Walter Ponce
Last month we flew from Zurich to London for a long weekend built around one thing: Robbie Williams at the Emirates Stadium. Once the concert tickets were booked we added two West End shows and four nights in Bloomsbury, and it turned into one of the best city weekends we have done.
This is the itinerary we followed, day by day, with where to stay, how to get around and what I would tell anyone planning a few days in London.
Where we stayed: Bloomsbury
We booked Cleveland Residences Russell Square, serviced apartments a few minutes from Russell Square tube. Bloomsbury is the area I recommend to anyone visiting London for a few days: quiet, leafy Georgian squares, the British Museum around the corner, and you can walk to Soho, Covent Garden and King’s Cross. An apartment rather than a hotel room also gives you a kitchen and space to come back to between plans.
Other good areas for a short stay:
- Covent Garden / Soho: right in the middle of the theatres and restaurants, but noisy and expensive.
- South Bank / Southwark: on the river, close to Borough Market and the Tate Modern.
- King’s Cross: handy for the Eurostar and well connected, with good new restaurants around Coal Drops Yard.
Day 1: Soho and Carnaby Street
We landed at London City Airport, dropped the bags and walked down through Fitzrovia into Soho: Carnaby Street, Kingly Street, Wardour Street and then the crush of Oxford Street. Soho is the right first evening in London: small streets, plenty of places to eat, theatres all around.
If you have time in the afternoon, the British Museum is free and five minutes from Russell Square. Pick two or three rooms (the Rosetta Stone, the Egyptian galleries, the Parthenon sculptures) rather than trying to see it all.
Day 2: Camden, the canal and Notting Hill
A big walking day. Camden Market and the Stables Market in the morning: street food from everywhere, vintage clothes, music shops.
From Camden we walked the Regent’s Canal towpath towards King’s Cross, one of the best free walks in London, and ended up at Coal Drops Yard, the old Victorian coal warehouses turned into shops and restaurants. On the other side of Camden, Primrose Hill gives you one of the classic views over the city.
In the afternoon we crossed to the west: Notting Hill, Westbourne Grove and the pastel houses, then down through Holland Park and Hyde Park. On a Saturday, Notting Hill’s Portobello Road market is at its busiest.
Day 3: St Paul’s, the Globe and Borough Market
My favourite route in London. Start at St Paul’s Cathedral, walk down to the Millennium Bridge and cross the Thames with the dome behind you.
On the other side is Shakespeare’s Globe, the reconstruction of the original open-air theatre. Even if you do not see a play, the guided tour is worth it; if you do, standing “groundling” tickets in the yard are some of the cheapest theatre tickets in London.
From the Globe, the riverside path takes you to Borough Market. Eat lunch there; it is the best food market in the city. After that, follow the Queen’s Walk along the South Bank towards Waterloo, past the Tate Modern and the theatres, with the City skyline across the water.
In the evening we were back in Covent Garden for a show, and walked home along the river.
Day 4: Robbie Williams at the Emirates
The reason for the trip. The Emirates Stadium, Arsenal’s ground in north London, holds around 60,000 people and is easy to reach on the Piccadilly line (Arsenal or Holloway Road stations) or the Victoria line to Highbury & Islington. Get there early: the streets around the stadium are packed and the queues at the gates are long. We spent the day around Marylebone and Mayfair first, then headed north.
And the concert? A bit under water, it rained on us, but good. Bring a rain jacket: the roof only covers the stands, and London in June is still London.
The shows
London theatre is the other reason to come. We saw The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre, where it has been running for over twenty-five years, and Romeo & Juliet. For the big musicals, book weeks ahead; for last-minute tickets, the TKTS booth in Leicester Square and the official day-seat lotteries can save a lot.
Getting around London
- Tap your contactless card or phone on the Tube, buses and trains. Daily and weekly fare caps mean you never pay more than a day ticket.
- From the airports: London City Airport is on the DLR, about 30 minutes from central London. From Heathrow, take the Elizabeth line; from Gatwick, the Gatwick Express or Thameslink.
- Walk. Central London is smaller than it looks on the Tube map. Covent Garden to Leicester Square, for example, is faster on foot.
Budget tips
London is expensive, but a lot of the best things are free: the British Museum, the National Gallery, the Tate Modern, the parks, the canal and the river walks. Spend your money on the shows and one good dinner, and use markets like Borough and Camden for lunch.
FAQ
Is four days enough for London? Four days is a good first visit: enough for the main sights, a couple of markets and a show or two, without rushing.
Which area is best to stay in London for a short trip? Bloomsbury is my pick: central, calm and walking distance to Soho, Covent Garden and King’s Cross. Covent Garden and the South Bank are good alternatives.
How do you get to the Emirates Stadium? Take the Piccadilly line to Arsenal or Holloway Road, or the Victoria line to Highbury & Islington and walk about 15 minutes.
Is London City Airport convenient? Very. It is small, fast to get through, and connected to central London by the DLR.
