9 recommendations for your next trip to London
22.1.2026
Translation: Katherine Martin
Pictures: Laura Scholz
Take this article as your cue to finally book that trip to London. Here are nine great things to do in the British capital.
There’s something a little sad about Buckingham Palace when there are no royals there to wave to you from the balcony. Even so, failing to stop by the attraction on a visit to London would be absolutely out of the question. That said, you’ll want your trip to feature some genuine emotional highs and your camera roll to be filled with beautiful memories instead of mediocre touristy ones. So without further ado, here are nine fresh recommendations for your next visit to the Big Smoke.
Sights and experiences
The Barbican
If you’ve got a soft spot for Brutalist architecture, you’re bound to lose your heart in this place. And you might just lose your bearings too. Located in the city centre, the Barbican’s such a sprawling (and confusing) place that it could almost pass for a district in itself. It’s so common for tourists to get lost there that the complex’s shop even sells ironic little «I found the Barbican Centre» pins.
Opened in 1982, the Barbican is a residential complex, conference and cultural centre, with a cinema, theatre, library, two restaurants, two bars and cafés and a conservatory containing tropical greenery. Basically, it’s worth booking a guided tour to see and hear as much as possible – and not get lost.
Silk Street, Barbican, London
Columbia Road
Instead of making a pilgrimage to Notting Hill (like everyone else) and jostling your way through Portobello Road Market, I’d recommend checking out the east of the city. Hackney’s Columbia Road may no longer be a hidden gem, but its Sunday flower market is always worth a jaunt. And not just because its streets, lined with charming Victorian houses, turn into a veritable sea of flowers. It’s also home to an array of boutiques, cafés and delis. Come on, name one thing better to do on a Sunday than browsing ceramics, second-hand clothes and vintage furniture with a bouquet under your arm and a brownie in your hand.
Columbia Road, Hackney, London
Tate Modern Lates
It goes without saying that a visit to the Tate Gallery of Modern Art is a must-do activity (did you know that admission to all London museums is free?). What might not be on your list yet, however, is a foray into the gallery after regular opening hours. Keep an eye on the venue’s schedule of Tate Modern Lates – evening events featuring DJ sets, drinks, lectures and workshops. The next one’s being held on 30 January.
Bankside, Southwark, London
Shopping
Good News
Unless you look closely, you’ll probably mistake this unassuming corner shop for a bog-standard newsagent. Venture inside, however, and you’ll see that Good News is an absolute treasure trove for magazines. Whether it’s AnOther, Interview, Pop, Dazed or The Gentlewoman you’re after, lovers of art, fashion, design or music are guaranteed to find anything their heart desires and more.
23 Berwick Street, Soho, London
Museum shops
To be honest, you won’t need my help in finding decent conventional shops in London. From massive, well-designed flagship outlets to second-hand shops, the city has every kind of store you could think of – and a ton of each. If you ask me, you’ll find unusual items such as pretty prints, postcards and jewellery, as well as the best books and design pieces in the beautifully curated shops at the city’s countless museums.
Sounds of the Universe
Once you’re done flicking through magazines, you’ll be able to browse an endless range of vinyl and CDs over two floors at Sounds of the Universe. The shop also sells its own merch, some second-hand products and a small but mighty selection of music literature and illustrated books. Owner Stuart Baker doesn’t just flog records – he also founded his own independent label for records, books, films and DJs in 1992. Prince apparently enjoyed shopping at Sounds of the Universe, as does producer and drummer Questlove.
Fun fact: this tiled building on the corner of Broadwick Street and Duck Lane used to be a pub. A band you might just have heard of – The Rolling Stones – used to use the room upstairs as their rehearsal space.
7 Broadwick Street, Soho, London
Food and drink
Ozone Coffee – London Fields
If you’re spending time in the East End or maybe even staying there, you should start at least one of your days at Ozone Coffee. Tucked away in a dark green brick building that wouldn’t look out of place in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, it’s a light-flooded, spacious café that you won’t want to leave. As well as lovely home-roasted coffee, Ozone serves excellent banana bread with whipped maple butter, homemade granola, heavenly Çilbir and various other delicious treats. Everything’s prepared in an open kitchen, so it’s definitely worth asking for a seat at the counter.
Emma Street, Hackney, London
Ronnie Scott’s
Sure, you could spend your evening in a run-of-the-mill pub. Those are part and parcel of the London experience. But you could also immerse yourself in the dimly lit ambience of legendary jazz club Ronnie Scott’s. Take in the wood-panelled walls, red velvet seating and fringed ceiling lights, while sipping excellent cocktails and listening to live music blaring out from the stage. The same stage that’s been graced by the likes of Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald and Nina Simone, no less.
47 Frith Street, Soho, London
Café Cecilia
You won’t find fish and chips or shepherd’s pie on the menu at Café Cecilia. So if you’re in search of stereotypically British fare, it’s not the place for you. However, if you’re after genuinely good food that leaves you pleasantly surprised about British cuisine, you’ll be in heaven at this café. The vibe is industrial but cosy, the service is outstanding, the menu’s short and seasonal and the food is melt-in-your-mouth good.
32 Andrews Road, Hackney, London
You’ll find more recommendations here:
Header image: Laura Scholz
Laura Scholz
Senior Editor
Laura.Scholz@digitecgalaxus.chAlways in the mood for good hits, great trips and clinking drinks.
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