Long Weekend in London with My Teen

You will likely arrive early from your overnight flight, which gives you the whole day to explore. I recommend taking the high-speed train from the airport, as there can be heavy traffic in the mornings. Navigate via the train and a taxi to your hotel to drop off your bags, freshen up, grab a coffee and hit the ground running.

Spend four hours traveling around the city in the comfort of a panoramic London cab. This experience provides insider access to the key highlights of the city, photo ops and local cultural knowledge, which will help you get your bearings. I highly recommend Discover Real London for this experience as Ollie and his team surely will not disappoint! You may even get a chance to be a graffiti artist like Banksy if you’re lucky.

After you’ve cruised around town, catch a late lunch at one of the many rooms at Sketch, an experience like no other. There are five eateries, all with different themes, while containing a permanent exhibition of artwork by David Shrigley. Don’t miss the chance to head to the restroom as you will be in for a surprise.

Head back to your room to rest and freshen up before heading out for a late dinner.

Be sure to have a filling breakfast before heading to the Churchill war rooms. Soak in an immense amount of history from the untouched rooms since the end of the war. Plan on spending 2–3 hours here as the amount of information and history is astounding.

After you have worked up an appetite, take the tube over to Borough Market. This is a historic market in central London with a focus on high-quality food. Enjoy sharing a variety of unique culinary offerings and great people watching! Highly recommend the Paela and the donuts. After the market, take a quick visit to Abbey Road for a great photo opportunity. Then head over to the Mayfair area for afternoon tea at the Ham Yard Hotel. Reservations are a must!

Retire back to your room, with some shopping along the way for a rest. Enjoy a wonderful Italian meal at Ave Mario in Covent Garden. Be sure to make a reservation and don’t be afraid of the kitchen counter seats. This is a neat opportunity to watch the chefs.

Start your morning with a brunch at Duck & Waffle, which offers up epic views of the city from the 40th floor and a stellar brunch menu. After you’ve filled up on this awesomely executed comfort food, hop on the tube and head to the Camden Market area.

Soak in the great mix of shops as you walk down the street heading towards the market. There are tons of vendors and kiosk options and an unending amount of street food options once you hit the heart of the market. Try some humble crumble!

Enjoy a traditional Sunday roast dinner at a pub, including roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, vegetables, potatoes and a pint for the adults.

After breakfast, head to Tower Bridge. You can climb to the top and walk across the top of the bridge, looking down through the glass floor panels to see the cars and boats passing by. There is so much wonderful history about the construction and upkeep of the bridge, and it offers a cool vantage point of the city at the top.

Walk directly back over the bridge and head to the Tower of London for a magical treat of immense history. With everything from viewing the Crown Jewels, to admiring the armor and warfare dating back thousands of years. The tower guarded royal possessions and even the royal family in times of war and rebellion. This UNESCO heritage site does not disappoint and has something for everyone! Be sure to allow at least 3–4 hours.

For dinner, indulge in some Indian cuisine, which is huge in London. Dishoom is a buzzy destination for Indian street food in Bombay-style digs with several locations across London. If you do not have a reservation, expect to wait in a “queue” for a bit.

Enjoy one last scone with clotted cream before heading out of town and back home!