Weekends in London move fast. One minute you’re sipping coffee in a quiet mews street, the next you’re waist-deep in a rooftop party or somehow at a secret gig nobody told you about. You could plan it all out like a tourist… or you could just know the essential places that always deliver, no matter the mood. Here’s your real guide to spending a London weekend properly.
Morning Moves: Easy Starts That Don’t Feel Basic
Start slow. London’s weekends are marathons, not sprints.
Columbia Road Flower Market on Sunday mornings is absolute chaos — in the best way. Streets packed with people yelling about peonies and eucalyptus, musicians playing heartbreak songs on street corners, little coffee shops spilling out onto the road. Even if you’re not buying flowers, just being there wakes you up better than caffeine.
If you want something calmer, head to Pavilion Café by Victoria Park. Little lake, great coffee, lowkey dog-watching heaven. Sit outside if it’s not raining (or even if it is — classic London move).
Or hit Dishoom in Shoreditch for breakfast. The bacon naan roll is borderline religious at this point. No need to queue if you’re early.
Midday Wandering: Markets, Parks, Random Magic
Forget trying to “see everything.” Pick a few areas and just get lost.
Borough Market is a food wonderland. Yeah, it’s busy, but if you slide in earlyish, you’ll get the good bits without elbowing someone over a cheese sample. Grab some fresh pasta, sit by the river, and pretend you’re in a cooler version of your own life.
For something less touristy, check out Broadway Market in Hackney. It’s farmers’ market meets East London cool kid hangout. Pick up pastries that cost way too much and vintage jackets you’ll convince yourself you “definitely need.”
If the weather’s even vaguely decent, walk it off through Regent’s Park. Massive rose gardens, random jazz performances, people pretending they’re starring in romantic comedies. Or head to Primrose Hill — the view over London’s skyline is the kind of thing that makes locals fall back in love with their own city.
Afternoon Flex: Culture Without Feeling Like Homework
You could museum yourself into a coma in London if you’re not careful. Best to be a little strategic.
The Wallace Collection is one of those secret-seeming spots right near Oxford Street that nobody ever talks about unless they know. Grand townhouse vibes, velvet walls, tiny tea rooms — feels more like snooping around someone’s ridiculously rich uncle’s house than a museum.
If you want something weirder, check out the Wellcome Collection by Euston. Half science, half art, all strange — their exhibitions about the human body and death and medicine are fascinating and properly unsettling. In a good way.
Or — just go full chill and park yourself in the Serpentine Gallery café after pretending to look at some contemporary art. Honestly, sometimes the best culture move is just hanging out near it.
Sundown Switch: Where Things Start to Feel a Bit Louder
Around 5PM, London gets twitchy. People are texting, plans are getting messy, good things are starting.
Dalloway Terrace in Bloomsbury is perfect for a classy drink when you still want to hear your own thoughts. Fairy lights, over-the-top floral walls, very much a “soft launch” into the evening.
Or — if you’re ready for a bit of chaos — head east. Martello Hall in Hackney does rooftop cocktails that somehow make it feel like it’s July even when it’s objectively freezing. The pizza’s good too if you need a base layer.
If you’re feeling a little fancy, Soho is the move. Slide into Bar Termini — a tiny Italian cocktail bar where the negronis hit harder than they should. You’ll probably end up talking about “moving to Rome” with strangers within an hour. Happens to the best of us.
Night Energy: High-Low Fun Depending on the Mood
If you’re looking for a more polished evening, head to Bob Bob Ricard (the one with the “Press for Champagne” buttons at every table). Total ridiculous luxury, velvet booths, gold trim — but somehow still fun, not stiff.
Or… just disappear into Kettner’s Townhouse in Soho. Hidden bars, secret hallways, piano players. Feels like you stumbled onto the set of a very stylish old film. Good for late-night whispers and wrong decisions you’ll laugh about later.
If you want something louder, you’ll find the best of Mayfair nightlife around Hanover Square. Zero pretension, just pure elegance. You’ll see everyone who’s anyone, from the most popular modern rap icons to the living legends of the genre.
And if you need a last-ditch late-late option, The Standard Hotel’s Decimo rooftop bar keeps the lights low, the drinks strong, and the energy messy in the best way. Plus — the view’s ridiculous.
Sunday Recovery: Gentle, Cheap Therapy
Sundays aren’t for trying hard. Sundays are for slow brunches, overpriced juices, and pretending you didn’t text your ex at 3AM.
Granger & Co in Notting Hill is still one of the best bets — casual enough for hangovers, pretty enough for pretending you’ve got your life together.
If you’re south of the river, Maltby Street Market is smaller, cuter, and full of warm bread smells. Grab a coffee, a random pastry that costs £7, and just sit by the arches under the trains rattling overhead.
End it all with a slow walk along the Southbank — street performers, second-hand books, weird buskers doing magic tricks. London at its most chaotic, tender best.
If you’re feeling extra fancy, book afternoon tea at Sketch or The Savoy — both totally OTT, both worth every minute if you lean into the drama.
London weekends aren’t about ticking off checklists.
They’re about getting a little lost, spending too much on pastries, stumbling into pop-up shops you didn’t know existed, making plans you won’t stick to, and always — always — finding something that reminds you why this city still matters. Even if it rains. (It’ll definitely rain.)