Visiting UK

Hotel La Gaffe in London

Hotel La Gaffe
Address: 107-111 Heath Street, London NW3 6SS, UK
Phone: +44 (0)207 435 8965

Hotel La Gaffe is one of the best budget hotels in London. Set in north London’s beautiful Hampstead village, La Gaffe offers not only affordable accommodation, but also a great location for guests to explore. The hotel is in the perfect spot for getting the most of London’s big attractions while also enjoying one of London’s best residential neighbourhoods.

Hotel La Gaffe is intimate and family run, and Lorenzo and his family are staples in the Hampstead community. His father Bernardo even writes plays that are produced at one of the Hampstead theatres.

With an excellent and well-priced Italian restaurant—try the Spaghetti Gaffe and order the small portions of pasta unless you’re really hungry—and a small wine bar, La Gaffe is not only one of the best hotels in north London, but also a great place for food and drink. Rumour has it that they serve the best cappuccino in London to their guests in the mornings, too.

Rooms at the hotel are small but very well appointed, and many of them have newly refurbished bathrooms. Guests can enjoy television, an electric kettle, and other in-room amenities, as well as free breakfast.

Room rates at Hotel La Gaffe start at 75 GBP per night, but hotel room discounts are available if you stay for a week or more. Some rooms can get noisy at night, so make sure to request a room on the non-street side of the hotel when you book.

Top 10 Pubs in London

Pub Food

London is famous for its great pub culture, and the city has no shortage of watering holes scattered throughout every neighbourhood. From historic old pubs to shiny new gastropubs, there is something for every taste. Here is a list of what I consider to be the top 10 pubs in London:

1. Thomas Cubitt
The Thomas Cubitt pub in Belgravia is a staple for good food and great beer. There is also a more formal dining room upstairs for those that want an upscale meal option.

2. Holly Bush
With its jumble of old rooms and cosy fires in the winter, the Holly Bush pub in Hampstead is one of London’s best. Make sure to book or get there early on Sunday if you want a table for Sunday Roast, as the pub fills up quickly and stays busy all day.

3. Windsor Castle
The Windsor Castle pub in Notting Hill is known for its old timbered rooms with impossibly low doorways as well as its huge garden in the back. It is the perfect place to enjoy a pint or a pitcher of Pimm’s in the summertime.

4. The Cow
Known for being one of the best gastropubs in London, The Cow is always full and always a good time. Snagging an upstairs table at this Notting Hill pub is no small feat, but doing so is worth the effort.

5. The Punch Bowl
Owned my Madonna’s ex, Guy Ritchie, the Punch Bowl pub in Mayfair attracts celebrities, locals, and visitors alike. Its chi chi Mayfair surroundings belie the great historic interior of the pub.

6. Spaniards Inn
Dating back to the 1400’s, the historic Spaniards Inn in Hampstead Heath is the perfect place for a pint after a ramble through London’s largest park. Its beer garden is a great place to relax on summer days, too.

7. The Abbeville
The Abbeville pub in Clapham serves up some of the best pub food in south London. Its spacious dining rooms fill up every evening with people eager to enjoy both classic and inventive menu options.

8. White Horse
Possibly the most well-known pub in west London, the White Horse pub in Parsons Green is a great place to experience London’s pub culture and rub shoulders with the ‘beautiful people’. The pub is nicknamed the Sloaney Pony by locals.

9. Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
With the best pub name in London and the most interesting history (it was re-built in 1666!), Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese pub in The City of London is known for its labyrinth of tiny rooms and its great atmosphere.

10. The Eagle
Best known for being the first gastropub in London, The Eagle pub in Clerkenwell is worth a visit for its excellent food and great beer. Order at the counter and sit at one of the rustic wooden tables while watching the world go by out the big front windows.

Bath Christmas Market

The Bath Christmas market is one of the most beloved and beautiful Christmas markets in England. Located in the beautiful plaza outside of Bath Abbey and across from the Roman Baths, the Bath Christmas market is right in the heart of the historic city.

The Christmas market offers over 140 authentic wooden Christmas market chalets selling everything from handmade wooden crafts to gourmet food and drinks.

Bath also has market stalls in Bath Street and two courtyards with nearly 20 wooden chalets at Milsom Place. Every year there are more festivities in store.

Bath Christmas Market Opening Hours:

The Bath Christmas market is open from late November until mid-December. The hours are Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 21:00 and Sunday from 11:00 to 18:00.

Other UK Christmas markets:

For a list of other UK markets, see the Best UK Christmas Markets page.