England

London

Last traveled · September 2024
City Snapshot
Best Months
May – Sep
Ideal Stay
4–5 days
Best For
History, food, football
GF Friendliness
8/10
Language
English
English
Native
City Size
Megacity (9M+)
Currency
GBP (£)

Where to Stay

2 hotels
Pan Pacific London — One Bishopsgate Plaza exterior
Where I stayed

Pan Pacific London

City of London, near Tower of London
Why here
Luxury eco-certified hotel with indoor pool, full-service spa, and Straits Kitchen restaurant serving Singaporean cuisine. Prime City location.
Pool Spa 24hr Gym Restaurant
Book on Hotels.com
Norfolk Square, Paddington — The Voyage Hotel area
Where I stayed

The Voyage Hotel Paddington, Sonder

Paddington, 2-min walk from station
Why here
Contemporary hotel near Marble Arch and Kensington Gardens. Hyde Park is a 7-minute walk. Heathrow Express right next door.
WiFi Room Service Central Location
Book on Hotels.com

Gluten-Free Survival Guide

Easy
Key Phrases (UK Context)
"I have coeliac disease" Taken more seriously than "gluten-free"
"Can I see the allergen binder?" Required by UK law (Natasha's Law)
"Is the fryer dedicated?" Critical for chips and fried items
"Does the gravy contain flour?" Common hidden gluten source
GF Grocery Stores
  • Marks & Spencer — best overall, "Made Without" range
  • Sainsbury's — strong "Free From" own-brand range
  • Waitrose — premium, curated Free-From selection
  • Tesco — good range in larger stores
  • Whole Foods (Kensington) — US brands not found elsewhere
Naturally GF Dishes
  • Sunday roast (skip Yorkshire pud, ask about gravy)
  • Jacket potato with toppings
  • Full English (skip toast, check sausages for breadcrumbs)
  • Indian curries with rice (avoid naan, samosas)
  • Eton mess & pavlova (meringue-based desserts)
City GF Score
Dedicated GF Restaurants
Menu Labeling
Staff Knowledge & Safety
Density of GF Dining
Grocery Availability
8 out of 10
Easy

GF Friendly Restaurants

7 rated
5/5 GF Score
4/5
3/5
2/5
Hotel
Los Mochis London City 100% GF
Mexican-Japanese Fusion
Went here
GF Score
Safety Notes
Entire menu GF, nut-free, and celery-free. Kitchen is 100% GF — zero cross-contamination risk.
What to Order
Incredible — must go! Fun Mexican-Japanese fusion. Try anything on the menu. Luna Omakase for a special GF experience.
Location
City of London, Liverpool Street
View on Find Me Gluten Free
Los Mochis Notting Hill 100% GF
Mexican-Japanese Fusion
Went here
GF Score
Safety Notes
Entire menu GF. Also houses Juno Omakase — intimate 6-seat fully GF omakase hidden inside the restaurant.
What to Order
Incredible — must go! Tacos, sushi, churros, desserts — all safe.
Location
Notting Hill
View on Find Me Gluten Free
GF churros at Los Mochis Notting Hill
Pizza Express Live Holborn GF Options
Italian (Pizza / Pasta)
Went here
GF Score
Safety Notes
Coeliac UK accredited. GF bases from dedicated GF bakery. Served on black tray with purple pizza cutter to signal safety.
What to Order
What an awesome place — GF pizza and dough balls are a must!
Location
Holborn
View on Find Me Gluten Free
JOE & THE JUICE GF Options
Cafe / Juice Bar
Went here
GF Score
Safety Notes
GF bread available, heated on separate grill. Small kitchens — cross-contamination risk varies by location.
What to Order
Phenomenal — must try the avocado sandwich. All juices and smoothies naturally GF.
Location
City of London, Liverpool Street
View on Find Me Gluten Free
Black Sheep Coffee GF Options
Coffee Shop / Cafe
Went here
GF Score
Safety Notes
Some labeled GF items but not a dedicated GF facility. Stick to coffee drinks and clearly labeled items.
What to Order
Coffee drinks, clearly labeled GF food items.
Location
City of London, Liverpool Street
View on Find Me Gluten Free
Wicked Fish Spitalfields 100% GF
Fish & Chips (British)
Traveler recommended
GF Score
Safety Notes
Entirely GF fish & chip shop — no gluten in any menu items. 5.0 stars with 228 FMGF ratings. Uses line-caught haddock in GF batter.
What to Order
Fish & chips, calamari, fries — everything on the menu is safe.
Location
Spitalfields Market
View on Find Me Gluten Free
OATIS GF Options
Brunch / Cafe (Oat-focused)
Traveler recommended
GF Score
Safety Notes
All oats certified GF. Pancakes GF as standard, cooked in dedicated pans. Dedicated GF toaster. Kitchen is not fully dedicated GF.
What to Order
Oat bowls, GF pancakes, acai bowls.
Location
Notting Hill / Queensway
View on Find Me Gluten Free

Getting Around

Underground
The Tube is London's backbone — 11 lines covering central and suburbs. Night Tube on Fri/Sat on select lines.
Runs ~5am – midnight
Bus
Extensive 24-hour network. Cash NOT accepted — contactless only. "Hopper" fare: unlimited transfers within 1 hour.
£1.75 flat fare, £5.25 daily cap
River Bus
Thames Clippers serve 24 piers. Scenic way between Greenwich, Tower, Westminster, and Embankment.
Oyster / contactless accepted
Santander Cycles
£2 unlocks unlimited 30-minute rides. Docking stations near most major attractions and piers.
Use the app or docking stations
Visitor Tip
Use contactless (Visa/Mastercard/Apple Pay) instead of buying an Oyster card — same fares with automatic daily capping at £8.90 for Zone 1. The Elizabeth Line runs Heathrow to Liverpool Street in ~40 minutes.

