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Dare we call London the greatest city in the world? Well - yes, actually.
Aside from being home to some spectacular landmarks, it's also the birthplace of British culture; and whether you're on the hunt for a trending restaurant, a casual cocktail, your next concert, an Instagrammable pop-up, or best-in-class sports, you'll never be short of places to go and things to do.
In fact, we could even say there's probably too much to do, which is exactly why we've compiled a collection of our favourite spots from East to West to add to your list...
Things to do:
Discover real hidden gems at Old Spitalfields Market
Old Spitalfields Market
While Old Spitalfields Market is best known for its buzzing atmosphere and standout street food, its shopping scene is one of London's best-kept secrets.
Home to a carefully curated mix of high street favourites, independent boutiques and market stalls – 58 in total – it's a must-visit destination for fashion, beauty and unique finds, seven days a week.
Make a beeline for Mercantile, one of the market's few remaining independent fashion stores. Stocking premium European labels in limited quantities, it's the perfect place to discover a wardrobe gem you won't spot on everyone else.
Styled like a vintage boutique, it's made for leisurely rummaging through rails of Damson Madder and Stella Nova, while the knowledgeable team are always on hand to help you uncover your next forever piece.
Alongside its independent retailers, the market is also home to a host of global brands.
Browse the latest collections at Nobody's Child, or stop by the newly opened Neal's Yard Remedies, where over 40 years of expertise in natural, organic and ethically sourced botanicals are showcased through its renowned skincare range.
Whether you're on the hunt for a statement piece, a thoughtful gift or simply fancy a leisurely browse, Old Spitalfields Market is the ultimate spot for a Sunday mooch.
Find out more information here
Indulge in one of London's best spas at The Dorchester
The Dorchester Collection
London may be a bustling cultural capital, but beneath the city’s relentless pace lies a quieter world of some of the most indulgent wellness experiences around. Now, two of the world’s most luxurious names have joined forces to create one of Mayfair’s most considered new rituals: the 1931 The Dorchester Skin Caviar Ritual at The Dorchester Spa, created in partnership with La Prairie.
Named in celebration of the year both brands were founded, the 90-minute experience has been created exclusively for The Dorchester, bringing together La Prairie’s Swiss skincare expertise with the timeless elegance of the Mayfair hotel.
The ritual begins with a personalised skin assessment, followed by a choice of three sensory journeys — Lakes, Mountains or Forests — each inspired by Switzerland’s natural landscapes and brought to life through sound and scent.
Guests are then treated to a therapeutic back massage using British marble stones, a subtle nod to the materials found throughout the hotel’s interiors, before moving on to the pièce de résistance: a Skin Caviar facial designed to support the appearance of elasticity, structure and radiance with the brand's award-winning products.
The perfect afternoon wind-down.
For more information and to book, click here
Celebrate Horroween with Elrow
Drumsheds/Elrow
If you didn't need another reason to go all-out for Halloween this year, it's the first time since 2020 that it's fallen on a Saturday.
That means parties in the city are going big for the occasion, and there's one in particular that's got social media abuzz.
After a two-year hiatus, elrow's legendary Horroween festival returns to London on Saturday 31st October, bringing its signature blend of music, theatre and immersive storytelling back to Drumsheds for the biggest Halloween celebration in the city.
Welcoming 15,000 revellers to the capital's largest cultural venue, Horroween will transform Drumsheds into a sprawling cinematic world inspired by classic horror stories, where monstrous characters, roaming performers and larger-than-life theatrical installations await around every corner.
As darkness falls, ecstatic confetti showers and moments of unexpected spectacle will erupt across the venue, creating an experience where fear has never sounded so good.
Expect big costumes and even bigger music with the likes of Franky Wah, MK, and Arielle Free taking over the decks for the day (and night).
Crystal Maze, Piccadilly Circus
Crystal Maze
Home to a bucket load of nostalgia and one of the best group nights out in the city, classic TV show The Crystal Maze has been reimagined as an immersive experience, allowing you to step into a series of challenges inspired by the ones you saw on screen.
Teams of 8 tackle their way through tasks which require physical and mental skill, all while being followed by their in-character (and harmonica-playing) host.
This year, they've also opened the highly-anticipated Ocean Zone; a brand-new environment that answers years of fan requests to bring the iconic TV show’s underwater world to life.
Players descend through a submarine entry hatch onto the vessel's command bridge, where they'll find themselves surrounded by underwater navigation (from working periscopes to aged maritime charts) before venturing deeper into the craft to earn those all-important crystals.
The multi-hour immersive experience concludes with everyone's childhood dream: Stepping into the crystal dome to catch golden tickets and bank those points.
A ridiculously fun time that'll keep you coming back.
