If I Only Had 24 Hours in London
The hardest guide I've ever had to write...
For years I’ve been asked to write travel guides for London. Somehow, while living for 22 years in the city, I was too focused on the moment to sit down and create something helpful for others. It’s time to make up for it with a series of guides to the greatest city on earth.
London is absolutely massive; seeing it all in one day is impossible. I explored daily and still didn’t see everything. But if I had just 24 hours to hit my favorite spots, this is exactly what I’d do.
For an easy copy/paste summary, scroll to the bottom :)
The Ultimate 24 Hours in London
On this day, we start west…
7am: Out the door and to South Kensington
We’re early risers when we have just one day to explore. Set your Google Maps for Kensington Gardens and grab a coffee as you exit South Kensington Station. There are plenty of small cafes to choose from, with more popping up every day.
The destination is not the goal here, it’s the journey. Along the way you’ll pass The Natural History Museum, Royal Albert Hall, and endless scenic city corners. This is one of my favourite walks. So sip that coffee, and look around.
A word of warning: If you’re taking pictures, attach your phone or camera to your body with a strap and stay hyper aware of your surroundings. London has a VERY big problem with mobile phone theft. Thieves on bikes snatch phones right out of your hand.
When you step into Kensington Gardens, you’ll feel the regal air fill your lungs. It isn’t your imagination, you’re sharing oxygen with the Royals. Kensington Palace will be easily spottable as you step into the park.
Take your time, explore, get lost, but leave at least 15 minutes to meander over to breakfast down High Street Kensington.
8am: Breakfast at Dishoom Kensington
Dishoom’s breakfast is one of London’s worst-kept secrets. We all like to think we’re the only ones who’ve discovered it, but we all know and love it. Marketed as "Bombay Comfort Food," one bite of their Wrestler’s Naan Roll will have you wondering if you ever truly understood comfort food. Pair it with bottomless house chai, which feels like the Indian equivalent of diner drip coffee in America.
I know Indian cuisine isn’t what most people consider for breakfast, but trust me—I crave this every time I’m away from London. Dishoom’s stunning restaurants, warm staff, and consistently excellent food never disappoint.
Take your time here, but leave by 9:45am for a quick 15 minute walk to…
10am: Victoria & Albert Museum
A day in London wouldn’t be complete without a visit to a museum or gallery. The city’s permanent collections are unparalleled, and I’ve always loved telling visitors that these spaces are completely free. What a privilege—and one I took full advantage of every day I lived there.
The Victoria & Albert Museum offers something unlike anything else on earth. It’s the world’s largest museum of decorative arts and design, with nearly 3 million objects in its permanent collection. On top of that, their team regularly curates exceptional exhibitions. Most recently, they hosted the fantastic Taylor Swift Songbook Trail, which ran from July to September 2024. Exhibitions like it pop up all the time, so be sure to check what’s on before you go, as most non-permanent exhibitions require tickets!
I’m only giving you an hour at the V&A, because that’s what I would give myself. I pop in, explore a part I haven’t seen in a while and run. You could spend more time there and skip this next part, or skim the collections and run. We are on a time crunch here…
11am: Harrods Food Halls
Harrods is another “biggie,” a place where you could easily spend an entire day wandering. But if I had to pick the most spectacular part—or confess the only section I truly visit—it’s the Food Halls. Some people go for the handbags, I step in for the dream food hampers.
When I first moved to London, a friend joked, “You know you’re rich when you buy your milk at Harrods Food Halls.” Naturally, I went that weekend to see for myself. My eyes never returned to normal size. The options were endless. I treated myself to a small cake and remember feeling guilty at home for breaking its perfect icing with my fork. Don’t miss the bakery, the cheese section, the ready-made food hall, or the biscuits.
The Food Halls are perfect for picking up gifts for family and friends or treating yourself. Go on—you deserve it. I tell myself that every time I step in, hence the reason I’m not a stick figure in size.
