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London Greatest Hits Jaunt

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London Greatest Hits Jaunt

Get to know the best of London in only three days.

Apr 21, 2022
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London Greatest Hits Jaunt

www.jauntmoretrips.com
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yellow flowers
Photo by Ming Jun Tan on Unsplash

The elevator pitch: Do we really need to introduce you? A major cosmopolitan and cultural center, London stands out for its old-world architecture, variety of cuisines, and high-end shopping.

When to go: Summer is temperate (highs rarely exceed 86°F / 30°C) but can get packed with tourists. The spring and fall are great times to visit, with more mild temperatures and much thinner crowds. Winters don’t get super cold or snowy, but are foggy and rainy.

Where to stay: They’re not cheap, but we love the luxe, centrally located Charlotte Street Hotel and the chic London EDITION. For a cheaper, funkier option in the east, try The Hoxton in Shoreditch. If you have an early flight out of Heathrow, you might want to stay in Paddington; The Pilgrm is a cheap, modern option there.

How to get around: London is notoriously spread out. We’ve designed this itinerary to be mostly walking, and will call out the few exceptions. We tend to take Ubers / taxis at night. The tube has tons of lines and can get complicated, but if you’re fairly subway-literate it isn’t too crazy.

Odds and ends: You’ll need a reservation almost everywhere, and we recommend making them early (like, now). Bring an umbrella no matter what time of year you visit!


TRIP OVERVIEW: Greatest Hits

What this is: our Jaunt-approved list of all the spots you’ll want to hit up in London, focusing on getting a feel for the city’s multiple areas

What this isn’t: a guide on where to find the best iconic phone booth to take a picture in (sorry to ruin your dreams of posting a super original pic on Insta!)

Day 1: Central Classics

Breakfast at Caravan in Fitzrovia
Shopping and Sightseeing on Regent Street and Carnaby Street
Lunch at Sketch in Mayfair
Sightseeing at Buckingham Palace
Explore Covent Garden
Dinner at Barrafina in Soho
Drinks at Bourne & Hollingsworth in Fitzrovia

Day 2: Head West to Eat, Drink, and Stroll

Breakfast at Ottolenghi in Notting Hill
Visit Portobello Market in Notting Hill
Explore Notting Hill
Lunch at Darcie & May Green in Paddington
Day Drinking at Pergola Paddington in Paddington
Stroll through Hyde Park
Visit Harrods
Dinner at Dinings SW3 in Chelsea
Drinks at Barts in South Kensington

Day 3: Explore the East and South

Brunch at Dishoom in Shoreditch
Visit the Columbia Road Flower Market in Shoreditch
Afternoon snack at Borough Market in London Bridge
Visit the Tate Modern in London Bridge
Drinks at Aqua Shard in London Bridge
Dinner at The Ned in The City


THE DETAILED GUIDE

Day 1: Central Classics

Photo by @jauntapp

Caravan

Breakfast in Fitzrovia
map | reserve | site | @caravanrestaurants

Healthy and trendy. Start your day at this chic all-day restaurant and coffee shop with light, international-inspired fare. Afterwards, walk about 10 minutes south to Regent Street.

Photo by @sarahlaurenphotos on IG

Regent Street

Walk around this shopping street
map

Iconic and vibrant. Walk along one of London’s major shopping streets, home to many brands’ flagship stores.

Photo by @london.picturebook on IG

Carnaby Street

Brighten your day on this little street
map | site

Cool and unique. Head a block east of Regent Street to visit its cooler younger sister, Carnaby Street. This trendy, short street is pedestrian-only, and features insta-ready overhead art installations.

Photo by @sketchlondon on IG

Sketch

Lunch in Mayfair
map | reserve | site | @sketchlondon

Chic and playful. This insta-famous tea room has certainly made an appearance on your feed. It doubles as a cocktail bar at night, but we love going for lunch or afternoon tea. Don’t forget to check out the bathrooms!

Photo by @bahaa_travels on IG

Buckingham Palace

Walk by the famous palace
map | site

Iconic and luxe. Take a quick detour to the gates of Buckingham Palace, the Queen’s residence in London. You can book tickets for a tour (well in advance), but we prefer a quick walk-by.

Photo by @coventgardenldn on IG

Covent Garden

Enjoy this central, vibrant neighborhood
map | site

Bustling and classic. Walk around this historic neighborhood, featuring markets, restaurants, street performers, and a pedestrian-only Piazza. We recommend grabbing a coffee at Black Penny if you need an afternoon pick-me-up!

Photo by @lets.eatout on IG

Barrafina

Dinner in Soho
map | site | reserve | @barrafinalondon

Authentic and intimate. We highly recommend this Michelin-starred tapas joint featuring fresh seafood from the Spanish coast. We love this original location in Soho, but they don’t take reservations. If you’re ok with an early dinner, we recommend getting there 20 mins before they open to get a seat. If there’s a wait, you can grab a drink at a nearby pub.

Photo by @bandhbar on IG

Bourne & Hollingsworth

Drinks in Fitzrovia
map | site | @bandhbar

Acclaimed and cozy. This basement bar has insanely high-quality cocktails and an old-school feel. Make sure you’re headed to the bar, not one of their newer restaurants.

Day 2: Head West to Eat, Drink, Shop, and Stroll

Photo by @thelondonpropertyfinder on IG

Ottolenghi

Breakfast in Notting Hill
map | site | @ottolenghi

Fresh and innovative. This Mediterranean spot was the original debut of Israeli chef Yotam Ottolenghi, who now has multiple restaurants across London and many best-selling cookbooks. If you can nab a spot at the communal table, go for it; if it’s crowded, their pastries are perfect to take on the go.

