5 Days in London Itinerary

There is so much to see and do in London, I’ve been three times so far and I just fall more in love with it each time.

I created this London itinerary based on my different experiences and what were my favorite things to do while there.

Day 1

Afternoon- Check into Hotel

There are hundreds of hotels to choose from in London so it can be very overwhelming to know where to begin. On my first night, I checked into the Courthouse Hotel and I found it to be in the perfect neighborhood, just a short walk from many attractions, stores and eateries.

The Courthouse Hotel is in a very reasonable price point. It’s a 5-star hotel in an amazing location, with spacious and clean rooms and very comfortable beds! There are tons of options of places to eat right in this area, but I wandered down the famous Carnaby Street and came across a really cute food court called Kingly Court with any kind of cuisine you can imagine. My group tried a really yummy Peruvian restaurant (ceviche, anyone?) But I definitely heard good things about Stax Diner as well, I think I would have given that a try the next round because I lovely diner atmospheres and who can resist a milkshake?

4 PM- Notting Hill

After lunch, we made our way to Notting Hill, one of my favorite areas of London and definitely a can’t miss area! We first stopped at the very Instagrammable pub, Churchill Arms which actually used to be a hang out spot for Winston Churchill’s grandparents! Turns out it serves Thai food which I had recommended to me, but as I had just eaten, I didn’t have a chance to try it.

Make sure to just stroll around Notting Hill and find some of the most beautiful  pastel colored houses you’ve ever seen! Also, don’t miss Portobello Market, an amazing area for vintage and antique shopping!

6:00 PM- Champagne Experience at London Eye

I highly recommend riding the London Eye, it’s definitely a fun experience! I also specifically recommend 6:00 so you can enjoy the sunset, but double check what time sunset will be when you’re there since it changes year round.

Riding the London Eye is a 30 minute experience with some of the best views of London that feel like they go on for miles. You’ll be able to see many famous landmarks as well like Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral and Trafalgar Square!

6:45 PM- Piccadilly Circus

Piccadilly is a perfect place to visit at dusk into the evening when the city starts really buzzing and coming to life! This area is so fun for people watching and it is known as the “Times Square of London.” This area has a lot of dining options, street entertainers and different attractions such as M & M World which I think is fun to visit! It’s a fun area to hang out as well if you are waiting to see a broadway show in the West End. I loved seeing Aladdin in Broadway in London and highly recommend seeing this show.

7:30 PM- Dinner at the Coral Room at the Bloomsbury

The Bloomsbury is a very lovely hotel in London that houses a few restaurants. We tried out the Coral Room and I was impressed not only by the immaculate design, but also by the quintessential and delicious British cuisine. The atmosphere is cozy and relaxing and this is a perfect way to unwind after a busy day exploring the best of London!

5 Days in London Itinerary

Day 2

Sunrise- London Eye

I always say that I’m not a morning person, but for a good sunrise, I’ll make myself be one. This rings true for London as well. Waking up and seeing the sun rise behind the London Eye is definitely worthwhile. You won’t be the only one there as many other photographers will be setting up as well, but don’t worry, it is a pretty big area so there is room for everyone.

If you are needing a boost after capturing the sunrise, there is a cool coffee shop nearby called Host Cafe at St. Mary Aldemary Church. It’s a pretty cool concept as it is a coffee shop built into a church. Have a nice cuppa while enjoying the intricate designs of the church.

8 AM- Leadenhall Market and Borough Market

One of my top choices for London was Leadenhall Market, mostly because I am a big Harry Potter fan! This area was actually where J.K Rowling got the concept for Diagon Alley! We went a little bit before it opened so it was a perfect time to capture photos. I highly recommend visiting this area even if you aren’t a Harry Potter fan because the architecture is so incredible and unique!

Head over to Borough Market after perusing Leadenhall. Borough Market is London’s biggest food and drink market and is definitely worth a stop.

If you want to see more Harry Potter filming locations and attractions in London, I recommend booking this tour!

