How to Plan the Perfect Weekend in London
Visit one of London’s eight royal parks, view the city from above, taste your way around the world, get your photo in a red telephone box, see the Crown Jewels and visit the official residence of the UK monarchy. There are so many things to do on your weekend in London. Read on for the perfect itinerary!
London; the UK’s big exciting capital city is perfect for a weekend getaway.
With so many amazing things to do in London, it can feel like you won’t have enough time to see everything. However, one of the best things about London is that many of the sights are within walking distance of each other so you can tick a few off fairly quickly.
There’s so much to do in this incredible city, it’s impossible to cover everything in a weekend. Even a month. We’ve lived here for five years and we’re continually finding new things to do and places to explore.
London is constantly changing. Quirky pop-ups coming and going every few weeks, new must-visit restaurants, and rooftop dining appearing every other day it can be quite daunting whittling it down to what you want to experience.
In this guide to planning the perfect weekend in London, we’ll ensure you get the most out of your visit by sharing the must-visit things to see and do, how to get around, the closest tube stations, restaurant recommendations, where to stay and so much more!
Your weekend in London itinerary is jam-packed! There’s a lot of walking as a lot of the main attractions are fairly close by. Walking is also the best way to experience the city, maximise your time as much as possible and even stumble across some hidden gems.
We’ve also highlighted the closest tube station to each location in case you don’t fancy the walk or the weather isn’t playing ball.
The map below highlights what you’ll see each day. Blue is day one and red is day two.
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Contents
Day 1
Oxford Street
You’re going to start your weekend in London on Oxford Street; the world-famous and the worlds-biggest high street.
You’ll start here as by mid-morning it’s extremely busy, it’ll be practically impossible to walk on the pavement, you’ll queue for ages for a fitting room and you’ll probably find yourself lost in Primark for the rest of the day!
Don’t spend long here as Oxford Street isn’t what it used to be. Oxford Street was once the ultimate shopping paradise with over 90 flagship stores. Today, however, a lot of the stores have closed down and have been replaced by dodgy American candy stores.
The street itself is still very impressive and early mornings have a wonderful buzz in the air with commuters heading to work. There are also more than 500 restaurants within a 5-minute walking distance so it’s a great spot for breakfast to fuel up for the day.
Our Top Tip: make sure you check out the side streets as this is where you’ll find the independent boutique cafes and eateries.
Best Tube Station: Oxford Circus. However, Oxford Circus can get uncomfortably busy so Bond Street, Marble Arch and Tottenham Court Road are also options.
Piccadilly Circus
Next on your weekend in London, it’s on to Piccadilly Circus; London’s equivalent of New York’s Times Square.
Walking from Oxford Street will take around 15 minutes down Regent Street. When built, Regent Street was actually London’s original shopping street and it has grown into a world-renowned destination.
There are various events that take place throughout the year here such as Summer Streets and the globally recognised Christmas lights switch-on.
You’ll find the world’s largest and oldest toy store, Hamleys here. Feel free to pop in on your way past but be careful, you could easily spend hours in here!
You’ll know when you’ve reached Piccadilly Circus, because of the huge billboards. Companies pay approximately £1 million ($1.18 million) for their adverts to be broadcast here as around 100 million people walk through this junction every year!
Best Tube Station: Piccadilly Circus.
Trafalgar Square
Once you’re done people-watching at Piccadilly Circus, make your way to Trafalgar Square. It’s an 8-minute walk down Regent Street St James’s, Waterloo Place then left onto Pall Mall (which I’m sure you’ll recognise from Monopoly).
Trafalgar Square is an absolute must-see for your weekend in London! It’s one of the most vibrant places in the city and holds many events throughout the year. Most of which are completely free to attend!
It’s also the site of national rallies and protests when they take place.
There are numerous monuments in Trafalgar Square; the most important of which is Nelson’s Column. You can’t miss this one; it’s right in the centre and has four lions and two fountains at its base.
