The ultimate couples’ guide for a summer weekend in London
“>The lighter nights are here for a little while longer, and while they are, it’s a good time of year to pack the kids off to Grandma and Grandad’s and have a bit of couple time in London. There is so much to do aimed at families during the summer holidays, but if you’re coming down for a couple’s getaway, we have you covered.
This article will give you some things to do on a Friday night, Saturday and Sunday before you head back home. Everything here is designed to give you and your partner some much-needed time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. So sit back and let The Belgrave help plan your summer weekend.
Friday afternoon/evening
Afternoon: Check in to the Belgrave
After arriving in London, you probably just want to get to the hotel, freshen up and plan what to do. Well, how about having a few drinks at our bar, giving you some time to relax from the journey. Our bar staff are on hand to give you some great recommendations for delicious drinks to get your night started.
Evening: Watch the sunset on a river cruise
Head to Victoria Tube station, which is a short walk from the hotel, get on the Circle or District lines which take 17 minutes. Get off at Westminster, and the pier is directly opposite the tube station.
After a few drinks, why not head down to the Thames for a dinner river cruise. You can see the sights of London as you travel gently down the river, all whilst having a fantastic dinner, drinks and maybe even a dance as the live jazz band accompanies you. The Thames Dinner Cruise has a variety of different cruises available, but their ‘London Friday Night Jazz Cruise’ is one of the best ones, in our opinion. Book in advance and head down to Westminster Pier for 19:45 for boarding and you’ll get back around 11pm.
Saturday
Morning: Stroll through Hyde Park
30-minute walk or walk to Pimlico tube station, jump on the Victoria line to Green Park and Hyde Park is a 10-minute walk from the station.
Summer in London means that all the parks will be in colourful full bloom, but nowhere is better to see and be seen than Hyde Park.
After a delicious breakfast to set you up for the day in our restaurant, head over to Hyde Park for the morning. Why not hire a boat for an hour and have a lazy float around the Serpentine? It does get busy, especially in Summer, so plan ahead! You can book tickets online to ensure you have a boat and avoid queues, but tickets can be booked on the day at the Serpentine kiosk. The lake is surrounded by trees and flowers which will make a stunning backdrop as you enjoy your boat ride. You’ll be able to sail around Heron Island, before going to the Serpentine Bridge and back again. Once done, there’s even a cafe so you can grab a refreshing drink and a snack.
If you like the water and want to get in it rather than be on it, then take your swimming gear and head to the Serpentine Lido. As one of the most iconic ‘open water’ swimming locations in London, it is great to while away a couple of hours here, especially when the weather is warmer. There is a cafe bar next to it, where you can grab a drink and relax once you’ve finished swimming.
If the water isn’t your thing at all, there is still plenty to explore around Hyde Park and lots of pathways to explore. Why not grab some picnic things on your way and take some time out to read a book, relax in your surroundings and just enjoy the greenery in a busy city. Hyde Park is one of the best places to head to if you just need a bit of time away from the city. Head towards the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain, for a quiet reflective place to sit and read your book, plus the water is shallow so ideal for dipping your feet in.
Afternoon: Explore Notting Hill
From Hyde Park – you can walk for 40 minutes or walk over to the Marble Arch tube station, get on the central line to Holland Park and then walk up to Portobello Road.
From the Belgrave – walk up to Pimlico station, get on the Victoria Line to Walthamstow Central. Get off at King’s Cross St. Pancras and walk to the Hammersmith & City line towards Hammersmith, depart at Ladbroke Grove and walk about 4 minutes to Notting Hill.
After a relaxing morning at Hyde Park, Notting Hill is the perfect place to bring some vibrant energy into the weekend and get you enjoying a fantastic market. Portobello Road Market is home to a whole host of different traders, from homemade soaps and home decorations to some of the best food stalls that London has to offer. There’s a lot to see so it’s good to dedicate a fair bit of the afternoon to it and wander around to your heart’s content! If you want a coffee and a bite to eat, head over to Farm Girl for an amazing lunch that will have you wanting more! If it’s warm and gelato is more your style, then Gelateria 3BIS is definitely the place for you. As well as authentic Italian-style gelato; they also do crepes, waffles, yogurt, milkshakes and chocoshots. It’s a little slice of Italian heaven!
Evening: Alfresco dining at Kings Cross & Coal Drops Yard followed by an outdoor cinema (Everyman on the Canal)
From The Belgrave, head to Pimlico tube station and get the Victoria line to Walthamstow Central. Get off at King’s Cross St Pancras. Once off the tube, follow the signs for Regent’s Canal, head north past German Gymnasium, cross the canal to arrive in Granary Square and head down the ramp for Coal Drops Yard.
On Saturday evening, get down to Kings Cross & Coal Drops Yard for an alfresco dining experience. With around 50 different restaurants, coffee shops and cafes, there’ll be something for even the fussiest person! With cuisines ranging from English to the Mediterranean to the Middle East, you will be truly spoilt for choice. The problem you may have is that you want to try everywhere!
After a delicious dinner and some drinks, then walk across to the Everyman outdoor cinema where you can watch classic films, family favourites and even some of the latest blockbusters. This has been so popular over the last few summers that it’s back, and will be on until the 17th August. Grab a seat, get you popcorn and cuddle up for a cinema experience like no other.
Sunday
Just because it’s Sunday and you’ll be heading home, doesn’t mean the weekend is over. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants open for breakfast on Sunday to help you get ready for the journey home. If you’re not travelling back until the early evening, we have a few little extra things that you can plan to do before you leave London. Plus, if you are exploring London a bit more before heading home, the reception staff will be happy to store your luggage in a safe place, just let them know when you’re checking out.
Morning: Columbia Road Flower Market (Sunday only)
From the hotel, head to Pimlico tube station, get on the Victoria line towards Walthamstow Central and get off at Highbury & Islington. Walk over to the Windrush line towards Crystal Palace and get off at Hoxton. After a 10 minute walk, you’ll see Columbia Road Flower Market.
Columbia Road Flower Market only takes place on a Sunday and it is well worth the travel across the city to see. It has between 30-60 stalls that have a variety of fresh blooms, ranging from English roses and hydrangeas to sunflowers and indoor plants, as well as having some independent shops that are utterly charming. It smells and looks amazing and is a lovely way to pick up some fresh flowers for back home.
Afternoon: Regent’s Canal Walk to Camden Market
From the hotel, walk to Pimlico tube station and get on the Victoria line towards Walthamstow Central getting off at Euston. Walk to get the Northern line towards Morden via Bank and get off at Angel. It’s about a 10 minute walk to the canal from there, which is signposted.
This can be the last little outing of the weekend for you and your partner; a gentle stroll out down Regent’s Canal towards Camden Market. You can also get the Regent’s Canal Waterbus if you’d like to save your legs, this runs between Little Venice and Camden.
On your walk you’ll be able to see things like Little Venice, Regent’s Park and London Zoo and Camden Lock Market. It’s a lovely walk and easy to navigate along the canal, ideal for a Sunday afternoon stroll in the sunshine.
Evening: Collect luggage and head home
That’s it! You’ve had a wonderful weekend away, spending time, just the two of you. Time to head back and look forward to the next one!