Summer days in London: explore like a local!
Before choosing to become a nomad, I lived in London for 13 years. During my 13 years in London, I moved house 24 times! Yes, you heard me right… 24 times! My nomad spirit has always been strong in me and I’ve always felt the need to move around, try new places, new experiences. Moving houses in London also meant for me trying different areas of the city. I lived almost everywhere except for West London; I haven’t got to that yet! I am now travelling full time, especially overseas but when I am in between trips, I stay at my boyfriend’s mum’s place in Essex, for which I am extremely grateful for. During my latest stay in Essex, I had to travel to London 3 times, to see friends, to get my laptop fixed and attend The Circus Live 2026 Take That concert, one of the most memorable nights of my life!
This travel guide is for you if you are looking to explore London like a local, not only visiting the most popular shopping hubs in central London but also discovering those areas pretty untouched by wide tourism.
If you are a visual person and you like watching travel vlogs, here you can find my recent YouTube video on London with exactly the itinerary I came up with during my 2026 summer time in London.
In this guide, I'll share some of London's iconic attractions alongside a few hidden gems that are loved by locals and often overlooked by visitors. If you're looking to experience a different side of the city, this guide offers a less touristy way to explore London, complete with some fantastic places to eat along the way.
What to see (not to miss!)
From Oxford Street to Piccadilly Circus
We will start the tour with the popular shopping destinations of central London. From Oxford Circus, walk along Regent Street towards Piccadilly Circus. Oxford Street is probably the most known shopping destination in London but it can get very busy. In fact, Oxford Street is Europe’s busiest shopping street, home to around 300 stores. Here, you can find massive flagship department stores (such as Selfridges, John Lewis, and M&S), high-street fast fashion, global brands, and large tech and beauty retailers.
If you prefer a slower pace and high-end, designer shops, you can check out Regent Street, where you can also find the iconic toy shop Hamleys. From Regent Street, you will soon be in Piccadilly Circus, very well known for its colourful billboards.
Leicester Square
Leicester Square is another one of the most popular places in central London. It’s a big square with shops like the Lego and the M&S stores and a few cinemas. There is also a small, cute garden where you can relax in a sunny day.
Soho, Chinatown
Just a few minutes from Leicester Square, you can move to Soho, the London Chinatown. Here, you can find many Chinese restaurants and shops and a few pubs. I had lunch at Haozhan, 8 Gerrard St, London W1D 5PJ.
Soho is also famous for its vibrant nightlife, with its nightclubs and West End theatres. You can find plenty of experienced to try in Soho, by following this link.
Covent Garden
Convent Garden is one of the most picturesque neighbourhoods in London!
Fun fact: Covent Garden gets its name from a spelling error! It was originally called “Convent Garden” because the land was used as a walled fruit and vegetable garden by the monks of Westminster Abbey.
Be ready for cute streets, great restaurants and designer shops. Street performers here need to audition and hold a licence to keep the performance quality incredibly high!
Covent Garden is not to miss when visiting London 💙
Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf is one of my favourite places in London. Walking along the docks, especially on a sunny day, surrounded by skyscrapers is a special treat that not many tourists get to experience. This is one of the financial centres of London, so not exactly a priority when visiting London but if you want to feel that typical London adrenaline and ambition, but you also like to relax in the local Japanese design inspired garden, this is the right place to go to! Canary Wharf also houses a high-end shopping centre.
Shoreditch
To get to Shoreditch, I took a train to Liverpool Street. Liverpool Street is closed to the City of London, the main financial centre, so it offers great views of some of the most iconic skyscrapers in London, like The Gherkin London.
Shoreditch is a trendy East London neighborhood famous for its street art, vibrant markets, and being the former stomping ground of Banksy. There are several surviving pieces of Banksy art in Shoreditch. This is one of the most artsy and hipster parts of London, with pop up shops, clubs and loads of street art.
I lived in London for 12 years and East London has always been one of my favourite places to stay at!
