Hawaii that we could make a whole website dedicated just to that. In Waikiki, the streets are loaded with stores and outdoor shopping areas. You’ll see everything from H&M and Urban Outfitters to Louis Vuitton and Prada stores. There is also a huge mall in Honolulu, Ala Moana Center, that has hundreds of stores, in case you really want to get your shop on. There’s also a HUGE Ross store in Waikiki, and I found an amazing pair of UGG boots in a Marshall’s, also in Waikiki.
Farmers Markets
I really love going to the outdoor farmers’ markets in Waikiki (we’ve also been to one in Kona that is amazing). The Waikiki Farmer’s Market is just one of them (located on 2424 Kalakaua Avenue) and has fresh fruit and vegetables, breads, to-go smoothies and parfaits and fruit cups, and other fresh items that we don’t normally see at home. This particular market isn’t open every day, but you can Google it to see when it’s open.
ABC Stores
There are over 50 ABC convenience stores in the state of Hawaii, and I swear every one of them is in Honolulu because it seems like there is one on every corner. These are really great. You can get all kinds of souvenirs there, as well as hot and cold to-go food (I’ve actually had sushi from an ABC store and it wasn’t bad!), sunscreen and beach supplies, alcohol, and Japanese skin care items that I always wonder about but am scared to get because I can’t read Japanese.
North Shore village
North Shore village, also known as Haleiwa, is the definitive surfers paradise. If you rent a car while in Oahu, take a drive to the North Shore and you’ll not only see some great scenery (and the surfing is amazing if you’re rather advanced), there’s a wonderful area that has fun little shops.
Transportation
My advice on transportation in Hawaii is limited, because we don’t rent a car when we go to Hawaii. We stay in places that have everything possible within walking distance or are a relatively short bus ride away.
Take The Bus
Hawaii has great bus systems in our experience (and a lot of online reviews agree). We’ve taken buses in Maui (to Big Beach/Little Beach) and Oahu. Day passes are very reasonable. The main downside is that it can take a while to get to your destination (for example, if a place is 20 minutes away by car, it could take an hour by bus).
Use a car-sharing service
There is a “car sharing” option called Turo, where you basically rent a local’s car for a specified duration, and the fees are based in part on make/model/year. It can be a better option than using a rental company, but reading reviews are helpful.
Car rentals
I was told by a local that Hertz had the best rates in Waikiki, but you may want to research rental companies and see if you really need one during your stay. Parking can be very limited and quite expensive. We purposely stay in areas that are pedestrian-friendly to avoid needing a vehicle.
There's always Taxis and Uber
I will admit that we haven’t used Uber in Hawaii and only used Taxis to get to and from the airport. We checked out the prices and decided that for our purposes it was better to bus it when needed.
Good Eats
A lot of tourists will go to a bar, like Margaritaville, during an afternoon off-resort, down a bunch of margaritas or Red Stripes, and then decide to go shopping because they don’t have a care in the world. First of all, if you’re staying at an all-inclusive resort, you can limit the alcohol when you’re off the resort, since drinks almost always add up to a big tab at the end (by the way, you need to be somewhat sober to make sure that the tab is correct, because even bartenders at home can add an extra drink or two to your bill and figure you won’t notice). Then, if you’re sloshed and make the brilliant decision to look in a few stores, you’ll likely end up either buying a lot of crap you don’t need, you’ll pay full price for items that you may have been able to negotiate for a lower price had you been sober, and, worst case, you could get pickpocketed or mugged by someone who decided to take advantage of your inebriation.
Banan
If you love bananas, and you love ice cream, and you’re anywhere close to Waikiki, you have to go to Banan. They make dairy free, straight up banana ice cream (I make it at home with a food processor and frozen bananas and it’s amazing) and you can pick assorted toppings and the like. There are 2 locations, one of which is basically on the beach between hotels. It’s not cheap (prepare to spend around $9 per bowl on average) but it is SO worth it.
Duke's
If you want a lovely sunset dinner, or just dinner in general at a great beachfront restaurant, head over to Duke’s in Waikiki. If you want to sit outside so you can get a view of the sunset (check the time of when sunset should be during the time you’ll be in Hawaii), make reservations well in advance. You should be able to make reservations up to about 3 months in advance. Duke’s has an AMAZING huge salad bar that you can have as a one-trip visit or have it as your meal. The seafood and presentation are outstanding. Prices are what you’d expect at a beachfront restaurant in Hawaii but if you’re going to Hawaii you know you’ll be dropping some decent dough. This place is worth it. (Hint: if you’re a guy and want to impress your significant other, bring some extra cash for a freshly made lei that you can usually find just outside the main dining room. They are gorgeous and smell wonderful). Also, GET THE HULA PIE for dessert. It’s huge and freaking awesome.
