How to spend your weekend in London

So, what are the best ways to spend your weekend in London? 

When you live in London there’s so much to see and do and yet for many of us, we spend our weekends crashing on the sofa.  Well if you’re more ambitious then check out this video which gives you lots of options on how to spend your precious 2 days.  

First off, you may need a caffeine fix to get through your big weekend in London. 

If you take a walk along the Thames river, not only will you have relaxing views, but you’ll have plenty of options where to grab a cup of coffee.  But a favourite is Sista Barista Cafe, which is right next to Southbank for your stop off by Westminster Bridge. 

Or for a quirky coffee in a restored Victorian men’s loos – bear with me! – there is the Attendant in Fitzrovia. Built in the 1890s and meticulously restored over 2 years, it reopened in 2013 after being dormant for over 50 years.  Today you can sip seasonal espressos as you take in the classic Victorian green tiles and (very) clean urinals! 

Go window shopping 

There’s the well-known (and pretty busy) Oxford Street. With tonnes of tourists, you may want to get there straight after your caffeine fix and check out the 2nd largest store in London, Selfridges for 10 acres of shops to peruse. If you’re not ready to spend money, just stroll by the gorgeous main entrance and neoclassical columns. 

Just off of Oxford Street is Regent street packed with high-end designer boutiques, and you’ll get your very own Cruella De Ville experience at Liberty’s of London while here. The shop opened in 1875 selling ornaments, fabric and objets d’art from Japan and the East. It continues to be a must-visit for those who love unique designer fashion and architecture that stays true to its heritage. 

For the vintage lovers among you must head to Retromania London, located in Pimlico.  Head downstairs to this secretive space where you can grab the likes of Hermes and Chanel or head to the knitwear section along with vintage dresses, hats, bags, scarves, menswear and memorabilia. 

Get yourself some brunch 

Now it’s time to treat yourselves to a bite to eat! You can’t go wrong with brunch in London. My favourites have to be Dean Street Townhouse in Soho for comfort food like no other. 

Or  Pantechnicon, for a jungle-like restaurant that will deliver some lovely London views. Located in Belgravia on the 5th floor of a multi-storey restaurant and shopping arcade this rooftop oasis features Nordic small plates and dishes.  

For more of my top brunch spots in London, visit my recent video to whet your appetite! 

Indulge in a culture-fix 

If you’re down by Waterloo, then the Southbank Centre is an event-packed space no matter the time of year. Whether you’re into art, music, or want to catch an expert speaker session, you must head to this powerhouse space for culture. You can even catch a concert by the London Philharmonic Orchestra. 

One of my favourite things to do (which you’ll know if you’ve been a subscriber to my channel for a little while!) is to visit the museums of London. 

If you’re a bit more west, then The Victoria & Albert Museum which is one of my absolute favourites is a great place to get to after you’ve filled up on brunch.   The museum is a wonderful space to view fashion, sculpture and exquisite historical finds.   It’s a definite must-see. 

If the V&A isn’t quite your thing, but you want to get your art fix, you can stop off at the independent art galleries that are really special finds that will tantalise your artistic tastes. One of my favourites is Tafeta Gallery, Bloomsbury. I recently held a private event here for clients and connections to have a private viewing of the exhibition by Rahma Lhoussig. 

Other big hitters for art include Tate Modern or Tate Britain, Saatchi galleries, and The Design Museum to name but a few. 

Grab a quick drink

Now that you’ve probably walked your socks off, you may be in need of a good drink! 

Once the wine cellars of the Prince of Wales and the United Service Club, The Champagne Bar at 116 Pall Mall is now one of the most stunning champagne bars in London. 

As you can guess from the name, it is home to a huge collection of champagnes and has the largest selection of magnums in London. 

If you prefer a stronger tipple, you can visit The Vault Soho, right by the lovely Soho Garden square (and in a line of excellent cocktail bars I might add!). 

This bar may seem small, but it’s packed with whiskeys from all over the world. Head downstairs, to the old sherry cellar, and you can enjoy an intimate drink together. Gin cocktails and drams of whiskey are available, and my colleague, Hannah, said the team here really knows their stuff – so don’t be worried to ask for their top picks. 

Head to Mayfair and sit in the luxurious Connaught Bar and create your own Martini. They will come to you with ten different choices of spirit, plus a concoction of bitter flavours to personalise your tailor-made martini experience.

Top restaurants in London

For dinner, we’re going to highlight a few options here but make sure to check out my video for the top neighbourhoods for restaurants in London. 

Mount St. Restaurant brings contemporary art and cuisine together in this 4 storey building in Mayfair. The restaurant is on the 1st floor, and offers contemporary British food. Give yourselves enough time to peruse the art that covers the walls!

Foodies will hear the name Le Cordon Bleu and shiver with excitement! The likes of Mary Berry and Julia Childs were trained here. The restaurant, CORD by Le Cordon Bleu is located in the heart of St Pauls and if you can get a reservation, it is well worth the visit.

For a more relaxed experience, you can check out one of the many historic pubs in London that will surprise you with fantastic dining. The Guinea Grill, on Bruton Place, Mayfair has been on the site since 1423! Expect classics like pies, including the steak pie which has been voted the best in the UK for many years. 

Dance (or sing) the night away

Party the night away together as you end your weekend on a bang. 

For jazz, check out the packed diary of jazz events hosted by Jazz Refreshed with locations across London. 

Enjoy the incredible acoustics of the Royal Albert Hall for events like the Proms, Opera, and big name entertainers like Sam Smith or Gladys Night. 

For those who love to dance til the early hours, London is home to countless nightclubs that are world-renowned including Ministry of Sound – going strong 30 years on in a converted bus garage. 

There’s also Fabric, and Printworks which hark back to their history by keeping the giant machines and printing presses onsite. 

As you can see, there’s so much  to see and get up to in London, and this is just a selection of my favourites! What would does your ideal weekend in London look like?

 Did I miss anything out? Let me know in the comments, I’ll bring a part two very soon!