Here’s how photographer and Instagrammer @stevenfingar used HotelTonight on a trip to London. Inspired to visit England? Download the app to get started.
London has been one city that has always evaded my travel itineraries in Europe – until now.
I recently had the pleasure to visit England with HotelTonight to cap off my three-week European adventure. Since much of Europe is in off-season during the months of January to March, one of my best friends took it upon herself to accompany me to London and show me around, as she used to live in the city for school.
Since the city is large and spread out geographically, we made it a point to split half our time in West/Central London and the remainder in East London/Shoreditch. The central area of London hosts many tourist destinations that we wanted to cross off our list at the beginning of the trip. Some of the places included The Natural History Museum, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Kensington, Hyde Park and others. These first few days included a lot of walking and drinking coffee while hopping from landmark to landmark, and occasionally stopping for a glass of rosé or something of the sort. Some of our most memorable stops included Monocle Café and Fabrique Bakery, as well as an amazing French-inspired lunch at Aubaine in Selfridges that boasts a wisteria oasis in the heart of London.
After spending a few days in the tourist conglomerate of London, we made our way over to East London/Shoreditch to get a more intimate feel of the city. This area of London was one of my favorites during the trip, as it exuded both the feel of Brooklyn, NY and San Francisco – but with a European flair, of course.
My friend and I stayed next to The Gherkin at the Devonshire Club, an exclusive members-only club that hosts guests in their hotel from time to time. The level of opulence was visible throughout the club, from ornate details at the Prosecco bar to the club staff that went to all ends to make sure your experience was of similar quality, and the food and wine list that were expertly-curated for a posh London experience. The 1920s inspired décor was gorgeously incorporated into the modern furnishings of the establishment, all of which was surrounded by an elitist environment of ‘who’s who’ in the city.
The club is located in the financial hub of London – a quick walk to the Liverpool station and Gherkin. This area houses some of the best pubs and bars of the city, any of which can be found from long queues that are visible while exploring the streets. Spitalfields Market was a popular resting spot during our adventures as it had everything from smoothie/juice bars, to restaurants and pubs, and many designer shops.
Right outside of Spitalfields market was the area of Shoreditch, which transported us back to Williamsburg with its trendy coffee shops, dark brick buildings, and plethora of artist studios. Each morning we grabbed our favorite breakfast and coffee at Ozone Coffee Roasters before exploring Shoreditch and the surrounding area. Some of our favorites included Indian food at Dishoom, pastries from Paper & Cup, and drinks at The Alchemist. Every corner of East London had something new and interesting to explore, and it ended up offering much more than we originally expected.
Our experience in London with HotelTonight re-instilled a feeling of wanderlust in both of us. I have my sights set on this amazing city in the near future, and I can’t wait to return. Until next time, London.