10 AM- Brunch at Sketch

Sketch serves brunch, afternoon tea and dinner and has become famous through Instagram. Their rooms are to die for, each one more intricate and intriguing than the one before it. You also have to visit the loo! Just trust me on this one. Another one of my favorite details was the pink piano that plays on its own. I absolutely loved the brunch at Sketch and I think I ate 5 avocado toasts- they were so good! I also got yogurt and oats which everyone on my table was trying because it was so delicious!

12 PM- Visit Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace

Hyde Park is so fun to visit because there are so many different species of birds and animals that I had never seen before!  It’s also just a nice way to relax and unwind for the afternoon. Walking through Hyde Park will lead you directly to Buckingham Palace which is definitely worth a visit. There are gorgeous fountains and flowers everywhere and if you can time it right, you can also see the changing of the guard!

Book the tour I did to see The changing of the Guard and Buckingham palace here!

2 PM- Afternoon Tea at the Berkley

Experiencing afternoon tea in London is a must and I highly recommend experiencing it at the Berkley. It was so fun to get to choose from so many different teas- or if you’re silly like me- hot chocolate. You are served the tea of your choice for your first course and then for your second course you get a variety of adorable tasty little sandwiches and then for my favorite and final course- the deserts!

The Berkley’s designer afternoon tea- known as, Prêt-à-Portea, is inspired by the world of fashion and I absolutely love fashion so this was amazing! Every 6 months the menu gets a makeover to reflect the current trends, colors and designs. Our server handed us a pamphlet showing us the exact fashion designs our treats were made after. So cool!

 

4 PM-Tour of Sipsmith

Sipsmith was opened by two friends in 2007 who wanted to bring the gin reputation back to the city where it was born. Sipsmith is the first traditional copper pot distillery to open in London for nearly 200 years. If you visit, you will learn about the history of gin from an enthusiastic and gregarious guide and be able to see how it is made. And for those of you who are gin fans, don’t you worry, there will be a tasting after too!

6 PM- Watch the sunset near St. Paul’s Cathedral

We discovered an amazing viewpoint for sunset at One New Change. This is a shopping center with a few eateries and some cool architecture, but if you take the elevator to the top floor, there is this amazing viewing platform that is completely free and provides great views of St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Shard and many other London classics.

7 PM- Dinner at Millie’s Lounge at the Ned

The Ned is a new hotel designed and operated by Soho House in the heart of London. This building was actually originally designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens as the headquarters of Midland Bank, which at the time was the largest clearing house bank in the world, in fact you can still see details from the bank. Downstairs you can see a huge vault which is a pretty cool detail and definitely adds to the atmosphere. The restrooms are actually so nice and the decorations are lovely.

There are actually 9 different restaurants at the Ned, but I recommend Millie’s Lounge. Often times there will be live music and the ambiance is nice and the food is tasty, so you definitely can’t go wrong.

DAY 3- Day Trip to Windsor

11 AM- Arrive at Danesfield House and Spa

I highly recommend a day trip to Windsor while you are in London, especially with all of the excitement of the Royal Wedding coming up! Also, I’ve always wanted to stay in a Castle Hotel and I was blown away by Danesfield House and Spa. My jaw literally dropped as we were driving up to the hotel. “Is this real life?” I thought. We parked in the castle hotel courtyard and then I continued to be blown away when I walked inside and saw the incredible lobby. The staff was incredibly hospitable and since I was there right before Easter there were cute Easter decorations which made me excited.

No two rooms are the same at Danesfield House which I absolutely love so you know you are getting a completely unique experience each and every time. However, even though they are all different, they are all incredibly nice in their own right. The rooms are designed classically and elegantly. The rooms are so big and comfy and don’t even get me started on the bath tubs!

Then as if that wasn’t enough, there are over 60 acres of land to explore! The views were incredible and there were so many different garden areas. I can only imagine how beautiful it would look in the full of Spring and Summer so if you are able to visit then, I definitely recommend it!

12 PM- Lunch at Bel and the Dragon

I love when I find little quaint and cozy cafes like the Bel and the Dragon. I love walking in and feeling right at home. The decor was adorable and I loved the wooden tables and benches with colorful pillows, I definitely felt like I was in the British countryside and I loved it! The service was great and the food was so good! Everyone on my table loved what they ordered. I ordered the fish and chips because I hadn’t tried that dish yet and I figured when in the U.K! It was actually so good too so I highly recommend it!