Photo by @aladyinlondon on IG

Portobello Market

Stroll around this antiques market
map | site

Authentic and vibrant. The world’s largest antique market also has other offerings. The market's in full swing on Saturdays, although it's open Monday-Friday as well (closed on Sundays).

Photo by @delafuentecam on IG

Notting Hill

Get to know this iconic London neighborhood
map | site

Picturesque and cozy. This famous neighborhood was historically full of artists, but now is home to a more gentrified set. The independent flair lives on, though - Notting Hill is full of independent bookshops and amazing restaurants. Check out the colorful Lancaster Street for an easy Instagram backdrop.

Photo by @tailoredexperiences on IG

Darcie & May Green

Lunch in Paddington
map | site | @daisygreencollection

Unique and relaxed. This Australian joint is located on a colorful barge, and is a great spot for a quick lunch. We recommend making a reservation as the space is rather narrow (due to being on, you know, an actual barge).

Photo by @pergolalondon on IG

Pergola Paddington

Drinks in Paddington
map | site | @pergolalondon

Airy and fun. After lunch, if you need to decompress before walking for a bit, go grab a drink at this cute outdoor patio with a wide selection of restaurants and bars.

concrete road between trees during daytime
Photo by Paul Schellekens on Unsplash

Hyde Park

Spend the afternoon exploring the park
map | site

Relaxed and classic. Spend some time strolling through London's largest park. We love the Serpentine, a small lake in the Park, and the Rose Garden. If it's rainy, we recommend the free Serpentine Gallery, which hosts rotating exhibitions of contemporary art.

cars on park near brown building
Photo by James Healy on Unsplash

Harrods

Stop by a London classic
map | site

Legendary and ornate. This famous department store is equal parts shopping destination and London landmark. The Food Hall has amazing restaurants if you want to stop for a bite, but our favorite thing to do is to pick up souvenirs.

Photo by @dinings_SW3 on IG

Dinings SW3

Dinner in Chelsea
map | site | @dinings_sw3

Luxe and sleek. Dinner is at this posh spot for Japanese-Euro fusion. We recommend the wagyu foie gras nigiri (if it’s not on the menu, ask!)

Photo by @bartslondon on IG

Barts

Drinks in South Kensington
map | site | reserve | @bartslondon

Luxe and unique. About a 7 minute walk from Dinings, this speakeasy in one of London's most posh neighborhoods calls themselves "London's worst kept secret". We love their comic book menu! It can get louder at night, so if you're looking for a super quiet night, this probably isn't it. 

Day 3: Explore the East and South

Photo by @allons.y on IG

Dishoom

Brunch in Shoreditch
map | site | reserve | @dishoom

Trendy and warm. This iconic Indian restaurant is well worth the hype. If you’re looking to maximize the menu, go for a late breakfast and order the naan breakfast sandwich. Then when breakfast turns to lunch, you can order the rest of the meal from the lunch menu - best of both worlds!

Photo by @inbloom152 on IG

Columbia Road Flower Market

Stop and smell the flowers
map | site

Bustling and charming. This Sunday-only open-air flower market is great for shopping or just people watching! If it’s not a Sunday, stroll around Shoreditch and take in the vibrant street art instead. Walk (45 mins), Uber, or take a bus to Borough Market, your next stop. If you cross over the London Bridge, you’ll have a great view of the Tower Bridge (the thing you probably thought was the London Bridge).

Photo by @paolazaccomer on IG

Borough Market

Afternoon snack in London Bridge
map | site

Lively and historic. This outdoor food market with a wide variety of cuisines will have something for everyone. Saturdays are the main day, but can be quite hectic - we like visiting on Sundays, even though some stalls might be closed!

Photo by @charlimorgan1 on IG

Tate Modern

Check out the galleries and artisans
map | site

Sleek and bright. Spend the afternoon wandering around this free hub for modern art, housed in the former Bankside Power Station on the Thames.

gray concrete building under blue sky during daytime
Photo by the blowup on Unsplash

Aqua Shard

Drinks in London Bridge
map | site | @aquashard

Scenic and sceney. Stop for a cocktails with a 360-degree views of London, including the famous Tower Bridge. Make sure to check out the bathrooms!

Photo by @thenedlondon on IG

The Ned

Dinner in The City
map | site | @thenedlondon

Elegant and lively. Dinner (and after-dinner drinks) are at this Art Deco-style hotel by Soho House, featuring a collection of restaurants and live music in the lobby. Tip: If you have a dinner reservation, you can skip any lines.


What didn’t make the list?

It’s obviously very hard to edit such a vibrant city like London into a 3-day trip! Here’s just a few things we missed.

If you want to stick some more sightseeing in, stop by Trafalgar Square, the British Museum, and the London Eye.

Grab an almond croissant (trust us) at Gail’s Bakery, with multiple outposts throughout the city.

If you want to try and spot a celeb, stop by Chiltern Firehouse, another insta-famous London stalwart, for lunch, dinner, or drinks.

Grab tickets to a show in the West End.

If you love London, you’ll also love

New York City. Jaunt coming soon!

Los Angeles. Jaunt coming soon!

Madrid. Jaunt coming soon!

Nearby places to visit

Paris. A quick train ride away.

Edinburgh. A 4.5 hour train ride north. Jaunt coming soon!

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