David Zwirner Gallery

The Beaumont is one of those fantastical places you only find in London or Paris. An Art Deco hotel (in what was Selfridges' parking lot back in the twenties), you would be hard-pressed to find a more convenient launch pad to Mayfair, and the rest of Central London for that matter. The (fictional) story is that Jimmy Beaumont, a successful American entrepreneur frustrated by Prohibition, moves to London in the 1920's, and opens up a swanky hotel in London. And though it's fictional, the hotel does ooze that sense of history with Deco furniture, paintings from the period, wood paneling, velvet chairs, a glamorous marble-clad spa, an old-fashioned "Cub Room" just for guests, and an American bar (serving up all those drinks Jimmy couldn't get across the Atlantic). Somewhat anachronistic for the story is the rather grand Antony Gormley sculpture that crowns the hotel—guests can arrange to sleep inside of it. Pro tip: Cancel your reservation and eat your supper in bed—the room service is top notch.

Brown's has epitomized British luxury since the Victorian era. And after its recent top-to-bottom revamp, it started racking up accolades for its elegant, amenity-packed rooms (there's even cookies-and-milk turndown service for kids) and classically British HIX restaurant at lightning speed. Request the Kipling Suite: Legend has it this is where The Jungle Book was written.

Fans of Andre Balazs's other achievements in hospitality (the iconic Chateau Marmont in LA and Mercer in NY) will not be disappointed by his first project in London, which features a Nuno Mendez-helmed restaurant and 26 well-appointed rooms. The décor comes courtesy of the French Studio Ko, who seamlessly integrated original features like the fireman's pole, brick and tilework, and fire doors with velvet seating, glitzy marble bars, and old-fashioned, flower-print carpeting. The rooms, too, offer that fun mix of plush comfort and architectural detail—all meticulously thought through. You'll find plugs for every region, Bose Bluetooth speakers, and a kitted out mini-bar. While the wonderful restaurant and bar are unendingly scene-y, the guest quarters are very private, making it an unexpectedly excellent and restful stay.

It's a great place to stay, and it's also a wonderful spot to duck into for an afternoon tea. Live piano and violin (sometimes even a double bass) accompany the much-acclaimed menus here. You'll find a variety of small-batch Tregothnan English Estate blends, which are the perfect companion to the finger sandwiches, warm scones, and clotted cream. Their famous Marco Polo jelly is not to be missed, neither is a walk through the Art Deco lobby to check out the stunning sweeping staircase.

The Connaught was revamped in 2008, and the interiors are full of subtle and modern surprises while maintaining the institution's old-world charm. The decor is elegant, the service is top notch, and the Connaught Bar and Jean-Georges (the burger is insane) are tasteful additions. The top floor of the hotel is occupied by an exquisite apartment decorated by the late David Collins in his signature shades of blue and grey. It's available to guests for a luxurious stay, and at the very least worth exploring on the website.

Opened by a Frenchman as a restaurant in the mid-1800's, the Café Royal came to be known not only for its wine cellar—at the time, the largest in the world—but also as the intelligentsia's favorite watering hole. Everyone from Oscar Wilde—today, the sleek, green glass-tiled absinthe bar is named after him—to Rudyard Kipling, Virginia Woolf, D.H. Lawrence, and later, David Bowie, Princess Di and Mick Jagger showed up. When the glamour died down, the small hotel chain The Set came to the rescue for a revamp via David Chipperfield Architects and reopened the institution as a hotel and private club. Nowadays, the hotel, café, bar, and club attract a new kind of intelligentsia— namely fashion and media types—and is a hive of activity especially around fashion week, Frieze, and PAD. If you're splurging, don't miss the dreamy, pastel-hued Dome suite on the top floor, which boasts a terrace overlooking Regent Street, and the Akasha Spa, which is an unlikely, peaceful haven in the middle of Piccadilly.

The Stafford is a well-kept secret. So well-kept, that despite a decade of near constant travel to London, many staffers had never heard of it. Hidden down a quiet residential street in Mayfair, the hotel has 107 rooms and occupies a collection of 17th-century townhouses. The rooms are spacious, with beautiful vintage wallpaper, separate dressing rooms, and all-marble bathrooms. And despite being in the middle of the city center, The Stafford is blissfully quiet. History buffs, or anyone else for that matter, shouldn’t miss Winston Churchill’s former home, a few doors down.

This addition to the Zetter Group oozes with character. In fact, it's a very specific character in the form of Wicked Uncle Seymour, a fictional owner whom the hotel staff will gladly tell you all about. He was a traveler, a playboy, a drinker, and an admirer of beautiful things, and the hotel reflects his personality through and through. The bar/restaurant downstairs, Seymour's Parlor, which doubles as reception, shows all of the uncle's collections from his travels—obelisks, statuettes, plaster casts, and quirky old oil paintings. And upstairs, the rooms are all individually decorated with the imposing furniture you'd imagine at a worldly old English gent's home. He was a wonderful host, it seems, for every need is taken care of here, from the Ren bath products in the bathroom, to the sumptuous tubs and rain showers, to the "vintage" satellite radio, to the heavenly beds, to the bar downstairs with its small but thoughtful drinks, snacks, and food menu.

Founded in 1963 by London hospitality legend Mark Birley, Annabel's is something of a London institution. Generations of London royalty from Princess Di and the Rolling Stones to Poppy Delevigne have turned up there to rub elbows on its intimate and tiny dance floor. Annabel's may not be as red-hot as it was in the old days, but it retains its sense of history, its exclusive clientele, and the impeccable service and style that made it famous in the first place. If you're lucky enough to be a member (or a friend of one), do remember the dress code—men will need a jacket to get in.

Owner Arjun Waney (he's behind London favorites like Zuma, Roka, and Oblix) seems to have nailed that special formula for modern dining, which obviously involves great food. If the meals alone don't fully justify the membership fee, the art collection (you'll see a John Baldessari and a Tomas Saraceno sculpture in the stairwell) and exquisitely decorated common spaces for gathering over coffee and afternoon tea definitely do. Members and their friends can also book one of the Club's 16 enormous, gorgeously-appointed hotel rooms, which offer 24 hour butler service. Perhaps most importantly, though, members get access to 1863, the club's intimate bar and performance space, where you can see some of London's best musicians perform literally feet away.

This indulgent arrival comes from the people behind the excellent chainlet, Burger & Lobster. Located in a subterranean space, the elevator doors open to tanks of live Alaskan King Crabs and a meat hanger full of serious Nebraskan steaks, marking the beginning of a meal that's best characterized by the word excess. Three long banquet tables span the cavernous, candle-lit space where diners share the pricey £75 set menu (vegetarians who come along for the ride pay only £25). The meal kicks off with pickled onions, artichoke hearts, olives, and a gigantic chunk of parmesan followed by beautifully marbled steak, undressed crab served family style, and a slew of veggie sides. There’s not a carb in sight, which is a godsend as the portions are huge.