Landmarks & Must-See Spots

11 spots
Big Ben Historic
The iconic Elizabeth Tower and its Great Bell — London's most recognizable landmark, standing at the north end of the Houses of Parliament.
Westminster
Went here
Big Ben against moody London clouds
Tower Bridge Historic
Victorian bascule and suspension bridge over the Thames, with glass walkways offering panoramic views 42 meters above the river.
City of London / South Bank
Went here
Tower Bridge from the riverbank
Piccadilly Circus Historic
London's Times Square — a famous road junction and public space in the West End, ringed by neon signs and the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain.
West End
Went here
Hyde Park Nature
350 acres of royal parkland in central London. Walk, cycle, or rent a pedalo on the Serpentine. Speakers' Corner on Sundays.
Kensington / Westminster
Went here
Buckingham Palace Historic
The official London residence of the reigning monarch. Watch the Changing of the Guard ceremony, held several times weekly.
Westminster
Traveler recommended
Kensington Palace Historic
Historic royal residence set within Kensington Gardens. Childhood home of Queen Victoria and former home of Princess Diana.
Kensington
Traveler recommended
London Bridge Historic
Connects the City to Southwark across the Thames. The current bridge replaced the famous medieval stone bridge in 1973.
City of London / South Bank
Traveler recommended
View from London Bridge — Thames with Tower Bridge in the background
Diana Memorial Walk Walk
A 7-mile walking trail through four of London's Royal Parks, passing places associated with Princess Diana's life.
Kensington / Westminster
Traveler recommended
Spitalfields Market Market
Covered market in East London with food stalls, vintage fashion, and artisan goods. GF options available from rice bowl and salad vendors.
Shoreditch / East London
Traveler recommended
Borough Market Market
London's oldest food market (since the 13th century). GF-friendly stalls include raclette, paella, and Neal's Yard Dairy cheese.
Southwark / South Bank
Traveler recommended
The Notting Hill Bookshop Historic
The travel bookshop that inspired the shop in the Hugh Grant film. Browse shelves of travel literature on charming Blenheim Crescent.
Notting Hill
Went here

Neighborhoods

City of London Financial & Historic
The financial heart where medieval history meets skyscrapers. Home to the Pan Pacific hotel, Spitalfields Market, and Liverpool Street's restaurant cluster. Walk to the Tower of London and Tower Bridge.
Westminster Monumental
London's monumental core — Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace. Cross Westminster Bridge to the South Bank for the London Eye, Borough Market, and The Shard. The best walking corridor in the city.
Notting Hill Charming & Leafy
Pastel Victorian townhouses, Portobello Road Market, and the famous bookshop. Los Mochis Notting Hill brings world-class GF dining. South into Kensington for Hyde Park and Kensington Palace.
Paddington Transport Hub
Gateway to Heathrow via the Express (15 min) and the Elizabeth Line. The Voyage Hotel sits here. Walk to Little Venice for canal-side narrowboat cruises.
Stratford Olympic & Modern
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and London Stadium (West Ham). Modern, regenerated East London with excellent facilities and green space. 15 minutes from Liverpool Street on the Elizabeth Line.
Chelsea Affluent & Sporty
Home to Stamford Bridge (Chelsea FC), the King's Road for shopping, and riverside walks along Chelsea Embankment. Fulham Broadway station for the stadium.

Things to Do

Attractions & Experiences
Tower of London & Crown Jewels Paid
UNESCO World Heritage Site housing 23,578 gems in the Crown Jewels collection. Beefeater-guided tours included with admission. Book in advance.
Half day City of London
Book tickets
The Shard — Viewing Platform Paid
72nd-floor open-air viewing platform, 300+ meters above London. Panoramic views up to 40 miles on a clear day. Champagne option available.
1–2 hours London Bridge
Book tickets
London Eye Paid
Iconic 30-minute rotation offering sweeping views of Westminster, the Thames, and the city skyline. Standard and fast-track options.
30 minutes South Bank
Book tickets
London Eye from across the Thames
London Stadium Tour Paid
Go behind the scenes at West Ham United's home — player tunnel, dugout, changing rooms, and pitch-side multimedia exhibits.
~75 min Stratford
Book tour
Pitch-side view of London Stadium during a West Ham match
Stamford Bridge Tour Paid
Chelsea FC stadium and museum tour — home and away dressing rooms, press room, players' tunnel, pitch-side access, and the club museum.
~1 hour + museum Chelsea
Book tour
Chelsea Football Club East Stand at Stamford Bridge

What to Pack

September

Travel Tips

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Found a great GF spot in London? I'd love to hear from you.
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