Where do the locals hang out in London?

Know from the Locals Places to Visit in London

Are you planning a trip to London, UK? Well, it’s not just you. London is among the preferred places for tourists to spend their holiday. In the year 2015, the city welcomed over 65 million tourists and booked 138,769 hotel rooms.

In our conversation with Paul, a travel enthusiast in London, we wanted to understand the best things to do in London like a native. Let’s bring the best of London to light based on the locals' perspective. 

• The Underground

The Underground, commonly known as the Tube, is the easiest way to travel around the city. It connects the two points of London in minimal time. To know the route, just get a map from any underground station and familiarize yourself with it.

There are escalators for the passengers' convenience. Those who want to take the escalators while standing have to keep to the right, and those who are willing to take the stairs have to keep to the left.

• The Electric Cinema, Notting Hill

Fascinated by movies? If so, then The Electric Cinema, Notting Hill, is a place you must visit. Its traditional Hollywood decor will blow your mind. You can watch your movie on a comfortable and cozy sofa or take leather seats instead.

If you are a fan of Blockbuster, then Paul suggests taking your movie ticket in advance to avoid disappointment.

Address: 191 Portobello Road, Notting Hill, London W11 2ED

Nearest Underground Station: Notting Hill Gate

• The Breakfast Club

Opposite to its name, the restaurant chain serves cuisine all day. They have many outlets in London, but the most preferred one is in Spitalfields. Plan a dinner with your family and friends at The Breakfast Club to reveal an extra dose of surprise. Have all the signs of your favorite foods and drinks as well. An underground bar/lounge is waiting for you. The address is mentioned below to help you.

Address: 12-16 Artillery Ln, London E1 7LS

Closest Underground Station: Liverpool Street

• East London Nightlife

London offers a variety of graceful and colorful nightlife options, including rooftop bars, beer gardens, DJ bars, and traditional pubs—the list is never-ending. Skylight London, Bussey Building, and Lost Vegas at Queen of Hoxton are some of the nicest rooftop bars. From their terraces, you can enjoy your favorite mocktails while taking the view of a vibrant city that never sleeps. Participate in some unforgettable events like live gigs and film nights.

Paul keeps repeating Madison Restaurant in his conversation. The place, overlooking St Paul’s Cathedral, is a favorite of Locals as it serves as both a bar and a restaurant. Madison ordered Mediterranean flavors for their guests, which were the best in the UK. The bar is situated on the terrace, and the meals start at just £26.00.

• Museum Lates

There are several museums and galleries in London that are ready to keep you busy even at night. The museums take you to a new world with performances and workshops. They are Packed with talks, food and drink, films, DJs, and many more beyond our imagination. Have a look at the timetable.

Wednesdays - Camden Arts Centre

Thursday— Handle House Museum, Barbican (by 10:00 pm)

Fridays are booked for British Museums and Design Museum

Apart from this, you will get the British Library occasionally and some other options on Thursdays. 

• Local Parks and Lidos

The greenery of London will leave you speechless about its intelligent, environmentally friendly development irrespective of whether you visit here in summer or winter.

Approximately 47% of the city’s landscape is shaded by green spaces, including Victoria Park, Regent’s Park, Richmond Park, Hyde Park, and St James’s Park, which are some of the favorite parks of the people in the city.

Locals, exotic plants, flowering species, and a wide range of fauna occupy the parks. There are a large number of beach options, from Lidos to outdoor pools such as Brockwell Lido, Chariton Lido, and Hampstead Heath. If you are coming in winter, enquire about the lidos before you reach here as some of them are closed during winter.

• Music Festival

London is considered the cultural hub of the US. If you visit in Summer, you are most likely to encounter a series of mindblowing and cheerful festivals, for instance, Citadel Festival,  Sounds Like London (June), Meltdown Festival (June), British Love Box, Wireless Festival, Field Day, and Summer Time. Buy your tickets to watch renowned names and freshers with the natives.

• How to Reach London

Many cheap flight options will take you to Southend (SEN), London City (LCY), Gatwick (LGW), Luton (LTN), Stansted (STN), or Heathrow (LHR).

What you shouldn't miss in London?

Day 1 in London

• View of the Buckingham Palace. No 2-day London itinerary would be complete without seeing Buckingham Palace.

Still, we do not recommend holding yourself out for last-minute flights. To secure a seat at a cheaper rate, try to book your flight as early as possible, ideally 60 to 90 days before the flight's scheduled departure. Heathrow (LHR) is among the world’s busiest airports. So, the chances are heavily low that you get a cheap return flight unless you are an early bird.

What to be careful about in London?

Enjoy safe nights out

Don't leave drinks unattended or accept them from strangers. Be aware of strangers being over-friendly in bars, clubs, and large gatherings. They may be trying to use a 'hugger-mugger' approach to steal from you. It's better to stick to well-lit and busy streets if possible.