I have visited London many times throughout the years and with each time I’ve fallen more and more in love with the city. However, on my visits I was always a tourist and felt somewhat limited to the typical sights and activities that all tourists alike experience. Then, on my last visit, I decided to immerse myself into the London experience like a local with the advice of some good friends living in the city. And let me tell you, it made all the difference.
Want to get off the beaten path and experience London like a local? Here are 6 things true Londoners enjoy doing most in their city.
1) Look out for new, exciting food trends
Londoners are always after the next cool food trend – dirty burgers, soup dumplings, laksa, tacos, pastry…you name it! The best places to savour current trendy treats are pop-up restaurants such as London Pop-Ups and The Nudge. Street food markets such as Street Feast in Dalston and Kerb in King’s Cross are also worth a visit.
If you want to take your London experience a step further, try new and super trendy supper clubs, which are essentially food tours, cooking classes, dinners and wine tastings hosted by locals, often in their own homes! You can even hire a local to take you around London for a secret food tour.
2) Party with the cool kids
If you’re looking for trendy bars, underground clubs or warehouse raves, East London is the place to be. This vibrant barrio is home to rooftop parties, prominent DJs and some of the best live music venues in town. Londoners who are after off the radar spots head to Dalston and Hackey for underground bars and clubs.
3) Visit a museum at night
Most museums in London are free of charge, which in itself is a reason enough to visit, but if you want to get a one-of-a-kind experience, visit a museum at night. Night-time events at some of the finest museums and galleries in town are a hit amongst locals. I mean seriously, what’s better than exploring a museum with a glass of red in one hand?
4) Join local football fans
There are two things Londoners love more than anything: beer and sports. So, whether you’re cheering for your favourite football team or just having a couple of pints with friends, the numerous sports bars scattered around the city cover all tastes and offer a truly authentic way to experience London.
5) Go on a hunt for one-off designs at the local market
Creative Londoners stay clear of large shopping malls and retail outlets and head to the quirky market stalls instead. If you’re looking for a great gift for a friend, visit the Greenwich Market or Colombia Road Flower Market. For antiques head over to Portobello Road Market. For everything else, Brick Lane Market is probably the place to go to.
6) Stay in style
Londoners love to do everything in style and to sleep like a Londoner, choose to stay at one of the city’s top hotels. Central London’s Corinthia Hotel is a five-star extravagant piece of work on Northumberland Avenue, just minutes from the West End and the River Thames. Elegant common facilities, lavish penthouses and uniquely decorated rooms capture the true essence of London living. Furthermore, Corinthia Hotel London currently has a 30% off sale on all best rate rooms when booked directly though their website corinthia.com. The offer is applicable for stays until 31st December 2017 but bookings must be made before 28th February, so don’t wait for too long!