1 PM- Visit Windsor Castle

Visiting Windsor Castle was so fun especially knowing that the Royal Wedding is just around the corner. The grounds are huge and there are so many nooks and crannies to explore. You can also take a guided tour inside and see many of the royal rooms which is a really neat experience!

2:30 PM- Explore Windsor Town

Definitely give yourself enough time to visit Windsor town. I adored it! There are cobblestone roads everywhere, pastel colored buildings, heart-warming pubs and even crooked buildings! Also, don\’t forget to follow the signs for the Royal Mile to get another view of the castle and to take a really  breath taking walk-if you’re up for it. If not, there is a cute pub nearby that we stopped in and the local owners were so friendly. Ahh I just love Windsor town.

If you want you can combine a visit to Windsor, Stonehenge and Oxford by taking this day tour from London!

4 PM- Thames River Cruise

Next, we headed on a boat trip along the river Thames with the French Brothers. But before we got on the boat, we discovered swans everywhere! They were coming right up on the land and it was so fun to see so many of them! The Queen actually loves swans and we found out that she owns all of the swans! The boat ride was nice and relaxing and it was nice to see the town from a different viewpoint and then we also had amazing views of the castle from the boat!

6:30 PM- Dinner at the Orangery at Danesfield house

We headed back to Danesfield house and we had dinner at their restaurant the Orangery. The food was very very good, but my favorite was desert. It was some of the best desert I have ever had!

DAY 4- Explore Shoreditch and East London

10 AM- Spend morning exploring Danesfield House

I woke up early to explore as much of the grounds as I could before we headed back to London, unfortunately that morning it was raining, but I still explored and found some really beautiful areas. I definitely will come back one day. Breakfast at the hotel is delicious and I had a big cup of hot chocolate! We said our goodbyes and then we were off to the train station to head back to London.

12:00 PM- Arrive in Shoreditch and Check into Hotel

Shoreditch is one of my favorite areas of London because there is so much to see and do and the vibes are a lot different than the rest of London. It is known as the artsy, hip or grungy area of London. There is an eclectic dining and nightlife scene and street art can be found everywhere. There are record stores and vintage shops everywhere and it just definitely has to be experienced.

I highly recommend the Courthouse Hotel London where I stayed, I definitely want to stay there again. I absolutely fell in love. It is just so unique and fun! I absolutely love the decor. There is even a Jailhouse Bar set within the former Police station. They even made the cell blocks into chill hang out areas- like what? It was all over for me when I saw a Darth Vader poster on the wall. Oh Shoreditch, I think we are kindred spirits. However, I think hands down the best part, is the bowling alley. I have never stayed at a hotel with their own cute little bowling alley! Ah this hotel is so great, just trust me on this one, you’ll love it too.

1:00 PM- Lunch at Box Park

Boxpark is a food and shopping park made out of refitted shipping containers- it is so Shoreditch and I love it and you should definitely stop by. It is such a hip, fun place to eat and there is seriously something for everyone with all sorts of international cuisines. This time I tried a Jamaican burger and it was quite tasty. The Thai food also looked really good! I didn’t have time to do any shopping besides just quick glances while walking by, but definitely make sure you shop there for me because you won’t regret it- there were some really cute looking stores!

2:00 PM- Street Art Walking Tour

One of my favorite parts of Shoreditch was the street art walking tour we took. It was fun to learn a little bit more about the history of Shoreditch and to see so many different styles of art all over the city. We also walked by a Nomadic Community Garden that looked so unique and unlike anything I had really seen before. We also stopped in the Cereal Killer Cafe, which I had been to one other time in Dubai. It is the most fun concept for a cafe! They have every cereal you could ever imagine and then you can even mix them together. To top it all off, they have different kinds of milk, including the one I tried, caramel milk! It was delicious! We also stopped by some cute thrift shops, a record store with a live band playing and we saw a really cool black light mini golf course!

4:00 PM- Catch the Blooms at St. Paul’s Cathedral

If you time your visit just right, you’ll be in London for cherry blossom season! One of my favorite places to see the blossoms in full bloom is at St. Paul’s Cathedral. You definitely won\’t be the only person there, but it is definitely still worth a visit.