Best Tube Station: Charing Cross is the closest. Also nearby are Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square.
Chinatown
You’re probably pretty hungry by now, so next on your weekend in London itinerary is lunch! A 5-minute walk from Trafalgar Square is Chinatown; the perfect place to satisfy your rumbling tummy.
En route to Chinatown, you’ll walk through Leicester Square. This is the place you see on TV where movie premiers are hosted.
Apart from this, there are a lot of overpriced chain restaurants and bars which you can find anywhere and will cost you a lot less than here! You’ll also undoubtedly queue for ages and be squished in like sardines. Continue on to Chinatown!
Chinatown is an incredibly vibrant area and hosts many events and activities throughout the year. As you walk through the streets keep your eyes peeled for stone lions, art sculptures and Chinese gates.
All of these decorations make beautiful photo opportunities and provide an insight into Chinese culture and religion.
For our complete guide to London Chinatown including food and restaurant recommendations, head to our post below.
There’s an abundance of restaurants in Chinatown with incredibly enticing smells wafting through their doors! As well as Chinese restaurants you’ll also find Korean, European, Vietnamese, Malaysian, Japanese and I’m sure more.
After lunch, if you fancy exploring this area a bit more there’s a wealth of authentic Chinese shops selling Asian cosmetics, trinkets and gifts. There are also some bakeries if you’ve got room for dessert.
Best Tube Station: Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square.
Covent Garden
Next up, Covent Garden; only a 7-minute walk from Chinatown. If this is your first weekend in London then this one’s a no-brainer!
This is one of our favourite places in London. It’s centred around the historic Covent Garden Market and traffic-free cobblestone piazza. It’s home to upscale fashion boutiques, craft stalls, the Royal Opera House and swanky restaurants.
But the best thing about Covent Garden and one of the top things to do in London is to see the free entertainment from the street performers.
Covent Garden has been known to have a thriving street performance culture since the 1600s. From musicians to magicians, mimes, clowns and impressionists, there’s no end to the talent you’ll find here.
Our Top Tip: visit the 18th-century pub Punch & Judy for a drink. There’s an outside balcony overlooking the piazza and you’ll have a birds-eye view of some of the street performers.
For one of the prettiest streets in London, head to Neal’s Yard. We stumbled on this vibrant, colourful micro-village by accident and if you’ve not yet found your perfect Instagram photo, this is it!
Here you’ll find independent restaurants, bars, cafes, bakeries and remedy shops. There are also some little tables and chairs amongst the trees if you just want to sit and relax.
Best Tube Station: Covent Garden.
West End Show
Again, if it’s your first weekend in London, an absolute must-do is to see a West End Show! Most of the theatres are around Covent Garden so you’re already perfectly situated.
They’re an incredible part of living in the UK and one of our favourite things to do in London. They’re full of wonderfully talented performers and their voices may well bring you to tears (Defying Gravity in Wicked was a close call!).
A lot of the musicals and plays come and go but some of the big ones like The Lion King, Wicked and Les Miserables we’re pretty sure will be around until the end of time. Make sure to check the timetable.
Our Top Tip: if you don’t mind what you see and you have more than one night in London, it’s worth seeing what deals you can get around Soho and Piccadilly Circus.
Sometimes you can get great on-the-day deals if there are seats that need selling. If you want to see a particular show, however, and you only have one night, we’d recommend booking your tickets in advance.
Best Tube Station: it will depend on what theatre you’re going to but the hotspots are Oxford Circus, Covent Garden, Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus.
Day 2
Sky Garden
We hope you’re not too exhausted after day 1 of your weekend in London as you have another mega day today!
You’re going to start off with sweeping views across London from the Sky Garden.
The Sky Garden is located on Fenchurch Street, in the ‘Walkie-Talkie building (you shouldn’t struggle to find the building, it’s the one that looks like a walkie-talkie…).
This is London’s highest public garden and offers a magnificent view over the ever-expanding skyline!
