Pizza East

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.

The store Hostem is among the most avant-garde in London, at least when it comes to fashion, so when owners James Brown and Christie Fels turned their impeccable eye to decorating, we pricked our ears. Located in a Georgian house in Whitechapel, they've created a deeply moody and beautiful, totally shoppable space that houses six for any number of days. The pantry is stocked with items from gourmet shop Leila's, the wine cupboard with a selection by the team behind Primeur, the kitchen is completely functional with wares by cult shop Labour & Wait, the rooms are decorated with pieces by Faye Toogood, Hans Wegner, and more: In short, only the best. It's a veritable dream of what East London living can be.

On any given weekday, the lobby here is packed with freelancers perched on every couch and at every communal table in the sprawling, lo-fi industrial space. It makes sense that this would be one of the area's main hubs of activity: There's Wi-Fi on tap, a coffee and snack bar, cold-pressed juices out the door at the hotel's own juice and mylk bar, and a small but well-selected menu of breakfast and lunch items from the hotel restaurant. Meanwhile, upstairs, the rooms, designed by Barber & Osgerby's Universal Design Studio, are decked out in vintage furniture with a slightly industrial edge. Slightly spare, they're planned for travelers who plan to spend more time exploring the city than indoors.

The Shoreditch House has everything we've come to expect from Nick Jones' empire: modern yet comfortable interiors, 26 small but well-executed guest rooms, a killer gym (including the first Flywheel in Europe), and social spaces that transition seamlessly from work to play (in addition to the library and restaurant, there's a workspace with desks that become ping pong tables at night). The crown jewel of the Shoreditch location is the rooftop pool (unheard of in London), which is heated year-round and plays host to an animated bar scene in the evenings.

Artfully quirky (and British) design in each of the thirteen rooms, eco-friendly features (including the energy loop system and free bike rentals), plus a cozy bar that feels more like a living room, make this Georgian townhouse a unique choice for a London stay.

Though meat, and generous hunks of it at that, is the main attraction at this Middle-Eastern BBQ joint, the array of pickles and vegetarian side dishes are a major highlight here—the Moroccan Spiced Carrots and Blackened Eggplant are pretty great, just to name a couple. In fact, we'd build a meal out of side dishes alone here. We'd also recommend sharing plates with a group and coming ready for a night out as the cocktails, each with their own Middle Eastern twist, are lots of fun as is the music that ramps up as the night rolls on.

For those missing out on the Shoreditch House's private member's rooftop and pool next door, The Boundary Hotel comes to the rescue with a rooftop bar and restaurant that's open year-round, under a canopy of grape vines, no less. You'll also find a kitchen garden upstairs, along with an outdoor lounge that's set around a wood-burning chimney, ideal for a lazy afternoon in good weather. Being part of Terence Conran's empire guarantees that everything from the Mediterranean food, to the wicker furniture in the rooftop lounge, is in great taste.

Dinner at the Indian restaurant Brigadiers ticks all the right boxes: the pickles, the chutneys, the veggies with yogurt. It’s all so satisfying, which isn’t so surprising when you find out it’s from the same team as the one from Gymkhana and Hoppers (two of our favorite London spots). The sides—dal, raita, and several chutneys—are reason enough to come here. The beef shin biryani and the fruity kulfi (basically, an Indian soft serve-style dessert) are reason enough to come back.

Brat is Welsh slang for turbot, so it follows that that’s the thing to order here. It’s a perfectly-cooked whole fish, grilled over a fire, and meant for sharing. It’s a technique they use for many menu items, including the bread (always a reliable indicator of the dishes to come), which is almost a satisfying meal in itself, grilled and made of flour from one of last standing stoneground mills in the UK. Even the cheesecake is smoked and accompanied by brown bread ice cream, a familiar treat in the UK and Ireland but rarely seen stateside. Once you have a bite you’ll wonder why.

Catering to East London's hardcore foodie scene since 2010, Brawn serves up seasonal cuisine with an emphasis on provenance. Their cheese is from the venerable Androuet, their bread is from the one and only E5 Bakehouse, and their wine list features a good number of natural wines. And then there's the meat: This is nose-to-tail eating at its best—their house-made black pudding alone is worth the trip. A meal in their delightfully bare-bones dining room any day is a treat but their Sunday roast is what they're best known for.

If you think of bagels (or beigels as it's spelled here) in London, this is the first place that comes to mind. As you'd expect, it's a no-frills experience, and the bagels are fresh-baked, delicious and filled with plenty of kosher goodness. Locals who have known and loved this place for years recommend getting one corned beef bagel and using the extra meat (they are very generous) for two additional bagels.

The scrumptious, simple, yet interesting food (squid pancakes, for example) and hip yet relaxed Exmouth Market vibe make this one of our favorite places for brunch. It's also a great place to go for a coffee (which is roasted on-site) to linger over and enjoy with a book. This spot became so popular that they opened up a much bigger, industrial-inflected space at Kings Cross that serves the same great mix of small plates.

The Clove Club serves a short but exciting menu in the historic Shoreditch Town Hall. The meals are beautifully prepared and presented, but the most impressive aspect is the quality of each locally sourced ingredient: from Zerbinati melons, to pine salt, to the freshest heritage tomatoes. It's a set menu (£35 for a three-course lunch and £65 for dinner) with a choice for each course, though if you're not in the market for a full meal, stop by for a drink and a few à la carte dishes in the front bar room.

