“All My Favorite Things, London!”
There are a million things to do in London, and each time I visit, I tick a few more off of my list while also revisiting some of my favorites. It is certainly not a city you can master in one trip, or perhaps even in a lifetime.
I feel very fortunate to have been able to return repeatedly and continue exploring its many facets. This time, I stopped over for a few days to celebrate my birthday!
In the Covent Garden district on King Street is the “Mariage Frères” flagship store, my mum’s and my favorite tea shop. This French gourmet tea emporium was originally founded in Paris by the Mariage brothers, Henri and Edouard, in 1854. The Mariage family, however, had been importing tea since the 1660s and were commissioned by King Louis XIV. Their London location boasts one of the largest tea walls in the world. While we enjoy many of their teas, the “Marco Polo Sublime,” both in black and green, is our top-shelf choice.
The Cream Dream Pastry Cafe, located in the Covent Garden district, was opened in December 2022 by Lisa, a confectioner and Ukrainian refugee. The cafe is exclusively run by Ukrainian refugees and Lisa works hard to cultivate a welcoming atmosphere for her team to work, connect, and improve their English.
Adorned with pink flowers raining from the ceiling, the cafe, radiates joy and delight. After chatting with Yasia, the head barista, I chose their pink dragonfruit matcha and slammin’ avocado toast, both of which were delicious. This is definitely a place I’d love to return to and gradually explore their entire menu.
I have long loved the musical “Hello Dolly,” so I was thrilled to see it live at the London Palladium, starring Dame Imelda Staunton. Imelda brought a fresh softness to Dolly Levi, quite different from Barbra Streisand’s portrayal in the 1969 film. Initially, it was a hard adjustment, but I soon appreciated her unique adaptation. The costumes were fabulous, the tailoring superb, and the sets transitioned seamlessly.
The steam engine train crossing the stage during “Put on Your Sunday Clothes” was particularly impressive. The musical’s witty and wholesome quality delighted the large audience, showing that what some might call “old-fashioned” still resonates. My favorite scene was the Harmonia Gardens restaurant. The dancing was top-notch, and when Dolly made her grand entrance down the stairs, the audience erupted in applause and cheers that nearly halted the show. It was epic!
The Borough Market is lively with crowds every day of the week, and it’s a staple of my London ventures. I have my beloved vendors that I visit each time. The Freefrom Bakery tempts with incredible delights for those of us with intolerances. Spoiled for choice, I selected their lemon meringue cupcake and spicy carrot cake—both were such a treat, perfect birthday cakes.
For lunch, I ate at Dosa Chaat, one of the permanent street food vendors and my favorite South Indian food spot in all of London. A dosa is a rice and lentil crepe filled with an aromatic potato curry. Traditionally served for breakfast, dosas are delicious for any meal!
The Royal Albert Hall is my favorite concert hall. It is gorgeous and unique, unlike any other building. Opened in 1871 by Queen Victoria, I had long wanted to see its interior. My friend Sarah had raved about the annual BBC Proms, an eight-week summer season of daily orchestral concerts held there, so it seemed the perfect opportunity.
On the evening I attended, I witnessed an unprecedented performance of The Rite of Spring by Igor Stravinsky, played entirely from memory. The orchestra first explored the piece by sections, and after the interval, they performed it brilliantly in full. From my choir seat, I had the perfect view of conductor Nicholas Collon as he passionately led the orchestra through this tenacious movement.
The British Library houses over 170 million items. With such an abundance of resources, where does one start? I personally always beeline for the “Treasure Gallery”, a trove of original manuscripts, parchments, and books. Here, you can view some of the world’s most important legal texts, including the Magna Carta and the Domesday Book.
My favorites in the gallery are the religious texts, featuring early Bible manuscripts from the time of Jesus through the Middle Ages, and even a Gutenberg Bible. The pages of these texts are like artwork.
London has many wonderful green spaces, but I am partial to Kensington Gardens, where my grandparents met. It’s a nostalgic spot I often visit while in the city.
On my last afternoon, I bought a picnic lunch from Leon’s in Paddington Station and took the easy 10-minute walk to Kensington Gardens. I rented a park deck chair from Kwame and settled under a 200-year-old sweet chestnut tree near the Italian Gardens. Leon’s summer squash salad was perfect for enjoying under the trees, making for an idyllic afternoon of people-watching and relaxing.
Thank you so much for joining me on this mini-tour through London of some of my new and old favorites!
Let me know in the comments if you have a London favorite I should explore next time, or if London is still on your bucket list, what would your first stop be in this fabulous city?