Eggs ‘N’ Things
This place is outstanding. There are 2 locations (website here) and the last time we were in Waikiki we went there for breakfast literally every morning. Our Aston Circle Hotel room key got us 10% off our bill. The one on the beach usually has VERY long queues but the restaurant knows what it’s doing so you don’t wait for terribly long and I’m telling you IT’S WORTH THE WAIT. They hand out menus in English and Japanese to everyone, and you place your order when you get to the front and pay before you get seated. We always got there early – around 7 or so – which was easy because of the time change. If nothing else, order the macadamia nut pancakes. If you feel adventurous, order the Spam and eggs, which is a Hawaii tradition (it also comes with a side of rice, which may be weird to Americans, but I love trying new things and really liked it)
Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck
Located on the North Shore, this whole area is actually amazing. Google it to find exactly how to get there. This is not easy to get to if you are staying in Waikiki as we do, so we planned a day trip to the north shore. You’ll find other food stands and food trucks and everything we had there, particularly this place and grilled corn, was AMAZING.
Hard Rock Cafe
The Hard Rock Cafe in Honolulu is right there in Waikiki. It’s in a great location – we like to go shopping before and after eating here – and the dining area is big and breezy. The food is always good and service is fine. It’s a typical Hard Rock franchise-y atmosphere, which turns some people off, so you may want to check out reviews online before you make plans to go.
Jamba Juice
We don’t have a Jamba Juice near us in Florida, but there’s one a block away from our hotel. They have great smoothies and if you like chewy oatmeal cookies, try their Oaties. Not many Jamba Juices have those and I love them.
Maui Brewing Company
Maui Brewing Company has locations on Oahu and Maui. The one we went to is in the heart of Waikiki, by the Beachcomber Resort on the main strip (Kalakaua Avenue). It’s also huge. HUGE. We were very impressed when we went. They have a giant selection of craft beers, and the menu has a lot of options without overwhelming you with choices. We really liked the ambiance and personality of the staff. The food is great too. It’s a casual atmosphere that often has live music, so it’s pretty much a guaranteed good time.
Rock Island Cafe
If you’re into a retro diner feel, THIS is the place to go. The Rock Island Cafe is just a block or two from the main drag in Waikiki and is just adorable. The place is decorated with vintage dining tables and booths and has all kinds of pop culture memorabilia, as well as a jukebox and TVs playing old commercials and sitcom reruns. The food is great, but keep in mind that if you’re looking for healthy stuff, you won’t really find it. They have loads of different burgers and hot dogs, and you HAVE to order one of their milkshakes, which are made and served the old fashioned way. The staff are dressed in vintage-style diner uniforms, which add to the totally retro feel. There are also really cool and unique vintage things for sale (some of it is really expensive but it’s all fun to look at). We go at least once every time we stay in Waikiki. Bonus: there is a farmer’s market right in front of the cafe on some days, so you can grab some fruit or something to take back to the hotel room.
Hawaii On A Budget
We spend money where we feel it counts, but we don’t splurge on every single thing possible. It’s not all-or-nothing; we just choose wisely when it comes to a few things that we know can easily add up. Here are a few tips:
Pick a hotel that has a fridge in rooms
Look on the hotel website or ask the staff when booking your hotel reservation. Not every hotel offers this. We find it totally necessary because we get a lot of fruit and other perishables at farmers markets and grocery stores, which saves us money because we aren’t constantly eating out.
Pack your favorite snacks in your luggage
I pack boxes of my favorite crackers, raw almonds, and other lightweight non-perishables because if I wanted to buy the same things once I got to Hawaii I’d pay a good bit more. Everything in Hawaii is more expensive since most everything is imported and because it’s so touristy. If you love Chips Ahoy and can’t live without them, consider packing a box in your luggage instead of buying them locally, and then you’ll later have that room in your suitcase for souvenirs.
Get sunscreen before you go to Hawaii
We always pack at least 5 spray cans of high-SPF sport sunscreen because, again, everything in Hawaii is so expensive. I also take a jar of clear zinc for when we are at the beach, particularly surfing. I swear by the stuff. And it’s way cheaper to bring it from home.
Find a grocery store or food market within walking distance
We go to the Food Pantry to grab bottled water and snacks. It’s a small grocery store (the one we go to is in Waikiki, a few blocks from our hotel) that also has takeout and a coffee place. We’d rather get stuff there than at a pricier convenience store.
Go to Ross before you hit the surf shops
You might be surprised at the brands you’ll find there. The enormous Ross in Waikiki has a lot of the same brands as the myriad of surf shops – Billabong, Hurley, RVCA, etc – and you can pick up less pricey souvenirs here as well. We’ve also gotten cheap sunglasses (that had UV protection) to wear when surfing so our Oakleys wouldn’t be in danger (I lost a pair of Oakleys a few years ago while bodysurfing). It’s a very good option when you have kids. If anyone needs a rashguard, try Ross first unless you plan on paying full price at one of the surf shops.
Hawaii Photo Gallery
