Community Guide - London

with Emma L., Senior Marketing Executive of COMPLETE

Explore London neighbourhood with Emma

Q1. Hi, Emma. Which neighbourhoods or areas do you most enjoy visiting and why?

Emma: I love to visit Notting Hill because it is a beautiful, quintessentially London neighbourhood, with lovely shops, restaurants and houses.

The Fat Badger

Q2. What are your favourite restaurants, cafés or bars?  

Emma: The Fat Badger (upmarket British pub), Canteen, Strakers and Zephyr (most delicious Greek food – get the lemon chicken and tomato salad) in Notting Hill. Oma in Borough Market. The Roasting Party is a tiny coffee shop on Pavillion road that has the best coffee and Canele pastries. A good bar is a speakeasy called Experimental Cocktail Club in Chinatown for after dinner drinks.

Q3. What activities, attractions or green spaces would you recommend?  

Emma: I would highly recommend going for a walk around Hyde Park or The Regent’s Park as they have beautiful gardens and water features. I would also recommend going to Richmond for the day and cycling or walking around that park to see the deer then going to Petersham nursery for lunch and then to the Richmond Hill to watch the sunset over the Thames – beautiful green space and feels like its out of the city but still close enough.

Hyde Park and The Regent’s Park

1910

Q4. Do you have a local hidden gem or useful tip to share? 

Emma: In Fulham I’d say there is a local hidden gem which is 1910 – a Mexican restaurant with the best tacos, or Bishops Park which is very beautiful to walk/run around. Or on a warm day – go to a pub along the river such as the Blue Anchor for lunch or a drink in the sun.

Q5. If someone were visiting the city for the first time, what is the one place they should not miss?

Emma: Notting Hill! On a Saturday morning, grab a coffee at HAGEN on Ledbury Road and a pastry from Ottolenghi next door, then make your way to Portobello Road to mooch around the vintage shops. If you are still hungry, stop by It’s Bagels and get the Secret Salt Beef bagel – it is truly delicious. Then continue heading north up Portobello Road and, before you go under the bridge, turn right onto Tavistock Road and you’ll find The Pelican pub, where you can stop by for a quick drink or refreshment and have a break from the shops. After that, head back onto Portobello Road and walk under the bridge and railway track to the iconic vintage market for jewellery, records, jackets, other clothing and arty pieces. At this stage, you will have worked up an appetite, so head over to Canteen and put your name down on the seating waitlist, as there are no reservations – just walk-ins. While you wait, head upstairs to The Fat Badger for a drink and a game of backgammon. Canteen is a lovely restaurant run by ex-River Café chefs, so the dishes are incredible – handmade, authentic pasta and their chocolate mousse drizzled with olive oil and flaky salt are both ones to get.