We had a great trip across the pond to experience London and Oxford.
Luckily, with Mary Ila living there for a summer in college and great recommendations from our friends at Nyad who are from London, we had a leg up on the goods.
Now, we’re sharing our best tips for what to do in London and Oxford, England.
The Food
London Eats
In the UK, fish and chips are a must! Mayfair Chippy was our first stop after landing for some delicious fish and chips. Their menu has the classics as well as other seafood fare to enjoy. The atmosphere is quaint and has outdoor seating. We went early so we were able to get a seat, but at peak hours, you will probably have to brace for a line for a while to get a seat.
We had a wonderful steak dinner at Hawksmoor. The service was also excellent and the atmosphere and extensive wine list was just what you would expect out of a quality steakhouse.
When we asked Virginia at Nyad for what to do in London, she gave us an incredible list of food stops. We wish we had more time to check out every one of them!
Virginia’s Complete Food Recs
| Cuisine | Restaurant(s) |
|---|---|
| Steak | Hawksmoor; Entrecôte Relais de Venise (in Notting Hill) |
| Sushi | Amazonico; Sexyfish (also good for cocktails); Los Mochis |
| French | La Poule Au Pot (French onion soup and rustic vibes) |
| British | Rules (oldest restaurant in London, very game-y, great to visit even just for drinks) |
| Fish & Chips | Mayfair Chippy |
| Roast | The Devonshire |
| Tapas | Barrafina |
| Indian | Gymkhana; Dishoom |
| Italian | Sal e Pepe (traditional, near Harrods); Gloria Trattoria (younger, TikTok vibes) |
| Cheap! | Flat Iron (steak), Padella (pasta), Mercator Mayfair |
| Brunch | Chiltern Firehouse (a personal favourite, pricy); Ottolenghi (quick, salads, lovely); The Wolseley; Fair Shot (cafe); Petersham Nurseries |
| Farm Shop | Daylesford (a favourite) |
Oxford Eats
The pub scene is Oxford is superb! Our two favorites are The Kings Arms and Turf Tavern. The Warm Goat Cheese salad at The Kings Arms is delicious. Turf Tavern is tucked into a hideaway and has wonderful outdoor seating and a great menu. Make sure to get a traditional Pimm’s cocktail at one of these spots!
The Sights
What to Do in London
London is a great place to just walk around and see the sights. With lots of public parks and a variety of neighborhoods all with a unique feel, strolling through the city is worth it. It is also very bike friendly so you can rent a bike or hop on an electric scooter to see things.
Definitely check out Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. Stroll through the Pall Mall and see Buckingham Palace. We loved hiking to the top of St. Paul’s Cathedral for a great view. Also, the 5PM Evening Song is a really special experience.
We also rode the London Eye, but would probably skip it in hindsight. It wasn’t cheap and the views weren’t any better than the top of St. Paul’s. We didn’t have time to make it over to the Tower of London and the London Bridge, but wish we did. Many people highly recommended it.
If you love to shop, don’t miss Harrod’s. It’s also a great place to get a good lunch in their extensive food hall.
Traditional afternoon tea at the Ritz is a bucket list experience. You need reservations for this and need to make reservations early because it can fill up quickly. This is a swanky experience requiring men to wear a coat and tie. A lot of food comes with the tea, enough to make a meal out of, so combine this with your meal time.
See a show in London’s West End Theatre district. We had a great time at The Devil Wears Prada featuring Venessa Williams as Miranda.
What to Do in Oxford
Riding the train to Oxford out of Paddington Station (make sure to pick up a Paddington Bear while there!) is a great experience and takes less than an hour. There are multiple departures and returns throughout the day, so it is an easy day trip. There are also a lot of other destinations outside the city that are around an hour as well.
Oxford is very walkable. Stroll around the campus and see all the historical buildings. Make sure you are able to go inside at least one of the 36 colleges. It is amazing what is behind the doors of them including beautiful gardens, chapels and formal dining rooms. Some are open for tours at certain times of day and many organized tours will take you into at least one.
Stroll through the Covered Market in the center of town for some unique food and shopping and walk down High Street as well. We loved Bird and Blend Tea Company we discovered on High Street! The Salted Carmel Chia we will be ordering again and again even if it requires a trip across the Atlantic to get to us!
The Accommodations
We cannot say enough about how great our experience was at the St. Ermin’s Hotel. The decor is gorgeous, the rooms well appointed (somewhat small but that is typical for a big city hotel), the staff excellent and the gin and tonic at the bar with their very own gin is a great treat! The hotel is also located in a quiet and walkable area and also conveniently located to a tube stop right around the corner.
We did not stay overnight in Oxford, but if you are staying overnight there or in the surrounding countryside area, there are lots of great Bed and Breakfast options as well as short term rentals.
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