London, England & English Countryside: Itinerary & Recommendations
- MM
- Oct 18, 2024
- 7 min read
Updated: Oct 20, 2024
England is rich in history and an incredible place to visit!
London is one of the world's most vibrant cities with so much to explore and experience. You could spend a year exploring there and still not see everything! Whether you’re interested in history, shopping and dining, art or just looking for a memorable vacation, London has something for everyone!
I have wanted to visit for years but didn’t have a reason to put it on the calendar. When one of my best friends sent an invitation to her English Countryside wedding celebration, we could not say yes quick enough!
Although we spent the first part of the trip in the Countryside, I will start the itinerary with the London portion. There are so many things you can add/ change to the itinerary, but this was a great first trip to London where we hit some of the top spots!
Day 1:
12 PM- Arrive in London!
Take Heathrow Express to Paddington Station to Notting Hill.
Drop Bags off at hotel/ Airbnb and get settled in. Highly recommend doing this first thing after a long flight to refresh!
3 PM- Orangery at Kensington for Tea
Built for Queen Anne in 1704, The Orangery is a royal pavilion at London’s Kensington Palace Gardens. Kensington Palace is the only royal palace in London where you can enjoy a traditional afternoon tea.
5 PM- Walk around gardens/ city!
Natural sunlight on arrival day helps you get adjusted to the time difference!
Early night in to rest up for the days ahead!
Day 2:
830 AM- Westminster Station to see Big Ben, Parliament and Westminster Abbey
All three of these are iconic landmarks that are worth seeing and are very close to each other. Big Ben sits right next to Parliament. There are tours that you can do inside of Parliament, but we opted to just see them from the outside! This is where you will also take the iconic red phone booth picture! A London trip is not complete without this!
930 AM- Churchill War Rooms
I love history so this was definitely a top thing I wanted to do! We allocated two hours to this but a history nerd could spend a whole day. Walk the top- secret corridors and underground halls to get a glimpse of what it would have been like during the Second World War. You can book your tickets here.
11 AM- Horse Guards
The Changing of the Guard is a daily ceremony that is one of London’s most famous tourist attractions. You can get details of where and when to go here.
12 PM- Saint James Park and Café
This is an unbelievable setting to grab coffee or lunch! Even in the rain, it was still stunning!
1230 PM- Buckingham Palace
The King’s official London residence and a working royal palace! You can only go in Buckingham Palace during the summer. You can read more about Buckingham Palace and book your tickets here.
3-5 PM- Back to hotel to rest/ change!
5 PM- Oxford Circus Station; Oxford Street; Picadilly Circus; Walk Around Soho
530 PM- Dinner in Soho (Bob Bob Ricard was so good and so worth it!)
The iconic Bob Bob Ricard Soho serves a classic British and French menu in London’s most glamorous all- booth restaurant. It is famous for its “Press for Champagne” button at every table. Highly recommend this restaurant! You can look at the menu and book your reservation here.
730 PM- West End Show at London Theatre (We saw Hello Dolly! We loved it!!)
You can look at all of the shows, show times and purchase your tickets here.
Day 3:
9 AM- London Bridge Station; The Shard; Queens Walk; Tower Bridge
This is where you will see some of London’s best views! All within walking distance. So much to see here. Spend as much time as you would like! If you want to go up The Shard, then you may want to start the day a little earlier!
10 AM- Tower of London
A must do! Explore London’s iconic castle and World Heritage Site. Get up close to the Crown Jewels, meet the legendary Yeoman Warders and ravens and see what life was like back when! To learn more about the Tower of London and book your tickets, click here.
2PM- Sketch for Afternoon Tea
You can’t skip Sketch on your London trip! Sketch is a multi- sensory destination that offers a variety of dining, drinking, and cultural experiences. Explore the three- Michelin Starred restaurant, the Gallery Gastro Brasserie, the Glade, the Parlour and the East Bar & Pod and enjoy the everchanging artwork and music. You can see the menus and book your reservation here.
430- 530-Back to hotel to rest/ change!
630 PM- Cricket Match at The Oval!
The Oval is the birthplace of modern English sport- Cricket! You can look at match days and times here.
Day 4:
9AM- Shopping at Piccadilly Circus.
