5 Days in London with Your Best Friend

Most likely, you'll be arriving at London Heathrow Airport. If so, follow the signs to hop on the Heathrow Express with your pre-purchased tickets and you'll be at Paddington Station in 15 minutes. From here, take a black cab from out front to your accommodation, or don't be afraid to use public transportation such as the underground subway (called the tube) or the bus. Buses are a great way to get around because you’re above ground getting a sightseeing tour on the way to your destination. You can just step on the bus, tap your phone to pay and go. Put the address into maps on your phone and follow the directions. It couldn't be easier. Pro tip: be sure to tap and pay at the turnstile for the tube or you'll pay double buying a ticket at the kiosk.

Depending on what time you arrive, get out, walk around and explore your neighborhood. Pop into a pub and have a classic meal of fish and chips or any baked pies on offer.

If you've arrived early, consider a stroll through Hyde Park, the largest royal park in London. In the spring, the flowers are blooming and, in the winter, it transforms itself into a winter wonderland.

Today, you'll be up early because you're going to Borough Market for a walking food tour. Borough Market is a vibrant and bustling food market with over 100 stalls offering a wide variety of fresh produce, gourmet foods and artisanal products. This is a delicious way to acquaint yourself with this famous market, and you'll try everything from a homemade trifle to fish and chips to sausage roll.

When you've eaten enough, walk along the water towards Tower Bridge for amazing views of this iconic site. Head across Tower Bridge to The Tower of London. You can explore the tower on your own or take a guided tour either with a group or privately. Enjoy seeing the Crown Jewels and hear all sorts of wild stories from British history. It's packed with tales of kings, queens and even some spooky ghost legends!

Dinner tonight is at The Barbary in Covent Garden. Be sure to make a reservation and ask for The Barbary and not the Barbary Next Door. Sit at the counter, get to know the chef and enjoy amazing food. Before dinner, take a walk around Covent Garden, a vibrant district in London known for its historic market, street performers, shopping, dining and cultural attractions like the Royal Opera House. The Barbary is in Neal's Yard, a hidden courtyard in Covent Garden with colorful buildings, eclectic shops and holistic health shops.

Today, take a tour of Westminster Abbey and the Diamond Jubilee Galleries. The galleries upstairs were closed to the public for over 700 years and were recently opened to everyone. The view looking down on the Abbey is a perspective few have seen. It's magnificent.

After your Abbey tour, download Rick Steves' Westminster walk, which you can listen to as you walk and observe the sites around you. He has an app called Rick Steves Audio Europe, which has walks you can download for cities all over the world. It's a fantastic tool to have in your travel tool belt wherever you are in the world. You'll begin at Big Ben, see the London Eye, walk along Whitehall, check out #10 Downing Street, stop in at the Horse Guards and end at Trafalgar Square.

When finished with the walk you can either pop into the National Gallery or the National Portrait Gallery. But if you're done for the day, take a short stroll over to Barrafina on Adelaide Street for some modern Spanish tapas. You have to try the pan con tomate, which is so simple yet delicious.

Today, you have your choice of either the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), which is my favorite, or the Wallace Collection. Each of these offers something different than your run-of-the-mill museum.

At the V&A, you can peruse the most delicately painted miniature portraits or a collection of jewelry spanning over 3,000 years with an array of pieces from ancient times to contemporary designs, including items worn by royalty and celebrities. If you thought the crown jewels were remarkable, wait until you see these. But not to be missed is the Cast Courts that tower above you, plaster cast reproductions of famous sculptures and architectural monuments from around the world.

The Wallace Collection is a charming museum known for its beautiful collection of fine and decorative arts housed in the historic Hertford House. If you like perusing artifacts but also seeing a former aristocratic townhouse, this is the place for you.

This evening, take in a West End show, perhaps the world's longest running play, Agatha Christie's "The Mousetrap." Head to the Soho neighborhood in the late afternoon to take in some of the best shopping before your play, walking along Carnaby Street with its eclectic mix of independent boutiques, flagship stores and renowned brands. Put your name in at Dishoom Carnaby. Dishoom serves a range of Indian dishes with a focus on sharing plates, including favorites like black daal, house chai, biryanis and naan rolls.

Today is your last day, so we are keeping an open day to catch up on an activity you may have missed in a previous day. You could also add in any bucket list items you may have, like shopping at Harrods or Marks & Spencer, viewing the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, taking a ride on the London Eye or having high tea at Claridge's.

Lisboeta: Lisboeta's menu features a delicious selection of petiscos, which are small, shareable plates. These dishes showcase the best of Lisbon's cuisine, using fresh, local ingredients and traditional recipes to tell the story of Portugal's rich culinary heritage.

Claridge's for High Tea: A trip to London just wouldn't be complete without a visit to the iconic Claridge's for tea in the Foyer and Reading Room. Book well in advance as spots go as soon as they are available.

Fiume: Overlooking the Thames River from Battersea Power Station's lively Circus West Village, Fiume (meaning "river" in Italian) is an ideal spot to soak up the scenery and savor delicious southern Italian fare.

The Fox and the Pheasant: Tucked away in a cozy corner of Chelsea, The Fox and the Pheasant is a charming pub perfect for a classic Sunday roast. They serve this all day Sunday, alongside some of their regular menu items.

J Sheekey: J Sheekey is a well-established seafood restaurant in London that's been around for over 100 years. It's located in a central spot between Leicester Square and Covent Garden. They serve a wide variety of fresh fish, oysters and shellfish, along with some vegetarian and meat options. They're known for their delicious seafood, especially their oysters, and their fish pie is a signature dish. The restaurant has a casual bar area where you can grab drinks or a lighter meal before or after a show.