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London Neighbourhood Guide

Living Abroad | London | London Neighbourhood Guides | Moving to London Advice & Resources

Your Ultimate 2026 London Neighbourhood Guide: Where to Live in London

Read More Your Ultimate 2026 London Neighbourhood Guide: Where to Live in London

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candaceabroad

📌SAVE this Muswell Hill Itinerary 🍂 Ever been to

📌SAVE this Muswell Hill Itinerary 🍂

Ever been to a London neighbourhood that made you want to move there instantly? (Alas, there’s no train or Tube station here, but dare I say that’s part of the appeal…)

Once a rural retreat filled with grand houses and estates, Muswell Hill began transforming into the lovely Edwardian neighbourhood we know today from 1895. And it’s firmly been one of my favourite North London discoveries ever since I moved to England.

Here’s a few bits to get up to:

🛍️ Go charity shopping along Muswell Hill Broadway

🐊 Have a browse at Crocodile Antiques @crocodilegiftslondon

🧀 Pop into the Muswell Hill Cheese Shop @cheeseshopmuswellhill

📚 Pick up a mystery book at House of Books @houseofbooksmhb

🥐 Treat yourself to something from The Bakers of Muswell Hill

🌇 Take in the incredible London views from Alexandra Palace @yourallypally

🍂 Enjoy an autumn walk around Alexandra Park

🍝 Finish with lunch at Rossella @eatrossella (don’t miss the tiramisu!)

📌 SAVE for your next Muswell Hill day out! Bonus points if you visit in autumn to catch the leaves at Ally Pally Park 🍂

Happy Londoning,
Candace x

—
Muswell Hill, North London Neighbourhoods, London Blogger, London Content Creator

#muswellhill #northlondon #londonblogger

Get in you! We’re doing Halloween in London 🎃 Hal

Get in you! We’re doing Halloween in London 🎃

Halloween is one of my favourite excuses to dress up and explore the city, especially when it comes to Halloween at Kew...

Once it gets dark, Kew Gardens turns into an after-hours Halloween trail with glowing pumpkins, eerie woodland displays, light installations and just enough spookiness to feel seasonal without being genuinely terrifying (promise) 📌 SAVE for the season!

Practical bits:

🎃 Where: Halloween at Kew, Kew Gardens

📆 16 October – 1 November 2026

🎟️ I’d book ahead, especially for weekends and the dates closest to Halloween, it’s an evening experience with timed slots

🚇 Nearest station: Kew Gardens

P.S. - Comment BOO and I’ll send you my full Halloween in London guide all my favourite spooky things to do in London (+ dates & booking links etc.) 👻

Are you spending Halloween in London?

Happy Londoning,
Candace x

—
Halloween at Kew, Halloween in London, London Halloween 2026, things to do in London in October, Kew Gardens Halloween, autumn in London

#HalloweenAtKew #HalloweenInLondon #KewGardens

Planning a trip to India? 🇮🇳 Of course, there’s th

Planning a trip to India? 🇮🇳 Of course, there’s the Taj Mahal, Mumbai and all the big hitters. But I’d make a little room for Kolkata too…

Formerly Calcutta, Kolkata was the capital of British India until 1911, and its history is fascinating. There’s grand architecture, a centuries-old literary culture, INCREDIBLE
food (I genuinely didn’t have a bad meal here), extraordinary flower markets and so much art & culture.

It’s a city with enormous contrasts, and certainly not the easiest place you’ll travel, but it’s well worth the visit.

🇮🇳 Comment LINK for my full Kolkata itinerary, or read it at candaceabroad.com/kolkata-3-day-itinerary/

Have you been to or heard of Kolkata?