French bistro meets British gastro at the upscale boozer the Coach. The dining area is English elegant, which is to say, oak-paneled walls, walls painted minty green, and haphazardly hung artwork. It all comes together to create a warm, cozy, quietly refined room you will happily settle into for many Sunday lunches to come. The owners have taken care to include all the classics when it comes to beer and wine, offset with a notable selection of craft brews and smaller labels. The cuisine is the kind of cold weather fare we always love: cidery mussels with thick fries for dipping, fall-apart braised ox cheeks with sharp horseradish, and the pork rillettes with crisp toast and vinegary pickles. All pair perfectly with a cold beer.

On weekend afternoons, this warehouse bar and brewery is a haven for locals and young families who come for the wood fired thin-crust pizza served both indoors and canal-side. And, as the afternoon wears on, and the music turns up, the kids pizza parties get replaced by older groups of friends who come for the brewery's excellent beers, ales and local ciders. In other words, it's a pretty ideal place to while the afternoon away, in the sprawling, industrial space, drinking at the large communal tables both indoors and out. Open year-round, it's best in the summer, when you can take a leisurely walk down the canal until you reach the brewery.

This is the perfect way to end the night, say, after clubbing at The Soho House. The kebab is wonderfully moist, the garlic sauce is unlike any other, and the falafel is super fresh. The restaurant is located on Brick Lane and offers comfy seating, and nice homespun Middle-Eastern touches.

This relatively new and growing chain of modern Indian restaurants reveals a new dimension to a city already well-versed in the cuisine. Expertly decorated to resemble an old Iranian Bombay cafe, the vibe is casual and, as tradition dictates, ideal for both large groups and singles reading the paper and having a chai. The long menu of rotis, naans, grilled meats, and stews is spice-inflected but not necessarily curry heavy.

Fancified Indian seems to be the trend in London at the moment, with more and more modernized, gourmet offerings popping up right and left all over town. One of the standouts is this new spot that's serving up homestyle Indian in a cleverly restored ex-curry house. Here, small plates made for sharing like the Chettinad Pulled Duck and the Spicy Venison and Vermicelli Doughnut are the creation of their chef Nirmal Save of the Oberoi in Mumbai. Fun fact: The name Gunpowder is a fun twist as it happens to be located right near London's old artillery and is also a reference to the classic spice mix of the same name.

Kennedy's takes the English concept of a typical pie and mash shop to another level. Not only do they serve fish & chips, the best being wing of skate and fish with a pickled cucumber, but you can also choose from steak and stilton pies, venison and red wine, and salmon and tarragon pasties.

If three chefs wanted to abandon their basement kitchen and tinker around with jars and ferments and natural wines in an airy space, the result would look a lot like Little Duck The Picklery. The restaurant was an experiment for the owners, and it’s a delightfully unexpected dining experience for the guests. Jars of pickles, fizzing kombucha, and vinegars line the windows; many of the contents perk up the dishes. We recommend gorgonzola and pickled quince for a (somewhat) light meal, saffron fettucine with bone marrow and butter for something more substantial—all washed down with biodynamic wine. Little Duck Picklery is the baby sister to Raw Duck and Duck Soup and is the immediate favorite. Take a spectator seat by the bar to watch the chefs at work, or commandeer a window seat for a breakfast sampling of the house-made tinctures and elixirs with a bowl of granola.

It’s no surprise that Chef James Lowe cut his teeth at the Fat Duck and then at St. John Bread & Wine, as his first restaurant has the "nose-to-tail" ethos down pat. The à la carte lunch and set dinner menus change daily, where you’ll come across parts of fish, vegetables, and meats you’d never known to be delicious before. Beyond the local, seasonal cuisine, it’s the lightness of the way it’s served that makes the meal: The white-tiled room is spacious and airy, and the servers will tell you all about each dish without rushing through the details (many of the ingredients are quite unusual, so you’ll have questions). Another highlight is the wine list, selected by the River Café veteran sommelier, featuring some fantastic and unusual wines, sourced everywhere from Santa Rita, California to Slovakia.

This was once the casual next door restaurant to husband and wife Sam and Samantha Clark's Exmouth Market hit, Moro, but it has since taken on a life of its own, in many ways surpassing its predecessor, and expanding into this new much bigger space in Hackney. Morito is their take on the tapas bar, with a short but excellent list of wines, sherries, and strong cocktails, accompanied by exquisite small sharing plates of everything from padron peppers, to baked cheese, to traditional tortilla. This isn't your typical taperia, though: All the food comes infused with an extra dose of North African flavor and the vegetable dishes, like their crispy aubergine and beetroot borani, tend to steal the show.

Helmed by married chef duo Sam and Sam Clark (nope, that's not a typo), Moro's Southern Mediterranean cuisine is inspired by the couple's extensive traveling and eating in Spain, Morocco, and the Sahara: a combination that inspires soulful but inventive cuisine. The list of favorite dishes here is endless, but some standouts include slow-cooked pork in milk, egg cooked in yogurt, and roasted quail. Don't miss dessert—the chocolate apricot tart is a knockout.

Like all good things in London, this burgeoning chainlet is growing fast. Once a beloved food truck with a cleverly built-in pizza oven, it now has not one but two (as of last week) bricks-and-mortar outposts. The thin-crust pizza at all their charmingly lo-fi locations is superb, as are the negronis and affogato. At the spot off Carnaby, we’re looking forward to fried pizza courtesy of their first authentic Neapolitan fryer—the guys spent a couple of weeks in Naples recently to learn the art of frying pretty much everything.

