London Weekend: Day 2 - Museums, Parks, Tea, and Treats (Plus a Yakitori Adventure)
After the travel day, we decided to keep Day 2 more relaxed. We find that packing Day 1 and relaxing on Day 2 helps stave off the jet lag, especially for quick trips.
After the travel day, we decided to keep Day 2 more relaxed. With a heat wave on the horizon, we leaned into taking it easy, wandering at our own pace, staying hydrated, and enjoying some of London’s green spaces before finishing the day with a memorable dinner.
🖼️ The Victoria & Albert Museum: A Little Bit of Everything
We started the morning at the Victoria and Albert Museum, which really does have something for everyone. Admission is free (always welcome), though special exhibitions cost extra.
We particularly enjoyed the cultural artifacts and the collection of Rodin sculptures, really impressive.
There’s a decent café for a quick bite, but if you can, walk around the corner to Farm Girl for something better.
On a warm day, the fountain outside is perfect for people-watching or reading while children splash in the water.
We took the District Line to get there, easy and direct.
🌳 Hyde Park: Taking It Slow
After the museum, we walked over to Hyde Park and made a day of it. Spending the afternoon here was a good call, leisurely walking in the shade and enjoying the breeze before the heat wave truly set in.
Yes, Hyde Park is more touristy than Regent’s Park, but still very much worth it.
Regent’s Park’s south side was under construction anyway, so Hyde Park won by default.
Swimming, boating, cafés, long paths — it’s an escape from the bustle of Central London.
We stayed on our feet, hydrated often, and let the pace of the park dictate ours.
🫖 Fortnum & Mason: Tea, Biscuits, and Retail Therapy
Later, we stopped at Fortnum & Mason to “just pick up a few teas,” which, unsurprisingly, turned into a bit more.
We left with:
Pistachio & clotted cream biscuits
Dark chocolate macadamia biscuits (a perennial favorite)
A little retail therapy never hurt anyone, and their teas remain reliably excellent. Sometimes, concierge travel advice means affirming something touristy is actually worth it and this is one of those times.
🏨 A Pause Before Dinner
We walked our wares back to the hotel, rested our feet, and freshened up before heading out for dinner, which turned out to be one of the most interesting meals of the trip.
🍢 Dinner at Junsei (Marylebone): The Yakitori Hunt
For dinner, we decided on Junsei, recommended to us during London Restaurant Festival. Here’s the thing: there’s no shortage of sushi and omakase coverage these days, but finding a solid yakitori spot is much harder.
We’re big fans of Rintaro in San Francisco, so when we saw what Junsei had to offer, we jumped at the chance.
It was a quick ride on the Bakerloo Line from Charing Cross. We decided to get off a few stops early to walk the edge of Regent’s Park into Marylebone. Even with the construction, alternate paths had been set up and it made for a pleasant stroll. Just as we arrived, it started raining, giving us the full London summer experience.
At Junsei, we opted to order à la carte rather than the chef’s dinner. Junsei is one of those places we’re glad we tried and will recommend to others to experience at least once, but we’re not necessarily in a hurry to return. The search for London’s perfect yakitori continues.
Highlights from the meal:
Chicken skin chips, absolutely delicious and worth the visit just for these.
Tsukune (chicken meatballs)
Okra, never before have we had this at a yakitori place. Other spots should take a note
Chicken nanban
Short rib donabe
After dinner, we made our way back to the hotel, happy with a day that balanced culture, quiet, and culinary exploration.
