London Itinerary: May 24 – May 31, 2025

Written By Rohan Pawar

May 24 (Fri): Arrival & Nightlife

  • Arrival (16:00) – Arrive Heathrow (if applicable) and transfer to Central London. From Heathrow: Heathrow Express (15 min to Paddington) or Piccadilly Line (~45 min) to city center. Check into hotel and rest briefly.

  • Pub Hopping (evening) – Head to central London pubs. Recommended stops (all open Fri evening):

    • The Harp (Covent Garden) – Traditional pub with award-winning ales. Open 11:00–23:00; nearest Tube: Covent Garden (Piccadilly line).

    • Royal Oak (Marylebone) – Lively pub with craft beers. Open 12:00–23:00; near Baker Street Station.

    • Audley Public House (Mayfair) – Upscale pub on Mount St. Open 11:00–23:00; close to Bond Street Station.

  • Clubbing (late night) – After pubs, go to a club. For tourists:

    • Fabric (Farringdon) – Iconic nightclub (multi-room, drum’n’bass/house). Late-night (into 04:00) entry typically £15–25; Tube: Farringdon (Circle/Hammersmith & City).

    • Heaven (Charing Cross) – Famous West End nightclub (LGBTQ+ friendly). Open 23:00–05:00; entry often free or modest cover depending on event. Nearest: Charing Cross Station.

  • Vegetarian Dining: Before or during the crawl, try Mildreds (Soho) – popular vegetarian/vegan restaurant. Open 9:00–23:00 Mon–Sat, serving global veggie dishes.

May 25 (Sat): Cotswolds vs Durdle Door (Day Trip)

  • Cotswolds: Train from London Paddington to Moreton-in-Marsh (~1h30, GWR). Enjoy rolling hills, honey-colored villages (e.g. Bourton-on-the-Water, Bibury). Activities: village walks, village pubs and gardens. Tours: Great Western Railway offers Cotswold Express trains and packages. Public transport: trains run hourly; local buses cycle routes.

  • Durdle Door: Train from London Waterloo to Wool (≈2h15–2h30), then taxi or bus to Durdle Door (the Jurassic Coast limestone arch). Scenic: dramatic cliffs, beach at Lulworth Cove. Activities: coastal hike along Seven Sisters to Durdle Door. Tours: coach/day tours available (often from London). Public transport: limited bus from Swanage in season.

  • Comparison: Travel: Cotswolds ~1.5h by train vs Durdle Door ~2.5h. Scenery: gentle countryside villages vs rugged coastal cliffs. Activities: Cotswolds offers sightseeing in quaint towns; Durdle Door offers a seaside hike. Recommendation: If you want shorter travel and village charm, choose Cotswolds. If you prefer ocean views and can handle longer travel, Durdle Door is spectacular.

  • Vegetarian Dining: If stopping in London, try Mildreds (King’s Cross) (open 9:00–23:00) before departure or after return. It’s a vegan/vegetarian cafe-restaurant near St. Pancras.

May 26 (Sun): London Landmarks (Inner City)

  • British Museum – Home to 8 million artifacts (Rosetta Stone, Parthenon sculptures). Free entry. Open daily 10:00–17:00 (Fri until 20:30). Spend ~2h exploring ancient cultures.

  • Covent Garden & Trafalgar Square – Walk through Covent Garden (market stalls, street performers). Continue to Trafalgar Square (Nelson’s Column) and visit the National Gallery (free art museum).

  • Buckingham Palace & West End – See Buckingham Palace facade and gardens (guards ceremony ~11:00 Mon/Wed/Fri, check schedule).

  • Tower of London – Historic castle (900+ years) with Crown Jewels. Adults ~£35 (online advance). Open 10:00–17:30 (last entry 17:00). Nearest: Tower Hill Station. Afterwards, view Tower Bridge.

  • South Bank Stroll (optional) – Walk along the Thames (London Eye, Tate Modern, Globe). Scenic views of the city skyline.

  • Vegetarian Dining: Lunch or dinner at The Gate (Islington) – acclaimed vegetarian restaurant, open 12:00–22:15. (Convenient if you’re in North London; otherwise try 222 Veggie Vegan (W8) or street markets with veg options.)

May 27 (Mon): Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio Tour

  • Travel: From Central London, take train from Euston to Watford Junction (~20 min on Overground). From Watford Junction, free shuttle buses run ~every 30 min to the studio (journey ~15 min). It’s included with studio tour ticket.

  • Tour Timing: Arrive by 09:00 for the first tour. The Studio opens 09:30 on weekends (check ticket slot). The visit lasts ~3–4 hours.

  • Tickets: Book well in advance online (adult tickets ~£56). Twilight or early tours sell out first.

  • Highlights: Explore sets and exhibits: Hogwarts Great Hall, Diagon Alley, the Forbidden Forest, Platform 9¾, and snack on Butterbeer.

  • Tips: Arrive early, pick up audio guide, take your time on each set, and don’t miss the backlot and special effects sections.

  • Return: Aim to leave by mid-afternoon to get back to London by early evening.