Regional Italian dishes that include a memorably great Osso Bucco are served up at Murano’s more laid-back sister restaurant, where chef Sam Williams has taken the helm. It’s relaxed in an upscale, Mayfair sort of way: Seats at the long marble bar are first-come-first-serve, and the booths are the perfect spot to spend the better part of an afternoon drinking aperitivi with friends. Must order: The truffle arancini. There's also an outpost in Covent Garden.

Like the rest of André Balasz' hotels and restaurants (the iconic Chateau Marmont in LA and Mercer in NY, to name a couple), his first venture in London is undoubtedly one of the sceniest in town. Part of the allure is the decor, courtesy of Studio Ko, who seamlessly integrated original features like the fireman's pole, brick and tilework, and fire doors with velvet seating, glitzy marble bars, and old-fashioned, flower-print carpeting. And part of it is chef Nuno Mendez' brasserie-style menu that's packed with his near perfect takes on the classics like Caesar Salad and Roast Chicken, plus some of the most delicious and inventive appetisers in town—the crab-stuffed doughnuts are a brunch favorite. A private dining room at a hotel like this is a must, and the elegant—though much less splashy—room here ticks all the boxes and accommodates 12.

Like stepping back into old-world Eastern elegance, this beautiful dining room serves exquisitely-executed, upscale Cantonese classics, like their whole suckling pig, which requires 24-hour notice and £150 pounds. It's a splurge but makes for a memorable meal, particularly if it's served in one of the three adjacent private rooms that seat up to 26—Ping, Pang, and Pong—or combined to seat 80. The dim sum, which is less of an investment, is also great, the seafood and veggie sides are as fresh as they come, and they've totally nailed cha siu. A meal here is best enjoyed with an expense account, but you can always hit the swanky bar for one very delicious cocktail.

Even though it's a total gem, you won't find Chisou in any London guidebooks. It's traditional Japanese, and the experience is rounded out with hand towels and a serious sake menu. Make sure you try GP's pick, the spinach salad with spicy shrimp (GP loves it so much she orders two). If you're short on time or budget, try Chisou To Go, where you can pick up sushi, salad, and noodles for the road.

Arjun Waney (of Zuma, Roka and La Petite Maison) took a bit of a departure by opening this Peruvian eatery. The food is fantastic and skews traditional with fresh ceviche and lots of skewered meats and fish. The basement houses the main restaurant while the ground floor and terrace, which includes an open grill and a pisco bar, are members only.

Tucked away in a converted townhouse in Marylebone is one of London's best-kept secrets when it comes to Japanese. While the interiors are nothing worth celebrating—the dark basement seating borders on claustrophobic—the small, tapas-style dishes, make it, and the price tag, worthwhile. The menu is extensive and the good news is they're more than happy to guide you if you don't know where to begin. Our picks: The beef cha-sia bun and the miso glazed eggplant (aubergine).

The sausages and schnitzels are good, but it's really the atmosphere that makes this Marylebone spot worthwhile. Modeled after an old-world Viennese café, it looks like a meticulously considered set from Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel. There are dark wood booths, Tyrolean landscapes on the walls, and an old-school newspaper rack, which all help it achieve the feeling of a time warp. Not surprisingly, it’s from the team behind The Wolseley and The Delaunay, who are known for their cinematic spaces.

This friendly and casual Marylebone institution serves some of the best fish & chips going. Lunchtime is, of course, especially busy, but the fact that it's bustling the rest of the time points to this being one of London's best.

Modeled after a Raj-era Indian sports club, Gymkhana balances old-world interiors with some of the best Indian in London: It was voted the number one restaurant in London in 2013 before going on to win a Michelin star in 2014. The food is served family-style—Tikkas, Biryanis, Saags—but things get really exciting when it comes to the bread. The duck egg bhurji with lobster, for one, is epic. Perfect for intimate, private dinners, the restaurant also has two beautifully appointed vaults that seat 9 or 12: They are tasting menu only so, go prepared for a big meal.

At Hélène Darroze, delicious and traditional French cuisine is served in an airy and elegant setting. The food is reminiscent of lazy meals on weekend mornings in southwestern France, where the chef grew up—the Saturday brunch is not to be missed.

The secret to a great Japanese restaurant is often in the details: Simple, fresh ingredients, delicately-sliced fish, perfectly-seasoned rice, and decoratively-plated fruit. Ikeda does all of these things and more in a small, unassuming room with kimono-clad waitresses. Go for the omakaseif you're a sushi lover. Cooked options, liked the grilled meats and fishes, are excellent as well.

Jikoni owner Ravinder Bhogal is of Indian descent and was partially raised in Nairobi ("jikoni" means kitchen in Swahili). And her food tells the story of her geographic biography: prawn toast freshened up with pickled cucumbers, chickpea chips with Bengali-style chutney, a Scotch egg made with venison instead of pork, scallops and congee. British and African influence is evident, but at its core, Jikoni serves up flavor-packed comfort food that transcends culture. The restaurant itself is a refreshingly colorful break from the cool minimalism sweeping the capital’s interiors. The tablecloths are brightly patterned, the cushions are colorful, and the tapestries that cover the walls are loud and cheerful. Like the food, the décor feels fresh and hopeful, definitely a welcome addition to a stretch of town that often seems akin to a one-note French village of bakeries and cheese stores.

This place goes way beyond the comfort classics to reinvent contemporary Chinese cuisine. From the sophisticated desserts at the start of the menu (enticing you to leave room) to piquant hot and cold starters, delicate broth soups, to an entire abalone section, eating here is an intricate and delicious luxury. Prepare your budget accordingly.

La Petite Maison is another restaurant by Arjun Waney (the investor behind Zuma), and it's based on the restaurant of the same name in Nice, meaning the food has a distinctly southern French soul. Plates come small and to share, so you can theoretically sample it all. The salads and fish carpaccios from the starter menu shouldn't be missed, and for the main course, the fish is always perfect and the macaroni with truffles is to die for. The real star of the show is the black leg roasted chicken, though: Order it right when you sit down. It takes about an hour and twenty minutes, but it justifies the wait.

This offshoot of the Parisian original is nearly identical in look and concept, that being a convivial brassiere serving one meal and one meal only: steak frites (with a special secret sauce), preceded by a green salad with walnuts dressed with a mustard vinaigrette. No reservations, like the original, so come early or be prepared to wait.

Chef Giorgio Locatelli is a real innovator in the food space, but we're also fans of his persistence and strength—he had to close and re-open the restaurant after a traumatizing gas explosion blew through his recently renovated space. It's since re-opened, and is as quiet and comfortable as ever, guaranteeing a perfect grown up night out. Get ready for light, imaginative and seasonal Italian that won't disappoint.

There's Taco Salad, Bircher Muesli, a Shrimp Katsu Sandwich, and some pretty unreal baked goods including the Cardamom bun, on this menu. It's basically the greatest hits of international café cuisine, all brought to you by the editors of Monocle magazine. The space is light and modern, with a cozy living room space that's perfect for meetings.

