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There’s nothing better than taking a weekend trip to a city. It’s a way to break out from the grind of the everyday, discover cultural spots, and all-around have a good time. And right at the top of the list of cities that are worth visiting is London. This, after all, is one of the world’s great cities. Whether it’s your first or fortieth time there, it’s always possible to have a great time. One issue, however, is that it’s so big! So how can you have a great trip, if you only have a few days? We take a look at some tips below.
Get the timings right
If you’re only going for the weekend, then you’ll want to get the timings of your trip just right so that you can make the most of your time there. It might be fine to arrive in the middle of the afternoon on a Saturday if you are there for a week, but if you’ve only got two or three days, then that’s a lot of wasted time. It’s best to take an early train or flight, so you arrive early in the morning with the whole day in front of you. On the way back, pick as late a journey as possible.
The perfect accommodation
A trip to London is always better when you’re staying in a central hotel. And this is especially the case when you’re just visiting for one or two nights. If not, you might find that you’re spending much more time than you’d like just travelling to and from your hotel, which will eat into a lot of the time that could be spent exploring A hotel like the Dorsett Hotel, Shepherds Bush, will ensure that you’re within easy reaching distance of all the major attractions. Don’t forget that London is a huge, sprawling city!
Get selective
You’re not going to have enough time to do everything when you’re only there for a weekend. As such, you’ll want to get selective about the attractions that you visit. Before you go, make a list of all the things you’d like to do, then get strict with yourself, and narrow the list down to a handful of key attractions. You’ll find that the trip is much more enjoyable when you’re exploring a few sights in-depth, rather than trying to fit everything into the 48 hours that you’re there.
Bring a lot of energy
Finally, if you’re only going to be there for a weekend, don’t plan on taking things easy. You’ll want to be moving from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave (besides sleeping, of course). In the build-up to your trip, make sure that you’re getting as much rest as possible. It’ll ensure that you’re raring to go when you finally touch down in London town. Also, make sure that you pack comfortable shoes! Walking around all day will be much more enjoyable if you’re not doing battle with increasingly tired feet and legs.
What’s your favourite thing to do in London? Let me know in the comments.
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Energy is definitely very important. My friends and I used to take day trips to london from lincoln and it was the most tiring thing ever but because of how fast we were, we managed to still do lots.
🌿 Marissa Belle × marsybun.com 🌿
We did a couple of breaks to London last year and it is very tiring!
Great post! I love doing weekend trips to London so thank you for the tips!
Me too, they’re so much fun!
OMG I MISS LONDON SOO MUCH. I am from canada i was supposed to come this summer but because of covid I cant 🙁
shy- https://www.shyyshianne.com/
Oh no! We did a couple of trips to London last year. We live quite far away but I was hoping to go again this year, who knows if we will now.
Great post Lauren 😊 London will be more than just a weekend for me.
Thanks! There’s so much to do there that it’s definitely great to spend a little longer in the city too.
I love London and cannot wait to go back! Great tips if visiting on a time crunch.
Thanks. Me too!
Whenever I go to London, I write a list of places I want to go and find them all on a map. I then plan the best route to cover as many of them as possible. Energy is definitely key to a successful London trip.
Helen
Tea in the Tub
Yes I love making lists of places I want to visit too it saves a little bit of time when you can plan how you’re going to get there beforehand!
Great post 😉 I’ve been in London last June for a weekend for shopping!! It’s was speed with a lot of things to do and see. I want to come back for another visit but without doing shopping 😉
Yes it’s definitely worth going back and doing sightseeing instead of shopping!
London is definitely on my bucket list to visit post corona!
We went a couple of times last year and I’m a little sad that we probably won’t get this year now so it’s on my list too!
I spent the first 27 years of my life as a Londoner so it’s easy to forget that it’s a world-renowned destination that actually takes a significant amount of planning instead of just rolling out of bed and onto the tube. These are some great tips for a short break to London and I definitely agree that comfy shoes are a must if you’re going to be on your feet all day!
My favourite thing to do in London is to just be by the river in some capacity. Walking alongside it, walking over the bridges… And of course, shopping on Oxford Street and in Camden Market.
Hayley | happilyeverhomebody.com
aHaha yes I imagine it’s pretty odd when it was just normal life for you! Camden Market is on my list when I next visit London.
I love going to the V&A with my mum for special exhibitions, but we usually just go for the day but like you said you need to take ALL you’re energy because its a very busy day!
Yes definitely. It’s so tiring!
Thanks for sharing, lots of energy is needed when going round all the sites, also a perfect picnic spot to 🙂
Nic | Nic’s Adventures & Bakes
Yes you definitely need energy for sightseeing!
I can’t wait to travel again either. I hope you make it back to London!
Yes it definitely does! I’m from a tiny village in Yorkshire so it’s like a whole new world to me haha. I do love London though!
I have never been to London. Will definitely keep your suggestions on accommodations in mind. Thanks
Thanks!
That’s amazing. I absolutely love Liverpool, we visit every year and have done for the past 10 years. Enjoy all your trips!
Great read!
Thanks!