Alright, you’ve landed. You’ve got a couple days, maybe three if you’re lucky, and you’re not here to waste time doing the basic hit-list. No snapping selfies in front of M&M’s World, no slow shuffle through crowds outside a red phone booth. You want it to feel good — like, actually good — not just ‘I guess this is what people do here.’

Here’s a mix of the good stuff: chill moments, proper food, maybe some art, and definitely a drink or two somewhere that doesn’t smell like spilled cider.

Day 1: Straight In

Drop your bags, splash some water on your face, and go. First stop: lunch. Skip the obvious. Head to Borough Market and go straight for the grilled cheese at Kappacasein — no forks, no shame, just melt and crunch. Or wander a bit and pick at whatever looks best. Some days it’s the Ethiopian stall, others it’s just oysters and a glass of white. Trust the vibe.

After that? Maybe hit Soho. Not the loud part, the edges. Duck into a few shops, maybe find a weird old record, maybe not. Doesn’t matter. You’re just soaking it in. Or go even further east — Hackney, Broadway Market on the weekend, vintage shops and people watching that somehow makes you want to change your whole wardrobe.

Need a sit-down? Pop into a random pub, the kind with too many beers on tap and a dog asleep in the corner. Have a pint. Maybe two. Let the day get a little loose.

Dinner’s got to hit. You want that mix of buzz and taste — somewhere like Hoppers, where the food’s hot and the tables are tight but it’s all part of the charm. Or go slightly swankier — maybe Brat, if you can swing a res. Smoky fish, warm lighting, a little noise in the background — it’s a scene without being a scene.

Drinks after? Somewhere dark. Maybe Swift, maybe Nightjar if you’re up for a bit of flair and especially if the high-end London nightclubs are part of the plan. Sit at the bar, order something you can’t pronounce, and don’t look at your phone. Let the night take you where it wants. Could end up dancing in some basement, could end up walking back across the bridge, chips in hand.

Day 2: Keep It Moving

No hotel breakfast. You’re better than that. Go find a croissant that flakes properly and a coffee that doesn’t taste like hot milk. Think Pophams. You might have to queue, but that’s part of it. Grab a second pastry for later. You’ll thank yourself.

Art next — but don’t drag yourself to the obvious unless you really want to. Go Barbican. Go Tate Modern if you’re in the mood for big and echoey. Just don’t rush it. Look at one thing for longer than feels normal. Maybe it hits, maybe it doesn’t. Doesn’t need to make sense.

Lunch? Flat Iron if you want steak with no fuss. Or something thrown together from whatever’s fresh at a market. Eat standing up. Or sitting on a wall. Doesn’t need to be cute.

Midday’s for wandering. Marylebone’s solid — Daunt Books, a weird homeware shop, maybe a candle store that smells like pine forests and money. You’ll know it when you see it. Or dip down into a gallery space with no signs out front and a single sculpture in the middle of the room. Pretend you get it.

Dinner’s yours to claim. Somewhere that doesn’t look like much on the outside but delivers when it counts. Maybe you go sushi. Maybe you end up somewhere with £19 cocktails and low ceilings. Just go with it. Don’t overthink.

The point is: London’s best when you let it unfold a bit. Less checklist, more stumble-upon. Let things shift. Miss a plan, find something better. That’s the win.