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Tag: London

  • Dishoom Shoreditch: The Lunch Spread and a Hunterwali’s Julep

    Dishoom Shoreditch: The Lunch Spread and a Hunterwali’s Julep

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    Lunch at Dishoom Shoreditch in November 2026: the Lunch Spread, a Bombay-style feast of small plates, curries, rice and bread that keeps arriving at the table, plus a Hunterwali’s Julep to wash it down.

    Dishoom Shoreditch

    Dishoom is a group of restaurants inspired by the old Irani cafés of Bombay. The Shoreditch café opened in 2012 at 7 Boundary Street, and the room is all dark wood, marble-topped tables, old photographs and vintage Bombay curiosities.

    Hunterwali’s Julep

    Our drink of choice was the Hunterwali’s Julep, one of Dishoom’s signature cocktails. It’s rum with fresh ginger, spearmint, pineapple and jaggery, served over crushed ice in a copper cup. It’s named after Fearless Nadia, the whip-cracking star known as “Hunterwali” who was Bombay’s top box-office draw in the 1940s. Across the table was a pink cocktail with lime whose name we didn’t catch.

    Hunterwali's Julep with crushed ice, mint and a black straw at Dishoom Shoreditch

    The Lunch Spread

    The Lunch Spread is a set menu that brings a little of everything to the table. Ours was the non-veg version at 42.00 per person. It runs from 12pm to 5:45pm, and the sides are refilled until you say “No more!”

    Dishoom Lunch Spread menu, non-veg, 42.00 per person
    Inside the Dishoom Lunch Spread menu listing the snack, starters, curries, sides and dessert

    Starters: okra fries, corn bhel and keema pau

    First came okra fries, crisp and salty with a dark dipping sauce, and the corn bhel: crispy corn and papdi with pomegranate and tamarind on a nest of crackled spinach. Then the keema pau, spiced minced lamb with peas served with soft, buttered pau buns for scooping.

    Okra fries in a paper-lined basket with a dipping sauce at Dishoom
    Corn bhel with pomegranate and coriander on crispy spinach at Dishoom
    Keema, spiced minced lamb with peas, at Dishoom
    Buttered pau buns served with the keema at Dishoom

    Curries, daal and pulao

    Then the mains: the Chicken Ruby in a rich makhani sauce, the House Black Daal (Dishoom’s signature, cooked for over 24 hours) and the Chicken Berry Pulao, saffron rice studded with barberries and sultanas with chicken hidden underneath. A bread basket of plain and garlic naan and roomali roti came alongside to mop it all up.

    Chicken Ruby curry topped with coriander and ginger at Dishoom
    House Black Daal at Dishoom
    Chicken Berry Pulao with saffron rice, barberries and sultanas at Dishoom
    Bread basket of naan and roomali roti at Dishoom

    Check your weight

    Dishoom also has an old “Check Your Weight” machine, all flashing lights. The Hindi line on the front translates roughly as “The fun is in eating, not in getting fat”, which felt like a fair warning after the Lunch Spread.

    Vintage 'Check Your Weight' weighing machine at Dishoom Shoreditch
    The weighing machine’s light show at Dishoom Shoreditch

    Tips for the Dishoom Lunch Spread

    • Go hungry. The Spread is a lot of food, and the sides keep coming if you ask.
    • It’s only served at lunch, from 12pm to 5:45pm.
    • There’s a Grill Platter add-on (lamb sheekh, chicken tikka and tenderstem broccoli) at 13.00 per person, but the whole table has to order it.
    • Groups of 10 or more are asked to order from the Lunch Spread menus.

    Where to stay

    Dishoom Shoreditch is about a 10-minute walk from The Hoxton on Great Eastern Street, where we stayed on our 2024 London trip.

    More London food: our week in London and our London food and pubs guide.

    #Dishoom #DishoomShoreditch #Shoreditch #London #LondonEats #IndianFood #BombayCafe #HunterwalisJulep #LunchSpread

  • London Food and Pubs: From Borough Market to Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese

    London Food and Pubs: From Borough Market to Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese

    Between visits and now living here, London has given me plenty to eat and drink. Here’s a round-up of the London food, pub and theatre posts on the blog, with links to each one.

    Historic pubs

    • Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese on Fleet Street was rebuilt shortly after the Great Fire of 1666 and has dark, wood-panelled rooms that have barely changed since. Samuel Johnson and Charles Dickens are among the names linked to it.

    Markets and food halls

    British classics

    • A full English breakfast, with bacon, sausage, eggs, black pudding, beans, mushrooms and tomato.
    • Smith’s, a seafood restaurant whose sign promises it’s “Famous for Fish”.

