London's Greatest Hits Part 2

11:34 AM

 Afternoon tea, Photo Ops and Markets!

Portobello Market
Portobello Road, headed up to the market. It's just as picturesque as you can imagine.
(update: just went this week and this particular spot is covered by construction :( )

You'll find food, produce, clothing, leather goods and antiques up and down the length of Portobello Road. On Saturday and Sunday, it is a fully pedestrian market.

Colourful houses all around Notting Hill make for FAB photo op (this is on Lancaster road)

I can't help taking a run by this place any time I'm near Notting Hill Gate. Also, get some Thai food here :)



AFTERNOON TEA
sketch london

Sketch for afternoon tea - It's just off of Regent Street so there's plenty of shopping and transportation around.
Sketch London - Soho/Regent Street

St Pancras Renaissance Hotel

Afternoon Tea at St Pancras Renaissance Hotel
St Pancras Renaissance Hotel - Kings Cross/Euston (and right above the Eurostar that could whisk you away to Paris)

Don't miss getting a look at the Grand Staircase in the Hotel!

GREENWICH
East of the City of London
Greenwich Market is a personal favorite. If you have time, I recommend taking a boat down here (from Westminster to Greenwich is approx. 1-1.5 hours). Not only will you get a great tour as you glide down the River Thames, you get an incredible view of the Docklands and parts of the city that you can't get from land.

Thames Riverboat from Westminster to Greenwich
HERE for tickets and schedule info
What you'll SEE on this route (*hint* 77 things on this list)
TIMETABLE

If you go on Saturday, there are more food stalls up than during the week. GET THE CHURRO. Or don't. But do.

The Old Royal Naval College is now the home of the University of Greenwich. Even before it was either one of those things, it was home and favorite hunting ground of Henry VIII. He and Elizabeth I lived here (building marked near the river, not standing)

Take the time to head up the hill in Greenwich park to the Royal Observatory. Not only is it the home of time but you get this view!

FORTNUM & MASON
If you don't know this place, you should know a few of things:
1. This is where the Scotch Egg was invented (YUM)
2. Heinz Baked Beans were introduced to Britain for the first time here in 1886
3. F&M Hampers are historic and vary from gourmet to the most posh picnic you could ever have!
(here's some more if you want to see F&M's timeline)
A charming place where the banisters are covered in velvet and the biscuit tins are music boxes. And that's just the ground floor....

Walk around the first floor and fantasize about alllll the china patterns, find the beautiful Christmas floor and buy some tea/biscuits!

SUNDAY ROAST 
A British Classic
So far, my favorite Sunday Roast has been at the Grazing Goat! I love a good place for fish and chips but for a happy Sunday meal, go for the roast. Make a reservation directly on their site or Opentable.co.uk if you're into that.


The Queen's Walk
This walk takes you along the River Thames from Westminster over to St Paul's (similar to LGH-Part 1) But let me add pictures to entice you to go see Tate Modern (if you need enticing).


P.S. I smell a LGH Part 3 coming at you soon!

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