The Ultimate 'Top Five' London Guide
- Phil Thomas
- Jun 11
- 8 min read
Updated: Sep 14
Curated exclusively for visitors to
The Speaker Summit, July 2025.
After more than twenty years of living in, working in, and endlessly exploring London, I’ve come to understand this city not as a checklist of sights, but as a maze of moments. A pint in the right pub at the right time, a sudden skyline view that stops you mid-step, a corner bookshop where you suddenly lose an hour.
This guide isn’t exhaustive, and it’s not trying to be. It’s a collection of personal favourites: places I return to again and again, and ones I always recommend to visiting friends who want to go beyond the obvious. It blends the classic with the curious, the iconic with the overlooked, all chosen with a love of independent discovery and a bias for things that feel authentic, atmospheric, and just a little bit special.
For those visiting from afar, welcome to our city! For long-time Londoners looking for fresh inspiration, I hope this helps you find your own moments worth remembering.
Getting Here
London has no fewer than five airports serving it - I recommend using Trip.com to find the best deals. Be aware that most of the headline fees you see won't include a checked bag.
5 Favourite Watering Holes
The Chandos – 29 St Martin's Lane (Tube: Leicester Square)
A prime location pub with – relative to London - cheap pints, Yorkshire Bitters, and a prime corner perch near Trafalgar Square. The upstairs Opera Room is a cozy Victorian haven for theatre-goers and pint-hunters alike. My grandparents drank here in the 1940s so this comes with three generations of recommendations
The Harp – 47 Chandos Place (Tube: Charing Cross)
Just round the corner from Chandos, The Harp is proper ‘blink and you’ll miss it’. A beloved alehouse with stained glass windows and a panopoly of beermats on every surface. This multi-award-winning gem serves stellar cask ales (the Dark Star is an excellent lower alcohol option) and has a snug, vertical-drinking-friendly interior.
The Pride of Spitalfields – 3 Heneage Street (Tube: Liverpool Street)
A proper East End boozer hidden down a side street near Brick Lane (stop by for a curry beforehands). Expect lace curtains, a pub cat, and no-nonsense charm. Serves up a good range of real in a refreshingly unrefurbished setting. As authentic as a pint gets in this rapidly gentrifying corner of town.
The Anchor – 34 Park Street (Tube: London Bridge)
A South Bank staple with history seeping from its wooden beams. Samuel Pepys supposedly watched the Great Fire of London from here in 1666. Today it’s better known for its riverside terrace and tourist buzz. Grab an outside table for the city skyline view or stay indoors and soak up centuries of ale-soaked atmosphere.
The Port House – 417 Strand (Tube: Covent Garden)
Dimly lit and richly atmospheric, this tapas and port bar offers a taste of Spain in a wood-panelled cocoon just off the Strand. A relative calm spot in the midst of the West End’s bright lights, candlelight, rustic barrels, and a seductive drinks list make it an ideal pit stop.
5 Mind-Clearing Walks
Tower Bridge to Westminster (3.5 miles)
The definitive London ‘Greatest Hits’ walk (approx. 3.5 miles) – Golden Hind, Shakespeare’s Globe, Tate Modern, Millennium Bridge, and the London Eye (with a pub stop at The Anchor, see above). Ideal for first-timers and photographers. Finish with Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Flat, easy, and full of London flavour.
Kew to Richmond (2.5 miles – longer if you extend into Richmond Park)
Leafy and elegant, this Thames-side walk (about 2.5 miles) links botanical grandeur to Georgian charm. Start at Kew Gardens (well worth popping in first) and follow the towpath down quiet tree-lined stretches, and cosy riverside pubs. Ideal on a sunny afternoon, especially when Richmond’s deer park beckons at the end.
Greenwich Park (2 miles loop)
Wander up the hill to the Royal Observatory for sweeping city views, then amble through landscaped gardens, deer enclosures, and maritime history. Around 2 miles if you loop the park. The definitive London picnic and panorama spot with plenty of green breathing space. Fans of naval history and jumping between two hemipsheres should also make time for the observatory. Add boat trip back down the Thames to extend your views.
Hampstead Heath (As long as you want!)
