|
| 1 | ++++ |
| 2 | +title = "Places in London" |
| 3 | +date = 2025-03-17 |
| 4 | ++++ |
| 5 | + |
| 6 | +Tested list of places in London. |
| 7 | + |
| 8 | +TOC: |
| 9 | + |
| 10 | +* [Free work/study areas](#free-work-study-areas) |
| 11 | +* [Food](#food) |
| 12 | +* [Bars/Pubs](#bars-pubs) |
| 13 | +* [Cafes/Breakfast places](#cafes-breakfast-places) |
| 14 | + |
| 15 | +# Free work/study areas |
| 16 | + |
| 17 | + |
| 18 | +## Barbican Conservatory |
| 19 | + |
| 20 | +Brutalist building with a beautiful garden and a tiny cafe among the leaves. Electric outlets only in the top terrace area. Only available on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. |
| 21 | + |
| 22 | +[Free tickets](https://www.barbican.org.uk/) |
| 23 | + |
| 24 | +<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d2482.6300463605867!2d-0.09777551241103076!3d51.52000290952768!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x48761caa036cfde1%3A0x8deeedcd900573b6!2sBarbican%20Conservatory!5e0!3m2!1sen!2suk!4v1742249441583!5m2!1sen!2suk" width="600" height="450" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe> |
| 25 | + |
| 26 | + |
| 27 | +## British Library |
| 28 | + |
| 29 | +Usually packed, many seats without an electric outlet. |
| 30 | + |
| 31 | +<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d2482.0850663779656!2d-0.13011412289766078!3d51.52999957181836!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x48761b3b70171395%3A0x18905479de0fdb25!2sThe%20British%20Library!5e0!3m2!1sen!2suk!4v1742249365751!5m2!1sen!2suk" width="600" height="450" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe> |
| 32 | + |
| 33 | + |
| 34 | +## Cable Cafe |
| 35 | + |
| 36 | +See [Bars/Pubs](#bars-pubs) for description. |
| 37 | + |
| 38 | +<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d2484.77176943429!2d-0.11375712290008214!3d51.48070347180733!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x4876048c294885b7%3A0x140c68a79c05ddb1!2sCable%20Cafe!5e0!3m2!1sen!2suk!4v1742250061160!5m2!1sen!2suk" width="600" height="450" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe> |
| 39 | + |
| 40 | + |
| 41 | +# Food |
| 42 | + |
| 43 | + |
| 44 | +## Xi'an BiangBiang Noodles |
| 45 | + |
| 46 | +Open all week till 10:30pm, except for Sundarys when it closes at 9:30pm. |
| 47 | + |
| 48 | +Oily, long, thick and delicious noodles. Be sure to order pork noodles. ~13 GBP per portion. Don't recommend egg and tomato soup. |
| 49 | + |
| 50 | +<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d2482.5652053643407!2d-0.1251683228981224!3d51.52119237181645!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x48761bc20986a26f%3A0xaf10968dfb6fc2dc!2sMaster%20Wei%20Xi'An!5e0!3m2!1sen!2suk!4v1742249192352!5m2!1sen!2suk" width="600" height="450" style="border:0; margin: 0 auto;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe> |
| 51 | + |
| 52 | + |
| 53 | +## San Gennaro |
| 54 | + |
| 55 | +Open Wednesday - Sunday till 10:30pm/11pm. |
| 56 | + |
| 57 | +Very good, affordable sourdough pizza. Very kind staff. ~15 GBP per pizza. |
| 58 | + |
| 59 | +<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d22014.77600253169!2d-0.14882542622282083!3d51.48743612745194!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x48760506eebfa553%3A0x1a311420e398c088!2sSan%20Gennaro!5e0!3m2!1sen!2suk!4v1742249654962!5m2!1sen!2suk" width="600" height="450" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe> |
| 60 | + |
| 61 | + |
| 62 | +## Caminetto |
| 63 | + |
| 64 | +Open till 11pm. |
| 65 | + |
| 66 | +Italian place with pasta, pizza, wine and desserts. Very kind staff. Tasty, not so small portions of carbonara. ~15 GBP per portion. |
| 67 | + |