Hidden on a residential street in Canonbury, in an old garage with a beautiful old sign to prove it, Primeur feels eons away from London's bustle. On a warm day, the garage doors open and diners get to watch the evening light filter in while snacking on a fantastic Spanish cheese and sipping on one of the natural, mineral wines on their expertly chosen list. And then dive into the short but perfect menu, which changes daily, so much so that it arrives hastily handwritten. Share a few small plates of their ultra-seasonal fare and watch the world quietly go by outside the garage doors. For large groups, there's a private dining room downstairs in the wine cave.

Margot Henderson knows a thing or two about cooking—her husband, Fergus, owns London nose-to-tail staple St. John Bread and Wine. But, Rochelle Canteen is about much more than food. This is the place you go to hang out, especially in the summer. At the sunny tables in the pretty courtyard, one glass of wine turns to two (or three?) as the afternoon passes by in a pleasant haze of good food and great people-watching. The food is traditional, almost retro, but there’s a reason the British spent most of the twentieth century tucking into mustardy Welsh rarebit and flaky, pastry-topped leek and chicken pies. It’s mouthwatering comfort food that makes us feel happy, full, and deeply understood. Subtle details like the Aalvar Alto tables and the line of straw hats hung along the walls make for restrained, chic decoration in the whitewashed-brick room. The light streaming through the floor-to-ceiling window is the main decoration.

While Holborn might feel a little bit random, London's first, ultra-luxurious Rosewood Hotel has all the makings of a classic, from the grand courtyard entrance, to the Asian-inflected, but still very stately British décor, to the splashy Holborn restaurant and Scarfes Bar (featuring illustrator Gerald Scarfe’s humorous wall murals).

Like all good ideas, the premise of this Hackney wine bar is wonderfully simple: Buy quality wines in bulk so customers can order by the glass or bottle at very reasonable prices. You'll find excellent and unusual varieties from every corner of the wine-producing world, including Napa, Sicily, and Languedoc, along with a short but equally generous snack menu. We recommend the grilled cheese sandwich, which is actually kind of perfect with a glass of red wine.

Levantine grill joint Berber & Q's first foray out west is with Shawarma Bar, serving up their masterful take on the elevated kebab. And what they mean by kebab is melt-off-the-bone lamb or perfect rotisserie chicken served in a rice bowl or on warm pillowy pita. These, accompanied by their next-level pickles, hummus, tahini, and burnt eggplant dips, makes for an insanely flavorful—and intensely filling—meal. Middle Eastern-spiked slushies and their own house-made za'atar ale are on hand to help wash it all down.

With its fan base firmly established after years of popping up in small cafe's in Peckham and then Shoreditch, som saa has since settled down into a cozy space with wooden tables and exposed brick walls, remained jam packed with walk-ins, and been nearly impossible to book. The reason: uber-spicy Northern Thai curries, soups, and salads that simply surpass most all the other Thai spots in London. Their Burmese-style curry and fresh, green papaya salad alone will make the standard pad thai a thing of the past.

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.

One of our favorite coffee spots in East London for the killer cold brew, natural light, and brick-lined interiors. This is a spot to hunker down with your laptop or book for the morning with an almond milk latte and house-made croissant. There's definitely a laid-back vibe here, which can be attributed to the backstory: Founder and New Zealand native Michael Allpress was so inspired by the 1980s coffee scene in Seattle that he started the first coffee cart in his home country, which led him to open a roastery in his garage and, ultimately, several cafés and roasteries around the world

Every single Sunday this East End street morphs into a sprawling outdoor flower market, packed with stalls of wildflowers and potted plants. Columbia Road itself is a great shopping street for home goods, vintage wares, and delicatessens—all the stores open their doors for market foot traffic.

A passion project through and through for everyone involved in this fantastic bakery, E5 is way ahead of the curve, using local, organic flours to bake incredible sourdough country breads, ryes, and perfect pastries. The guys behind E5, founder Ben McKinnon and head baker Eyal Schwartz are both in their second career, having left the sustainability business and neuroscience worlds to delve deep into ancient grains and wild yeasts. What's come out of their impulsive career move is bread that has a cult following among foodies, and a bustling, jam-packed café. Plus, they're magnanimously sharing the knowledge in their weekly bread baking courses.

You could easily spend the better part of an afternoon eating and reading and hanging at Fabrique. The Stockholm transplant specializes in sourdough bread that's crackly on the outside and super soft on the inside. It’s great for sandwiches, but honestly better on its own. Then grab a few rye baguettes and bullar, Swedish cinnamon-cardamom buns, to take home.

With wood-lined walls and repurposed church pew seats, this café is as cozy as it gets. Serving up Monmouth brews exclusively along with some of the best pastries in town from Cocomaya and Clarke's of Kensington, this makes a great pit-stop on a leisurely day out touring the Barbican or nearby Spitalfields. This is the kind of place you'd come accompanied by a great book rather than a laptop.

Karen Collins is on a mission to cure IBS by way of her now legendary fermented chia teff loaf, which has become a go-to not just for those with a serious condition, but for anyone hoping to improve their digestion. The added bonus is that it makes a perfect slice of ultra-nourishing morning toast. Devotees can pick it up via Frame cafés or by subscription. Operating a totally sustainable, zero-waste policy, Happy Tummy Co. delivers weekly orders by bike.

Leila's stocks a great assortment of local and seasonal vegetables along with sundries like cheeses and oils. The veggie shop, tucked away on one of the more picturesque Shoreditch streets, also hosts a café, which has a laid-back, neighborhood vibe. The dishes are simple and straightforward, which puts the aforementioned veggies in the spotlight.

