“The best bribe which London offers to-day to the imagination, is, that, in such a vast variety of people and conditions, one can believe there is room for persons of romantic character to exist, and that the poet, the mystic, and the hero may hope to confront their counterparts.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

Getting Around

• Elizabeth Line or the Heathrow Express?
  • Elizabeth Line: leaves from all four Heathrow terminals to six main underground stations – including Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road and Liverpool Street. One Elizabeth Line train runs every 15 minutes to and from Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3, but only one every half-hour to Terminal 4 and Terminal 5 (visit the timetable at the Transport for London website). It takes about 30 minutes to get from Heathrow to Paddington station. It costs £12.70 for a one-way trip.
  • Heathrow Express: leaves from Heathrow terminals 2, 3 and 5 and goes directly to Paddington . Trains run every 15 minutes. It only takes about 15 minutes to reach Paddington. Tickets are £25 for one way, unless you buy a £37 return ticket (which cuts the one-way fare to £18.50). If you can book at least 90 days in advance, the one-way fare is only £5.50.
• You can just use Apple Pay to tap into and out of all the tube stations, don’t bother buying an Oyster Card.
• Avoid the Tube if possible during rush hour and if it is hot outside. Most of the lines don’t have A/C and can be very miserable and stinky. It’s better just to walk sometimes or take a black cab! 
• The buses – I am no help here! They are extremely confusing to me.  If you use Google to do your route, it will give you bus numbers so that is helpful.

Where to Stay

• Sofitel, Terminal 5 – we always stay here our first night in London because it is attached to the terminal. You can call about paying extra to check in right when you arrive if you are getting an early red eye. We have also been known to book it the night before even if we won’t technically be staying in it and letting them know we will be an early check-in the next morning. We are just so old now, those red eyes just wipe us out and we want immediate access to a bed for a nap! 
• We like staying in the British Museum area. It is centrally located and there’s tons of places to eat, shop, etc. right there. Just make sure you stay very close to a well-connected Tube station. DO NOT stay on the outskirts of London, you will spend so much time just coming into the city. 

Where to Shop

• Harrods – the food halls are amazing! The next three stores are within an easy walk of one another. Harrod’s is a bit of an outlier so you might consider doing this when you go see Buckingham Palace. Open 10:00AM – 9:00PM except Sunday, open 11:30AM – 6:00PM.
• Hamleys – multiple floor toy store with really cool Lego displays. Open 10:00AM – 8:00PM except Sunday, open 12:00PM – 6:00PM.
• Liberty London – gorgeous store, expensive prices. Go here just to see it. Open 10:00AM – 8:00PM except Sunday, open 12:00PM – 6:00PM.
• Fortnum & Mason – splurge and have afternoon tea here! It is so classic! Open 10:00AM – 8:00PM except Sunday, open 11:30AM – 6:00PM.
• Thomas Farthing – my dad and brother love this place. Classic English style. They bought vests, hats, tweed jackets. Open 11:00AM – 6:00PM, closed Sundays.
• JAS Smith & Sons Umbrellas – they have been the same store look forever! Really cool place to grab an umbrella or just look around. Open 10:30AM – 5:30PM, closed Sundays.
• James J Fox – cigar bar where Churchill got all of his cigars. They still have the chair where he would sit and you can sit there. Open 11:00AM – 7:00PM, closed Sundays.
• Choosing Keeping – if you love pens, stationery, etc., make sure you pop in here. It’s in the Convent Garden area. Super cute store, great souvenirs. Open 10:30AM – 5:30PM Monday – Friday, Saturday 10:30AM – 6:00PM, Sunday 11:30AM – 5:30PM.
• Portobello Road Market – start at Alice’s and work your way down the street. The Earl of Lonsdale Pub is great and a nice place to end your day of shopping. You can see all the cute Notting Hill houses and explore this neighborhood. Check the schedule of when the market is open though, not open every day. Open 8:00AM – 5:00PM except Sunday, open 8:00AM – 5:00PM.
• Daunt Books (Marylebone): A beautiful Edwardian bookshop designed like a library, specializing in travel literature. Open 9:00AM – 7:30PM except Sunday, open 11:00AM – 6:00PM.
• Camden Passage (Islington) – A quirky pedestrian street with vintage shops, antiques, and eclectic boutiques. Open 8:00AM – 5:00PM Wed/Sat/Sun, 9:00AM – 5:00PM Mon/Tue/Thu
• Leadenhall Market – 14th century covered marketplace hosting stores, bars, and restaurants. The marketplace is open 24 hours for you to stroll through but you will need to check the times for individual establishments.
• Neal’s Yard Dairy – London’s premiere artisanal cheese monger.

