First time in London? The Working Line’s Ultimate London Travel Guide shows you the best food spots, unmissable attractions, shops and hidden gems in the city!
If you’re visiting London for the first time, you may be wondering how big of a city it is, and if all there is to it is Oxford Street, Covent Garden and The Shard.
Ever since my first trip to London back in 2014, I have been in love with this wonderful, historical city.
I’ve visited the nearby towns and cities, I’ve discovered secret cafes galore, unique shops and hidden alleys I feel at peace in.
Whether you’re coming with kids, solo, with friends or just with your too many thoughts, you’ll find here all the London tips you need to discover, and enjoy the city to the max.
Ultimate London Travel Guide: Attractions, Food & Transport
I’ve come to understand, over time, that the many hidden gems of London are truly what make it the London I love.
Famous attractions have nothing on London’s secret museums.
And I happen to find more soothing vibes in the church cafes, those hidden in the City of London for the most part, than in Oxford Street’s shops.
In this guide, I will tell you about everything there is to know about London, with many pieces of information always missing: the city is indeed too big to ever be unraveled completely, too anchored in its past, with its feathers tickling the future.
Should you be of those who can enjoy famous and historical sites alike; mainstream pink cafes and vintage coffee shops alike – you’ll find yourself right at home here.
Ultimate London Travel Guide: Breakfast, Coffee Shops and Food Spots
Depending on where you stay in London, you’ll find London is not lacking when it comes to coffee shops and food spots.
Whether you’re after a quirky cafe or a wonderful rooftop restaurant, whether you’re looking for a vegan breakfast or a halal coffee shop, you’ll find everything you need – and more – in London.
Here are some of my favorite cafes and breakfast spots in London:
- Donutelier, Charing Cross Road – on the pricier side, but exquisite French pastries
- Redemption Roasters, Islington – great carrot cakes, and has a secret Greek-inspired basement
- Bageriet, Covent Garden – a tiny Swedish bakery with a couple of seats outside, off a main Covent Garden Street, unmissable for cinnamon buns
- Caffè Napoli, Goodge Street – a tiny Italian coffee shop, one of the best in London, with cremino and amazing ginseng caffè, like you’d find in Rome’s cafes
If you’re looking for cheap eats and street food, including halal cheap eats, these are some spots I recommend:
- Icco Pizza, Goodge Street – some of the cheapest halal pizza in London, much less than a tenner for the Marinara and Margherita
- Grounded, Bow and Aldgate – amazing for halal breakfast, but also great for all-day dining, including halal burgers!
- Bim’s Edmonton – if you’re looking for alternatives for popular chains, Bim’s is a completely halal burger brand born in France, with the sauces we know so well – really affordable
Ultimate London Travel Guide: Unmissable Attractions
When in London, and if I’d rather recommend only the most secret spots any day, there are still a few famous attractions you’ll want to see if you’re spending 1 day, 2 days or even 4 days in London.
These include:
- Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament
- Westminster Abbey, opposite Big Ben
- Covent Garden’s Apple Market – one of the best markets in London, with shops all around it, performers, and even a secret church nearby, the Actors’ Church
- Oxford Street – this one might be more famous for being a shopping street, but Oxford Street is also a wonderful spot to check out Christmas lights in winter, and boasts quite a few hidden gems!
- Trafalgar Square – a historic square close to Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus and Covent Garden
- Museums – the National History Museum, the Science Museum and the V&A Museum are the three most famous, and the British Museum is a personal favorite
Ultimate London Travel Guide: Hidden Gems
When it comes to London’s hidden gems, I could write for days about those, but ultimately, what you do in London depends on your tastes, and everyone’s tastes are different.
If you like fashion, clothing and arts, I’ve written a Fashion in London itinerary you can read to get inspired in the city.
If you’re more into historical sites as I am, here are a few itineraries and posts you might enjoy:
- The Old London: A City of London Itinerary
- Where to Find Shakespeare sculptures in London
- 11 Disused Stations in London You Can Visit
- The Best Free Historical Sites in London
- The Most Secret Courtyards, Alleys and Gardens in London
If you’re an ever-so-wandering wanderer, or if you’re into quirky hidden spots, you might enjoy those itineraries:
- Where to Find Italy in London Itinerary
- Where to Find Paris in London Itinerary
- Where to Find Morocco in London Itinerary
And for those who may want to move to London, and are afraid of missing home, my Homesick in London guide might help a little bit 🙂
There are many secret gardens in London, hidden churchyards, historical shops and whatnot.
