england :: london :: general

[Maynard Friedman]

On reflection, I'll try the Mirror...

[Mr Black]

Badum. Tish

[rirawin]

Richmond Park is worth a visit to see the wild deer. Hyde Park is decent enough, sans wild deer, if you can't be bothered to go out that far...

 

With regards to food, you have a lot of choices, Borough Market is a good place to start that offers you a variety of different choices.

 

Burgers? Honest Burger or Patty and Bun are the best in town. 

 

For some Michelin star experience there's Dabbous, Dinner by Heston, Viajante and The Ledbury.

 

If you're in Soho, Spuntinos, Pitt Cue and Burger and Lobster (they have numerous other branches) are all very good.

 

Steak? Flatiron, cheap and cheerful, want something a bit more upmarket Goodmans or Hawksmoor.

 

Chinatown, Gerard's corner for dim sum and Four seasons for 3 BBQ combination.

 

Shopping... Libertys, Dover Street Market, Hostem, Present etc. for denim Son of Stag or Rivet and Hide.

Edited July 18, 2013 by rirawin

[mrh]

^^Thanks for that post.  Coming out to London in 2 weeks from the US and staying for 3 months for school.  Gonna be strange being in a new country by myself but really hyped.  definitely plan to be stopping in here for tips on spots to go 

[ProfMonnitoff]

be sure to tune your fm radio to 106.8

[Njalle]

I'm going to London next weekend with the missus. We're mostly planning this to be a shopping trip, as we've been to the city a few times already. We'll be staying at Portman Square, and were hoping to find plenty of good shopping opportunities nearby.

 

So far I've got DSM, Harrods, Browns, Liberty, Jermyn Street, Savile Row, Hostem, Present, Globe-trotter, Cuter and Gross and London Undercover.

 

We've also gotten a table at Dinner by Heston for lunch Sunday, but if you have recommendations for any other places please chip in! High gastronomy is not needed, could easily be tempted to go to Honest Burgers or Patty and Bun as recommended by Rirawin

 

Thanks!

[rirawin]

Aside from my recommendations in my previous post, there's also Borough Market you could check out. Beigel Bake is worth a pop in especially if you're in the area, cheap and open 24 hours.

 

Gelupo is also a great place for gelato in the Soho area, Bocca di Lupo is just opposite if you fancy tapas.

 

As for shopping, you could also check out http://www.ln-cc.com/ but you need to book an appointment,

[Njalle]

Thanks Richard! Will try and check them out

[charisma]

7-day tour to London planned for June, itinerary is pretty packed but I'll have a few spots here and there for free time. Thinking I'll want to do some shopping during then, or even go some place that most tourists wouldn't notice or know about, etc.. Any reccomendations would be welcome.

 

EDIT: I should probably add that this will be my first time visiting Europe at all, and it'll be quite a while before I come back.

Edited September 19, 2013 by charisma

[Mr.Sander]

7-day tour to London planned for June, itinerary is pretty packed but I'll have a few spots here and there for free time. Thinking I'll want to do some shopping during then, or even go some place that most tourists wouldn't notice or know about, etc.. Any reccomendations would be welcome.

 

EDIT: I should probably add that this will be my first time visiting Europe at all, and it'll be quite a while before I come back.

 

You're doing your year abroad or something at uni ? 

[Dolmance]

Going to London next week and looking for a good designer secondhand / consignment store in London. Where I can find Rick Owens, Julius, or BBS.. Any suggestions?

[defiance]

None that cater towards these designers, unfortunately.

[charisma]

You're doing your year abroad or something at uni ? 

 

No, theatre company is organizing a trip there. Going to Stratford, Globe Theatre, etc.

[TheIntelligentHoodwinker]

No, theatre company is organizing a trip there. Going to Stratford, Globe Theatre, etc.

 

You'll probably be going to Stratford upon Avon then, which is closer to Birmingham.

[charisma]

Yes, we'll be going to Statford upon Avon, but we're going to London, not Birmingham.

[Inkinsurgent]

I'll be in london 25/26/27 this week for a design conference in the barbican. Open for tips regarding pints, curries, burgers and possible showdowns outside uniqlo.

[rirawin]

Burgers? Honest Burger or Patty and Bun, don't worry yourself with the others.

 

Shame, I'm down the following weekend. We could've met up for a ruckus outside Uniqlo Oxford St. and grabbed a burger afterwards.

[TheIntelligentHoodwinker]

I'll be in london 25/26/27 this week for a design conference in the barbican. Open for tips regarding pints, curries, burgers and possible showdowns outside uniqlo.

 

Are you actually staying near the Barbican?

 

Patty and Bun is my favourite, but the queues are annoying. I'd maybe give Lucky Chip a try at Seabright Arms. Less busy and they do tons of great beer.

 

Loads of great pubs near the Barbican. Some that I'm feeling at the moment in that sort of area...

 

Jerusalem Tavern is one of my favourites in London

http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/16/1660/Jerusalem_Tavern/Clerkenwell

 

Craft Beer Co is good fun

http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/42/42409/Craft_Beer_Co/City_of_London

 

Gunmakers is small but very nice

http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/11/11582/Gunmakers/Clerkenwell

 

Ye Olde Mitre is a tucked away gem

http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/15/1564/Ye_Old_Mitre/Holborn

 

 

For curry, head east to Whitechapel. My favourite (Mirch Masala) has burnt down but check out Needoo Grill. Everyone bangs on about Tayyabs, but the crowds and queues will ruin your night. Go for beers in INDO afterwards

http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/20/20999/INDO/Whitechapel

[Inkinsurgent]

Yeah, secretary booked me in a hotel practically around the corner. I'll spend the days at the conference so eating and drinking will be the extent of my activities. Pub recommendations are looking really good and low pro, cheers!

