London’s metropolitan area is the largest in Western Europe, and finding the perfect place to stay can feel overwhelming. After living in the British capital for almost two years, I have strong feelings about its best neighborhoods, and curated London’s best hotels across seven key areas, catering to every style and budget.

Having called South Kensington home for two years, we had the joy of diving deep into the city’s vibrant neighborhoods and welcoming countless visitors. Over time, we crafted this 5-day itinerary—a streamlined guide to help our guests discover London’s highlights while keeping the experience enjoyable.

Having lived in South Kensington, Central London for two years, we had the privilege of exploring many corners of this incredible city and hosting countless visitors. Over time, we perfected this 3-day itinerary to create a go-to guide that ensured our guests experienced the best of London without feeling overwhelmed.

While living in London for two years, I gathered a list of my favorite things to do in London, including restaurants, museums, and iconic markets, as well as things (particularly restaurants) to avoid.

Brat is one of those restaurants where the moment you walk in, you begin to celebrate food and chefs. The open kitchen welcomes you to watch turbots turned in cages over the flames, beef leaking fat as it sizzles on the grill, and breads being popped in and out of the pizza oven, then decorated with olive oil and anchovies.

Asian Fusion is currently my favorite category of food, and Jikoni, a restaurant listed in every “What to eat in London” article I’ve read in recent months, does Asian Fusion with British, African, and Middle Eastern flavors. How could I say no?

Ever since I watched Clare Smyth judge on Netflix’s The Final Table, she has become one of my chef crushes, and I have wanted to visit her restaurant.