Our editors handpick the products that we feature. We may earn commission from the links on this page.
If you’ve been waiting to travel abroad again, this is your sign to go for it.
Ah, travel. For those so inclined, there’s no better pastime than jetting off to a faraway destination and soaking in all the wonders it holds—until 2020 happened, at least. Tourism in the time of Covid has not been so glorious. From double masking on planes and frantically wiping down every surface to travelgate ’22—you know, hours-long airport lines and canceled flights galore—it’s safe to say that travel is getting less and less joyful.
So when it came to my first international trip in several years, there was only one place that made sense. London is one of my favorite cities—I’m quite familiar with it thanks to the four months I spent there in college—and revisiting a destination where I was already comfortable made easing back into big travel much simpler. Although I was still wary about that first during-a-pandemic trip (Europe? In this economy?), dwelling on the beloved spots I planned to hit up again helped reduce that travel anxiety. London was also an ideal location for me as an English speaker, as well as the seamless learning curves with currency (Apple Pay is everywhere), getting around (the Tube is clean and convenient), and general etiquette. Plus, there were exciting new attractions on the horizon—a giant slide at the Tower of London? Yup, they’ve got it—that had me genuinely giddy even amid the travel chaos.
Despite any trip-induced headaches, visiting a cool destination is still a fulfilling and worthwhile experience. Ahead, discover what hotels, restaurants, and attractions London has to offer in 2022—so you can make travel joyful once again.
London’s best attraction of the season is the Superbloom at the Historic Royal Palace’s Tower of London. While the Tower is one of London’s most iconic (and haunting) buildings, the Superbloom breathes new life—quite literally—into the nearly 1,000-year-old structure. Originally designed as a fortress, the Tower features a wraparound moat that has never been open to the public before. Now, though, HRP has planted more than 20 million seeds in the moat, which have been blooming into vibrant flowers all summer long.
Tom O’Leary, director of public engagement at HRP, says that from the orange poppies to the blue, white, and pink cornflowers, most of the seeds were selected to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. “There are an abundance of pollinating insects in London, but in urban environment,s these insects have to travel on average seven miles per day to find food, in contrast to three miles in the countryside,” he explains. “Superbloom marks the start of the transformation of the moat at the Tower of London into a permanent and sustainable naturalistic landscape.”
This project will up the ecological ante for years to come. Although the exhibit closes on September 18, the flowers will bloom year after year, allowing visitors to walk through the curving paths, listen to music composed specially for the exhibit, and try out the giant slide they’ve set up in the moat (we said there’d be one!).
When you’re done admiring the floral masterpiece, head inside the Tower to gaze at the Royal Family’s Crown Jewels collection, see where Anne Boleyn stayed before being coronated (and where she met her untimely death), and spot the iconic Tower Ravens—legend says the kingdom will fall if they ever fly away from the Tower.
GET TICKETS FOR THE TOWER OF LONDON
After being sufficiently creeped out by this Historic Royal Palace, head to its more regal sister property, Kensington Palace. Commonly known for being the site where Will, Kate, & Co. currently live, Kensington is situated in Hyde Park and features extensive history on Queen Victoria—the longstanding monarch was born in the palace and was living there when she ascended the throne at age 18.
Not to be missed, though, is “Life Through a Royal Lens,” an exhibit at Kensington Palace on display through October 30 that chronicles the royal family’s relationship with photography. It begins with the grainy daguerreotypes of Victoria and Albert’s early exploration into the medium and flashes through decades of both regal and casual images. The intimate photos of Princess Margaret, taken by her husband, renowned photographer Anthony Armstrong-Jones, will stop you in your tracks, as will the group shots of Diana, Will, and Harry, taken before she died.
GET TICKETS FOR KENSINGTON PALACE
Before you leave the city, don’t skip the London Eye for the best views of Big Ben—which has officially shed the scaffolding that obscured it for the last few years. The shiny new clocktower is definitely worth viewing from above.
For classically luxe accommodations—where you’ll have London’s biggest attractions at your fingertips—try Sea Containers. Located on the South Bank of the Thames, Sea Containers boasts 359 rooms and suites with bold, nautical interiors. Amenities include thoughtful touches like USB ports for charging (no more worrying about international adapters), and you’ll have access to one of London’s swankiest bars, Lyaness, which prides itself on using unusual ingredients like oyster honey and fruit furikake.