Happy travels,
Candace x
—
Kolkata, Kolkata Travel, India Travel, Calcutta
#Kolkata #IndiaTravel #VisitKolkata #KolkataTravel

There’s a rumour that the Indian food in London is

There’s a rumour that the Indian food in London is pretty much the best you can find outside of India (and after my trip to India this year, I think they’re right!) 🇮🇳✨

Here’s 3 incredible ones to add to your list:

🍽️ @trishnalondon // Marylebone

Tried & tested recommendations: Koliwada squid & shrimps, Nandu Varuval soft-shell crab and the Prawn Kodampuli Curry. If you love seafood, this is the one I’d bookmark 📌

🍽️ @baburrestaurant // Forest Hill

Tried & tested recommendations: Go for the tasting menu! The slow-cooked tiger prawns in green coconut, the clove-smoked rump of lamb with Rajasthani masala and the chocolate malpua to finish. A dream…

🍽️ @choasiarestaurant // Putney

Tried & tested recommendations: chilli garlic prawns, Bang Bang cauliflower, and the prawn Manchurian (and absolutely save room for the coconut jaggery rice pudding!) + the wine

Save this for your next dinner out 📌

Happy Londoning,
Candace x

—
Indian Restaurants London, London Recommendations
#londonrestaurants #indianfoodlondon #londonfoodguide #londonfoodie londoneats

Is The Phantom of the Opera in London actually wor

Is The Phantom of the Opera in London actually worth seeing? 🎭

After nearly 40 years on the West End, I finally went to see it at His Majesty’s Theatre (from the second row, no less!) and let’s just say I have thoughts…

I’ve written up my full review on candaceabroad.com from the incredible stage design and music to ticket prices, where to sit and where to eat before the show.

Comment LINK and I’ll send you the full review straight to your DMs! And be sure to follow the site for more London theatre recommendations✨

Have you seen The Phantom of the Opera before?

Happy Londoning,
Candace x

—
The Phantom of the Opera London, West End Theatre, London Theatre Review, Things to Do in London
#westendtheatre #phantomoftheopera #londontheatre

Whether you live in London or you’re visiting, one

Whether you live in London or you’re visiting, one of my favourite London addictions is going to the West End as often as I can 🎭 (Phantom of the Opera tonight!).

But over time I’ve realised I nearly always go in with a bit of a game plan when it comes to theatre in London…so here’s how I’d plan the perfect West End night:

🍽️ Keep dinner within a 15–20 minute walk of your theatre.

For a 7:30pm show, I normally book for around 5–5:30pm, and never too far away that I’d have to take the Tube.

Tonight we went to @kinkally.restaurant on Charlotte Street for Georgian-influenced food (the dumplings are gorgeous). If you’d rather stay right in Theatreland, @le_garrick in Covent Garden is another favourite of mine for French food.

👠 You don’t need to dress up.

There’s no formal West End dress code, but I personally love using it as an excuse to make a bit more of an occasion of the night.

🏛️ And arrive early enough to explore the theatre, not just find your seat! I always like having a bit of time for a drink and a look around before the show starts.

So many West End theatres are historic buildings in their own right, and there’s usually something worth noticing. For Phantom, it’s His Majesty’s Theatre, which opened in 1897 (fun fact here is the name actually changes depending on the monarch. It was Her Majesty’s Theatre under Queen Elizabeth II and became His Majesty’s again after King Charles III took the throne).

Then, of course enjoy the show ✨

What’s the last West End show you saw in London and what’s on your list next?

Happy Londoning,
Candace x

—
West End Theatre, London Theatre, Things to Do in London, London Theatre Tips, Phantom of the Opera, London West End, London Travel

#londontheatre #westendtheatre #thingstodoinlondon #londontravel #phantomoftheopera

And no it’s not Spain or the French countryside, i

And no it’s not Spain or the French countryside, it’s the UK!

Took a ferry from mainland Scotland to the Isle of Arran this month and these were some of the views from the drive 😍 (of course, the camera could never do it full justice…).

It’s such a gem in Scotland that I don’t hear about often…add it to your list 📌 and be sure to make a drive down the A841 when you do…

Have you heard of the Isle of Arran before?

