How to spend 24 hours in London

Hungry? Boy are you in luck. Just moments from the Tate is London’s oldest and most renowned food market. For foodies, this one’s an absolute must – be sure to visit on an empty stomach to take advantage of the various samples on offer. Bread, cured meats, cheese… it’s all ripe for the snaffling. There are superb street food vendors aplenty – and don’t leave without grabbing a coffee from Monmouth.

To see as much of London’s glorious South Bank as possible, hop onto a Santander Cycle. You’ll be able to whoosh back along the Thames past the Tate towards the National Theatre, BFI, Southbank Centre and the London Eye. Browse second-hand novels at the Southbank Book Market, or poke your head into the Globe theatre for a quick Shakespeare fix.

Cross Westminster Bridge via the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, then head over to Trafalgar Square. The National Gallery is home to more than 2,300 works of art, including many of the world’s most famous paintings. Van Gogh’s ‘Sunflowers’, Rembrandt’s ‘Self Portrait at the Age of 34’, Botticelli’s ‘Venus and Mars’ – the blockbusters are all in there. Stay for as long as you like – much of the collection isn’t ticketed.

Starting to feel a little parched and woozy? Don’t fear –  you’re a mere eight-minute stroll away from the American Bar at the Savoy. Britain’s oldest cocktail bar was voted the best in the world in 2018 – it’s not hard to understand why. With tinkling live piano, smartly tie-and-jacketed waiters, sublime service and, obviously, smashing drinks, this place radiates retro glamour.

Post cocktail, head over to London’s vibrant West End. If you don’t already have tickets, hit up TKTS in Leicester Square: half-price and heavily discounted tickets are on offer for same-day performances – so if you fancy catching The Book of Mormon, Matilda, The Phantom of the Opera or The Lion King, you might just find yourself a barg.

Those musicals are hungry work – but, thankfully, you won’t have to look far for a cracking late dinner. Hoppers is a Soho favourite, serving mouth-watering Sri Lankan grub in a cosy setting. With a menu featuring hoppers (sort of bowl-shaped pancakes), dosas, curries, and all manner of tasty titbits in between, this mega-popular foodie haven is the perfect place to refuel.

If you’re still going at this point, we applaud you. Go you. Soho’s alive and kicking until the early hours – nowhere more so than legendary jazz club Ronnie Scott’s. If jazz is your thing, you’ll almost certainly appreciate the calibre of musicians that are consistently booked here, from Kurt Elling to Joshua Redman and Christian McBride. Sit back with a cocktail and let those blues wash over you.