Book Your Stay: Sea Containers ($$) and Lyaness ($$$) are located at 20 Upper Ground, London. read reviews
If you’re in the market for a trendier vibe, stay at the newly opened One Hundred Shoreditch. Located in the heart of Shoreditch, a buzzy east side neighborhood known for its nightlife and vintage shops, One Hundred and its plant-filled lobby are just begging to live on your Instagram story. The 258 rooms and suites feature nature-chic decor—think sculptural vases with dried botanicals, woven wall hangings, and paper lantern light fixtures. The front-facing studio lofts’ large bay windows are complete with a cozy chair while the suites’ private balconies look out onto London’s skyscrapers. Sustainable swaps add to the ambiance: Rather than stocking rooms with travel-size toiletries and plastic water bottles, each bathroom has large refillable glass bottles for shower necessities, and every floor has a water refill station.
Book Your Stay: One Hundred Shoreditch ($$) is located at 100 Shoreditch High Street, London. read reviews
The perennial knock on London is that the culinary offerings are, well, not the city’s strong suit. Get those lies out of your head—pronto. As a mixing bowl for all different cultures, London has adopted a wide variety of cuisines. The Indian food is famously delicious (I could wax poetic for days about the house black daal at Dishoom), but the Middle Eastern fare is heavenly, too.
Imad’s Syrian Kitchen is no exception: A new darling on the London restaurant scene, Imad’s was opened in 2021 by Imad Alarnab, a Syrian chef whose former Damascus-based restaurants were destroyed due to the war. While making his way to London, Alarnab cooked for his fellow refugees—dazzling them as he eventually did hungry Londoners.
Alarnab’s Soho-based restaurant is nestled on the third level of Kingly Court, a lively open-air confluence of bustling restaurants that you’ll discover by turning down an unassuming alleyway off Carnaby Street. Adorned with Grecian blue tiling and trailing pothos vines, the bright space meshes café with bistro. On the menu, falafel is a must: Instead of standard spheres, the chickpea filling is shaped as a small donut, ensuring that each bite has a taste of that perfectly crisp exterior. Other hits include the zahraa harra (roasted cauliflower that puts all other vegetables to shame) and refreshing Syrian ice cream (topped with threads of white cotton candy). The best part? Alarnab is known for walking around the restaurant and chatting with guests, so you can thank him face-to-face—and you’ll want to.
If you’re after a more traditional British menu but prefer a fancy experience, try the Michelin-starred restaurant Marcus. The vibe is effortlessly upscale but not stuffy, and the lunch menu (£60 for three courses) is divine.
Another elegant (and sumptuous) way to entertain yourself is, of course, afternoon tea. One of the classiest options is The Dorchester, a historic hotel located just off Hyde Park and a stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace. For £75, you’ll be treated to dainty finger sandwiches and unlimited pours of their more than 30 tea options.
When you’re ready to return to the mortal world with some casual food, head to one of London’s many markets. (Dining alfresco is the best way to enjoy the city’s rare sunny days.) New on the scene is the Tower of London location of KERB, an organization dedicated to highlighting street food that might otherwise go unnoticed. They group food trucks and stands into combined markets where diners can bounce between cuisines like barbecue, Taiwanese, Caribbean, Swedish, Indian, and more. (P.S.: The utensils and cups can be composted!) There are multiple KERB locations across the city, but, with an unparalleled view of Tower Bridge and Superbloom in full swing, the Tower of London location is an idyllic way to experience London.
2.14 Top Floor, Kingly Court, Carnaby St, London.
The Berkeley, Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, London.
53 Park Lane, The Dorchester Hotel, Mayfair, London.
Tower of London, London, and other markets across London
Clearly, London offers simply any activity, food, or attraction you might be interested in. It comes in handy to know that during your first big trip in our Covid-changed world, you’re pretty much guaranteed to enjoy yourself—and, reader, I did. [Editor’s note: The writer received comped experiences for this story.]
Cassie Hurwitz (she/her) is Oprah Daily’s assistant editor, where she covers everything from culture to entertainment to lifestyle. She can typically be found in the middle of multiple books and TV shows all at once. Previously, Cassie worked at Parents, Rachael Ray In Season, and Reveal. Her love language is pizza (New York slices, Chicago deep dish, and otherwise).
Thanksgiving Traditions to Start with Your Family
40 Unique Gifts for Plant Lovers
The 4 Most Common Types of Parenting Styles
Scented Candles That’ll Help You Reach Peak Bliss
How to Balance Hormones Naturally
28 Gifts That'll Brighten Any Candle Lover's Day
32 Gifts for Kids That Will Be Loved by All
Here’s What to Talk About on a First Date
Here’s How to Celebrate Women’s Equality Day
Watch “The Life You Want” Class on Service
Creating Community and Searching for Renewal
Black Food Folks on Renewal
Our editors handpick the products that we feature. We may earn commission from the links on this page.
©Oprah Daily LLC. All rights reserved.