Happy travels,
Candace x

—
UK Travel, Scotland Travel, Hidden Scotland, Isle of Arran, UK Travel Blogger
#uktravel #scotlandtravel #isleofarran

ad @caledoniansleeper 📌 SAVE this Scotland road tr

ad @caledoniansleeper 📌 SAVE this Scotland road trip: Glasgow → Ayrshire → Isle of Arran 🚗

If you want to go beyond the usual Scotland city break, Ayrshire is less than an hour from Glasgow and makes an easy route into Arran too. Here’s the route I’d take ⬇️

DAY 1: AYRSHIRE 🏰

🚗 Pick up a car from @avis.uk and road-trip across North, South and East Ayrshire.

🎨 Kelburn Castle

One of the most unexpected castles I’ve seen in Scotland, with a huge mural across the exterior created by Brazilian graffiti artists. @lovenorthayrshire

🏰 Dean Castle
A striking medieval castle and country park in Kilmarnock.

📚 Robert Burns Birthplace Museum
Learn about Scotland’s national poet in Alloway, where Burns was born in 1759, then see the nearby Brig o’ Doon.

🌊 Culzean Castle
Designed by Robert Adam and perched above the Ayrshire coast. One of my favourite stops for the castle and sea views. @culzean @nationaltrustforscotland @southayrshirecouncil

🏛️ Dumfries House
An 18th-century house known for its Chippendale furniture collection. @dumfrieshouse @eastayrshirecouncil

🧖🏽‍♀️ Stay at @watersideayrshire for the spa, dinner and a night on the coast.

DAY 2: ISLE OF ARRAN 🏔️

⛴️ Take the car across with @calmacferries to @visitarran.

🚗 Brodick → Lochranza
The mountain and coastal views here are spectacular!

🥃 @arran.whisky
Book the Arran Malt Experience, see how the whisky is made, have a tasting and stay for lunch.

🏛️ Arran Heritage Museum
A small local-history museum near Brodick, lovely for a pop in and to learn about life on the island

🍴 Back on the mainland, have dinner at @scotts_troon before returning to Glasgow and boarding @caledoniansleeper home.

For your own trip, I’d make this a 5 to 7 day adventure including:

📍 2 days Glasgow
📍2 days Ayrshire
📍1 to 2 days Arran

(With 7 days, add another night in Ayrshire, Troon or Glasgow)

Questions about the route, Arran ferry, whisky experience or Caledonian Sleeper? Drop them below and 📌 SAVE this itinerary!

Happy travels,
Candace x

-
#caledoniansleeper #ayrshire #visitarran #scotlandroadtrip scotlandtravel Scotl

ad @caledoniansleeper x @visitglasgow 🚆 Save this

ad @caledoniansleeper x @visitglasgow 🚆 Save this Glasgow itinerary for your next Scotland trip 📌

If you’re travelling from London, taking the Caledonian Sleeper is such a good way to maximise a Glasgow weekend—travel overnight and wake up right in the city centre with the whole day ahead of you!

We travelled from London Euston to Glasgow Central in a Club Twin with @caledoniansleeper, including:

✨ Cosy twin bunk beds
🚿 Private en-suite
😴 Sleep kit for the night
🍽️ Priority access to the Club Car
🥞 Breakfast included
🛋️ Lounge access before departure

🏨 WHERE TO STAY

@vocograndcentral, right inside Glasgow Central Station, super convenient if you’re arriving or leaving by train.

📍 THINGS TO DO IN GLASGOW

⛪ Wander around the magnificent Glasgow Cathedral

🏙️ Explore the historic streets of Merchant City

🎨 Spot colourful works along the Glasgow Mural Trail

🏛️ Browse the incredible collections inside Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

🎓 Stroll through the beautiful University of Glasgow campus

🌿 Escape into the greenery of Glasgow Botanic Gardens + Kibble Palace

🍸 Tuck into dinner and drinks at @hhbookclub

✨ Wander the cobbled, fairy-lit Ashton Lane

🎶 Finish the night with live music at Jinty McGuinty’s
I’d give Glasgow at least two days so you can explore different parts of the city without rushing and still make the most of the food, culture and nightlife.

