West London

 A guide on what to eat, do and visit

Eat

Wa Café. Located in Ealing Broadway, WA Café is a small japanese patisserie, offering a selection of freshly baked buns and cakes, and a selection of teas. Popular options include the strawberry shortcake and matcha rolled cake. 

The Prince. A renovated pub with a large drinking and dining hall, with four restaurants situated inside. Be sure to book a table as it can get quite busy towards the end of the week.

Fulham-Market-Halls-747x440Fulham Market Hall

Fulham Market Hall. Based in the entrance hall of an Edwardian underground station, Fulham Market Hall offers a selection of seven different food vendors, a coffee shop and bar as well as a venue space for events and a fitness studio. It is open all week, from morning to night. Be sure to book a table if your party is larger than 6. 

Abu Zaad. A syrian restaurant with a few branches in West London, the menu offers a huge variety of syrian, lebanese and other middle eastern cuisines to choose from. 

Santa Maria Pizzeria. With an italian imported wood-fire oven, you can expect Santa Maria's neapolitan pizzas to be some of the best in London. They also have vegetarian and vegan options available.

Do

Watch a performance at Park Theatre. This neighbourhood theatre has an exceptional line-up of new shows and performances. The café and bar partners with local suppliers to offer fresh baked goods, sandwiches and other dishes. 

Richmond-Park-Blogger-747x440Deer-spotting in Richmond Park by student blogger, Tai-Tzu

Deer-spotting in Richmond Park. Although Richmond Park is located over an hour and a half away from campus, it is a great place to spend a day at the weekend. You can enjoy a stroll through the park or have a picnic when the weather is nice. It made student blogger, Tai-Tzu's list of the coolest things to do in London.  

Shop at Portobello Road Market. Although it is open every day of the week, the best day to visit is Saturday as this is the market's main day. Spend the day browsing through the stalls of antiques, clothes, bric-a-brac, food and books! 

Watch a movie at The Electric Cinema in Notting Hill. Visit one of the London's oldest cinemas which now offers a luxury cinema experience. Beside it, is Electric Diner, where you can get 50% off your pre-cinema meal on weekdays. 

Daunt-Books-Arya-747x440Daunt Books by Student Blogger, Arya

Browse Daunt Books. Founded in 1990, Daunt Books are independent booksellers with multiple London locations, including Marylebone, Holland Park, Hampstead and Cheapside (a 20 minute walk from LSE). However their flagship store in Marylebone is the most impressive, boasting a large selection of books from all over the world.

Visit

Serpentine-Gallery-747x440Serpentine Sackler Gallery 

Kensington Gardens. Covering over 270 acres, you can spend an entire day in Kensington Gardens, visiting the Serpentine Galleries and Kensington Palace and discovering the memorials and statutes placed across the gardens.

Acklam Village Market. Nestled by Portobello Road Market, Acklam Village Market is one of London's hidden gems, and only comes alive at the weekend. Not only can you expect a range of cuisines from all over the world, but there is also a programme of free live music and events. 

Kew Gardens.  Only an hour away from the LSE campus, you'll find the UNESCO world heritage site, Kew Gardens, where you can discover beautiful botanical collections with over 50,000 plants. Climb up the Great Pagoda (it is advised to book a time slot) for a great view of London and walk across the Treetop Walkway which is 18 metres high, giving you the best view of the gardens. 

Kyoto-Gardens-747x440Holland Park by Student Blogger, Aarushi.

Holland Park. Tucked away inside Holland Park is Kyoto Gardens. Early morning visits will guarantee the most peaceful visit. It's the perfect place to take a break from studying and the busy city.

Little Venice. Located where Grand Union and Regent's Canal meet, Little Venice is a picturesque district, with canal boat rides, an array of waterside cafes, restaurants and pubs. The canal pathway offers a lovely walking route towards Camden Town. 

Museums and galleries. Many of London's top museums and galleries are in West London. Favourites include the Victoria and Albert Museum, Saatchi Gallery, Serpentine Galleries and the Natural History Museum. Some museums also host 'Late Nights', where one day a the month the museum will open until 9pm and host a programme of events and talks.