11:30am: Afternoon tea and biscuits at Anya Cafe
You’re gonna need a pick-me-up by now, and there’s one cafe I’d never skip on a London trip—it’s just a short walk from the back of Harrods. Anya Cafe is the city hotspot from designer Anya Hindmarch, a creative mastermind.
If I could have an informal afternoon tea anywhere in London, it would always be here. I realise afternoon tea is a lot of food, and I’m asking you to pack plenty into your stomach today. But rest assured, even a coffee here feels special. It’s served with a postage stamp cookie and the most adorable sugars in wrappings you’ll definitely want to slip into your purse as a keepsake.
12pm: Take the 52 or 452 bus to Notting Hill
A word about buses here: This was how I got around London for 20 years. I have always preferred them to the tube, and with only 24 hours in this city a bus will allow you to use every moment to see all that’s around you. Try to grab the front seat on the top of the double decker. It feels like you’re driving the bus yourself.
If it’s your first time taking the bus, know that there are bus stops dotted around the city, easily found with your chosen maps app. They are pretty regular, most pop by every 8-10 minutes and you just tap in on the yellow round pad in front of the driver with your credit card to pay for your ticket. It’s the cheapest way to get around and the best, in my opinion.
12:30pm: Portobello Road, Notting Hill
You can’t get lost here—it’s a straight shot down Portobello. But you might lose track of time as you explore the many shops, bars, cafés, and restaurants along the way. You’ll recognise Alice’s, the famous antique shop from the Paddington movies. Yes, it’s a real antiques shop!
For vintage designer fashion, Lovers Lane on Portobello is the closest you’ll ever get to walking into Carrie Bradshaw’s closet. In fact, the owner’s daughter recently told me the wardrobe team from And Just Like That stopped in this summer to shop. That’s all the proof you need!
Eagle-eyed visitors will also spot the famous Blue Door from Notting Hill. Fun fact: it was actually Richard Curtis’s front door—the man behind the movie and possibly the greatest marketer of London ever. His films, like Love Actually and Four Weddings and a Funeral, capture London just as I see it every day: the most majestic big city in the world.
If you’ve got room for lunch, take a small detour to Julie’s. You might chance a walk-in, but it’s become so popular that calling ahead for a reservation is your best bet. The chef, Owen, is an absolute superstar (and very good looking!), and the atmosphere here is quintessentially London. Sitting in a corner booth, enjoying whatever Owen serves, always reminds me why I love this city.
As you stroll down Portobello Road, you’ll eventually cross Golborne Road, a culinary hotspot that’s become a local favourite. This less touristy stretch of Notting Hill is perfect for meeting friends over coffee. I used to come here at least four days a week, especially to Layla’s—a beautiful bakery with wonderful coffee and the best chocolate croissant in London.
If you’ve got more time, I highly recommend booking the bakery tour on Portobello. It’s run by two of my closest girlfriends, who launched it just before I left London. I even joined one of their tours to make the video above to share the experience with you. But back to the schedule—we’re losing daylight, so let’s keep moving!
3pm: Depart Notting Hill for Hampstead
It takes 15 minutes by cab or Uber to get from Notting Hill to Hampstead, and while it’s a splurge, it’s the easiest way to save time and fit everything in. This isn’t the moment to catch up on emails. Along the way, you’ll pass through Little Venice, one of the city’s most picturesque neighbourhoods. Don’t miss a second of it—let London dazzle you, but give it your full attention.
Ask the cabbie to drop you at Keats House in Hampstead. I’m not suggesting you visit, but it’s a convenient landmark and a lovely starting point for a short walk up the hill to Rosslyn Hill.
Once you reach Rosslyn Hill, head towards “The Holly Bush” and enjoy strolling through what feels like a country village in the heart of London. If you have time, pop into Designs, a secondhand designer fashion shop. Tell the beautiful owner, Dominique, that you’re a friend of mine, and she’ll treat you like royalty. (To be fair, she treats everyone that way!) Dominique is one of my favourite people in London, and I’ve spent more time and money in her shop than I’d ever care to admit.
