Hello 2020 and welcome back to my…blog posts! I know it’s been a while since I’ve written something on here but the last few days have been hectic to say the least.

I wanted to come on here and tell you about some of my favorite places in London, perfect for capturing those IG moments or just having a quick bite. I was fortunate enough to travel there three times within the last few months and boy was it a treat! Without further ado here’s some of my favorite spots (mostly food related) because you know that’s how I roll.

London:

Sketch:

Yes, I know everyone and every Instagram influencer under the sun already knows about this place but finally, after years of putting this on my to-do list it became a reality. I decided to skip the pink room everyone sees on their social media feeds and opted for a seat at the back bar with the late night crowd. After a long day of wandering around the city by myself, I waited for my dear friend, Kara, to get off work for some much needed drinks.

The drinks are quite pricey but on the plus side there’s plenty of posh people you can schmooze with to buy you another. ;) Having a ‘charming’ American accent really works wonders in these types of situations.

Needless to say, the interior at Sketch exceeded all my expectations! I visited during the holidays so the decorations were very E X T R A (in the best way possible). Even the futuristic egg pod bathrooms lived up to the design hype.

KatBabe Tip: Come here for a cocktail and the ALL the photo ops!

V&A Museum:

One of my favorite museums to visit, there’s always something worth checking out. You could easily spend a whole day here but I especially love the featured exhibitions. I was thrilled to find out one of favorite photographers, Tim Walker, was the special exhibition going on during the time of my visit. I couldn’t wait to immerse myself in his surrealistic fashion images. The set design for this exhibition was absolutely phenomenal and something I’ll remember seeing for a long time.

KatBabe Tip: The best place to get cultured.

Burger & Beyond:

Located in the trendy Shoreditch area the happy hour is a bargain for your buck! Who could resist the calling of a £5 menu in sea of overpriced food options. I’m so glad I came across this place thanks the boys behind the TOPJAW Youtube channel. I’ll link the video here for their London recommendations.

KatBabe Tip: The Bacon Butter Burger is a MUST order!

Borough Market:

I made sure I came here on a weekday as to avoid the large crowds and lines to purchase things. In fact I didn’t buy much at all, the vendors were generous enough to give a food blogger traveling from LA a nice big sampling of everything at the stalls (lucky me!). The one big purchase I made was from Kappacasein Dairy. The grilled cheese was just as cheesy, melty and delicious as I was hoping it would be.

KatBabe Tip: Visit the market on an off day and make sure you come hungry!

La Mia Mamma:

This charming restaurant offers a cozy setting with equally delicious pasta dishes made to order. The first thing you’ll notice is the Italian grandma’s enticing you with their handmade pasta skills from the front window of the restaurant. Get ready to embark on a culinary journey through different regions of Italy, as the menu changes monthly. My favorite dishes were the Parmigiana Di Melanzane with layers of cheesy, tomato sauce covered aubergines and the Pacceri Alla Genovese pasta dish for it’s luscious beef and onion gravy sauce. Both plates licked clean!

KatBabe Tip: Enjoy a real authentic Italian meal here + cute waiters.

Gloria Trattoria:

This place has my heart, probably because a cute French boy took me here for my birthday! Great choice on his behalf. The restaurant was absolutely beautiful, modern and cozy. The food and wine weren’t a bad touch either.

KatBabe Tip: Make your date take you here.

Bao London:

I was so lucky to arrive here on an off day, during the weekend and a little after lunchtime. (something you have to do everywhere in London) I’ve heard the line can be unbearably long for this small concept restaurant. This place single-handedly had one of the BEST first bites of food I’ve eaten in London! The Classic Bao with its utterly tender braised pork meat and sweet nutty peanut powder made for a powerhouse bite. I opted for the £15 lunch menu offered 12-3PM / M-F to try some of the other dishes but it was clear who the star of the show was. Come here for the Classic and Fried Chicken Bao, then wash it down with a Japanese yogurt cocktail.

KatBabe Tip: Can’t go wrong with The Classic Bao!

GAIL’s Bakery:

This bakery is the perfect place to pop in for a morning cup of coffee, fresh made pastry, and to cozy up with a book. I absolutely love starting my mornings here! The pastries, sandwiches, and drinks are fresh and plenty. You have the convenience of taking something to-go or staying a while to get some work done.

KatBabe Tip: Breakfast for all budget types.

Nando’s:

No trip to the UK is complete without a visit to Nando’s! A fast food restaurant with a sit-down element, the Peri-Peri chicken, selection of side dishes and array of spicy sauce options are a standout. I dream of the day when they decide to open a Nando’s in California.

KatBabe Tip: If you’ve never been, you MUST eat here once.