Inside, you’ll also find a terrace, cafe and Darwin Restaurant which serves delicious breakfast (although doesn’t come without the price tag!).
Just to top off the Sky Garden experience, it’s completely free to visit and is one of the best free things to do in London. You need to book a ticket so they can limit the number of visitors and unsurprisingly, it books up weeks in advance.
Best Tube Station: Monument. Tower Hill, Tower Gateway, Aldgate, Bank and Mansion House are all within a 10-minute walk.
Tower of London
From the Sky Garden, walk five minutes along Great Tower Street to the historic Tower of London. London’s castle is a secure fortress, an infamous prison and a royal palace.
You can take a Yeoman Warder’s (also known as Beefeaters) tour where you’ll hear stories from 1000 years of history. You’ll also learn about the history, imprisonment, execution and torture that went on at the fortress.
The highlight of your visit will be laying your eyes on one of the most powerful symbols of the British Monarchy that lures visitors from around the world; The Crown Jewels.
Finally, meet the castle’s resident ravens and hear why they’re known as the guardians of the Tower. It’s said the kingdom and the Tower will fall if the six resident ravens ever leave.
Best Tube Station: Tower Hill.
Tower Bridge
Just around the corner from the Tower of London is Tower Bridge and then it’s time for lunch.
Lunch will be at Borough Market and if you want to walk straight there, it’s a 17-minute walk across London Bridge. However, if you can wait a little longer, walk the longer way to Borough Market so you can cross Tower Bridge.
This is without a doubt one of the top things to do in London; especially if it’s your first time. This route will take around 30 minutes so not too much longer.
Tower Bridge has been London’s defining landmark and an iconic symbol for both London and the UK for more than a century.
You can either cross it or buy tickets and head up to the high-level walkways and glass floor and take in the incredible panoramic views across London.
To learn more about the Bridge’s fascinating history or to buy tickets click here.
Best Tube Station: Tower Hill
Borough Market
This market is a favourite amongst foodies with different stalls selling food from all over the world. It’s perfect for a grab-and-go lunch.
There’s a fantastic atmosphere in this buzzing market from tourists and locals alike. It’s a favourite spot for Londoners who work at London Bridge to meet friends and colleagues for lunch.
Make sure you also wander around the other various stalls selling fresh produce, international delicacies, handmade chocolates and cheese, wine and so much more.
Our Top Tip: most of the food vendors issue free samples, so if you’re not sure what you fancy, try something.
Best Tube Station: London Bridge and Southwark.
London Eye
Next on your weekend in London itinerary is the London Eye. From Borough Market, it’s about a half an hour walk which we’d recommend doing as it takes you along South Bank; one of the nicest areas in London in our opinion.
If you weren’t hungry at Borough Market this is also another lovely spot for lunch with restaurants overlooking The Thames.
Alternatively, you can take the 381 bus from The Hop Exchange or the Jubilee Line from London Bridge to Waterloo. Both will take about 15 minutes.
The London Eye, although super touristy is something we’d definitely recommend if it’s your first weekend in London. The views across the city are spectacular on a clear day.
Our Top Tip: you can buy tickets on the day but if you buy them in advance you’ll save time and money. You can also buy tickets to the London Eye in combination with other attractions which will save you money.
Best Tube Station: Waterloo is the closest. Embankment and Charing Cross are also close by.
Houses of Parliament and Big Ben
Up next are some of London’s most iconic sites; The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. These are an 8-minute walk from The London Eye along The Queen’s Walk and across the bridge. It’ll be fairly obvious where you’re going.
Out of all of London’s landmarks, Big Ben is instantly the most recognisable.
The Gothic clock tower, Big Ben, is at one end of The Houses of Parliament. It stands at 96 metres high and contains the second-largest four-faced chiming clock in the world.
The Houses of Parliament, also known as the Palace of Westminster, serves as a meeting point for British politicians. If you’re lucky enough during your visit, you may be able to sit in on a House of Commons meeting. To top it off, it’s completely free!
