It started with a running croissant and a missed Tube stop.
Having just arrived in London following a red-eye from Dubai, in my zombie form I tried to have breakfast on the fly while negotiating the Underground. Launched from the wax paper, the croissant skidded across the floor and sadly fell beneath someone’s briefcase as the train jolted into action. The man not blinked. Just glanced down, gently moved aside, and murmured, “Proper welcome to London, that.”
And there it was: in the span of one Tube journey, grimy, aristocratic, chaotic, historical, and dryly amusing. That London is what I mean.
Having managed five hotel stays, several Tube trips, hundreds of lattes, and exactly two inadvertent rides on the wrong bus, here is my whole explanation on how to truly get around London. Including hotel reviews. using local advice. And with the sort of specifics only someone who has personally experienced blisters going from Covent Garden to Soho can inform you.
London by Sense: Sights, Smells, & Sounds
London cannot be subtle. It is a fully sensual experience.
Sight: scarlet buses, chaotic Soho signs, Victorian lampposts, brick buildings with ivy-covered balconies, and the glitter of the Thames at nightfall. You never run out of things to gaze at—especially if you enjoy people-watching. Watching nicely dressed residents leave Bond Street Station with cappuccino in one hand and airpods in the other like they are on their way to MI6 is my preferred viewing.
Sound: The announcement on “Mind the Gap.” Street musicians gathered under Waterloo Bridge. The gentle shuffle of museum visitors and bus whoosh. And the traditional “you alright?” which is more of a kind hello than a query on your emotional state.
Coffee, rain-soaked cobblestones, perfume clouds from department stores like Liberty, and those lovely pockets of fresh bread close to Marylebone bakery smell.
Taste: Scones so buttery they seem illicit. Eat chips with vinegar in public. Dalston’s Turkish meze. Pudding made with sticky toffee in a riverfront restaurant. And I didn’t drop the warm, flaky croissant outside King’s Cross.
Touch: The Tube has smooth handrails. At Hyde Park, have damp benches. Stone at the Tower of London crumbs. And hotel bathrobes ranging from “budget scratchy,” to “I’m never taking this off.”
WHERE TO STAY: LONDON HOTELS I Actually SLEPT IN
The Zetter Townhouse located in Clerkenwell
Entering The Zetter feels as though you are being adopted by your quirky, affluent British aunt. Odd in the nicest sense are velvet couches, mismatched teacups, old photographs. My accommodation had a four-poster bed and a minibar filled with East London Liquor Company’s locally produced delicacies, including gin. (Yes, at 4pm I drank a solitary G&T and I have no regrets.)
Though central enough for gourmet adventures, Clerkenwell is calmer than Shoreditch. Don’t miss Exmouth Market not too far off.
Hoxton – Holborn
This is your modern, Instagram-approved brunch-on-the-lobby-sofa hotel. It’s congested. It’s fantastic. It smells like ambition combined with eucalyptus. My room had vintage accents and a lovely breakfast package put on the doorknob every morning—banana, granola, juice—simple yet revolutionary.
Note: The British Museum and Covent Garden are within walking distances away. Go to the museum when it opens to avoid the throngs; then, stop in the green side streets of Bloomsbury to catch your breath.
St Christopher’s House in Marylebone
Not a hotel but a hidden treasure deserving of recognition. Nestled behind Oxford Street, St Christopher’s Place is a little plaza bursting with restaurants, boutiques, and a sense of finding a secret area of the city. Staying close at The Marylebone Hotel, which is lovely, friendly, and far less touristic than anyplace straight on Oxford Street, was The hotel had a rooftop view and a spa; breakfast arrived with actual butter (never undervalue this).
Use this as your basis if you wish luxury without the craziness. Try Ole & Steen also for cinnamon swirls that will damage you permanently.
citizen M Tower of London
a reasonably priced cheap hotel that seems luxurious. You check in on a touchscreen. With mood lighting and large windows facing the Tower of London, the pod-like yet very comfortable apartments are I never would have expected from a “smart hotel,” seeing it lit up at night curled under plush blankets was a cinematic event.
Suggestion: Make a Tower-facing room reservation. Walking two minutes to Black Sheep Coffee for something stronger and more fulfilling can help you avoid the pricey breakfast.
The Ned: Bank
pure, unassuming luxury without of apologies. Booked as a treat, one night here helped me to see why many choose hotel ballrooms for their marriage. Jazz live in the main hall, with vintage accents, five-star cuisine. You will underdress. You will wash simply since the tub fits your bed at home is smaller than.
Advice: Ideal for a one-night indulgence. Take the DLR to Greenwich the next morning for a riverfront cleanse with street food.
Getting about London: My honest advice
Oyster Card as opposed to Contactless: Use Apple Pay or a contactless card; it caps your daily expenses exactly like an oyster and saves you the headache.
The Tube is legendary, but never undervalue the bus. You can see more above ground. Get the Citymapper app; it is significantly more helpful than Google Maps here.
Not let walking cause you anxiety. If London is broken out into zones, it is a walking city. Soho towards Trafalgar Square? stroll. Tower Bridge connected to Borough Market? Absolutely walk (and eat your way there).
Steer clear of rush hour (5–7 p.m. and 7.30–9.30 a.m.). Unless you get great enjoyment being totally silent and crushed against complete strangers.
Take an umbrella with you always. The season will turn against you. allow not allow it control you.
Travel Hack: Weekends equal less expensive hotel rates in commercial areas like City of London. Plan luxurious stays for less using that.
Food, culture, and unexpected joys
Food You Cannot Miss: Get the black daal from Dishoom (Covent Garden). Always.
Flat Iron (Soho): The greatest £12 steak you will come across; no bookings.
Fresh pasta comes from Padella, London Bridge. extended queue. Worth it.
Cultural Advice: “You alright?,” is just greeting.
Say thanks to the bus drivers.
On escalators, stand on the right and walk left. This is the law.
Close publics early. Not surprisingly, final call falls around 10:45 p.m.
Neighbourhoods I loved:
Soho: Alive, quirky, late-night noodle and neon signage.
Marylebone: Perfect for aficionados of boutique hotels; polished, village-like.
Great for galleries, riverbank walks, and laid-back hang-ons is South Bank.
Shoreditch: Central hipster. Graffiti, rooftop bars, wrecked antique stores.
Last thoughts: THE MAGIC IN THE MESS.
Not a manicured postcard city is London. Layered is it. It sounds strong. Along with pricey coffees and unexpected pigeons, it boasts the most lovely bookshop on a side street devoid of a name. The warmth of a stranger guiding you with the Tube map, the grandeur of Big Ben shining at dark, and the magnificent, consoling chaos of discovering your rhythm in a location continually in motion.
Schedule that hotel book. Just once, choose the bus rather than the tube. Keep some distance from the centre. Go into a pub by yourself. And should your croissant fall on the floor? chuckled. You adore, you are in London.
The Zetter Townhouse, The Hoxton Holborn, The Marylebone Hotel, citizenM Tower of London, The Ned, (with mention of St Christopher’s Place as a travel treasure) are among the hotels featured.
Need a 3-day walking itinerary from hotels to hidden scone spots to perfect selfie stops? Just drop a comment—I’ve got the whole map ready for you! 🏨🥐📸