That means that if you’re only spending 4 or 5 days in London, these guides are all made so that you can pick and create a little bucket list, but still trust your flow and instinct when actually in the city.
Ultimate London Travel Guide: How to Move in London?
When I live in London, I usually walk most of the time or take the bus – I love seeing the city pass by as I’m becoming drowsier and drowsier on a double-decker.
But I have to admit that London’s Underground, especially in zones 1-2-3, is really efficient, although eccentrically hot (hi, Central Line!) and loud (hi, Victoria line!).
I’ve written guides about the best things to do along the Central Line and the Piccadilly Line, and will, overtime, write guides about all the other Underground lines to help you out.
One thing I didn’t know when visiting London for the first time was that I didn’t necessarily have to buy a Travelcard or an Oyster Card.
Nowadays, you can just tap your card or phone on the reader, and every day’s travels are capped anyway, so if you check on the TfL website, you can know exactly what fee will be taken out of your account on the following days.
When visiting London for the first time, people often take a cab as well, but I think that’s a little too expensive, when the Tube’s so much more efficient than, say, public transport in Rome.
Ultimate London Travel Guide: The Best Shops, Shopping Areas and Streets
I don’t even know where to begin when it comes to shopping in London: I love shopping, and there are so many local, small shops to visit if you’re looking for amazing things to buy in London!
The most famous shopping areas in London are Oxford Street, Camden Town, Covent Garden and Regent Street.
There are lots of really beautiful shopping arcades, which double as historical sites, and vintage and food markets as well.
If you’re more on the eco-conscious side, check out these guides:
- The Most Unique Shops in London
- The Best Concept Stores in London
- The Best Vintage Shopping Spots in London
- The Best Charity Shops in London
If you know you’re going to be staying in Central London or visiting this area more often, then check out these guides:
- The Best Shops in Covent Garden
- The Best Shops in Central London
- The Best Shops in Camden Town
- The Best Shopping and Dining Courts in London
There are many unique, independent shops and British brands in London worth a glance or two.
I love Oliver Bonas for lifestyle brands, BrandAcademy for quirky gifts, and Londonworks for rarer brands and a little detour to Muswell Hill, one of the prettiest areas of London.
I also love beautiful bookshops.
If you’re like me, Daunt Books in Marylebone is a must, but for secondhand books, you can check out the underbridge at Southbank, or the Oxfam Bookshop in Highgate, or the Muswell Hill branch.
Ultimate London Travel Guide: The Best Neighborhoods to Stay
London has become more exclusive than ever these past few years; it’s true.
I would recommend, if you’re visiting London on a budget, to check out those areas:
- North Finchley – further out in North London, posh, quiet, with lots of charity shops and budget shops
- London Bridge – I love the Christopher’s Inn hostel on Borough High Street, and the Greenwich branch is also really cool
- Angel and Islington – these are two North London neighborhoods where life is local, with lots of shops, cafes and bakeries, and even a shopping center
- Greenwich – a little South East London neighborhood with gorgeous views of Canary Wharf and the Thames River, with lots of historical sites and a village vibe
- Rotherhithe – another South East London area, maritime as well, really residential, with views on the river and village streets
Ultimate London Travel Guide: Easy Day Trips From London
There are some really cheap day trips from London you can take when visiting the city, if you’d like to get out for a day:
- Oxford, a historic university town, easily accessible by bus or train in about an hour
- Cambridge, another famous historic university town, costs about the same to visit and takes around the same time to access
Both are filled with really cute cafes and historical sites, perfect for views and to breathe a little.
If you’d like some more natural spots, these are really good as well:
- Chislehurst Caves, closer to London, man-made caves and a soothing atmosphere
- Lesnes Abbey – actually in London, but doesn’t feel like it, ruins of an abbey and a park
- Walthamstow Wetlands – also in London, although far East, a natural reserve perfect for bird-watching
Ultimate London Travel Guide: Attractions, Food & Transport
There’s so much to tell you about London, that I’ve had to split this Ultimate Travel Guide to help you have a closer look about hidden gems, attractions, museums, and food spots.
You’ll find other important information to prepare your first trip to London in the guides below: