{"id":5034,"date":"2017-07-01T03:42:28","date_gmt":"2017-07-01T03:42:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.aussiepizzas.com\/PIZZADELIVERY\/long-weekend-in-london-bexs-guide\/"},"modified":"2017-07-01T03:42:28","modified_gmt":"2017-07-01T03:42:28","slug":"long-weekend-in-london-bexs-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.aussiepizzas.com\/PIZZADELIVERY\/long-weekend-in-london-bexs-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Long Weekend in London: Bex’s Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

As I have to fit my travel plans around a full-time job, I often get to spend only three or four days in any one city, and I spend a lot of time researching and planning the perfect trip. My agenda usually includes a few key sights and\/or museums and some fun places to eat, drink and, especially, caffeinate. I\u2019ve produced various \u2018three days in\u2026\u2019 or \u2018four days in\u2026\u2019 city guides<\/a>, but it\u2019s been a while since I compiled a guide to my favourite places in my own city, London.<\/p>\n

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This post highlights my top picks for what to do, eat and drink, and where to find good coffee in London; I’ve been working on this for a couple of months so I hope you enjoy reading it and find it useful. Scroll to the end for a map<\/a> of each place I’ve featured. With much help from my talented friend Cindy (thank you, Cindy!), I’ve also produced a handy one-page PDF version of this guide, which you can download and print here: http:\/\/bit.ly\/bex-london-long-weekend<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

FRIDAY<\/b>

<\/b> 14:00<\/i> Coffee stop<\/i>
It\u2019s going to be a busy weekend so you\u2019ll probably need caffeine. If you’re in Clerkenwell, head to Prufrock<\/a> on Leather Lane (pictured), but there are hundreds of great coffee shops in London so there will probably be at least one near where you\u2019re staying. Skip to the end of this guide for a list of some of my current favourite coffee spots<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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15:00 Soho shopping<\/i>The West End is never quiet but if you plan to hit the shops this weekend, Friday is the best time. Liberty<\/a> (pictured) is a fabulous department store and is great for gifts. Anthropologie<\/a>, also on Regent Street, is pricier than in the US but has a good sale room. Go to Magma<\/a> for quirky, design-oriented gifts and Foyles<\/a> or Stanfords<\/a> for books.<\/p>\n

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17:00 After hours at the museum<\/i>Lots of London museums stay open late once a week or once a month. There\u2019s a comprehensive list of which museums open late when here<\/a>. On Fridays, you could go to the V&A<\/a>, the Natural History Museum<\/a>, the British Museum<\/a> (pictured) or the Tate Modern<\/a>. Plus, many of London\u2019s best museums are free to visit. Yay!<\/p>\n

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19:30 Eastern promises<\/i>Regional Thai restaurant Som Saa<\/a> (pictured), in Spitalfields, was one of 2016\u2019s hottest new openings. There are some tables for walk-ins but try to book. For a more casual option, Pizza Pilgrims<\/a> (pictured), one of my favourite London pizzerias<\/a>, has a Shoreditch branch. You can BYO booze, or a chocolate bar for them to convert into a dessert calzone.<\/p>\n

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21:30 Cocktail o\u2019clock<\/i>I don\u2019t often go out in Shoreditch on Friday nights but there are a few cocktail bars for which I make an exception, such as Happiness Forgets<\/a>, Hawksmoor’s Spitalfields Bar<\/a>, Callooh Callay<\/a> and Joyeux Bordel<\/a>. Nightjar<\/a> (pictured), a prohibition-style bar tucked away near Old Street roundabout, is also excellent for classy, creative cocktails.<\/p>\n

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SATURDAY<\/b><\/p>\n

9:00 Thames paths<\/i>If your head isn’t too sore, head out early for a walk (or a run) along the South Bank of the Thames. The stretch from Waterloo Bridge to Tower Bridge includes some of the city\u2019s most iconic sights, from the Houses of Parliament and Elizabeth Tower (home of Big Ben), to the Shard and Tower of London.<\/p>\n

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10:00 Borough breakfast<\/i>Borough Market<\/a>, the huge, historic gourmet food market near London Bridge, is always busy at the weekends, but mornings are less crowded. Don\u2019t miss the epic Bread Ahead<\/a> doughnuts (pictured). The market\u2019s best coffee can be found at the Flat Cap cart<\/a> or Monmouth<\/a>. If you buy some of Monmouth\u2019s locally roasted coffee beans, you can join the shorter queue on the right. For an impeccable cup of coffee in dapper surroundings, walk five minutes to the Gentlemen Baristas<\/a> (pictured) on Union Street.<\/p>\n

