Weekend Warrior: London

By Elizabeth

When in London for a weekend, there are endless possibilities. There are lists upon lists of pubs, restaurants, and hotels that will have you, and keep you, for a few days straight. A recent trip to London helped me to compile a list of weekend must-sees. But narrowing down this excellent English city to just a few bullet points doesn’t do it justice, so if you have suggestions, be sure to leave them in a comment.

1. Sleep:
If you can afford it, London’s Montagu Place is, for all intents and purposes, the hotel embodiment of sexy and posh. Just a few blocks from Oxford Street, the hotel is in a great location. The check-in desk acts both as a customer service hub and fully-stocked bar. (Who is gonna complain about that?)

The rooms come in three categories from which you can choose your preference: comfy, fancy, and swanky. (I really don’t think you can go wrong with any of these options. Thankfully “Trashy” and “Under Par” aren’t on the list. Nor do they deserve to be in this place).

2. Eat:
Sugar Lounge: Located in London’s Finsbury Park district, Sugar Lounge is an unobvious, yet delicious restaurant with an elaborate Turkish menu where you can actually fill yourself up for as little as six pounds. The atmosphere is sleek, the wine is top notch, the food is excellent, and the neighborhood is a nice break from more touristy places in London.

Note: If you’re looking for a more affordable stay than Montagu Place, the Ossian Guesthouse is a short walk from Sugar Lounge. The charming bed and breakfast boasts three rooms, each with their own theme, and incredibly hospitable owners.

3. Drink:
Gate: Off of the Notting Hill stop on the Central Line of the underground, Gate is a hard-to-spot bar/restaurant that turns club past dusk. The entrance is simply a door sitting atop a pile of stairs that lead to the basement. It’s dark, classy, fun, and the drinks are reasonably priced–especially for this area of London.

Of course these aren’t the only fun places to spend your weekend in London, but they worked for me and if you don’t know where else to go, they’ll work for you, too.