Our Top Tip: if you’re looking for the iconic red telephone box Instagram photo, this is where you’ll find it.
The Best Tube Station: Westminster.
Westminster Abbey
Literally, just around the corner, a 5-minute walk from Big Ben is the Gothic Abbey church, Westminster Abbey.
The Abbey was founded in 960AD by Benedictine monks. It has been the coronation church since 1066 and is one of the most important Gothic buildings in the country.
More than 3,300 people have been buried or commemorated in the Abbey. This includes 17 British monarchs and other significant people in Britain’s history including Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Dickens.
Seventeen royal weddings have taken place here with the most recent being the royal wedding of Prince William on 29th April 2011.
If you’re interested in going inside Westminster Abbey, check here for times and prices
The Best Tube Station: Westminster.
Buckingham Palace
We’d recommend walking to Buckingham Palace through St. James’ Park. It’s only a 15-minute walk and public transport will take pretty much the same time.
Buckingham Palace has served as the official London residence of the UK’s sovereigns since 1837 and today is the administrative headquarters of the Monarch.
There are many royal events and ceremonies here with more than 50,000 guests visiting the Palace each year. These events can be State banquets, lunches, dinners, receptions and garden parties. The King also holds weekly audiences with the Prime Minister.
If your weekend in London is during the summer, the State Rooms are open to visitors. Purchase tickets for the Buckingham Palace State Rooms.
The Best Tube Station: Victoria, Hyde Park Corner and Green Park.
Hyde Park
You’re going to finish your weekend in London in the city’s most famous and biggest park (in Central London); Hyde Park. I’m sure by now you’ll be completely exhausted so what better way to round off your trip than a relaxing amble through the park?
Hyde Park is a 12-minute stroll from Buckingham Palace through the Palace Gardens.
If you have any energy left, Hyde Park is home to numerous activities. As well as walking and cycling, you can have a go at boating, tennis, horse-riding or even swimming in the Serpentine! There are also plenty of quiet places to relax and unwind.
Hyde Park has a long history as a site of protest, and still hosts rallies and marches today. It’s also the site of various world-class events, concerts and festivals throughout the year.
The Best Tube Station: due to the size of Hyde Park, there are various tube stations all within close proximity. Lancaster Gate, Marble Arch, Hyde Park Corner and Knightsbridge.
Dining on Your Weekend in London
London is home to over 40,000 food establishments so deciding where to eat with only a weekend, can be very daunting. From world-class fine dining to quirky pop-ups, traditional pub grub and market street stalls there’s no end to the city’s options.
Here, we’ve highlighted some of the best areas for dining in London within easy reach of the city so you don’t have to travel too far. We’ve also shared some of our favourite restaurants and recommendations that we’ve gotten to know over our five years.
Brick Lane
Brick Lane is globally renowned and one of our absolute favourite areas to eat in London!
With eye-popping street art, food markets, vintage stores and curry houses galore, it’s an absolute must-visit, especially if it’s your first weekend in London.
Brick Lane is known as London’s curry mile thanks to the numerous Indian restaurants lining the street. During the ‘60s and ‘70s, Bengali immigrants set up Indian restaurants and Brick Lane became the place to go for a curry and BYO beer.
Our Top Tip: walking down Brick Lane, you’ll be stopped by staff offering super cheap deals. Don’t be pressured into the first one. The difficulty is sifting out the good restaurants from the bad ones. We’ve tried our fair share and can confidently recommend Aladin.
Over the last decade, there’s been an explosion in new restaurants in this area as well. Nestled amongst the curry houses you’ll also find the likes of vegan restaurants, fried chicken shops, the infamous cereal cafe and hugely popular bagel shops.
Stick around after dinner and there are numerous bars in the area as well or a short walk away is Shoreditch; one of London’s quirkiest spots and renowned for nightlife.
Best Tube Station: Aldgate East
Shoreditch
Shoreditch is East London’s Soho; quirky, creative, hipster and the definition of ‘cool’. It’s a food mecca and an absolute haven for foodies. It’s home to some of London’s finest eateries and caters for everyone.
