Curator’s statement
I first traveled to London as a college student for my study abroad experience and I fell in LOVE with the city. For 12 weeks, I worked at The Globe Theatre, soaking in Shakespeare and exploring everything London had to offer on my days off. Make sure you check out Gordon’s Wine Bar—it’s the oldest in the UK and you’ll want to drink in the rich history (pun intended!) London is a city I’ve found myself coming back to many times over the last twenty years, and though I’m very familiar with the city, I find hidden gems on each trip! It keeps me returning time and again.
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Day 1: Double-decker tour
The Tower of London in the fall.
Start exploring London with a double-decker bus ride. Enjoy lunch at Borough Market, walk Tower Bridge over the Tower of London. Take a guided Yeoman tour, or head straight to the Crown Jewels. Leave the Tower of London on the river cruise to Westminster Abbey and catch your double-decker bus tour back towards the hotel for some much-needed rest!
Day 2: London culture
The coronation chicken sandwich is a classic—and my personal favorite.
Arrive early at the Tate Modern to explore the works of artists like Picasso and his contemporaries. Cross the Millennium Bridge to Big Ben and Parliament after spending the morning at the museum. Walk through St. James’ Park to have lunch at The Stafford Hotel (ask to see the WWII-era wine cellar bunker). Consider an afternoon visit to the Churchill War Rooms (advance booking recommended, audio guide worth it).
Day 3: Shop
Harrods Department Store—don't miss the food hall on the first floor!
This is the day to shop till we drop! Start with Harrod’s, then walk to the oh-so-adorable neighborhood of Notting Hill to find treasures on Portobello Market Road. Don’t forget to pick up the perfect souvenirs from Fortnum and Mason.
End the evening on the West End with the classic whodunnit, Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap. This is the longest-running show on the West End.
Day 4: Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey is open throughout the week for music and worship.
Attend a service at Westminster Abbey and a chance to hear the angelic Westminster Boys’ Choir. Head to Kensington Palace to explore the gardens. Or if you’re feeling bookish, stroll over to Waterstones Piccadilly—one of the largest bookstores in Europe. Perhaps enjoy tea at the Oscar Wilde Lounge within Hotel Cafe Royal—elegant and historic.
Day 5: The English countryside
The bucolic countryside of the English Cotswolds lies only an hour outside of London.
Day trip out of London! Who doesn’t love the quaint, bucolic countryside of England’s renowned Cotswolds? Take a day trip to explore the remote villages of Bibury, Burford, Bourton-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold. After a day in the charming English countryside, head back to London.
Need to know
Make sure to apply for your UK ETA visa, now required of all US travelers since April 2025.
Travel Advisor
Chelsea Thayer
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For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our London page.