A Long Weekend in London

London is America’s gateway drug for European travel, an English-speaking opportunity to poke through 2,000 years’ worth of history, glimpse the future, then sit down with a cocktail to watch the world hurry by.

However, since it’s likely that you don’t have the years it would take to properly see all of its 659 square miles, might I recommend a long weekend to simply see a bit of London for yourselves?

A direct flight to London from Los Angeles is about 11 hours, while from New York it’s about 6. Using these flight times as averages, a three-day trip to London from the West Coast would require five days away from home, while an East Coast departure would require four.

My airline of choice to London is Virgin Atlantic, and I’d actually consider committing (petty, white-collar) crime to score their Premium Economy seats. See, VA’s Economy Class seats have a decent width and pitch, but the leg room isn’t great, the entertainment center screens are small, and the food falls squarely between pretty dull and actually unappetizing. On the other hand, VA’s Upper Class is super-sexy, with its own floor of the plane, cloud-like sleeping pods, full bar with disco-neon lighting and access to the swanktacular LHR Clubhouse at Heathrow…but it’s accordingly exorbitant.

VA’s Premium Economy, though, like the Goldilocks of air travel, is juuussst right: wide and cushy seats with plugs for your electronics, plenty of leg room, fair-sized entertainment screens and civilized meal service with real, actual green salads.

Now you can say you've seen the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at Heathrow (without buying an Upper Class ticket)

And once you’ve touched down, here’s what I’d suggest you do with a long weekend in London:

Visit the Design Museum to see some of the coolest objects, gadgets and art coming out of England

Wander through hundreds of years’ worth of British art at the Tate Britain, including a remarkable mural called The Expedition in Pursuit of Rare Meats featured in the museum’s Rex Whistler Restaurant

Out front of the Tate Britain, hop the Tate Boat to the Tate Modern for a breezy version of the city

At the glassy and cavernous Tate Modern, don’t miss the view of St Paul’s Cathedral and the Thames from the top-floor café

Millennium Bridge, St Paul's Cathedral and the City of London seen from the cafe at the Tate Modern

For more great views, have a cocktail at the Oxo Tower Bar or Champagne by the glass at Vertigo 42

Book afternoon tea at The Savoy as your big splurge — and do it as soon as you plan your trip, as bookings can be tight

The elegant entrance and tea room at the Savoy Hotel in the West End

Check out the architecture hall at the Victoria & Albert Museum to see scale models of great buildings from around the world 

Then head across the street and down a block to Orsini Caffe for the best cappuccino in the city, made by Florentines

In nearby Kensington, home to some of my favorite fantasy mansions in the city, go inside Leighton House to indulge in its opulent mosaics and tiles, then linger by the fire (or out on the patio) over a cider at The Scarsdale Tavern

Moorish tiles at Leighton House, the delightful Orsini Caffe and Queen's Gate at Kensington Gardens

Visit Borough Market on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday to see foodstuffs produced around the UK, stop into Monmouth Coffee for a great cuppa joe and free bread and jam, then walk down a couple of blocks to see lovely Southwark Cathedral and a bit of the Thames

Tavern across from the Borough Market, Southwark Cathedral and a South London view 'cross the Thames

Stroll through St James’ Park, across the circle from Buckingham Palace, for little bridges over a lake full of flocks of geese

Walk The Regent’s Park from end to end to see the most romantic gardens in London (which is really saying something)

At left, St James's Park in Fall; at right, The Regent's Park in Spring

Try some gorgeous Turkish food at Sofra in St John’s Wood, followed by poking through the boutiques in this fancy little neighborhood

Sample Bangladeshi street foods over on Brick Lane, tool through Spitalfields Market a couple blocks away, then walk across the street to A. Gold, a tiny store selling food and products found only in Britain

(Clockwise from L) A bit of Pakistan on Brick Lane, Spitalfields Market and A. Gold

Take a deep breath and a nice long walk up in the green country hills of Hampstead Heath, then settle in for a hearty brunch at the Burgh House Buttery

Hampstead Heath in North London, which feels like a day trip to the countryside

•  What would you do with a long weekend in London?  •

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See also
For the Love of London
Adventures in Layover Land: London
Freezing Your New Year’s Off, London Style

TWT Travel Binder: England