Where We Stayed

Montcalm Royal London House – City of London
22–25 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1DX (near Liverpool Street).
Superb location for getting around; pricing felt fair for London. Rooms and facilities, however, felt a little tired — not quite the “fresh five-star” experience — but as a central base it worked very well.

Our Day in London

1. 09:00 — Breakfast at The Ned • Bank

   27 Poultry, EC2R 8AJ — a 15-minute walk from the hotel. We went classic: Eggs Benedict, Earl Grey, avocado toast. The vibe in the vast lobby-restaurant is truly high-class, with that glamorous, international hum. Insider tip: on your way to the restrooms downstairs, peek into the historic vault spaces.

2. 11:00 — Tower Bridge Walkways & Glass Floor • Tower Bridge

   We pre-booked tickets and climbed just over 100 steps to the high-level walkways. The glass floors deliver a thrilling view down to the roadway and out over the Thames.

3. 12:00 — Into the City: Chinatown → Leicester Square → (Optional) Oxford Street

   From Tower Bridge, head into town: explore Chinatown and soak up the energy around Leicester Square. If you’re in the mood to shop, continue to Oxford Street for the big international brands.

   Getting there: Walk (~60 min) for a scenic city traverse, or ride via Southeastern from London Bridge to Charing Cross (~35 min).

4. 14:00 — Champagne Afternoon Tea at The Stage, The Londoner • Leicester Square

   38 Leicester Square, WC2H 7DX. A two-hour ritual: a glass of Champagne to start; amuse-bouche (hello basil ice cream), delicate sandwiches, then warm scones with outstanding lemon curd (we ordered seconds), and finally two mini-tarts each — truffle & burrata, pistachio & raspberry were standouts.

5. 16:30 — Neal’s Yard & Seven Dials: Browsing & Trend-Spotting

   Wander the colourful pocket of Neal’s Yard and the lanes of Seven Dials — indie shops, design finds, and fresh brands.

6. 19:00 — Casual Dinner at Seven Dials Market

   A buzzing, basement food hall with plenty of choice; we went Thai. Great atmosphere, easy, tasty.

7. 20:45 — West End Show: The Devil Wears Prada (Dominion Theatre)

   Fun, high-energy, and the perfect finale. Check schedules & tickets on the official site.

   After the show: Elizabeth line from Tottenham Court Road → Farringdon → Liverpool Street (2 stops) — quick hop back to the hotel.

Final Thoughts

Central London gave us exactly what we wanted: iconic views, a touch of old-school glamour, trend-spotting in colourful corners, and a stylish nightcap at the theatre. While our hotel didn’t feel brand-new in-room, the location was unbeatable — and the combination of breakfast at The Ned, Tower Bridge views, Seven Dials grazing, and a West End musical made the day sing.