Edits

25/25

London

Despite its unreliable transport system and vertiginous property prices, London is still viewed by many as centre of the cultural and financial worlds. Come 2012, let's hope that City Hall will have fulfilled a few promises to transform the metropolis from lurching anachronism into rightful capital of the world.
 

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Essentials

01 London's black cabs are still the best taxis in the world.
02 Buy an Oyster card - you'll find the savings on public transport far outweigh the delays - or get yourself a "Boris bike".
03 Go green - London's parks are some of the most extensive and well-kept in the world.
04 Dodge the chains 01: London is in the throes of an artisan coffee revolution.
05 Dodge the chains 02: It's also got a great new generation of owner-run fashion shops.
06 There's another sort of clubbing: London's private members' clubs offer refuge and late-night drinking.
07 The Nag's Head on Belgravia's Kinnerton Street is still the quintessential old London boozer.
08 For an eccentric stay in the heart of Notting Hill, book a room at antiques heir Martin Miller's Residence.
09 Should the sun shine, fill a basket at The Natural Kitchen on Marylebone High Street, grab a cab and head for Hampstead Heath, one of the world's best urban green spaces.
10 There are very few cities in the world where you can see so much for so little: most museums are free, the newest bands play for a pittance and walking is the best sport of all.

 


Hotels
Independent and easy
Durrants Hotel
26-32 George St, W1
+ 44 20 7935 8131
durrantshotel.co.uk

Dependable chain
Charlotte Street Hotel
15 Charlotte Street, W1
+ 44 20 7806 2000
firmdale.com

Premium
The Berkeley
Wilton Place, SW1
+ 44 20 7235 6000
the-berkeley.co.uk

Dining
Fast breakfast
St John Bread & Wine
94-96 Commercial St, E1
+ 44 20 7251 0848
stjohnbreadandwine.com

Business breakfast
The Wolseley
160 Piccadilly, W1
+ 44 20 7499 6996
thewolseley.com

Mid-morning coffee
Cocomaya
12 Connaught St, W2
+ 44 20 7706 2883
cocomaya.co.uk

Working lunch with colleagues
Barrafina
54 Frith St, W1
+ 44 20 7813 8016
barrafina.co.uk

Need-to-impress clients lunch
Tinello
87 Pimlico Rd, SW1
+ 44 20 7730 3663
tinello.co.uk

Lunch on your own
Fernandez & Wells
43 Lexington St, W1
+ 44 20 7734 1546
fernandezandwells.com

Afternoon tea/drink
Tate Modern
Bankside, SE1
+ 44 20 7887 8888
tate.org.uk/modern

Dinner on your own
Koya
49 Frith St, W1
+ 44 20 7405 1717
koya.co.uk

Dinner with colleagues
Dinings
22 Harcourt St, W1
+ 44 20 7723 0666
dinings.co.uk

Big dinner with partner/clients
Dean Street Townhouse
69-71 Dean St, W1
+44 20 7434 1775
deanstreettownhouse.com

Drink after dinner
Durrants Hotel
George St, W1
+ 44 20 7935 8131
durrantshotel.co.uk

Late drinks
Momo
25 Heddon St, W1
+ 44 20 7434 4040
momoresto.com

Late bite
Maroush II
38 Beauchamp Pl, SW3
+ 44 20 7581 5434
maroush.com

On the tiles
Poolside at Shoreditch House
Ebor St, E1
+ 44 20 7739 5040
shoreditchhouse.com
Reading
Bookstore
Daunt Books
83 Marylebone High St, W1
+ 44 20 7224 2295
dauntbooks.co.uk

Newsagent
Charlotte Street News
66 Charlotte St, Fitzrovia, W1
+ 44 20 7636 4270
charlottestreet.co.uk

Thank yous
Florist
Harper & Tom's Flowers
15 Elgin Cr, W11
+ 44 20 7243 8510
charlottestreet.co.uk

Shopping
Something you can't get anywhere else
Underpants from Sunspel
7 Redchurch St, E2
+ 44 20 7739 9729
sunspel.com

Lost luggage - where to buy shirts, socks and underwear
Trunk
8 Chiltern St, W1
+ 44 20 7486 2357
trunkclothiers.com

Something for the kids
Toys from Honeyjam
267 Portobello Rd, W11
+ 44 20 7243 0449
honeyjam.co.uk

Something for someone you love
Monogrammed stationery by Smythson
40 New Bond St, W1
+ 44 20 7629 8558
smythson.com

Something for yourself
Folk
49 Lamb's Conduit Street, WC1
+ 44 20 7404 6458
folkclothing.com
Two-hour tour

01
Stroll over Primrose Hill

02
London Zoo
Outer Circle,
Regent's Park, NW1
+ 44 20 7722 3333
zsl.org/london-zoo

03
Gagosian Gallery
4-24 Britannia Street WC1
contemporary sculpture
+ 44 20 7841 9960
gagosian.com

Limousine/car
Executive First
+ 44 20 7561 5003
executive-first.com

Transport
Buy a pass
An Oyster card will get you all across London for just over a fiver a day. And although black cabs are excellent, another way to view the city at your leisure is to join and hire a car from citycarclub.co.uk and drive off in a brand new motor from one of the dozens of locations around the city.

Fitness
Good gym
KX Gym
151 Draycott Ave, SW3
+ 44 20 7584 5333
kxgym.co.uk

Good running route
Anywhere in Hyde Park

Credits

Writer: Saul Taylor

25/25

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