Destinations > Europe > England > London
Knightsbridge & Chelsea
topBest Hotels
The Berkeley
Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, London SW1X
+44 (0)20 7235 6000
info@the-berkeley.co.uk
Great location overlooking Hyde Park. It has larger rooms than most hotels and a spa, pool and health club on roof. A pool is always on the top of our kids list. A great place to recharge after a day of sightseeing.
The Lanesborough
Hyde Park Corner, London SW1X
Tel: +44 (0)20 7259 5599 Fax: +44 (0)20 7259 5606
info@lanesborough.com
Elegant hotel overlooking Hyde Park. If you are coming with your full brood, you may find the rooms a bit small. It is a great place for traditional afternoon tea, served from 3-6pm.
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
66 Knightsbridge, London SW1X
Tel: +44 (0)20 7201 3773 Fax: +44 (0)20 7201 3703
molon-info@mohg.com
Ask for a park-side room for wonderful view of Hyde Park. This hotel has a butler on every floor. Heston Blumenthal of Fat Duck opened his new restaurant, Dinner, here in Jan 2011 to rave reviews.
Bulgari Hotel & Residences
171 Knightsbridge, London SW7
+44 (0)20 7151 1010
London's first brand-new luxury hotel in 40 years is a perfect expression of the Bulgari aesthetic. 85 spacious rooms and suites (the largest in London), two-level spa with 25-meter swimming pool.
topBest Museums
Natural History Museum
Cromwell Road, London, SW7
+44 (0)20 7942 5011
Daily 10am-5:50pm
Closed Dec 24-26
Meet a near-life-size animatronic T-Rex (complete with lifelike movements and swamp breath!) Step into a rainforest. Experience an earthquake. Be surrounded by butterflies. With over 70 million specimens, great exhibits (many interactive), and kids' workshops, plan to spend a full day, breaking for lunch at one of the cafes or restaurants. My kids didn't want to leave. And the youngest begged to go back the next day!
National Science Museum
Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW7
+44 (0)87 0870 4868
Daily 10am-6pm
Closed Dec 24-26
Another favorite. Your kids will love the interactive exhibits, up-to-the-minute accounts of science, virtual voyages and IMAX cinema. Easy to spend an entire day.
Victoria & Albert Museum
Cromwell Road, London SW7
+44 (0)20 7942 2000
Tickets: +44 (0)870 906 3883
Daily 10am-5:45pm
Fri select galleries open until 10pm
This museum of art and design has 7 miles of galleries showcasing everything from architecture to high fashion. We came to see a special exhibition and then stayed to visit a number of galleries.
topBest Restaurants & Snacks
Harvey Nichols Fifth Floor
(European cuisine)109-125 Knightsbridge, London SW1X
+44 (0)20 7235 5250
Mon-Thu 12-3pm, 6-11pm; Fri-Sat 12-4pm, 6-11pm; Sun 12-5pm
Great restaurant and great shopping in one building. Who can ask for anything more? Critically acclaimed restaurant is very kid friendly.
Harvey Nichols Café
109-125 Knightsbridge, London SW1X
+44 (0)20 7823 1839
Mon-Sat 8am-11pm; Sun 11am-6pm
Separate café on terrace. Serves great cappuccinos.
Boxwood Café
(European cuisine)One of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay's London restaurants. Currently closed while it moves to a new location.
Restaurant Gordon Ramsay
68 Royal Hospital Road, London SW3
+44 (0)20 7352 4441
Mon-Fri 12-2:30 pm, 6:30-11pm
Closed Sat-Sun
Dress code is smart with jackets preferred for gentlemen. Jeans, t-shirts or sportswear not accepted. No smoking. One of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay's London restaurants.
Tom Aikens
43 Elystan Street, London SW3
+44 (0)20 7584 2003
Mon-Fri 12-2:30pm, 6:45-11pm
Closed Sat-Sun
Sloane Square area. No smoking.
Amaya
(Indian/Asian Fushion)Halkin Arcade, Motcomb Street, London SW1X
+44 (0)20 7823 1166
Mon-Fri 12:30-2:30pm, 6-11pm; Sat 12:30-3pm, 6-11pm;
Sun 12:30-3pm, 6-10:30pm
Closed Dec 25
La Poule au Pot
(French cuisine)231 Ebury Street, London, SW1W
+44 (0)20 7730 7763
Mon-Fri 12:30-2:30pm, 6:45-11pm; Sat 12:30-3pm, 6:45-11pm;
Sun 12:30-3:30pm, 6:45-10pm
Daphne's
(Italian)112 Draycott Avenue, London SW3
+44 (0)20 7589 4257
Mon-Fri 12-3pm, 5:30-11:30pm; Sat 12-3:30pm, 5:30-11:30pm;
Sun 12-4pm, 5:30-10:30pm
Dinner
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
66 Knightsbridge, London
Tel: +44 (0)20 7201 3833
Open daily for lunch and dinner. Lunch noon-2:30pm, Dinner 6:30-10:30pm
This brand-new restaurant by Fat Duck chef Heston Blumenthal serves unique, remarkable dishes inspired by historic British gastronomy.
