London is a cosmopolitan city that’s bustling with art, music, history and lots of great food. If you’re heading to the UK’s largest city on work or business it would be a real shame not to take in some of the sights and tastes the city has to offer. And, if you class yourself as a bit of a foodie, you should strongly consider booking a few days in the capital to indulge your tastebuds.
Booking an apartment a little way out of the centre is a good way to save more money to splurge on menu experiences; Shortlet-London.com has some options nestled out of the way of the main hustle and bustle. Another option is to stay outside of London in one of the neighbouring counties – that way you can enjoy all the trimmings of city life via a short train journey and sample some good local country hospitality (and grub) too. You can book stays in a number of quaint country pubs in Hertfordshire and Kent, just a short train journey from London, here.
You’ll find cuisine of all kinds across London – from cheap and tasty street food through to award winning fine dining. A good place to start any foodie trip to the city is with a traditional plate of pie and mash or jellied eels, which you should be able to pick up in London’s East End for mere pounds. M.Manze have been serving these Cockney delicacies since 1902 and the families shops in Tower Bridge Road, Peckham and Sutton will give you a real flavour of authentic London eating.
The cities many markets are also a great place to pick up local produce, though some go above and beyond your traditional fruit and veg stalls. Borough Market is a renowned foodie destination that celebrates the best of local producers but also offers a diverse range of creations. Arrive early morning to enjoy your pick of cheeses, pastries, the famous chocolate brownies and street food that spans the typical noodle and falafel through to Caribbean curries and delicious oozing Raclette.
A room with a view is something special but a meal with a view is divine. If you want to see the best of London without splashing out £90 just to take a family of four up the Shard, try dining at Searcys at the top of the Gherkin or at the Harvey Nichols restaurant or brasserie atop the Oxo tower. Here you can expect to pay around £70 per person without alcohol for a three course meal but you can sometimes find discount deals online and the view and excellent view really does make the occasion.
Finally, if entertaining is your focus while you’re in town, you are in for a real treat when it comes to takeaway time at the end of the night. Not only does Brick Lane have some of the best curries in all of the land, it’s also home to two fantastic beigal shops that are open very late indeed and serve generous portions of salt beef on top of delicious doughy carbs – perfect to soak up a night of alcoholic indulgence.
Images by martin55
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