Earlier this year I found myself icing cakes in celeb-approved Los Angeles bakery Sweet Lady Jane to mark the launch of Airbnb’s revamped Experiences section. The platform now offers activities designed to help visitors gain a deeper understanding of place by connecting them with interesting locals in over 100 cities. Offerings range from poetry workshops and cooking classes to drawing sessions and historical walking tours.
A collaboration with Netflix’s Chef’s Table expanded London’s roster—now 600-strong—with private menus, cooking classes, and tastings, including a pasta masterclass at Jamie Oliver’s studio and the chance to learn butchery at a favorite French restaurant. Not all experiences are hands-on; below are nine of the best Airbnb Experiences in London for foodies, artists, and literary buffs.
1. Champagne tasting session at the two-Michelin-starred Kitchen Table
Family-run Fitzrovia restaurant Kitchen Table has held two Michelin stars since 2018 for its innovative modern British menus and theatrical service. Sommelier Sandia Chang—an expert on Champagne—leads a 90-minute session introducing Champagne’s geography and tasting notes, followed by samples from three grower-producers paired with small plates.
2. Pasta-making class at Jamie Oliver’s headquarters
Though Jamie won’t be present, this class in his development kitchen begins with drinks and moves on to making pasta dough from his signature recipe. Learn to shape and cook pasta and a pesto sauce, enjoy what you make, and take a behind-the-scenes studio tour.
3. Tour of John Keats’s Hampstead plus poetry workshop
Writer and editor Elida leads a history of Keats’s Hampstead, starting at his home and ending with a pint at The Flask. You’ll sit where Keats wrote and create your own poems with Elida’s guidance; guests praise her knowledge and sensitivity.
4. Nose-to-tail eating with head chef at Camille
Head chef Elliot Hashtroudi runs a hands-on masterclass focused on butchery and French-influenced cooking. After a primer on farming and cuts, you’ll see demos, work with an ox heart, cook together, and enjoy a sit-down meal where offal is central—ideal for adventurous cooks.
5. Five-course Malaysian tasting menu at Sambal Shiok
Chef-owner Mandy Yin’s Highbury restaurant—grown from a 2013 street food stand—serves a cozy tasting menu showcasing favorites like chicken and prawn laksa and nasi lemak. Reviewers recommend it for locals and visitors alike; the experience is child-friendly and well-staffed.
6. A walking tour of Jane Austen’s known haunts
Eighteenth-century historian Lizzie, a historic-house curator and author, guides participants through London sites associated with Jane Austen, including the Prince Regent’s home and key Mayfair locations tied to her publishing life. The tour maintains excellent guest reviews.
7. Draw landscapes at The National Gallery
Artist Melina—whose work draws on history, archaeology, and Mediterranean roots—leads a guided landscape-drawing session at The National Gallery. Begin with warm-ups, study landscapes by Turner, Poussin, and Constable, then create your own sketches and leave with new techniques in your sketchbook.
8. Tasting menu with chef Guirong Wei of Netflix’s Chef’s Table
Chef Guirong Wei, featured in Chef’s Table’s 2024 noodles season, offers a tasting at Dream Xi’an showcasing classics from Shaanxi Province and her famed biang biang noodles. The experience concludes with dessert and a take-home gift.
9. Udon and sushi class at Dinings
At fashionable Dinings in Chelsea, learn about udon—kneading dough (traditionally with the feet), shaping, and boiling—then move on to sushi with chef-owner Masaki Sugisaki and his team. The masterclass ends with a sushi and udon dinner, sake, and a traditional dessert.
These nine experiences offer a mix of hands-on learning, intimate tastings, creative practice, and literary and historical immersion—perfect for adding depth to a London visit. Book early, as many popular sessions fill quickly.