The Natural Kitchen is the perfect stop on the High Street: Take a seat at their communal wooden tables and dig into a smoothie and salad. We're hooked on their butcher's chicken sausages. The concept is expanding with more healthy eateries popping up across the city. The concept is expanding fast with locations in Marylebone and Tower Hill, and surely more to come.

Run like an old-fashioned speakeasy, it is easy to miss the black door that marks the entrance (it doesn't help that it's down a flight of dark stairs). Once you’re in, it’s like a true jazz age bar with some stiff, old fashioned drinks. Their super spicy Bloody Mary, which comes with a basket full of fixings so you can customize, is pretty memorable. You’ll often encounter troops of swing dancers ready to dance to the live jazz provided by the bar.

The espresso here is serious: smooth, heady, and perfect on its own, which is why this café is always packed. In 2008, Nude's founders created their first café on Brick Lane, where they served ethically sourced artisanal coffee. Word spread, and the team moved to its current location on Hanbury Street, which also hosts a state-of-the-art roastery. Every cup served comes from beans roasted on-site by the industry's most eco-friendly roaster. There's also a sister café on Bell Lane.

In a city of a million coffee shops, Shoreditch Grind, the original of what is now a few locations around the city, gets it just right. Perched on the highly trafficked Old Street roundabout, it’s pounded daily by commuters, bankers, and start-up employees—and the menu appeals to all of them. The coffee is roasted at the Shoreditch Grind roaster around the corner, and the interior is industrial-cool with subway-tiled walls and big windows overlooking the hustle. The breakfast is good—acai bowls, scrambled eggs, and smoked salmon, but the lattes (matcha, turmeric, good old coffee) are even better.

Claire Ptak, who started her career at Chez Panisse, relocated to London several years ago and opened an Americana-inspired bakery on Wilton Way—a particularly friendly, community oriented stretch in Hackney. We've been known to make the trek out to east London just for her irresistible Ginger Molasses cake.

Having worked as a professional pastry chef in some of London's finest restaurants, Henrietta brings the skills of an old-school patissier to her baking. And yet, her cakes, which are free from refined flour, sugar, and dairy are unlike anything else out there. The fact that they are free from those ingredients is, of course, a bonus, but it's the amazing flavors she creates using natural ingredients that's impressive. Her cakes, which she bakes for delivery across London, are sort of mind-blowing, in the intensity of their flavor, the perfection of their texture, and her beautiful decorations, which often include home-grown edible flowers. Henrietta has a lot to show the world about how much further baking can go, and for the curious, she teaches plenty of workshops and one-on-ones. East London based, she delivers across the city.

With stores in Portobello and Shoreditch, this perennial brand has endured the decades with its classic, pared down designs for both sexes. Simple totes and cool bike bags are our picks.

Flowers in antique glass jars, succulents large and small, steampunk kids clothes, pressed flowers, it all may sound a little Etsy-esque, and well, it is, but it's so well achieved and so aesthetically pleasing that it's hard not to fall for. Botanique, both a florist and a shop for artisan wares, opened up its sprawling, wood-lined space on Exmouth Market in October and already promises to be a fixture on the local craft scene with a series of seasonal workshops for those interested in picking up a few skills.

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

This clothing and lifestyle store has expanded into a new two-story space, which feels like it came straight out of Copenhagen. In this trendy part of town where stores come and go all too often, Goodhood's staying power is due to the owners being, since 2007, arbiters of East London style, constantly refreshing their mix of streetwear essentials from brands like Wood Wood, Nanushka, Peter Jensen, and MM6. Last year, they expanded their concept and went into furnishings, bringing Nordic brands like HAY and Muuto to East London. So popular is their aesthetic that they're now busy helping other companies find their voice through Goodhood's graphic and branding agency.

Winter through summer, the dominating color for men and women in this avant-garde shop is black—all meditated on by forward-thinking designers like Rick Owens, Dries van Noten, Comme de Garçons, P.R. Patterson, and Thom Browne. There's that, and the beautifully pared down, sleek interiors to delight in here, making an artful backdrop to the hand-selected pieces on the rails. Currently housed in a studio a few steps away from their original locale, the revamp will no doubt be something quite spectacular.

This brand originally caught our eye with its wry animal print textiles and wallpapers for the home, all made traditionally in sumptuous fabrics, but with a slightly subversive edge. They've now taken their prints and turned them out in clothes, wrapping paper, and more which actually totally works.

Even the wooden brooms are carefully selected to fit in with the artfully stark aesthetic at Labour and Wait. Come for striped sailing shirts, Japanese enamelware, hand-forged gardening tools, leather satchels, and polka-dot primary-color handkerchiefs. In sum, a slightly random selection of household goods that come together beautifully.

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.

Run by a collective of designers and craftsmen, Luna & Curious brings together a pretty outstanding (and affordable) assortment of home wares, clothing, toys, and curios made by young, predominantly British makers. Every few weeks, they turn a section of the shop over to a new designer to arrange and display their wares however they'd like; it's always pretty inspiring.

Sure, it's a boutique, but this beautiful space is also a really great hangout spot. Stop by for a coffee, peruse their selection of small objects and tabletop goods, have a light lunch meeting at one of their gorgeous green marble tables, or stock up on Etre Cecile t-shirts, Pamela Love jewelry, and the shop's own brand linen shirts. With its laid-back vibe, Modern Society has quickly become a fixture on Redchurch Street, one of East London's coolest shopping drags.

Shop owner Pavel Klimzak left an interior design agency to start his store, and he brought many new brands previously undiscovered in the London market with him. Along with more prolific design labels like HAY and Muuto, Pavel is mixing in exclusives from lesser known but equally innovative studios like La Chance and Atipico. We're impressed.