    Restaurants

    • Manteca in Shoreditch, an Italian restaurant known for fresh pasta and its nose-to-tail approach to meat. Book ahead.

    A night in the West End

    Dinner and a show is one of the best London evenings out:

    Getting in and out

    Tips

    • An Oyster card or contactless bank card works on the tube, buses and most trains, with daily fare caps.
    • Many pubs stop serving food earlier than the bar closes, so check kitchen hours if you’re planning dinner.
    • Popular restaurants and West End shows book up, especially at weekends, so reserve ahead.

    Day trip from London: the Harry Potter Studio Tour

    If you have a spare day, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour at Leavesden, near Watford, is an easy trip out of London. Photos of the sets, the Great Hall, Diagon Alley and the giant Hogwarts model are in my post on the Harry Potter Studio Tour.

    A March 2024 visit, day by day: A Week in London brings together Smith’s, Borough Market, Fortnum & Mason, a full English and the Virgin Clubhouse, plus Tower Bridge and the flight home over Greenland.

    For a Bombay-style lunch in East London, see Dishoom Shoreditch: The Lunch Spread and a Hunterwali’s Julep.

    #London #LondonEats #LondonPubs #BoroughMarket #FortnumAndMason #WestEnd #BritishFood

  • Harry Potter Studio Tour in Leavesden, near Watford

    Harry Potter Studio Tour in Leavesden, near Watford

    On Saturday, January 24, 2026, we spent an afternoon at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, at Leavesden Studios just outside Watford. It’s where the films were made, and the tour walks you through the real sets, costumes, props and creature effects – finishing with an enormous scale model of Hogwarts.

    Arriving: a dragon overhead

    The welcome hall sets the tone straight away, with a huge dragon hanging from the ceiling. Not far in you’ll also find one of the most famous small spaces in film: the cupboard under the stairs.

    Dragon hanging above the entrance hall at the Harry Potter Studio Tour
    The cupboard under the stairs set

    The Great Hall

    The tour starts in the Great Hall itself, with its long tables set with plates and goblets, house costumes on display and the stone walls you remember from the films. Further on, the portrait-lined staircases are just as detailed up close.

    Long tables laid with plates in the Great Hall set
    School robe costumes on display in the Great Hall
    Staircase set lined with framed portraits

    Inside Hogwarts

    Set after set recreates the castle’s rooms: the dormitory with its red-curtained four-poster beds, the corridors leading to the headmaster’s office, Dumbledore’s office itself, and the Potions classroom with its shelves of jars and cauldrons.

    Four-poster beds with red curtains in the boys' dormitory set
    Stone arches and walls of portraits leading into the headmaster's office set
    Dumbledore's office set with its desk and bookshelves
    Potions classroom set with cauldrons and shelves of jars

    The Burrow, the Ministry and the Forbidden Forest

    Beyond the castle there’s the Weasleys’ cosy, cluttered kitchen at the Burrow, a towering stone monument from the Ministry of Magic, and a dark, misty Forbidden Forest where Hagrid’s costume stands waiting with his lantern.

    The Weasley family kitchen set at the Burrow
    Carved stone monument from the Ministry of Magic set
    Hagrid's costume with lantern in the Forbidden Forest area

    Greenhouses and the creature workshop

    The Herbology greenhouse glows at night, with student figures in earmuffs repotting mandrakes. Nearby, the creature workshop shows off the animatronics and models used on screen – dragon heads, toothy beasts and a lifelike hippogriff.

    Herbology greenhouse set lit up at night
    Mandrake plants and student figures with earmuffs in the greenhouse
    Spiked dragon head model in the creature workshop
    Creature model with an open mouth full of teeth in the creature workshop
    Hippogriff model resting beside pumpkins

    Gringotts and Diagon Alley

    The Gringotts bank set is a highlight: goblins at their counters, a gleaming marble banking hall and a vault overflowing with gold. Then it’s out onto Diagon Alley, where every shop window is packed with tiny details.

    Goblin figure at a counter in the Gringotts bank set
    Marble banking hall with rows of counters at Gringotts
    Bank vault piled high with gold treasure
    Shop window full of curiosities on the Diagon Alley set
    Bright red shopfront window on Diagon Alley

    The Hogwarts castle model

    The tour saves the best for last. After a white card model of the castle used during design, you walk around the giant, intricately detailed model of Hogwarts used for exterior shots in the films. The lighting slowly shifts from day to night, so it’s worth going round more than once.