Victoria Park via Bethnal Green
We are now on our way to Victoria Park via Bethnal Green. I lived here for 2 years... I loved it so much! I used to have a bicycle and cycle along the local canals, in parks and up to Canary Wharf via a riverside path. Victoria Park is a lovely local park, with a small pond and boats to rent during Summer time. There is also a kiosk selling local products, coffee and pastries.
You can proceed along Victoria Park towards the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford and really enjoy a lovely Summer walk in nature.
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford houses a very cool attraction, the ArcelorMittal Orbit with its slide, sometimes open to the public. You can go up to the viewing platform or even slide down this 178 meters (584 feet) long slide! This is the world's longest and tallest tunnel slide, taking riders on a 40-second thrill ride that spirals around the tower 12 times at speeds up to 15 mp. Here you can find a few options for your experience of the ArcelorMittal Orbit! Get your tickets for the slide here!
And if you are a fan of Take That, here you can find a few photos from the amazing night! The Circus Live 2026, Take That concert at the London Stadium.
The Shard
The Shard is the tallest building in the UK and Western Europe. It is 309.6 metres (1,016 ft) high. You can go up there for free by visiting the bar Aqua Shard.
Did you know that you can enjoy views of London from the Shard without having to pay a ticket to go up? The entrance to the Aqua Shard is free and the experience is amazing. Read more on this place, in the food section of this article.
Where to Eat in London
Kaffeine
This is a coffee shop recommendation in the chic neighbourhood of Fitzrovia in London. Kaffeine is a renowned, independent café and it is highly regarded for being one of the first shops to introduce Australian and New Zealand-style specialty coffee to the UK. In the shop, they also sell their own coffee products.
Name: Kaffeine
Address: 66 Great Titchfield St., London W1W 7QJ
Price: This place is a bit pricey but the quality of the iced latte and the carrot cake I got, made it worthy.
Padella
Padella is a fantastic Italian restaurant. The decor is incredible, with precious textures and golden, elegant vintage details but their handmade pasta is even better! There are a few options to choose from and their desserts are also worth a try!
Name: Padella Shoreditch
Address: 1 Phipp St, London EC2A 4PS
Price: This place is average price for London’s standards but offers absolutely great food and experience!
BOXPARK Shoreditch
BOXPARK Shoreditch was the world’s first pop-up shopping mall when it opened in December 2011. It’s a great choice if you want to try some street food in recycled shipping containers.
Name: BOXPARK Shoreditch
Address: 2-10 Bethnal Grn Rd, London E1 6GY
Price: Food at BOXPARK Shoreditch generally ranges between £3.50 and £15.00 per item depending on the vendor. It’s a generally average price for street food in London. However, drink prices at the BOXPARK Shoreditch bars are on the higher side.
Aqua Shard
Did you know that you can enjoy views of London from the Shard without having to pay a ticket to go up? The entrance to the Aqua Shard is free and the experience is amazing. Read more on this place, in the food section of this article.
Aqua Shard is a contemporary British restaurant and bar on Level 31 of The Shard in London.
Even the floor-to-ceiling bathroom windows offer panoramic views of the city; you can take in sights like Tower Bridge and the River Thames while washing your hands!
Amazing decor and food! I tried truffle and pecorino nuts with pineapple juice - perfect little stop before lunch at Borough Market!
Name: Aqua Shard
Address: Level 31, The Shard, 31 St Thomas St, London SE1 9RY
Price: This place is on the expensive side but the experience and the food are top-notch.
Borough Market
Something not to miss if you are visiting London 😋
📍Borough Market
Borough Market is a 1,000-year-old food destination! It’s located near London Bridge station. Here you can find artisan cheeses, meats, and street food. However, it can get extremely busy, so arriving early or on a weekday is highly recommended to avoid the massive crowds!
Name: Borough Market
Address: London SE1 9AH
Price: This place offers good quality foods and drinks at the average prices for street food in London.
