Life On The Lizzie Line: Where To Eat, Stay, Shop & Explore

Where railroads lead, we follow. The arrival of the Lizzie Line has opened up London and beyond like never before, but what to do along its wide-reaching branches? Here’s your ultimate guide to things to do on the Elizabeth Line.

12 Things To Do On The Elizabeth Line

Go Wine Tasting At Twyford

Established in 1979, Stanlake Park Wine Estate is one of the oldest wine producers in England. Nestled within 130 acres of quiet English countryside, the tipsy tour starts with a stroll through the vines before heading inside for a lesson on wine-making – with a new vino to sample at every stop. Want to extend your stay? On site accommodation offers the perfect spot to unwind your senses after a hard-day’s work of trying and failing to identify the bouquet.

Explore A Manor House At Burnham

Take a stroll through the Buckinghamshire countryside to Dorney Court. Home to the Palmer family for over 500 years, this Grade I listed Tudor manor house is one of the finest of its kind in Britain – and you may recognise it from its starring roles in Bridgerton and Bohemian Rhapsody. Though the historic property is usually only open to the public one or two days a year, book in for a private group Connoisseur Tour, complete with homemade biscuits, plus gin or Pimms.

The Langley, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Buckinghamshire, picture by: Matthew-Shaw

Unwind At The Langley… At Langley

Just a short hop from Langley station sits the luxury spa hotel of the same name. The former home of the third Duke of Marlborough, The Langley boasts 150 acres of formal gardens and parkland decked out by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown. One of Europe’s largest in-hotel spas, check into the VIP spa suite for a holistic wellness regime complete with an indoor and outdoor vitality pool, juniper sauna, amethyst crystal steam room and custom treatments.

Go Independent At West Ealing 

While Ealing Broadway may boast a bright and bashy shopping centre, it is the leafy suburb’s more western station which holds the real gems. Spend the day strolling down Northfields Avenue – West Ealing’s picturesque collage of indie stores. For food, local favourites include Pitshanger Bakery, family-run Italian cafe and deli Delizia, tapas restaurant Tapelia, and curry house Patri. Once you’ve eaten yourself sick, conclude your day with a wander around Pitzhanger Manor Gallery and a promenade through Walpole Park.

Find Your Sea Legs At Paddington

Explore Little Venice from a new angle, by hopping down into the canal. Simply grab a GoBoat from Merchant Square to begin your cruise from Paddington all the way over to Camden, Kensal Green and beyond. With room for eight friends (plus picnics, pints and pets), the boats are available to rent for up to three hours – no experience required. If boating sounds too amateur, then pitch for a paddleboard instead. Available through Paddleboarding London, why not test your balance with SUP (that’s stand-up-paddleboard) yoga or paddleboard pilates?

Look Beyond The Shops At Bond Street

Whether you’ve already splashed out on a new handbag, or simply want to save yourself a few hundred (or thousand) quid, the creme de la creme of consumerism is not all Bond Street has to offer. Slip away from the busy roads to the wonders of the Wallace Collection. Evolved over the 18th and 19th centuries by the Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace, this glittering, gilded townhouse has some of the finest paintings, sculptures, and weaponry around.

Roam Off The Beaten Track At Tottenham Court Road

While we’re sure you could spend a perfectly pleasant afternoon sampling food at Seven Dials, roaming the British Museum and hitting up a show… Why tell you what you already know? Head off the heavily-beaten track and discover some of Soho’s lesser known museums: from the Grant Museum of Zoology and its many strange specimens to SOAS Brunei Gallery and the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archeology, plus the slew of nearby independent art galleries.

Sleep In At Liverpool Street

A true Georgian gem, the eccentric Batty Langley’s and its magnificent four-poster beds is the ideal base for exploring Liverpool Street’s surrounding attractions. Immerse yourself in history and culture with a culinary tour around Old Spitalfields market, a forage through the vintage gems of Brick Lane, and a night-out with a show at the Barbican.

Get Gory At Whitechapel

Unfortunately for Whitechapel, its slew of infamously unsolved murders has left this East London enclave with a rather bloody reputation. Wait until dusk to book yourself in for a Jack the Ripper tour to learn more about the crazed killer and his unfortunate victims. For true crime podcast addicts, the nearby Jack the Ripper museum offers up further grisly details, while Whitechapel Gallery is always available to those who are more faint of heart.

View of the Weston Collections Hall, which features over 100 mini curated displays, at V&A East Storehouse. (© David Parry/PA Media Assignments)

Get Your Cultural Fix At Stratford

Once known for little more than the docklands, the 2012 Olympics and Westfield Shopping Centre, Stratford is increasingly becoming something of a cultural hotspot. While you wait for your evening out at Abba Voyage, head on over to the V&A East Storehouse and the soon-to-be-opened V&A East. Offering a behind-the-scenes look at the V&A’s vast collections, visitors can spend hours roaming the maze of costumes, curios and cabinets. Ensure to organise at least a fortnight in advance to book a private viewing of an object of your choosing.

Recharge At Canary Wharf

It seems that the gilets and quarter-zips which once haunted Canary Wharf are slowly being replaced by a slew of dry-robe-wearing, sauna-cap-owning wellness enthusiasts. Investment bankers can now unwind at Arc Community Sauna, float down The Thames in a hot tub boat, flex their padel skills at Padium, or get lost in nature at Crossrail Place’s leafy green roof garden. If you want to commit to a full-on wellness weekend, book into TRIBE London Canary Wharf and make the most of their Third Space collaboration, with their cutting-edge treatments, cryotherapy, vibroacoustic therapy, plus gym and pool access.

Discover The Great Outdoors At Brentwood

Hop off the tube at Brentwood to discover a variety of countryside walks right on the platform step. Branch down south-east on the Thorndon Country Park loop for a scenic tour through grass-green pastures, ancient woodlands and Gruffalo statues; go north to circle through the deer park on the Weald circuit and peruse the Stick Man themed trail; or head south-west to discover the historic gardens of Emma Willmott at Warley Place reserve.