First of all, obsessed with this phrase, inspired both by Joey on F.R.I.E.N.D.S. and Rita Ora's random appearance in Fast and Furious 6. (Both series I loovveee). I was blurting it out everywhere we went when we were there.
I had been to London a few years ago as a chubby teenager who really didn't know too much about it. I was there for the stereotypical touristy sites that you have to check off the list - the Eye, Tower Bridge, Big Ben, etc. This trip was really exciting though. We had planned to get deeper into the London vibe, and experience all the other things more popular with the locals. It was also the pre-trip before my official exchange programme started in Paris! So, even more exciting, and everything really lived up to our expectations.
Here are a few places and experiences that I loved.
AIRPORTS
Heathrow
Flying into London was incredibly smooth. I took the Singapore Airlines flight that landed really early in the morning, but things were already open. That made grabbing a quick breakfast really easy before we headed into the city. Immigration was super quick, and I collected my baggage in no time. The friends that were joining me took another flight that landed at another terminal, but maneuvering that was incredibly easy as well. There is a shuttle train that takes you between terminals really quickly. Altogether, a pretty decent first impression!
We pit-stopped at Costa Coffee for breakfast, and that I must say was not the best decision for any coffee lover. The coffee was VERY bland, like, worse than your typical Starbucks or Coffee Bean in terms of flavour and strength. I must say though that they had decent options for stuff to eat, and a pretty good breakfast deal that included both that and coffee. I guess it'd still be somewhere I'd stop by if I was looking for a quick fix.
Luton
Luton Airport is used for budget flights, and stuff that's shorter haul. We flew through Luton on Easyjet, en route to Iceland. The experience was largely pleasant, though it should be noted that there isn't that much to do at this airport compared to Heathrow. Also, do factor in additional travel time and expense for getting out of (or into) London city, as the airport is pretty far out.
We took the train from St Pancras station, that cost us about 16€ one-way. The ride takes about half an hour, and stops at Luton Airport Parkway station. Here, you have to board a separate shuttle bus that takes you to the airport.
Tickets for both can be bought on Trainline.
FOOD
The Moon Under Water
We chanced upon this gem when looking for a cheap place to enjoy the pub atmosphere. This really hit the spot, without breaking the bank, so it was perfect for us students! The Moon Under Water is located right by Leicester Square, which makes it a very convenient stop if you're walking around the area shopping.
We had the fish and chips and the chicken tikka masala, which were both excellent. There's just something so nice and indescribable about having warm, spicy food like the tikka masala when it's cold outside. Drinks here was also pretty cheap, so it's definitely something I'd recommend for an authentic British meal.
* Note that they do check your IDs at this place. The drinking age in Britain is 18, and children are not permitted.
Flat Iron
I'm sure many have heard of this place already, but if you haven't, Flat Iron is known for what some say are the best steaks in town. The ambience is lovely, they give you free popcorn as you wait for your meal, and the steaks really did live up to the hype. I am not the biggest steak fan in the world so I really can't go into the specifics here, but it was a more than decent meal though slightly pricy. I also tried Freedom Lager here, which was pretty nice. Be sure to have some fries on the side, and to order their sauces as well. You can't go wrong with bearnaise or Fred's sauce, but..... this one's a secret that my dear friend Annette let me in on:
Ask for the mix of __ and __. It's fantastic.
* Flat Iron has several different outlets around London, so don't fret too much about planning it into your day beforehand.
Bodean's
Now, for ribs. We checked this place off our list after other Singaporean friends recommended it to us. The ribs were pretty good, but we we so thirsty that day we really enjoyed the iced tea as well. The quesadillas were also good. Something to consider if you ever make it down!
Bodean's does have several outlets. The one we hit up was in Soho.
Yurt Café
We only found out about this place because it was a stone's throw away from our AirBnB, near Limehouse tube station. There isn't much explaining to do here: the café is simply, in a yurt. Though the food here was not particularly enjoyable, I must say the coffee and ambience were. It was something very different from the typical cafe you'd find anywhere really, let alone in a random corner of London. For all you Instagram enthusiasts, this place also allows for some really cool photos. I've left some that took down below.
Markets
Borough Market
The best market in London!! We were very impressed by the variety of food that you could find here. Anything and everything from colourful, fresh fruit to mushroom risottos cooked out of huge pans, specialty coffees and scrumptious desserts. I'd suggest stopping by for a full lunch, maybe after skipping breakfast. There's just so much to see and try!
I have nothing in particular to recommend because everything we tried was good. Just head down and get to exploring!
Camden Market
Camden Market was very artistic. It kind of reminded me of ArtBox, if you were to compare it to something more local. They had everything from stickers to badges, paintings and a whole bunch of artisanal products. The market did have food, but the options were very limited compared to Borough. Still, the area surrounding this market was very interesting as well, making a trip down very worth it.
Amy Winehouse
For all my hardcore Amy Winehouse fans! You should note that this was her hood. She stayed around the area, went to bars around the area for her weekly drinks and hung around quite a bit. Camden Market has a statue of her in tribute to this. If you are already there, also consider taking a little walk to check out her house - the one in which she unfortunately passed away.You can't see much looking from the outside in, but there is a big tree right across the house filled with hand written tributes and little knick knacks. Bring a pen if you're intending to leave one as well.
Address: 30 Camden Square, London NW1 9XA, United Kingdom
Plays
The Book of Mormon
This play was absolutely incredible. I had heard a lot about it before but never enough about it to watch. This time though, we decided to try something different, and boy did we not regret it. It was hilarious!! Super politically incorrect and filled with both simple and really clever humour. I would recommend this over any other play, seeing that its crudeness is not ever likely to be approved for Singaporean audiences. It's never gonna come here.
The place is also right across from a Shake Shack, and right between Picadilly Circus and Leicester Square. So you can easily plan an afternoon touring the area before going for the play. Note that food and drinks inside are pretty expensive. I'd suggest grabbing a bite before or after around the area.
Remember to get your tickets early!!
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