Luxury weekend · London

A luxury weekend in London: The Savoy, Rules and Hakkasan

Pace yourself for a show at The O2 with two days of sharp tailoring and proper dining. The route begins with late-Victorian innovation on the Strand, moves through centuries of European painting, and ends with dinner in the capital's oldest dining room. Your second day shifts to global antiquities in Bloomsbury, followed by historic Indian and modern Cantonese cooking. You will cover major cultural ground without rushing, keeping your energy steady for the arena crowds.

• 7 stops

1. day 1 afternoon

   Savoy Hotel

   Hotel · ≈ 60 min

   Theatre impresario Richard D'Oyly Carte built this Strand hotel using profits from his Gilbert and Sullivan operas. Opening in 1889, it introduced Britain to electric lifts, electric lights and constant hot water. Start your weekend admiring the architecture of a building that redefined luxury travel.

   Map ↗

2. day 1 afternoon

   National Gallery

   Gallery · ≈ 90 min · about 10 min walk from the previous stop

   This Trafalgar Square institution holds more than 2,300 paintings spanning the mid-13th century to 1900. Founded in 1824, the collection remains one of the most significant in Europe. Walk through the quiet, expansive rooms to pace your afternoon, taking in the art without wearing out your legs before the show.

   Free entry · Hours: Sa-Th 10:00-18:00; Fr 10:00-21:00 (check before you go) · Map ↗ · Website ↗

3. day 1 evening

   Rules

   Restaurant · ≈ 90 min · about 7 min walk from the previous stop

   Thomas Rule opened this Covent Garden dining room on Maiden Lane in 1798. It still describes itself as the oldest restaurant in London. Book a table for dinner to secure a solid, comfortable meal in a room that has fed the city for over two centuries.

   Hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-23:30; Su 12:00-22:30 (check before you go) · Map ↗ · Website ↗

4. day 1 evening

   Lockes

   Bar · ≈ 60 min · about 8 min walk from the previous stop

   This Great Queen Street bar occupies the former site of the Novelty Theatre. Before taking heavy damage in the Blitz and facing demolition in 1959, the stage hosted the 1889 London premiere of A Doll's House. Order a drink and appreciate the theatrical past to round off your first day.

   Hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-22:30; Su 12:00-15:30 (check before you go) · Map ↗ · Website ↗

5. day 2 morning

   British Museum

   Museum · ≈ 120 min · about 9 min walk from the previous stop

   Established in 1753 as the world's first public national museum, this Bloomsbury institution holds eight million artefacts. The vast collection documents human culture from its very beginnings. The sheer scale demands focus, so pick just one or two galleries to explore on your second morning.

   Free entry · Hours: Sa-Th 10:00-17:00; Fr 10:00-20:30 (check before you go) · Map ↗ · Website ↗

6. day 2 afternoon

   Veeraswamy

   Restaurant · ≈ 75 min · about 21 min walk from the previous stop

   Retired Anglo-Indian officer Edward Palmer opened this Regent Street dining room in 1926, making it the oldest Indian restaurant in the United Kingdom. Stop here for lunch while you still can, as the historic space was placed under threat of closure in 2025.

   Map ↗ · Website ↗

7. day 2 evening

   Hakkasan

   Restaurant · ≈ 90 min · about 15 min walk from the previous stop

   Alan Yau launched this modern Cantonese restaurant in 2001, fusing traditional cooking with a Western upscale dining experience. The flagship brand returned in 2025 after a brief pause. Eat here for an elegant transition into the evening before making your way across the city to The O2.

   Map ↗ · Website ↗