Options: Dishoom (Indian — reserve early), Honest Burgers (casual, burgers), Bella Italia (Italian). Typical dinner cost ~£15–£25 pp; most restaurants open through the evening (check sites for exact hours).
West End musical at Novello Theatre; arrive 15–20 minutes early to find seats and enjoy the theatre façade photos. Typical showtime 7:30pm; book in advance.
Explore Hintze Hall (blue whale), dinosaur galleries and geological displays; the museum is free and typically opens at 10:00am (closing usually ~5:30pm in January).
Take the Piccadilly Line to Covent Garden (~15 min). Neal’s Yard has colourful cafés and vegetarian options; Flat Iron is a great quick steak option. Covent Garden cafés generally open by 9:00–10:00am and lunch service runs through afternoon.
See major works (Van Gogh, Monet) — the National Gallery is free and typically open from 10:00am to 6:00pm. A short 7–8 minute walk from Covent Garden.
Travel to St John's Wood to photograph the famous zebra crossing; best in daylight — leave time for a 20–30 minute visit. No formal opening hours (it's a public street) but daytime is recommended.
Self-guided loop: House of MinaLima (open ~10:00–6:00), Cecil Court, Australia House and House of Spells — all walkable in central London; many are open until early evening but check individual shop times.
Dine in Chinatown — Four Seasons (known for roast duck) or Opium for cocktails; Chinatown restaurants generally open through evening (most open by 11:30–12:00 and serve dinner until late).
Giant observation wheel on the South Bank with great Parliament/Big Ben views at night; typical pre-booked slots available between 6:00–9:30pm — allocate ~30–40 minutes for a full rotation. Ticket ~GBP32 if pre-booked online.
Arrive at Westminster station and photograph Big Ben and Parliament from the riverside; public areas are always accessible but interior tours require prior booking (limited availability).
Ceremonial guard change (public, free). In January times can vary; arrive 20–30 minutes early to secure a good vantage point. Ceremony lasts ~45–60 minutes.
10-minute walk from Tate Modern. Borough Market street food is excellent — Kappacasein (cheese toast) and Bread Ahead (donuts) are popular; stalls open from around 10:00 and lunch prices ~GBP10–15.
Walk along the Thames past The Shard and City Hall to the Tower — if you want interiors allow longer (Tower of London interiors open ~9:00/9:30–4:30 in winter); external photo stops are quick and always accessible.
Join the free/guide-led HP tour visiting Leadenhall Market, Ministry of Magic sites and Piccadilly. Tours usually run 2 hours; tip guide £10–15 suggested. Check meeting point/time when booking.
Pre-book the free Sky Garden timeslot — entry windows often available from mid-morning to early evening (weekend/weekday hours vary). Arrive for city panoramas; booking required (free).
Short journey to Vauxhall for a local pub visit (Taylor Swift fans note: themed nights may occur). Pubs open late; check for live music nights if desired.
Head north to Camden for a huge variety of street food (halloumi fries, burritos, nitro ice cream); Camden Market stalls normally open from ~10:00 and lunch pricing ~GBP8–15.
Photo op at the official trolley-in-the-wall and shop; queue expected — the official photo experience costs (approx. GBP10–15) if you want a pro photo and props.
Short walk to explore free exhibits — British Library highlights (Magna Carta, Beatles manuscripts) and the Wellcome Collection are free and typically open until early evening (check exact hours).
Dinner in Soho or back in South Kensington; recommendations: Flat Iron (steak, ~GBP15), Franco Manca (sourdough pizza ~GBP12) or a classic pub fish & chips (~GBP14).
Travel from South Kensington to Paddington (Circle/District/Hammersmith depending on route) — allow ~18–25 minutes to reach station and platform time for train.
Visit Bath Abbey (donations or small entry fee typical); abbey open generally from mid-morning (around 10:00) though times vary for services. Suggested donation/entry: GBP6.