Located in a tiny Victorian shopfront, Pentreath & Hall sells carefully chosen homewares and an ever-changing variety of unusual delights. Many of the objects, like co-owner, Birdie Hall’s decoupage plates, and Eric Ravilious for Wedgewood ceramics, satisfy the "look well under a glass cloche" category requirements.

SCP works with a closely curated group of designers to manufacture their furniture and home accessories in workshops around the world. Donna Wilson's playful knits get a lot of airtime here, as do designers like Lucy Kurrein, Michael Anastassiades and more. Owner Sheridan Coakley does a lot of travel and always brings back great finds with him. Aside from the high concept furniture, lighting and accessories, this shop is one of the best in town for gifts.

Housed in a historic 18th-century townhouse, this antiques shop looks almost like a storybook rendition of an old London home. It's a great spot not only for antiques but also for discovering new contemporary artists as owner Fiona Atkins has an eye for talent and often hosts gallery shows in the back room. The shop also doubles as a florist, selling bunches made by local talent, Worm, and a wonderful coffee and cake stop in the cozy kitchen downstairs.

The knowledgeable, friendly, and design-obsessed staff at this Viaduct showroom will introduce you to the work of all the up-and-comers, as well as the more established designers on the scene, like Patricia Urquiola and Japer Morrison. If they don't have what you're looking for, they can probably track it down. They're great for outfitting modern offices and much of their stock transitions easily into the modern home. GP's architect Al Martin even used Viaduct for the modern renovation of his London home.

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.

More than a gym, Blok is a full fitness complex in Shoreditch, a few steps from Liverpool Street station. There are thirty-two different types of classes spanning yoga, Pilates, boxing, barre, and Blok’s own custom classes. The place is beautiful in a stark, modern way—the studios are all glass, brushed concrete, and textural woods with corridors illuminated by soft lights. The café is an ideal post- or pre-workout spot to fuel up with coffee, protein shakes, and plant-based bites that arrive in the prettiest sculptural wooden bowls. Blok’s store, meanwhile, is filled with natural beauty products and workout gear.

Breathwork is a deeply personal practice. Hyperventilating and releasing in a room full of people and the sobbing, laughing, and shaking that often accompany that release require a certain willingness to bare all. This is why our first session with renowned breathworker Stuart Sandeman was a one-on-one. When we arrived at the Scotsman’s Dalston studio (there's a second space in Marylebone), his cheery, confident nature immediately put us at ease. And though the next hour of open-mouthed belly breathing and releasing by slapping our hands and feet against the (padded) ground as we loudly exhaled was intense, the release of emotion (okay, we cried) and the subsequent energy burst is not to be understated.

Holistic healer Jasmin Harsono is the founder of the London-based wellness brand Emerald and Tiger. Harsono is a Reiki master, a sonic artist, and an intuitive guide. (You can get a feel for her bright, uplifting energy from this morning Reiki meditation.) Harsono offers virtual private and group sessions, which you can sign up for on her website. For more from Harsono, check out her book Self Reiki: Tune in to Your Life Force to Achieve Harmony and Balance.

True intuitives are rare. Having someone know your thoughts, read your body, and decipher your energy without knowing you should be impossible, but it’s not. Knowles is a living, breathing intuitive who in her own mystic way suspends her hands over your body, somehow knowing the trigger points without actually touching you. Candles flicker and crystals get hot in your hands as you lie there waiting for Knowles’s reading (which she will record and send to you a day or two after the dust settles). Of course, these healing sessions are different for everyone, but our reading was spot-on. Knowles considers herself a clairvoyant, a reader, an intuitive, a crystal healer, and an author (her book The Power of Crystal Healing: Change Your Energy and Live a High-vibe Life is a must for the crystal-curious), and no two sessions are quite the same.

Having worked in fashion PR, Eve Kalinik understands the crazy pace at which some of her clients live and how they might not have the time to make their own meals, let alone eat at regular hours. This is probably what makes her one of the most in-demand nutritional therapists of the moment. Kalinik focuses on teaching her clients new eating habits that they can actually stick to and introducing foods that are within their reach. Plus, she's into the nitty-gritty, looking into hormone imbalances, food intolerances, and digestive issues when needed to get to the root of her patients' issues.

This is a totally unique way to work your body, as you spend the class in an AntiGravity Hammock-basically a hammock made of silk that you can lie, hang, stretch in, and more. People who do this type of yoga swear by the mind/body connection and the deep stretches and relaxation that comes from the postures, which, without gravity, take minimal effort. If you can't get to Whitechapel, Richard, and his hammock, can come to you.

This ever-expanding chain of yoga studios features a massive, nylon, blow-up, womb-like pod inside of which the classes take place. This may all sound a little strange, but the effect inside is totally relaxing. The Vinyasa Flow classes here are perfect for mid-level yogis in that they're not so challenging as to scare you off, but they're hard enough to provide a great, cleansing workout and a deep sense of relaxation at the end. There are pods in Notting Hill and Brixton, too.

With a chiropractor, psychotherapist, gynecologist, and even a sports therapist and podiatrist all in the same place, the London Wellness Centre is focused on prevention above all else. With all these services available, it's also taking a completely integrative approach to health care. Co-owner and lead chiropractor Joanna Lowry-Corry is an incredibly thoughtful practitioner who takes the time to get to know her patients and is a font of knowledge when it comes to overall wellness. With locations in Canary Wharf and right near the Shard, it's hitting London's nerve center when it comes to stress-related issues.

