I was 15 the first time I visited London during a school trip through Europe. It was my first time to Europe, and London was our first stop. Those three days were a total whirlwind, especially given my first encounter with jet lag. I have few memories of London from those couple of days that felt like sleepwalking. But more than a decade later, I had the chance to return to London for a week with my family. This time, I had a better handle on the jet lag (especially since I was coming from France) and had more time to explore the city. If you’re heading to the capital of England, here’s what to do in London.
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What to eat and drink in London
High Tea at the Mandarin Oriental
Gift giving is one of my love languages; I love finding the perfect something to show my loved ones that that made me think of them. I find joy in wrapping up these gifts and seeing their faces when they open it. As much as I love giving (and receiving!) physical gifts, the older I get the more I appreciate “experience” gifts. Especially because I live on another continent that my family, trusting the post office to get something delivered is a tall order. And you often sacrifice an arm and a leg to pay for it to get across the Atlantic.
For my summer birthday this year, my parents gifted me a high tea experience during our trip to London. I like tea well enough but am not a tea enthusiast. However, after completing our entire trip in London, I can say that high tea was one of my favorite things we did in London.
We reserved a gluten-free high tea at the Rosebery, located in the Mandarin Oriental in Hyde Park and gussied up like the high-class people we are. I had imagined that it would be a light snack, but we refused the seconds and thirds they offered us because we were full.
Sheila’s Cafe
London has no shortage of tourist attractions and traps. But it’s those hole-in-the-wall places that leave us with the best memories. My dad stumbled upon Sheila’s Cafe near Paddington Station. I think the restaurant was smaller than my tiny French apartment, and that’s saying something! After waiting in line, the host finally told us we had a spot. We sat down and to our surprise, he plopped two strangers right next to us. I mean, the entire restaurant was more or less elbow to elbow. I anticipated a nice meal catching up with my dad, but it ended up being a conversation with the two Australian gals next to us and another table just three feet away.
My meal was copious and my orange juice fresh. If you’re looking for a total dive for your brunch spot in London, look no further than Sheila’s Cafe.
The Ladbroke Arms
Our family enjoyed a delightful meal at a pub near Notting Hill. It wasn’t on the main strip but was still in a cute area.
The Ivy Victoria
We were poking around for a good lunch spot and we came across the Ivy Victoria. The decor was chic and pink, and the service was exceptional. I noshed on their shepherd’s pie and loved their sophisticated approach to this classic dish.
Mestizo Mi Amor
You can’t go wrong with Mexican food! Our family enjoyed a meal at Mestizo Mi Amor, a higher end Mexican restaurant.
What to see in London
Stop by Trafalgar Square
This famed square is in the heart of London and a stone’s throw away from many of London’s museums, such as the National Portrait Gallery.
Visit Westminster Abbey
On my second trip to London, we did a guided tour of Westminster Abbey that finished up with watching the changing of the guard. I’m sure glad we had the skip-the-line tickets because it was crowded! And enjoy seeing Big Ben up close.
Visit St. Paul’s Cathedral
When in London, be sure to at least wander past St. Paul’s Cathedral, whose history dates back to the 600s. On your way to St. Paul’s Cathedral, take a moment to admire the bridge you’re walking on (London Millennium Footbridge). And take a look from the bridge at the impressive skyline. London boasts some extremely tall and modern skyscrapers.
What to do in London
Wander the Victoria and Albert Museum
Or V&A for short. Out of the many museums we visited in London, I think the Victoria & Albert Museum was my favorite. I enjoyed its fashion exhibit featuring women’s wear over the centuries. From architecture to paintings, I liked the variety of exhibits. Also, we casually ran into Tessa Thompson from Thor and Creed in the gift shop.
Design Museum
The girls ventured out to see the Barbie exhibit at the Design Museum. The Barbie exhibit was fantastic, and it was so sweet walking down memory lane. It was wild to see the Barbie Dream House I had as a girl in a museum and to see the many different Barbies and Kens created over the years. The rest of the Design Museum was alright, but had it not been for the Barbie Exhibit, I don’t think it would’ve been worth the trek.
Visit the National Portrait Gallery
One great thing about London is its many free museums, including the National Portrait Gallery. My dad and I fancied a stroll through the many different portraits and artwork in this London museum.
Churchill War Rooms
My dad is a big World War II history buff, so it was only fitting that our London family vacation included a visit to the Churchill war rooms. The museum includes visits of Winston Churchill’s war room bunkers as well as a deep dive on his life in politics and history — and a nod to his hat collection. I appreciated that the museum painted Churchill with the good, the bad and the ugly. The museum was extensive, and we easily spent several hours there.
Tower of London
I did some research before our trip to London, but with seven people on family vacation, it’s good to be flexible and see where the wind takes us. My brother and dad tossed out the idea of going to the Tower of London. Hear me out: it’s been a very long time since I took AP European History. And I was naive to think the Tower of London had just one singular tower. I wish we would’ve spent more time. There was a huge line to see the crown jewels, and unfortunately, I didn’t have time to wait. But you get amazing city views and can walk around the ramparts. The Tower of London dates back to the 1070s and served as a fortress according to its site.
London Eye
One of my few memories from my first trip to London was our circuit on the London Eye, a giant ferris wheel. Yes, it’s a classic tourist activity, but it’s a fun way to see the city, get some time off your feet and get a new perspective. However, I highly recommend booking ahead of time. Even with our tickets, we had to wait for about an hour.
Harrod’s
You can’t go to London without a stroll through Harrod’s. Think Saks 5th Avenue but bigger. My sisters, mom and I had so much fun wandering the different departments and floors of Harrod’s even though we could afford exactly none of it. From the glamorous gowns to boujee kids’ attire, pet clothes to luxury furniture, Harrod’s has it all. We headed down to the basement level to the Harrod’s gift shop, and I found a cute tote bag on sale. So now everyone knows that’s I’ve been to Harrod’s!
Watch the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace
Truly a classic for your time in London. But make sure you’re there at the right time because it doesn’t happen every hour of the day.
Day trip from London to Stonehenge and Bath
Yes, there are so many things to do in London, but there’s also lots more to see in England. We took a day trip with transportation included from London to see Stonehenge and the town of Bath. We enjoyed seeing the rock formation known as Stonehenge, even though it leaves more questions than it does answers on this curious contraption. I loved to cute town of Bath and enjoyed touring the Roman baths. We were obligated to make a stop for ice cream at Marshfield Farm!
I came back from my time in London, and my coworkers asked me about my “vacation.” But the reality is that we were quite busy with all the many things to do in London from its museums to restaurants, cultural sites to shopping. One thing is for sure: you will not be bored during your trip to London.