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11:30 Street-food brunch<\/i>15 minutes\u2019 walk from Borough in Bermondsey is Maltby Street Market<\/a>. Open on Saturdays and Sundays, the market’s Ropewalk section (pictured) hosts street-food vendors and local food and drink producers, with everything from grilled cheese<\/a> and gyoza<\/a>, to brownies<\/a> and bacon sarnies<\/a>. Be sure to stop for a gin cocktail at Little Bird<\/a> or Jensen’s<\/a>. There are more stalls in Druid Street<\/a> and at Spa Terminus<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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14:00 Meridian merriments<\/i>If you like craft beer, consider doing some of the Bermondsey Beer Mile<\/a>. Alternatively, take the Thames Clipper<\/a> to Greenwich from London Bridge. In Greenwich, visit the Royal Observatory<\/a>, the Queen\u2019s House<\/a> (don\u2019t miss the Tulip Stairs pictured below), the Old Royal Naval College<\/a> and Greenwich Market<\/a>, or sample the local Meantime beer.<\/p>\n

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19:30 Catch dinner on the Rye<\/i>One of my favourite London restaurants is Pedler<\/a>, a relaxed all-day eatery with beautiful interiors on Peckham Rye. The food and creative cocktails (featuring Little Bird Gin) are top-notch and the staff are lovely. Lots of buses<\/a> run to Peckham Rye, or you can take the Overground<\/a>. <\/p>\n

21:00 Rooftop drinks<\/i>After dinner, head to Frank\u2019s Cafe<\/a> (only open in summer months; pictured below) on the 10th floor of a Peckham multi-storey car park. The cocktails are good and well-priced and there\u2019s a superb view. There is a covered area, but it\u2019s not very sheltered so during less clement climes, try John the Unicorn<\/a> or, for arcade games, The Four Quarters<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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SUNDAY<\/b><\/p>\n

09:00 Blooming marvellous<\/i>Columbia Road flower market<\/a>, a short walk from Shoreditch High Street Overground, is only open on Sundays from 8:00 am until 3:00 pm, and is best experienced early in the morning. Buy some flowers or plants or just enjoy the ambiance.<\/p>\n

10:00 Some like it Hoxton<\/i>For a relaxed late breakfast in Hoxton, look no further than Friends of Ours<\/a> (pictured) or Embassy East<\/a>. Both serve great all-day menus, with particularly good brunch dishes, and excellent coffee (from Dark Arts<\/a> and Assembly<\/a>, respectively).<\/p>\n

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11:30 Shoreditch shopping<\/i>Interiors stores abound in Shoreditch (I like SCP<\/a>, Goodhood<\/a> and Luna & Curious<\/a>), and Redchurch Street is a cool shopping street (try Aesop<\/a> for beautiful skincare, Labour & Wait<\/a> for hipster homewares and Modern Society<\/a> for fashion; for coffee, head to Allpress<\/a>). There are lots of pop-up shops inside Boxpark<\/a>, and other shopping options in and around Spitalfields Market<\/a>.<\/p>\n

13:00 Aerial views<\/i>The brunch \u2014 and views \u2014 at Duck & Waffle<\/a> are superb. Order the titular duck and waffle (pictured) and try to get a table by the windows. You\u2019ll need to book way in advance for prime slots but the restaurant is open 24\/7 so if you\u2019re up very early (or late), you might get lucky. If you can’t get a table, the restaurants at the Sky Garden<\/a> also have good views (get coffee before or after at The New Black<\/a>).<\/p>\n

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14:30 Sunday in The City<\/i>I love exploring the fascinating architecture and historic buildings of the near-deserted City of London on Sundays. Depending on your tastes, you might like to visit Leadenhall Market<\/a> (pictured), One New Change<\/a> (the shopping centre\u2019s public rooftop has a wonderful view of St Paul\u2019s Cathedral) or The Barbican Centre<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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16:00 King’s Cross culture<\/i>Walk or take the Tube to King\u2019s Cross, and visit the Wellcome Collection<\/a> or the British Library<\/a>. If you go to the latter, don’t miss Origin Coffee<\/a> (pictured) by the entrance, a tiny coffee bar serving some of the best coffee in London.<\/p>\n

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FIVE MORE GREAT\u2026 <\/b><\/p>\n