{"id":58426,"date":"2026-06-08T11:43:22","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T11:43:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/58426\/"},"modified":"2026-06-08T11:43:22","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T11:43:22","slug":"what-to-do-in-london-according-to-antoni-porowski","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/58426\/","title":{"rendered":"What to do in London, according to Antoni Porowski"},"content":{"rendered":"

Polymath Dr. Samuel Johnson famously declared, \u201cWhen a man is tired of London<\/a>, he is tired of life\u201d\u2014and that was more than two centuries ago. What began as a Roman settlement around 47 A.D. has survived wars, plagues, and the near-apocalyptic Great Fire of 1666 to become a city that is at once urban and park-laced, traditional and rebellious, relentlessly international yet fiercely local. More than 300 languages are spoken here; in the city where candlelit pubs sit beside gargantuan skyscrapers, while neighborhoods have been shaped by centuries of migration and community.<\/p>\n

Best of the World with Antoni Porowski premieres June 7 at 9\/8c on National Geographic and streams next day on Disney+<\/a> and Hulu.<\/p>\n

This is the London explored by Antoni Porowski<\/a>\u2014the renowned cook, author and TV personality\u2014in National Geographic\u2019s latest series\u00a0Best of the World with Antoni Porowski, in which he gets under the skin of some of the planet\u2019s most compelling destinations. According to Porowski, London is \u201ca city that runs on contrasts,\u201d one that \u201cholds its past and present in the same frame.\u201d Here are the experiences he believes define the British capital.<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0Eat a Sunday roast with an Indian twist at Tamil Crown\u00a0in Islington<\/p>\n

Porowski\u00a0begins his London adventures with\u00a0Prince Durairaj and Glen Leeson, founders of Tamil Crown<\/a>, a popular North London Desi pub that opened in 2023 as a tribute to the city\u2019s love of South Asian food.\u00a0After a roti-making masterclass, he dives into\u00a0the lamb roast dinner, calling it one of the best he’s ever had. Served as a platter of dishes\u00a0inspired by Tamil Nadu and Kerala,\u00a0it features roasted lamb shank, potato and pea masala, coconut cabbage stir-fry, and fiery gobi 65 cauliflower.\u00a0The roast is served only on Sundays, and reservations are usually made weeks in advance.<\/p>\n

Like that? Try this.\u00a0The Gladstone Arms<\/a>\u00a0in Borough is run by siblings Megha and Gaurav\u00a0Khanna with chef Shubham Bhardwaj.\u00a0Their Anglo-Indian menu features dishes like Railway Lamb Sunday Roast with goose fat Bombay potatoes and Yorkshire pudding, chicken tikka masala pot pie, and butter chicken curry alongside a selection of craft ales. Because,\u00a0as Megha puts it,\u00a0\u201cWhat\u2019s better than a curry and a pint?\u201d<\/p>\n

2. Get with the times inside the Big Ben clock\u00a0in Westminster<\/p>\n

The world-renowned Big Ben<\/a>\u00a0has been at the beating\u2014or ticking\u2014heart of the British capital for more than 160 years.Porowski\u00a0learns the secrets of the timepiece from mathematician and clockmaker Andrew Strangeway, who guides him through its intricate mechanics, like adjusting the pendulum and monitoring barometric shifts.\u00a0In Porowski\u2019s words, it \u201cfeels like a classic grandfather clock, except on steroids.\u201d Visitors can climb the 292 steps and come face to face with the clock on guided tours,\u00a0though tickets sell out months in advance, so book early<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Like that? Try this. Stay on the horology bandwagon at the UNESCO-stamped Royal Observatory Greenwich<\/a>, home of Greenwich Mean Time\u2014the \u2018starting point\u2019 for the world\u2019s time zones. Built in 1675 by King Charles II to help sailors navigate the seas, today it\u2019s home to the Prime Meridian, the imaginary line that divides the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. There\u2019s also a 28-inch telescope, the Christopher Wren-designed Flamsteed House, and various exhibitions exploring the science of astronomy.<\/p>\n

(7 of the best things to do in Paris<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