6:00 PM- Cocktails and Views at Sky Garden

Sky Garden is another do not miss attraction for me while in London. It is literally a huge garden in the sky! The views are absolutely breath taking and the garden is fun to walk around in. There is also a restaurant where you can grab cocktails and just relax while looking into the city. We were there right around sunset and there was a storm outside so the sky looked incredible!

7:00 PM- Sunset at Tower Bridge

If you are feeling ambitious, you can leave Sky Garden right at the beginning of sunset and walk down a few blocks to views of the Tower Bridge and still be able to arrive as the sun is setting. The Tower Bridge is definitely a marvel to behold. The architecture is incredible and I love seeing it- day or night. My favorite time however is sunset because you get to see the tower start to light up and it is truly breath taking.

8:00 PM- Dinner at Hawksmoor Spitalfields

This restaurant in London is famous for their meat, especially steaks and roast beef! But if you are a vegetarian, fret not, they also have insanely good potatoes, mac and cheese and salad. If you are with a group, I recommend ordering family style so you can try a little bit of everything. Also, no matter how full you are, you must try desert as well. Again if you can, order a few and do it family style because there were so many delicious choices!

9:00 PM- Nightlife in Shoreditch

Nightlife in Shoreditch definitely can’t be passed up and if you have a chance, try to visit at least two different establishments. The venues are as unique and quirky as Shoreditch itself so you know you are in for a treat. They also have some really unique options like speak easy’s, Junkyard Mini golf and Ping Pong joints!

5 Days in London Itinerary

Day 5

10 AM- Walking Food Tour of London’s East End

In all of my travels, I can honestly say that I have never been on a food tour. After going on my first food tour in Shoreditch, I also decided I wanted to go on a food tour in every city I visit now. I can’t recommend it enough. Our guides were so entertaining and we learned so much about the fascinating and even sometimes gruesome history of Shoreditch. We learned about the history of the different foods we tried and how each of these play a part in the culture. Also, I never would have known to go to all of these different places on my own and specifically what to try at each place. And honestly the food we tried was so so good!

Head to the Airport

Well sadly the time has come to say goodbye to London, but if you fell in love with it as much as I did, don’t worry, you’ll be back! If you came from the states like I did, LA now has direct flights to London with Air New Zealand and their Premium Economy and Business classes are like a dream. The food is the best food I’ve ever had on an airplane. The garlic bread was so delicious I had to get seconds each time. The hamburger I ordered was honestly the best hamburger I’ve ever had. The service was truly incredible. The seats were so nice and comfortable and there were endless entertainment options. They even had every single Harry Potter so I could have had a marathon on the way home! I usually hate actually flying to the different places I travel to, but I was legitimately disappointed when the pilot said we would be landing early. I’m counting down the days until I can fly with Air New Zealand again.

If you have an Extra Day!

If you have more than 5 days in London, I highly recommend this day tour to Oxford and the Cotswolds! This is one of my favorite tour companies and I used them while I was in Scotland as well. The guides are always really friendly and informative and you usually have plenty of time at each place so you can take as many pictures as you want or wander off on your own!

I highly recommend the one day tour I took to the Cotswold’s and Oxford. I absolutely loved it! It was really rainy the day I went, but the tour guide really made sure everyone had a great time!

Stay the Night at Batty Langley’s

Batty Langley’s has got to be one of the coolest places I have ever stayed and I highly recommend it! It is in a perfect location in Shoreditch. It honestly feels like you have stepped back into time when you walk through the doors. It is one of the most beautiful and unique properties. The staff is very lovely and attentive and I loved the breakfast that was offered! Each room is different and is elegant in their own right! Every room has a different name and in your room you can find information about that person, which is really cool!

They even have their own library so you can get cozy and hang out in there if it happens to be raining which is common in London! I highly recommend it and can’t wait to stay there again when I go back to London!

Harry Potter Studio Tour

I also had the best time ever at the Harry Potter Studio Tour! This tour is so worthwhile especially if you are a Harry Potter fan! There are so many different interactive areas and the studio is huge and it is amazing seeing the sets that were used in these iconic movies.

 

So there you have it! The Perfect 5 Days in London Itinerary!

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