Where to Eat

• Hung, Drawn & Quartered – excellent hand pies located near the Tower of London – 26-27 Great Tower Street
• Dishoom – fabulous Indian food. Various locations but we tried the one in Convent Garden – 12 Upper St Martin’s Lane
• Donutelier – boutique donut shop specializing in combining traditional pastry with modern flavors. 48-50 Charing Cross Road
• Borough Market – this is where all the TikTok famous food stalls are
• The Ladbroke Arms – nice Pub near Portobello Road. Stop in here to refresh after hitting all of the stalls. They have a really nice beer garden in the back if the weather happens to be nice. 54 Ladbroke Road
• The Plough – traditional, refurbished Victorian pub located near the British Museum – 27 Museum Street, Bloomsbury.
• The Wands & Wizards Exploratorium – Harry Potter fans will adore this, all others will love this experience. Be transported to a potions class where you will get to brew different spells but these are all very tasty!
• Sketch (Mayfair): Eccentric and artistic restaurant with themed rooms – the Gallery’s pink velvet room is especially Instagram-worthy.
• Cahoots (Soho): A 1940s-themed speakeasy set in a disused Tube station. Reservations are essential.
• Seven Dials Market – food hall located in the heart of Covent Garden.
• Flat Iron Covent Garden – steak restaurant with in-house butchery. Reservations are essential.
• The Wolseley – classic British brasserie with an elegant setting.
• The Shed – Seasonal, modern British plates served in a rustic space with colourful fabrics and barrel tables. Reservations required.

Have Afternoon Tea

• Fortnum & Mason (Piccadilly) – Iconic and luxurious, Fortnum & Mason has been serving afternoon tea since 1926. The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon exudes elegance with its soft pastel decor and live piano music.
• The Ritz Mayfair – The most famous afternoon tea in London, held in the stunning Palm Court. Expect impeccable service, a live pianist, and a strict dress code.
• Claridge’s Mayfair – Timeless and elegant, with Art Deco details. The menu is crafted by world-renowned pastry chefs.
• The Goring – Awarded the UK Tea Guild’s Top London Afternoon Tea Award. It’s quintessentially British with royal connections (where Kate Middleton stayed before her wedding).
• The Brown’s Hotel – London’s oldest hotel, frequented by royalty and literary greats like Rudyard Kipling. Classic afternoon tea with a contemporary twist.
• The Savoy (Strand) – Served in the elegant Thames Foyer with a glass dome, grand piano, and art deco charm.
• The Lanesborough (Hyde Park Corner)– Award-winning afternoon tea in the majestic Celeste dining room under a glass-domed roof.
• Dean Street Townhouse (SOHO) – A cozy, intimate setting with vintage charm. Perfect for a relaxed, understated tea experience.
• Covent Garden Hotel (Covent Garden) – Elegant yet relaxed, served in the beautiful Drawing Room with a quirky, artistic flair.

What to See

• Thames River Cruise – highly suggest taking this your first full day in London. It’s a great way to see a lot of the major sites because you can hop-on/hop-off
• British Museum – free but make sure you get there early! It gets super crowded in the afternoons and hot! 
• Buckingham Palace – try to go when the palace is open to the public for the summer. I think it starts in July but can’t swear to it. The tour is fantastic! 
• Tower of London – a must see for the crown jewels and the beefeaters and all the murder stuff! 
• Westminster Abbey – royal weddings, famous burials, gorgeous stained glass…what’s not to love?
• St. Paul’s Cathedral – sits on Ludgate Hill, the highest point in London.
• Victoria & Albert – check and see what special exhibits they have
• Sherlock Holmes Museum – well done and small so it won’t take you long to tour but worth it, especially if you are a fan. 
• Churchill War Rooms – a must for the history buff! Tour the rooms just as they were left in 1945 after the War.
• Sky Garden – if you want a view of London, do this instead of the London Eye. I would not waste time/money on the Eye. 
• Hyde Park – make sure to stop by the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain
• Charles Dickens Museum (Bloomsbury): In the author’s former home, preserved with original furniture and manuscripts.
• The National Gallery – free art museum with rotating special exhibits. Open until 9:00PM on Fridays.

Day Trips to Consider

• Bletchley Park – I went with my computer geek husband to be nice but I thoroughly enjoyed it! The grounds are beautiful and the history of the code breakers is really interesting.
• Windsor Castle – It’s not far out of town to go see the castle and the town. It’s a fun half-day excursion. Also a good idea after you have your nap on the first day you are in town because you are a short cab ride from Heathrow to Windsor.
• Highclere Castle – it’s also not always open and I have never managed to see it. If you are Downton Abbey fans, might be worth the excursion. There is a good service from London Paddington to Newbury. Taxis can be found outside the station at Newbury. A taxi from Newbury Station to Highclere Castle takes approximately 15 minutes.
• Oxford – beautiful town and the gateway to the Cotswolds. If you want to do this, I would hire a private driver for the day to take you from town to town. 
• Canterbury – loved visiting this cathedral and town. Definitely take a punt tour while there. 

Other Tidbits to Note

• When arriving in Heathrow, after you pass through security, stop by M&S (Marks & Spencer) to get the 5 pound meal deal. It’s a drink, sandwich, and chips. You can find these meal deals all over London and they are fantastic when you need something quick & easy. Even if you aren’t hungry, go ahead and grab one. Sometimes, your hotel won’t have a place open to get stuff when you arrive and get hungry later or if you are renting a flat, it will be great to have that ready to go. 

What’s in Jo’s Suitcase