3. Take a cold swim at Eden Dock\u00a0in Canary Wharf<\/p>\n

Tucked within London\u2019s financial district is a waterfront sanctuary, Eden Dock<\/a>, a\u00a0\u201cone-of-a-kind urban oasis,\u201d\u00a0Porowski says. Almost 400 miles of rivers, canals, and docks snake through the capital, but Eden Dock\u2014fed by a natural spring and separate from the River Thames\u2014is one of its most surprising corners. Here, he plunges into\u00a060\u00b0F, crystal-clear waters,\u00a0swimming beneath skyscrapers and rumbling trains and among fish, eels, and aquatic plants.\u00a0Membership costs $20 a year or $12 per swim, and sessions can be booked via the Love Open Water<\/a>\u00a0website and app.<\/p>\n

\"Antoni<\/p>\n

Antoni Porowski takes a cold, refreshing swim with his guide Francesca at Canary Wharf in the heart of London’s financial district.<\/p>\n

National Geographic\/John Wendle<\/p>\n

Like that? Try this.\u00a0The ponds at Hampstead Heath, North London\u2019s 320-hectare sweep of wild shrubland, have been a beloved swimming spot for Londoners since the late 19th century. There are around 25 in total, though only three\u2014Kenwood Ladies, Highgate Men\u2019s, and Hampstead Mixed\u2014are open for bathing. Swimming slots can be booked via the City of London<\/a>\u00a0website, and the speed at which they\u2019re snapped up, especially during summer afternoons, is a testament to London\u2019s enduring love affair with open-water swimming.<\/p>\n

4. Stay at the\u00a0Shangri-La The Shard\u00a0in London Bridge<\/p>\n

Porowski takes exploring London to new heights at the 1,016-foot-tall The Shard, a tapering glass-and-steel skyscraper whose jagged pinnacle give it its name. The tallest building in Western Europe, it offers visitors sweeping panoramas of London for up to 40 miles on a clear day.\u00a0On level 34, the ultra-luxurious Shangri-La hotel <\/a>occupies 18 floors and features London\u2019s highest hotel rooms, bar, and swimming pool. \u201cSightseeing in the clouds,\u201d as General Manager Kurt Macher puts it.\u00a0But you don\u2019t need to splurge on a fancy suite to feel the high. Follow Porowski\u2019s lead with an indulgent\u00a0Afternoon Tea<\/a>\u00a0($200 for two) or head to the\u00a0public viewing galleries<\/a>\u00a0on floors 68, 69, and 72 for a sky-high perspective of the ever-evolving city below.<\/p>\n

Like that? Try this.\u00a0Can\u2019t fork out eye-watering amounts for a suite at the Shangri-La? Then head to\u00a0The Tower Hotel by Thistle<\/a>\u2014built in the Brutalist style in the 1970s\u2014for a different perspective that\u2019s just as impressive. On the upper foyer is the VU from The Tower, a bar just a stone\u2019s throw away from the iconic Tower Bridge and River Thames. The Shard provides the hotel\u2019s backdrop, and it is only a few feet from the Tower of London. Rooms start from $168 a night.<\/p>\n

(8 of the best things to do in Mexico City<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

5. Combine science and wellness at Royal Botanic Gardens\u00a0in Kew<\/p>\n

Around 40 percent of London is considered green space\u2014quite a feat for a major world capital. The 300-acre, UNESCO-listed Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew<\/a>, in the southwest borough of Richmond, is home to 17,000 unique plant species and 11,000 trees from around the world, making it the most biodiverse place on the planet. Horticulturist Brie Langley guides Porowski through the gardens, first opened in 1759. The Victorian-era glasshouses are where they carefully tend to giant water lilies. He finishes his visit with a guided yoga session inside the plant-filled Temperate House. It\u2019s no wonder he describes Kew as a \u201cbotanical mic drop.\u201d Head online<\/a>\u00a0for ticket and event details.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Palm House at Kew Gardens is a Victorian glasshouse that features thousands of exotic plant species, including endangered palms, the world\u2019s oldest potted plant, and vital specimens used in medical and climate research.<\/p>\n

National Geographic\/John Wendle<\/p>\n

Like that? Try this. Chelsea Physic Garden<\/a>\u00a0might not rival Kew when it comes to biodiversity, but it does hold the title for London\u2019s oldest botanical garden.\u00a0 This four-acre verdant space in west London, tucked away near the embankment, is home to over 4,500 varieties of edible and medicinal plants. It also hosts multicultural supper clubs (during the summer), painting and chocolate-making workshops, and yoga sessions among the greenery.\u00a0Tickets<\/a>\u00a0must be booked in advance, and remember to bring your own yoga mat.<\/p>\n

