Let's build the ultimate CanvasCon London guide

Jess Richards

Our venue, Convene Sancroft at St Paul's, puts you in the heart of one of London's most iconic neighbourhoods. If you're arriving early or staying a little longer, here are a few ideas within easy reach:

📍 St Paul's Cathedral
Step inside one of London's most recognisable landmarks or climb to the famous dome for panoramic views across the city.

🌉 Millennium Bridge & Tate Modern
A short walk across the Millennium Bridge takes you to Tate Modern, home to one of the world's leading collections of modern and contemporary art.

🎭 Shakespeare's Globe
Experience a performance or take a guided tour of the theatre that celebrates Shakespeare's work on the banks of the Thames.

🎶 Southbank Centre
One of Europe's largest arts centres, with live music, exhibitions, food markets and plenty of places to relax beside the river.

🚤 Uber Boat by Thames Clippers
See London from the water. Hop on an Uber Boat and travel along the Thames past landmarks including Tower Bridge and the London Eye. Or use it to visit other London neighbourhoods such as Putney, Wandsworth and Chelsea.

Are you a Londoner or a London lover? We'd love your recommendations in the comments below. Share your favourite cafés, restaurants, pubs, walks, museums or hidden gems around St Paul's to help fellow CanvasCon attendees discover the city.

Tejal Tailor

Listen up if you're coming to London, these are some of my absolute favourite places to explore:

• Borough Market - if you enjoy food, this is 10/10 for you. So much variety, so many different types of cuisine and the best part is that it's open from 10am everyday so you can start your morning with some Singaporean laksha or a traditional full English breakfast - the choice is up to you. It's also an easy amble across Millennium Bridge!
• The British Museum, the Science Museum, the V&A - the choice is up to you. But honestly I'd highly recommend picking one or two (if you really love them) and exploring something new. They're free, they've got AC and they have some real gems. I've been to the British Museum probably around 7 times now and I haven't yet conquered all the exhibits. Personal favourites include the sections on Chinese Jade and Indian Amaravati.
• See the London skyline at Sky Garden, otherwise known as the Walkie-Talkie. You'll have to book but tickets are completely free and it's a great way to see a 360 view of London, from skyscrapers to famous monuments like Big Ben. Plus they have a cool bar at the top if you fancy watching the sun go down with a drink.
• Take a wander through Leadenhall Market, one of the oldest markets in London and home to a Harry Potter filming location (if you're a nerd like me, you'll know that it was used to represent the area leading to the Leaky Cauldron). It's also just gorgeous! Beautiful Victorian architecture, a plethora of delicious food spots and some great British boutique shops.
• Visit the Barbican - it's often underrated but is home to some really cool art, theatre and film performances! If you have a spare moment or are unsure of where to visit, make a stop here because there's always something interesting going on and you can walk around the lakeside and enjoy the terrace. They also have an amazing cafe in the form of Urban Baristas at the Cinema Cafe - they do great matcha if you're into that!

A small note on restaurants: there are a multitude of brilliant independent restaurants in London but there are also equally lovely chain restaurants (and they can often be easier to find). So I'll leave you with my top 3 for both:

Independents:

• Kiln - a tiny spot in Soho doing Thai-inspired dishes over an open fire and a Bib Gourmand. My favourite thing to have there is the Clay Pot Baked Glass Noodles with Tamworth Belly & Brown Crab Meat.
• The Tamil Crown - an Indian inspired pub in Angel, go there for a pint of whatever you fancy and feast on the curries and sides. Highly recommend the Okra Fries!
• St John Smithfield - nose to tail British cooking, located near the traditional Smithfield meat market, this is the place where nothing goes to waste. The menu changes with the season but the madeleines are a constant - warm, fluffy and comforting.

Chains:

• Dishoom - always solid, very dependable Indian food. Their breakfast is my favourite thing to have (glorious naan rolls) accompanied with a cup of their unlimited chai.
• Lina Stores - great Italian food, homemade pasta and a good wine selection. Their signature crab linguine with lemon is delicious and reminds me of long warm summers.
• Bone Daddies - Japanese style ramen with punchy flavours. All the broth is homemade and simmered for 20 hours and their OG Tonkatsu is exceptional.