Tower Bridge at dawn over the Thames

London July ’26

Today's itinerary

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Itinerary highlights

Jul 5
Sun
Useful for this day
  • 2:25pm: delayed UA 901 expected arrival at LHR — about 7 hours late.
  • Train to Paddington: Elizabeth line Heathrow T2&3 → Paddington after immigration / bags; about 35 minutes on-train / ~41 minutes total once moving. Heathrow Express alternate: about 15 minutes on-train / ~33 minutes total, usually much pricier.
  • Hotel/base: Wilde Aparthotels, London, Paddington.
  • 11:30am: Megan & Tosh visit — missed / needs reschedule.
  • 3:00pm: Hadestown — likely missed unless late seating works.
  • Actual pre-dinner walking route to Jamavar:
    1. Paddington Basin
    2. Little Venice
    3. Italian Gardens / Kensington Gardens
    4. Hyde Park / Serpentine edge
    5. Jamavar
  • 6:30pm: Jamavar.
  • 9:00pm: Round of 16 — Brazil vs Norway.
  • 1:00am Mon: overnight Round of 16 — Mexico vs England, only if worth staying up.
✈️ Delayed arrival 2:25pm🏨 Wilde Paddington🍽 Jamavar 6:30pm⚽ Brazil vs Norway 9pm🚇 Low-friction transit
Jul 6
Mon

Actual Monday flow: Paddington breakfast → Myra Chocolate → Megan visit / Abbey Road crossing → dinner TBD

Monday is forecast around 91°F, overcast, and dry — and the overnight soccer game ran 1–3am, so keep this low-friction. Actual start: quick breakfast and protein at Pret, Paddington Square, then walk north to Myra Chocolate. From Myra, continue about 10 minutes to Megan & Tosh’s place near Hall Road / Grove Hall Court. If the group wants a nearby photo stop, add the Abbey Road crossing / studio wall before or after the visit, then make the hot-afternoon anchor the V&A Museum in South Kensington for 60–90 minutes if energy holds. Borough Market is closed Mondays; keep Seven Dials / Covent Garden or Old Spitalfields as backups only if the day pivots. Evening dinner is TBD — not Sushi Aki.

Useful for this day
  • Weather: hot London day — about 91°F high, overcast, essentially no rain. Carry water and avoid a long exposed walk from about 1–5pm.
  • Morning now: Pret, Paddington Square for quick breakfast / protein; no table-service commitment.
  • Next stop: Myra Chocolate, 508 Edgware Road — dessert / coffee stop for Megan Rouse.
  • Megan visit: walk from Myra to Megan & Tosh’s place near Grove Hall Court / Hall Road; about 0.5 miles / 10 minutes.
  • Mural/photo option: if convenient, detour to the Abbey Road crossing / studio wall near St John’s Wood.
  • Hot afternoon: V&A Museum, South Kensington — indoor / cool, 60–90 minutes; prioritize Cast Courts, fashion/jewelry, British galleries, or café/courtyard break.
  • Dinner: TBD — not Sushi Aki.
  • 8:00pm: Round of 16 — Spain vs Portugal.
  • 1:00am Tue: late Round of 16 — USA vs Belgium, only if worth staying up.
🥵 Hot day ~91°F☕ Pret + Myra👋 Megan visit🎨 Abbey Road crossing🏛 V&A afternoon🍽 Dinner TBD⚽ Spain vs Portugal 8pm
Jul 7
Tue

Reworked London day: slow morning → west / central wander → Hadestown 7:30pm

V&A is done, and the British Museum is now optional rather than the anchor. Tuesday plan: slow start, then Notting Hill / Portobello Road in the morning with a café lunch on or near Portobello Road. Add a Thames sightseeing cruise as the afternoon bridge before dinner — target Westminster / London Eye Pier → Tower Pier around 3:00pm. Evening anchor: Hadestown at Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, 7:30pm; plan early dinner nearby around 5:30–6:00. Tosh works Tuesday; friend Megan is around and likes walking / wandering.

Useful for this day
🚶 Earlier Notting Hill start🎟 Ticket check while out🏷 Museum of Brands☕ Portobello café lunch⛴ Thames cruise afternoon🍽 Early dinner near Piccadilly🎭 Hadestown 7:30pm📍 Lyric Theatre
Jul 8
Wed

Depart for Scotland

Leave London in the morning and hand off to the separate Scotland July ’26 itinerary.

Useful for this day
🚆 Travel day🏴 Glasgow next

World Cup watch notes

Sun Jul 5 — London evening

  • 9:00pm BST: Round of 16 — Brazil vs Norway.
  • 1:00am BST Mon: Round of 16 — Mexico vs England. Only worth it if you want a late-night game.

Mon Jul 6 — best London watch window

  • 8:00pm BST: Round of 16 — Spain vs Portugal.
  • 1:00am BST Tue: Round of 16 — USA vs Belgium.

Tue Jul 7 — two watchable games

  • 5:00pm BST: Round of 16 — Egypt vs Argentina.
  • 9:00pm BST: Round of 16 — Switzerland vs Colombia.
  • Wed Jul 8: no World Cup game currently noted before the Scotland travel handoff.

Grace-recommended ideas

Neighborhood blocks Grace rec

Museums, sights & experiences Grace rec

Markets & food streets Grace rec

Links for planning

Restaurants & food

  • Kiln — Grace-rec Thai.
  • Palomar — Grace-rec Mediterranean.
  • Bubala — Grace really likes this Middle Eastern / Israeli place.
  • Shack-Fuyu — Grace-rec Asian.
  • Polpo — Grace-rec Italian.
  • Santo Remedio — Grace-rec Mexican.
  • OKA — Grace-rec sushi.
  • Sushi Aki London — previously considered for Monday; no longer tonight’s dinner.
  • Circolo Popolare — Grace says the room is gorgeous and fun; food is good, but go for the vibe.

West London food Grace rec

  • The Pelican — very nice Notting Hill pub for meal and drinks.
  • Rita’s — cute pizza / wine bar.
  • Granger & Co — Aussie restaurant; nice breakfasts and more.
  • The Jam — cool pizza place with treehouse-style seating.
  • La Famiglia — west-London Italian option.
  • Cinquecento — Grace says it’s very nice.

Shows

Walks, markets & attractions

Fun prompts while there

Best walk contest

Nominate the best 20-minute stretch each day: canal, Thames, market lanes, or theater district.

One perfect pub / café pause

Instead of over-scheduling, leave one unplanned stop per day for the place that looks right.

Grace-rec scorecard

For every Grace pick you try, score it on “worth the Tube ride,” atmosphere, and whether you’d send a friend there.

Notes already captured

Related page: Scotland July ’26.

Images saved locally from Wikimedia Commons: Tower Bridge at Dawn; Little Venice London; Borough Market (geograph). Use as mood-board context, not exact reservations or routing.