Few places are more magical around the holidays than London and its Christmas markets, dazzling light displays, shopping, and dining. With Nashville's nonstop flight, here's the perfect itinerary for a long weekend in London. Image: Flickr
London in November is pure magic. The city is dressed to the nines in holiday lights, enchanting shop windows beckon you to cross off some gifts on the list, and scents of spiced wine and roasted chestnuts fill the crisp air. Fortunately, traveling from Nashville to London has never been easier! With British Airways’ nonstop flights between BNA to LHR, I wanted to see how feasible a long weekend in one of my favorite European cities was.
My husband and I flew on a Wednesday night and back Monday morning, and our four full days were packed with iconic sights, bucket-list meals, and enough walking to justify every indulgence.
This article contains product affiliate links. We may receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links.PinHere’s exactly how to spend a long weekend in London. Image: Zoe Yarborough
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Day 1 (Thursday): Tricking Jet Lag, Christmas Markets, and Pasta Dreams
We hopped off the red-eye flight from Nashville as London was waking up. A note about the flight. The way over is shorter, but also the leg you want to sleep on. Eat the meal, then immediately try to catch some Zs. This made-for-planes eyemask pillow kept my head connected to my economy seat. But opt for a flatter seat if you can.
Leaving Heathrow is cheap and breezy thanks to the Elizabeth Line, which whisked us into the city in under an hour. Our home for four nights, Hyatt Regency Blackfriars, was conveniently right across the street from the Blackfriars tube station.
PinThe historic Grade II listed building is on the former grounds of King Henry VIII’s Bridewell Palace! The staff was incredible, and the comped breakfast started every morning off perfectly. Image: Hyatt Regency London Blackfriars | Facebook
We picked this hotel for its prime location on the Thames, proximity to a busy tube station, and the fact that we booked a spacious suite with minimal Chase-Hyatt points. It was just two to three miles on foot to so much. This trip was also a babymoon, so many steps, decadent meals, and festive ‘sploring were on this itinerary … we’ve ticked off lots of touristy things on trips past, like the Churchill War Rooms and the British Museum.
After check-in, we fought jet lag the old-fashioned way: with a strong espresso and a long stroll. The South Bank was alive with Christmas markets, twinkling lights, and street performers. We popped into the Tate Modern, a powerhouse of contemporary art in a former power station (classic London repurposing genius). Then it was onto my favorite food hall in the world: Borough Market, for lunch at the cozy bistro Café François.
PinWe devoured garlicky escargot, French onion soup, and a crunchy, buttery grilled cheese before power-napping back at the hotel. Image: Zoe YarboroughPinSeveral Christmas markets were already bustling in mid-November, including this one on Trafalgar Square. Image: Geoff Henson | Flickr
On the way to dinner, we watched skaters glide across the rink at Somerset House and reveled in the festive wonderland of Covent Garden with a hot chai overlooking the market’s oversized ornaments and disco balls. Book a dinner rez at Circolo Popolare, a whimsical trattoria with thousands of colorful bottles lining the walls and cacio e pepe served tableside in giant cheese wheels.
PinCircolo was all vibes and flavor without the hefty price tag. Image: Circolo Popolare | Facebook
Day 2 (Friday): Spires, Shoreditch, and Sunset Strolls
The next morning, we started at the massive St. Paul’s Cathedral, an architectural marvel with its iconic dome. It survived the Blitz during WWII and has hosted some of the most important events in British history, including royal weddings. We didn’t climb the more than 528 steps to the top floors, but even from ground level, it was breathtaking.
PinTake a quick guided tour, explore on your own, or visit for a choral performance. Image: David Dillif | Wikimedia Commons
From there, we headed toward Shoreditch, a hip, artsy neighborhood full of creative energy. The Spitalfields Market stalls and bordering shops offer limitless opportunities to buy unique artisan goods, often from the makers themselves. The whole area has a unique vibe — equal parts edgy and chic. Get ready to scour pop-up events from artists and designers for great deals.
PinBrat’s snug upstairs Shoreditch locale with close-together tables and rustic vibes. Image: Brat| Instagram
Lunch was nearby at Brat, an unfussy Michelin-starred gem specializing in Basque-inspired shareable dishes. We worked our way through almost the whole menu. Their crispy mutton chop, buttery flatbreads, and burnt cheesecake were heavenly.
