I took a trip to London with my best friend in spring 2024, and we hit all the girly spots, iconic London sights, afternoon teas, amazing food, shopping, and a little bit of history. We stayed at the Thistle Hotel on Park Lane, which ended up being the perfect location, very central, safe, nice, and affordable. Plus, we were right next to a metro stop.

Day 1

We arrived in London in the morning, so we had the whole day ahead of us. I recommend arriving early if you’re young and have the energy, it’s the best way to get more bang for your buck! Go to your hotel, freshen up, and drop your bags off. Most hotels allow you to store luggage and get ready in the bathroom if your room isn’t ready yet.

Grab some food nearby and explore the area. We checked out Daisy Green, which was actually right around the corner from our hotel. It’s a cute brunch spot, perfect for Instagram photos, and the food was delicious.

For dinner, we had reservations at Jacuzzi, just a 10-minute walk from the wisteria house. The décor was beautiful, and the truffle pasta was honestly the best I’ve ever had, highly recommend!

Before or after dinner, take a walk around Kensington Palace. You can stroll the palace grounds and enjoy the huge green space and lakes, it’s a must-see in London. Afterward, head back to your hotel and get some rest.

Day 2

We had breakfast at EL&N Park Lane. There are several locations across London, so research which one fits your itinerary best. We picked this one since it was right down the street from our hotel. I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was, the food actually lives up to the hype! I ordered the French toast, and it was delicious. It’s the perfect girly spot for good food and iconic pictures.

Next, we visited Buckingham Palace, which is a must-see. If you can, catch the Changing of the Guards ceremony, it happens Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 10:45 a.m. It’s free, but crowded. We got there right at 10:45 (big mistake!), so I recommend arriving 15–30 minutes early for a better view. The ceremony lasts about 45 minutes.

Afterward, we headed to Harrods, the famous high-end department store with everything from fashion to home goods. I splurged on the cutest tea set I’d been eyeing, definitely worth it! If shopping is on your London bucket list, Harrods is a must.

Lanesborough Afternoon Tea

Next up was **afternoon tea at The** **Lanesborough**. It was a Queen Charlotte themed tea in a beautiful, elegant setting. The tea and food were great, and they serve endless sandwiches and tea refills. It cost around $115 per person, which felt a bit pricey, but the experience was lovely.
In London, afternoon tea is a must do. England is famous for tea so London has so many beautiful places to grab afternoon tea.

We took the bus back to the hotel to relax before dinner at Geode’s. The space was stunning and upscale, but they have a £50 spending minimum per person, so keep that in mind. The food was good, but I personally don’t think it was worth the price.

Day 3

This day was definitely for the girls! Start with breakfast at Peggy Porschen, one of the cutest brunch spots in London. I ordered the rose latte and French toast, and both were amazing. There are a few locations; we went to the one in Belgravia, which is in a beautiful area full of boutique shops (though they’re on the pricey side).

After brunch, explore nearby Chelsea, then take the bus up to Notting Hill to visit Portobello Market. It’s one of the most famous markets in London with everything from clothes and jewelry to art and vintage finds.

Notting Hill is also where you’ll find the colorful houses, perfect for photos! We spent a few hours here, shopping and exploring, and grabbed fish and chips at The Duke of Wellington, which were great.

Later, we went to see the London Eye and Big Ben, two iconic must-sees. If you get off the tube near the London Eye and walk left toward the bridge, then cross it and turn right, you’ll find perfect photo spots of both landmarks.

We ended the day with dinner at Circolo Popolare, a stunning Italian restaurant owned by the same group as Jacuzzi. The décor was jaw-dropping, and the food was incredible, I got the crab linguine and highly recommend the tiramisu. Be sure to make reservations in advance, as it books up fast!

Day 4

We started the morning with breakfast at WatchHouse, then spent time shopping on Bond Street before heading to our afternoon tea at Sketch.

Sketch is one of the most famous afternoon tea spots in London. The atmosphere is quirky, colorful, and fun, the bathrooms alone are worth seeing! The lobster roll sandwich was incredible, desserts were good, and the tea was endless. It’s around $120 per person, but totally worth it for the experience.

After tea, we did more shopping on Oxford Street and visited Liberty London, a gorgeous department store known for its unique architecture and curated selection of clothes, shoes, and home décor.

Later, we relaxed at the hotel before heading to Covent Garden, another must-visit area full of shops, restaurants, and markets. It’s such a fun, lively place. We stopped for a glass of wine at Dean Street Townhouse (recommended by a local), which was super cozy, even though we sat outside without reservations. Definitely check it out online before you go!

Dinner was at Shack-Fuyu, a Japanese restaurant in Soho that I found through a YouTube couple (Juan and Rhylan). It was one of my favorite meals of the trip. Get the Korean fried wings and pork buns, they were incredible. Everything we did this day was within walking distance, so we only took the tube back to our hotel.

Day 5

My friend and I split up for the morning. She went to Camden Market, while I visited the Natural History Museum.

I started with breakfast at Gail’s Bakery in South Kensington, just a simple croissant and coffee, but both were great. Next door there’s another bakery that sells giant croissants (literally bigger than your head), perfect for a fun photo!

The Natural History Museum is free, and the line only took about 15 minutes. You can pay to skip it, but it moves quickly enough that it’s not worth it. The museum was awesome, dinosaurs, gems, minerals, and more, and I spent about an hour exploring. The V&A Museum is nearby and also free if you have extra time.

The Parent Trap House

If you’re a *Parent Trap* fan like me, you have to see the **Parent Trap House**! It’s just a 10-minute walk from the museum at 23 Egerton Terrace, Knightsbridge, SW3. The neighborhood is gorgeous too.

After that, I took the tube to Tower Bridge (aka “London Bridge”) to meet my friend. The Tower of London is right there, a beautiful castle where you can book a tour and walk the walls. We took pictures in front of the bridge from the front of the tower, which gives great views.

We then walked about 20 minutes to Sky Garden for a late lunch. Sky Garden has amazing views of the whole city, and entry is free with an advance ticket (released every Monday for three weeks ahead). I missed this info before our trip, so we booked a restaurant reservation instead, which also grants access.

We ate at Darwin Brasserie, which cost around £60 for a 3-course meal. The food was great, and it was totally worth it. We paid an extra $15 each for a window table, not worth it, in my opinion, since you can enjoy the same view afterward in the garden area.

To end the trip, we met one of my college roommates for dinner at Rita’s in Soho. It’s a small, cozy tapas-style restaurant, perfect for sharing plates and wine. It was a great night and the perfect way to wrap up our 5 days in London.

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