6. Tuck into a bagel at the world-famous Beigel Bake\u00a0in Brick Lane<\/p>\n

Do hungry Londoners wait in line for a bagel at 3 a.m.? Absolutely. Open 24 hours every day, Beigel Bake<\/a> is a Brick Lane institution in an East London neighborhood famed for its curry houses and vintage shops. Founded by brothers Amnon Cohen and Sammy Minzley, this family business has been open in the same spot since 1974. There\u2019s a lot to choose from their menu, but you can be like Porowski and order the holy grail: salt beef with mustard and a pickle. The smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel is a close second for customers\u2019 favorite.<\/p>\n

Like that? Try this.\u00a0Begging for more bagels? Head to Paulie\u2019s Bagels<\/a>, which has outposts in Hackney and London Fields, to try the hand-rolled, sourdough kind from husband-and-wife duo Paul and Jordan. The bagels here are inspired by the delis and bodegas of New York\u2013Jordan\u2019s hometown. According to Paul, the bestsellers are BEC (bacon, egg, and cheese) and The Lox (smoked salmon, cream cheese, house-pickled cucumbers, and red onions).<\/p>\n

(6 of the best things to do in New York City<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

7. Catch a drag show at The Divine\u00a0in Dalston<\/p>\n

In one of London\u2019s hippest neighborhoods, Porowski calls The Divine<\/a> \u201cfun, fabulous, and just frickin\u2019 wild.\u201d The East London venue\u00a0celebrates queerness through drag, comedy, and cabaret seven nights a week.\u00a0It\u2019s a riot of fashion, death drops, and community spirit, and according to Porowski, an absolute must-see in the British capital. Performances are ticketed,\u00a0while club nights are free until 10 p.m. (\u00a310\/$13 after).<\/p>\n

Like that? Try this.\u00a0South of the river in Vauxhall, the Grade II-listed\u00a0Royal Vauxhall Tavern<\/a>\u00a0is a legendary hub of London\u2019s LGBTQ+ nightlife. Since the 1980s, it has hosted icons from Lily Savage to David Hoyle, and there\u2019s even\u00a0drag folklore claims that Freddie Mercury once helped Diana, Princess of Wales, slip in disguised as a man. The RVT\u00a0promises its\u00a0Sunday cabaret<\/a>\u00a0as \u201cthe most fun you can have on a Sunday evening.\u201d<\/p>\n

How to get around LondonThe London Underground<\/a>, the oldest underground railway in the world, will take you to almost anywhere you need to go in London. If subterranea isn\u2019t your thing, the city\u2019s iconic red buses<\/a>\u00a0have an extensive network, with some routes also running into the early hours of the morning. For a commute with a view, copy Porowski and hop on the Uber Boats by Thames Clippers<\/a>. Its most iconic stretch will take you past major sights like Tower Bridge, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, and The Shard. Black taxis and Ubers are also widely available.Farida Zeynalova<\/a> is a London-based writer, editor and presenter. She’s currently associate editor at\u00a0National Geographic Traveller\u00a0(UK), where she specializes in food culture and human-centered storytelling.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Polymath Dr. Samuel Johnson famously declared, \u201cWhen a man is tired of London, he is tired of life\u201d\u2014and…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":58427,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[26],"tags":[10099,28433,28434,28437,28431,1202,28439,6132,27,10548,28440,28441,28436,6805,28438,28432,28435,13501],"class_list":["post-58426","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-london","tag-afternoon-tea","tag-antoni-porowski","tag-beigel-bake","tag-best-of-the-world","tag-big-ben","tag-canary-wharf","tag-chelsea-physic-garden","tag-islington","tag-london","tag-london-bridge","tag-london-food","tag-london-things-to-do","tag-royal-observatory-greenwich","tag-sunday-roast","tag-the-divine","tag-the-london-underground","tag-the-tower-hotel-by-thistle","tag-westminister"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@UnitedKingdom\/116714314412519559","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58426","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58426"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58426\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/58427"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58426"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58426"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58426"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}