London in Four Days: Culture, Cinema, and a City That Keeps Surprising

While I’ve always loved the rich diversity that only big cities can offer, our recent trip to London and Paris reminded me why. Where else can you find contrasting architectures—old and new—access to all sorts of cuisines, live entertainment, and more? The least fitting adjective for such places is monotony. And although big cities come with some disadvantages, I can’t help but acknowledge that they offer many of the things I just described. Because of these, they remain some of my favorite places to visit.

A Birthday Trip to Paris—With a London Stop First

This year, my wife decided to go to Paris for her birthday. We seized the opportunity to add a stop in London before our final destination in France. We’d been to both cities before, but until this trip, we’d only spent about a day in London (twice), and Paris just once—well, twice for my wife. Still, not nearly enough time.

Both cities are considered top destinations, rich with experiences for casual visitors and locals alike. For us, Spain and Italy have been the European countries we’ve visited most often, and since we love them, many of our previous trips have been spent there.

Exploring the Heart of London

This year was finally the year of the UK and France—specifically, London and Paris. We arrived in London on a Thursday and, after a short train ride to central London, we reached Vauxhall Station in Lambeth, a neighborhood across the river from the famous Big Ben and a great place to take long strolls along the Thames.

During this short visit, we explored other neighborhoods and truly enjoyed walking around, visiting shops and local businesses. We also visited Disneyland Paris!

Notting Hill & Electric Cinema: A Scene Right Out of a Film

One of our new favorites is Notting Hill—yes, the same one featured in the 1999 romantic comedy starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. While the movie was part of the reason we visited, there was another draw. Just around the corner from the actual bookshop featured in the film, my wife found an independent, one-of-a-kind cinema showing contemporary films.

It featured couches, beds, and comfy chairs for a truly unique and cozy viewing experience. The name of this place is Electric Cinema, and it gave us the perfect excuse to explore the neighborhood.

Marylebone: A Stylish Stop for Magazine and Book Lovers

I’ve been a fan of magazines for as long as I can remember, and one of my current favorites is Monocle, which happens to be headquartered in Marylebone—a chic residential area that reminds me a bit of New York’s West Village, but with its own distinct English flair.

Because of Monocle (and also Daunt Books Marylebone), we made a special stop in the area. Daunt Books is a must-visit—especially if you’re a bookworm or simply appreciate the aesthetics of bookstores in historic buildings. Trust me, it doesn’t disappoint.

Monocle’s editorial offices are nearby, and just a block away, they have a beautifully curated shop featuring items from the magazine, plus books, companion guides, and even a coffee shop just steps away.

Soho: Theater Lights and Late-Night Jazz

Another neighborhood we visited was Soho. Yes, it’s very touristy, but I still recommend walking around and doing a bit of people-watching. That’s what we did, and we were surprised by the number of theaters in the area—not unlike Broadway in NYC, but with even more restaurants and bars.

While exploring, we stumbled upon a jazz club called Ronnie Scott’s. Although the band that night wasn’t playing the classic jazz we’d expected, the place was cozy, the service was great, and we’ll definitely return on our next visit to London.

Borough Market: A Feast of Flavors

We also made time for Borough Market—a historic spot packed with vendors selling everything from fresh fruit and meats to all kinds of prepared foods. We had delicious sausage rolls from The Ginger Pig and tacos al pastor from a place aptly named El Pastor.

We sampled various treats, along with fresh juice and coffee. The variety, flavor, and reasonable prices make this market a must.

An evening at Shakespeare’s Globe

Although we didn’t have much time, we managed to book tickets to Twelfth Night at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. The experience was fantastic. The theater is a replica of the original Globe Theatre associated with William Shakespeare, built just a few hundred meters from where the original once stood.

How cool is that?

Already Planning the Return

By the end of our four-day stay in London, my wife and I agreed—we need to come back and spend more time here. We want to explore even more neighborhoods and also plan to visit Scotland and Wales.

Speaking of which, I need to look into Hay-on-Wye, the famous town of books, for our next trip.