A relatively recent renovation to the spa and gym at London’s grande dame the Lanesborough takes wellness to the next level. The gym is first-class and available to guests and members with a slew of performance specialists on hand for one-on-one and class training,as well as full health assessments. Box, run, weight lift, dance, yoga you name it—it’s all available, plus a café that features nutritionist-led dishes and drinks for lunch after a workout. Highlights at the spa include Ila facials, crystal sound healing (pure sound vibrations made using a pestle and crystal bowl), and Tibetan energy healing. The biggest draw however is an energetic healing facial with the renowned Anastasia Achilleos (Achilleos has a residency on Thursdays, be sure to book early). The pool is one of the prettiest in London, and overall, the Lanesborough feels much more like a retreat than a fitness club.

Xochi Balfour is quickly becoming the face of millennial healing in London, working with clients in their twenties and thirties who need coping strategies for stress and burnout. Xochi meets with clients at her home for one to two sessions and uses a range of techniques customized to individual needs. Through anything from guided chakra meditation and sound healing to nutritional and skincare advice, she helps her clients develop their own personal toolkit for wellness and sets them on their way.

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.

Part of a larger group of wonderfully homey, modern and totally English hotels, one of the highlights here is high tea. What's truly thoughtful is that you don't have to rush to make tea time (a tough ask when sightseeing with little ones) since here, it's served all day. Kids go bonkers for the three-tiered trays of scones, cakes, and sandwiches while parents appreciate the quiet respite (and lengthy cocktail menu) of the hotel bistro, Oscar. This is the sister hotel to The Crosby in NYC.

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.

This is one of our favorite grown-up hotels in London. It is decorated beautifully in subdued tones and offers pretty wonderful services, many of which are geared toward families (on-call babysitters, goody bags, video games). On sunny days, the rooftop pool is the best spot to take in everything on offer: hula hoop classes, alfresco lunch, and twice-daily kids' swim hours. Beyond than the now-famous breakfast spread, there's no lack of dining and boozing options thanks to the Blue Bar, the Berkeley Café, and the luxe terrace bar.

It may be the cupcakes—of which there are 36 flavors, including mojito and Mexican hot chocolate—or its charming co-founder, YouTube phenomenon Jemma Wilson, but regardless, kids and adults alike adore this bakery. There's also the made-to-order cakes, a selection of which are on show at the shop on a daily basis, that rack up many of the wow-factor points (They'll recreate all manner of cartoon characters, animals, and mythical creatures in cake form). Whatever it is, it's probably the best spot for a sweet in the entire neighborhood, thanks to the fresh flavors that Jemma and her crew concoct on a weekly basis.

Borough Market is London’s oldest market and offers a dizzying expanse of food options, most of them organic and fresh from the farm. For kids, weaving through the stalls (the baked goods and sweets offering is particularly on point) and taking in the sites and smells is a total blast. Since it's a covered space, it makes for a great rainy day excursion.

A beautiful, wood-lined bakery that turns out beautiful cakes, croissants, and scones. The space itself is airy and kind of refined for a bakery, making it the perfect destination for tea. It's a good spot for a mid-day break as it doesn't fill up as much as other central London sweet stops.

Philippe Contini’s modern chain of patisseries has just arrived in London from Paris and Japan, and packs some serious heat: These pretty little confections are some of the best treats in the city. At the Marylebone HQ, each individual pastry is presented in its own refrigerated glass cloche—sleek, modern, and fanciful all at once. Kids will go nuts in here and so will anyone with a serious sugar addiction. The 'Paris Brest' is insane.

We love this thoughtfully packed confectionery for its old-fashioned blue-and-white packaging and sweetly illustrated chocolate boxes. We're hooked on the rose and violet chocolates, but you can personalize an assortment to suit your tastes. Meanwhile, the molded chocolates are beautiful—i.e., they're great souvenirs to take back home.

The original Primrose Bakery was born over a decade ago (there are multiple locations), mainly because the owners wanted to make cupcakes, which were already killing it overseas, available in London. Over the years, The assortment has expanded to include classic chocolate cake (it's the moistest, richest, most perfect thing ever) and a menu of made-to-order layer cakes, which can be decorated any way you like.

This restaurant is situated in a great location, right on the square, making it the ideal spot for traditional afternoon tea in a posh Chelsea environment (the menu is refreshingly well-priced despite the environs). The Botanist Breakfast, which is perfect for kicking off a full day of wandering, includes a generous main dish and coffee and rings in at £12.

This is the kind of Hampstead Heath go-to where everyone, even the family dog, is welcome. The atmosphere is cozy and traditional with maroon leather seats, chalkboard menus, and lots of distressed wood. Don’t miss the bread basket, homemade ice cream, and ale (for grownups only).

Like all good things in London, this burgeoning chainlet is growing fast. Once a beloved food truck with a cleverly built-in pizza oven, it now has not one but two bricks-and-mortar outposts. The thin-crust pizza at all their charmingly lo-fi locations is superb, as are the negronis and affogato. At the new spot off Carnaby, we’re looking forward to fried pizza courtesy of their first authentic Neapolitan fryer—the guys spent a couple of weeks in Naples recently to learn the art of frying pretty much everything.

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.

Known for his relaxed approach to cooking, Bill Granger has fronted major culinary hits in Australia and Asia. This bright, airy, and generally packed place on Westbourne Grove is his first London restaurant, and like its predecessors, it offers casual all-day dining with a comfort-food slant (awesome mash) and a fantastic weekend brunch. Look for simple dishes, like the signature ricotta hotcakes or the full Aussie breakfast. The no-reservation policy means you'll probably have to wait, but it's totally worth it. For the North Londoners reading, there's a second location in King's Cross, plus two more in Clerkenwell and Chelsea.

