DK Travel : London

A city of infinite colour and variety, London is both richly historic, tracing its roots back over 2000 years, and unceasingly modern, at the forefront of fashion, music and the arts. There is a fantastic amount to interest and entertain the visitor here: a selection of the best of the best is explored here.

Foyles

In a street of bookshops, this grandmother of all bookshops is something of an institution. A vast range of subject matter is covered.
Frank’s Café

Run by the Ruocco family since the 1960s, this is one of few good, cheap cafés in central London. English breakfasts, pasta, veal, and sandwiches are served.
Fratelli Camisa

One of London’s best-known delicatessens, famous for its fresh pasta, this is like stepping into a 1950s Italian grocery store.
Free Entertainment

Every day from 8am–10pm there are street entertainers in the Piazza, while opera singers and classical musicians perform in the Central Market areas
Freemason's Arms

We visited the Freemason’s Arms on a cold evening in November. We sat in the comfortable leather chairs (armchairs, but not the deep and enveloping variety) and watched the beautiful people mingling at the bar. We could see a few more sensible shoes and bald heads in the eating areas off the bar. In the bar area, there are comfortable chairs for about 50 people. They are arranged around small black slate tables, and there is a small fireplace at one end of the room. The piped music is quite loud, and the atmosphere is definitely more “happening” than the more local feel to the Olde White Bear or Holly Bush. The small tables (and dimmed lighting) confirm that this is not the place for bar games (or pub quizzes), but just about right for a cigar from the selection on sale at the bar. We drank beers on tap (£2.50 per pint) and didn’t test the extensive drinks list.

The Freemason's Arms is located on the southern edge of Hampstead Heath, approximately equidistant from the Hampstead and Belsize Park tube stations and about 500m from the South End Green bus stop.
French House

A small, one-bar establishment where conversation flows freely among strangers, this Soho pub was once the haunt of the artist Francis Bacon (1909–92).
French Sole

A cute shop famous for its ballet pump shoes, available in many designs and colours. Close to Sloane Square tube station.
Freud

Underground and kooky, this bar is perfect for you arty types. Always crowded with occasional jazz,this is great place for small groups sipping cocktails around their cute little tables. I think they also do food at lunchtime.
Freud Museum

Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, and his daughter Anna, came to live here when he fled Nazi-occupied Vienna. The house contains Freud’s collection of antiques and his library, including first editions of his own works. Also on display is the famous couch on which his patients related their dreams.
Freuds

This small basement attracts a designer crowd in the evenings. Huge choice of coffees (some with liqueurs), cocktails and bottled beers.