Zuma
(contemporary Japanese cuisine)5 Raphael Street, Knightsbridge, London SW7
+44 (0)20 7584 1010
Mon-Thu 12-2:15pm, 6-11pm; Fri 12-2:45pm, 6-11pm;
Sat 12:30-3:15pm, 6-11pm; Sun 12:30-3:15pm, 6-10pm
Informal. Great lunch or dinner, great with kids, close to Harrods.
Marcus Wareing at The Berkeley
Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, London. SW1X 7RL
Reservations: +44 (0)20 7235 1200
Lunch Mon-Fri 12-2:30pm; Dinner Mon-Fri 6-11pm. Closed Sun.
Fine dining from one of Britain’s most talented chefs. Theatrical and technically brilliant modern European cuisine. Two Michelin stars. Smart dress code (jacket preferred).
Daylesford Farmshop & Café
44B Pimlico Road, London SW1W
+44 (0)20 7881 8060
Mon-Sat 8am-7pm, Sun 10am-4pm
Simply the best organic food in London.
topBest Shopping
Please, Mum
85 Knightsbridge, London SW1X
+44 (0)20 7486 1380, +44 (0)20 7286 1100
Mon-Sat 9:45am-6:30pm; Sun 10am-6pm
Designer and formal clothing for children up to 12 years old. My daughter looked – and felt – like a princess.
Harvey Nichols
109-125 Knightsbridge, London, SW1X
+44 (0)20 7235 5000
Mon-Fri 10am-8pm; Sat 10am-8pm; Sun 12-6pm
No visit to London is complete without a stop at Harvey Nicks. Designer clothing, home furnishings, household goods, a food market and of course a great café and restaurant.
Sloane Street
If you're looking for a ladies' day out, head to Sloane street. Filled with designer shops offering everything from clothing and shoes to accessories and fragrances. Don't miss Jo Malone's for perfume, soaps and wonderful orange blossom bath oil.
Harrods
87-135 Brompton Road, London SW1X
+44 (0)20 7730 1234
Mon-Sat 10am-8pm; Sun 12pm-6pm
This London landmark has more than 60 departments for fashion alone, a spectacular food hall and no fewer than 28 restaurants!
Erickson Beamon
38 Elizabeth Street, London SW1
+44 (0)20 7259 0202
Wonderful unique fashion jewelry. A real find.
topAntiques
topPimlico Road
Pimlico Road Antiques Association
enquiries@thepimlicoroad.com
Pullman Limited Editions Gallery
94 Pimlico Road, Chelsea, London SW1W
+44 (0)20 7730 0547
Art Deco antiques and collectables.
topKing's Road
So many dealers, so little time. Here are a few places where we picked up real treasures.
Carlton Davidson
507 King's Road, Chelsea, London SW10
+44 (0)20 7795 0905
Simon Hatchwell Antiques
533 King's Road, London, SW10
+44 (0)20 7351 2344
Chelsea Antique Market
245-253 King's Road, Sloane Square, London SW10
+44 (0)20 7352 5689
Mon-Sat 10am-6pm
The Furniture Cave
533 King's Road, London SW10
+44 (0)20 7352 4299
topDay Spas & Salons
Harrod's - Urban Retreat
Fifth Floor, Harrods, Knightsbridge, London, SW1X
+44 (0)20 7893 8333
Mon-Sat 10am-9pm; Sun 12-6pm
Peter Jones - Footopia
First Floor, Peter Jones, Sloane Square, London SW1W
+44 (0)20 7259 0845
Knightsbridge Nail & Beauty, Ltd
118 Knightsbridge, London SW1X
+44 (0)20 7225 3695, +44 (0)20 7225 2259
Mon-Fri 9am-8pm; Sat 9am-6pm
Closed Sun
122 Knightsbridge - The Beauty Clinic
122 Knightsbridge, London SW1X
+44 (0)20 7584 6777
Mon-Sat 9:30am-8pm
Closed Sun