For travel tips and more information about what we did throughout our trip, visit our blog post Over the Pond and Through the Cities.

Day 1 (after midday arrival)

• Get a private driver from Heathrow to your hotel, ParkPlaza Westminster
• Drop your stuff off at the hotel and then walk over Westminster Bridge to view Big Ben
• Walk through Whitehall Gardens
• Grab dinner at Truffle Burger along the Thames River
• Head back to hotel and get a good night’s sleep after your long day of travel

Day 2: London

• Walk to Westminster Abbey, Churchill War Rooms, Horse Guards Parade, and through St. James’s Park
• After walking through St. James’s Park, arrive at Buckingham Palace
• Walk to Piccadilly Circus and stop at Burger and Lobster for lunch
• Visit the National Gallery art gallery
• Head back in the direction of the hotel and stop at Locale Southbank for dinner

Day 3: Paris

• Wake up at the crack of dawn, depart your hotel, and catch the tube to King’s Cross (make sure you plan to arrive at King’s Cross/St. Pancras International at least 1 hour before your train’s departure
• Arrive at King’s Cross, quickly visit Platform 9 3/4 inside the tube station at street level, and then walk over to St. Pancras International across the street
• Once you’re through customs, hop on your train to Paris
• Once you arrive in Paris, walk to Notre Dame Cathedral
• Go to La Crème de Paris Notre-Dame for crepes and coffee
• Walk to the Louvre
• Walk to the Eiffel Tower
• Catch the subway back to Paris Gare Du Nord train station and head back to London

Day 4: London

• Sleep in
• Go to The Black Penny for brunch
• Visit Dreamworks Shrek’s Adventure
• Ride on the London Eye
• Stop for froyo at Snog along the Queen’s Walk
• Hop on the nearby carousel after you’re done with the froyo
• Continue to walk east along the Thames River on the Queen’s Walk, walk across Millennium Bridge towards St. Paul’s Cathedral
• Walk over London Bridge and continue to head east
• Walk over Tower Bridge and see Tower of London
• Go to The Honest Burger for dinner
• Catch the tube back to your hotel

Day 5: London

• Visit Sea Life London
• Go back to Snog for froyo and eat it in Jubilee Gardens
• Visit the Jubilee Gardens playground
• Go to The Strings for dinner

Day 6: London

• Spend time in Hyde Park
• Go to Rotten Row Playground
• Go to Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground
• Walk through Kensington Gardens to Kensington Palace
• Go to The Prince Albert for fish and chips
• Walk to the COVID Memorial Wall along the Thames River
• Walk to the Grafitti Tunnel

Day 7: London to Lisbon

• Arrive 2-3 hours before your flight from Heathrow
• Arrive in Lisbon and take a private driver to the Stylish, Family-Friendly Apartment in Chiado; driver arranged by AirBNB host
• Walk to Jardim França Borges playground
• Eat inner at Decadente

Day 8: Lisbon

• Find a nearby bakery that makes Pastel de Nata
• Go to one of the pickup stations to get your pre-purchased Lisboa Card
• Stop at Valdo Gatti for lunch
• Go to Castelo de S. Jorge
• Stop at 28 Cafe outside of the castle for coffee and ice cream
• Walk to Se de Lisboa, Arc da Rua Augusta, and Elevador de Santa Justa

Day 9: Sintra

• Go to Padaria da Buirro for breakfast
• Use the Lisboa Card to catch a train to Sintra
• Walk to Quinta da Regaleira from the train station
• Take a cab or bus to Pena Palace
• Take the train back to Lisbon and go to Duque Restaurant for dinner

Day 10: Caiscais

• Go to Dear Breakfast in Chiado for breakfast
• Use the Lisboa Card to catch a train to Caiscais
• Walk to Praia da Conceicao beach
• Take the train back to Lisbon and go to O Cantinho Das Gaveas for dinner
• Go to Sublime Sorbettino for ice cream

Day 11: Lisbon to London

• Pack up your suitcases and take a private driver to Heathrow (arrive 2-3 hours early)
• Stay at the Hilton Garden Inn at Heathrow airport (best decision ever)

Day 12: London to home

• Walk to the terminal from your hotel
• Fly home