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.

This is one of London's best spots for Chinese. At first glance it looks a bit on the small side, but because it's actually split into several levels, it can comfortably accommodate bigger parties (make a reservation). The home-style tofu is a favorite among locals as are the pork buns, which are served as if they are little burger buns. As a whole, the menu errs on the spicy side, so ask for milder, kid-friendly options.

Run by husband-and-wife team Ian Paley and Emily Dyson, this multilevel space is stocked with independent designers from all over the globe. While the women's section is home to plenty of international names that are hard to find elsewhere (along with a strong NYC contingent like Rachel Comey and Steven Alan), it's the meticulously edited kids’ selection—Morley tees, Oeuf toys—that's earned the shop praise from locals and visitors alike.

These beautiful boutiques are now peppered across the city and stock impeccably crafted, stylish, yet age-appropriate childrenswear. The clothes are classic with a distinct French feel and a painstaking attention to detail, from the hand-stitching to the organic cotton. Bonpoint also carries shoes, toys, books, and more. It's pretty expensive, but you totally get what you pay for, so whatever you buy for your oldest now will still be in pristine condition for your youngest years later.

High up on Rosslyn Hill in Hampstead, this recently-expanded shop stocks an ample mix of conventional toys along with science and craft projects. Wrapping paper, party favors, and plenty of stickers are also available, making the birthday present-buying chore a bit easier. Anyone who has a child caught up in the Lego or Sylvanian Families mania will be well taken care of here. Their Schleich shelf, full of those classic and very realistic plastic animals, totally triggers nostalgia.

This store actually has no sign, so you have to look hard. Kristin Baybars, who has run the shop for decades, stocks everything you could ever want for a dollhouse. The front of the store has traditional kids toys and imported dollhouse accessories, but as you venture farther back, you'll find handmade British pieces on display inside kooky old cabinets and quintessentially English townhouses. You'll either leave with a bunch of miniatures or grand plans for a dollhouse of your own, just remember to bring cash as they don't accept cards. Photo: The Small Desk

This cozy, intimate bookshop has something for everyone. A separate children's section encourages parents to linger with their little ones, and almost every section in the store features bookmarks with comments by the knowledgeable staff.

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.

Nowhere else in London will you find this many Calico Critters, or, as they're known in the UK, Sylvanian Families. The store stocks the full UK range, as well as a large number of imports from the US and Japan. They also do amazing window displays.

This indoor skate park offers full-day lessons for beginner and advanced skateboarders of all ages, as well as skate camps and after-school clubs. Kids especially love Gary, but all the guys are very knowledgeable, friendly, and welcoming. The skate park itself is an iconic scene of punk life in London.

Beyond being a beautiful place to pass an afternoon, this is also London's oldest botanical garden (it dates back to 1673). Don't miss the newest addition, the Garden of Edible and Useful Plants, where you'll find foliage with a variety of uses, from perfume to cosmetics. P.S. Closed Saturdays.

Straddling Westminster and Camden, Regent's Park features the largest grass area for sports in London, plus an Open Air Theater, Regent's College, Regent's Canal, the London Zoo, restaurants, cafes, and much more. Every October, the park hosts Frieze, with two enormous pavilions and sculptures throughout the park.

The animals at the London Zoo are well kept, so a visit here is always a happy one. Plus, a recent renovation converted many of the animals' enclosures, making them truer to how they live in nature. There are also a number of daily kids activities that are heavy on fun without skimping on education.

Kids love these fun duck-themed tour buses-slash-boats, which are a wonderful and unique way to see the city. They offer great views from the river of many of the major sites adults want to see, making it fun for the whole family.

Ball pools, indoor ride, and go-karts are just a few of the highlights offered at this mega kids center. You can keep a littles entertained here for an entire afternoon, which is precisely why it's such a popular birthday party venue.

This beautiful and peaceful park is in the Royal Borough of Kensington—more precisely, in the posh neighborhood of Holland Park, which is known for its beautiful Victorian townhouses, tony shops, and great restaurants. The northern part of the park is a semi-wild woodlands, while the rest of the park boasts the famous Orangery, tennis courts, a cricket pitch, a Japanese garden, a giant chess set, an impressive children's Adventure Playground, and even a youth hostel.

Divided by the Serpentine Lake, the impossible-to-miss Hyde Park is central London's most prominent chunk of greenery. It's worth getting lost: You'll find the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial; an awesome pirate ship playground; the very cool Serpentine Gallery; the lakeside Lido Café; sports facilities; boating; seasonal events; and many wonderful walks and paths to wander. From November to January of each year, the entire place is decked out in holiday decorations for the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, including an ice-skating rink and a winter festival.

Legoland is full of rides for older kids, but there are also plenty of games and activities for younger Lego fans to get into, including Duplo Land. What's more, they're consistently unveiling fresh attractions, so no two visits are the same.

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.

Originally built in 1910, Electric Cinema is one of the oldest movie theaters in the UK: It's been running on and off since that time, but it caught our attention when it was leased to Soho House as part of its Electric House property. The Saturday night Kids Club shows a great selection of films for little ones, and kids love hanging out in the unusual leather sofa seating.

Here, both adults and kiddos can explore virtually every scientific topic of the modern world, including space, agriculture, energy, time, medicine, psychology, and even identity. There's a 3D Imax theater, an Apollo 4-D Cinema, galleries, hands-on displays, flight simulators, and much more. While it's easy to pretend it's just for the kids, you'll be shocked by how much you'll learn yourself.

