London is one of the most visited cities in the world, and with so much to do and see, it’s hardly surprising. But how do you fit it all in one weekend? Once you’ve booked a room in one of our London hotels for a mini break, and you start planning out your visit, here are some ideas to help:
Culture
There are hundreds of museums in central London, but the most iconic and impressive are probably the Natural History Museum, with its giant dinosaurs and space exhibits, and the expansive Victoria & Albert Museum, which plays host to some of the most high-profile special exhibitions. If you’re with kids, HMS Belfast makes a great visit, and if you’re not, scare yourself silly at the London Dungeons.
Sight-Seeing
Ticket touts will try and sell you bus tour tickets everywhere in London, but it’s almost as easy and much cheaper to use the public bus to see the city. The number 11 from Victoria Station will show you Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament, St. Paul’s Cathedral and Trafalgar Square, or the number 38 will show you Hyde Park Corner, Green Park, (where you can walk to Buckingham Palace) and Piccadilly Circus.
Family Fun
The London Zoo opened in 1827 and is actually where the word “zoo” originates from. But the main attraction isn’t the history – it’s the spectacular collection of more than 750 species of animals. The zoo focuses on special breeding programmes, so there are always lots of cute little baby animals around.
Nightlife
There are few places more famous for their evening social life than the capital of the UK. But don’t be sucked into thinking that means going to one of the big commercial clubs. In fact, first on your list of evening activities should be a musical on the West End. Tickets can be bought at a discounted price on the day, at the Leicester Square ticket booth. London’s a great place to see live music too, so check out what’s going on at The Half Moon in Putney, or the impossibly cool Old Blue Last in Shoreditch.
Food
London is one of the culinary capitals of the world, so even choosing a place for lunch can be exhausting. But here’s an idea for every meal of the day.
Breakfast: The Modern Pantry in St. John’s Square is famous for its brunch with a twist.
Lunch: Greenberry Café is a new edition to the lovely Primrose Hill area. Great for a delicious and reasonably-priced quick lunch.
Tea: Afternoon tea is an absolute must on a weekend in London. If you’re looking to avoid the size of the bill at The Ritz or Claridge’s, try Orange Pekoe in Barnes.
Dinner: You can find anything your heart desires in this city, but if you’re feeling like some good old-fashioned, hearty, British fare, try venturing out of central London to The Crooked Well in Camberwell. It’s well worth the expedition.
