Where to drink
Somers Town Coffee House
Situated on Chalton St, This great little pub (don’t let the name fool you!) is incredibly popular with the locals and transients alike. Somers town is a surprisingly quiet neighbourhood, given its location but its ‘Coffee House’ rarely is. With an outdoor terrace and fantastic beers on tap, you’d be remiss to skip this local favourite.
60 Chalton St, NW1 1HS
thesomerstowncoffeehouse.co.uk
The Bree Louise
If it’s a proper pub you’re after, you won’t get much more proper than this. The Bree Louise is hidden away on the backstreets behind Euston station, and offers a lovely warm hideaway on the inside with seating outdoors for those sunny afternoons. Good beer and grub are the hallmarks of this lesser known local. Get involved, you won’t regret it.
69 Cobourg Street, London NW1 2HH
www.breelouise.pub
Euston Tap
Even the most adventurous drinker has taken one look at the Euston Tap and thought better of it. But we urge you to venture inside this odd looking tardis of a bar. Offering an incredible range of craft beer and robust ales, it is a true destination location. With heated seating spilling out onto Euston road, this one’s a great choice on those long summer nights waiting for a train.
190 Euston Rd, NW1 2EF
www.eustontap.com
Where to eat
Mai Sushi
Real Sushi fans know that more often than not, the best Sushi joints are the ones that offer little in decorative glamour. Inconspicuous to a fault, you’d probably walk past Mai Sushi nine time out of ten. To the locals on the other hand, it’s a diamond in the rough. Their excellent handcrafted sushi can be enjoyed indoors or outside on the terrace (weather permitting).
19 Villiers St, WC2N 6NE
www.maisushi.co.uk
Granger & Co
Technically in King’s Cross but at a mere 10min walk away we’re forgiving ourselves this minor indiscretion. Anyway, once you try the food at this pan-Asian/Australasian restaurant, we’re certain you’ll forgive us too. The tall glass windows let the light flood in, and while the interior is simple but fresh, the food is simply the latter. Unquestionably worth a visit.
Unit 1 Stanley Building, 7 Pancras Square, N1C 4AG
grangerandco.com/kings-cross
York & Albany
Just a short cab ride away from Euston, on the border between Camden town and Regent’s Park sits one of Gordon Ramsay’s more laidback haunts. Looking altogether more like a Victorian pub from the outside (you can just stop by for a drink), York & Albany serves up a delicious blend of British and Mediterranean dishes. With a courtyard for soaking up those rays, this is a great place to let the world pass you by.
127-129 Parkway
www.gordonramsayrestaurants.com/york-and-albany/
What to do
British Library
The British Library is more than just a national institution. It is also home to some of the most important and relevant books, exhibitions and films our great nation has ever produced. Featuring no less than 150m different documents. Literature nuts will delight at seeing Shakespeare’s first folio, the Magna Carta and a number of seasonal exhibitions.
96 Euston Rd, NW1 2DB
www.bl.uk
Wellcome Collection
A museum of real intrigue. Established by Sir Henry Wellcome, a notoriously adventurous 19th-century pharmacist, his eponymous collection houses an incredible range of medical paraphernalia. Startling, captivating and often macabre, this museum is not for the fainthearted. Featuring a number of award winning temporary exhibitions too, this one’s always worth checking out.
183 Euston Rd, NW1 2BE
wellcomecollection.org
British Museum
Again, we’re cheating a little bit here but just a quick taxi ride away is the iconic British Museum. And it’s well worth the cab fare. As one of the world’s oldest museums it is home to archeological rarities you won’t find anywhere else on earth. Including mummies and even the world famous Rosetta Stone. Plus, most Londoners have never ‘found the time’ to visit, so you’ll have one up one your native friends.
Great Russell St, WC1B 3DG
www.britishmuseumshoponline.org/