How I Spent 3 Days in London

London is beautiful, historical, full of tradition and notoriously expensive. I have always dreamed of living in London, particularly just so I could develop an accent. After recently visiting, it is safe to say that London stole my heart (accents and all)! I have really considered picking up my life and moving to London ever since my visit, despite the temperamental weather conditions. London is definitely not for everyone, but for me, it has always been everything. Below, I will share how I spent 3 days in London, with my personal itinerary. Of course, I didn’t have time to do everything I wanted to do, but I plan on visiting London again. I hope you are able to use this itinerary as a starting point to planning your visit to London.

Getting into London

We flew into Heathrow International Airport and decided to take the Heathrow Express. Taking a black cab from the airport to the hotel is an option, however a very expensive option. For this reason, we decided to take the express train, which is more affordable and just as fast. We took the train to Paddington Station and then hopped into an Uber to our hotel.

TIP – Purchase your Heathrow express train ticket online ahead of time for a cheaper price.

Hotel

We decided to stay at the Marriott in Regent Park during our stay in London. The hotel is located in the Camden area, which is near theaters, shopping and sightseeing. The main reason we stayed at this hotel was the fact that it was completely free since we used Marriott Reward points. Would we have still stayed here if we had to pay? Yes, as it was a lovely hotel, very accommodating, clean and situated in a beautiful area. The Swiss Cottage tube station is less than half a mile away, which makes it very convenient to use the subway to get around the city.

We arrived at our hotel in the early morning, where we were able to check into our room, nap and freshen up before heading out to explore the city. For us, flying Thursday night from the US, allowed us to arrive in the London early Friday morning and still have the entire day to make the most of our visit.

Day 1

Afternoon Tea

Afternoon Tea is a must while visiting London! Whether you want to experience a contemporary, high tea, traditional or glamorous afternoon tea, London has it all! We decided to have afternoon tea at The Savoy. 

Read here for my tea experience at The Savoy.

Here are some other recommendations for some of London’s Best Afternoon Tea!

Sky Garden and Sky Pod Bar

Sky Garden offers 360 degree views of the city of London. Wander around the beautifully landscaped gardens and observation decks. Sky Garden is completely free and has one of the most beautiful views of the city, which is something that should be taken advantage of! Most places that offer a view in London cost a pretty penny! At Sky Garden, you have the option to spend nothing for a spectacular view.

We decided to make reservations before sunset so that way we were able to experience the view during the day and at night. We ordered cocktails and the British Charcuterie to munch on as we watched the sun go down over London!

Once the sunset, we enjoyed the views of the city lights. We spent the night dancing to the music of a live band that played, while overlooking the city! We had a wonderful time and would highly recommend a visit during your trip.

TIP: Book your FREE tickets ahead of time.

Day 2

Double Decker Bus Tour

Hop on the famous bright red double decker bus and get ready to channel your inner tourist. London is the perfect city for this! The hop on hop off bus is not only a quintessential experience, but a great way to get oriented to the city. It stops at so many of the major sights making it easy to cross them off your list. After much research, we decided that the price of the day hopper to tour the entire city was totally worth it! The day pass is valid for 24 hours from when you hop on the bus. Although, we unknowingly hopped on the bus after our 24 hour period, however the driver never noticed. It seems since so many people are getting on and off they just glance at your ticket, not the date or time. We ended up riding the bus to get around town the entire third day of our trip for free because of this!

Buckingham Palace

A visit to London isn’t complete without a selfie in front of the Queen’s residence. The Palace grounds are breathtaking. If you’re interested in seeing the changing of the guards, you can also do that here, however make sure to arrive early. I found it to be crowded and unimpressive, however by all means do it for yourself and make your own opinion.

Parliament and Westminster Abby 

House of Parliament is an inspiring and historical landmark known for it’s famous clock, Big Ben. Enjoy the architecture, the art and the history. If you would like a tour you can find additional information here.

Westminster Abby is one of the most beautiful cathedral’s in England, the location where Kings and Queens are coronated, and definitely worth a visit.

Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge built between 1886 and 1894. The bridge crosses the River Thames close to the Tower of London and has become an iconic symbol of London. I recommend taking the time to walk across the bridge.

Kensington Palace and Gardens

Kensington Palace is the current home of Princess Kate, Prince William, their children and former residence of Princess Diana. You can tour part of the building or just take a peak as you walk by. We only took a peak and some photos and then kept moving along.

Peggy Porschen

If you love anything and everything that involves pink, sweets, flowers, coffee and the perfect amount of chic then you MUST make a stop at Peggy Porschen! This parlour is full of delectable desserts, teas, cappuccinos and coffees. I had a delicious piece of cake and cappuccino. It was the perfect little pick me up after a day of touring the city of London. For those with gluten allergies, Peggy does offer a few desserts that are gluten free. For those looking through a lens, this is the perfect spot for some gorgeous photos.

Day 3

Notting Hill

Explore the colorful streets of Notting Hill. You will find streets filled with pretty pink houses and lovely doors, this area is a favorite of many photographers. I would dedicate at least an hour to admire this area.

If you are visiting on a Saturday then you’ll want to experience the Portobello Road Market.

TIP: Arrive early to avoid the crowds.

Bike Ride through Hyde Park

Hyde Park is one of the capital’s eight Royal Parks. Hyde Park covers 350 acres and is home to a number of famous landmarks. We rented a bike for about an hour and rode around the park. It was so much fun and we burned some calories. Win, Win!

Shop at Harrods 

Treat yo’ self! Harrods is a luxury department store located in Knightsbridge, London. It is owned by the state of Qatar and known to be one of the largest department stores in the world. Don’t expect to see the entire store in one visit or even several for that matter. Not a shopper? I still recommend you visit and experience any of the restaurants, champagne bar, oyster bar, pastries or meat market. This store literally has it all!

Night Out at Sketch

Sketch is a great place for brunch, afternoon tea, dinner or just for a few cocktails. We decided to visit for cocktails after dinner on our last night in London. Sketch is unexpected, weird and fantastic. Pink EVERYWHERE! I mean, I love Pink, so I was completely in love with the decor. Don’t forget to visit the loo. Yes, you heard that right! You will, without a doubt, experience the most unique bathroom. Picture futuristic stalls with bright colors and french maids.

No better way to end the trip than with a glass of Champagne!

Have you been to London? What else would you add to the list?

 

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