See the brilliant Village Underground like never before
Village Underground
One of the most-loved music venues in London, Village Underground, is going… overground.
To celebrate its 20th anniversary, the independent venue has opened a new rooftop to welcome guests this summer. The usual diverse programme of live shows and events is still taking place, but this year guests can appreciate a whole new side to the venue.
As fans will know, Village Underground is instantly recognisable for its tube carriage which has sat on top of the venue for years. Now, for the first time, guests can access the carriage itself as part of the new open-air setting. Head there for both live music and views of East London now – enjoy it with a snack from Bad Boys Pizza Society, as well as signature cocktails, draught beers and more, too.
54 Holywell Ln, EC2A 3PQ, villageunderground.co.uk
Head upstairs at Ronnie Scott's
Taran Wilkhu
Ronnie Scott’s, one of the best live venues in the world, has gone through a big change; the world-famous venue might be a London institution, but it’s not resting on its reputation.
Live music lovers will be familiar with the beautiful main room, but this year has seen the introduction of a new 140-capacity venue on the first floor, as well as a new members’ lounge and artist space.
Upstairs will host a version of the Ronnie Scott’s Late Late Show and showcase rising stars of the jazz (and jazz-adjacent) scene in the capital. It's a chance to see a new side to one of the most celebrated music institutions anywhere in the world, with tickets available at a range of prices to keep experiences accessible.
Golf in the city with Pitch London
Golf is growing all the time, but there’s not an awful lot of space to whack a ball about in central London - but that’s where pitch comes in.
Pitch, with venues in Soho, Liverpool Street, and a swanky new space in Canary Wharf, has paired top-end practice facilities with swish bar offerings and tasty food, as well as live sport screenings and DJ sets in premium venues with a members club vibe. Book in with a group of pals and enjoy a knock around famous courses on the simulators, tuck into delicious menu items and wash it down with an excellent drinks menu. The Canary Wharf flagship venue also offers shuffleboard tables and an outdoor terrace. Golfers can book club fittings and lessons at both London venues, too.
For an elevated indoor golfing experience in the city, Pitch is hard to beat.
Various locations, pitchgolf.london
See pop legends like never before at ABBA Voyage
It's become a London staple, and for good reason - ABBA Voyage is the chance to see the legendary pop group like you've never seen before. The hugely popular virtual concert residency recently celebrated its second anniversary at the Olympic Park in Stratford. Tickets start from £39.40, and guests can chose to either spend the night on the dance floor, in the auditorium seating or hire their own dance booth
Various dates, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, abbavoyage.com
F1 Arcade - one for the racers and petrolheads
Jake Brigstock, indy100 & The Independent
If you fancy seeing if you can compete with the likes of Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris - all while having a tasty bit of food and a couple of cocktails - then F1 Arcade is one to check out.
F1 Arcade is a social gaming bar with dozens of full-motion Formula One racing simulators, bars and food.
If there are two or three of you, you can drive three or five races directly against each other. If there are four or more, you will be split into different teams and will compete against each other.
But competing for those all important bragging rights and pulling off outrageous overtakes around some of the world's most famous circuits is an incredible amount of fun.
Click here to find out more about F1 Arcade.
Where to drink:
The Athenaeum Cocktail Masterclass, Green Park
The Athenaeum
Best-known as one of London's most plush, long-standing five-star hotels, The Athenaeum has just launched a new cocktail masterclass to add a little flair to your evening plans.
The 90-minute session is designed for small groups of two to four and begins with an introduction to cocktail history before guests are guided through making three drinks, including a dry martini, a New Era cocktail and one of the hotel’s signatures. An English grazing platter is served alongside, with meat and vegetarian options available.
Priced at £75 per person, the masterclass runs Sunday to Thursday from 4pm to 7.30pm and is available to book in advance.
Little Neon Door, Shoreditch
Little Neon Door
The boxes are unpacked, the kitchen bar is stacked and someone’s already claimed the karaoke mic in the bathroom. The Little Door & Co. is officially moving East, now hosting house parties in every corner of the city, because no postcode should miss out.
Located in Old Street in the heart of Shoreditch, The Little Neon Door is Little Door & Co.’s biggest venue yet. Known across London for rewriting the playbook on the best nights out, from kitchen discos, cocktails in household items, fancy dress and karaoke in the shower, the flatmates are bringing their signature house party magic to Shoreditch with two floors of unapologetic fun.
Bookings now open here
Live it up at La-Yam
La Yam
At first, its location might feel a little hidden away for people not in the know, but La-Yam is a great escape from the crowds in the heart of busy Holborn.
The rooftop bar is an excellent spot for brilliant cocktails – think refreshing classics like the Hugo Spritz as well as tropical Watermelon Martinis and Mandarine Palomas – as well as Mediterranean-inspired food menu, all enjoyed in a city sun trap, with views across the city.
