A quirky Paris in London itinerary filled with restaurants, shops, landmarks and amazing French places to visit in London to discover the culture and the food!
As a half French person (the other half is Moroccan/Berber) who has lived in London both part of the year and full years at a time, I do miss my culture often when in the UK.
Pretty normal, isn’t it – digital nomads tend to ultimately feel at home in several countries, and end up missing several cultures when abroad.
Since the French population is quite significant in London, I thought a quick ‘Paris in London’ itinerary would come in handy if you ever want to find French patisseries, landmarks and places that perfectly represent French culture in the city.
Paris in London Itinerary – French Landmarks, Hidden Gems and Food
When I first moved to London, my first idea was to enjoy everything there was to enjoy about British culture.
Where British culture is elegant sometimes, eccentric often, and quirky always, I’ve always found French culture to appear – to be? – inaccessible in some way, in the very way French women seem inaccessible, as much in personality as in fashion.
The eccentricity, the Britishness of it I have found so present in London, is what kept me hooked on London for so long.
From fashion shops to the countless secret cafes in the city, there’s not a moment to be bored there.
However, whether you’re a French person freshly moved to London or would just like to learn more about French culture, here are all the places I would recommend you visit.
This Themed London Itinerary is one you can easily follow in a day – so let’s go!
Where to Find Paris in London: Aux Merveilleux de Fred, South Kensington
I first came across Aux Merveilleux de Fred in France; when I was still working in Rue de Rivoli, I discovered that the brand had a bakery in Paris close to my workplace – that’s where I fell in love with the Merveilleux.
Small pastries made out of meringue topped with cream and various bits of Biscoff biscuits, white chocolate or tiny pieces of meringue, the Merveilleux are only made by Aux Merveilleux de Fred.
The Leadenhall Market branch, nestled in one of the most instagrammable shopping arcades in London, is perfect to have breakfast at the beginning of our French itinerary.
Read: Italy in London: A Quirky Itinerary to Italian Places
French Places in London: South Kensington Area
After the Leadenhall Market, we will be traveling to South Kensington.
This is, beyond one of London’s poshest areas, a historically French neighborhood – and where you will find the aforementioned French patisserie.
Kynance Mews, pictured above, are located in South Kensington and make for some of the cutest mews to visit, it doesn’t matter whether you’re a French citizen or were born in London.
These also double as one of the best places to visit during autumn in London, when the leaves turn a bright orange to burgundy color.
South Kensington houses some of the most significant French buildings and institutions in London; the French Embassy and the Lycée Français are both located there, along with the UK’s Institut Français.
Read: A Bookish Itinerary in London With Shops and Landmarks
Where to Find Paris in London: European Bookshop
The European Bookshop is located a stone’s throw away from both South Kensington and Gloucester Road stations, and a cool destination for anyone interested in European literature.
There, I bought my first books in Italian back when I was still learning the languages, and from fiction to language-learning books, you’ll find it all here.
The collection of French books is wide – one of the widest in the store, with lots of children’s books at street level, along with a more adult selection in the basement.
Update: The European Bookshop is now closed.
Read: How to Spend 3 Days in London: A Fun Itinerary
French Places in London: Librairie La Page, SW7
I am especially fond of French literature.
Emile Zola and Guy de Maupassant are two of my favorite authors, and whenever I want to get a new Rougon-Macquart book (Zola’s most famous series of novels), Librairie La Page is where I go.
You can also get a few French classics at the Foyles bookshop in Central London, on Charing Cross Road, but by visiting Librairie La Page, you’re pretty sure to find what you’re looking for.
We’re also closer to the South Kensington station, and from new releases to classics, children’s books and French textbooks, there’s seemingly nothing that this pretty bookshop doesn’t have in stock.
Read: The Best Free Things to Do on London’s Central Line
Where to Find Paris in London: Philippe Conticini Bakery
After this walk around the beautiful streets of South Kensington and some book shopping, I’d say a stop at Philippe Conticini Bakery, right outside of the station, makes for a cool mid-morning snack.
