food-culture
Image Credit: The Vault, @lucyhunt3
Consider this: Lucy Hunt's guide to London.
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Image Credit: The Vault, @lucyhunt3
Consider this: Lucy Hunt's guide to London.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commision.
Lucy Hunt, Shameless Media’s Head of Podcasts, spent an entire decade living in London, which pretty much makes her an expert on the city with a whole host of tips and advice. This month, we asked her for the places she’d send a friend if they were visiting for the first time. Spanning where to eat, which museums to visit and even which places to avoid, Lucy’s list is pretty much a London itinerary in and of itself. From the restaurant she’d book months in advance to the tourist attraction that’s actually worth the hype, keep scrolling to read Lucy’s tried-and-tested London hit list.
If you’re only booking one restaurant, make it Gymkhana. It’s genuinely one of the best meals I’ve ever had. The catch is that you’ll need to be organised – bookings are notoriously hard to get, so set a reminder and get in early. For something a little more adventurous, I’d also recommend St. John. It’s become a London institution for a reason. The menu can be experimental (there’s been pigeon pie on it before), but if you go, order the bone marrow.
For a more casual meal, Max’s Sandwich Shop is worth seeking out. The sandwiches are incredible, and the condiments alone have a cult following. And for a classic London dinner, book a table at Trullo in Highbury. The pasta is excellent, and there’s a wine bar next door that makes it very easy to settle in for the evening. As for pubs, my favourite has always been The Flask. It’s tucked away near Hampstead Heath and feels like everything you’d want from a London pub: cosy interiors, a fireplace, great food, and one of the best pub quizzes in the city.
Image: The Vault
Whenever friends visit, I always tell them to spend a day in Greenwich. You can wander through the park, explore the Cutty Sark, visit museums and historical landmarks, and generally spend hours discovering things you hadn’t planned to see.
When it comes to markets, Borough Market wins every time. There are plenty of famous markets in London, but this is still the one I return to for the food, the atmosphere, and the surrounding neighbourhood. If you only have time for one museum, I’d choose the Natural History Museum. Between the architecture, the dinosaur exhibits and the sheer scale of the place, it’s one of those attractions that genuinely lives up to expectations.
Speaking of things that are actually worth the hype: the Sky Garden. It’s free, the views are incredible, and it’s one of the best ways to see the city skyline without paying London Eye prices. Just make sure you book ahead. For shopping, I always start in Soho. It’s where you’ll find the best mix of boutiques and bigger brands. And if you want everything under one roof, head straight to Selfridges.
This might be controversial, but I’d skip Camden Market. I know it’s a classic tourist stop, but I’ve always found it overcrowded and overwhelming, and there are so many other parts of London I’d rather spend my time in.
And if you’re visiting during summer, check what’s on before you arrive. Between BST Hyde Park and London’s incredible network of smaller music venues, some of my favourite memories from living there came from seeing live music on warm summer evenings. It’s one of the things the city does best.
Image Credit: The Vault