Murano is the crown jewel of chef Angela Hartnett's growing restaurant emporium, and is also the place you're most likely to catch her in the kitchen making her trademark modern twists on Italian dishes and ingredients. A meal here is a highlight in and of itself, but the private dining room is where it's at. Here, Angela and her team will create a special set menu for the dinner party on request, and if you're lucky, the glass partition in the room can be retracted, allowing guests a direct view into the kitchen. There are also two sister restaurants, Café Murano, from Hartnett's deputy, Sam Williams (one on St. James Street and one in Covent Garden).

Plan to come with a group, as this spot revolves around sharing. The airy, woodsy interior comes courtesy of Another Country, and complements the simple, casual menu of modern Greek food. Mixing salads (we liked the dill-heavy Greek slaw), dips, and traditional breads (koulori and the like) makes for an ideal light lunch or anytime snack. Don’t miss the fresh juices, which they make every day.

This snappy underground Peruvian spot is part of Marylebone's recent reinvigoration. It's great for cocktails—specifically their endless variety of Pisco sours and Pisco based drinks—in addition to lunch or dinner. The food is a fusion of English and Peruvian flavors and inspired by young chef Adam Rawson's trip to Lima a few years ago. Among our favorites are any of the ceviches, this being a Peruvian joint, and the Peruvian Fried Chicken, though there are lots of hits on the menu that come, thankfully, in small, shareable portions. It all adds up to be a great spot for a large group of friends. Pachamama also wins points in our book for its contemporary design.

After months and months of construction and delays, Alan Yau's Park Chinois is finally open. He's known for creating incredible restaurants and then selling them (Wagamama, Yuautcha, the list goes on) and this may just beat them all. At Park Chinois, as they're more than happy to explain, the theme is the 1930's, the era of the Cotton Club, Big Band Jazz, and Shanghai's golden age. After a dinner of Shanghai-style delights like Bang Bang Chicken Salad and Shabu Shabu, it's time to dance to some live big band swing in the gilded ballroom—it's the stuff of pure fantasy.

From Will Lander of the Quality Chophouse fame and Daniel Morgenthau of 10 Greek Street comes this sleeper hit of a restaurant, tucked away on a quiet street in Fitzrovia. In a small dining room with almost no decoration beyond its pretty, dangling lights and the bustling open kitchen, comes some of the most inventive, beautifully presented cuisine in town, where seasonal vegetables are the stars. Order a few plates to share or go for the tasting menu for the whole table—you're in good hands here.

Set in a Georgian building built in 1750, this cool little public house still retains some original features, like the dog-leg staircase and dado paneling. The upscale British fusion cuisine (think chips with aioli instead of HP) is best served with one of their cask ales or fine whiskeys.

The original ROKA restaurant is housed in a large, open space with light wood fixtures, an impressive robata grill in the center of the dining room (it has an oddly hypnotic effect on kids), and floor-to-ceiling windows that open out onto Charlotte Street on nicer days. Grilled items are of course what this place is all about, but not in your usual combination of flavors: asparagus is dressed with sweet soy and sesame and black cod gets a yuzu miso treatment. There's also fresh sushi and sashimi options if you're feeling like something a little less charred. There are multiple locations across the city.

Yotam Ottolenghi has opened yet another restaurant that Londoners cannot get enough of (his seventh). This time it’s in Fitzrovia—a neighborhood that, until recently, was a kind of a culinary wasteland. The addition of Rovi has changed all that. The magic here lies in the fresh, vegetable-centric dishes slathered in all manner of Israeli and Palestinian sauces and a bright, cheerful dining room with high ceilings and red banquettes. The wine list is stellar and features some rarely seen Palestinian labels.

Heddon Street is the closest thing Mayfair has to a back alley—and nipping down the side street for a feast of full suckling pig and one too many glasses of fine sherry feels suitably illicit. Sabor is flavor—and lots of it. The two-story space cheerily decked out in Spanish tile and exposed brick hits the sweet spot of having both the dip-in-and-out cozy seats at the bar for a few tapas and the communal table packed with your rambunctious extended family for several courses upstairs. From the same people behind Barrafina, the traditional food here is good, really good. Grilled bread with a scraping of smashed tomato; oily, garlicky prawns to tear into with your fingers; and a whole suckling pig (it comes in a half or quarter sizes, too) so meltingly tender it arrives with only a spoon to serve.

Yes, that's correct, Sexy Fish is the name, and it happens to be the sceniest opening of the moment. Fittingly, it's part of Caprice Holdings, Richard Caring's growing empire of upscale restaurants and clubs in town—Annabel's, Marks Club, The Ivy, J Sheekey, and so on. Basically, he can name it anything and the power lunchers, celebrities, and international VIP's will turn up. And to his credit, it is sexy and it is fish. Dishes with a Japanese twist like sashimi yellowtail, prawn gyoza, and miso-glazed Chilean sea bass roll out of the kitchen and off the robata grill and are not just beautifully plated, but served in the bistro-style dining room that basically oozes gold with a side of Damian Hirst and Frank Gehry (their mermaid, fish, and crocodile sculptures dot the room). This is one for a special night out.

Using bold décor choices and a selection of art from some of the city’s youngest talents, Mourad Mazouz has transformed the two floors of this restored 18th century building into an important cultural destination, complete with three lounges for tea and cocktails and two full-fledged restaurants. The Lecture Room, the space’s more formal restaurant, holds two Michelin stars, and the Gallery (famous for its plush pink chairs) features a rotating program of artworks—right now, the walls are covered in more than 200 of David Shrigley's quirky sketches. If you’re not up for a full meal, lounges East Bar and Enchanted Glade (which has exactly the décor you expect) are perfect spots for early evening cocktails. Note: Take a trip to the restroom, as the egg-shaped toilet pods and colorful ceiling make for a pretty unforgettable trip to the loo.

Rose, vermouth, cardamom, and cherry? That’s a Kerala. Fennel pollen, port, and mint: That’s the West Bengal. Welcome to cocktails, as envisioned by Trishna. (The drinks are named after the Indian states their flavors represent.) Like the cocktails, every item on the menu and every piece of furniture and décor was carefully considered. The food is, for the most part, Keralan coastal fare, all the bright, zesty curries and rice dishes brimming with scallops, king prawns, flaky white fish, and spices. If you order the seven-course vegetarian tasting menu you will never question the validity of vegetables as a main ever again. The velvet banquettes are perfect for groups, the mirrored walls and gold-hued lighting give a romantic edge, and skipping dessert for the rose petal lassi is never a bad call.

The kaiseki here is traditional in its form but often modern in its offerings, with a set menu of eight exciting, meticulous, and ingredient-focused dishes and an impressive wine and sake list. With a choice between a regular or a sushi kaiseki, the offerings vary on what's in season, and you can really tell that whatever arrives before you was plucked from a stand that very day. They also have à la carte sushi options, but if you can, go with the set menu, as it's worth it for the experience.