And did you know Ayrshire is less than an hour from Glasgow? From there, you can take the trip even further over to the Isle of Arran, which I’ll be sharing next…

📌 SAVE this for your Scotland trip

P.S. - Taking the Caledonian Sleeper or planning Glasgow soon? Drop any questions about your trip below!

Happy travels,
Candace x

–
Caledonian Sleeper, Glasgow Scotland, London to Glasgow, Glasgow Weekend, 2 Days in Glasgow, Glasgow Itinerary, Scotland by Train, UK City Break
#caledoniansleeper #visitglasgow #glasgow #scotlandtravel #uktravel

What is a room actually like on the Caledonian Sle

What is a room actually like on the Caledonian Sleeper? 👀 I’ve always been a bit of a skeptic when it comes to sleeper trains (do you actually sleep? What’s the food like? What about the bathroom situation?) but my journey from London to Scotland left me pleasantly surprised…

Here’s a sneak peek of what the cabins look like (this was the Club Cabin), and stay tuned for my Glasgow itinerary tomorrow!

Have you been on a sleeper train before?

Happy travels,
Candace x

—
Caledonian Sleeper Train, London to Scotland Sleeper Train, UK Travel #UKTravel #CaledonianSleeperTrain #LondonToScotland

P.S. Comment GUIDE and I’ll send you my full Teddi

P.S. Comment GUIDE and I’ll send you my full Teddington guide, including where to eat, where to stay, things to do and how I’d spend a full day or weekend in the neighbourhood 💌

I love exploring London’s lesser-known neighbourhoods, and it doesn’t get much more under the radar than Teddington.

Spent the weekend pottering around Teddington High Street, walking through Bushy Park, playing tennis, kayaking along the Thames towards Kingston Bridge and somehow convincing myself into an 8°C ice bath at @temzfloatingsaunas.

We stayed at @thelensbury, right on the river, which made the whole thing feel like a proper weekend away despite technically never leaving London…with 25 acres, tennis courts, watersports, pool, sauna and the Thames basically on the doorstep.

A beautiful London weekend away if you’re looking to get out of Central 🏨

Have you heard of Teddington before?

Comment GUIDE and I’ll send you my full neighbourhood guide ✨

Happy Londoning,
Candace x

—
Teddington, Teddington Things to Do, Southwest London, London Blogger, London Staycation, London Neighbourhood

#teddington #teddingtonthingstodo #londonneighbourhoods

Comment GUIDE and I’ll send you my full 3-day Cope

Comment GUIDE and I’ll send you my full 3-day Copenhagen itinerary 🇩🇰

Copenhagen is one of those cities where some of the best parts are incredibly simple—cycling between neighbourhoods, sitting outside a café for far too long, having a BMO for breakfast and ending the day over pizza or a glass of wine.

Use my full Copenhagen guide for the exact 3-day itinerary I’d follow, where to stay, museums and neighbourhoods worth visiting, restaurants and cafés I recommend, practical tips for getting around and plenty more for planning your trip.

Comment GUIDE and I’ll send it straight to you 🇩🇰

Have you been to Copenhagen yet?

Happy travels,
Candace x

—
Copenhagen travel, Copenhagen itinerary, things to do in Copenhagen, Copenhagen food, Copenhagen city break, Denmark travel, Copenhagen travel guide

#Copenhagen #CopenhagenTravel #CopenhagenItinerary #DenmarkTravel #thingstodoincopenhagen

One of my favourite things about Denmark is someho

One of my favourite things about Denmark is somehow…bread with cheese. 🇩🇰

On my last trip to Copenhagen, my Danish cousins took me out for breakfast, and when I saw bolle med ost on the menu, I was slightly confused that one of the go-to options was literally just…bread with butter and cheese. Naturally, I decided to do as the cool kids do and ordered one.

And honestly? I get it now 😂 A BMO (short for bolle med ost) is so simple, but when the bread is fresh, the butter is good and the cheese is actually great quality, it somehow becomes one of the best things you’ll ever have.

