Being invited to a wedding in London is a wonderful thing. But of course, that doesn't leave any time for a real trip to London. So we tried to make the most of our only full day off in London. My carefully planned itinerary didn't really work out. But that's what it's all about: going with the flow and simply enjoying the atmosphere of the city. It worked for me: I went from being a London sceptic to a London fan.
Breakfast: Ready for the day in London
London offers an incredible selection of great restaurants in a variety of cool neighbourhoods. I chose the delightful Covent Garden and Café 26 Grains. If you want to try a real hipster breakfast and take one Instagram photo after another, this is the place for you. The café is located in a small alley on a mini square, offers a few seats outside and inside, and has a menu full of healthy breakfast options. We had rhubarb granola porridge and avocado and egg on fried sourdough bread. Be sure to try the green smoothie! It's a must-have that I could have drunk all day long.
26 Grains, Neil’s Yard, London
Public transport: Covent Garden
Strolling is the new walking: walking along the Southbank
The Southbank is a narrow strip directly on the south bank of the Thames, roughly between Westminster Bridge and Blackfriar's Bridge. On nice days, you can stroll along the Thames in complete relaxation, sit on benches under trees, watch the joggers and walkers, and simply unwind. Thanks to the wide range of restaurants (one after the other), a snack or coffee is always within reach. You will often come across street performers or, as in our case, sand artists. The Sea Life Aquarium, the London Dungeon and museums are also located directly on the Southbank. And the views of the major sights that constantly unfold are simply magnificent. Wasting time has never been so enjoyable!
Public transport: e.g. Waterloo
Borough Market: a paradise for foodies and connoisseurs
I love markets! For me, markets are always the best part of city breaks. There is so much to see and taste, it's just wonderful. I had actually only made a note of Borough Market for this day because there was all sorts of entertainment going on there to mark St George's Day. But that was immediately forgotten when we saw the magnificent market hall. No matter what you feel like, you can get it there. Vegans also get their money's worth, by the way. We ate our way through fresh oysters and jamón pata negra to flowing raw milk cheese and chocolate orange ice cream made from goat's milk. But the best thing is the colours, the smells and the overwhelming selection, which (fortunately) would never have fit in our suitcase. Next time I visit, I'll turn my ‘day in London’ into a ‘day at Borough Market’!
If you need a classic pub break, the Wheatsheaf is the place to go after a tour of the market. It's not exactly the cheapest beer, but enjoying a pint from the VW Bully Bar on a swing or on discarded car seats is just so cool! (Admittedly, this makes the pub less classic and more Instagram-worthy, but for non-pub purists, it's great!)
Public transport: London Bridge Underground Station
... or simply stroll over from Southbank!
Discover and see
In London, keep your eyes open and explore! The contrast between old and new architecture, between time-honoured sights and a jungle of construction cranes, is truly exciting. Even for non-architecture enthusiasts like me, by the way! And in between, you'll find an almost inconspicuous pub entrance that's absolutely brilliant. Just going with the flow is the best approach for a day in London.
A day in London also needs a little culture
Not a museum-goer? Don't worry, neither am I. But a city like London has something to offer even for culture vultures like me. In this case, I stumbled across the pop-up exhibition Sense of Space on a London website. Four very differently designed rooms, free admission, no hours-long museum visit: perfect.
A small building was specially constructed at Exchange Square for Sense of Space. The entrance is the first room and was covered with drawings from floor to ceiling by artist Mr Doodle in a four-day live doodling event.
Room 2 is a mirrored room filled with an abstract cherry blossom tree landscape. The sounds of nature in the background and the fantastic colours allowed us to completely immerse ourselves in this room.
Head to Room 3 for a very special installation. In the large mirror, all the movements of the person reflected are reproduced with points of light. Playful people will get their money's worth here.
The last room is filled with a huge cushion covered with furry pillows. Take off your shoes, lie down and enjoy! ‘The Zen Studio’ is exactly what you need to take a break from the stressful outside world.
End the day in London by chilling out in a pub
If you're travelling with football fans whose favourite English team is playing an important match on that very day, there's no getting around finding a TV in time. We made plans with other people from the wedding party in the early evening. The plan was actually to go to The Warwick for dinner. I found this restaurant on the internet: it was on the inexpensive side and very cosy. The happy hour from 5 to 8 pm also spoke for itself...! It looked great, but (OMG): there was a TV, but no broadcast of the match.
Then off to the classic English pub across the street. We reserved a table for the evening on the first floor and passed the time waiting with beer and cider (the men) and shoe shopping on Regent Street (the girls). Both were highly successful, by the way.
The dinner was good, plentiful and reasonably priced, and the game went really well – everyone was happy!
Public transport: Piccadilly Circus
My tips for your personal best-of-day
Hardly any of the ‘best of’ lists you'll find online for a day in London will be perfect for you personally. So take some time and make your own list of things you'd like to experience or see. Important: your plan is not set in stone. Maybe the breakfast place is closed or the attraction is simply too crowded. In such a laid-back and big city, there is always a substitute. Just take it easy and enjoy!
- Do you know people there or know someone who knows someone there? Ask them for tips right away!
- Food: Search English websites for restaurant recommendations based on what you want to eat, e.g. ‘best pubs in the inner city’ or ‘best fish restaurants in London,’ and read the reviews, including those on Tripadvisor.
- Search Google Maps and check the reviews
- Extreme sightseers may not be so happy with pub-goers on a day trip together. So just split up and meet up again later, then you'll have lots to talk about.
- Read blogs and travel reports, as they often contain really good insider tips.
And don't forget: do exactly what you want to do, without trying to meet anyone's expectations. It's your holiday! 🙂
