Are you in need of a fun weekend away with your girls? Look no further than London for the perfect girls weekend. Afternoon tea sessions, shopping galore, and plenty of Insta-worthy spots for a photoshoot… you’re basically guaranteed to have an amazing time. Keep reading for the ultimate guide to a girls weekend in London!
After living in London for a year and returning several times (including for a killer girls trip), I’ve been able to pack this guide to the brim, so be sure to take notes!
Where to Stay during your Girls Weekend in London
London has SO many amazing hotels and accommodation options for all budgets. But for a girls weekend in London, you have some very specific needs. A place with a fun vibe, gorgeous design, and plenty of room to spread out is absolutely essential. Here are a few of my top picks for where to stay during your girls weekend in London!
Wombats City Hostel ($)
If you’re a bit younger or simply on a tight budget and want a great London hostel pick, I highly suggest going for Wombats Hostel. Having stayed in a few different London hostels over the years, I can safely say that this is one of the nicest. The lobby is super trendy, the basement cave bar so much fun, and the beds the comfiest hostel beds I’ve ever slept in.
Mama Shelter ($$)
Want a hotel you won’t even have to leave for a great girl’s weekend? Yeah, Mama Shelter is it. Not only do they have private Karaoke rooms, but they also have a trendy restaurant and bar, as well as a well-equipped gym in addition to their boutique design rooms. I cannot WAIT to try this hotel out.
Motel One ($$)
If you think Motel One is a dingy little motel on the side of the highway, think again. This German hotel chain has completely revamped itself in the last few years to become a well-designed mid-range hotel, and it’s London location is PERFECT for a girls weekend!
Artist Residence ($$$)
If you want to go full quirky boutique with your accommodation, then Artist Residence is the way to go. With an ideal location between Chelsea and Westminster, you couldn’t find a better spot to be, and the shabby-chic design is just too Insta-worthy.
Number Sixteen ($$$)
Want crazy pops of color and a delicious afternoon tea? This amazing luxury hotel in South Kensington has it all–including a private garden, colorful bedrooms and common areas, and 24-hour room service. The perfect spot for an escape without even having to leave the city!
The Hoxton ($$$)
For unique rooms with design inspired by the streets around them, look no further than the Hoxton. This boutique luxury hotel is perfect for a girls trip, and with several locations in London (Shoreditch, Holborn, and Southwark) you’ll be spoiled for choice.
Locke Hotels ($$$)
Finally, if you want pink and pastel to the max, then you HAVE to check out Locke Hotels. This aparthotel with personality has plenty of room for you and your girls, and you’ll be oozing in luxury by the time you leave.
WHERE TO EAT DURING YOUR GIRLS WEEKEND IN LONDON
London Grind
You’ll find the perfect Insta cafe with pink menus and neon lights at the London Grind. They also just so happen to have delicious breakfast food and great coffee!
On my girls weekend in London, we went to their London Bridge location and were totally blown away. I had the huevos rancheros and they were to. die. for.
El Pastor
Trendy tacos near Borough Market? Yes please.
You’ll find a line at this spot even on a Tuesday evening, but it’s absolutely worth the wait. So many different tacos to try and all of them good!
Borough Market
If you’re in the mood for local produce and want to pack a picnic to take to one of London’s many amazing parks, look no further than Borough Market.
They also have a few different sit down restaurants if you’re more in the mood for that!
Old Spitalfields Market
For both delicious food AND shopping, you have to head to Old Spitalfields Market in East London. They have 40 different food and drink stalls with offerings from all around the world.
The last time I was there, I got some mouth-watering curry from Indi-go Rasoi-highly reccommend!
Poppie’s Fish & Chips
For the classic fish & chips experience, you can’t go wrong with Poppie’s Fish & Chips in East London. I discovered this place on a food tour with Free Tours by Foot and was not disspointed.
They still wrap their fish in newspaper, and their batter is sooooo good!
Dark Sugars Chocolate House
Finally, satisfy your sweet tooth by heading over to Dark Sugars Chocolate House. Here, you’ll find chocolate from all over the world, and some of the craziest, most decadent hot chocolate you’ve EVER seen (think: Facebook viral video worthy!).
THINGS TO DO ON A GIRLS WEEKEND IN LONDON
Of course, you can always do the traditional tourist things while you’re on your girls weekend in London, but there are so many other fun things to do with your girls that I highly suggest!
Drinks at the Sky Garden
For a fab view over the entirety of the city and a swanky vibe–without the crazy price of going up The Shard–go for drinks at The Sky Garden.
The Sky Pod Bar is located amongst the gorgeous indoor gardens of the top floor viewing area, and there’s often live music in the evenings. It’s the perfect spot to go with your girls!
Afternoon Tea at Kensington Palace
Ever wanted to have tea with the queen? Well, here’s a secret: you can. At least, kind of XD
For the ridiculously reasonable price of £34, you can have a decadent afternoon tea in the Orangery at Kensington Palace. And it is truly as amazing as it sounds.
Wandering & Photoshoots
Is it really a girls weekend if you don’t take 500000000000 pictures? Didn’t think so.
There are SO many great places in London for a good photoshoot, from the touristy Southbank to the colorful Notting Hill. Check out some of the best Instagram spots in London for some ideas!
Visit a Museum
After indulging yourself in drinks or afternoon tea, you might feel the need to be cultured–at least for a little while. With so many free museums in London, it’s super easy to pop into one for an hour or too and do just that.
Head to the V&A Museum for beautiful art and design, including fashion, or to the British Museum for a bit of, well, everything.
Harry Potter Studio Tour
If your girls trip to London is comprised of millennials, then you absolutely can’t miss a trip out to the suburbs to take the Harry Potter Studio Tour. Not only do you get to see real sets from the movie, but you also get to try butterbeer!
Catch a Show
The West End is home to so many amazing shows, and catching one is the perfect way to spend an evening with your girls!
A few great shows for a girls weekend in London are: Wicked, Pretty Woman: The Musical, & Juliet, TINA, 9 to 5 the Musical, Mamma Mia, and SIX.
If you’re not too picky about what you go see, head to the TKTS booth for great deals on tickets.
Take a Food Tour
Food brings people together, so if you’re looking for a great way to bond then taking a food tour through one of the food capitals of the world is the way to do it.
I highly recommend Free Tours By Foot’s East London Food Tour. We took it on our girls trip to London and it was so much fun!
Check Out the Markets
Finally, you can’t head to London on a girls trip without doing a little bit of shopping. You could easily just head to Oxford Street, but I recommend checking out some of the markets instead!
From the quirky Camden Market to the rotating market in Covent Garden, there really is a market for everyone in London. Check out a guide to London’s markets here!
And there you have it: the complete guide to a girls trip to London. I hope you have so much fun!