Ramble across meadows, climb Parliament Hill for views, dip in the bathing ponds, or get lost in ancient woodland. There’s no set route, but a full circuit can stretch to 6 miles. Rustic, wild and wonderfully unmanicured – this is London’s most liberating green space.
The City and Wren’s Churches (2 miles)
One for (old and new) architecture buffs. Thread through narrow lanes and hidden courtyards on a 2-mile tour of Wren’s masterpieces, including St Mary-le-Bow and St Stephen Walbrook. Ideal for lovers of architecture, history, and quiet corners. A fascinating peek into post-Great Fire London. Easy to combine with the Tower Bridge to Westminster.
5 Spectacular Panoramas
Primrose Hill – Regent's Park Road (Tube: Chalk Farm)
Climb the gentle slope of Primrose Hill for one of London’s best skyline views. Popular with locals, it’s a perfect picnic or Sunday stroll spot with a romantic, laid-back vibe. On clear days, you’ll see landmarks stretching far into the distance, framed by trees and wide-open skies.
Sky Garden – 20 Fenchurch Street (Tube: Monument, Free entry with reservation)
A lush garden in the sky offering sweeping views of London’s skyline from the Walkie Talkie building. Free to visit with an advance reservation (book here - ideally at least 2 weeks ahead), it’s a stunning blend of greenery and glass. Come at sunset for breathtaking city views framed by tropical plants and dramatic architectural lines.
One Tree Hill – Honor Oak Park (Tube: Honor Oak Park Overground)
Banish memories of 90s teen-angst TV dramas and head for this delightful corner of southeast London with woodland paths and a surprising summit with a panorama over the Shard, City, and beyond your reward. Local legend claims Queen Elizabeth I once picnicked here…which gives new meaning to the phrase ‘majestic views’.
The View from The Shard – 32 London Bridge Street (Tube: London Bridge, Entry from £28)
Soaring 72 floors above the Thames, The Shard offers London’s highest public viewing platform and a vertigo-inducing perspective on the capital and 40 miles beyond. Come at dusk for a city bathed in gold, then glittering with lights. Pricey, yes (and if you can get into the Sky Garden, I’d do that!) but unforgettable.
Parliament Hill – Hampstead Heath (Tube: Gospel Oak)
Beloved by locals, this summit on Hampstead Heath offers stirring views of the City and Canary Wharf. Blustery and brilliant in every season, it’s the spiritual heart of north London walking. Bring a flask or a takeaway coffee and feel miles from the urban sprawl below.
5 Favourite Eats
El Pastor – 6-7a Stoney Street (Tube: London Bridge)
Tucked beneath the arches in Borough Market, El Pastor dishes up Mexico City-style tacos with a London twist. The tortillas are made fresh in-house, and the pork al pastor is legendary. Perfect for a quick bite, a flavour-packed start to your night out or lunch on the go (a good lunch stop for the South Bank walk above).
Tayyabs – 83 Fieldgate Street (Tube: Whitechapel) – Book Here
A cult favourite for Punjabi lamb chops that arrive sizzling and spiced to perfection. This buzzing, bring-your-own-bottle institution has fed Londoners since the 70s. The wait to be seated can be unpredictable but the food has always been top notch. Come hungry, leave stuffed.
Padella – 6 Southwark Street (Tube: London Bridge) or 1 Phipps Street (Tube: Moorgate)
Famous for its handmade pasta and almost-as-famous queues, Padella nails the affordable-excellence brief. The pici cacio e pepe is a must, but it’s hard to go wrong. It’s walk-ins only (or join their virtual queue), so plan accordingly, it’s worth it.
Hawksmoor – Various locations (Tube: Piccadilly Circus / Liverpool Street / Borough)
London’s go-to for perfectly cooked steak in classy-but-comfortable surroundings. Each branch has its own charm, but the service and standards are reliably top-tier. Ideal for a long lunch, celebratory dinner or just treating yourself. Decent cocktail menu too.
