London Bucket List
There are cities you visit for the sake of seeing them, ticking names off a map as if you’re collecting stamps. Then there’s London – a place you arrive in, and somehow it feels like slipping into a silk dress you’ve owned forever. It’s grand and cinematic, yet deeply personal, like it has been waiting for you to wander its streets.
London is a city that can be loud with double-decker buses rumbling by, yet quiet if you know where to look. It offers affordable indulgences hidden between grand palaces and bustling markets. It rewards you for slowing down, for paying attention. And if you let it, it will send you home with stories tucked between the pages of your travel diary.
This guide is a curated collection of moments – the kind that blend the iconic with the intimate, the luxury with the familiar. Think of it as a soft luxury itinerary, shaped with feminine energy and the little insider tips I’ve learned along the way.
Mornings in London
There’s something irresistible about London in the early hours. The streets aren’t empty, but they’re not yet overwhelmed by the day. The light is gentle, and if you’re lucky, the city feels like it’s yours.
Big Ben
You don’t really come to Big Ben to “do” anything. You come to stand there for a moment, and feel the weight of being somewhere you’ve seen in countless films. The air always feels crisp here, even in summer. My advice is not to rush away. Find a nearby café and sip a flat white with the chimes faintly ringing in the background. It’s a way of claiming a personal memory of something the whole world knows.
Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge is often photographed in grand, wide frames, but I prefer the smaller, more intimate view from the south bank as you walk up toward it. The bridge is stunning in the morning light, especially if the sun hits the blue paint just right. My tip – cross it slowly, and once you’re halfway, stop to look out over the Thames. If you can, go early on a weekday before commuters fill the path.
The Shard
The Shard isn’t just a building, it’s a statement. I like to treat it as a glamorous prelude to the day – perhaps a coffee or a cocktail at one of the bars near the top if you want to feel like you’re floating above the city. Even if you skip going inside, seeing it pierce the skyline from almost anywhere in central London is worth a pause.
Sky Garden
This is my secret for a luxe-for-less view. The Sky Garden is free to enter if you book ahead, and it’s lush with greenery in a way that feels like a hidden greenhouse in the clouds. Morning slots are my favorite. The light pours in through the glass, the city glimmers below, and there’s a quiet elegance about sipping coffee at that height without paying Shard prices.
Late Morning - Market Wanders and Pretty Streets
Markets in London are not just about buying things: they’re a whole mood. The cobblestones, the chatter, the smell of fresh pastries and roasted coffee. They remind you that life is as much about browsing as it is about arriving.
Borough Market
If I could bottle the smell of Borough Market in the morning, I would. It’s a mix of baked bread, chocolate, herbs and freshly ground coffee. Start at one end and let your senses guide you. Insider tip: go on a weekday if you can, and grab breakfast from a stall before the midday rush. A warm pastry eaten while leaning against the railing, watching the vendors set up, feels infinitely more luxurious than any formal brunch.
Notting Hill
There’s no wrong time to stroll through Notting Hill, but mornings are particularly cinematic. The pastel houses look freshly washed, the streets still quiet enough to hear your own thoughts. Take time to pop into the independent bookshops. I once found a second-hand edition of a book I’d been searching for for years, tucked in the back of a shop here. That’s the kind of magic Notting Hill seems to deal in.
Portobello Market
It’s chaotic in the best possible way. Vintage jewellery stalls next to crates of fresh fruit, old records stacked beside antique teacups. The joy is in the hunt. If you go early, you can chat with the vendors before the main crowds arrive. I recommend carrying cash for smaller purchases – it makes the transaction feel warmer somehow, more like an exchange between friends.
Afternoons - Tea, Culture and a Little Drama
Afternoons in London are where the city’s dual personalities come out – the refined and the theatrical. You can sip tea from delicate china one moment, then step into a modern art installation the next.
Afternoon Tea
Afternoon tea in London is not just a meal, it’s a ritual. You can go as luxe or as relaxed as you like. Personally, I prefer somewhere that feels elegant but not stiff – where the staff don’t rush you and the teapots match your mood. My tip: book for later in the afternoon so it can drift into dinner, especially if you have a full day of walking behind you.
