LONDON WEEKEND GUIDE

London is a city I can always return to every year and I still find myself falling more in love with the city each time. There is so much to see, do and my favorite activity is dining at some of the most Instagrammable cafes in London. I suggest spending at least 3-5 days in London if you have time. During my recent trip, I spent a weekend exploring one of my favorite cities. So if you only have a weekend to spend in London, here’s my luxury weekend guide to London.

THINGS TO KNOW

Use public transportation. The metro system, “The Tube” is super easy and convenient to get you around the city
Kids under 11 are FREE and don’t need an Oyster card when traveling with an adult. Kids from 11 – 15 get a reduced rate. Make sure to ask the staff to help with providing the discounted rate
The UK uses the British Pound (£)
Tip from 10-15%, always check if it has already been added to your bill
Cars drive on the left
The UK uses the 3-pin outlets

WHERE TO STAY

The Savoy London is one of the top luxury hotels in London by the River Thames with lots of history and elegant English design. The luxury 5-star hotel is centrally located in the heart of London and close to many top attractions that London has to offer. Just steps from the London Eye, Covent Garden, and a quick metro ride to the Tower Bridge.

The hotel has 267 rooms and suites and I had the opportunity to experience the One-Bedroom Suite River View room that overlooked the River Thames and the London Eye. If you book a suite, you get the full luxurious service of having your own Savoy butler who helps you with everything from making dining reservations, steaming your clothes, and even shoe-shining services. I highly recommend booking a room with a river view to see some of London’s most iconic landmarks.

THE SAVOY LONDON DINING

Simpson’s in the Strand: The restaurant is part of the Savoy and the 2nd oldest restaurant in London. Located outside The Savoy Hotel, the restaurant serves traditional British cuisine with fresh ingredients sourced from across the UK. They have one of the best fish and chips in London!

Savoy Afternoon Tea: A trip to London is not complete without enjoying a traditional afternoon tea experience. Afternoon Tea at The Savoy, they offer a wide variety of teas, finger sandwiches, homemade scones and jams, and pastries to be enjoyed with a live pianist.

The Savoy American Bar: This is the oldest surviving cocktail bar in Britain, first welcoming guests for its popular ‘American-style’ drinks in 1893. It’s rated as one of the best bars in the world! You don’t want to miss this!

Beaufort Bar: a theatrical, art deco setting to enjoy vintage and non-vintage champagne

Savoy Grill by Gordan Ramsy: Dine here for the best seafood in town!

AMENITIES

Beauty and Fitness Center
Butler and Concierge Service
Gift shops: Savoy Flowers, Savoy Tea Shop, Boodles Jewelry
Event Space
Indoor Pool

WHAT TO DO IN LONDON

I found that purchasing a London Pass is the best and most affordable way to enjoy all these attractions. The pass allows you to access over 80 attractions, fast-track entry to selected attractions, and 1-day hop-on hop-off bus tour. Many of the top attractions are included in the London Pass.

Big Ben: London’s iconic landmark, and great for photos.

Palace of Westminster: Stunning palace that can’t be missed when visiting Big Ben.

London Eye: Enjoy a ride on the famous Ferris wheel that offers beautiful panoramic views of London. I’ve taken many photos outside but haven’t been up to the London Eye yet! Save some cash and purchase advance tickets online.

88 Bishopsgate Lookout: This is free to visit and has beautiful views of London

Sky Garden: London’s highest public garden has stunning views. Make sure to get advance tickets.

River Thames: Take a stroll or river cruise to enjoy plenty of cultural landmarks.

Tower of London: I highly recommend visiting the historic castle that houses the Crown Jewels!

Tower Bridge: Take a stroll through London’s most symbolic landmark. A must-see in London! I walk this bridge every time I visit.

Buckingham Palace: The changing of the guards occurs at around 10:45 AM. Plan to get there early enough to get a good spot!

Westminster Abbey: Gorgeous gothic style church site for royal weddings and coronations.

Covent Garden: Covent Garden is London’s hub to shopping, dining, and entertainment. I love walking around this area especially since it’s only a 10-minute walk from The Savoy London Hotel.

Kew Gardens: Kew Gardens is a beautiful botanic garden, 20 minutes from London.