  • Vegetarian Dining: After returning to London, have dinner at Frog by Adam Handling (Covent Garden) – a fine-dining restaurant offering a creative vegan tasting menu. Advance booking required.

Day 5 (May 28): Brighton & Seven Sisters

Brighton’s seaside and the Seven Sisters cliffs.

  • Morning – Brighton: Take early train from Victoria (or London Bridge) to Brighton (~1h). Start at Brighton Pier and The Lanes (shops, cafes). Visit the exotic Royal Pavilion (open 09:30–17:45; palace from 1810). Walk along the pebbled beach and sample local falafel or fish ‘n’ chips (veg option: Food for Friends, open 12:00–22:00).

  • Midday – Travel to Seven Sisters: From Brighton Station, catch the Brighton & Hove bus 12X to Seven Sisters Country Park (departs every ~10 min, journey ~1h, fare ~£4–£6). Alight at the park entrance (the bus stops at Exceat/Gayles Farm, next to parking).

  • Afternoon – Seven Sisters: Hike along the chalk cliffs (famous white cliffs of the English Channel). Begin at the Birling Gap/Beachy Head end or walk eastward from the park. Enjoy spectacular views of the sea and the Seven Sisters chalk formations. (Birling Gap has a café/restrooms.) Total walk can take 2–3 hours. Note cliff paths can be narrow; stay back from edges.

  • Evening – Return: Backtrack to the bus stop. Take a return 12X bus to Brighton (or Lewes/Seaford train to Brighton). Train back to London from Brighton in late afternoon (~1h).

May 29 (Thu): London Markets & Shopping

  • Borough Market (Southwark): Morning visit to this famous food market. Open Mon–Fri 10:00–17:00, Sat 09:00–17:00, Sun 10:00–16:00. Sample local street food and pick up edible souvenirs (cheeses, teas, chocolates).

  • Shopping Districts: Spend afternoon shopping: Oxford Street/Regent Street (big brands, Selfridges), Covent Garden (boutiques, souvenirs, street performers), Carnaby Street (fashion, Carnaby Village), Camden Market (alternative crafts, clothing). If it’s Saturday, consider Portobello Road Market (antique stalls, brick lane beyond on Sunday).

  • Must-See Spots Left: Visit any missed attractions – e.g. Natural History Museum (free, South Kensington) or Sky Garden (free rooftop, book ahead).

  • Vegetarian Dining: Eat at Temple of Seitan (Camden) – famed vegan “chicken” shop, open 12:00–22:00 daily. Or try 222 Veggie Vegan (West Kensington) for a hearty plant meal.

May 30 (Fri): Day Trip Options – Windsor vs Bath vs Legoland vs Oxford

  • Windsor Castle: ~30–50 min train from Paddington to Windsor & Eton Central via Slough. The castle (oldest occupied castle) houses royal history and St George’s Chapel. Closed Tues–Wed (open others). Ticket ~£31 adult in advance. Spend ~2–3h touring the State Apartments and grounds. Charming Windsor town and the Long Walk nearby.

  • Bath: ~90 min train from Paddington. Roman Baths Museum (open 09:00–18:00); guided tours available. Adult ticket ~£28 (advance). Also see Bath Abbey (free), walk the Royal Crescent. Note: round-trip is long (~3h travel total), so start early.

  • Legoland Windsor: Take same route as Windsor Castle then a short walk/bus. Theme park open 10:00–17:00 (seasonal times). Tickets from £29 when booked ahead. Best for families; mix of rides, shows, Lego models. Can spend half-day.

  • Oxford: ~60 min train from Paddington to Oxford. University city – visit Bodleian Library & Radcliffe Camera (free to view exterior), tour Christ Church (filming site; ticket ~£12). Museums: Ashmolean (free), Pitt Rivers (free). Stroll historic streets and Covered Market.

  • Compare (adult focus): Windsor offers royal history and easy access, Bath rich in Roman history but longer travel, Oxford cultural/historic city, Legoland is more kid-oriented. Recommendation: For adult sightseeing, Windsor or Oxford are top picks. Legoland suits children, Bath is rewarding if early start.

May 31 (Sat): Departure Day (Relaxed)

  • Morning: Depending on flight/train time, take it easy. If in London: enjoy a park or light sightseeing. Options: Hyde Park stroll (Serpentine lake, Speaker’s Corner), visit any local museum café (e.g. V&A’s café). Or walk along the Thames (South Bank).

  • Near Airport: If flying out of Heathrow, consider Kew Gardens (Richmond) en route – large botanic gardens (May–Aug open 10:00–19:00). From Heathrow, taxi or Elizabeth Line to Kew. (If Gatwick, less time for excursions – stay near airport and have brunch there.)

  • Lunch/Souvenirs: Grab a final vegetarian meal before leaving (e.g. Pret, Wraps) and pick up any last-minute gifts at airport shops or city markets.

  • Vegetarian Dining: If time allows in London, a farewell lunch at Honest Burgers (various locations, veg patty) or Mildreds Covent Garden (9:00–23:00). Otherwise airport restaurants have some veg choices (e.g. Leon).

Rohan Pawar