I love going back to London. It’s a city I have visited several times but there is always something different to do and discover.
In this case it was a weekend trip made with a friend who had never been to the city so we toured all those attractions and places that you absolutely cannot miss if you go to London.
I hope you will find them helpful if you are also planning a weekend in the beautiful English capital.
The Flight
We opted for an evening flight. It only takes about two and a half hours from Italy to London, and flying on a Thursday night gives us the entire Friday free.
Plus, late evening flights are generally cheaper, and you avoid the hustle and bustle of all the passengers moving for the weekend.
We headed straight for the Stansted Express station and arrived at Liverpool Street around 10 PM. We grabbed a quick bite nearby, then walked about ten minutes to our Airbnb in East London.
Luckily, entry was via a code, so we got in right away. Tired from the trip, we went straight to bed, ready for an early start the next day.
DAY 1
We wake up, and London gives us its classic welcome: it’s raining! But that doesn’t stop us. After a hearty breakfast, we step out into our first stop: Hyde Park.
Starting the day in a park is something I always enjoy. After a little walk, we meet some squirrels and stop for a few minutes to enjoy this green heart in the center of London.
After that, our real tour begins, and we start from the City, the beating heart of finance.
We stroll among the skyscrapers, weaving between hurried businessmen and spotting curious symbols like the golden grasshopper of the Lombard bankers.
In front of the church of St. Mary-le-Bow, we’re surprised by the bells: according to legend, whoever hears them can consider themselves a true Londoner.
We pass by St. Paul’s Cathedral, walk across the Millennium Bridge, promising ourselves to come back with more time, then stop at the Tower of London.
The rain keeps coming down, so we duck into EAT, a surprisingly healthy and delicious chain that puts old-school fast-food joints to shame.
The Tower ticket is expensive, but the experience is worth every penny. The ravens look like turkeys, and the Crown Jewels, viewed from the moving walkway, are spectacular.
At 4:00 p.m., we reach the Temple Church from “The Da Vinci Code”: we arrive just in time for a few photos before closing. It’s still raining. We head to the historic Twining’s shop, a paradise for tea lovers like us, then rush to the British Museum, which stays open late that day. We wander among Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Greece, but exhaustion is setting in.
Dinner is an adventure: restaurants start closing early but we find something near Carnaby. A classic British-style dinner with pie and mash.
DAY 2
Market day! We head to Portobello, greeted by its colorful houses and lively atmosphere.
After some shopping, we stop for coffee at Caffè NERO, offering authentic Italian espresso by Illy.
The day continues at the National Gallery: we take a peek at the most famous works (Van Gogh, Raphael…) and then move to the crypt of St. Martin-in-the-Fields for lunch at the Café in the Crypt. A fascinating place, good food, and reasonable prices.
After lunch, it’s time for Big Ben and Westminster. Of course, it’s raining again. We stop for tea in Covent Garden, complete with sweets, then do a bit more shopping before heading back to the apartment to get ready for the evening.
Greek dinner in Notting Hill. We are used to dining quite late, so after dinner, everything is basically already closed.
We wander around the center, but most pubs are closing, and it’s starting to get really cold back to our Airbnb.
DAY 3
The sun finally greets us, but we only have half a day since we have our return plane in the afternoon.
So we decide to explore a bit on foot, staying around the area between Liverpool Street Station, Whitechapel, and Spitalfields.
For lunch, we grab a delicious “pizza a portafoglio” (folded) at Spitalfields Market. It was delicious, I explained how to find these places in the article on how I spot the best food in a new city.
Then, it’s time to pick up our bags and head to the airport. London definitely deserves more time, there was so much more we could’ve seen. Still, it’s a great choice for a weekend getaway, especially if you’re already in Europe.
The only downside? The weather. But at this point, that’s just part of the experience.