| 68 | +<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d4969.468015779347!2d-0.128820375544918!3d51.481396561095266!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x487604f16fb99a2b%3A0x91e115823cbfba7b!2sCaminetto!5e0!3m2!1sen!2suk!4v1742249722728!5m2!1sen!2suk" width="600" height="450" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe> |
| 69 | + |
| 70 | + |
| 71 | +## Pizza Union King's Cross |
| 72 | + |
| 73 | +Open 11am-11pm. |
| 74 | + |
| 75 | +Very cheap but not horrible pizza. <10 GBP per portion. Nicely (for its price) decorated inside, lots of tables. |
| 76 | + |
| 77 | +<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d19856.19964888835!2d-0.15315495448216374!3d51.5311021!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x48761b3f292d2f05%3A0xe56aca79afd84c95!2sPizza%20Union%20King's%20Cross!5e0!3m2!1sen!2suk!4v1742251230125!5m2!1sen!2suk" width="600" height="450" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe> |
| 78 | + |
| 79 | + |
| 80 | +# Bars/Pubs |
| 81 | + |
| 82 | + |
| 83 | +## Cable Cafe |
| 84 | + |
| 85 | +Open till 11:30pm/12:00pm. |
| 86 | + |
| 87 | +Usually not packed. Free live jazz music shows every Wednesday and Saturday 8pm-10pm. You can sit there with a laptop and work comfortably. |
| 88 | + |
| 89 | +<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d2484.77176943429!2d-0.11375712290008214!3d51.48070347180733!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x4876048c294885b7%3A0x140c68a79c05ddb1!2sCable%20Cafe!5e0!3m2!1sen!2suk!4v1742250061160!5m2!1sen!2suk" width="600" height="450" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe> |
| 90 | + |
| 91 | + |
| 92 | +## Wax O'Connor's London |
| 93 | + |
| 94 | +Open till 12am. |
| 95 | + |
| 96 | +Very cool underground pub with a hobbit house-like interior. They play live music. It's packed during the weekend. |
| 97 | + |
| 98 | +<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d2483.129944513357!2d-0.13491092289866866!3d51.51083197181421!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x487604d3cadafa23%3A0x13b38a07e7631340!2sWaxy%20O'Connor's%20London!5e0!3m2!1sen!2suk!4v1742251433739!5m2!1sen!2suk" width="600" height="450" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe> |
| 99 | + |
| 100 | + |
| 101 | +## The Clachan |
| 102 | + |
| 103 | +Open till 11:30pm/12am. |
| 104 | + |
| 105 | +Sometimes play live music. Might be packed. |
| 106 | + |
| 107 | +<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d2482.983984976485!2d-0.14491201241288995!3d51.51350980952295!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x487604d568ab1d01%3A0x4027dc399e0b7611!2sThe%20Clachan!5e0!3m2!1sen!2suk!4v1742251325089!5m2!1sen!2suk" width="600" height="450" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe> |
| 108 | + |
| 109 | + |
| 110 | +## The Lyric |
| 111 | + |
| 112 | +Not too many seats. |
| 113 | + |
| 114 | +Open till 11:30pm/12am. |
| 115 | + |
| 116 | +<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d2483.1043268550493!2d-0.1369641228986397!3d51.51130197181422!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x487604d38dc4c5c9%3A0x6330979fdde5e63e!2sThe%20Lyric!5e0!3m2!1sen!2suk!4v1742251370854!5m2!1sen!2suk" width="600" height="450" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe> |
| 117 | + |
| 118 | +# Cafes/Breakfast places |
| 119 | + |
| 120 | +My criteria for a good breakfast place are: |
| 121 | + |
| 122 | +* Tasty |
| 123 | +* Big portions |
| 124 | +* ~15 GBP for breakfast + coffee |
| 125 | + |
| 126 | + |
| 127 | +## Half Cup |
| 128 | + |
| 129 | +Open 8am-4pm. |
| 130 | + |
| 131 | +Cafe near King's Cross. Usually there's a ~20 min line for a table of 1-2. |
| 132 | + |
