By MONICA BYERS LONDON – I admit I am biased, having resided in two different flats near Hoxton Square during my London years.  Having duly disclosed this, I still say that this setting is, to me, one of the reasons why London is so fab.  Situated in the East End, Hoxton Square is one of the city’s oldest [...]

  By MONICA BYERS LONDON – I think the actual name of this place is The Light Restaurant and Bar, but no one I know calls it that – to us, it’s just “The Light”.   This is one of my recommended bars for folks finding themselves in Shoreditch or The City (which is nearby) looking for a good spot to [...]

  By MONICA BYERS LONDON – Borough Market is London’s oldest food market and, hands down, my absolute favorite part of London.  It’s called a “foodie’s paradise” because of its abundance of fresh and prepared food stalls, but wine, beer and merchandise are also on offer here.  This was always my go-to spot to pick up my paella ingredients, as [...]

  By MONICA BYERS LONDON - I always experience neighborhood envy in Spitalfields, and have pledged that I will someday reside on Folgate Street.  The atmosphere created by the juxtaposition of the area’s inescapable history, the nearby bustle of the City of London and the energetic buzz of the cafes and pubs is all rather irresistible. Spitalfields is an East End neighborhood [...]

  By MONICA BYERS LONDON – I absolutely adore whiling away a morning at the Tate Modern.  And I do mean morning – this is the best time to go to avoid the crowds, largely comprised during the week of tourists and school groups. I won’t make any attempt to discuss the merits of the collection – I would just [...]

                                  By MONICA BYERS LONDON – When you ask visitors what they’ve done or they’re planning to do in London….well, actually, why even ask?  The answers are completely predictable:  Buckingham (aka Bucking-HAM if you’re American) Palace, double decker bus tour, Tower of London, visit [...]