The flagship studio in Fulham has a spacious upstairs area for decorating your own pottery and a new party room in the basement—ideal for birthday parties and special events. The shop was set up by London's Emma Bridgewater in 1998, and has a very homey feel. Don't miss the adorable Little Toy Shop in front, packed with goodies for little ones. They also have a location in Battersea, and in Chessell, on the Isle of Wight.

Benjamin Pollock's toy theater shop was revamped in the 1960's by Marguerite Fawdry (it was her idea to add a museum), and Mr. Pollock's grandson runs the shop and adjoining museum to this day. There are old-fashioned teddy bears, doll houses, zoetropes, and vintage games that kids and adults alike will find fascinating. The specialty here, however, remains the mini-theaters. The toy store still stocks them and makes for the start of a very fanciful toy collection.

Each season's offering here includes both classic and new tales presented by talented thespians, plus plenty of resources that teach kids about the theater. Meanwhile, the Polka theater offers plenty of workshops during half-term weeks.

Built in 1881, the Natural History Museum is also a world-renowned research center and boasts as much historical significance as scientific: Specimens collected by Darwin can be still be found in its halls. In addition to permanent galleries (we love the Earth Galleries, designed by Neal Potter) and exciting exhibitions, the museum features a wildlife garden, shows, films, hands-on activities for kids, and more. Especially fun for kids are the Dino Snores sleepovers, where, in Night at the Museum fashion, kids discover what happens when staff and visitors go home. During the holidays, they'll also enjoy the museum's outdoor skating rink (which can be reserved in its entirety for private sessions with an ice marshal). While it's wonderful for families, the museum proves equally interesting for adults, who can enjoy programs like Nature Live and talks with experts in science and natural history. Go right before 10 a.m. and enter on the right-hand side near the science museum to dodge the lines.

Alexandra Palace (or "Ally Pally," as London kids have nicknamed it), is like a park, rec center, and a concert venue wrapped into one Victorian package. As if that weren't enough, its location also provides one of the best views of the city. Between the ice skating rink, the paddle-boat-filled lake, the skate park, drive-in movie theater, and the farmer's market, it's a definite go-to for tiring out the littles.

This wildlife reserve in the Cotswolds is pretty beautiful. There are tons of activities and stations for kids to learn about the 500 species of birds that live here. Also worthwhile is a tour of the grounds and of the Marshmouth nature reserve for more bird and animal sightings. Definitely a day's worth of family activities outside of London.

This unique playground located towards the northern end of Hyde Park has an enormous pirate ship, a sandy beach, teepees, and mini houses to climb in and out of—all in the spirit of Peter Pan. Most of the facilities are wooden and beautifully designed. Parents can hang out at the café which serves casual fare.

Ever wish you, er, your child, could stroll along the Great Hall, stumble into Dumbledore's office, hang out in the Gryffindor common room, or pay a visit to Hagrid's hut? Complete with two soundstages where the Harry Potter series was filmed over the past 10 years and features like the "creature effect" workshop, where you can see how they created such beasts as the giant Basilisk head, this is Mecca for all Harry Potter fans. Reservations are required

Kew Botanical Garden's Treetop Walkway literally lets you amble through the trees. The path leads underground first, to the Rhizotron, where an installation teaches you about tree roots. Then, you'll head 59 feet up to walk amongst the lime, sweet chestnut, and oak trees and mingle with the resident birds and bees. It's a very special experience for adults and kids alike. During the holidays, they do up the entire place in lights and guide after-dark tours along the path as well.

At a sprawling 2,500 acres, Richmond Park is the largest Royal park in the city. Just a few miles southwest of central London, it's most famous for its red and fallow deer which roam freely. As a National Natural Reserve, there are many hills, ponds, gardens, and grasslands to explore, making Richmond Park a beautiful (and often much-needed) natural respite for busy urbanites.

This newly refurbished and serene playground at St. Luke's church is tucked away behind King's Road. There are plenty of swings, picnic tables, jungle gyms, and climbing equipment. The gardens just next door are great, too.

For a soccer-obsessed kid, seats at a Chelsea game are about as good as it gets. The Premier League boasts some of the best players anywhere (their matches are the most watched in the world), and fiery Chelsea coach José Mourinho guarantees a good show. The West Stand Lower is the family area; if your littles are on the younger side, you'll appreciate the no-swearing policy and the less rowdy atmosphere.

This colorful indoor climbing frame for 6-month to 11-year-olds is part of the Talacre Sports and Community Center, and just a short walk from the Kentish Town West station. If you want to bring your really little ones to play, a good time is between 9-10:30am on weekdays for the "Under 5 Only" session.

This cultural institution has some of the best shows on Fashion, Photography and Design every year, not to mention the London Design Biennial. Aside from the galleries, there are a couple good spots to have a snack, take in the views of the Thames and also take the kids. Every Saturday, Somerset House offers kids a range activities from painting and model-making to fashion design and animation. Each workshop is designed to encourage and inspire fresh activities to try at home. The courtyard, which is by a great concert series in the summer, is transformed into a public ice skating rink every winter.

This private members’ club comes at a price, but the variety of activities available to kids and parents is pretty astounding. It’s located right in Chelsea, with views of the Thames; parents can enjoy the gourmet food, stunning modern décor, and the amazing views, while kids have the options of beach club (indoor pool), massive soft play center, music booth, kitchen (with cooking activities), music room, and art lab. Kids will love it, and adults will find the whole experience oddly peaceful for a kids’ activity center.