Guide to a long weekend in London

Enjoy an elevated mini-break in the capital filled with theatre, culture, and delicious food.

Summary

• A long weekend offers the chance to explore several parts of central London
• Our guide shows you the restaurants shows and iconic sights that you must fit in for a long weekend in the capital city
• Don't miss incredible historic shows such as The Mousetrap and The Phantom of the Opera

London is one of the world’s most vibrant and historic places and it’s possible to live a lifetime in the city and still only scratch the surface. It can be overwhelming narrowing down what to see and do in a limited amount of time but most of the major attractions aren’t going anywhere, so don’t worry too much about rushing!

Read our guide to a suggested long weekend in London (mostly concentrated in the centre of town) filled with theatre, culture, history, and good food – there ought to be something for everyone.

Book tickets to attractions in the city and see what's on in the West End.

Friday

Let the long weekend commence! Make the most of your time in London by starting activities on Friday afternoon, when the city comes alive with the after-work crowd looking to kick off the weekend in style.

Afternoon tea at The Lane

After arriving and freshening up, there’s no better to way to settle in in style than by enjoying the quintessentially English tradition of afternoon tea in elegant surroundings. Theatre Royal, Drury Lane is one of London’s most historic theatres and it also serves a sumptuous Grand Saloon Afternoon Tea. The menu changes frequently according to the season and savoury offerings are complemented with sweet treats by ‘Queen of Cakes’ artisan baker and cake designer Lily Vanilli. Heaven! (for other afternoon tea recommendations, read our guide here).

Shopping in Covent Garden

Following your tea, enjoy a leisurely browse in the nearby shops selling the finest fashion, jewellery, beauty, homewares, and more. You might enjoy a drink in a nearby pub before your evening show – there are several historical options in the Covent Garden area (read our guide to the best pubs in the West End here).

Late night Fridays at the museums

The National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery, both conveniently located at Trafalgar Square, are open until 9pm on Fridays (the latter does the same on Saturdays). Admission is free and a visit to these endlessly inspiring collections (however long or short you wish) can be the perfect palette cleanser from the hustle and bustle of the capital.

The Phantom of the Opera

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s gothic masterpiece has been running for almost 40 years and it’s still the height of romance and glamour. You’ll be mesmerised from the grand opera scenes, to the famous chandelier drop, to the bittersweet denouement. The Phantom and his protegee Christine are characters who will live in your imagination forever.

Book The Phantom of the Opera tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk.

Saturday

It's easy to fit in a two-show day while visiting London, but there's also time for lots of other activities, from lunch at London's oldest restaurant to after-show cocktails.

Tower of London

Everyone should visit The Tower of London at least once in their lives. Standing proud over the London skyline for almost 1,000 years, the Tower has had multiple identities over the centuries, including royal residence, prison, zoo, armoury, and now tourist attraction. The stories are endlessly fascinating and at times gruesome (the Princes in the Tower, Anne Boleyn, Lady Jane Grey, and many others met their ends here). And, of course, the crown jewels are nothing short of dazzling.

Book Tower of London tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk.

Lunch at Rules

Rules is the oldest restaurant in London, established in 1798, which specialises in the finest meat and game (reared at its own estate in the north of England). The artwork reflects its rich theatrical history (Henry Irving and Laurence Olivier were regular diners) and its oak-panelled charms have led to appearances in the James Bond franchise and Downton Abbey. Literary greats Charles Dickens, William Makepeace Thackeray, and H G Wells were also frequent visitors – if only walls could talk!

The Mousetrap

Time for another London institution – a matinee performance of Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap. This thriller has been running for over 70 years and is the world’s longest running play, for good reason. This gripping murder mystery will keep you on the edge of your seat as you employ your powers of deduction to guess “whodunnit”.

Book The Mousetrap tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk.

Small plates for supper

After a hearty lunch, you might fancy something lighter for the evening meal, and there’s no shortage of places serving small plates in Central London. Try La Goccia in Covent Garden, whose offerings are made from seasonal produce from Petersham Nurseries or Tapas Stories nearby in the Piazza – perfect for sharing.

Cabaret

After a day filled with all things quintessentially English, it’s time to let your hair down and party with the 1920s Berlin-set musical Cabaret. Rebecca Frecknall’s immersive, multi-award-winning production of Cabaret has been thrilling audiences since 2021 and shows no sign of slowing down. It provides the perfect mix of heady entertainment with an all-too resonant crash back into reality. In addition to the outstanding production, the rotating door star casting constantly keeps things fresh and exciting.

Book Cabaret tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk.

After-show cocktails

To continue the party, head out for cocktails. For a proper 1920s vibe, try the speakeasy-inspired Blind Spot in the St Martins Lane Hotel, which you’ll find hidden behind a tea counter. The delicious cocktails are inspired by the most glamorous international locations.

Sunday

Sunday is a day of rest, so take things at a more leisurely pace today by exploring one of London's street food markets and taking in some of its most iconic sights, such as the London Eye. But there's always time for a show and while Sunday is a dark day for lots of West End plays and musicals, there's always something you can grab tickets to see.

London Eye and River Cruise

As London wakes up for a leisurely Sunday morning, enjoy a panoramic view of the capital from the London Eye. The “Millennium Wheel” was such a hit that it’s remained one of London’s most popular attractions a quarter of a century later. Then head down the river on a river cruise to admire the London skyline with the benefit of expert commentary.

Book London Eye Fast Track Experience tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk.

Street food lunch at Borough Market

London is rightly celebrated for its huge variety of street food and Borough Market, located near the Thames at London Bridge, boasts an unparalleled spread, from the finest British artisanal products, to offerings from Greece, Grenada, Iran, India, and beyond. You’ll want to sample everything!

ABBA Voyage

For your final afternoon, head out to East London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park for the 1pm performance of ABBA Voyage. In an extraordinary feat of technology, the original line-up Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad take to the stage in the form of state-of-the art digital holograms, performing all of the band’s most beloved numbers with accompaniment from a 10-piece live band. In a five-star review, LondonTheatre.co.uk’s critic remarked that “the end result is sublime, defining the phrase ‘needs to be seen to be believed.'” You’ll be dancing for the rest of the day.

Book ABBA Voyage tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk.

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

While you’re in the area, do take some time to explore the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, a sporting complex and public park developed for the 2012 Olympics. It’s fairly early days, but the surrounding area is set to be a major cultural hub with a new theatre for dance venue Sadler’s Wells, plus a new outpost of the Victoria and Albert Museum. It’s also a lovely place to walk around and enjoy some fresh air.

Sunday roast

Head back to central London to sample the institution that is the roast dinner. If you want to push the boat out, try Claridges’ luxurious offering. Or, for a proper British pub experience, try The George in the Strand with its timbered exterior and Dickensian interior, or the Lamb and Flag in Covent Garden (which hosted bare knuckle fights during the Georgian era – it’s much more relaxed now!). The perfect way to round things off!

Read more about what London has to offer with our complete West End theatre guide.

Photo credit: The London Eye. (Courtesy of attraction). Inset: The Phantom of the Opera, The Mousetrap, Cabaret, ABBA Voiyage. (Courtesy of production)