Girls' day out in London | what to see and do*

 Well hello to you my reader chums! I absolutely adore London, there's something so exciting about a day in the big city, experiencing the bustle, roaming around the busy streets, shopping, visiting the quirky restaurants, the west end and really, being apart of London life.

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what to see and do in london

I visit London quite regularly as it's only just over an hour train ride to the city, however, due to lockdown, I hadn't visited since February time. The past week, I was lucky enough to go back for a day trip and my heart felt full again, experiencing all the joys that London brings.

Whether you're looking to plan a day up there, stay overnight in a hotel with your gals, or looking for things to do, here is what you can see and do on a girls' day out in London.

Brunch 

What's a girls' day out without a classic brunch trip? I adore brunch as it means french toast, pancakes, and lots and lots of carbs. It's just the fancy way of saying all-day breakfast and the perfect kick start to the day in London. 

Best brunch places in london

London is crammed with places to go for brunch and to be honest, it can hard to pick which place is best, especially as there really are some epic places.

EL&N cafe - You may (or most definitely) have seen this over your Instagram feed. It's the pretty pink cafe with pink hearts splattered all over the walls and a super cute venue for a girly brunch. We started our day at the EL&N cafe in Knightsbridge to fill our stomachs with some good food before we had a cocktail spree. There are quite a few EL&N cafes across London including in Market Place, Brompton Road, Park Lane, Oxford Street (in Selfridges), Hans Crescent, and a few more.

Girls day out in London | what to see and do

The cafe served up an array of hot drinks, the prettiest selection of cakes you will ever see, and a unique brunch menu. I opted for Nutella french toast and my friends got a mixture of the meze, wraps, and sandwiches on offer. It wasn't overly expensive for London, just the typical amount I'd expect to pay for lunch.

Girls day out in London | what to see and do

Other fabulous brunch places are the Toi & Moi cafe (they do great pancakes), The Breakfast Club, Duck and Waffle, Sketch, Polo bar and so many more. Honestly, there are hundreds of brunch places I've heard about and been to that I could recommend.

Shopping - where to shop

I adore shopping in London, it's my favourite place to go for a big shop as there are so many different shops on offer and bigger versions of chains that I have back home. Even though my shopping habits aren't what they used to be, it's still lovely to go for a browse and admire what's available.

Best places to shop in london

Covent Garden - Covent Garden will always be my favourite place in London. It has this charm about it with a wide selection of restaurants, bars, and a fab shopping scene. It is home to a brilliant selection of designer shops and luxury brands, but my favourite part of Covent Garden is their indoor market and the small, quaint shops which sit around it. Here, you're able to find unique trinkets and the sweetest presents.

Oxford Street - I can still remember the first time I properly went to Oxford Street. I'd been gifted money for my 18th and I went up there with a few friends and I was so amazed about how many shops were on offer and taken aback by the bustle. Now, this is all like second nature but the joy of Oxford Street hasn't worn off. I love the many shops on offer and the Topshop there is the best I've ever seen. It's definitely more of a high street shopping experience than Covent Garden with some flashy shops thrown in.

Carnaby Street - Carnaby is like a combination of both Covent Garden and Oxford Street. It's a lot smaller than them both but offers a selection of quirky, upmarket shops and is the prettiest place to roam about.

Cocktails - the best places to go

On a girls' day out in London, the top of my list has to be going for cocktails. London is packed with some of the best ever bars and serves up some drinks you literally have to try. 

Radio rooftop london

Radio Rooftop London - If a view of London is what you're looking for, this is the place to go, especially in the warmer months. Radio Rooftop boasts a panoramic view of Central London and it makes the pricey cocktails worthwhile as you get a glimpse of the luxury London lifestyle. The bar has a range of exquisite food and drink, and would make the perfect place for a very special occasion or if you're looking to spend a little more.

The Alchemist, St Martins Lane - The Alchemist has to be one of my favourite bars in London to date. It's certainly on the more affordable places in London (when you think of London prices.) The bar is themed so well, using the idea of chemicals and potions to name their cocktails, and present them as if they were spells. The girls and I fell in love with the whole concept and the drinks were yummy to match the cool design. I'd highly recommend going here for a fun night - and they offer food as well.

Girls day out in London | what to see and do

Blame Gloria - I adore Blame Gloria! It's such a vibe for a good time, playing the best playlist of old school classics and offering the best range of delicious cocktails. The interior matches the girly vibe and honestly, I love everything about it. We were able to get a drinks package so for a whole hour, we had unlimited cocktails and the best ever time.

Blame Gloria London

London Cocktail Club Shaftsbury - If you're looking for a place with really unique cocktails and flavours, this is the place to go to - and the decor inside is pretty wacky too. There's something for everyone and it's set in Central which is easy to get to.