French pastries offer something special, a touch of dream with simple flavors that blend to give the greatest palate outcome you’ve ever seen – give me a good Paris-Brest any day, really!
Philippe Conticini is one of the most famous French pastry chefs, seen on various shows, with shops all over the world.
The South Kensington bakery, though, is spacious, welcoming, and offers all the pastries you might be used to if you’ve lived in France: fraisier, Paris-Brest, croissants and pains au chocolat…
Read: The Best Things to Do During Summer in London
Where to Find Paris in London: Hyde Park Albert Memorial
In Hyde Park, the Albert Memorial is a significant landmark which teaches us quite a bit about London’s history and in particular, Prince Albert’s love for the arts.
The memorial is split into several parts; Prince Albert, at the center, holds the catalog for the Great Exhibition of 1851, which took place at the Crystal Palace.
The Crystal Palace neighborhood is a favorite of mine when it comes to finding traces of the Great Exhibition; the Sitting Lady, the statue of a Turkish man and the Egyptian sphinxes dotted around the Crystal Palace Park all tell more about this event.
The Albert Memorial is surrounded by four allegorical sculptures which symbolize America, Africa, Asia and Europe.
At the bottom, the frieze depicts great figures of the arts, including 17th and 18th-century French composers such as Jean-Philippe Rameau or André Grétry.
Read: The Best Things to Do on London’s Piccadilly Line
French Places in London: Maille, Piccadilly
As a French person, I love my mustard – I can eat it strong, I can eat it sweet and soft, I love the traditional whole seed mustard, and I love honey mustard.
For our next stop, we will either take the bus or walk down to Piccadilly, one of London’s most famous shopping streets, and stop at Maille Boutique.
Fun fact: I keep talking about the perfume shop Santa Maria Novella on Piccadilly… Well, Maille Boutique is located opposite the shop on Piccadilly Arcade!
At Maille Boutique, you can get the entire range of Maille products; this includes of course classic Dijon mustard, along with unique flavors, sauces, vinegars, and gift sets.
Must-buys? The honey mustard and black truffle mustard, two of the best things you’ll ever buy from this French shop.
Read: The Best Things to Do in London When It Rains
French Places in London: L’Escargot, Greek Street
As we keep going with our itinerary of French places, one particular restaurant in Soho makes for the perfect lunch spot: L’Escargot, on Greek Street.
Housed in a gorgeous Georgian townhouse, L’Escargot isn’t all shine and no substance.
If, of course, classic Burgundy snails are on the menu, dressed with the typical garlic butter sauce we French people love, other French dishes may very well steal the show.
Duck confit, onion soup, or a favorite of the country, the satisfying steak frites – L’Escargot, London’s oldest French restaurant, knows how to please.
PS. If you’re a lover of maximalist restaurants, L’Escargot is definitely a place to visit, and the private dining rooms are also beautiful!
Where to Find Paris in London: French Shops on Regent Street
What better to digest than going shopping on Regent Street, once we’re done with our filling lunch à la française?
Granted, with such delicious food, you might feel like taking a little nap after your visit to L’Escargot, but we have to keep going, and this time, we’ll discover some of London’s best French shops.
And where Oxford Street is filled with high-street brands and more streetwear, Regent Street offers a couple of mid- to high-end French clothing brands.
Sandro and Maje, for instance, are two fashion houses which are quite popular in Paris, with classic, elegant shapes and minimalist colors, both of which have their own store on the famous shopping street.
Read: The Curious Traveler’s Guide to London’s Instagrammable Places
French Shops in London: Sézane L’Appartement, Marylebone
If you’re not sure you’ve found all you were after on Regent Street, fear not – our next stop is Sézane L’Appartement in Marylebone, the brand’s London flagship.
From home decor to shoes and very cute clothes, Sézane is another one of the brands that revolve around that French je ne sais quoi.
