Guidebook for London
Food Scene
View of Tower Bridge with excellent French Cuisine. Reservations required.
63 locals recommend
Le Pont de la Tour
36D Shad ThamesView of Tower Bridge with excellent French Cuisine. Reservations required.
Exquisite food in a bistro setting with excellent service. A little something special.
12 locals recommend
Magdalen
152 Tooley StreetExquisite food in a bistro setting with excellent service. A little something special.
Every cuisine from around the world, ingredients you never knew you might want to try, and yummy pastries and sweets all in one market. Good for a wander and a snack!
1617 locals recommend
Borough Market
Borough High StreetEvery cuisine from around the world, ingredients you never knew you might want to try, and yummy pastries and sweets all in one market. Good for a wander and a snack!
Located by Hays Galleria and a short walk along the water, budget friendly French food and a good brunch selection.
19 locals recommend
Côte Brasserie - London Bridge Hay's Galleria
Counter StreetLocated by Hays Galleria and a short walk along the water, budget friendly French food and a good brunch selection.
Quick breakfast pastry or cup of coffee while enjoying Hays Galleria.
74 locals recommend
Starbucks Coffee
22-23 Princes StQuick breakfast pastry or cup of coffee while enjoying Hays Galleria.
High Tea with a view of the Tower Bridge. Reasonably priced for London and good quality. Close to St Katherine's docks for a wander.
Guoman Hotel The Tower Gate Bridge London
Saint Katharine's WayHigh Tea with a view of the Tower Bridge. Reasonably priced for London and good quality. Close to St Katherine's docks for a wander.
Budget-friendly quick dinner or lunch. Suitable for families or meetings.
174 locals recommend
Pizza Express
39 Abbey RdBudget-friendly quick dinner or lunch. Suitable for families or meetings.
Bengal Clipper London
Shad ThamesIndian Food - good quality and relatively quiet.
Good lunch or dinner spot and budget friendly. Nice walk along the water. May get busy in evenings.
11 locals recommend
ASK Italian
34 Shad ThamesGood lunch or dinner spot and budget friendly. Nice walk along the water. May get busy in evenings.
PUB! But a Gastro Pub. Yummy British staples made with quality ingredients. Good value for money.
The Bridge House
218 Tower Bridge RoadPUB! But a Gastro Pub. Yummy British staples made with quality ingredients. Good value for money.
Sandwiches, pastries, coffee. A quieter location that other coffee shops on Tooley Street.
67 locals recommend
Pret A Manger
21 Saint George WharfSandwiches, pastries, coffee. A quieter location that other coffee shops on Tooley Street.
Food Stalls and little eateries. Brazilian steak, Vietnamese Noodles, Fresh Baked Bread, pastries etc. Nice for a wander.
292 locals recommend
Maltby Street Market
Maltby StreetFood Stalls and little eateries. Brazilian steak, Vietnamese Noodles, Fresh Baked Bread, pastries etc. Nice for a wander.
Bermondsey Street
Bermondsey StreetA long road of restaurants, coffee shops and wine bars.
Possibly one of the best High Teas in London, but with a price to match. Book to get a table with a view over London.
Láng At The Shangri-La Hotel
31 Saint Thomas StreetPossibly one of the best High Teas in London, but with a price to match. Book to get a table with a view over London.
Requires booking in advance and possibly passport details. One of the best views in London, no charge! Had a cafe and several restaurants. Google SkyGarden.
300 locals recommend
Sky Garden
Requires booking in advance and possibly passport details. One of the best views in London, no charge! Had a cafe and several restaurants. Google SkyGarden.
Duck & Waffle
110 Bishopsgategreat food, great view, early and late.
dim t
2 More London RiversideDim Sum and Asian food in an iconic location.
Pod
5-7 Tottenham StSoups and snacks for a quick lunch.
The Brigade Bar + Kitchen
139 Tooley StBudget-Friendly bistro
Costa Coffee
261 High RdBreakfast and coffee essentials
Possible the funkiest location of this staple. A cute round building in the middle of the docks with a view of the boats and yachts.
74 locals recommend
Starbucks Coffee
22-23 Princes StPossible the funkiest location of this staple. A cute round building in the middle of the docks with a view of the boats and yachts.
Easy walk across Tower Bridge, view of the Thames and a nice spot to sit outside when the weather is good. Easy access to the Tower and Tower Hill underground station as a start to a busy day of exploring London.
74 locals recommend
Starbucks Coffee
22-23 Princes StEasy walk across Tower Bridge, view of the Thames and a nice spot to sit outside when the weather is good. Easy access to the Tower and Tower Hill underground station as a start to a busy day of exploring London.
The bakery is great, but really... is about the AFTERNOON TEA ON A RED DOUBLE DECKER BUS!
For the price of a normal afternoon tea in any of the main hotels in London (1/2 of the Ritz and its type) you also get a 2 hour bus tour at the same time! They take you past many landmarks and serve you tea and cakes. Not for those that get easily car sick, or with a weak bladder (there's no toilet on the bus).
I have done this for a birthday and many of my friends have since gone and loved it. Its definitely a unique thing to do.
http://bbbakery.co.uk/afternoon-tea/afternoon-tea-bus-tour/
9 locals recommend
B Bakery
6-7 Chandos PlThe bakery is great, but really... is about the AFTERNOON TEA ON A RED DOUBLE DECKER BUS!
For the price of a normal afternoon tea in any of the main hotels in London (1/2 of the Ritz and its type) you also get a 2 hour bus tour at the same time! They take you past many landmarks and serve you tea and cakes. Not for those that get easily car sick, or with a weak bladder (there's no toilet on the bus).
