Blog ≫ 2025 ≫ Great London weekend breakdown
I'm back with some more details of the great weekend I mentioned, as much as I can remember, maybe some photos.
We checked into our Premier Inn and to a lovely surprise that we hadn't paid for it yet. This was to be expected, but we didn't remember how much it was either. Peak prices right before christmas. Then the underground to Oxford Circus to check out some of he christmas lights. We had a route to follow to check out as many as possible, and we partly stuck to it. We detoured through Selfridges and very much enjoyed the tech department, I'd like to go back again. We weren't really in a rush, we said we'd stay relaxed about our plans, but we did want to get some walking in plus pubs and restaurants so couldn't stay as long as I'd like. We also stopped in a Sam Smith's pub just off Carnaby Street for our first drink stop. It was cash only because their internet was patchy, so we had to scrape together enough for a round, and it wasn't anyone's dream place but it was nice. Wood paneled interior and no phone signal. Then on again, and some of he best lights were probably at Fortnum and Mason, the whole place is decorated like an advent calendar.
Then to Leicester Square and a mini christmas market round an ice rink, so so. Found a really good new indoor food market bar type thing on Leicester Square itself, loads of food truck type concessions in it, and a bar, with balconies overlooking Leicester Square. Doesn't sound like the sort of place I would like but I was impressed. Only one of the boys ate here, a little taco snack to keep him going until dinner.
Then more walking, and another pub stop, The Old Coffee House in Soho. Nice place, everywhere very busy though, too busy. We sat in a quieter room upstairs and tried to find somewhere for dinner, thinking we were looking for Italian but eventually settled on something completely different. Good beer in here though. Interesting memorabilia on the walls, don't know if it's genuine, nice signed KISS picture in a frame.
The food place was just around the corner, sounded good, Australian mezze type thing, with something for everyone. It might be called Scarlett Green, or it might be called Daisy Green, Scarlett location. I think Daisy Green is the chain name. When we got there it was a lot more like a cocktail bar or nightclub than a restaurant and we wondered if they'd say no young people, but it was fine. It was just that they had a DJ in for the night, and it's really a restaurant. We ordered multiple dishes to share, got just the right amount I would say. Seemed like a lot to start with, but they were all quite small. I had miso aubergine for one of the just-for-me dishes and it was good. Very simple, I will have a go at making it at home.
Think I'll leave this as just the first day of our trip and come back and add some photos.
Partly cloudy and a gentle breeze, 5 - 8℃.
💬 David Devant and his Spirit Wife
⬅️ Health stats 22/12/25 :: Still SOOOO busy ➡️