You’ll spot them all over Copenhagen cafés and bakeries, and I genuinely think it was one of my favourite things I ate on this trip.

P.S. - My full Copenhagen itinerary is coming tomorrow, so keep an eye out if you’re planning a trip to CPH 🇩🇰

What’s a really simple food you’ve tried while travelling that completely surprised you? (Tomatoes from Italy really did me in as well!)

Happy travels,
Candace x

—
BMO Copenhagen, bolle med ost, Copenhagen bakeries, Danish breakfast, Copenhagen food, Denmark travel, Copenhagen itinerary

#Copenhagen #CopenhagenFood #DenmarkTravel #CopenhagenTravel #visitcopenhagen

Autumn in the UK is basically made for a cosy week

Autumn in the UK is basically made for a cosy weekend away 🍂 Here’s a few stays that really suit the season:

🏡 4 Church Square, Rye @classic_cottages - it sleeps two, is dog-friendly and right in the centre of Rye, so a really easy one for a weekend away.

📚 @hotelindigobath - only around five minutes from Bath Spa station, plus I love all the literary details throughout the hotel.

🌲 @blythrisestays - quaint wooden pods & adults-only, plus you can add things like yoga, massages and facials if you really want to make a weekend of doing very little.

Which one would you pick?

P.S. You can find hundreds of London, UK & Europe guides and independent recommendations on candaceabroad.com — all written, tried and tested by me 🤎

Happy travels,
Candace x

—

#UKTravel #AutumnInTheUK #UKStaycation #CandaceAbroad

UK autumn stays, cosy UK breaks, UK weekend trips

There are few things I love more than spending an

There are few things I love more than spending an autumn afternoon wandering around London bookshops 📚🍂

Every autumn I tend to do a little bookshop crawl, and these are a few I always end up coming back to. Especially lovely with crisp weather, a rainy day and coffee along the way. ☕️

Save this route for your trip 📌

📚 Judd Books // @juddbooks

82 Marchmont Street, Bloomsbury

Two floors of new, second-hand and bargain books and very easy to lose an hour in.

✈️ Travellers’ Tales // @travellerstaleslondon

87 Wimpole Street, Marylebone

A whole bookshop dedicated to travel, with travel writing, guides and beautiful books from around the world.

📖 Word on the Water // @word.on.the.water

Regent’s Canal, King’s Cross

A floating bookshop packed with new and second-hand books inside and out.

And for coffee along the way:

☕️ Fortitude Bakehouse // @fortitudebakehouse

Bloomsbury, and perfect to pair with Judd Books.

☕️ Redemption Roasters // @redemptionroasters

In Coal Drops Yard, an easy final stop after Word on the Water.

Save this for your next cosy day in the city. 🍂

Happy Londoning,
Candace x

—
London Bookshops // Best Bookshops in London // Autumn in London // London Bookshop Crawl // Cosy Things to Do in London // London Coffee Shops // Bloomsbury // Marylebone // King’s Cross

#LondonBookshops #AutumnInLondon #LondonBookshop #ThingsToDoInLondon LondonTravel

I’ve been coming to this London neighbourhood for

I’ve been coming to this London neighbourhood for years for woodland walks, cosy pub stops and a wander around the village, and it never disappoints (especially in autumn)

There’s so much history tucked around here too, from its famous Victorian cemetery to some seriously beautiful old London houses.

Comment HIGHGATE and I’ll send you my full neighbourhood guide with everything to see, eat and do while you’re here.

Is this more your speed than central London?

Happy Londoning,
Candace x

—

Highgate London, North London, London Neighbourhoods, Autumn in London

#Highgate #NorthLondon #LondonTravel #AutumnInLondon

One of my favourite neighbourhoods I explored in B

One of my favourite neighbourhoods I explored in Brussels 🇧🇪

Matongé is Brussels’ best-known African quarter, with a history closely tied to the city’s Congolese community. Its modern story really began taking shape in the 1960s, when Maison Africaine opened nearby to welcome Congolese students studying in Belgium. Over time, restaurants, shops, salons, clubs and other businesses grew around the community, eventually becoming the Matongé we know today.

