Guide to the District line

Jump on the District Line and make a beeline for Junsei. A cosy, intimate and unique Japanese restaurant, it serves up grilled specialities on the open flame. You'll find yakitori skewers, in which every part of the chicken is used in accordance with the restaurant's zero-waste mentality, plenty of small crispy bites, and a range of complimentary sides. Stay late to enjoy an array of sakes and listen to the hi-fi audio system.

Jump off the District line into quiet Hammersmith and find Sagar, a South Indian eatery flying the flag for Udupi cuisine. Everything here is vegetarian or vegan in line with Udupi culinary tradition. Guests can enjoy a range of fragrant curries, authentic thalis, wholesome dhals and regional specialties like lentil pizzas, and the iconic masala dosa is a must-try. 

This community café in Bow is a non-profit charity enterprise where Restless Beings, an international human rights organisation, is supported by the café's earnings. The menu is a little different from your standard London café menu, it features many dishes inspired by the Islamic world. There are also plenty of homemade cakes and pastries on offer, alongside a menu of hot drinks, soft drinks and items available to purchase, like postcards and tote bags.

If you want to try authentic London pie and mash, get yourself down to G Kelly on Roman Road. This is one of the city's original pie and mash shops, having been around since the early 1900s. Opt for pie, mash and liquor with a side of jellied eels if you want to be really traditional. They even have vegan pies for plant-based diners.

While travelling along the District line, spend some time browsing the shops, cafés, and market stalls that make up Roman Road. Not only was Roman Road the epicentre of suffragette activity (Sylvia Pankhurst lived here), it also runs parallel to a buried Roman road that connected London to Colchester and is one of the oldest trading street markets in the country.

Genesis Cinema is more than just a place to cosy up and watch a movie. It initially opened as a music hall in 1848, hosting acts like Charlie Chaplin, and has since evolved into a multi-events space including slam poetry nights, live jazz, swing dancing and so on. It's also a cinema with five screens showing the latest releases, retrospective-themed series, old-school blockbuster hits and more. They also have a bar and café where you can unwind pre- or post-film.

Tayyabs was founded in 1972 as a family-run business, serving award-winning Punjabi cuisine in a mega-chill setting. Menu highlights include the dry meat curry and traditional tarka dhal, best enjoyed with warm naan bread. You can bring your own alcohol, so you can spend even more trying all the delicious dishes. It's the perfect spot for sharing dishes with your nearest and dearest.

Art aficionados will love Whitechapel Gallery, where they showcase an ever-changing display of exhibitions by emerging and already-established artists. Take a moment strolling around and absorbing all of the incredible works then head to the British dining room downstairs, where they serve a menu of seasonal dishes. If you've got little ones, they also host events for families with children under five and their siblings, where they can get stuck into trying out different contemporary art forms.

The Tower of London encapsulates over 1,000 years of the city's history, showing how the fortress became a key location for controlling the country. Once inside, you can walk through the grounds, along the moat surrounding the tower and over the ramparts. Visit the places prisoners were held captive and see where they etched their names on the tower walls, get up close to giant ravens and visit the room where the priceless Crown Jewels are kept; it's one of the most popular attractions in London.

HMS Belfast, the warship that played a role in both World War Two and the Korean War, is moored on the Thames near the Shard and is the only remaining British bombardment vessel from D-Day. It's since been turned into a museum showcasing displays and interactive experiences across its nine decks. Learn about what life would have been like for those onboard during times of conflict, climbing up and down ladders and navigating your way around each room, reimagining what it would've been like all those years ago.

If a jam-packed, freshly-baked focaccia sandwich sounds like your cup of tea, get yourself down to Bread & Truffle around the corner from Monument Station. These guys specialise in thick-cut, fluffy sandwiches with an assortment of unique fillings, like the screaming pig with nduja and the carbonara with egg yolk and parmesan.

London's highest garden is obviously going to come with epic views of the city, located 36 floors up the iconic Walkie-Talkie building. This lush space offers a plant-filled conservatory-like setting to soak up the atmosphere and take in the 360-degree lego-like views. Enjoy a cocktail, coffee or fully-fledged meal or opt for one of their morning yoga classes. Visiting is free; you just have to book well in advance.

Enjoy all-day dining in a contemporary setting at Caravan, a multi-terraced, casual restaurant serving an epic breakfast, brunch and all-day menu. Highlights include sourdough pizzas, Dingley Dell pork schnitzels and charred oyster mushrooms with sweet miso. The space is also available for private hire and events.

