48-hour London itinerary: for those packing nothing but a suit and an attitude

You’ve got 48 hours in London, a suitcase barely big enough for your curated essentials, and zero interest in sightseeing clichés. Big Ben can wait. 

This is a weekend carved out for rooftop martinis, late checkouts, whispered guest lists, and the kind of dinners where the maître d’ actually knows your name (or pretends to). Whether you're here to close deals, turn heads, or just reset in style, the city is yours—if you know where to look, what to order, and how to arrive like you’ve already been invited.

Here’s how to do London in two days—sharp, fast, and fully in control.

Day one: the arrival glide

9:30 AM—Power brunch at The Wolseley (Mayfair)

You don't start a London weekend—you stage an entrance. The Wolseley is where to do it: black-and-gold opulence, clinking espresso cups, and waiters in waistcoats. Go for the Eggs Arlington or a full English with a side of champagne. Everyone important is already there.

11:00 AM—Gallery-hopping at The Royal Academy of Arts

Culture that comes with a champagne bar and a gift shop curated like Net-a-Porter. The RA is always a good move—current exhibitions lean toward boundary-pushing contemporary, housed inside old-school grandeur.

12:30 PM—Mayfair Walk: Jermyn Street to Mount Street

Window-shop like you mean it. Think Connolly, Drake’s, and Charvet for serious tailoring energy. Pop into Sunspel or browse the quiet, curated calm of Dover Street Market nearby. If you’re buying, make it personal — Floris London offers custom fragrance blending by appointment.

2:00 PM—Check–in at The Twenty Two or Claridge’s

Boutique chic or old-world icon, pick your base wisely. The Twenty Two is all plush drama and discreet luxury, while Claridge’s is just, well, Claridge’s. Either way, don’t just stay — command the lobby.

3:30 PM—Afternoon recharge at Aire Ancient Baths (Covent Garden)

Stone walls, candlelight, thermal pools. Unwind with a wine bath or hot stone massage in complete silence. The world outside doesn’t exist for 90 minutes; frankly, it shouldn't.

5:30 PM—Pre-dinner martini at The Connaught Bar

No need to complicate perfection. One of the best bars on the planet, full stop. Order the signature martini—stirred from a trolley beside your table, served with a whisper.

7:30 PM—Dinner at Mountain (Soho)

Chef Tomos Parry’s Spanish-Basque wood-fired hotspot is where the Soho crowd currently rotates. Grilled lobster with sobrasada butter, aged beef, anchovy martinis — it’s indulgent, loud, and booked weeks out. Be one of the people who got the table.

10:00 PM—After-hours at Layo & Bushwacka’s XOYO (Shoreditch)

Head east for a change of pace. XOYO has become a sharp, well-programmed space — think cutting-edge DJs, a polished crowd, and no tourist nonsense. Stay late, stay sharp.

11:45 PM—Last bets at The Palm Beach Casino (Mayfair)

If the night still has legs — and it should — head to The Palm Beach Casino, tucked discreetly beneath the May Fair Hotel. The crowd here is well-dressed, the lighting low, and the stakes high enough to keep things interesting. Try your hand at blackjack, roulette, or simply enjoy a drink at the bar while the city spins just a little slower outside. It’s the kind of place where the velvet rope is a suggestion and the night doesn't have to end at closing time.

And if you’re not quite ready to give up the buzz after that? Ease into the next phase from the comfort of your suite. Mr Vegas stays open long after the last chip hits the felt.

Day two: the deep cut

10:00 AM—Lazy luxe breakfast at Chiltern Firehouse (Marylebone)

This place still pulls the right people. Sit in the garden if the weather permits. Order the crab omelette or go straight for avocado toast with chilli and lime. Nobody’s in a rush. Neither are you.

12:00 PM—Selfridges corner tour + Sneaker gallery drop

Skip Oxford Street's chaos and go straight to the Selfridges edit: visit the menswear basement for rare sneaker drops and curated collections from Off-White to Tom Ford. For her? Bottega, Prada, and Loewe await. Leave with something you didn’t know you needed.

2:00 PM—Lunch at Sessions Arts Club (Clerkenwell)

Hidden in a former judge’s chamber, this place feels like a secret kept by people who don’t post where they go. Seasonal British food, moody lighting, and towering ceilings make this the kind of slow, elegant lunch that earns its own memory.

4:00 PM—Tea (and champagne) at Sketch (Mayfair)

Afternoon tea, but make it pink, eccentric, and wildly photogenic. This isn’t tradition—it’s performance art with macarons. Don’t skip the caviar soldiers.

6:00 PM—Sundowners at Seabird Rooftop (South Bank)

Panoramic views, oysters by the dozen, and gin in cut-glass coupes. Watch the skyline turn gold, preferably from the best corner table.

8:00 PM—Dinner at Caviar Kaspia (Mayfair)

Old-school glamour with a decadent bent. Baked potato with caviar, vodka martinis, and a dining room that whispers quiet wealth. This is where your tailoring gets noticed.

10:30 PM—Private nightcap at The Arts Club or Home House

If you’ve got the membership (or know someone who does), head here. Art, music, velvet, intimacy — the city’s inner circle goes late behind these doors. If not, try Nightjar in Carnaby for speakeasy jazz and world-class drinks.

Optional Sunday Check-Out Move

Check out late, order room service, and scroll through the photos you’ll only show selectively. If you’ve played it right, you’ve done the city without ever queuing, over-planning, or checking Tripadvisor once.

You came with a suit and an attitude. You’re leaving with stories, receipts, and maybe a phone number you’ll actually use.