How to Spend an Extra Day in London

Known or its iconic monuments, tantalizing history, multicultural populace and ever-evolving creative scene, London continues to captivate. The city has seen it all across 2,000 years, including centuries of royal intrigue. While the dramas today are more innocuous than decrees of “off with his head,” this month the British capital looks to bury all strife as it celebrates King Charles III’s coronation with pomp and pageantry. In between the parades, concerts and street parties, take time to explore these new additions to the city’s continuously unfolding delights.

Battersea

Battersea Power Station / Photo: Courtesy of Brendan Bell

Power Station At its peak, Battersea Power Station provided a fifth of London’s power. After sitting shut for 40 years, the behemoth was transformed into the city’s newest hotspot. More than 100 shops offer both high-end and high-street brands, and eateries include gourmet dining and elevated fast food.
batterseapowerstation.co.uk

The National Gallery

The National Gallery / Photo: @National Gallery London

The latest exhibit at The National Gallery examines how three giants of impressionism influenced the generations after them. “After Impressionism” juxtaposes works by Gauguin, van Gogh and Cézanne with pieces by younger artists they inspired. One-hundred artworks from 1880 to WWI survey the period’s innovative ideas that laid the foundations for 20th-century works.
Through August 13. nationalgallery.org.uk

Sessions Arts Club

Sessions Art Club / Photo: Courtesy of Sessions Art Club

A blazing fire, artfully peeling plaster and contemporary art: This 18th-century courthouse-turned-restaurant in Clerkenwell induces enchantment. Chef Florence Knight’s Pan-European menu pares back ingredients to highlight their singular tastes and showcase her deft touch. Case in point: Juicy lamb cooked in champagne melds well with the accompanying celeriac’s nutty savor. Topping the roster of desserts is a ginger cake.
sessionsartsclub.com

The Audley

The Audley / Photo: Courtesy of Sim Canetty Clarke

Public House Step into Victorian England at the newest venture from Hauser & Wirth. The Mayfair establishment’s handsome interiors, comprised of brown leather booths and dark wood panels, embody a members club, while a kaleidoscopic ceiling and neon artwork recall a cool gallery. Elevated pub fare does classics right—think crispy Cornish haddock with thick chips.
theaudleypublichouse.com

Beaverbrook

Beaverbrook / Photo: Courtesy Beaverbrook Town House

Town House The 14 rooms and suites at this Chelsea hotel are inspired by London’s storied theaters. They unfurl like stage sets fitted with canopied beds and chintz pillows, while emerald bathrooms create a sensual escape. At the hotel’s on-site restaurant, The Fuji Grill, chef Jan Horak creates an omakase menu. Diners at the counter have front-row seats to Horak’s mastery as he sears sashimi with a blowtorch.
beaverbrooktownhouse.co.uk