Perhaps it's because Wilton's has been operating in London since 1742 that it just feels so...British. It's definitely an upscale experience (with the clientele to match), but you get what you pay for because the service is warm, discreet, and impeccably precise. You'll want to do the sensible thing and order the classics: oysters from the Essex coast and a buttery Dover sole.

Famed restaurateurs Chris Corbin and Jeremy King's transformation of the Motor Car building spectacularly highlights the original features (marble pillars, grand staircases, and modern arches) of this art deco gem. The grand café boasts a loyal following, delicious European brasserie fare, great brunch, and an excellent afternoon tea. Their breakfast is particularly good: Case in point, the abundant pastries, cappucinos, and poached eggs over salmon on toast.

Fortnum & Mason, which had, of late, started to fall into the "tourist trap" arena, is making a comeback, and a major one at that with their splashy new restaurant, 45 Jermyn St. Suddenly, F&M is a destination for (well-heeled) locals again as well. Once inside the palatial Martin Brudnizki-designed bistro and seated at one of the luscious orange booths, the stuff of old-fashioned storybooks awaits: You can summon a cart of caviar and have your pick of the best, or ask for an ice-cream sundae (spiked, if you like) with the works. Of course, all the basics are available as well from British classics like rib steak to modern favorites like avocado on toast. It's the sort of place you go on a special occasion and wear your "Sunday Best."

Marylebone is full of bakeries, bookshops, and quiet residential streets, despite its proximity to bustling Oxford Street. One of our favorite stops is the bar at the Chiltern Firehouse, which feels almost like spending time in a garden (while being inside). Nearly all the seats and sofas are embellished with colorful florals, and dozens of trailing green plants form a cornice around the room. Afternoon tea is a special treat—a silver tea tray stacked with chocolate and coffee éclairs is presented by the stylishly attired staff. It’s a great place to counteract a midday slump, and for the freelancers out there, to get some work done.

Live piano and violin (sometimes even a double bass) accompany the much-acclaimed tea menus here. You'll find a variety of small-batch Tregothnan English Estate blends, which are the perfect companion to the finger sandwiches, warm scones, and clotted cream. Their famous Marco Polo jelly is not to be missed, neither is a walk through the Art Deco lobby to check out the stunning sweeping staircase.

A well-made martini is hard to come by, and for this alone, Dukes Hotel Bar merits a visit. This quintessentially British bar is an elegant affair and a perfect spot to decompress in Mayfair. Have a seat at one of the tables and take in the hushed civility around you—portraits of notable Brits, prints of city landmarks. In a few minutes, a bartender in a starched white jacket will come by with the martini trolley and mix the cocktail to your exact specifications. It’s ideal for a calm drink with your parents (the cigar and Cognac garden helps), or come alone, sit at the bar, and enjoy the indulgence of a perfectly mixed drink, just because.

There's a regular line out the door at this soon-to-expand cafe thanks to its seriously delicious raw foods, protein-packed offerings, and juices. Recently, they've teamed up in a big way with London's top delivery service, Deliveroo, so there's actually no need to wait as you can ostensibly order an entire day's worth of food to your home or office every morning. Make sure that order includes one of their meatball wraps—both the chicken and vegan versions are delicious and won't make you feel like you're making any sacrifices.

Not only are you sure to find some of the most gorgeous fruits, vegetables, and specialty foods here, but you're also bound to fall in love with their cheese room. Separated by a glass sliding door, the deliciously stinky room is full of cheeses from all over Europe. The designated cheese mongers are incredibly knowledgeable and kind, so don't hold back with the questions.

Treats, sausage rolls, quality fruits, and "veg," are all on offer in the Moxon Street car park in this upscale neighborhood. Don't miss the fresh Norfolk Oysters.

The lobby bar at the new Zetter Townhouse in Marylebone is a characterful representation of its fictional owner, Wicked Uncle Seymour. It's a dark room packed with his collections of antiques, curiosities, and stolen mini bar bottles—presumably from many slightly seedy hotel stays across the globe. It's a cozy, jolly old retreat from the shops and bustle of its surroundings. The short menu of drinks is designed by Tony Conigliaro, who is basically the don of the cocktail scene in London, and is full of wonderful, perfectly balanced tipples that each boast a story. Try the Sphinx, a delicious and light champagne cocktail named after Uncle Seymour's favorite bordello in Paris, as the barman won't fail to mention.

Blush pink walls and a warm grey ceiling complement the beautiful furniture and accessories sold at this relatively new Marylebone shop and design studio. Handcrafted wooden furniture, jacquard throws, simple terracotta ceramics, and beautifully turned-out desk accessories are just a few of the things you'll want to schlep home. While the shop is off the main street it's worth the detour to see. They also take custom orders.

A walk down New and Old Bond Street yields eponymous boutiques from some of the world's best designers in clothing and jewelry. Solange-Azagury Partridge (her store is a must-see), Cartier, Miu Miu, Boucheron, and Yves Saint Laurent are all here.

Credited with breaking designers like Alexander McQueen and Christopher Kane, Browns is one of the biggest fashion megaships in London—and it has been since 1970, when it opened on a single floor of a townhouse.

There's often something interesting going on at the top of the road in Berkeley Square, but you'll also find flagships for Stella McCartney, Diane von Furstenberg, and Maison Martin Margiela.

It's becoming more and more difficult to find classic arcades like this in central London, where you'll find independent stores and extraordinary service. Savor the feel of Mayfair's good old days as you wander between the madness of Bond Street and Piccadilly. And don't miss the golden egg that is Ladurée's London outpost for a macaroon.

Overstuffed couches, unusual ceramics, colorful throws, cushions, bed linens and basically everything else you might need to furnish a home that's elegant in a totally laid-back, modern country fashion. The brand has several branches in France and is sure to take hold in London.

While there are outposts all over the city, the flagship Marylebone location is an original Edwardian bookshop, with an emphasis on incredible travel titles. All locations also offer a great selection of poetry to fiction, biography and more, all organized by relevant country. Fun.

Boasting five floors of designer labels, in its brand-new space on Haymarket where they've taken over a grand old heritage-listed building, this wildly creative, gallery-like space is complete with sculptures, taxidermy, and art objects. Whether you intend to bust out your wallet or not, the store is one of the city's more inspired spaces.

Sure, we hit Frette for the heavenly sheets, towels, and bedding, but when it comes to their new London flagship, we also go here just to admire the space. The luxury Italian bedding company made a genius move enlisting Milanese design duo of the moment, Dimore Studio, to do the space. The two floors shimmer in tones of emerald and gold, punctuated by a grand, black staircase and satin arm chairs dotted throughout. They offer bespoke, personalized sets.

Hatchards has been open since 1797, welcoming guests like Rudyard Kipling and Lord Byron. Hatchards retains a wonderful old bookshop feel, a beautiful interior, and a knowledgeable staff.

