Editor's Note: These memories are from the early 2000s. I don’t know about you, but the first thing I want to do when I arrive in London, is to get out of the bloody airport as quickly as possible. And eat. I’m always starving by the time we get through customs on arrival in the UK. The dinner served on the flight over is usually not very good or very filling. The … [Read more...] about London Vignettes: Breakfast off the plane
Food
Nights out in London: Top Ten Underground Bars For a Cocktail
Now, when we say underground, we’re not talking about bars you’ve never heard of before, but bars that are literally underground. London is full of places to drink that exist below the city’s streets. They’re in building basements, under railway arches, disguised behind more conventional establishments, or even converted from long-abandoned uses. They have atmospheres that … [Read more...] about Nights out in London: Top Ten Underground Bars For a Cocktail
The London Fiver – Five of London’s Oldest Breweries
Ale has had a long history in the United Kingdom. By some accounts, it even predates the Romans as some historians evidence that the Romans often enjoyed a Celtic ale or two during their occupation of Great Britain. By the Medieval period, ale was mostly brewed on the premises of the inns and later taverns in which it was sold. The introduction of hops meant a new drink was … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five of London’s Oldest Breweries
The London Fiver – Five of the Best Donut Shops in London
Found, fried, doughy goodness. Everyone loves a good donut in the morning—or for dessert—or any time really. There are plenty of great places in the States to get them such as Krispy Kreme, Dunkin Donuts, and even the high-class Dominique Ansel Bakery. Of course, London has its share of these places and even more to boot. Whether you’re in the mood for a plain cake donut, a … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five of the Best Donut Shops in London
The London Fiver – Five More London-Born Dishes
Sure, we’ve covered foods invented in London before, but did you know there’s even more where the likes of wedding cakes, Earl Grey tea, and Scotch eggs came from? Some are more recent inventions while others stretch back centuries. You can have just about any of these today in some of the most exclusive restaurants or mom-and-pop eateries. Each of the five foods below is a … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five More London-Born Dishes
LONDON TOP FIVE: Trendy Chain Restaurants To Try On Your Next Trip to London
American style chains proliferated in London in the ’90s and ’00s, but as tourists have developed a more refined palate for good dining while traveling, the restaurant market in London has provided a series of innovative new trendy chain restaurants that focus on specific cuisine and do it well. Here are our favorites. Flat Iron - Flat Iron is a restaurant concept that focuses … [Read more...] about LONDON TOP FIVE: Trendy Chain Restaurants To Try On Your Next Trip to London
The London Fiver – Five of the Most Unusual London Restaurants
Food’s great, but sometimes you need a little ambience. In a city such as London, the atmosphere in a restaurant can range from the traditional to the eclectic and plenty of restaurants offer their own unique experience along with a great menu. Looking at London’s more colorful restaurants, you can find places where performances are happening all around you, you can dine like … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five of the Most Unusual London Restaurants
The London Fiver – Five of the Best Sweet Shops To Visit On Your Next Trip (Don’t Tell Your Dentist!)
Besides the costumes, one of the top reasons to celebrate Halloween are the sweets that flow freely around the holiday. London certainly has its share of candy shops, from stores selling classic treats to chefs with confectioneries of their own making. No matter what kind of candy you want, you should be able to find it in London, and we’ve outlined five different candy shops … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five of the Best Sweet Shops To Visit On Your Next Trip (Don’t Tell Your Dentist!)
Ten Foods and Drinks You Probably Didn’t Know Were Invented in London
Most of the world doesn’t think of Britain as a food hub, much less London as a cuisine capital. However, it might surprise you to know some of the world’s favorite foods, and indeed, some of the UK’s most well-known dishes were invented right in London. Drinks, appetizers, entrees, and desserts can all call the UK capital home. Whatever you’re in the mood for, we recommend … [Read more...] about Ten Foods and Drinks You Probably Didn’t Know Were Invented in London
The London Fiver – Five of the Best Sports Bars
One could certainly argue that every pub in the UK is a sports bar, since it’s naturally where everyone gathers to watch a match. Certain pubs, of course, are bound to have their favored teams’ colors adorning the walls and cheering supporters on game day. However, some places go above this to mark themselves as true sports bars, a place seemingly designed only to watch the … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five of the Best Sports Bars
The London Fiver – Five Atmospheric Subterranean London Bars To Visit
Today, underground is a word that tends to conjure images of secrecy and exclusivity when it comes to places. When it comes to London, the underground is synonymous with the city’s subterranean train service. Of course, there is also the original meaning and applied to bars; it can mean any number of drinking establishments that can be found below the London streets. The … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Atmospheric Subterranean London Bars To Visit
Ten Small Craft Breweries to Visit in London
Craft beer is the wave of the future. So many new breweries have sprung up in the last few years it feels as if they’re reproducing at the same speed as rabbits. The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) estimates there are 125 craft breweries in the city spread out amongst the boroughs and neighborhoods. With so many throughout Greater London, it can be hard to determine which ones … [Read more...] about Ten Small Craft Breweries to Visit in London
Ten Unique Tea Rooms for Your Afternoon Tea in London
Tea has been an important part of British culture since the 17th Century, and you’d be hard pressed to find a society on this side of the globe that loves it more. While coffee houses preceded tea rooms in London, the culture quickly flipped when Thomas Twining opened the city’s first tea room in 1707. Now you can find them in every borough and neighborhood. While many offer … [Read more...] about Ten Unique Tea Rooms for Your Afternoon Tea in London
New in London: Mariage Frères Elegant Tea Room and Museum is Now Open in Covent Garden – We Send Laura Porter to Check it Out!