From Michelin-starred restaurants to Thai street food, the ‘Pho Mile’, trendy trattorias, biker cafes, burger bars, salt beef bagels and family-friendly options, no matter what you’re in the mood for, you’ll find it here in Shoreditch.
If you’re craving Vietnamese, Kingsland Road is home to a number of great restaurants it’s been dubbed as the ‘Pho Mile’. A couple of our favourites are Song Que Cafe and Bun Bun Bun. They’re also pretty cheap so a great option if you’re travelling on a budget.
Dishoom is a firm favourite of ours. These post-colonial-styled Irani cafes offer a great selection of Indian small plates as well as exotically spiced cocktails. You’ll also find Dishoom locations in Covent Garden, Kensington, Canary Wharf, King’s Cross and Carnaby.
After dinner, Shoreditch is also home to some of London’s best nightlife.
Best Tube Station: Old Street and Liverpool Street. Shoreditch High Street if you’re arriving on the overground.
Soho
Soho; the epicentre of London’s foodie culture.
It’s approximately a square mile in size and oozes bright lights and excitement. There’s a huge range of restaurants to satisfy any craving. From the authentic to the bizarre.
Whether you’ve got a hankering for authentic tapas, spicy Sri Lankan street food, Sunday roast dinners, cosy Thai in what feels like your grandparents’ living room, hearty pub grub or Mexican designed as a sex shop, Soho’s got you covered.
Don’t just stick to the main streets, some of the greatest places are on the side roads.
Some of our favourite restaurants in Soho are; Rosa’s – delicious Thai food in cosy cafes; Hoppers – inspired by Sri Lankan village toddy shops and Tonkotsu – yummy ramen.
Alternatively, if you can’t decide what you fancy head to Seven Dials’ food court with cuisines from all over the world.
Our Top Tip: Soho is extremely busy and touristy. If you’ve only got one night in London then definitely head to Soho for the evening, but if you’re here for longer, check out one of the other areas.
Best Tube Station: Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road and Leicester Square.
South Bank
Boasting many riverside restaurants offering stunning views across the Thames and a stone’s throw away from some of London’s most iconic landmarks, South Bank is a great option for dining on your weekend in London.
There’s an abundance of restaurants ranging from traditional British pub grub to fine dining establishments, delicious Vietnamese food, steak and homely trattorias. Many of these establishments have outside terraces perfect for a warm summer’s evening.
South Bank is the cultural hub of the city that stretches between the London Eye and the Tate Modern. It’s also home to the Royal Festival Hall and the National Theatre. There’s a wonderful cosmopolitan buzz here as visitors from around the world are drawn here.
If you’re lucky you may also get to see some street performers.
Some of the top restaurants we’d recommend in South Bank are; Ping Pong – seriously tasty dim sum; Sea Containers – an upmarket riverside hotel reminiscent of a 1920s transatlantic cruise liner and Marugame Udon – flavour-filled and hearty udon noodles.
Best Tube Station: Waterloo.
Where to Stay in London
Deciding where to stay in London depends on what vibe you’re after, your budget and your evening plans. Some areas are more convenient in terms of how central they are and how easy it is to get public transport.
If you want to be based in the heart of everything for your weekend in London, we’d recommend staying in the West-End. A lot of the city’s main attractions are right on your doorstep, so you’ll be able to walk between most places.
It also has great public transport links, you’re surrounded by theatres and there are countless dining and nightlight options in Soho. Accommodation, however, can be pretty pricey.
If you’re looking for somewhere walkable to the West-End but without the price tag, just to the north, you have Bloomsbury and Fitzrovia.
These areas are also significantly quieter if you want to escape the hustle and bustle. North of Fitzrovia is King’s Cross. There isn’t a huge amount going on in this area but it has fantastic transport links around London, to the airports and to France via the Eurostar.