[TheIntelligentHoodwinker]

No problem. It's a nice part of town - loads to do.

 

I might actually be going to that conference too if someone at my office pulls out.

[Inkinsurgent]

Alright, let me know if you do. Looks like it'll be interesting.

[mrh]

Anyone got any ideas on places i could find random cool posters/banners/decorative wall blanket type shit for cheap in this city?  I can't stand living in a room with nothing but blank white walls haha.  I too am in the barbican/farringdon area but wouldn't mind taking the tube elsewhere.  back home I'd just go to a goodwill and could find some random stuff but here i dont know.  thanks!

 

 

oh and side question: is there tax on clothes here? and how much?

[rirawin]

All the prices you see in shops include VAT (VAT is 20%), that's the price you pay, no hidden surprises.. It's not like America where they add on state tax when you get to the checkout.

 

Kids clothes are exempt from VAT, but again the price on the ticket is the price you pay anyway...

Edited September 26, 2013 by rirawin

[mrh]

oh wow that's awesome.  i was literally just talking to a friend about how annoying it is back in america how when you get to the checkout, it's at that point additional costs add on due to the taxes.  the Uk is getting better and better 

[samsikle]

I've never been to England before, so I'm thinking of heading to London for my end of October break for a few days. Any ideas on fun things to do and/or cheap hotels or hostels to stay at? I haven't planned anything out. I've been in France for a month and just finished the last of the bullshit Visa process so that I can leave the country and enter back in. I'm kind of ready to get the fuck out of here. Maybe a possible sufu meet up?

Edited September 29, 2013 by samsikle

[ProfMonnitoff]

Strut Man is a consignment store focused on fairly sufu approved stuff. Havent checked it out yet though because it's pretty far from where I live/go to school. Their womens store which is a bit more central looks ok. No way in the same league as some of the NY consignment spots though.

 

sam - Last time I needed a hotel I stayed at the one across from the Hilton near Kings Cross, cant remember the name but it was about £100/night with free wifi. Small but decent room that got the job done. Good tube/bus connections to just about anywhere and its on the 205 night bus path which is great because late night cab prices in london are insane.

 

Do all the museums on weekdays, many of the best ones are free and won't be crowded then. Go to markets on the weekend. Eat at St John. Breakfast Club is nice, the one by Liverpool St tends to have much shorter lines than the one in Shoreditch. Skip burgers and stuff like that, America is better at that. Dirty Burger is pretty good but it's owned by the Soho House people and fuck giving those guys any money. Get Indian, Bangladeshi and Caribbean food instead. 

[TheIntelligentHoodwinker]

Anyone got any ideas on places i could find random cool posters/banners/decorative wall blanket type shit for cheap in this city?  I can't stand living in a room with nothing but blank white walls haha.  I too am in the barbican/farringdon area but wouldn't mind taking the tube elsewhere.  back home I'd just go to a goodwill and could find some random stuff but here i dont know.  thanks!

 

To be honest, I tend to get a lot of prints online, or at events like Pick Me Up at Somerset House. That's been and gone though this year.

 

Check out Print Club in Dalston. Loads of cheap prints. I think they have a shop on Brick Lane too.

http://printclublondon.com/shop/

 

Aside from that, check out some of the markets - Spitalfields, Greenwich antique market, some of the shops on Brick Lane, etc

[ProfMonnitoff]

btw are any sufus going to this http://www.contactyoungsta.com

[P_K]

Hey, so when did Mirch Masala burn down? That place was the bomb. I'd second Needoo Grill over Tayyabs for sure, waiting for a table at Tayyabs is just silly.

 

Craft Beer Co & Gunmakers are both ace pubs.

 

 

 

Are you actually staying near the Barbican?

 

Patty and Bun is my favourite, but the queues are annoying. I'd maybe give Lucky Chip a try at Seabright Arms. Less busy and they do tons of great beer.

 

Loads of great pubs near the Barbican. Some that I'm feeling at the moment in that sort of area...

 

Jerusalem Tavern is one of my favourites in London

http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/16/1660/Jerusalem_Tavern/Clerkenwell

 

Craft Beer Co is good fun

http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/42/42409/Craft_Beer_Co/City_of_London

 

Gunmakers is small but very nice

http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/11/11582/Gunmakers/Clerkenwell

 

Ye Olde Mitre is a tucked away gem

http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/15/1564/Ye_Old_Mitre/Holborn

 

 

For curry, head east to Whitechapel. My favourite (Mirch Masala) has burnt down but check out Needoo Grill. Everyone bangs on about Tayyabs, but the crowds and queues will ruin your night. Go for beers in INDO afterwards

http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/20/20999/INDO/Whitechapel

[TheIntelligentHoodwinker]

Hey, so when did Mirch Masala burn down? That place was the bomb. I'd second Needoo Grill over Tayyabs for sure, waiting for a table at Tayyabs is just silly.

 

Craft Beer Co & Gunmakers are both ace pubs.

 

Man, maybe 3 months ago thinking about it... They've apparently had a sign up in the window for ages and it doesn't look like it's reopening any time soon.

 

I've moved pretty close to the branch in Tooting though, so not really been checking as I usually just eat at that one.