LONDON CALLING

Four days in London with my girls — and we packed in every bit of it.

It was our first family trip to London, and from the first Sunday roast to the last frozen chai at Borough Market, we did it all — and loved every single minute.

We shopped Mayfair and Portobello, clinked Taittinger at the interval of two West End shows, snagged the best seat in the house for tea at Claridge's, hunted vintage on Portobello Road, and ended up in the famous pink room at sketch. Four days, three girls, and a city made for wandering.

So many of you asked where we went — so here's everything we loved, all in one place. Steal it for your own London.

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Where we stayed

The Z Hotel, Covent Garden. Let's be honest — it's a 3-star shoebox, and the rooms are tiny. But it's clean, the location cannot be beat (steps from the piazza, the theatres, and everything), and we were genuinely pleased with it. You're barely in the room anyway. To upgrade next time: One Aldwych or The Henrietta — same neighborhood, with a lobby and bar you'd want to come home to.

Afternoon tea

Claridge's. Tea in the Foyer & Reading Room — jade china, endless scones, pure elegance. Book well ahead; it's worth every crumb. We had the best seat in the house.

A note for gluten- and dairy-free travelers: Claridge's went above and beyond. The gluten- and dairy-free sweets and savories were the most amazing I have ever had — you would never know they were "free-from." If you have dietary needs, do not skip afternoon tea; just let them know when you book.

The West End (see a show or two)

The Phantom of the Opera at His Majesty's Theatre — the chandelier, the score, 40 years of magic. Stunning.
Hadestown at the Lyric Theatre — the Orpheus myth in folk-jazz-blues. Amazing.
Tip: a glass of Taittinger at the interval. Trust me.

Pre-theatre dinner: Brasserie Zédel (near Piccadilly) — a gorgeous, buzzy Art-Deco hall with a brilliant-value pre-theatre menu. The perfect glam start to a show night.

Cocktails & hotel bars

The Connaught Bar (Mayfair) — often called the best bar in the world, with a martini trolley wheeled to your table. The lavender martini — still thinking about it.
The Audley Public House (Mayfair, Mount Street) — we popped in right after the Connaught. A gorgeous restored pub for a pint or a cocktail — look up at the ceilings.
American Bar at The Savoy (The Strand) — iconic Art-Deco glamour and a live pianist.
Dukes Bar (St James's) — the legendary tableside martini, famously strong. Two max, and they mean it.

Pubs & old London

Here's the thing about London pubs: wherever you're staying, there'll be a fabulous one (or five) around the corner — so wander in, order a cider, and soak up the history. A tip: anything under the Nicholson's brand is a safe bet for a great, characterful pub. We chased a bit of history with our choices:

The Lamb & Flag (Covent Garden) — one of London's oldest pubs and our very first Sunday roast. Book the upstairs room.
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese (Fleet Street) — rebuilt in 1667, a warren of dark-wood rooms where Dickens and Dr Johnson drank. Down a tiny alley — worth finding. Order the organic cider.

The big dinner

sketch: The Gallery (Mayfair) — the world-famous millennial-pink room, hung with art. Go for the design, the cocktails, and the surreal egg-pod bathrooms. Unlike anywhere else. Don't skip the bathrooms. You'll see.

Markets & neighborhoods

Seven Dials & Neal's Yard (Covent Garden) — right by our hotel and impossibly pretty: seven little streets meeting at a sundial pillar, and the hidden, rainbow-painted courtyard of Neal's Yard. It's where we discovered Neal's Yard Remedies, the natural skincare line — we left with treasures.
Borough Market (Southwark) — a thousand years of feeding this city. Graze it: "the best sandwich" from The Black Pig, goat cheese from Neal's Yard Dairy, a frozen chai latte, a spritz in the sun.
Notting Hill & Portobello Road (West London) — pastel houses, the famous market street, and vintage treasure-hunting. The girls found their quilted jackets here.

Culture & history

The easiest way to see the great icons is a private black-cab tour — we did the top sights in one afternoon from a glass-roof cab (perfect for photos), and you can customize the route to add anything you like. Tip: book a well-reviewed private guide so you get the stories, not just the stops. Here's what we saw:

Buckingham Palace — the King's official residence; watch for the Changing of the Guard.
Big Ben & the Houses of Parliament — the Gothic seat of British government on the Thames.
Westminster Abbey — a thousand years of coronations and poets. (Go inside early to beat the crowds — a timed ticket is worth it.)
St Paul's Cathedral — Wren's masterpiece and its famous dome.
The Tower of London — a thousand years of history and the Crown Jewels.
Tower Bridge & London Bridge — the iconic river crossings.

And one we went inside and loved:

Churchill War Rooms (Westminster) — the underground WWII bunker, left almost as it was. Book a timed ticket ahead.

Museums

What we saw: Somerset House & the Courtauld Gallery (The Strand) — a grand courtyard with dancing fountains, and a jewel-box of Impressionists, with a wonderful M.C. Escher exhibition on now. Small, gorgeous, and doable in an hour. Minutes from Covent Garden.

Saved for next time: we ran out of days for the big ones, so here's our list for the return trip — and most are free.
The British Museum — the Rosetta Stone, the Egyptian halls, the Great Court.
The National Gallery (Trafalgar Square) — world-class art.
The Victoria & Albert Museum (South Kensington) — art, design, fashion, and jewellery.
The Natural History Museum — the grand hall and the dinosaurs.
Tate Modern (Bankside) — modern art with a top-floor river view.
The National Portrait Gallery — the faces of British history.

Coffee & matcha

Elan Café — our daily ritual: pretty as a picture, a lovely matcha, and the prettiest pastries (a treat just to look at). You'll find gorgeous coffee all over the city, but this was our happy place.

Shopping

Covent Garden — we loved shopping right around our hotel. Arket (minimalist Scandi basics) and Nobody's Child were adorable, and perfect for both mom and teen.
Liberty (near Carnaby) — the magnificent Tudor emporium; prints, scarves, the beauty hall. The building alone is worth it.
Bond Street & Mayfair — flagship windows, the Burlington Arcade, endless browsing.
Portobello Road (Notting Hill) — the best vintage hunting in the city (the big antiques market runs Saturdays).

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If you do just five things: Tea at Claridge's · a West End show · a private black-cab tour of the icons · graze Borough Market · dinner in the pink room at sketch.

That's our London. Save it, share it, and go make your own memories.
xo, Kate