There is so much to see in London, the largest city in the United Kingdom. During my last minute, very spontaneous trip, I was able to spend three jam-packed days in London, including one day touring the English countryside, visiting Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and the City of Bath.
Below is a guide to how I spent my long weekend trip.
- Where we stayed:
- Weather and When We Went:
- Currency:
- Getting Around:
- Day 1:
- Day 2:
- Day 3: Windsor, Stonehenge, and Bath
- If We Had More Time:
Where we stayed:
Choosing a neighborhood to book a hotel in London can be very overwhelming with 32 boroughs to choose from and such a large city where historic monuments and places to see are spread out, it can be tough to decide where you would like to have your home base. I chose to have our home base in Mayfair. Our hotel was walking distance to Green Park, Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, City of Westminster, Piccadilly Circus and other iconic stops.
I truly loved this area for a hotel especially for a quick trip because it allowed me to see as much as possible. After returning from the trip and experiencing the public transportation in London for myself, I must say that you do not have to stay in one specific area near the famous attractions because navigating public transportation is easy, cost effective and efficient.
Weather and When We Went:
London is known for its grey and rainy skies especially during the winter. As you can see from pictures shared, we had a mix of grey and blue sky moments during our February trip. The weather seemed to change quickly, so it is essential you pack an umbrella and even a raincoat for your trip.
Average temperatures in February:
- High 48°F (9°C)
- Low 39°F (4°C)
Currency:
The pound. Conversion rate was 1 pound sterling = approx. 1.3 USD
We used a credit card with no foreign transaction fees to pay for everything. We ended up taking some money out to tip our tour guide and got hit with a heavy ATM transaction fee. I noticed some other tourists tipped our guide in US dollars, which seemed okay. With any international trip, it’s never a bad idea to carry some cash in the local currency.
Getting Around:
We primarily used public transport to get around the city as it was the fastest and most affordable option. There are famous double decker buses and London’s subway system, “The Underground” also known as “The Tube”.
At the time of our trip, it cost £2.80 for a ride in Zone 1, (central location with many landmarks).
When traveling, I like to use Apple Maps to get around. Once you search your destination, switch to transit mode where you can view public transit options and get all important details including time of departure, estimated time of arrival, stops, and track information.
Day 1:
Arrive at Heathrow
Take the Underground to the station closest to your hotel, our closest stations were Hyde Park and Green Park. The journey by train cost us only £5 each. The journey took under an hour.
After arriving in a new city, I like to drop my bags off at the booked hotel – this way I am not lugging them around and I know they are in a safe place. Most hotels have a secure place for bag drop. Thankfully and surprisingly, our hotel was ready around 11:00 am and we were able to freshen up before beginning our busy day.
Buckingham Palace
From our hotel, we took a quick walk to Buckingham Palace. A must see and a very iconic location. The closest underground stations are Green Park and Victoria. We only spent a few minutes outside of the palace, it was very crowded when we stopped here. Be sure to snap a picture of the Queen Victoria Monument right in front of the palace.
Tip – catch the Changing of the Guard Ceremony at the palace. Typically on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 11am. Be sure to check out their website for accurate times.
Westminster Cathedral
From Buckingham Palace, we explored on foot the City of Westminster, including Westminster Cathedral, the largest Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales.
We then made our way to New Hyde Park and quickly stopped inside Victoria station and walked through the district of Belgravia, known for its beautiful architecture.
Hyde park
We walked through Hyde Park to reach Kensington Palace. Hyde Park is the largest of four royal parks in London and stretches from Buckingham Palace to Kensington Palace.
Tip – while exploring Hyde Park, be sure to check out the Princess Diana Memorial Garden, near the Kensington Palace Grounds and the Princess Diana Fountain near the southwest corner of the park.
Afternoon Tea
There are so many choices for Afternoon Tea in London. Each place typically offers a premium tea selection accompanied by three tiers of fresh finger sandwiches, followed by scones, and a top layer of pastries and cakes.
We had afternoon tea at The Orangery at Kensington Palace. £54 for traditional afternoon tea or upgrade to a “Royal Afternoon Tea” for £68 served with sparkling wine. I looked at many other menus and these prices were very reasonable. Our server was the “Tea Master” and guided us through our selection which included unlimited refills of tea. The ‘royal’ treatment at the palace was lovely especially after a long day of traveling.
Notting Hill
Walking distance from Kensington Palace is Notting Hill, the London neighborhood made famous from the 1999 blockbuster of the same name, starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant.
Notting Hill is known for the iconic pastel buildings and art scene including vintage shops. Be sure to walk down Portabello street and check out the markets and vendors. There are many nice restaurant options in Notting Hill, but we were too full from the afternoon tea so we passed.
After exploring Notting Hill, we explored on foot the neighborhood Paddington and cut back through Hyde Park on the other side and passed through Marble Arch on our way back to our hotel in Mayfair.
