Friday Evening — Arrive & Get Oriented on the River
Drop your bags and head straight for Westminster Bridge. Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, and the London Eye lit up against the dusk is the view that tells you where you are. Walk south across the bridge to the South Bank and follow the river east — it's flat, well-lit, and busy with buskers and street performers even on a weeknight.
Dinner somewhere around the Southbank Centre or up in Waterloo, then find a proper pub for your first pint. If you're staying east, head into Shoreditch instead — Brick Lane and the streets around it are loud, colourful, and full of good food and later hours than most of the city.
Saturday — Westminster, the South Bank & Tower of London
Morning: Westminster Abbey (book ahead — it gets busy) or a walk around the outside if you'd rather save the entry fee. St James's Park next door is a good spot to catch the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, a short walk away — check the schedule as it doesn't run daily.
Late morning: walk the South Bank properly, from the London Eye past the Southbank Centre, the National Theatre, and Tate Modern (free, and worth at least an hour even for non-art people), across to Shakespeare's Globe.
Lunch: Borough Market, right by London Bridge. Go for Kappacasein's raclette sandwich and Bread Ahead's doughnuts, and don't skip the produce stalls even if you're not cooking.
Afternoon: the Tower of London. Book tickets online in advance. Budget two hours minimum for the Crown Jewels, the White Tower, and a Yeoman Warder tour, which is genuinely one of the best free-with-entry experiences in the city. Walk across Tower Bridge afterwards for the view back.
Evening: dinner and drinks in Shoreditch or Soho, depending on your energy. Soho for buzz and theatre-adjacent nightlife; Shoreditch for a more local, creative crowd.
Sunday — Markets, Notting Hill & Departure
Morning: Portobello Road Market in Notting Hill opens early and is best before 10am, when the crowds arrive. Antiques, vintage clothes, and fresh produce stalls line the street, and the pastel-coloured houses on the surrounding lanes are worth a slow wander even without buying anything.
Brunch: one of the cafés just off Portobello Road, or head back towards Marylebone for a proper full English if you haven't had one yet.
If you have time before your flight or train: a walk through Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, or a last look at the river from the north bank around Somerset House.
Head to the airport or station with one final espresso and, if there's room in your bag, a jar of something from Borough Market.