On a corner of Carlos Place—arguably the most sublime shopping street in Mayfair—is McCormack’s atelier. The three-floor townhouse is filled with such beautiful furniture and art collection that you forget you’re there for the jewels. Until you see them: necklaces of cascading diamonds, Art Deco drop earrings, and engagement rings galore. And McCormack excels at breathing new life into family heirloom rings by creating modern “jackets” of jewels to surround the older piece to make it wearable for modern styles. An appointment here might involve relaxing on the sofas upstairs, flipping through the dozens of art and photography books stacked elegantly on the shelves for reference, or chatting with the designer about what your aesthetic preferences. McCormack considers herself a family jeweler, which is fair given that once you’ve ordered a piece, you’re likely to continue going back. The entire experience is bespoke, elegant and thoughtful.

While the Queen's "Chemist" (pharmacy) certainly isn't new—the first shop opened in 1798—it's had a major revamp that's worth mentioning. We're big fans of the shop regardless of its looks, but the new lighting, modern display cases, and layout make it that much more compelling. You can find most medicines, tinctures, band aids, wraps, bath accessories, and vitamins here, but it's the fancy English heritage soaps, bath products, and grooming accessories that make it unique: They carry everything from Floris soaps and perfumes—the Royal family's preferred brand—to Mason & Pearson brushes, Grether's Pastilles, and more.

John Lewis is great for home goods, kitchenware, clothing basics, and more. You'd be surprised at what you can find here. They deliver, and very quickly at that, making it so convenient you never even need to step foot in the store. Don't miss their home section for great, affordable, and durable English design.

Founder and designer Melissa Morris (who cut her teeth at Belstaff), spent years researching, sourcing, and designing her beautifully made Italian leather bags. Aside from the luggage, we love the smaller pieces, too, like the card-holders and leather clutches with compartments for phones, money and iPads. The boutique on South Audley street feels like being in a mahogany-clad library and is always a treat to pop in for a bit of peace and quiet while browsing the goods.

Savile Row is pretty much synonymous with bespoke tailoring. The street has been home to the world's finest tailors for centuries, and the primarily family-owned outfitters on the street have been honing the craft for generations. Nearby Jermyn Street also boasts some serious boutiques and tailors with a reputation for excellent shirting. Case in point: Nobody really does it better than Turnbull & Asser (in business for more than 100 years).

Simply put, this is one of the best department stores in the world. While the layout is refreshingly easy to navigate, no two visits are the same as there's always something new in the works, be it a pop-up shop or temporary exhibit. The Food Hall alone is worth a visit...same goes for the legendary Shoe Galleries.

In 1870, this bookshop purchased the library of Charles Dickens and H.C. Folger, the great American collector of Shakespeare (who sourced most of his originals from here as well). Quality books of all kinds and friendly staff make this a stand-out London shop with a museum-like feel.

With more than 11 stores in London, this English staple is a great place to pick up kitchen and picnic materials (though their mens and womens collections are also worth a look). Their streamlined and affordably priced homewares include utilitarian blankets, rustic terracotta bowls, enamel-dipped cutlery, and more. If you're hoping to impress friends from home with seemingly simple basics they can't get at home, this is your spot.

With successful gallery outposts in New York, Zurich, and London, Hauser & Wirth is one of the most respected names in contemporary art. Rather than rely solely on the heavy hitters (Louise Bourgeoise, Dan Graham, Eva Hesse's estate), they give wall space to up-and-coming talent like Rashid Johnson and Bharti Kher, too.

London is so packed with incredible galleries and cultural institutions that it’s daunting to know even where to begin. Which is why we’d point you here. Lynsey Ingram’s tiny gallery is almost hidden down Bourdon Street, but once you find it, you’ll discover an exciting collection of post-war prints from artists like Francis Bacon, Will Cotton, and Peter Doig. Ingram worked for Sotheby’s for years before going it alone, and her knowledge and eye is evident here. And aside from the art, it’s stocked with catalogues and comfy chairs, and Ingram herself is usually on hand for any questions about the works you find most interesting.

This fabled house offers exhibitions and auctions of a diverse range of modern art, design, photography, and jewelry. The expansive building, right on Berkeley Square is a thing of beauty in and of itself.

Picturehouse is known for taking old movie theaters and jazzing them up with plush decor, all-day cafés, and bars. The newest of the group, right smack in central London in the Trocadero is no exception, with a much more contemporary look that makes you feel like you've walked into a big, clubby bar rather than a movie theater. You sort of have, in that the top floor is an exclusive member's bar with a terrace that provides great views of the bustling surroundings. And oh, there's the seven theaters themselves which have undergone a massive renovation and now have comfier red velvet seats and better screens (with cool retro curtains).

With graduates like J.M.W. Turner, David Hockney, John Constable and many, many others, The Royal Academy is simultaneously one of England's most competitive art schools and also one of its most inventive exhibition spaces. The students and remarkable-in-their-own-right faculty make the Academy more of a community rather than just a space to experience great art. Don't miss their annual Summer Exhibition: A tradition since 1769(!), it's an enormous open-entry show with submissions from around the world that's meant to offer insight into future art-world trends.

Step through the door of this beautiful Mayfair building and into a super sleek space for some great modern and contemporary art. There are some big names here, including Andy Warhol.

A family of great art collectors—the Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace—accumulated art by some of the world's most renowned artists of the 14th to the 19th centuries. Work by Titian, Rembrandt, Rubens, Fragonard, and Watteau is all displayed in their former home. Major pluses: Admission is free and the cafe is stunning.

Fur is the kind of all-knowing healer you want to pull up a chair beside and spill your secrets to. She is that good a listener. A revered osteopath with a quarter century of experience, Fur is highly observant and seriously intuitive. The first time she met one goop staffer, after a few pleasantries, she cocked her head, inquired whether the staffer always lurched to the side like that, and started to work her magic. Fur endorses a 360-degree approach to well-being, one where the patient’s mental state and emotional baggage are treated as thoughtfully as the physical aches and pains. As far as we're concerned, there is no better osteopath in London.

Hands-down one of our favorite places to stay in London, the Connaught in Mayfair manages to strike a balance between charming and yet totally modern. The hotel's 5,000-square-foot spa (the only Aman Spa of its kind outside of the resort group), is just as incredible as you'd imagine swathed in floor-to-ceiling marble. At just five treatment rooms strong, there's a welcome intimacy here—all treatments start with an herbal infusion to help you unwind and then treatments take from Chinese, Indian, and Thai influences. (Each of the treatment rooms has its own private steam room.) During the week, the spa hosts a 20-minute lunch meditation at 1 p.m. that's free and open to the public.

Each floor of this renovated townhouse seems more luxurious, calming, and super-indulgent than the next. The treatment packages are especially amazing if you have an afternoon to spare; if not, The Speed Spa offers 15-minute and 30-minute services like eye facials, firming facials, and massages—all of them fantastic. The spa’s Penthouse is even more luxe: A spa concierge arranges your entire experience, from a door-to-door chauffeur to tickets for a post-treatment show or restaurant reservations.