The world's most exclusive purveyor of luxury teas and France's oldest tea house, Mariage Frères, has opened its first UK tea emporium in Covent Garden. In addition to being a new tea house in London, it also contains a small museum dedicated to tea. I've been waiting for this one as it was supposed to open in September 2018 but, due to delays with its heritage building, … [Read more...] about New in London: Mariage Frères Elegant Tea Room and Museum is Now Open in Covent Garden – We Send Laura Porter to Check it Out!
Tipsy Touring: Your Guide to London Brewery and Gin Distillery Tours
Besides tea, a couple of drinks that are endemic to Britain's identity are ale and gin. Ale is a combination of yeast, hops, and barley that is warm fermented and there are many different types of beer you can make from it depending on the amount and types of ingredients. Gin, on the other hand, is a spirit developed from juniper berries. Both beverages not only have a … [Read more...] about Tipsy Touring: Your Guide to London Brewery and Gin Distillery Tours
The London Fiver – Five of the Best Bakeries for Cookies in London
Cookies in the United Kingdom are not so different from those in the United States. Most Americans might think that all cookies are “biscuits” in Britain, but these two baked goods have very different meanings. While a “biscuit” is harder and crunchier, while a cookie is meant to be soft and chewie. Cookies can be found in bakeries all over London, and each one offers … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five of the Best Bakeries for Cookies in London
The Fiver – Five of the Best Places for Chocolate in London
Chocolate is one of the most gifted items around Valentine’s Day and London has plenty of shops from which you can purchase a special treat for your special someone. Whether you want to find a box full of sweets or something custom made, the city has plenty of chocolatiers that will satisfy your partner’s sweet tooth. Of course, there’s more than just one kind of chocolate, … [Read more...] about The Fiver – Five of the Best Places for Chocolate in London
The Fiver – Five of the Best Steakhouses in London
Sometimes it’s good to sit down and just have a big piece of cooked red meat. There are many different ways to prepare steak and many more trimmings and side dishes to go with them. London’s steakhouses offer them all and depending on what you’re in the mood for; you can find a restaurant that will suit your tastes within the city. Some have multiple locations so you can … [Read more...] about The Fiver – Five of the Best Steakhouses in London
London Guide: Our Favorite Restaurants in London – London Restaurant Recommendations for Americans – What’s Your Favorite?
With over 15 years of London travel below our belts, we’ve eaten at quite a few restaurants. Some terrible. Some great. We thought it would be a good idea to finally put together a list of our favorite restaurants in London so that others can get the same joy from them that we have. Keep in mind that these restaurants are our own personal preferences so your tastes may be … [Read more...] about London Guide: Our Favorite Restaurants in London – London Restaurant Recommendations for Americans – What’s Your Favorite?
Ten Places to Enjoy Thanksgiving Dinner in London
Thanksgiving is a very American holiday despite having English origins. But traveling to London over the Thanksgiving holiday has become very popular with Americans seeking to avoid the holiday gluttony and shopping madness of Black Friday (or their families...). It's also an easy time to get time off of work for most Americans since most people have a long weekend (well, … [Read more...] about Ten Places to Enjoy Thanksgiving Dinner in London
The London Fiver – Five Autumn Food Festivals in London
You don’t have to live in the country to reap the bounty of the Autumn harvest. Autumn is a traditional time to enjoy the food at its finest and London is a city known for its culinary delights. You can believe that the city has as many interesting food festivals as the rest of the United Kingdom, so we’ve managed to find some for you. Whether you’re in the mood for … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Autumn Food Festivals in London
The London Fiver – Five of the Best London Dive Bars
Dive bars are an experience. They're not fancy, they don't have a five-star menu, and you probably wouldn't recommend them to your friends. However, this horrible reputation is many times undeserved. Dive bars in both the US and the UK are havens for locals. They might be full of kitsch or memorabilia from employees. They engender a loyalty in their regulars because the … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five of the Best London Dive Bars
Guest Post: 10 London restaurants you don’t want to miss by Study Across the Pond
The UK often gets a bad rap when it comes to food, which is a little unfair. Here at Across The Pond, we pride ourselves on knowing all things British as for the past 10 years, we have helped over 10,000 North American students achieve their dream of studying in the UK. Some of our Across The Pond team studied their degrees in London and thought this would be a great … [Read more...] about Guest Post: 10 London restaurants you don’t want to miss by Study Across the Pond
The London Fiver – Five of the Most Interesting Alternatives for Afternoon Tea in London
Afternoon tea, that light meal served between 4 and 6 PM, is a staple of British culture. In addition to enjoying a hot cuppa of the caffeinated beverage, you might enjoy some sandwiches, pastries, cakes, or even biscuits. Anna Maria Rusell, Duchess of Bedford, is credited with beginning the tradition, and, as such, there’s some austerity to afternoon tea. However, some places … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five of the Most Interesting Alternatives for Afternoon Tea in London
The London Fiver – Five of the Best Tea Shops in London To Pop Into On Your Next Trip to London
Tea, the classic staple of British beverages. Whether one enjoys a cuppa for breakfast, to relax, or while enjoying a traditional afternoon tea meal, it is a drink full of flavor and culture. When traveling in London or new to the city, you may want to take the opportunity to branch out from your local grocery shop for tea and try one of the metropolis’ many excellent tea … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five of the Best Tea Shops in London To Pop Into On Your Next Trip to London
Londontopia is simply the website for people who love London. It was founded by Jonathan & Jackie Thomas from Anglotopia.net as a place to post articles solely focused on London and its environs. Keep up with all the latest London news at Londontopia! This site is geared towards people who love to visit London and our primary audience is North American but everyone is welcome!