By Dirk Ebener - December 20, 2025    The food selection at London market, like Borough Market, is amazing! “London taught me that eating well isn’t about spending more, but about paying attention. Coffee shops, markets, and pubs guided my experience rather than serving as indulgences. By adjusting to the city’s pace, £60 a day proved sufficient." - Dirk Ebener Finding London’s Daily Rhythm London rewards patience and exploration. Over ten days, I learned to move at the city’

By Dirk Ebener - December 11, 2025 The Churchill Arms: Where London’s Stories Gather Over a Pint "I didn’t go to the Churchill Arms to chase history. I went in to rest for a moment. Somewhere between the first sip and the low murmur of conversation, the pub reminded me that London reveals itself when you stop asking it to perform. That’s when a place stops being a stop on the map and becomes part of the journey."   Some pubs in London serve just beer, but others serve as livi

By Dirk Ebener - September 27, 2025 Poppie's in Spitalfields, London, a famous fish & chips shop that has been serving since 1952 “Every...

Understanding this background sets the stage for appreciating today’s pub customs. The word “pub” comes from public house, a place meant to welcome all—something I’ve always appreciated. In the Middle Ages, alehouses offered weary travelers rest and sustenance, much as they do for me today. As London expanded, pubs became essential meeting spots not just for workers, merchants, and politicians, but also for people like me seeking connection. Some, like Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese

What sets London apart from other European capitals is its unparalleled diversity. Nearly 40% of its residents were born outside the UK, and over 300 languages are spoken here. This cultural richness is most evident in the food scene, where the city’s restaurants, markets, and cafés create a global dining map without ever leaving the Underground. Food here is not simply sustenance, it is the story of London’s people, each dish a chapter in the city’s evolving identity.

Tucked into the rock upon which Nottingham Castle stands, Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem is not just a pub—it’s a living relic. The sign above the entrance proudly proclaims its founding year as 1189 AD, the year Richard the Lionheart ascended to the throne and called for the Third Crusade. Though legend claims that knights preparing for their journey to the Holy Land would gather here for one last drink, giving the pub its curious name, the true origin of the tradition remains un

By Dirk Ebener Source: Dirk Ebener In December, I will arrive in London with a challenge in mind. To prove that I can eat and drink my...