Dr. Joshi's clinic is one of our first ports of (detox) call in London. In addition to colonics, Dr. Joshi also offers a pretty in-depth list of other wellness-centric services including personal training, massage, Endermologie, and his signature twenty-one-day nutritional plan, which are all designed to help detox. The clinic also offers a spectacular Moroccan riad retreat for the weary.

Several goop staffers are longtime fans of the Lanserhof’s clinic in Austria. So we were delighted when they opened their first UK clinic, across the street from the Arts Club in Mayfair. The custom-tailored programs at this medical spa and gym marry time-honored holistic treatments with modern medicine. Arts Club members and Lanserhof patients can avail themselves of the top-notch facilities that include Britain’s first cryotherapy chambers, treatment rooms for sports injuries, diagnostics with the clinic’s doctors, and a thoughtfully crafted menu of healthy food to tuck into post-treatment.

Nicola is well-known in London and around the world for being a top colorist with a long roster of both male and female celebrity clients. When she's not on assignment, she can be found at the John Frieda in London and more recently at her own, beautifully-appointed brick and mortar salon.

The runners and hard-core exercisers of London know Dr. Fares Haddad as the very best knee surgeon in town. An orthopedic surgeon, he specializes in sports, trauma, and lower limb reconstruction.

After trying out a few locations in London, SKINWORK (formerly known as Face Place) has permanently relocated to the incredibly chic studio in Soho. Though the space is a little more of-the-moment than what you'll find at their other salons (Eagle has spruced up their stark aesthetic with mid-century furniture and sheepskin pillows), their approach to skincare is as clinical and no-nonsense as ever. The signature facial combines a round of extractions with a galvanizing treatment which promises to tighten and rejuvenate skin tissue. They also offer some pretty effective peels.

While you're pretty much guaranteed a solid facial at any of the Four Seasons, it's the Organic Pharmacy treatments at the Park Lane outpost that leave skin incredibly soft and glowing. Packed with anti-aging rose and diamonds, the products shine in particular during the signature Rose Diamond Anti-Age and Lifting facial, which starts with deep exfoliation from diamond powder and an enzyme peel and ends with an intensely lifting massage.

This studio was founded by superfacialist Vaishaly Patel, and the skin-care treatments are incredible. The signature facial combines Patel’s famous techniques (deep cleansing, extraction, microdermabrasion, and high-frequency treatment) to create a custom plan to improve your skin on the day of your appointment. All facials include a craniosacral massage to treat tense areas at the scalp, brows, and jaw—heaven.

Dr. Massoud is an experienced, reliable, and skilled pediatrician. He's wonderful with children and also puts parents at ease. The Portland Hospital location is a private practice, but Dr. Massoud also practices through the NHS at Northwick Park and St Mark’s Hospitals.

Gynecologist Alfred Cutner offers specialist consultations, investigations, and treatments to women with benign gynecological conditions at The Portland Hospital. He also runs an NHS practice at the teaching hospital at University College Hospital London. His main interest is laparoscopic surgery and its application in urogynaecology, endometriosis, fibroids, and pediatric and adolescent gynecology. Sounds complicated but, to sum it up, he's an excellent, well-rounded doctor.

Andrea Hurst, aka the foot guru, is a specialist in reflexology. She's been practicing reflexology for thirty years and has been based in Mayfair for the past seventeen years. Hurst also practices at UME Diagnostics in Harley Street, does home visits, and travels extensively. Her treatments help reset and restore body, mind, and spirit, and a session with her provides a framework for optimizing your well-being.

Quite possibly the most qualified professional in acupuncture we've ever come across, Dr. Tran is trained in both eastern and western medicine, Qigong and even bone-setting. What this means is that he's an incredibly thorough, no-nonsense doctor who can treat a huge variety of ailments from neck and back pain to digestive issues, muscle spasms, and more.

While Dr. Vara can treat just about any musculoskeletal injury, it's his abilities when it comes to pain management—everything from treating back pain to recurring headaches—that make him so popular. He's also great with (and qualified to treat) children. With two clinics in Sussex, he's a busy guy, but he does make it to his London clinic every Monday.

West is a real-life baby whisperer. At the largest holistic fertility clinic in the UK, West, a trained midwife, and her team of medical doctors and holistic practitioners consider and treat the whole person. That treatment can entail acupuncture, nutritional advice, tackling emotional stressors, and IVF. In person, West is both calmly practical and hugely empathetic, with a sense of humor that usually dissolves any nervousness. All courses of treatment start with a consultation and chat on the sofa; for those seeking some of West’s wisdom from home, her informative books and supplements are available online.

The cushiest chairs and the best snacks can be found at Everyman Cinemas which feature kids matinées on Saturday mornings. Each Saturday brings a different film for the burgeoning film crowd.

In addition to being an upscale retailer of quality British products like tea, coffee, and jam, Fortnum & Mason is famous for its high tea. The Gallery high tea is the most traditional, and The Fountain offers a light meal with their tea service. It's a perfect outing for little girls.

This colorful and well-equipped playground with jungle gyms, tire swings, picnic tables, and more is just behind Marylebone High Street at the end of Paddington Street Gardens (where you'll find a beautiful English rose garden). The space is covered with trees and makes a for a supremely peaceful break from errands or sightseeing.

Papouelli—formerly known as Papillon—focuses on beautifully crafted, classic children's shoes that are actually practical. Their bestselling moccasins are adorable, though they also sell loafers, booties, and special occasion shoes for littles of all ages.

Bank is undergoing a renaissance. Normally, it’s a neighborhood locals avoid because it’s packed with, well, banks and the casual grab-and-go cafes that feed its bankers, that’s all changing. The Ned moved in first, followed by Brigadiers for dinner, and now the Four Seasons have staked their plot at Ten Trinity Square. We love the subtly elegant guest rooms in shades of grey, and the beds are next-level comfy. They’ll let you choose a firm or soft mattress topper; orthopedic or hypo-allergenic pillows; and the most cocooning down duvets. Given the history of the neighborhood, it’s no surprise that the building is positively stately, and with four food and beverage options (including an especially atmospheric rotunda bar that hosts live music acts), there’s no need to leave.

At Ian Schrager’s latest Central London foray, you'll find a sceney spot where sleek, almost Nordic accommodations contrast with a rococo dining room and lobby. Chef Jason Atherton’s restaurant is worth trying if for no other reason than to see the floor-to-ceiling gallery walls (the food is good, too), and the cocktail bar in the lobby draws a good crowd as well. A stay here is cocoon-like, in that you have everything you need for hours on end from plush bedroom amenities, including in-room TV yoga sessions courtesy of Yoga for Bad People, cocktails and haute cuisine—so much so that coming out to the city streets can be pleasantly disorienting. It's a true escape even for the city's own.

