If at any time you feel a little homesick and are
craving a taste of home, you can head to the following
localities to get your fill of dosa, idli, aloo puri. The
Gujarati part of the city is in Wembley – and Ealing
Road (close to Wembley Central and Alperton stations)
is where the food is at. The buffet at Sakoni’s is not
to be missed, along with a quick trip to the splendid
Sanatan Temple nearby. For Punjabi khana, take the
railway to Southall station from Ealing Broadway
station and head to the High Street – alternatively,
check out Delhi Wala, located near one the largest Sikh
Temples outside India. For South Indian food, head
East: near East Ham station are a variety of Keralan
and Tamil restaurants – including household names
such as Sarvana Bhavan and Vasanta Bhavan – be sure
to take a few stops on the 147 bus towards Ilford and
visit the splendid London Murugan Temple, if you’re in
a spiritual mood.
While is not possible to do justice to the breadth of
vegetarian and vegan eateries in London, it is possible
to find vegan food of all persuasions – from options for
the junk food vegan to the super health conscious and
the veg plus (those that avoid other food groups, like
wheat). For something a little unorthodox and perhaps
a little lighter on the stomach, follow OSU Coconuts
on social media and find out where in the city their
roving stall is, for some pancakes made entirely from
coconuts. If it’s a truly British experience you’re looking
for, book yourself in for an Afternoon Tea experience
- most vendors offer vegan options including the
high end Fortnum and Mason and The Ritz. For more
options, and to plan your food itinerary, try the super
useful HappyCow website for a comprehensive list of
vegetarian, vegan and veg-friendly eateries in the city.
It’s Not All About Food! Shop ‘Til You Drop:
Ethically
Beyond food, London is a wonderful place to shop
for vegans. Superdrug is a mainstream toiletries and
cosmetics store, with an overwhelming majority of its
own brand toiletries marked as suitable for vegetarians
or vegans. For toiletries on the more premium end,
you can purchase Avalon Organics’ products from
any Whole Foods store (all products excluding the lip
balms are vegan) – dotted across the city. Be sure you
check out the rest of Whole Foods while you’re there
- offering a range of vegan goodies to fill your basket
with. As Nature Intended is a health food store in the
heart of the city, also offering many vegan toiletries.
If you find yourself in the famous department stores
of Selfridges or Debenhams on London’s busiest
shopping street – Oxford Street, be sure to locate the
Illamasqua concession for quality make-up products
from this mostly vegan brand.
To become a truly local vegan, there are a few shops
you must visit to understand life as a local vegan in
London. Holland and Barrett is a well-known health
food store that offers a wide range of veggie and vegan
products – be sure to locate a branch near you which
has a chilled section to try out the local faux meat and
cheese products – V Bites ham slices and hot dogs
are not to be missed – and what’s more, the absence
of animal products in these items means they can
be carried freely between the two countries, with no
customs rules being broken. A little more mainstream,
the supermarket Sainsbury’s offers a range of vegan
cheeses (the caramelised onion flavour is a must-try),
along with vegan white chocolate and vegan milky
chocolate – just head to the free from sections to fill
your basket for a ‘Gary’ tasting session.If locating vegan products in an omnivorous store
seems more effort than its worth, London has
something special in store for you – literally. GreenBay
opened in 2017, and is the country’s entirely vegan
supermarket. Yes, you read it correctly – not an animal
ingredient in sight. Get down at West Kensington
station – one of London’s more affluent localities – to
experience vegan heaven. For the fashion conscious
ethical shopper, London has cruelty free clothes to suit
all budgets. The Third Estate in Camden is a vegan
clothing shop, offering ladies and men’s clothing,
footwear and accessories from various brands for you
to return to India looking like a Londoner.London’s Tourist Hotspots
Once you’ve sorted out your wardrobe, hair and
make-up, it’s time to hit the city and strike your best
Instagram-worthy poses. It goes without saying that
one must visit the landmarks of the city – and a trip to
London is incomplete without a trip to Big Ben clock
tower in the heart of the city. Walking distance from the
Big Ben is the London Eye, a slow-moving Ferris wheel
that provides a breath-taking view of the city – make
sure you have your cameras at the ready! Availing
a London Explorer Pass online will allow you to get
more for your money, including a Thames river cruise,
entry to Hampton Court, Madame Tussauds, the Tower
Bridge exhibition, Westminster Abbey, the London
Dungeon and much more.