The neighbourhood is compact, so I’d give yourself just a few hours to have a good wander. Here’s some bits to get up to:

🧵 Browse the African fabric shops along Chaussée de Wavre

🛍️ Walk through Galerie Matongé and the surrounding local businesses

📚 Pop into Librebook, a lovely multilingual bookshop

🎨 Look out for local art and cultural spaces

🍽️ And absolutely eat at L’Horloge du Sud

While I was at Librebook, I asked the person working where I absolutely had to eat nearby. They sent me straight to L’Horloge du Sud, a longtime neighbourhood staple bringing together African food, culture and community (I had chicken maafé with peanut sauce and plantain and it was easily one of my favourite meals in Brussels).

One of the things I love most about travel is spending time in neighbourhoods that help you understand a city beyond its most photographed sights, and Matongé definitely did that for me.

Comment GUIDE and I’ll send you my full Matongé neighbourhood guide with the history, exact stops, where to eat and my self-guided walking route 🇧🇪

Happy travels,
Candace x

—
Matongé Brussels • Brussels neighbourhoods • Black culture in Brussels • Congolese community Brussels • Things to do in Brussels • Brussels travel • Belgium travel • African food Brussels

#Matonge #Brussels #BrusselsTravel #BelgiumTravel #ᴇᴜʀᴏᴘᴇᴛʀᴀᴠᴇʟ

My first trip to Brussels was a solo trip at 19, a

My first trip to Brussels was a solo trip at 19, and I left pretty unimpressed. My second was a quick stopover, so I didn’t really give the city much more of a chance… This year I came back for a third time, slowed down, explored Matongé, Sablon, the museums and neighbourhoods I’d missed before, and completely changed my mind. Turns out Brussels just needed more than a quick first impression. 🇧🇪

Have you ever given a destination a second chance?

Happy travels,
Candace x

—
Brussels Travel, Is Brussels Worth Visiting

#Brussels #BrusselsTravel #BelgiumTravel #europetravel

ad Athens may be famous for the Acropolis, but som

ad Athens may be famous for the Acropolis, but some of my favourite memories from the city were the neighbourhood wanders, rooftop evenings, long coffee stops and an unreasonable amount of Greek food. Here’s some top tips for your own trip 🇬🇷

And while you’re planning, don’t forget to sort your data. With a @yesim.app eSIM, you can have internet ready from the moment you land, without spending ages searching for a physical SIM card. You can manage it all in one app, with plans covering more than 200 destinations, unlimited data plans available and no contracts or hidden fees.

Use my code CANDACE15 for 15% off yours in my link in my bio!

Is Athens on your list? 📌

Happy travels,
Candace x

—
Athens travel • Athens Greece • Athens city break • Athens travel tips • Things to do in Athens • Greece eSIM
#yesim #yesimapp #esim #internetfortravel #travelwithyesim athens

Ready for autumn in London? Comment AUTUMN and I’l

Ready for autumn in London? Comment AUTUMN and I’ll send you my full London autumn guide straight to your DMs—with 30+ of the best things to do, eat, see and experience in the city this season. 🍂

Autumn in London is unbiasedly my favourite (sorry, London summer lovers…).

The air gets crisper, the streets start lining themselves with golden leaves and, dare I say, it’s also one of the most romantic times of the year in the city.

From autumn walks and cosy bookshops to Halloween at Kew, Guy Fawkes Night, seasonal events and autumn day trips, London is such a spectacular place to spend the season.

And if you want the planning done for you, I’ve also updated my Autumn in London itineraries for the season, with fully planned autumn days and mapped-out routes so you can just pick a day and explore 🍂

Are you in London this autumn?

Happy Londoning,
Candace x

—
#autumninlondon #fallinlondon #autumninlondonitineraries

Autumn in London, Autumn in London walks, Autumn in London Itineraries, Fall in London Things to Do

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