Mr. Fogg's Tavern - This bar has been raved about and is always very busy when I visit. It has an old school, classic English pub feel about it inside and also offers the coolest selection of drinks. This place is also fab for gin drinkers as their gin selection is brilliant - and the drinks come in really cute glasses.

Dirty Martini - Another pub located around Covent Garden is Dirty Martini. I'd describe this as a classic cocktail bar offering a wide selection of yummy beverages. It's located underground so has more of a private feel, similar to Blame Gloria.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Where are your favourite places to go with the girls to London?

Thank you for reading <3

46 comments

  1. That cafe looks so cute. Loved the post.
    xx Val
    http://valerynangula.com/

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  2. You've mentioned some great places. I wish I lived closer to London.

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  3. Looks like you all had a rip-roaring time! The cafe sounds amazing; I want to visit one day and enjoy the food and cakes that came alive through your words. Carnaby street sounds like a beautiful place to wonder; I love quirky spaces.

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    1. Aw thank you so much!! I hope you get to visit one day xx

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  4. You have such a great time in London and so much fun with you friends. Thank you for sharing all of these places.

    New Post - https://www.exclusivebeautydiary.com/2020/10/dr-brandt-xtend-your-youth-face-cream.html

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  5. I love London, I live super close (in Windsor) so I know lots of these places. I want to go to Blame Gloria with my girlies sooo much!

    Rosie

    loverosiee.co.uk

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    1. That's so lovely! And yess, definitely plan a day xx

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  6. Nice post. It looks like you had fun visiting a lot of places that looked really nice.

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  7. It's been years since I was last in London and I have to say I don't think I'll be visiting any time soon (!) but I loved reading about your highlights - glad you got your Nutella toast, haha x

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    1. That's fair enough! I'm quote lucky we went on a weekday so it wasn't as busy and we took lots of safety precautions whilst travelling - and thank you xx

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  8. I can feel the joy you experienced that day! I will keep these places in mind when I travel to London again! Thanks for sharing.

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  9. Love this cozy cafe, it's my wish to visit some when
    I'll be in London.. I'm glad you had fun times..

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  10. There are so many amazing places in London, I especially love Covent Garden!

    Love, Amie ❤
    The Curvaceous Vegan

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  11. The cafe looks pretty! When I travel, I love visiting cafes, and just spend hours by myself soaking in the atmosphere and observing others. It's such an unproductive way to spend a morning, but I love it! Thanks for sharing your day out in London! :)

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    1. I love travelling that way sometimes too - thank you so much x

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  12. You visited some amazing places in London! I'd love to pay a visit to the EL&N café, it looks so Instagrammable! x

    Lucy | www.lucymary.co.uk

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  13. I completely love London! You look like you had a lot of fun there as well!

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  14. These places look so fun for night-out drinks with the girls. That's my favorite time to go out...night owl! hahaha

    www.fashionradi.com

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  15. I'm desperate for a girlie day out in London right now but that'll have to wait until things are safer! Looks like a lovely time!

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    1. I'm glad I was able to go on a week day as things weren't as busy and we felt safe! Thank you xx

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  16. Great suggestions! Covent Garden is my favorite place for shopping too.
    xoxo
    Lovely
    www.mynameislovely.com

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  17. I love London, it is so beautiful and there is so much to do there. It is great. You have shared some great places to visit. You have shared great pictures. Thank you for sharing your experience and thoughts.
    Lauren | www.bournemouthgirl.com

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    1. It really is, definitely one of the best cities to visit. Thank you lovely xx

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  18. That cafe looks so cute! And Covent Garden is my favourite place in London too :)

    Katy | www.katystephenson.com

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  19. It sounds like you had a fab time in London. The EL&N cafe looks so instagramable! I love the Alchemist, their cocktails are so clever!

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  20. I haven't been to London in SO long I really miss it, definitely need to head back as soon as it's safe

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    1. Honestly, I felt so thankful to go back at the minute!! Hope you can go soon when things are safer x

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  21. It sounds like you visited some incredible places! I was suppose to be going to London earlier this year but like most things Covid ruined it so fingers crossed I will get to go next year and I will defiantly be checking out EL&N café it looks amazing!

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    1. I hope you're able to go next year lovely! Covid has ruined so many of my travel plans xx

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  22. That cafe looks incredible - I want to go so badly! I like Oxford Street for shopping but sometimes find it too busy to enjoy and shop leisurely that it puts me off going for shopping!

    Tash // A Girl with a View

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    1. It's the cutest! Yess, I completely get you there xx

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  23. I'm so glad you had a lovely time in London! I would love to go one day! Those cocktails look delish!

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