Eating in London
The city of London is known for its extremely luxurious restaurants. In the center, they are in a row, and often it is celebrity chefs who are behind the concepts. In total, there are 70 restaurants in the city that have one or more stars in the Michelin guide.
Here are 10 of the most famous:
- Gordon Ramsey (Chelsea)
- The Araki (Mayfair)
- Le Gavroche (Knightsbridge)
- Core by Clare Smyth (Notting Hill)
- Umu (Mayfair)
- Hakkasan (Mayfair)
- Yauatcha (Soho)
- Joel Robuchon’s Atelier (Covent Garden)
- Aquavit (Piccadilly Circus)
We brought the latter because it serves Nordic food, as the name suggests (even though aquavit is Latin – it is we and the Danes who drink this version of “water of life”). If you feel homesick, a visit and a portion of lutefisk may be the cure you need. Aquavit, and several of the others illustrate the essence of the restaurant market in London: Here you can eat fantastic food from around the world.
It does not necessarily have to happen at expensive Michelin-starred restaurants. In London you will find top food in all price ranges. And, several of the 70 restaurants that actually have a star are also very affordable from a Norwegian perspective.
Michelin stars are also not everything you should look for. There are plenty of restaurants that could probably get a star or two if they decided to, but that focus on the joy of food rather than prestige.
Here are 10 restaurants that are known for top food for a very cheap price:
- Baoziin Romilly Street (Soho)
- Brasserie Zedél (Piccadilly Circus)
- Daebak (Vauxhall)
- E Pellicci (Bethnal Green)
- Bun House (Soho)
- Café TPT (Chinatown)
- Flat Iron (Covent Garden)
- Herman ze German (Soho)
- Kintan (Marylebone)
- Regency Café (Westminster)
Shopping in London
London is undoubtedly one of the best cities to shop in if you are on a city break. The city is almost as important in fashion as Paris and Milan, and has bred many of the most famous designers in the world.
You can hardly go wrong if you are looking for a new outfit, shoes, jewelry, perfumes, scarves, gloves, bags and other accessories. We still give you some tips on where it’s okay to start the shopping spree:
- Oxford Street– The street is one of the largest and most important shopping streets in London. It stretches from the Marble Arch, through the Oxford Circus, and out to St Giles Circus. In Oxford Street you will find famous shops and department stores such as Selfridges, Marks and Spencer, Debenhams and John Lewis.
- Regent Street– This is a well known shopping street in the West End. The street is characterized by exclusive shops and beautiful architecture. Here you will find a number of the well-known brand houses, and the street is a must for you who are on a shopping trip in London. As a curiosity, it is worth mentioning that in 2011 the state of Norway, through the oil fund, bought parts of the building stock in Regent Street at a price of NOK 4.4 billion.
- Carnaby Street– If you are visiting Oxford Street and Regents Street first, you should include Carnaby Street on the shopping tour. The street is located between the two more famous, but is considered more important historically when it comes to fashion. You can get lost in the number of nice, small shops (over 100), and have more than enough cafes and bars to settle down in if you need a little rest.
- Kings Road– Take a trip to Chelsea and head to Kings Road if you want to shop in exclusive designer shops. In this area are also several of the major brand chains, such as Zara and H&M. In Chelsea you will also find its own (and good) antiques market.
- Savile Row– This is the famous street where nice gentlemen buy their tailored suits. It goes in elegance and exclusivity, and the prices are there. Many of the skedders are world famous in their field. The oldest tailor in Savile Row, Henry Poole & Co, invented the tuxedo, and is still operating in the same premises as they always have been.
- Knightsbridge– This area is characterized by its many and large department stores. Here are, among other things, the famous Harrods, and the slightly less famous Harvey Nichols. In between the department stores you will find exclusive design shops from fashion houses that you are guaranteed to have heard of.
- Bond Street– This street is legendary for shopping and is located in the venerable neighborhood of Mayfair. Here, the fiff, the movie stars, the nobles, and other celebrities shop. Bond Street is London’s most exclusive street, and the shops you meet are such as Louis Vuitton, Burbery, Armani, Jimmy Choo, Dior, Victoria’s Secret, and the like.
- Neal Street– This street is located in Covent Garden and is known for more hip and cool designs. Here you will find more urban fashion, handmade jewelry and accessories, and distinctive items that are difficult to find elsewhere. Also look in the side streets, and stop by Covent Garden Market.