| 133 | +<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d2482.201039555223!2d-0.12733282289779302!3d51.527872371818056!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x48761b3a3583b445%3A0x4e94e3bd81b8856e!2sHalf%20Cup!5e0!3m2!1sen!2suk!4v1742250267010!5m2!1sen!2suk" width="600" height="450" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe> |
| 134 | + |
| 135 | + |
| 136 | +## Al Grano Coffee House |
| 137 | + |
| 138 | +Open 8am-4pm. |
| 139 | + |
| 140 | +Cute little cafe. Doesn't serve breakfasts. Kind staff. Sometimes packed. |
| 141 | + |
| 142 | +<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d363.6813886448619!2d-0.1297694221461312!3d51.52912180178103!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x48761b7f6c277ff1%3A0x17d2fe91b249d4a5!2sAl%20Grano%20Coffee%20House%20-%20Kings%20Cross!5e0!3m2!1sen!2suk!4v1742250404289!5m2!1sen!2suk" width="600" height="450" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe> |
| 143 | + |
| 144 | + |
| 145 | +# Sports |
| 146 | + |
| 147 | +There won't be much in this section. |
| 148 | + |
| 149 | + |
| 150 | +## HarroWall Climbing Centre |
| 151 | + |
| 152 | +Open till 11pm/10pm. |
| 153 | + |
| 154 | +Big bouldering gym. A bit far from the city center (or centre). To get there, take the Metropolitan line to Harrow on the Hill. Follow Google Maps' instructions – yes, you need to go behind that building. |
| 155 | + |
| 156 | +<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d2479.321525420531!2d-0.3469386228951857!3d51.58067037183!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x4876136daedccb2b%3A0x766e45cd2417984a!2sHarroWall%20Climbing%20Centre!5e0!3m2!1sen!2suk!4v1742250572051!5m2!1sen!2suk" width="600" height="450" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe> |
| 157 | + |
| 158 | + |
| 159 | +# Parks |
| 160 | + |
| 161 | + |
| 162 | +## Abney Park |
| 163 | + |
| 164 | +Open 8am till dawn (or 6pm I think). |
| 165 | + |
| 166 | +An old cemetery with a little chapel in the center. Very cool atmosphere. |
| 167 | + |
| 168 | +<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d2480.2576994712217!2d-0.07619432289602712!3d51.56350917182616!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x48761c611c6c965f%3A0x48f41d55278940d0!2sAbney%20Park%20Cemetery%20Trust!5e0!3m2!1sen!2suk!4v1742250751917!5m2!1sen!2suk" width="600" height="450" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe> |
| 169 | + |
| 170 | + |
| 171 | +## Queen Mary's Rose Gardens |
| 172 | + |
| 173 | +Open 5am-9pm. |
| 174 | + |
| 175 | +Beautiful, large park in the center of London with many flowers and plants. Haven't got to see it bloom yet but I know it'll look amazing. No skating or cycling! |
| 176 | + |
| 177 | +<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d7839.387708175759!2d-0.1545816667365856!3d51.52931593223443!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x48761ac525aae5e3%3A0x5c055c06706d9354!2sQueen%20Mary's%20Rose%20Gardens!5e0!3m2!1sen!2suk!4v1742250840879!5m2!1sen!2suk" width="600" height="450" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe> |
| 178 | + |
| 179 | + |
| 180 | +## Hyde Park |
| 181 | + |
| 182 | +Open 5am-12pm(!). |
| 183 | + |
| 184 | +Large park in the center of London. Not as stunning as Queen Mary's gardens but there are a lot of birds there – ducks, herons and even parakeets (!) among others. |
| 185 | + |
| 186 | +<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d2483.3189758636777!2d-0.16668842289878688!3d51.50736377181325!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x4876054929181a85%3A0xd1af6c4f49b4bd0c!2sHyde%20Park!5e0!3m2!1sen!2suk!4v1742250902945!5m2!1sen!2suk" width="600" height="450" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe> |
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