Hotel Costes is (if you ask us) the most seductive, decadent place to sleep in Paris, and its sibling in London, L’oscar, is no different. It’s all excess. L’oscar is a former Baptist church that hotelier Jacques Garcia stuffed with his signature red velvet everything, Lalique butterfly taps in the bathrooms, and chandeliers aplenty. Guest rooms come with yoga mats, incredible city views, and beautiful mosaic showers. But we especially love the bar, which is swathed in plush navy velvet, wood-paneled walls, and impressively stacked bookshelves.

Soho House’s Nick Jones has, with his signature pizzazz, created one of the more exciting hotels to hit the capital in recent years. The cavernous lobby of the Ned is totally untraditional—and we dig it. Organized almost like a maze, with Cecconi’s on your right, a huge bar on your left, and a raised platform (often with a full jazz band) in front of you. No walls separate any of these elements, so the entire space booms. The rooms are exquisite, many with wood-paneled walls, enormous beds, and beautifully upholstered furniture. It all feels very Tudor. The minibar is one of the better ones we’ve come across: an antique chest filled with crystal glasses, premium booze, and god this makes us happy, decent tonic. Cowshed products, powerful hair dryers and straighteners, and a deep tub comprise a dream bathroom. Bank Street is, predictably, banker land during the week and a dead zone on the weekend, but given how central it is, it’s a breeze to get around—if you can be bothered to leave the hotel at all. Rooms and lobby aside, the listed, Lutyens-designed building has a hammam-style spa, a gym with a boxing ring and pool, and no fewer than ten restaurants.

From the team behind Palomar, a major hit for its take on Israeli food, comes this spot which delves deep into the food of the Barbary coast in North Africa, which greatly influenced Levantine cuisine. At the Palomar, everyone knows the best seats in the house are at the bar, so now at The Barbary, the only seats in the house are at the 24-seat bar where much of the food is prepared. The vibe is as electric as at its counterpart and the food is as spectacular if not more. Order a wide selection of dishes to share, and don't miss the roasted aubergine, the chicken msachen and the lusciously crumbly, buttery, knafeh for dessert.

You'll find incredible views of the city from either side here, along with rotisserie chicken with skordalia, grilled lobster, and every conceivable kind of steak, all thanks to an amazing sounding Josper oven/grill contraption. The chef, Rainer Becker (of Zuma fame), totally knows what he's doing—and it doesn't hurt that the restaurant is stretched out over the 32nd floor of The Shard. Meanwhile, they offer a weekday lounge lunch, which is a quick in-and-out three course meal for business meetings.

Chef Tom Sellers studied under Tom Aikens when he was just 16 before heading to René Redzepi at Noma. It's at Restaurant Story that he received his first Michelin star at just 26. Offering remarkable views of the Shard, in old Bermondsey square, after a major refurbishment the vibe is still youthful, with laid-back but attentive service. The menu is equally playful (the first course of our dinner was a lit beef candle where you caught the drippings with crusty bread). As the name suggests, each dish comes with a story about its provenance, ingredients, and inspiration. Chef Sellers creates a bespoke menu for each guest, and courses range from four to eleven courses.

The River Café hardly needs an introduction. Serving unmatched Italian since 1987, it is a landmark among restaurants everywhere. They've always been known for their simple, seasonal fare, and the location right along the Thames is great for a sunny Sunday lunch or a special dinner. There's also a private room just off the main dining room that seats up to 18 (fitted out with the Café's signature hot pink rug, and minimal tabletop), which makes an ideal venue for an occasion. You'll definitely want to try something that's been cooked to perfection in their pink wood-fired oven, which has been the central focal point of the restaurant since its renovation, undertaken under the watchful eye of architect (chef Ruth Rogers' husband) Lord Richard Rogers.

Chef and restaurateur Seamus Mullen famously cured himself of rheumatoid arthritis by changing his diet and eating anti-inflammatory, seasonal foods: He wrote a book about it, Hero Food that we interviewed him about for goop. In New York, he's part of the vanguard that's transforming restaurant cuisine, making it as delicious as it is good for you. And now, he's hopped across the Atlantic and landed at the Sea Containers in London, bringing his unique brand of seasonal to the city for the first time. And, while guests devour his brand of Spanish/Mediterranean/Moroccan/deliciousness—think house-made ricotta, wild salmon crudo, lamb meatballs, oven-roasted flatbreads, and the like—they do so in a beautiful, Tom Dixon-designed space that overlooks the Thames.

Set in a huge, light-filled space in Somerset House, Spring is helmed by chef Skye Gyngell, who won a Michelin star for her restaurant at Petersham Nurseries—and then promptly left. She’s finally returned after a long time away and is back to her old tricks: Light, seasonal, Italian-inflected dishes that are essentially perfect. For a private meal or event, there's the Salon, which is a pretty magical light-filled space located under an original glass atrium that can seat up to 45 at tree-lined tables (yes, tree-lined).

If you happen to be wandering through Spitalfields Market, make sure you stop into this innovative and lively restaurant. The menu constantly changes with seasonally available ingredients. As the name suggests, the baked goods and wine list are the superstars, but they're almost out-shined by the nose-to-tail style meat dishes.

A few years ago, it felt as if nobody could stop talking about Zuma. Sometimes too much hype can turn you off of a restaurant, but that's not the case here. More than ten years after its opening, this favorite still serves one of the best meals in London. The nouvelle Japanese cuisine remains creative and unexpected, and the sushi chef, Endo, is still dishing up our favorite sushi outside of Japan. The vibe here can be a little bit loud and clubby, but it doesn't matter—we would literally sit outside in the rain to eat this food.

Alex Eagle's eponymous concept store has moved from its Knightsbridge townhouse local to an expansive loft space in Soho. The owner stocks hard-to-find brands like Isa Arfen, Lemaire, and Protagonist mixed in with homewares by hip design studios like Makers & Brothers. With the odd Jean Prouvé stool or Alex Eagle collaboration—many are her takes on classic heritage brands like Swaine-Adeney—dotted here and there, this shop is always packed with discoveries.

Aram has been around since the sixties, continually introducing the best of modern design to the city. Brands like Vitra, Knoll, Poltrona Frau, Aram Designs and Cassina are all arranged beautifully in this expansive and clean Covent Garden setting.

This place is frequented by serious photo aficionados, from librarians to collectors to students, looking for rare and out-of-print books and magazines.

David Mellor is a household name in London for cutlery, plates, glassware, and more. The aesthetic is plain, simple and made-to-last, meaning that London kitchens will continue to depend on this Sloane Square outpost for years to come.

There's a good chance you would find De Gournay without a heads up from us, if only because it's nearly impossible to walk by its windows without getting drawn into the elegant showroom. It offers fabrics, furniture, plates, and custom design services, but De Gournay's true specialty is luxury hand-painted wallpapers in Chinoiserie patterns. Owner Claud Cecil Gurney seeks out painters who have been in the business for generations, and the wallpapers are indisputably the best in this increasingly rare trade.