I have done this for a birthday and many of my friends have since gone and loved it. Its definitely a unique thing to do.
http://bbbakery.co.uk/afternoon-tea/afternoon-tea-bus-tour/
Drinks & Nightlife
TwoRuba
5 Tooley StClosest cocktail bar. Good drinks inside the Hilton Hotel. 5 mins walk.
The Dean Swift
The local pub. Literally on the same block.
The Vault 1894
Shad ThamesBar underneath Tower Bridge
Pub with a nice ambiance and interior. Can get very busy on weekdays after work.
The Barrowboy & Banker
6-8 Borough High StreetPub with a nice ambiance and interior. Can get very busy on weekdays after work.
Very crowded with local working people on weekdays. Standard drinks in a busy locale.
26 locals recommend
All Bar One Butlers Wharf
34 Shad ThamesVery crowded with local working people on weekdays. Standard drinks in a busy locale.
Essentials
M&S London More Riverside Simply Food
Unit C Bridge RoadSmall grocery shop
Tesco Metro
224-226 Portobello RdLarge Supermarket, also has a coffee shop.
Boots
Unit 14 Canada SquareBathroom products, snacks, pharmacy
Post Office
167 Vauxhall Bridge RdPost Office
Krystals Express
210 Tower Bridge RdGet your Oyster Card topped up, or bus tour tickets. Snacks and drinks.
Smart Clean
5A Murray StThe closest dry cleaning option.
The Circle Gym and Spa
Queen Elizabeth StreetLet's hope nothing happens, but in an emergency please call 999 for police, fire brigade, and emergency medical help. The closest police station is at Borough High Street.
Southwark Police Station
323 Borough High StLet's hope nothing happens, but in an emergency please call 999 for police, fire brigade, and emergency medical help. The closest police station is at Borough High Street.
Sightseeing
Tower of London with Crown Jewels. Will most likely require booking ahead to get tickets.
1372 locals recommend
Tower of London
Tower of London with Crown Jewels. Will most likely require booking ahead to get tickets.
London's tallest building. Viewing platform for views of the city (paid). You can also go to the Shangri-La hotel restaurants for a coffee or snack for a similar view at a fraction of the cost.
828 locals recommend
The Shard
32 London Bridge StLondon's tallest building. Viewing platform for views of the city (paid). You can also go to the Shangri-La hotel restaurants for a coffee or snack for a similar view at a fraction of the cost.
It also has a viewing platform, book early to get tickets. A walk across the bridge is free!
1577 locals recommend
Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge RoadIt also has a viewing platform, book early to get tickets. A walk across the bridge is free!
Also called "The Egg". The mayor's office and a focal point of the South Bank.
52 locals recommend
City Hall
Kamal Chunchie WayAlso called "The Egg". The mayor's office and a focal point of the South Bank.
Book online for priority tickets or go to the priority ticket booth to avoid the long queue!
2099 locals recommend
London Eye
Book online for priority tickets or go to the priority ticket booth to avoid the long queue!
A harbour in the middle of the city. Yachts, houseboats, cafes and restaurants in a winding harbour. Nice for something different and more quiet.
257 locals recommend
St Katharine Docks Marina
50 St Katharine's WayA harbour in the middle of the city. Yachts, houseboats, cafes and restaurants in a winding harbour. Nice for something different and more quiet.
Arts & Culture
Modern art and large art installations. It has a cafe with views of the river and across London.
2008 locals recommend
Tate Modern
BanksideModern art and large art installations. It has a cafe with views of the river and across London.
Stunning architecture. Even if you don't go into the museum, walk around and take in the peace & quiet.
373 locals recommend
National Maritime Museum
Romney RoadStunning architecture. Even if you don't go into the museum, walk around and take in the peace & quiet.
Huge museum, its free, and the building is also very pretty. Don't miss the mosaics on the floor of the entrance as you walk to the Galleries.
353 locals recommend
National Portrait Gallery
Saint Martin's PlaceHuge museum, its free, and the building is also very pretty. Don't miss the mosaics on the floor of the entrance as you walk to the Galleries.
Parks & Nature
The closest green space. Nice to sit and have a sandwich with a view of Tower Bridge.
26 locals recommend
Potters Fields Park
Potters Fields ParkThe closest green space. Nice to sit and have a sandwich with a view of Tower Bridge.
Beautiful location - walk up the hill to the Greenwich Observatory. View over London and Canary Wharf in the distance.
736 locals recommend
Greenwich Park
Beautiful location - walk up the hill to the Greenwich Observatory. View over London and Canary Wharf in the distance.
Shopping
Hay's Galleria
1 Battle Bridge LnA few stalls with little gifts and souvenirs.
Indoor market with restaurants and a food carts at lunch times.
696 locals recommend
Old Spitalfields Market
16 Commercial StIndoor market with restaurants and a food carts at lunch times.
There is a little store to the Right of Dexter's estate agents that sells souvenirs and trinkets. Cute for a browse!
Dexters Tower Bridge Estate Agents
There is a little store to the Right of Dexter's estate agents that sells souvenirs and trinkets. Cute for a browse!
Possibly the prettiest department store in London. Not a budget option, but its free to visit and wander! The restaurant and Tea Room have a wonderfully British decor, and their Afternoon Tea is one of the best in London. (Hint: you can ask for more sandwiches or cakes if you're still hungry and even take a slice of cake to go!)
193 locals recommend
Fortnum & Mason
181 PiccadillyPossibly the prettiest department store in London. Not a budget option, but its free to visit and wander! The restaurant and Tea Room have a wonderfully British decor, and their Afternoon Tea is one of the best in London. (Hint: you can ask for more sandwiches or cakes if you're still hungry and even take a slice of cake to go!)