The Layover: London

London

A layover in London, Tony's "home away from home," means catching up with chef friends Marco Pierre White and Fergus Henderson. He has just enough time for a few pints and a visit to a real-life little shop of horrors before his flight home.

Travel Guide

Find restaurants, accommodations and activities from this episode.

24 Hours in London with Tony

Tony shares his tips for a quick trip to London.

04:53

Getting Around London

Tony discusses transportation in London: cabs, boats, and of ...

02:39

An English Institution

Marco Pierre White takes Tony to Wheeler's, his historic ...

02:23

Earning a Green Badge

Tony's cabbie Darren explains how to become a licensed cab ...

02:31

Bike Around London

Locals talk about Boris Bikes, a rental service with bikes ...

02:07

Tony's Tips on Foursquare

Check out Anthony Bourdain's tips for places to visit in each city that he travels to in The Layover and follow our lists on Foursquare to replicate his trip.

Travel Guide

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Legend Restaurants Activities Accommodations

Restaurant

Tony Also Recommends: The Phoenix Artist Club

Usually open only to union members of stage and screen, but any same-day ticket to the cinema, theater or an art gallery acts as a day pass.

104-110 Charing Cross Rd, Leicester Square, City of London WC2H 0JN, UK

Restaurant

Cabman's Shelter

Tony's cab driver takes him to a "Cabman's Shelter" for a cup of rosie lee (tea) and a bacon sandwich.

Pont Street, Belgravia, London

Restaurant

Wheeler's of St. James's

Tony and Marco have dinner at Wheeler’s, one of Marco’s restaurants. Marco pulls out all the stops and reserves the entire dining room for their meal.

72-73 St James's St, London SW1A 1PH, UK

Restaurant

Sweeting's

Tony and Fergus go to Sweetings, one of the great institutions of "the city" (financial district). They have a few black velvets (Guinness and champagne), and dine on haddock and poached eggs, and fried scampi and chips.

39 Queen Victoria St, City of London EC4N 4SF, UK

Restaurant

Tony Also Recommends: Square Pie Company

"Where you can get a traditional meat pie with mash and beans or mushy peas, all for under 10 quid. Not bad in an otherwise very expensive city."

Various locations

Restaurant

Tony Also Recommends: Newman Arms

"No tourists here, just properly poured pints and pie."

23 Rathbone St, Marylebone, London W1T 1NG, UK

Restaurant

Tony Also Recommends: E Pellicci Café

Everything's homemade and home-cooked by the owner's mother. The average meal is 2 eggs, tomatoes, beans, mushrooms, sausage, pudding, toast and potatoes -- all with tea.

332 Bethnal Green Rd, City of London E2 0AG, UK

Restaurant

Tony Also Recommends: G. Kelly

"They do pretty much one thing and one thing well. Beef pie. With the option for double pie or double mash. Or both."

414 Bethnal Green Rd, City of London E2 0DJ, UK

Restaurant

Bar Italia

Tony and Fergus sit outside of the Soho London staple, Bar Italia. Fergus orders his standard combination of espresso and a shot of Fernet for both of them.

22 Frith St, London W1D 4RP, UK

Restaurant

Tony Also Recommends: Hot Stuff

A small family restaurant that serves curry, chicken tikka masala and Indian food.

19 Wilcox Rd, London SW8 2XA, UK

Restaurant

Tony Also Recommends: Wright Brothers

"Because the English also have amazing oysters and seafood, much of the oysters here coming from their own park in Cornwall."

11 Stoney St, City of London SE1 9AD, UK

Restaurant

Bradley's Bar

A small bar with cheap drinks. If there isn’t enough room inside, patrons can drink in the streets.

42-44 Hanway St, London W1T 1UT, UK

Restaurant

Trish's aka The Hideout aka New Bistro Club

One of Tony's favorite spots in London is an underground bar called Trish's, a cramped space with tattered posters of famous musicians and actors on the walls. After a chat with the bartender, Tony buys Marco a lifetime membership card.

57 Greek St, Soho, London W1D 3DX

Restaurant

The Two Chairman in St. James

Tony meets up with celebrity chef Marco Pierre White for a pint of Guinness.

39 Dartmouth St, London SW1H 9BP, UK

Activity

Tony Also Recommends: Spitalfields

"For middle class antiquey, Banksy prints … that sort of (expletive)."

65 Brushfield St, London E1 6AA, UK

Activity

St. James Park

Tony and Marco Pierre White walk with Marco's dog through St. James Park, one of the oldest and most beautiful parks in London. The dog pulls Tony along and makes an inappropriate bathroom stop in the middle of the sidewalk.

St James's Park, London, SW1E 6, UK

Activity

Thames Clippers

Tony takes a commuter boat ride on the Thames.

64 Orchard Pl, London E14 0JY, UK

Activity

Tony Also Recommends: Borough Market

"Artisanal bakers, dedicated pork producers … every variety of delicious English food to stuff in your gob. Surrounding the market are some of the best specialty food shops in the country."

8 Southwark St, London SE1 1TL, UK

Activity

Tony Also Recommends: Neal's Yard Dairy

"Where everybody who loves cheese gets their cheese."

6 Park St, City of London

Activity

GJ Cleverley’s

Tony gets measured for handmade shoes by George Glasgow, the "main man" at Cleverley’s. The custom shoes are expensive but are expected to last a lifetime.

13 Royal Arcade, London W1S 4SL, UK

Activity

Tony Also Recommends: Camden Market

"For everything for the aspiring Goth."

Camden Town, London NW1 8AB, England

Activity

Viktor Wynd's Little Shop of Horrors

Viktor Wynd's has an ever-expanding collection of "little horrors." They even sell celebrity poop. The owner Suzette Field helps Tony find the perfect gift -- a mummified pig fetus.

11 Mare St, London E8 4RP

Activity

Tony Also Recommends: Portobello

"If you’re considering visiting an ashram in India or Phish is getting back together."

288 Portobello Rd, London W10, UK

Accommodation

St. John Hotel

The St. John Hotel is the latest brainchild of Tony’s good friend, chef Fergus Henderson. Tony sits down to a classic English breakfast in the dining area of the hotel for some fantastic blood sausage.

1-2 Leicester St, London WC2H 7BL, UK

Accommodation

Tony Also Recommends: Hazlitt's

"A wonderful, magical place occupying a slightly sagging group of adjoining historic Georgian houses. One of the last homes of the great British writer William Hazlitt. The tradition of writers lives on, most leave books behind."

6 Frith St, London, W1D 3JA, UK

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