A really cool place to visit if you’re visiting Marylebone, too, since the shopping experience really differs from any you would enjoy in regular shops.
Read: The Guide to London’s Street Art Neighborhoods
Where to Find Paris in London: Mariage Frères, Covent Garden
Walking from Marylebone to Covent Garden does not take that much time – but the sights and hidden gems you’ll find along the way are very much worth it.
A few other French brands are present in Covent Garden: Agnès B, Chanel, Guerlain, or, for the cutest jewelry you’ll ever find in London; Les Néréides Paris.
After so much walking slash shopping, we’ll slowly make our way to Mariage Frères, where I recently had the most satisfying afternoon tea in a minimalist white room towering over King Street.
Those of you who aren’t really sure about what to bring back from London, or are simply missing French pastries and tea will love Mariage Frères: over 1,000 varieties of tea, aesthetically-irreproachable tea pots, and the creamiest cakes are to be enjoyed in this posh teahouse.
Read: The Prettiest Streets in Covent Garden
Where to Find Paris in London: A Movie at the Institut Français
Before dinner, we will this time hop on the bus or the Tube and pay a visit to the famous Institut Français du Royaume-Uni in South Kensington.
In case you’re wondering, we are indeed going back to the very neighborhood where we started our Paris in London itinerary, but it’s for a good cause.
The French institute, which promotes French language and culture in London, offers a wide range of cultural events – concerts, literary events, exhibitions, talks…
But what we’re going to do now is enjoy a movie at the Cinéma Lumière inside: French and international movies, with classics and contemporary releases are screened several times a day.
Alternatively, if you just want to check out the Institut Français and its library, why not do so before discovering the marvels of the three free museums located nearby: the V&A Museum, the Science Museum, and the Natural History Museum?
Read: The Curious Traveler’s Guide to Fleet Street, City of London
Where to Find Paris in London: Brasserie Zédel
Whether you only watch a movie at the Institut Français or also choose to visit one of the museums mentioned above (my favorite is the V&A Museum for some Dark Academia vibes), you’re going to be hungry afterwards.
And as we go back to Central London to end our Paris in London itinerary, we will spend some time in yet another one of the most famous French restaurants in town; Brasserie Zédel.
The Art Deco interiors and Parisian-style brasserie food, traditional yet somewhat elevated, make Brasserie Zédel worth eating at, at least once in your life.
Moules marinières, a mussels dish which you can find in pretty much any good restaurant in Paris, are also available on the menu, and to finish off a great meal, profiteroles, crème brûlée and other tartes Tatin will provide that sweet end note.
Read: The Guide to Multicolor Places in London
Where to Find Paris in London: Ending the Day at Cafe Boheme, Soho
Located on Old Compton Road, in Soho, Cafe Boheme is the last stop in which we will see a bit of Paris in London.
A historical French bistro, Cafe Boheme offers that old school Parisian decor, complete with retro frames and the type of small, round tables you usually find in cafes in Paris.
If you were ever interested in starting our itinerary in Soho, Cafe Boheme is open from the morning, and that’s where you can get a delicious Parisian-style breakfast, with viennoiseries, fresh orange juice and a hot drink.
But, since Cafe Boheme is also famous for their live music gigs, it is a perfect place to visit at the end of our day, especially if you’re looking for different things to do in London at night.
Read: How to Spend 24 Hours in London: A Full Itinerary
Paris in London Itinerary – French Landmarks, Hidden Gems and Food
There you have it, my complete Paris in London itinerary – these are all places with strong ties to French culture, and spots that I have to admit I never imagined I could find in the UK.
From proper French patisseries to coffee shops à la parisienne, and a couple of cultural spots, this guide is made for whoever is missing France…
Or would really like to know what the fuss is all about when it comes to our culture.
I, for one, make it a point to visit some French places as soon as I get the chance, so as not to lose my mind.
We all need some kind of bond with the place we come from, especially when living abroad!