The Bull & Last – 168 Highgate Road (Tube: Tufnell Park)
Part country pub, part modern gastropub, The Bull & Last is a north London treasure. Menus lean seasonal and British – think venison, oysters, and sticky toffee pudding – with Sunday roasts drawing locals and Londoners alike. Pairs well with Hampstead Heath walk.
5 Experiences To Remember
Skywalk at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – 782 High Road (Tube: White Hart Lane Overground – Entry From £40)
Strap in and scale the stadium roof for panoramic views of north London and beyond. The daredevil finale? Leaning out over the pitch. I’m a season ticket holder at Spurs and can safely say it’s a lot higher than it looks from ground level. Now includes abseiling in case your heart needed more stimulation.
HMS Belfast – The Queen’s Walk (Tube: London Bridge, Entry from £27)
Permanently moored on the Thames but overlooked by most tourists, this WWII warship turned floating museum lets you explore nine decks of history. From cramped crew bunks to the command bridge, it’s real-life history with views of Tower Bridge.
God’s Own Junkyard – Unit 12, Ravenswood Industrial Estate (Tube: Walthamstow Central, Free but donations to Prostate Cancer UK appreciated)
A psychedelic explosion of neon signs, vintage finds, and glowing kitsch, God’s Own Junkyard is part art gallery, part fever dream. Created by late artist Chris Bracey, it’s hidden in a Walthamstow industrial estate – and all the better for it. Bring your camera…and maybe sunglasses.
Hidden London Underground Tours – Varies by site (Tube: Dependent on location, Tickets from £25)
Descend into the forgotten tunnels and secret stations of the Tube network with these immersive tours by the London Transport Museum. Think eerie platforms, wartime bunkers, and ghost stations. Fascinating, atmospheric, and wildly popular - book well ahead for a rare glimpse into the city beneath the city.
Canal Boat from Little Venice to Camden – Depart from Blomfield Road (Tube: Warwick Avenue, Tickets from £14)
Cruise past waterside townhouses, leafy towpaths, and the odd heron on this slow and scenic glide through northwest London. A relaxed, eye-level way to experience the Regent’s Canal. You’ll pass through the eerie Maida Hill Tunnel before popping out near Camden Market’s buzz. Calm, quirky, and surprisingly picturesque.
Favourite 5 LGBTQ+ Spots London
LGBTQ+ Tours of London – Departs from various locations (see link)
These passionate, activist-led walking tours explore LGBTQ+ lives past and present. From Soho’s hidden history to radical protest sites and drag legacies, it’s storytelling with purpose. Personal, political, and often hilarious – and a great counter for anyone (sigh, rolls eyes) claiming LGBTQ+ identities are a modern invention
Gay’s The Word – 66 Marchmont Street (Tube: Russell Square)
The UK’s oldest LGBTQ+ bookshop, this independent Bloomsbury haven is crammed with queer fiction, zines, memoirs and activist texts – the 1980s movement in support of striking miners features prominently. A cultural touchstone since 1979, it’s quietly radical, deeply welcoming, and utterly fascinating. The cafes either side are a good place to chill too.
Royal Vauxhall Tavern – 372 Kennington Lane (Tube: Vauxhall)
A south London institution steeped in drag history and cabaret chaos. RVT hosts legendary nights from Myra Dubois (my favourite Drag Queen hands down)’s Sunday Cabaret to film screenings, mixing politics, queerness, and high camp. From Freddie Mercury sneaking in Princess Diana (in disguise) to present-day Saturday night performances, this remains where London’s queer spirit struts proudly on stage.
Retro Bar – 2 George Court (Tube: Charing Cross)
Tucked away off the Strand (2 minutes from the Port House if you’re in a mix and match mood), this indie, gay-friendly bar is delightfully kitsch and proudly inclusive. The downstairs is dark and grungy, the upstairs is a riot of theatric camp. A rare find with character, history, and attitude in equal measure.
King’s Head Theatre – 115 Upper Street (Tube: Angel)
One of London’s oldest pub theatres and a champion of LGBTQ+ storytelling. This intimate venue Islington has premiered queer plays, nurtured drag acts, and given voice to stories that rarely reach the mainstream. Grab a drink downstairs and head up for something – in their own words – ‘joyful, irreverent, colourful and queer’.
Comments