The Ivy:

A collection of modern British restaurants which offer beautiful interiors and stellar window displays. I’ve included pics from the Winter 19’ and Spring 20’ seasonal displays. You don’t need a meal to get the full experience of this restaurant but I highly suggest visiting one of the many London locations for a tea or cocktail in hand to indulge in the atmosphere.

KatBabe Tip: Bougie prices but with a beautiful setting.

Dishoom:

Everyone knows it! Everybody wants to eat here! Be prepared for long wait times if you thinking coming here for dinner on a weekend is a good idea. I like to go during off hours, preferable on a weekday and a little after lunchtime. No wait and the service is great. It’s true, the Indian food is as good as you’ve heard and my go to dishes are the Ruby Chicken, Garlic Naan, Biryani Rice and the Masala Chai for a cold winter’s day.

KatBabe Tip: Worth the hype Indian food.

Brick Lane Market & Old Spitafields Market:

The market is a bustling artistic hub on Sunday’s in Shoreditch. Filled with food stalls, attractions and second hand shopping for any vintage lover. The joy of the market is you never know what you’ll find, so start digging!

KatBabe Tip: A little something for everyone can be found here.

Harry Potter Studios Tour:

You don’t need to be a Potter Head to appreciate how well curated this tour is! It was so surreal seeing the sets, costumes, props, just EVERYTHING up close and and personal. The tour is approx. 3.5 hrs long because of how much there is to see and do. I can’t say enough wonderful things about this place, and it truly is magical.

KatBabe Tip: Bring some comfortable walking shoes and don’t forget your Butterbeer!

Elan Café:

If you love over the top décor, bundles of flowers and the color pink this place is for you! Every cafe location offers a picturesque backdrop for all your photo needs.

The café is even known for serving a £15 latte made of blue sapphires. I tried it….although the flavor was lovely it wasn’t unique enough to buy again. On the plus side, the strawberry cake I ordered was light, delicious and something worth buying again!

KatBabe Tip: Take your pics and fulfill your sweet tooth cravings here.

Saint Aymes:

I’m on the fence about putting this one in because I genuinely had some of the worst customer service of my life from a certain waitress at this café….but I’m a sucker for pretty things. So I’ll just say, skip the food, take the pic and there’s far better places to spend your quid at.

KatBabe Tip: Pretty plates sh** service. There I said it.

Honorable Mentions:

I honestly have so many photos from London I’m just going to do a photo dump here of places you should definitely check out.

Walk around the Soho area and come across this beautiful light installation on Carnaby Street.
Walk by this super Instagrammable pink cafe named Peggy Porschen. Debate weather or not to buy something a million times, don’t buy anything, but keep taking pics in front like you did LOL!
Admire the colorful houses on Bywater Street in Chelsea and wish you made enough money to live there.
Grab a drink and a bag of crisps from The Churchill Arms.
Eat a Sunday Roast, from literally anywhere! Yes, this is a mandatory meal tradition if you haven’t partaken already.
Grab the best almost croissant you’ll ever eat from Pimlico Road Farmers' Market. Open Every Saturday 9am-2pm.

Surrey:

I’m fortunate enough to have friends who live in the city and family in the countryside. I really enjoyed the change of scenery Surrey had to offer!

RHS Garden Wisley:

An absolute treat and breath of fresh air from the city, the gardens are an absolute delight to wander around. My cousin, Jessica, took me around for a stroll through the bright orange and yellow hues the fall landscape had to offer. I especially loved the fountains and small pools of water that added a sense of relaxation to the grounds.

KatBabe Tip: The perfect place to get back in touch with nature.

Richmond Park:

I didn’t get many pictures here because the sun was setting when we arrived but the park is worth mentioning because of its charming and bustling wildlife. Richmond Park is the largest of London’s Royal Parks. Hundreds of deer can be seen, peacefully grazing at a time and posing for pictures.

KatBabe Tip: Enjoy a picnic and some deer too!

Shere:

It was a chilly winter night. My cousin and I had just finished watching one of our favorite Christmas movie, The Holiday, and had a laugh about how we came from the same places featured in the movie.

For those of you who’ve never seen the movie, here’s a short summary. Two women troubled with guy-problems swap homes in each other's countries, where they each meet a local guy and fall in love.

Shere, is a small English village in which some of the movie takes place and was only a quick drive away. You can’t help but fall in love with this quaint town and beautiful views. It was so fun seeing the filming locations in person and grabbing a bite to eat at one of the local cafes.

KatBabe Tip: The perfect side trip for movie fans!

So many things to see, experience, and most importantly EAT! I hope you’ve enjoyed this lengthy blog post about one of my favorite places. As always, if you visit any of these spots please be sure to tag me @heykatbabe in your posts, stories ect. so I can repost them to my account. Feel free to leave a comment down below about where I should visit next in the UK!