Sally Lunn's is historic and famous for the 'Sally Lunn bun' (open late morning into afternoon); pizza option is quicker and casual. Both are centrally located.
Self-guided audio tour of the Roman Baths complex and museum; booking advised — attractions typically open from 9:00–5:00 in winter. Allocate ~2 hours for full visit.
Optional Jane Austen Centre (small admission) or external photos at the Royal Crescent and The Circus. Jane Austen Centre opens mid-morning into afternoon (check hours).
Return train to London; aim to arrive at Paddington ~7:30–8:00pm depending on departure. Trains run frequently but check timetable and platform before travel.
Recommended advance ticket; journey ~4h30m by LNER fast service (arrive around 12:30). Book early for best fares (tickets often on Black Friday promos).
Explore the medieval Royal Mile: closes, shops, historic closes and souvenir/historical shops. Many shops open ~10:00–17:00; the street itself is always open.
Walk down to Princes Street Gardens for a classic castle view and have a light dinner near the hotel (many restaurants open evening service ~5:00/5:30pm).
Evening Ghost Bus Tour (approx. 1h15) — theatrical, fun and spooky city tour starting around 8:00pm; book in advance as tours sell out. Typical ticket GBP18–20.
Long day tour (~07:30–20:00) visiting Glencoe, Fort Augustus and Loch Ness — many operators include optional boat cruise (£15) and commentary; book early (these sell out).
Explore the castle, Crown Jewels and great views across the city. Castle typically opens around 9:30–10:00 and closes mid-afternoon in winter; book tickets in advance to skip queues. Admission ~GBP19.
Guided tour of the preserved subterranean streets — fascinating insight into Old Town life; tours run frequently and should be booked in advance (GBP21).
St Giles (free entry for worship) and the National Museum (free) are great later-afternoon options; the museum often closes around 5:00–5:30pm in winter.
Full-day coach tour (~07:00–20:00) visiting the Glenfinnan Viaduct (Hogwarts Express views), Glencoe and Loch Shiel; book in advance (GBP70–80 recommended).
Official royal residence in Scotland — open seasonally with an admission charge (~GBP20) if you choose to enter; otherwise enjoy the Palace exterior and adjacent Holyrood Park walks.
Interactive whisky tour with tasting (book ahead) — typical tours run 1–1.5 hours and the attraction is usually open midday to early evening. Expect ~GBP20 per person.
Final Edinburgh dinner — try a traditional Scottish meal (stew, haggis if adventurous) at a central restaurant; many places open evening service from 5:00pm onward.
Transfer to Edinburgh Airport for morning flight to Dublin; allow 1.5–2 hours for airport check-in and security if flying low-cost or full-service carriers.
Arrive in central Dublin and stroll St Stephen's Green, then head to Trinity College for the Book of Kells if time allows (Book of Kells entry typically runs 9:30–17:00; booking recommended).
Dinner near the hotel and consider The Brazen Head (Ireland's oldest pub) for traditional music and ambiance; pubs open evenings and often host music sessions.
Option for the Little Museum (€4) — small and charming — or the interactive Leprechaun Museum (EUR18); check opening times (usually midday–late afternoon).
Full-day tour to Northern Ireland (~07:00–20:00) visiting Giant's Causeway (UNESCO, free to view), Dunluce Castle (external), and Belfast highlights. Book early; many tours include commentary and stops. Expect a long but scenic day.
Visit Christ Church Cathedral or St Patrick’s Cathedral (each ~EUR8), stroll George’s Street Arcade and Grafton Street for buskers and cafés. Cathedrals generally open mid-morning (check exact hours).
Take the DART to Howth (~30 min each way, EUR6 round trip). Walk cliff paths, watch seals at the harbour and have fresh seafood in the port. DART trains run frequently; cliff trail open year-round but weather dependent.
Afternoon options: National Botanic Gardens (free) or Guinness Storehouse (book ahead, EUR18) with Gravity Bar panoramic pint. Guinness open usually 9:30–19:00 but check season hours.