Spending 24 hours in Victoria means one of two things.
1) You’re very, very early for your train, or
2) You’ve already read this guide to the finest attractions, drinking and dining establishments of the area…
…Which means you’d know about the place that serves brunch every day till 3pm, or the bar where you can order a magnum of champagne at 4 in the morning. You’ll be au fait with the absolute best spot for a picnic in St. James’s Park, and the secret attic space of Westminster Abbey that’s been closed up for 700 years.
Of course, if you’re not – you can find out the best things to do in Victoria right here.
BREAKFAST
We all know the importance of a balanced breakfast.
Which is why Timmy Green is an excellent place to start the day – because you can balance their broccoli & corn fritters and crispy back bacon with a breakfast pudding, like their french toast topped with coconut and bee pollen. Just as they’ll also happily balance out the nutrition of your spinach smoothie with a healthy dose of vodka.
Also housed in the grand Nova Food is the third eatery from the Riding House Café team – appropriately named the Rail House Café, they’ve softened the floor-to-ceiling glass walls with inviting, woven furnishings; salvaged archways; and low-hanging, beachy, fringed lightshades. It’s under these that you can tuck into brunch classics like shakshuka and Eggs Benedict – which here, naturally, sees the humble muffin replaced with an entire burger.
That should give you plenty of energy to explore throughout –
MORNING
Venturing a little further from Victoria’s centre, there’s plenty of juicy slices of history to soak up. Westminster Cathedral is the Abbey’s lesser known sibling, and is a vast, Neo-Byzantine styled building topped by giant domes and a lone, 200ft tall bell tower… The latter of which is particularly interesting because you can head to the top of it (wait, don’t go – there’s a lift) and score 360 degree panoramas of the city around you.
Head along to its more famous cousin, and you’ll be treated to quite literally coronation-worthy architecture; grandiose graves belonging to Sir Isaac Newton, Charles Dickens, Elizabeth I; aaand – as of June this year – access to the secluded attic spaces of the building. The Diamond Jubilee Gallery is set to open in the church’s ‘triforium’ – you know, it’s on the same level as the clerestory – and will be opening to public access for the first time in 700 years. After which, you’ll be ready for a spot of –
LUNCH
Take a five minute stroll northwards towards the Institute of Contemporary Arts, pop your head into their vaunted galleries filled with – well, contemporary art. Following that, you can stock up on picnic treats at Nova Food‘s Sourced Market. Sip on a glass of organic vino as you peruse their artisan produce and head to St. James’s Park – the only London spot to boast views of Buckingham Palace, a flock of native pelicans, and a ridiculously scenic park-keeper’s cottage.
AFTERNOON
Continuing your tour of cultural things to do in Victoria, heading down Millbank you’ll come across the illustrious Tate Britain. Housed in a palatial Grade II listed building, it’s one of the biggest museums in the country, and is filled with a sprawling collection of works by British artists, from Tudor portrait artists to pre-Raphaelites, and also plays host to Turner’s own personal collection. All that should serve nicely as a cultural apéritif before…
HAPPY HOUR
Yep, it’s time for an actual apéritif. Or two. Because the barkeeps at the laid-back carvery that is Stoke House will happily sling twice the number of cocktails your way during their two-for-one happy hours (5-7pm weekdays and weekend afternoons). Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, the nearby Vagabond (also in Nova Food) will happily equip you with a magical swipe card that will allow you to sample whichever vino you want from their futuristic grape-hooch vending machines. Tuck into some platters to share, and slink off for…
A NIGHTCAP
There’s just time to head to the 24 hour bar at the Goring Hotel by Buckingham Palace. Kitted out with deep red walls, a roaring fire and barkeeps doling out classic cocktails…
You could become a pretty longstanding resident.
NOTE: You can keep up to date with all the newest things to do in Victoria by following @createvictoria on Instagram.
Main image credit: Ian Dick/Flickr
Want to find more things to do in Victoria? Check out our Insiders’ Guide to Nova Food…