South Bank (or Southwark) is handy for a lot of the main attractions. Also with numerous dining and nightlife options right on your doorstep, it’s a fun area to be based.
The City is fantastic for location and transport. At the weekend, however, it’s a ghost town. Lots of bars and restaurants are closed so you’ll need to head out in the evening for some atmosphere. It does mean, however, that you may find some good weekend deals.
Getting Into London
There are multiple airports to fly into for your weekend in London all with direct links to the City. Avoid taxis; they’re expensive and will take longer than public transport because of the traffic.
From Heathrow, you can take the Heathrow Express to Paddington, the Piccadilly Line into Central London or the Elizabeth Line into Central London and out East.
We’d recommend the Elizabeth or Piccadilly lines. The Elizabeth Line will be quicker, however, will cost £12.80 if travelling through Zone 1. The same journey on the Piccadilly Line will cost £5.50. The Heathrow Express costs around £22.
From Gatwick, you have the option of the Express to London Victoria for about £20. Alternatively, you can take the normal Southern train for about £10 and there are multiple stops this train makes in Central London so it may actually save you time as well as money.
With the other airports, you only have one option. Stanstead has the Stanstead Express that takes you to Liverpool Street. Luton, you need to take a bus from the airport to Luton Airport Parkway and then the train to London St Pancras.
Finally, City Airport is the dream to fly into for Central London, but unfortunately, not many places fly there. You’re in the city in 20 minutes if you take the DLR to Bank Station and from there, there are great transport links.
To check times and prices we always use thetrainline.com.
Getting Around London
With this weekend in London itinerary, the best way to get around is by walking! The main attractions are close by and once you’ve got to the right platform, ridden one or two stops and navigated the crowds, it would have been quicker to walk.
If you do use public transport, it’s pretty efficient with tubes and buses running regularly. A bus journey is £1.75 and if you tap on another bus within an hour of tapping on the previous one, you won’t pay again. Tube journeys are £1.80 upwards.
Don’t make the mistake of buying a travel card, they’re the most expensive way to travel! Contactless maxes out at £8.10 a day for zones 1 and 2 and £9.60 for zone 3.
Our Top Tip: Citymapper is a great app for navigating your way around London. It tells you which tube to get and where the best location is to sit for the exit you need or route to connect to another tube. It also tells you how much your journey will cost.
Buses are a great way to get around. They tend to be a lot quieter and around Central London, they’ll pass some of the city’s main attrations.
A great way to get around some of London is to hire Santander Bikes. These cost £1.65 for 24 hours. The first half-hour is free and then it charges £1.65 for every additional half an hour.
There are docking stations everywhere so if you dock it within half an hour and take it out again, you won’t need to pay more than £1.65. You’ll find docking stations here. There’s also an app that’ll tell you where the closest one is and how many bikes are available.
Everything to Know Before Your Weekend in London
When’s the best time to visit London?
In the UK, there’s always the chance of rain. But what’s great is how many amazing free things to do in London there are that you can still experience if the weather’s horrendous. May – September you have the best chance of nicer, warmer weather.
July and August being the summer holidays make London even busier than normal (yes, that’s possible!). Mid-November to December is our favourite time in London with the Christmas lights and decorations and best of all, the Christmas markets!!
What plug do I need for London?
We use plug type G. It has three rectangular pins.
What currency do I need for the UK?
We use the pound. At the time of writing, 1 GBP is approximately 1.24 USD.
Is there anything else I should know?
Most restaurants add on a 12.5% service charge, sometimes it’s 10%. It’s optional and you can ask for it to be taken off, but if you won’t feel comfortable doing this, take the service charge into account when ordering.
If you want to catch a show while you’re here and you have the flexibility on when and what to see, you can usually get some cracking on the day deals around Soho and Piccadilly Circus.
You’ll be able to see exactly where you’re sitting and you can sometimes save 50%!
We hope this post has been helpful in planning your weekend in London. If you have any more questions feel free to leave a comment or get in contact 🙂