The outside space is big enough to generate real atmosphere (240 people can squeeze in here on sunny evenings), but on quieter nights there’s still enough inviting corners and alcoves for La-Yam to feel intimate and secluded.
When the sun is shining, it’s the kind of place that can remind you just what makes London so special in the summer.
229-231 High Holborn, WC1V 7DA, la-yam.com
Where to eat:
Holy Carrot, Old Spitalfields Market
Old Spitalfields Market
Some London spots are so in-demand that they're left with no choice but to open up additional locations all over the city, and that couldn't ring truer for Notting Hill cult-favourite, Holy Carrot.
Founded by Irina Linovich, and Executive Head Chef Daniel Watkins (ex-Acme Fire Cult), this fresh take on the plant-based bistro is tucked away inside the bustling Old Spitalfields Market, serving up near-zero-waste comfort dishes.
In this no-frills, sun-drenched eatery, expect everything from fire-grilled filled Koji flatbreads to experimental takes on coal-roasted vegetables that negate the need for meat substitutes.
Our picks include the Japanese potato salad, and their take on Georgian khachapuri. Simply delicious.
Songbird, Canary Wharf
Songbird
Canary Wharf's purpose-built Troubador Theatre is currently playing home to the stage production of The Hunger Games - but that isn't all it has to offer.
Its Songbird restaurant, which is now open to the public as well as theatre guests, has become a stylist 'if you know, you know' hangout spot for post-work drinks, waterfront views, decadent, British comfort, and interiors that wouldn't look out of place in The Hoxton - which makes total sense when you realise they boast the same interior designer.
Its menu, which features several nods to The Hunger Games, includes seasonal British flavours with signature snacks and starters including crumpets & caviar; devilled eggs with miso mayonnaise & trout roe; braised beef rarebit and cheddar croquettes.
For mains, the pan-roasted cod in an English sparkling wine butter sauce is sure to be a crowd favourite, alongside the wild mushroom pot pie and the Wagyu burger with truffle mayonnaise, finished tableside with freshly shaved truffle.
Meanwhile, desserts lean into nostalgia with a playful twist, featuring the cherry & chocolate mousse and an interactive ‘build-your-own’ sundae experience, served with a generous array of toppings and sauces - housed in a bird cage, no less.
East London just got its latest must-visit spot.
Hard Rock Cafe launches love letter to London
Hard Rock Cafe
Great food is all about having access to something that's delicious, yet still unique and with its own identity.
While Hard Rock Cafe is a globally-renowned brand, they're upping the ante across Old Park Lane and Piccadilly Circus, two of London's most bustling spots, with original menu additions (known as Fresh Beats) that are a true love letter to the city.
Fresh Beats gives each cafe the freedom to reflect its surroundings, with dishes shaped by the neighbourhood, its influences and its energy, giving each a unique and exclusive twist.
At Old Park Lane, the Brixton Market Burger takes its lead from the energy and cultural mix that define one of London’s most iconic neighbourhoods - a signature steak patty is layered with smoky jerk sauce, sweet pineapple chutney, garlic aioli, melting pepper jack cheese and crispy onions, bringing together heat, sweetness and texture in a way that reflects the bold, flavour-led identity of the area.
At Piccadilly Circus, the Soho Pickle Burger draws on a different side of London’s character, shaped by Soho’s long-standing reputation for classic dining, late-night culture and a more refined urban edge. Built around smashed beef patties, rich Red Leicester cheese and slow-cooked beer caramelised onions, it’s elevated with tangy pickled red cabbage and a smooth quintessentially British, brown sauce aioli.
Fresh Beats is designed to evolve throughout the year, with menus refreshed quarterly to reflect seasonal ingredients and new local influences, giving guests a reason to return and try something different each time.
Hip Hop brunch at Blues Kitchen Shoreditch
Blues Kitchen
For a really stellar musical experience, with excellent food and vibes for days, the Blue Kitchen Shoreditch is offering one of the best brunch offerings we’ve seen in the city every Saturday.
The Hip Hop Orchestra brunch features an excellent live band, bringing to life nostalgic hip hop classic and R&B hits for audiences with three live sets. You’ll be just as struck by the superb musicianship as the food, which combines moreish BBQ with southern classics and interesting small plates.
There’s also plenty of veggie options – as well as one of the best vegan burgers you’ll find in the city.
Tickets start from £16.50 per person, which includes entry and a table. Bottomless drinks can be purchased as an add on at the check-out for £19.95.
Every Saturday, entry costs £16.50, 134-146 Curtain Rd, EC2A 3AR, buy tickets here
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