As I mentioned in this post, I still can’t believe I had the opportunity to go to London with Burberry. Pinch me!
For this trip, it was short and sweet for work. I decided to extend my stay by a few days to get in some solo exploring. It was such a good city to explore as a solo female traveler too. Safe, walkable and absolutely so much to do. I think if I had to live in a new city, it would be London. I loved the NYC meets DC feeling vibe that it has. The row homes are all colorful and cute, the accents, and the adorable little yellow cabs. My one and only complaint about London is that the majority of the meals I had were bland. Why is it that they’re just known for bland food? My best meal was Dishoom which was Indian. There’s a ton of incredible Indian food in the city.
This was a really fun and packed weekend with great restaurants, incredible museums and some fun browsing. Here are my favorite things to do in London whether you’re a solo travel, or heading there to explore with friends. Perfect for a long weekend too.
My Favorite Things To Do In London
Best Hotels In London
Cafe Royal
I stayed here for the first two nights. It was right on Regent St in Piccadilly Circus. Great location, gorgeous hotel (as in ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS) and super spacious. Hard to come by in Europe. It’s definitely pricey and clearly, a place where the stars stay, we had a Gigi Hadid sighting in the lobby! This location is great though as you are right in the middle of it all and can easily walk to quite a bit.
The Westbourne Hyde Park
Since I stayed a few extra days, I had to switch hotels (this girl can’t afford the Cafe Royal!). So I headed to Kensington and really loved this neighborhood. It wasn’t super touristy at all and it was walking distance to Kensington Palace and Kensington Gardens as well as Notting Hill. I took the tube to Notting Hill each day to explore, just made my day a little easier without all the walking and wind. The rooms were small, but modern and clean. I’d for sure stay again! This also gave me two totally different neighborhoods to explore which I really liked.
Recommended by a friend, this little breakfast spot is right in Notting Hill. It was delicious and adorable! I ordered the Mexican scramble, which seemed strange since we were so far from Mexico, but it was super yummy. I sat in a little table facing the street so I could see passer-biers. It’s one of my favorite things about traveling solo.
Where To Eat In London
Sketch (Piccadilly Circus)
The famous pink restaurant. It’s so gorgeous I wish I could take it all home with me. I thought it would be super tacky when we walked in, but it was just the opposite. The food was okay, nothing amazing, but the cocktails were great. Definitely, a must-visit just for the ambiance.
Farm Girl (Notting Hill)
My friend Marissa of Style Cusp sent me a long list of recommendations and this was one of them (along with the next one). It was so good I went two days in a row. They serve chai lattes with a sprinkle of cinnamon on top shaped like a French Bulldog. I died over them. One day I did the avocado toast, the next was the Turkish eggs. They were so delicious that I ate them so fast I burned the entire roof of my mouth. A common problem of mine. I also ordered their rose latte which is one of their signature items, and I learned I don’t like rose flavor! It sure was pretty though.
Eggbreak (Notting Hill)
Another great breakfast spot in Notting Hill. I had their Mexican omelette which was delicious. This spot is in a super cute part of town surrounded by colorful row homes. Wish I had more time there, I would’ve gone back for more of their delicious items.
Byron Hamburgers (Westminster, but several locations)
Jess and I headed here after we shot some looks on day one. We were STARVING and literally just jumped into the first restaurant we saw. It was a standard burger joint with great burgers and chicken sandwiches. Plus their fries were amazing.
Dishoom (Covent Garden, but several locations)
This was the best meal I had in London. It was insanely delicious, full of great flavor and spice. The restaurant was packed, so make sure to get there early or be prepared to stand outside in the queue to wait for a table. I ordered the calamari, and their chicken curry.
Thomas’ Cafe (Piccadilly Circus)
This is the cafe inside of the Burberry store. We did high tea with the entire group after our makeup class. They served your usual suspects like tea sandwiches and scones, but my favorite were the crumpets. Ashley and I ordered a second round they were so delicious.
Benugo (Covent Garden)
A little cafe with sandwiches and sweets in Covent Garden. We grabbed a cardamom coconut milk tea from here and it was divine. While also in London I had a cardamom pastry from Selfridges that was so delicious. I think this may be one of my new favorite flavors.
Kensington Gardens & Their Cute Neighbors
What We Explored In London
Burberry Exhibit at Makers House
This was the main event for our trip. We headed here to check out the sculptures and collection from Burberry. If you’re in town, definitely give it a visit. Our day with Burberry was super fun. We headed to their Regent Street store for a tour and to learn about all the history of the building and the classic trench. Then headed to Makers House where the show was the night before. They had the entire collection on display along with the inspiration from the artist who they collaborated with.
Kensington Palace
I visited Kensington Palace twice. The first day I learned that the Diana exhibit was opening the following day but I wasn’t 100% sure I’d have the time. Thankfully I did, so the following day I went back to see all of her gorgeous dresses. It was a beautiful exhibit that was really well done. The Diana exhibit showcased a collection of her outfits, sketches from designers and bits of history. It was incredible to see such beautiful pieces of couture and learn more about Princess Diana.
Notting Hill
Just walking around Notting Hill made me happy. Stumbling onto the pretty colorful row homes, the trees were starting to bloom and seeing all the cute dogs walk around the neighborhoods. Churchill Arms, a popular restaurant and landmark, is also in this area. I decided not to dine here because it smelled like a porter potty, but I’ve heard good things.
Oxford Street For Shopping
I headed to Oxford Street for some shopping to check our Selfridges. It’s a major department store with an impressive food market on the ground floor. It was delicious and made for the perfect afternoon pick me up to hold me over before dinner. If you’re a Topshop kinda person, definitely hit them up as the prices are SO much better.
Other London Must See Attractions
- Westminster Abbey
- Buckingham Palace (changing of the guards is a great experience)
- Tower of London
- Harrod’s for incredible shopping and food
- Selfridges for more affordable shopping and also great food
- Big Ben
- The London Eye
- Covent Garden
Things To Know When Visiting London
Currency – Pounds
Electricity – UK Converter – I don’t understand how the UK is different from the rest of Europe, but it is. So be sure to be prepared.
Getting Around – The Tube or walking. The traffic is INSANE here so avoid taxis if you can. Uber wasn’t great, but it’s available.
