“London is constantly changing and evolving, and that’s part of what makes it such an amazing place.”
Ellie’s Travel Itinerary
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Our Urban Explorer, Time Out London’s Digital Editor Ellie Walker-Arnott, has the job of finding the latest trends, attractions, bars and restaurants in the city to help Londoners and visitors alike make the most of their time off. That’s why we thought she’d be perfectly placed to share her recommendations of how to spend a day in her home city of London:
8AM: Wake up at Page8, get ready and head down to Page Common for a coffee to start the day.
9AM: Fuel up for the day with breakfast at Bombay-style dining room Dishoom in Covent Garden. The naan rolls are unmissable. Order a side of masala beans and a house chai to wash it all down.
10AM: Head to South Kensington, the heart of London’s museum district, on the tube. You’ll find the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, the Royal Albert Hall and the V&A all clustered together. They’re all worth a visit but if you’re short on time prioritise the V&A. An enormous cathedral to creativity, the V&A celebrates all the decorative arts, with incredible free exhibitions dedicated to jewellery, ceramics, fashion, architecture and more. The building itself is also a beaut. Pause to take in the stunning surrounds, and have a cuppa, in the V&A Cafe – when it opened it was the first museum cafe in the world.
12PM: Jump on an eastbound District Line train and get off at Blackfriars for your second dose of free, world-class art at the Tate Modern. It’s in an imposing former power plant right on the edge of the river. Check out the Turbine Hall for large-scale installations and wander around the free galleries before heading up to the Viewing Level for lush views over the city. Time on your side? Peruse the shop before you leave – it’s a total treasure trove.
1PM: Walk east along the river, passing Shakespeare’s Globe. If you can’t get your hands on £5 standing tickets for an evening show, you can join a guided tour of the circular theatre most days. Keep heading east until you hit Borough Market. This buzzy food market under the railway arches is one of the best, and oldest, markets in the city. It’s a great place for a long lunch – just try out treats from different stalls until you are full. Finish off with a coffee from Monmouth and a doughnut from Bread Ahead.
2PM: Cross over the Thames on London Bridge, spotting Tower Bridge and the Tower of London to your right, and walk up towards the City of London. Book free Sky Garden tickets ahead of time and you can rise to the top of a skyscraper to explore London’s highest public garden – the views are impressive. Prefer to stay at pavement level? Drop into The Ned, a former banking hall turned Soho House venture. The ground floor is a bustling mix of restaurants and bars in a vintage setting, and there’s often a live band to soundtrack your drink.
3PM: From here, either continue north to wander the historic streets of Spitalfields, a well-preserved part of the East End. There’s the huge undercover Spitalfields Market to explore as well as streets of tall, elegant seventeenth-century buildings. Visit Dennis Severs’ House for a surreal, immersive journey into the past. Alternatively head west to pass chunks of the Roman Wall that once encircled the city on your way to the Barbican, an iconic brutalist housing estate and cultural arts centre. While you’re there, you could dip into the Museum of London or walk through Postman’s Park, where you’ll find a surprisingly moving memorial to Londoners who lost their lives trying to save others.
4PM: From here, head back to Piccadilly Circus for a late afternoon stroll through St James’s. You’ll find some of the city’s oldest shops and restaurants, like cheese shop Paxton & Whitfield, wine merchants Berry Bros and delightful department store Fortnum & Mason. You’re a short walk from the greenery of St James’s Park if you fancy glimpsing Buckingham Palace through the trees, too.
6PM: Walk the streets of Soho before dinner. There are countless amazing places to eat in this colourful part of the city, but expect to queue at some of them. Try Lina Stores for small plates of fresh pasta, Kiln for smoky Thai food or Hoppers for incredible Sri Lankan delights.
9PM: Not ready for bed? Stop off for whisky-based cocktails at Swift or Italian tipples at Bar Termini and see where the night takes you. Check what’s playing at nearby Prince Charles Cinema. The indie movie theatre is famous for its sing-a-long screenings and themed film all-nighters.