5pm: Grab a pint at The Holly Bush, Hampstead
If I could visit only one pub in London, it would be this one. In fact, it’s the last pint I had before I left. I ordered one pint of cider and sat outside on the long wooden bench as cotton candy pink skies started to swirl around me. I took my last sip and made the 23 minute walk to Parliament Hill, which is what I want you to do next.
Sunset: Parliament Hill Viewpoint
This is doable if it’s the right time of year. For example, in the dead of winter, the sun sets so early you’d have to cut your day in half to catch sunset here. But also, in the height of summer, you’d have to wait until nearly 10 pm. So I’m meeting in the middle here. Check timings!
Sunset over the city from this viewpoint (or alternatively Primrose Hill) is such a special way to look upon the city with grateful eyes for all it gives you in experiences, a ritual I practised as often as possible. When the sun finally disappears, make your way to the 24 bus stop to catch the bus to St. James’s. The city twinkles at night, and the best way to see it is from the top of a double-decker.
8pm: DUKES for one martini only
Tucked down a nondescript alley, DUKES is the place for a martini in London. If you’re not a martini drinker, skip it—this is the only thing to order.
Best known as the spot where Ian Fleming drank dry martinis and created 007’s signature order—shaken, not stirred—DUKES is iconic. Ordering is a spectacle. The drinks trolley rolls over, the show begins, and a martini, filled to the brim, is placed before you.
But beware of having more than one. DUKES famously cuts you off at two, and for good reason. You’ll think you can handle it, but the next morning will prove otherwise. Believe me—I’ve been there.
9pm-ish: Late dinner Imperial Treasure in St. James
When you finish your martini, make sure to have a full dinner—I highly recommend walking to Imperial Treasure nearby. If you’re considering the Peking Duck, the best in London, book it 24 hours in advance and let them know you’ll be ordering it. Go with friends for this experience, as you’re in for some tableside theatre. We love a bit of drama with our food in London. If duck isn’t your thing, they also have an incredible menu of Chinese dishes. Their dim sum is to die for.
Heading home: Stop and sit for a while in the Outernet in Tottenham Court Road
The Outernet has become one of London’s biggest tourist attractions over the past year and is best seen at night, in my opinion. It’s the largest digital exhibition space, open for the public to walk through, sit, or even lounge while stunning videos play on the displays.
Full disclosure: when I first read about this, I thought it sounded ridiculously cheesy. Then, in January 2023, we visited after dinner, and I was mesmerised, as you’ll see in the video below.
While this marks the end of my dream 24 hours in London, you’ll need a place to rest your head. As I’ll now be a guest in my own city from time to time, here are a few options for ideal hotel stays.
London Hotel Recommendations
If money were no object if would only ever be Claridge’s, every single time. And if they didn’t have a reservation I’d check into The Connaught down the street. But, if I’m keeping it budget friendly, I’d check into the Hoxton on Shepherd’s Bush or The Lost Poet in Notting Hill to keep it close to home.
To summarize…
The Ultimate 24 Hours in London
7am: Begin in South Kensington
8am: Breakfast at Dishoom Kensington
10am: Victoria & Albert Museum
11am: Harrods Food Halls
11:30am: Afternoon tea and biscuits at Anya Cafe
12pm: Bus to Notting Hill
12:30: Portobello Road
3pm: Depart Notting Hill for Hampstead
5pm: Grab a pint at The Holly Bush, Hampstead
Sunset: Parliament Hill Viewpoint
8pm: Drinks at DUKES
9ish: Late dinner Imperial Treasure in St. James
Heading home: The Outernet in Tottenham Court Road
I hope this was helpful! Add suggestions or questions in the comments below—this is a community, after all. I still have much to learn about my city, especially now that I’ll only visit every other month. It may not be home right now, but it will always hold my heart!
Perfect timing, thank you Emily! I’m off to London on Friday, staying in Kensington so I’m definitely going to use some of this in my route planning. I’m going to the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday night for the first time at 51 years old…beyond excited! xx
Oh my goodness, this is incredible! And as a Julie, I have to visit Julie’s! Saving for my next trip!