Dinner at The Rose and Crown:
After a long travel day and tens of thousands of steps later, we freshened up at the hotel and had dinner at a local pub. We ate at The Rose and Crown, which was a short walk from our hotel. The pub dates back to the 17th Century.
You can’t go wrong with fish and chips and a G+T at any English Pub!
After dinner, we headed back to the hotel to get some rest before another long day. London is definitely known for their night scene, so if that’s your thing definitely check it out!
Day 2:
Time for a full day exploring what the city has to offer…
Parliament Tower (Elizabeth Tower aka Big Ben)
Day 2 began with a visit to Parliament tower. We rode the Jubilee line one stop from Green Park station to Westminster station, which brings you just outside of the House of Parliament. We walked across the Westminster Bridge to the other side of the river to take pictures along the Thames Path.
There was a touching Covid Memorial Wall here along the path. On this side of the water, there stands the famous London Eye, a ferris wheel with 360 degree views of the capital.
Sky Garden
After Elizabeth Tower, we made our way to Sky Garden on the District line from Westminster Station to Monument Station. London’s tallest garden in the sky with 360 degree views of the city. Up top on the 37th floor, there are multiple restaurants and an outdoor terrace.
Tip – make sure to admire famous London landmarks from the garden including The Gherkin, The Tower of London, and Tower Bridge.
Tickets to Sky Garden are free but must be reserved three weeks in advance. Our London trip was last minute and we were unable to secure tickets, luckily, Sky Garden offers walk-ins. For £11.50 we were able to access the gardens and enjoy a hot beverage and pastry. The gardens were quiet during these “public hours” and even with overcast skies, it’s still a highly recommended experience – a great way to start the day. The website also states they have free music nights where you can enjoy the gardens in the evening with drinks.
The Garden at 120
Next quick stop was the Garden at 120, another free public garden, but this one was fully outdoors. 120 opens at 10am and we waited on a brief line before being cleared by security to take the elevator to the 15th floor for more 360 degree views of the city! We were able to get a different view of many famous landmarks. We didn’t spend too much time here because it was a tad chilly.
Tower of London
The Gardens were a quick walk to more famous landmarks including the Tower of London, built in 1077, and known to be the most secure fortress in the land. We didn’t get tickets to tour the tower on this trip, however, we still took a few minutes to admire the fortress.
Tower Bridge
Next up was Tower Bridge not to be confused with London Bridge. Although some people unknowingly think this iconic bridge is entitled London Bridge.
We bought tickets at the ticket booth to climb Tower Bridge for £16.
On the top walkways, you are able to walk across the glass floors looking down to Thames and the bridge traffic.
Borough Market
After crossing Tower Bridge, we made our way to the other side of the Thames. We walked along The Queens Walk, a pedestrian street along the south bank of the Thames, stretching from Tower Bridge to Lambeth Bridge.
Then making our way to Borough Market. The famous market has over 100 vendors offering many flavors and cuisines to choose from. Options include restaurants, freshly prepared food and drinks, and specialty shops. We arrived at lunch time and it was packed! After a lap around the market, we settled on the wild mushroom risotto that gained some popularity on Instagram.
Bar Bites at The Swan
Making our way down the Queens Walk, we stopped for a quick bite, drinks, and most importantly a moment to give our feet some rest. This was a beautiful area with many restaurant options and located in Shakespeare’s Globe, a famous open air theater built in 1599 offering tours and performances.
Millennium Bridge
We crossed over the Thames once more across Millennium Bridge, a footbridge connecting the Bankside and City of London.
St. Paul’s Cathedral
We then admired the beautiful royal church, a short walk from Millennium Bridge.
It’s also where Princess Diana and Prince Charles married in 1981.
Drinks at Sheesh
A Turkish restaurant in Mayfair a few blocks from our hotel, popular with large groups. The restaurant offered a nice ambience, we came for bar drinks.
Exploring Piccadilly Circus, Soho, Covent Garden, and shops
We explored these areas on foot. It reminded us of Times Square in New York, crowded streets and home to the theater district. It was also raining at this point in our day, so we moved quickly through this area.
Covent Garden, a district in the WestEnd offering shopping, restaurants, and theaters. We did some window shopping on Bond Street, known for famous designer shopping.
Dinner at Bill’s
This restaurant has multiple locations and serves breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. They even offer a reasonably priced and delicious set menu Monday-Friday. The food and ambience did not disappoint. I also liked that they made sure to take extra care with my nut allergy, labeling my food with an “allergy” toothpick to make sure it was handled cautiously in the kitchen.
Day 3: Windsor, Stonehenge, and Bath
Time for a group tour. I booked this tour through Expedia and it is by Premium Tours, “Windsor Castle, Stonehenge & Bath Full-Day Tour with Pub Lunch in Lacock”. The tour lasted about 13 hours and it was a great way to see some of the English countryside without navigating public transport or renting a car. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and there was some free time to explore the sites.
Victoria Coach Station:
The tour began at 7:45 where we boarded the bus at Victoria Coach Station and met the guides. The bus station was a mile walk away from our hotel or a 1 stop ride on the underground on the Victoria line. We arrived to the bus station with enough time to grab breakfast at the station cafe.
