London, UK is an incredible city to visit for a week of wellness. In this article, we’re going to focus on certain neighbourhoods of London that feature great wellness destinations – places to buy your organic groceries, healthy snacks, smoothies, lunch, brunch, and dinner, and parks to walk around or work-out in.
I personally experienced all of the destinations listed below during a five-day visit to London. I was vacationing in London, so this article is more geared towards tourists who want to maintain their wellness while visiting London and taking in the sites and attractions.
1) Sourdough Pizza at Franco Manca + Drinks at Farmacy + Healthy Snack at Planet Organic. Go for a stroll down Westbourne Grove and stop at Franco Manca for their delicious sourdough pizza. I particularly enjoyed Pizza #3, filled with courgettes (zucchini), basil, mozzarella, and buffalo ricotta; this has no tomato sauce and is made with olive oil. At a mere £7.35 (and it was big enough to share with another person), this was definitely a great deal! After dinner, stop at Farmacy for drinks and sit at the bar. This is the only bar I’ve been to where one could probably get some oil of oregano added to a custom therapeutic shot of goodness. The vibe in Farmacy is amazing! In need of some healthy groceries? Head to the nearby Planet Organic. They’re open until 9pm every day except Sundays when they close at 6pm.
- Franco Manca: 111 Westbourne Grove, London W2 4UW, UK
- Farmacy: 74 Westbourne Grove, London W2 5SH, UK
- Planet Organic: 42 Westbourne Grove, London W2 5SH, UK
Paddleboating in The Regent’s Park
2) Paddleboat in The Regent’s Park + Brunch at The Good Life Eatery + Cabbages & Frocks Market. Whether you are in need of a leg workout, or you want to just enjoy nature out in the middle of a beautiful lake, it is a scintillating experience to rent a paddleboat at The Regent’s Park. After you’ve spent a blissful hour surrounded by water, ducks, geese, and swans, head to the Marylebone neighbourhood and grab a table at The Good Life Eatery. Their chestnut and almond waffles were really tasty! If you’re in the area on a Saturday, do check out the Cabbages & Frocks Market on the grounds of St. Marylebone Parish Church. You might spot our friend Christine of CC Bear!
- The Good Life Eatery: 69 Marylebone Ln, Marylebone, London W1U 2PH, UK
- Cabbages & Frocks Market: St. Marleybone Parish Church Grounds, Marylebone High St, Marylebone, London W1U 5BA, UK
3) Walk through Hyde Park + Kensington Palace, then treat yourself to a facial massage and custom moisturizer at FaceGym. If you’re staying at a hotel in the Paddington area, Hyde Park is a short walk away, and a scenic location to get some exercise and enjoy nature. There are numerous paths to take throughout the park. Head to the western portion of the park and you’ll stumble upon the beautiful Kensington Palace, which featured a fascinating display of Princess Diana’s fashion at the time I visited. FaceGym is about a half hour walk south from there, and is an experience unlike any other. You can sit at their bar, adjacent to an array of oils and natural cosmetic ingredients, and then have a custom moisturizer created just for your skin. While you’re at it, you can make an appointment for a facial massage.
- FaceGym: 352 King’s Rd, Chelsea, London SW3 5UU, UK
4) Notting Hill Market + dinner at Nama + dessert at Redemption.
Saturday afternoon is the perfect time to go for a walk down Portobello Road in the Notting Hill district. There are so many interesting stores and street vendors to check out! After your senses have fully feasted on all the attractions, take a stroll to Nama for a gourmet vegan dinner. Redemption advertises itself as “London’s healthiest bar restaurant” and it’s a short walk away – a perfect spot for some after-dinner dessert. It is alcohol-free, wheat-free, sugar-free and vegan.
- Nama Foods: 110 Talbot Rd, London W11 1JR, UK
- Redemption Bar: 6 Chepstow Rd, London W2 5BH, UK
5) Oxford Street and Carnaby Shopping + Smoothie at The MaE Deli + Lunch at Detox Kitchen + Piccadilly Circus + find your herbal remedies at Neal’s Yard. Selfridges is a great location to begin your walking-and-shopping adventure. There is actually a boutique FaceGym location inside Selfridges. After you’ve experienced some of Oxford Street, head to the nearby MaE Deli for a smoothie. Then make your way to Regent Street and head south. You’ll find Lululemon (which has a cool upstairs café) and Sweaty Betty nearby. When you make it to the Carnaby area, grab a delicious take-out salad at the Detox Kitchen and eat it in the nearby courtyard. From there, you can walk towards Piccadilly Circus and end your journey at the legendary original location for Neal’s Yard Remedies.
- Selfridges: 400 Oxford St, London W1A 1AB, UK
- The MaE Deli: 18 Weighhouse St, Mayfair, London W1K 5LU, UK
- Lululemon: 187-191 Regent St, Mayfair, London W1B 4JP, UK
- Detox Kitchen: 10 Kingly St, Carnaby, London W1B 5PJ, UK
- Neal’s Yard Remedies: 15 Neal’s Yard, London WC2H 9DP, UK
6) Climb some stairs at the Tower Bridge + healthy lunch at the Natural Kitchen + boat cruise down the River Thames + Big Ben + Westminster Abbey + Buckingham Palace. The Tower Bridge is an iconic London destination, and you can actually get a bit of exercise climbing its stairs (once you pay your admission fee!). The views from atop the bridge are amazing. I did quite a bit of Googling trying to find a healthy place to eat lunch in the vicinity of the Tower Bridge and the Tower of London, and thankfully I discovered Natural Kitchen. It’s then a short walk to the Tower Pier where you can take a river cruise to Westminster Pier. At Westminster Pier, you can walk to Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace!
- The Natural Kitchen: 7 Pepys St, London EC3N 4AF, UK
Hopefully this article gives you some good ideas for your own wellness week in London! Have you uncovered any other great wellness destinations? Please let us know!
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