Visting London?

Sleep

• The Hoxton Urban Lodge – the travelers holy grail ― a luxury hotel with budget prices set in one of London’s current hottest areas. http://www.hoxtonhotels.com/

Eat

• Leon – super healthy, well-priced fast-food alternative that has sprung up in several handy central locations (like Carnaby Street, a stone’s throw from Topshop) making it perfect for shopping sustenance. http://www.leonrestaurants.co.uk/

• Bistrotheque is super cool with everything from slick dining to regular cabaret sessions. http://www.bistrotheque.com

• Sketch ― a wonderfully eclectic and visually stunning dining, drinking and art experience in Mayfair. http://www.sketch.uk.com

See

• The Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) always has an exciting exhibition or thought provoking piece cinema on offer. http://www.ica.org.uk/

• Barbican ― so far this year the Barbican’s art gallery has indulged sex and aliens. If that isn’t enticing enough, it’s an architectural landmark with regular installments of theatre, dance, film and music. http://www.barbican.org.uk/

• Borough Market ― London’s oldest food market has a charming atmosphere, plenty of treats to sample and a nice riverside location. http://www.boroughmarket.org.uk

Drink

• Mahiki ― sexy tropical chic but be prepared for the £10 drink. http://www.mahiki.com/

• Koko is set in an old theatre with an eventful history and has live acts, a great variety of club nights, and is surrounded by the cool bars of Camden. http://www.koko.uk.com

• Ember bar in Farringdon is stylish but affordable and open late with DJ sets all night. Perfect if you’re warming up for nearby Fabric. 99-100 Turnmill Street.


Shop

• Dover Street Market – any London fashion lover will cite the multi-storey brainchild of Rei Kawakubo as a must see – even if you can’t afford anything. http://www.doverstreetmarket.com

• COS – who’d have thought H&M’s sister store could produce well-executed, conceptually exciting, garments in luscious fabrics? Wearable forever fashion at totally affordable prices. http://www.cosstores.com/

• Brick Lane - look out for sample sales hidden through unmarked doors, 24 hr bagel shops and the market on Sundays.

• Spitalfields market has stalls with vintage fashion, independent designers, quirky home wares and buckets of atmosphere. (Sunday is the biggest day). http://www.spitalfields.co.uk

• B Store boutique on Saville Row has garnered a reputation for stocking fresh and interesting designers http://www.bstorelondon.com/

• Liberty may not be as big or extensively stocked as Selfridges or Harvey Nichols but the historical building makes it a gorgeous place to shop. http://www.liberty.co.uk/

• Beyond Retro ― a vintage store that always has plenty to rummage through. www.beyondretro.com

• Magma has the best selection of fashion and design magazines in London. www.magmabooks.com

• Butler & Wilson is a treasure trove of all things bright and sparkly including one-of-a-kind bags. http://www.butlerandwilson.co.uk

• Browns is a designer boutique with a knack for selecting the most eye-catching pieces. http://www.brownsfashion.com