British Museum
The British Museum is vast, and the temptation is to try and see it all. My advice? Don’t. Choose one or two galleries that intrigue you and let yourself linger. The grand courtyard alone is worth the visit, especially if you catch it in a quiet moment. And yes, the café is a perfect place to rest your feet with a cappuccino before stepping back out into the city.
Tate Modern
The Tate Modern is where you go to remember that art isn’t always supposed to be easy. The building itself, a converted power station, is part of the experience. I like to wander without a map, letting myself get lost between exhibitions. The café with Thames views is one of my favourite places to watch the city without the noise.
St Paul’s Cathedral
Approaching St Paul’s from the Millennium Bridge always feels cinematic. The dome rises up as you walk, and there’s a moment when it takes up your entire frame of vision. Inside, the whispering gallery has its own quiet magic. If you’re not up for climbing, simply sitting outside on the steps with a takeaway coffee can feel just as grand.
Golden Hour
Golden hour in London isn’t always golden; sometimes it’s silver, muted under clouds, but still beautiful in a way that makes you want to walk slower.
Regent’s Park
This is one of my favorite spots for a gentle evening wander. The gardens are manicured but not too perfect, and if you time it right you can catch the roses in bloom. Bring something small to snack on and find a bench; people watching here is almost as good as the scenery.
Primrose Hill
Climbing Primrose Hill is worth every step for the view of the London skyline at sunset. It feels more intimate than the Shard or the Eye, like you’ve stumbled upon a secret vantage point. Bring a blanket and a thermos of tea. It’s a simple luxury, but one you’ll remember.
Stroll Along the Thames
There’s a romance to walking along the Thames as the sky fades. Streetlamps flicker on, the water takes on a darker hue, and the city begins to sparkle. Start near the Southbank Centre and head toward Tower Bridge for a route that balances energy and quiet corners.
Soho
Soho at golden hour is all about contrast. You can slip into a tiny wine bar for an early drink or just wander, letting the music spill out of open doors. I find it energising after a day of slower moments, like a burst of champagne bubbles before the night begins.
Evenings - The Sparkle of London Nights
London at night can be dazzling without ever feeling overwhelming if you know where to go. The key is to mix the iconic with the comfortable.
London Eye
The London Eye is touristy, yes, but the view at night when the city lights up like a jewel box is worth it. Go later in the evening when the queues have eased. The slow rotation gives you time to take it all in without feeling rushed.
Piccadilly Circus
Think of this as London’s answer to Times Square, only with more character. The neon signs, the swirl of people, the theatre lights: it’s all part of the energy. I like passing through here on the way to somewhere else, letting it be a vibrant interlude.
Oxford Street
By day it’s for shopping, but at night Oxford Street becomes a stage for the grandest window displays. It’s quieter, and you can stroll without being swept along in the tide of shoppers. Stop for a late coffee or dessert along the way – there’s something indulgent about sugar at night.
The Essentials
Some experiences in London are cliché for a reason. They might not be unique, but they are essential to feeling the rhythm of the city.
Try Fish and Chips
Find a pub that feels like it’s been there forever, one with wooden floors and a menu that hasn’t changed in years. Fish and chips taste best when eaten slowly with a pint or a glass of wine, surrounded by the hum of conversation.
Changing of the Guard
If you’re going to watch the Changing of the Guard, arrive early enough to get a good spot but not so early that you spend half the morning waiting. The pageantry is worth it – it’s London showing off, and it knows it.
Ride a Red Bus
The upper deck, front row is the sweet spot. It’s like your own personal moving cinema. Try it in the evening when the lights are warm and the streets are alive.
Buckingham Palace
Even if you don’t stay long, seeing Buckingham Palace at least once is part of the London experience. I like walking past in the evening when it’s quieter – the gates feel less like a barrier and more like part of the scenery.
London isn’t a city you conquer in one trip. It’s a city you flirt with, linger in, and return to, each time discovering something new. The magic is in the mix – the grand landmarks and the quiet benches, the crowded markets and the solitary cobbled streets. You leave knowing you’ve only just begun, and that’s the best part.