There's a little sliver of Roman history tucked away down an alley in Embankment on Surrey Street. But the real question is whether it's actually even Roman since the bricks used are larger than those commonly found throughout the Roman period. The measurements are also typical of Tudor times. One theory is that the baths are a remaining section of a cistern that was built in the 1600s. Either way, it's cool enough that Charles Dickens referenced it in his novel “David Copperfield”, so you should definitely check it out if you find yourself on Embankment turf.

Get up close to the famous pelicans of St. James' Park, where colonies have resided for nearly 400 years. It extends along The Mall from the Admiralty Arch to Buckingham Palace and provides the lush backdrop of the annual Trooping the Colour parade and other notable ceremonies. 

Westminster Cathedral is the largest Catholic Church in the UK and is a peaceful space where everyone is welcome to come and take a moment of respite from the busy city. It's the seat of the Archbishop of Westminster and is the setting for Holy Mass, celebrated every day, seven days a week. The church is an architectural landmark, built in a Gothic style, featuring ribbed vaulted ceilings, pointed arches, and rose windows.

The Victoria branch of Market Halls is located in a beautiful Edwardian building across three floors. It was once a dance hall but these days it houses a rooftop terrace ideal for soaking up the sunshine and inside plays host to a range of tasty streetfood and drink options by local vendors. Expect everything from Mexican fare from DF Tacos and dim sum from Baoziin to Malaysian at Gopal's Corner and more.

Established by Charles Saatchi in 1985, The Saatchi Gallery has remained an integral part of London's art scene ever since. It's had a fair few premises throughout its time, but the Duke of York's HQ on King's Road is the most impressive. Most of their work champions emerging artists, focusing on artists who haven't had the visibility they deserve in the UK.

Cadogan Hall in Chelsea is a historic music venue, home to the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and hosting various musicians from all genres, including classical, jazz and folk. It's a former church and is built in a Byzantine style, a particular style renowned within the musical world today. These days, it's  one of London's leading venues, seating 950 people with incredible acoustics.

The Royal Court Theatre has been an integral location for emerging artists for almost 60 years. It's been the setting for some of the most famous productions that have ever graced the West End, including performances like The Rocky Horror Show. You can also participate in any of their writing classes; they offer workshops like writers' groups and exercises.

Kew Gardens is the perfect spot to take a moment and embrace nature amongst the hustle and bustle of busy city life, where you can get your fill of flowers and soak up the great outdoors. Stroll around the soaring trees and wander through the outside gardens before checking out the Princess of Wales Conservatory. It's a lush plant-filled space with ten computer-controlled climate zones alongside a series of micro-ecosystems.

Don your detective hats and head to Evans & Peel Detective Agency, a cocktail bar under the guise of a private detective's office. First, you must convince the front desk that you're here for an appointment before you're granted access to a unique bar with an eclectic range of cocktails. Sip on an Old Fashioned, rated the best in the world, and enjoy live music in a chilled-out, laid-back setting.

The Design Museum is dedicated entirely to contemporary design in every form, offering a glimpse at modern works and showcasing incredible examples of industrial and graphic art, architecture, ceramics, fashion and more. The permanent collections are located alongside rotating exhibitions that include a closer analysis of everyday objects, such as the history of sneakers and so on.

It may seem strange to have a cemetery listed on a guide of places to visit, but Brompton Cemetery is one of London's iconic Magnificent Seven and one of the oldest garden-style cemeteries in the entire country. It's a Grade I-listed cemetery and is recognised for its wide array of flora and fauna. Take one of their self-guided walks that'll take you past famous graves, monuments and structures.

The V&A houses more than 5,000 years of art and design, focusing on an array of different forms. There's a permanent collection alongside temporary exhibitions, focusing on everything from fashion, textiles and graphic design to art, ceramics and applied arts. They also host a timetable of events, such as workshops, talks and events to support whatever exhibitions are showing at the time.

The Science Museum is another of South Ken's iconic museums, where various displays and activities allow you to explore different scientific topics in an interactive and experiential way. They have exhibitions for outer space, climate change and aircraft history, amongst many other topics. It's all about celebrating the greatest scientific achievements of our time.

For decades, this traditional pub in Putney has been an essential space for live music, hosting a timetable of live performances almost every day of the week. It's nestled on the banks of the Thames and serves a menu of delicious seasonal British pub grub. Fun facts: It hosted U2's first-ever sellout UK show and Kate Bush's first public show.

Take a breather from the fast pace of city life at Wimbledon and Putney Commons, where 1,140 acres act as a conservation space for wildlife. It also houses a range of sporting facilities which the public can use, like a golf course, nature trail and tea rooms.

Richmond Park is a National Nature reserve noted for its status as an essential habitat for wildlife. It's also London's largest royal park, spanning 2,500 acres, so there's a lot to explore. It's one of the best spots in London to get up close to ancient trees and deer, including 630 Red and Fallow deer that have been roaming since 1637.