PinEven though it was a typically gloomy London afternoon, “golden hour” cast a warm glow over the trees shedding autumn leaves. Image: Zoe Yarborough
After a quick rest at the hotel, we tubed to the south side of Hyde Park to walk up toward Notting Hill with the last sliver of daylight. (One downside of this time of year: it gets dark at 4:15 p.m.!) Dinner that night was at The Pelican, and I cannot recommend it enough. It’s a romantic gastropub that serves elevated British classics like perfectly crispy Beef Wellington.
PinHandwritten menus, dripping candles, and posh local mates imbibing by the fireplace made us never want to leave. Image: The Pelican
Day 3 (Saturday): Markets, Museums, and Michelin Magic
Saturday morning began with a return to Notting Hill, which we’d only seen at night before. In daylight, we hit the iconic Portobello Road Market, where stalls brimming with antiques, vintage finds, and quirky trinkets stretch as far as the eye can see. This is the place to find salvaged gold watches, affordable cashmere sweaters, and rare books. You can spend an entire day here and not see everything.
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Perched right along Notting Hill’s Goldborne Road, Straker’s is a trendy, unassuming spot known for its bold takes on British cuisine. It’s manned by Thomas Straker, the charming chef who went viral on social media for his elaborate butter recipes and demonstrations. The mussel-and-chili butter flatbread and langoustines (small lobsters) stole the show.
PinAnd I cannot stop thinking about this homemade mushroom pasta. Image: STRAKER’S | Facebook
After lunch, the market was packed with locals and tourists, so we started walking toward Kensington Palace and Gardens. Take in the scene on your way to the Natural History Museum, a Gothic masterpiece often called the “cathedral of nature” that feels like it belongs at Hogwarts.
PinOnce the queue finally weaved inside the museum, we marveled at the blue whale skeleton and got lost in exhibits that covered everything from dinosaurs to birds to gemstones. Image: Zoe Yarborough
You simply cannot pass up Indian food while in London, and we tried and failed to get a reservation at Gymkhana, a buzzy crowd favorite I’ve been hearing about nonstop. Thankfully, this led me to find and book BiBi‘s chef’s counter. Pushing into the bustling Mayfair corner restaurant, we cozied up for a two-and-a-half-hour adventure through eight-ish creative South Asian dishes. We were spellbound, witnessing the symphony of chefs creating bite-sized works of art with bold spices. We left full of warm homemade chai and the knowledge that we’d never forget that meal.
Day 4 (Sunday): Roasts, Hampstead Heath, and Theater Bliss
Having a full day on Sunday was wonderful, and I am so glad we took the Monday return flight (it was cheaper, too). This last full day was spent soaking up classic British culture. We started with the classic Sunday roast lunch at Bull & Last, a charming 19th-century coaching inn turned gastropub near Hampstead Heath.
Straight out of a Jane Austen novel, Hampstead Heath is a sprawling, untamed oasis just a stone’s throw from London’s bustling center. With its 790 acres of rolling meadows, ancient woodlands, and sparkling ponds, the Heath feels like a slice of the English countryside plopped into the city. Many of London’s most famous movers and shakers live here, and it seemed they were all out running or walking with their hunting dogs on this sunny Sunday.
PinWe walked off the roast with a hike around the Heath, people-watching and ogling the bathing ponds, where brave souls swim year-round. Image: Zoe Yarborough
We wandered up to Kenwood, a stately manor house with sweeping grounds, an impressive art collection, and a super-chic cafe and gift shop. An easy tube ride brought us back toward Covent Garden for a little pre-theater shopping. You cannot skip Daunt Books and Choosing Keeping, the dreamiest stationery store filled with paper goods, ornaments, and intricate writing tools.
PinIt was a quick walk over to West End for a matinee of Hadestown. This Tony Award-winning musical reimagines the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice with incredible live musicians and a stellar cast. Image: Hadestown | Facebook
If you wanted to ditch the show, this would be the time for even more shopping at Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason, Harrods, and Liberty. Our grand finale dinner was at J. Sheekey, a quintessentially London establishment with delicious seafood, dim lighting, red leather banquettes, and impeccable service.
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On Monday, our flight left at 1:45 p.m., so we headed to the airport around 10. Give yourself plenty of time; the Elizabeth Line doesn’t run to every terminal, and you might have to switch to another train. After the daytime flight, which included lots of movies and photo-scrolling, we returned to Nashville with holiday-ready hearts, slightly achy feet, and that “where to next?!” bug.
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Zoe is a StyleBlueprint freelance writer, Charlotte native, Washington & Lee graduate, and Nashville transplant since 2012. She teaches Pilates, helps manage recording artists, and likes to "research" Germantown's food scene.
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