The British Museum: If you’re into museums and exhibits, the British Museum has a lot to see. I would recommend planning out what exhibit you’re most interested in seeing because it can get overwhelming.

The Shard: I love visiting observation observatories in each city. The Shard has the best view of London’s incredible skyline from the 68th, 69th, and 70th floors. The best time to visit is right before sunset.

Leicester Square/Piccadilly Circus: There are a lot of restaurants, shopping, street performers, and a great place to explore.

One New Change Rooftop Bar: I loved visiting this area. There’s a beautiful view of St Pauls Cathedral from the bottom area and on the top rooftop, you get stunning rooftop views!

Department Store Shopping at Fortnum and Mason, Harrods, and Selfridges. I love these department stores, they’re beautiful and there is so much to do in each one as well as many great restaurants. I highly recommend shopping at Fortnum and Mason for classic British tea and biscuits, and they also offer a great afternoon tea!

WHERE TO HAVE AFTERNOON TEA

The Savoy: As mentioned above, this is a great classic at one of the best spots for afternoon tea with a live pianist. Afternoon tea starts at £80 per person.

Shangri-La Hotel: I loved having afternoon tea here for the amazing views. I highly recommend this for anyone visiting for the first time. The cost for afternoon tea is £78 per person.

The Nomad Hotel: The Nomad Hotel is a stunning location for afternoon tea and when I visited it was not busy at all. The afternoon tea here is £65 per person.

Cakes & Bubbles at Hotel Cafe Royal: I loved the Sweet Bubbles Menu here by Alber Adria. They offer 3 courses for £50 per person with creative and unique desserts.

Fortnum and Mason: One of the highly rated afternoon teas is at Fortnum and Mason. I was unable to get a reservation but I would love to try this one next time I’m back. Afternoon tea here starts at £80 per person.

Lanesborough Hotel: The Lanesborough Hotel offers a Bridgerton-themed afternoon tea. Afternoon tea costs £85 per person.

Sketch: One of the most popular restaurants in London is Sketch. This restaurant has a few different bars and restaurants, the afternoon tea is in The Gallery Room. The afternoon tea menu starts at £59 per person.

THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN LONDON

I suggest making reservations at The Savoy London dining options but here are also a few other recommendations for the best restaurants in London:

The Mayfair Chippy: For one of the best fish and chips in London, take a visit to The Mayfair Chippy located in the middle of the city. The fish is beautifully fried to a golden color with fresh and thick-cut chips. It is served with homemade tartar sauce, smashed peas, and curry gravy.

Duck and Waffle: If you want a wholesome brunch meal, order the Duck and Waffle because you’ll leave with a belly full of happiness.

Sketch: A very popular themed restaurant that serves afternoon tea, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Make sure to make reservations online and don’t forget to stop by the bathroom for a photo!

EL&N Cafe: One of the most Instagrammable cafes due to the pink interior and beautiful lattes and food. There are over 7 locations around London each with its own unique style. I’ve only been to the Brompton St location which has a full flower wall in the back of the restaurant.

Saint Aymes: A bit pricey but probably one of the prettiest floral exterior with really pretty drinks and cakes! I enjoyed the unicorn latte which also had glitter.

Peggy Porschen Cakes: I think this was one of the first and most Instagrammable cafes in London and I can see why! They change the decoration seasonally and provide cute outdoor seating.

Alto by San Carlo at Selfridges Rooftop: This rooftop restaurant is a Sicilian restaurant with a beautiful lemon-themed decoration.

Bacchanalia: This Greek restaurant has a Michelin Star. The interior is stunning with sculptures and paintings all over.

Borough Market: This food market is popular and if you have time, definitely visit and get pasta at Padella.

Buns From Home: If you don’t mind waiting in line, this has the best buns!

Dishoom: This is a very popular and well-known Indian restaurant but be prepared to wait over an hour. I honestly thought it was good but not worth the wait.

Prada Cafe: The Prada Cafe is worth a visit, it’s super cute and prices are not as bad as I thought. It’s located inside Harrod’s and make sure to make reservations online.

The best part about staying at The Savoy London is how convenient the hotel is from all of my favorite locations. Make sure to book your next stay at The Savoy London for the best weekend getaway!