There are so many fun shops to walk through! Fortnam and Mason is a must see! Maison Assouline was a super cute store as well!
12PM- Big Red Double Decker Bus to Marylebone.
The double decker bus is just iconic, so you have to do it at least once!
1230 PM- Walk Marylebone & Mayfair.
So many adorable shops to walk through.
2 PM- Afternoon Tea in Mayfair.
We went to the Dorchester and it was one of the classiest, best teas that we had! You can book your reservation here.
5 PM- Back to hotel to rest/ change!
7PM- Dinner and Drinks in Shoreditch!
We got appetizers at a super cool motorcycle café- Bike Shed Motorcycle Company. We missed our dinner reservation this night because we were exhausted from the day and had an early flight the next AM so we went back early. Brat, Climpson Arch, Gymkhana and Dishoom were all dinner recommendations that were given but we didn’t have a chance to try them. Adding them to the list for the next trip!
Other things to do in London!
If you are in the city on a Sunday, most of the restaurants have a Sunday Roast option. We had Sunday Roast at Ladbroke Farms, and it was delicious!
Top London Attractions/ Optional Things to Do to Add to your Itinerary if you are there additional days:
Regents Park
London Eye
Shopping in Chelsea
Antiquing in Notting Hill
National Gallery
Borough Market
Camden Market
Globe Theater
Covent Gardens
English Countryside
Day 1:
9 AM- London Charing Cross Station
10 AM- Paddock Wood Station
11 AM- Get settled into Airbnb! We got so lucky to stay with some friends in their 600 year old cottage in the middle of apple orchards and a beautiful garden! It was truly unreal!
2PM- Scotney Castle
Scotney Castle is part of the National Trust. There is a ruined medieval castle, Victorian mansion house, picturesque gardens and lots of land to explore. You can book your visit here.
7PM- Live Music at the Pantiles
“Live at the Pantiles” is an unforgettable experience. Thursday evenings offer exceptional live music and dancing. We ate out on the patio of Essence and it was delicious! Make sure you get your reservations early if you go to “Live at the Pantiles.”
Day 2:
We were there for our friends English Countryside wedding celebration so this day was dedicated to the garden party/ countryside wedding celebration! An English version of a BBQ is a hog roast.
Other things to do in English Countryside: Halfway house!
Optional Day Trips instead of visiting the English Countryside or for a longer trip to London:
Cotswolds
Beaches
London & English Countryside Itinerary Tips:
Transportation: Buses can be unreliable; Uber in the early AM (before work hours); Apple Maps Tube lines are actually great to use for navigation! Citymapper is an app that helps you find the quickest and cheapest routes across the city and has real time updates on public transportation.
Book tickets in advance!! Many popular attractions can sell out the day of or have super long wait times! Try to book tickets at least a week in advance!
London weather can be unpredictable, so it is best to layer! Make sure to carry a light rain jacket or umbrella as quick rain showers happen often!
Currency: Most places in London accept a card! I think it is best to have this linked to your phone, so you don’t even need to get your wallet out!
Wear comfortable walking shoes as walking is the best way to soak in every part of London!
Plan your itinerary ahead! To make the best of your visit, you will want to time the top places you want to go! There are many free attractions in London, but they get very crowded during the day. Plan early or late visits in the day to avoid crowds!
London & English Countryside Itinerary - Where to Stay
We were visiting one of my best friends who lives in Notting Hill, so we chose the closest hotel to their flat for convenience! I highly recommend booking a place to stay as close to a train station as possible to maximize your travels!
The 16 Best Hotels in London according to the Travel and Leisure Magazine are linked here!
What to Pack: Pack smart! The type of luggage you bring is very important! I loved my bags from Tumi because they were so easy to pack and navigate with. There are a lot of cobblestone walkways, stairs and getting on and off tubes/ trains that can be difficult if you are carrying too much luggage.
Travel Outfits:
London attire is City Chic! You will do a ton of walking so you definitely want comfortable shoes but because the weather changes often, you will want to bring layers! We went in late August/ early September, and you could feel a chill in the air in the evenings. Plan accordingly for the season you are travel! Some of my outfits!
Travel Necessities:
Amazon Link
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