Experience London like a local

Want to experience the real side of London? Take tips from where real Londoners eat, drink, shop and party.

Eat like a local: Street Feast

Street Feast is a serious contender for one of the best foodie spots in London. And while Borough Market is home to a Pandora’s box of fine artisan fare, Street Feast is where you’ll find post-work hungry Londoner’s chowing down on some of the best street food in the capital. There’s four Street Feast venues in London, with the Dinerama outlet in Shoreditch being the favourite. Grab some food from a class selection of food vendors, perch yourself on a bench and wile away the summer nights.

Shop like a local: Columbia Road Flower Market

Weekends in London mean one thing: markets, and lots of them. The Columbia Road Flower Market is famed for selling not only British plants, but imported flowers from around the world. Come rain or shine, the market is on every Sunday (and even on Easter Sunday may we add). The market is a hit with tourists and locals alike. The market kicks off at 8am – get down there early to avoid disappointment. Once the flowers are gone, they’re gone. Keep yourself hydrated and full with a stop at one of the surrounding pubs.

Drink like a local: Frank’s Café

Peckham has received a serious image rebrand over the past couple of years. Still rough around the edges, this South East London spot is now home to a few notable watering holes, including Frank’s Café. This legendary summer-only bar is situated on top of a multi-storey car park. Come and bask in the rays under the red canopy, and marvel at the picture perfect sunset. The secret has got out about Frank’s, so come before 7pm to avoid the classic one-in-one-out policy. There’s a small kitchen on site to help with your hunger needs too.

Sight see like a local: Friday late at V&A

Museums are plentiful in London, with the majority of them free. Days in museums are largely crowded with school trips and hordes of children, but Friday late at the V&A has solved both of those problems. Running on the last Friday of every month (except November and December), Friday Late celebrates all aspects of contemporary visual culture and design in society. Open from 18:30 till 22:00, Friday Late is free and is a drop-in situation. Month to month they change the exhibition – check their website so find out what exhibition is this month.

Party like a Local: Ronnie Scott’s

Ronnie Scott’s is a must-visit in the city for a cool night out. One of the oldest jazz clubs in the world, the club opened in 1959 and has been serving up a healthy dose of modern jazz and jazz fusion to music-loving Londoners ever since. Every night of the week, you can pop down to hear new and established jazz musicians, whilst enjoying some seriously good food and cocktails too. The vibe at Ronnie Scott’s is always fun and inclusive, where the focus is on the music, and you’ll always find a new favourite artist. Try the Ronnie’s Burger with an Old Fashioned cocktail – they are legendary for good reason.