    White card model of the Hogwarts castle
    The giant Hogwarts castle model in daytime lighting
    Towers and courtyards of the Hogwarts castle model up close
    The Hogwarts castle model under blue night-time lighting

    Tips if you go: tickets are sold for timed entry slots, so book ahead – especially for weekends. Allow at least three to four hours to see everything. If you’re coming by train, a shuttle bus runs from Watford Junction station to the studios. Making a weekend of it? See my London food and pubs guide for where to eat and drink in the city.

    #HarryPotter #WBStudioTour #MakingOfHarryPotter #Leavesden #Watford #Hogwarts #DiagonAlley #Gringotts #London #UKDaysOut #FilmSets #TravelPhotography

  • High Noon at the Harold Pinter Theatre, London’s West End

    High Noon at the Harold Pinter Theatre, London’s West End

    A night out in London’s West End to see High Noon, the stage adaptation of the classic Western, at the Harold Pinter Theatre on Panton Street, just off Leicester Square.

    The Harold Pinter Theatre opened in 1881 as the Royal Comedy Theatre and took its current name in 2011 in honour of the playwright. The photos show the theatre lit up at night with the show’s signage out front.

    If you’re planning a visit, the theatre is a short walk from Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square tube stations, which makes it easy to pair with dinner in Soho or Covent Garden.

    The Harold Pinter Theatre

    #London #WestEnd #Theatre #HighNoon #HaroldPinterTheatre #LondonTheatre

  • Dim Sum at Harrods: Soup Dumplings in Knightsbridge, London

    Dim Sum at Harrods: Soup Dumplings in Knightsbridge, London

    Dim sum at Harrods, the landmark department store in Knightsbridge, London. The spread pictured here includes soup dumplings and steamed buns served in bamboo steamers.

    Harrods is famous for its food halls and in-store restaurants, and a dim sum lunch makes a good break from browsing the shop floors.

    Harrods is right next to Knightsbridge tube station on the Piccadilly line, a short walk from Hyde Park and the museums of South Kensington.

    #London #Harrods #DimSum #Dumplings #Knightsbridge #LondonEats

  • These guys settled into London quickly

    These guys settled into London quickly

    A quick update from London: the cats have made themselves at home. Here they are stretched out by a sunny window, clearly unbothered by the move.

    Anyone who has relocated with pets knows the first few weeks can be an adjustment, so it was good to see these two settle in so quickly.

    #London #Cats #CatsOfLondon #CatLife #NewHome

  • Dinner at Manteca in London

    Dinner at Manteca in London

    Dinner at Manteca in London, an Italian restaurant in Shoreditch known for its fresh pasta and nose-to-tail approach to meat.

    The photos show some of the dishes from the meal, including a beautifully cooked cut of meat. Manteca is a popular spot, so it’s worth booking ahead through the restaurant’s website (mantecarestaurant.co.uk).

    Shoreditch is packed with good restaurants and bars, making it an easy place to spend an evening in East London.

    https://www.mantecarestaurant.co.uk

    #London #Manteca #Shoreditch #LondonEats #ItalianFood #LondonRestaurants

  • Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese: London’s Historic Fleet Street Pub

    Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese: London’s Historic Fleet Street Pub

    Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese on Fleet Street is one of London’s most famous historic pubs. It was rebuilt shortly after the Great Fire of London in 1666, and its warren of dark, wood-panelled rooms and cellars has changed little since.

    Over the centuries it has been linked with literary names including Samuel Johnson and Charles Dickens. The photos show the pub’s sign, the narrow alley entrance off Fleet Street and the atmospheric interior.

    It’s an easy stop if you’re walking between St Paul’s Cathedral and the Strand, and well worth a pint just for the setting.

    Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
    Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
    Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
    Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
    Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
    Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
    Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese

    Originally posted on Instagram.

    #London #YeOldeCheshireCheese #FleetStreet #LondonPubs #HistoricPub #BritishPub

  • Stranger Things: The First Shadow at the Phoenix Theatre, London

    Stranger Things: The First Shadow at the Phoenix Theatre, London

    Our first West End show in London: Stranger Things: The First Shadow, the stage prequel to the Netflix series, playing at the Phoenix Theatre.

    The show is known for its ambitious stage effects and illusions. The photos show the theatre’s exterior with the show’s signage, plus a few moments from the evening.

    The Phoenix Theatre is on Charing Cross Road, close to Tottenham Court Road and Leicester Square stations, right in the heart of theatreland.

    First west-end show
    First west-end show

    Originally posted on Instagram.

    #London #WestEnd #StrangerThings #TheFirstShadow #LondonTheatre #Theatre

  • A Week in London: Borough Market, Smith’s in Wapping and a Flight Home over Greenland

    A Week in London: Borough Market, Smith’s in Wapping and a Flight Home over Greenland

    This post has affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.

