How London Became Dipika and Dinesh's Family’s Favourite Summer Escape

“Dinesh and I both enjoy travelling, and London is one of our favourite cities in the world. We’re quite familiar with the city—I think that’s why we like it so much. It’s easy to get around, there are so many things one can do, and it’s also kid-friendly. We go there every summer, for about two to three months. London works as the perfect ‘mid-point’ for my family in other parts of the world as well. So, every year, my cousins and their partners and kids come to London around the same time for a reunion. This year, it was even more special as Dinesh and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. Dinesh had work in London, so we combined that with our holiday and were there from June until September.”

The Stay

“We prefer staying in Airbnbs as you can get a big house with a nice garden, and there’s plenty of space for the kids. I also love cooking, so Airbnbs are great for that. We stayed in Wimbledon this time. The neighbourhood has a lot of beautiful green spaces—there was a massive park next to where we were, so we got to enjoy some lovely outdoor time with the entire family.”

Pro Tip: “A lot of people get carried away by taking Ubers in London. Just stick to public transport. It’s the best way to get around—the traffic has become crazy! The Undergrounds are very well-connected, and they take you everywhere, within minutes.”

The Itinerary

“The whole point of taking a vacation for us is to do things together as a family... Otherwise, we are constantly travelling separately for work and having to be away from each other. So, when we are on a holiday, we ensure we make the most of it.

I feel lucky that Dinesh and I enjoy similar things as travellers. We just want to relax—stay at nice places, eat good food, and shop. That’s our idea of a perfect holiday. And because we travel so much for work, we’re both quite experienced—and flexible—so it works out well.

Our downtime is usually a mix of excursions and fun outings, along with some easy, ‘us’ time. Typically, we chill in the house in the morning, then head to a park with the kids and spend a few hours there. Our children are now old enough, so we also make time for activities they enjoy. This time, for instance, we took them for the Paddington Bear Experience and Peppa Pig Bus Tour. In the evenings, we head out to a restaurant of our choice for a meal.

Pro Tip: “We always try to take an early morning flight out, so that we land there during the day, rather than at night. That allows us to maximise our time in the city. Similarly, when returning to India, we prefer taking a late-night flight back home. That way, you get to spend your last day in London and sleep through the flight.”

The Recommendations

“Between Dinesh and I, I am the planner—I’m someone who does a lot of research before we travel to any city—and Dinesh just follows along. That makes things even easier. For London, apart from the usual hotspots, I’d recommend the following:

Garsons Farm: “We came across this wonderful place just this year, and ended up spending half a day just plucking fresh vegetables and fruits to bring back home. It’s acres and acres of organic farmland. You can take your car, drive around, and they’ll guide you where each produce is. You can pick as you go along anf pay for it right at the end. It is so enjoyable, even the kids loved it.”

Borough Market: “You can’t go to London and not visit Borough Market. But I’d recommend going there on an empty stomach, because there’s so much to do and such great food to eat. And be ready to be pushed and shoved by the crowd—it’s part of the whole experience!”

Westfield: “When it comes to shopping, I tend to skip the regular, busier places like Oxford Street, and opt for quieter markets. The Westfield Mall around Shepherd’s Bush in West London is one of the biggest in the city, with a wide range of options. Even Knightsbridge has some great places to shop, do check them out when in the city.”

The Food

“London, as everyone knows, has wonderful restaurants. Our favourite places include:

Berenjak: it’s an award-winning Persian restaurant in Borough Market.

Nobu: the all-time classic, serving some of the best Japanese fare.

Lina Stores: you have to try this Italian

delicatessen and restaurant.