With ninety showrooms of some of the biggest names in design, this is not for the faint-hearted, so think about enlisting the personal shopping service, which makes the massive space and selection a bit easier to take on. Don't miss Cole & Son, Edelman Leather, Tai Ping, The Nanz Company, and Stark Carpet and Fabric, to name a very few.

This legendary store opened in 1875 on Regent Street, and to this day maintains its beautiful wood-paneled interiors and grand Tudor revival exterior. While the Liberty brand is alive and well, still selling their trademark flower print fabrics, so is their buying team with small capsules from all our favorite brands including Frame, Acne, Alexander Wang, Isabel Marant, and Kenzo. Treat yourself to a scarf here as they always have the widest and most wonderful selection, and the staff in the Scarf Hall on the first floor are famously good at advising you on how to tie them.

London excels at creating retail spaces that are more experiential than commercial. Like the Shop at Bluebird and Dover Street Market, LN-CC is a destination as much for its overall look as its merchandise, encompassing a library, record store, gallery, and café. The likes of Marni, Yeezy, JW Anderson, Gucci, and Rick Owens, plus a futuristic shoe department that looks like a spaceship draws in visitors from all over the world to this Dalton emporium. The kicker: LN-CC is by appointment only—so make one.

Ochre's furniture, custom chandeliers, lighting and accessories add an ethereality and rusticity to any room. They make beautiful pieces in all categories, from small details to the thematic pieces that make a room. The London location is a showroom so be sure to call in advance and visit with an interior designer.

This Dalston screenprinting studio offers workshops, studio space, and sells prints by many of the talented artists who make work there. It's a great place to pick up a few original prints to liven up your home.

Trained as a restorer and gilder, Rose Uniacke's eye for material is unparalleled. So it makes sense that in her store, the eighteenth-, nineteenth-, and twentieth-century antiques are all given plenty of space to show themselves off. Uniacke also offers an interior design service and a bespoke range made with her trademark appreciation for the age and condition of the materials she uses.

At this Philippe Starck–designed (and gilded) shop, you'll find all Taschen's trademark tomes on art, photography, fashion, architecture, film, erotica, and more. Conveniently placed right across the street from the Saatchi Gallery, this is a shop for the well-heeled art lover. The gallery space downstairs shows off certain titles in more detail.

Established in 2009 by brothers, Henry and George Graham, Wolf & Badger is predicated on the idea of launching new soon-to-be big designer talent.

Bold Tendencies founder Hannah Barry is responsible for much of Peckham’s transformation into a culture—and counterculture—hub. At this point there are few corners of this diverse, buzzing neighborhood that Barry and her organization haven’t touched. Take the parking lot: The rooftop you walk over is covered in undulating lines of weather-reflecting paint by artist Richard Wentworth. The once-grimy stairwell has been transformed by Simon Whybray into a trippy, bubble-gum-pink tunnel. The Derek Jarman roof garden converts drab concrete into a lush, landscaped escape. And we would be remiss not to mention the multistory orchestra, a collective of accomplished musicians hosting folk and classical performances in unexpected places (like that parking lot).

Situated in a particularly green neighborhood in South London, the Dulwich Picture Gallery is the first of its kind in England, and houses a stellar collection of masters' work from Rubens to Poussin, along with an always-exciting rotation of contemporary and classic exhibitions.

If you find yourself in Shoreditch, consider taking a quick trip to the Museum of the Home. The focus here is on homes and home décor, specifically how both have changed over the span of 40 years. Situated in a series of original almshouses, the buildings and grounds have been lovingly restored to showcase original antiques and furnishings from London's past, as well as an enormous garden. The period rooms (if you're the nostalgic type, you'll love the '90s-style loft) take visitors on a journey through British life starting in 1690. It's the sort of place that's great to visit with kids: there's plenty of roaming room within the gardens, so they can burn off excess energy between learning.

Charles Saatchi's gallery is famous for championing artists before the rest of the art world catches on. Legendary for his early support of Damien Hirst and the rest of the YBAs (that's Young British Artists, for the uninitiated), Saatchi's roster is still one of the most forward-thinking in contemporary art. The excellent on-site Gallery Mess Cafe and its daily afternoon tea service (there's a boozy version that involves a jug of Pimm's and an option for kids, too) deserve mention.

Somewhat off the beaten path, the South London Gallery is in a stretch of South London—straddling Camberwell and Peckham—that is known for pushing the envelope. It’s a multifunctional space that has created a community with its interactive programs (for adults and kids), a garden, and an excellent café that’s reliably packed with creative types and local mums tucking into baked eggs. After coffee, wander into the shop for a great selection of books, magazines, jewelry, and ceramics from local artisans.

After the 2013 restoration of the grand Victorian building and the chronological rehanging of the permanent collection, it's all the more paramount you make the trip to this classic art institution. You'll find all the British masters here.

The Tate features modern and contemporary art from 1900 to the present day in a huge renovated power station on the Bankside of the Thames. The outstanding Tate Collection, which is free to visit, is complemented by a series of contemporary art exhibitions that rotate through. Of course, London has it’s fair share of quality museums, but the Tate Modern is at the top of the list, especially following the museum’s recent renovation and expansion, which were completed this summer. After browsing the galleries here, follow GP’s favorite London walk: Head down to the river and then meander east along it toward Westminster Bridge. Take the foot path over the iconic bridge (you’ll see Big Ben on the other side), and then continue into historic, beautiful St. James Park, which leads to Buckingham Palace. After you see the royal home, head back in the other direction, taking Pall Mall, which connects to the central hub of Trafalgar Square.

Margate resident John Croft envisioned the Turner Contemporary as a gallery that celebrated artist J.M.W. Turner's relationship to the town. What's so special about the space, though, is that Croft and his supporters built on Turner's legacy to celebrate the future of art, welcoming young (mostly living) artists to show in their space and energizing the town with visitors and tourism dollars. Architecture buffs will definitely want to make the trek to Margate to marvel at Turner's seaside through the windows of architect David Chipperfield's modern, elegant gallery spaces.

Credited with bringing London back to the fore of the contemporary art scene, White Cube offers a taste of the best and biggest artists and exhibitions. Owned by Jay Jopling, White Cube is famed for giving many of the Young British Artists their first solo shows and for representing the likes of Gilbert and George, Antony Gormley, Andreas Gursky, and Anselm Kiefer. The original Duke Street space closed back in 2002, but their two newer London locations (including a very large gallery on Bermondsey) certainly won't disappoint.

The considerable permanent collection at the V&A has been scrupulously curated over the course of almost 200 years—and spans thousands—to fit the museum's design and fashion slant. The visiting exhibit program is just as exciting (like the Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty exhibit). With its Victorian flourishes, the actual space that contains the 140-plus galleries is one giant piece of art in and of itself.