Windsor Castle:
The bus led us outside of London to Windsor Castle which began construction in 1070 and is the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world. We got to the grounds early and had to wait in line with other tour groups before the castle opened up for tourists. The castle is closed on Wednesdays. We toured the grounds including St. George’s Chapel and the State Apartments. There is no photography allowed inside the castle or the chapel.
Outside of the castle gates, we saw the Changing of the Guard. The ceremony takes place on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 11:00am. The website states that the ceremony is occasionally led by a pipe band, which we were fortunate to see. The ritual lasts 45-minutes total, however, you will only see the fleet for a few minutes from your standing point as the military fleet marches by to relieve the guard on duty protecting the castle.
Stonehenge
Next the bus drove us further in the countryside to visit Stonehenge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Salisbury, UK. The 5,500 year-old manmade monument is still is a mystery and a wonder as to how and why it was built. Once we cleared through security, a small bus drove us to the site where we were able to walk around, take pictures and admire the iconic stone circle. Visiting the site was breathtaking and as soon as we arrived to the site, the sky opened up to beautiful blue skies. This was one of the highlights of our trip!
Lacock
After leaving Stonehenge, we took the bus deeper into the English countryside and stopped in the village of Lacock for a pub lunch. Lunch was served at The George Inn, the oldest pub in Lacock est. in 1361. The village is right outside of the Cotswolds and well-known as filming locations for Harry Potter and Downtown Abbey.
City of Bath
After a late lunch with the tour group, we made our way to the city of Bath, another UNESCO World Heritage Site in Somerset. The city was founded in the first century AD by the Romans. We had some free time in the city and we decided to buy tickets to see the famous Roman Baths. If you visit on a weekend it will cost, £28.00 per adult admission.
If you watched “Bridgerton”on Netflix, you might recognize this as the Modiste’s shop. Located at the Abbey Deli in Bath. Our tour guide pointed it out to us, but you can’t miss the iconic Bridgerton Wisteria.
Pulteney Weir
Pulteney Weir, built in the 1600s to prevent flooding. You might recognize it as one of the filming location of Les Miserables (2012). During Javier’s suicide, where he falls to his death into the the “Seine” river in Paris.
From Bath, we traveled back to London via the bus with the tour company. From the Victoria Bus Station, we took the Underground back to Mayfair.
Dinner in London at El Pirata
El Pirata is a tapas restaurant in Mayfair, only two minutes from our hotel. It was the perfect place for a meal after a long day. We shared their tapas sampling menu and a pitcher of Sangria and celebrated a great holiday away.
Return to Airport Next Day:
Our flight home had an early departure so we took a black cab instead of taking pubic transit back to Heathrow. This was very costly, but it got us there quickly without any worry of missing the flight. So Long, London.
If We Had More Time:
I will definitely be returning to London. This was a short 3-day spontaneous trip where I was able to visit some famous spots for the first time. Below is a list of other activities to consider when planning your next trip:
- Enjoy a traditional English Breakfast
- Many people rave about Full English Breakfast. It typically includes back bacon, sausages, eggs, fried tomatoes, mushrooms, black pudding, baked beans, and toast.
- Take a Peloton Class at the London Studio
- I am an avid Peloton member and love being apart of the community. I have been to several classes at their New York Studio. Their London Studio is located in the neighborhood Covent Garden and features live spin, tread, and strength classes streamed to On-Demand members.
- See a show on the West End
- It was my goal to see an evening performance during this trip, however, it didn’t work out. I thought last minute tickets were going to be cheaper, but I was wrong! Next time, I’ll definitely book further in advance.
- Visit in July and experience Wimbledon
- I love tennis! I watch ATP tournaments all throughout the year and it is on my bucket list to attend a Wimbledon match. Scoring tickets are not for the faint of heart and will be a challenge in itself.
- Black Dog Vauxhall
- If you’re a Taylor Swift fan you know the significance of the Black Dog. This London pub is assumed to be the subject in Taylor’s Song with the same name, “The Black Dog”. I was planning on making it to this pub, but it was getting late after our full day tour.
- The Abba Voyage
- The virtual concert ABBA Experience at the ABBA Arena at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
- London Eye (I have heard it is overrated)
- The famous Ferris Wheel offers 360 panoramic views of the city from a height of 135m (433ft). It will cost you from £29 per person booked in advance.
- Harry Potter World
- The Warner Brother Studio Tour of the Harry Potter franchise located in Leavesden, England.
- Tower of London
- We saw the Tower of London from the outside but did not purchase tickets to enter the castle on this trip.
Book Recommendation:
Post trip I read the novel, “All That Life Can Afford” by Emily Everett. The book takes place primarily in London. Page by page, I was instantly transported back to London and loved reading about different locations that I’d visited and potential spots for the next. If you like to read novels, this may also help inspire your next London trip!
Getaways with Gabby 
Leave a comment