    A week in London in March 2024, from a Delta One flight out of Seattle to a flight home over the ice of Greenland. In between we had pizza near Petticoat Lane, a full English, steak in Spitalfields, seafood at Smith’s in Wapping, a day around Borough Market and the Thames, and a Scotch egg at Fortnum & Mason.

    Flying in: Delta One to Heathrow

    The trip started with an overnight Delta One flight from Seattle: drinks and warm nuts, then a dinner tray and an ice cream sundae. There’s more in our Heading to LHR post.

    Orange juice, water and the Delta One menu before departure from Seattle
    Drinks and warm nuts before dinner on the flight to London Heathrow
    Delta One dinner tray with salad, soup and sausage on the flight to London
    Ice cream sundae with chocolate sauce on the flight to London

    East London: pizza, a full English and steak

    Our first full day ended with a wood-fired pizza near Petticoat Lane. The next morning was a proper full English breakfast, and that evening we had steak and a brownie sundae in Spitalfields.

    Wood-fired pizza with salami and ham near Petticoat Lane, East London
    Full English breakfast with bacon, black pudding, beans, mushrooms and tomato
    Steak with sauces at a dinner in Spitalfields, London
    Brownie sundae with ice cream in a glass dish, Spitalfields

    Smith’s in Wapping

    Dinner at Smith’s, the “Famous for Fish” restaurant on Wapping High Street by the river: a prawn cocktail, a grilled lobster gratin and a chocolate dessert.

    Smith's Famous for Fish sign at Smith's Wapping
    Prawn cocktail at Smith's Wapping, London
    Grilled lobster thermidor with salad at Smith's Wapping
    Chocolate dessert with ice cream at Smith's Wapping

    Tower Bridge, Borough Market and the Imperial War Museum

    On a grey Friday we walked across London Bridge for the classic view of Tower Bridge, HMS Belfast and the Shard, then went into Borough Market for oysters and a salt beef sandwich. Afterwards we walked south to the Imperial War Museum.

    Tower Bridge and HMS Belfast on the Thames seen from London Bridge
    The Shard rising above the south bank of the Thames from London Bridge
    Crowds under the glass roof at Borough Market
    Fresh oysters on ice at a Borough Market stall
    Seafood counter at Borough Market
    Salt beef sandwich with pickles at Borough Market
    The Imperial War Museum London and its dome, Lambeth Road

    Piccadilly and Fortnum & Mason

    We finished the day at Piccadilly Circus and Fortnum & Mason, which claims to have invented the Scotch egg.

    Piccadilly Circus on a grey March afternoon
    Scotch egg cut in half at Fortnum & Mason, Piccadilly

    Heathrow and the Virgin Clubhouse

    Our last night was at the hotel next to Heathrow, and we spent time in the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse in Terminal 3 before flying home: a burger, a latte, a giant cookie, a green juice and some pastries, with a big view of the apron.

    Small plate of fried bites with herbs at a Heathrow hotel dinner
    Burger with fries at the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, Heathrow
    Latte at the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, Heathrow
    Cookie at the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, Heathrow
    Green juice at the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, Heathrow
    Pastry and snacks at the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, Heathrow
    Heathrow Terminal 3 apron and planes under big clouds, seen from the lounge

    Flying home over Greenland

    The flight home followed the polar route. We had sparkling wine after takeoff, and a few hours later the ice and snow of Greenland stretched out under a deep blue sky.

    Wide-body jets at the gates at London Heathrow before departure
    Seatback screen in a lie-flat suite on the flight home from London
    Sparkling wine and warm nuts after takeoff from Heathrow
    Snow and ice of Greenland under a deep blue sky from a plane window
    Frozen Arctic landscape below the horizon on the flight home from London

    Where to stay

    We stayed at The Hoxton in Shoreditch, a short walk from Spitalfields and Petticoat Lane, then spent the last night at the Hilton London Heathrow Airport before the flight home.

    Tips for a week in London

    • Walk across London Bridge for the best free view of Tower Bridge and the Shard.
    • Go to Borough Market early on a weekday, since it gets packed by lunchtime.
    • The Imperial War Museum is free and a short walk from Borough Market.
    • If you fly from Terminal 3, give yourself time for the Virgin Clubhouse.
    • On flights to the US West Coast, a window seat on the left can give you Greenland views.

    See our London food and pubs guide for more places to eat and drink.

    #London #LondonEats #BoroughMarket #TowerBridge #FullEnglish #FortnumAndMason #Heathrow #DeltaOne #VirginClubhouse #Greenland #Travel